bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heart Dysfunction in Essential Hypertension Depends on Systemic Proinflammatory Influences: A Retrospective Clinical Pathophysiological Study
Authors: Barsukov Anton V. , Korovin Alexander E. , Churilov Leonid P. , Borisova Ekaterina V. , Tovpeko Dmitry V.
Published: August 2022

Low-intensity systemic inflammation is an important element of heart failure pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to assess proinflammatory status serum indicators (C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6)) in middle-aged males (M) and females (F) with essential hypertension (HTN) depending on left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). The main group comprised 55 M and 49 F with the first- to second-severity grade HTN with mild heart failure and a preserved LV ejection fraction ≥50%. Patients had sinus rhythm, first or second-severity degree LVDD, LV hypertrophy, left atrium dilatation, and NT-proBNP > 125 pg/mL. Comparison group: 30 hypertensives without cardiac dysfunction; control group: 31 normotensives. Quantitative features were compared using the Mann–Whitney test, median χ2, ANOVA module. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were determined to identify the relationship between the proinflammatory pattern and exercise tolerance. Hypertensive M had markedly higher CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels compared to F. All mean values corresponded to reference range. In patients with second-degree LVDD, CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were significantly greater than in subjects with first-degree LVDD (both within M and within F samples). Significant negative associations between CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α levels and the 6 min walk test existed in hypertensive M and F. The study demonstrated a close relationship between the proinflammatory pattern and LVDD and exercise tolerance indicators, regardless of the hypertensive patient’s sex.
Effects of Adjuvant Medications on A1C, Body Mass Index, and Insulin Requirements among Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Silva Almodóvar Armando , Clevenger Jonathan , Nahata Milap C.
Published: August 2022

Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that noninsulin medications used to treat type 2 diabetes can improve health outcomes among patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study assessed the effects of adjuvant diabetes medications on glycated hemoglobin (A1C), body mass index (BMI), or total daily insulin (TDI) among patients with T1D in a real-world setting. This was an analysis of the T1D Exchange Clinic Registry, using the study periods of 2010–2012, 2015–2016, and 2016–2017, to assess differences in A1C, BMI, and TDI between patients with and without adjuvant medications. The relationships between characteristics and A1C in 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 were determined. Analysis included 517 patients in the adjuvant medication cohort and 4968 in the insulin-only cohort. No significant improvement in A1C was observed. A significant difference in BMI and TDI between the insulin-only (median BMI: 25.5, 26.2, 26.4 and median TDI: 45, 44 units) and adjuvant medication cohorts (median BMI: 29.8, 30.5, 30.5 and median TDI: 51, 52 units) (p < 0.001) was observed. Patients with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), higher education level, higher annual income, and older age were associated with lower A1C (p ≤ 0.001). Higher BMI and self-description as African American/Black were associated with higher A1C (p ≤ 0.01). Insulin pump use was associated with lower A1C (p < 0.01) in 2015–2016. Patients who used adjuvant medications did not demonstrate significant improvement in disease control. These data suggest that findings from well-designed research studies may not be consistently reproducible in real-world settings, due to patient-specific factors.
What Philosophy Contributes to Emotion Science
Authors: De Sousa Ronald
Published: August 2022

Contemporary philosophers have paid increasing attention to the empirical research on emotions that has blossomed in many areas of the social sciences. In this paper, I first sketch the common roots of science and philosophy in Ancient Greek thought. I illustrate the way that specific empirical sciences can be regarded as branching out from a central trunk of philosophical speculation. On the basis of seven informal characterizations of what is distinctive about philosophical thinking, I then draw attention to the fact that scientific progress frequently requires one to make adjustments to the way its basic terms are conceptualized, and thus cannot avoid philosophical thought. The character of emotions requires attention from many disciplines, and the links among those disciplines inevitably require a broader philosophical perspective to be understood. Thus, emotion science, and indeed all of science, is inextricably committed to philosophical assumptions that demand scrutiny.
Structural, Morphological and Optical Properties of MoS2-Based Materials for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dye
Authors: Jaleel UC Jadan Resnik , R Madhushree , Devi K R Sunaja , Pinheiro Dephan , Mohan Mothi Krishna
Published: August 2022

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDCs) having versatile properties and plays a great role in the photodegradation of organic dyes. MoS2 also finds applications in diverse fields such as catalysis, electronics, and nanomedicine transportation. MoS2 can be prepared by using chemical and physical methods such as hydrothermal, solvothermal, and chemical vapour deposition methods. The preparation method employed can produce subtle but significant changes in the morphology. To increase the efficiency of MoS2, it can be combined with different materials to produce composites that improve the photodegradation efficiency of MoS2. The various methods of preparation, the morphology of MoS2, and photodegradation activity of the MoS2-based nanocomposites are briefly discussed in this review.
Correction: Sapogova et al. Investigation of the Effect of Temperature Stabilization in Radiation–Heat Converters Based on a Strong Absorbing Coating. Photonics 2021, 8, 423
Authors: Sapogova Natalia , Bredikhin Vladimir , Afanasiev Andrey , Kamensky Vladislav , Bityurin Nikita
Published: August 2022

There was an error in the original publication [...]
Nano-Photonic Metrics: Fundamentals and Experimental Demonstration
Authors: Ohteki Takuro , Sakai Shun-ichi , Tate Naoya
Published: August 2022

As the popularity of Internet of Things (IoT) increases, there is a considerable demand for the improvement of physical security, owing to the increase in edge devices. However, fabrication and measurement techniques used by attackers are also improving continuously, and hence, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure the security of each device using conventional approaches. To counter variable attacks in this context, the concept of nano-photonic metrics has been proposed, which is based on a functional collaboration between existing physical security and near-field optical techniques. In this approach, the optical signals obtained from optical near-field interactions, which are induced between the target with nano-scale structures and the tip of the scanning probe as the reader, are defined as the unique features of each device to be authenticated. When attackers attempt spoofing, they must fabricate not only clones of original nano-scale structures but also the scanning probe; otherwise, they cannot impersonate regular users. Moreover, the estimation of the nano-scale structures of the target and the characteristics of the probe is typically a complex, inverse problem. Therefore, a novel authentication is expected to be performed. In this paper, we report the results of the quantitative evaluations of the performance from the viewpoint of physical security and the experimental verification of the practicality of the proposed approach.
Improved Accuracy for Measurement of Filament Diameter Based on Image-Based Fitting Method
Authors: Zhao Yingpeng , Lin Yutong , Li Dianrong , Wang Feichen , Cheng Bing , Lin Qiang , Hu Zhenghui , Wu Bin
Published: August 2022

Laser diffraction (LD) has many obvious advantages for measuring. However, the measurement accuracy is limited by a number of factors, such as imaging noise, sensor threshold, and fitting methods. In this paper, we present a novel method for measuring filament diameter based on image-based fitting, which maintains more information. Before fitting the diffraction image, image processing is applied to solve the problem of image noise and the non-linear response of the charge-coupled device (CCD). Then, a fitting formula is established based on the distribution of laser intensity on a diffraction image, and the fitted results are solved with the Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm. Finally, the initial parameters of a fit are obtained by calculation, which speeds up the calculation and improves the accuracy of the fitting. The measurement accuracy of this method is verified by experimental and theoretical analysis. In experiments, the filament diameters of 125 and 125.2 μm are measured with a relative error of approximately 0.12%, Furthermore, the superiority of this method is demonstrated by comparing the measurements with other methods. To verify the stability of the measurements, filament diameters of 110–180 μm are chosen to be measured with a relative standard deviation of less than 0.14%.
Dissociation of State-Selected Ions Studied by Fixed-Photon-Energy Double-Imaging Photoelectron Photoion Coincidence: Cases of O2+ and CH3F+
Authors: Tang Xiaofeng , Garcia Gustavo A. , Nahon Laurent
Published: August 2022

This study presents the method of fixed-photon-energy double-imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence (i2PEPICO) utilized to investigate the dissociation of state-selected ions. Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation at one fixed photon energy of hν = 21.2 eV, the He(I) atomic resonance energy, is employed as a light source to ionize molecules. Various dynamic information including time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectra, mass-selected photoelectron spectra (PES), and electron and ion kinetic energy correlation diagrams corresponding to each mass are obtained efficiently with the multiplexed capabilities of i2PEPICO, thereby revealing the detailed dissociation mechanisms of ions. As representative examples, dissociation of state-selected O2+ ions prepared in the b4∑g− and B2∑g− electronic states and CH3F+ ions in the X2E, A2A1, and B2E states were selected and investigated.
Irrigation Regimes and Nitrogen Rates as the Contributing Factors in Quinoa Yield to Increase Water and Nitrogen Efficiencies
Authors: Bahrami Maryam , Talebnejad Rezvan , Sepaskhah Ali Reza , Bazile Didier
Published: August 2022

Sustainable field crop management has been considered to reach the food security issue due to global warming and water scarcity. The effect of deficit irrigation and nitrogen rates on quinoa yield is a challenging issue in those areas. In this regard, the interaction effects of different N rates (0, 125, 250, and 375 kg N ha−1) and irrigation regimes [full irrigation (FI) and deficit irrigation at 0.75 FI and 0.5 FI] on quinoa yield and water and nitrogen efficiencies were evaluated with a two-year field experiment. Increasing nitrogen fertilizer application levels from 250 to 375 kg N ha−1 under FI and deficit irrigation did not cause a significant difference in seed yield and the total dry matter of quinoa. Furthermore, 20% and 34% reductions were observed for nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and nitrogen yield efficiency with the application of 375 kg N ha−1 compared with that obtained in 250 kg N ha−1 nitrogen fertilizer, respectively. Therefore, a Nitrogen application rate of 250 kg ha−1 and applying 0.75 FI is suggested as the optimum rate to reach the highest seed water use efficiency (0.7 kg m−3) and NUE (0.28 kg m−3) to gain 4.12 Mg ha−1 quinoa seed yield. Under non–limited water resource conditions, an FI and N application rate of 375 kg ha−1 could be used for higher seed yield; however, under water-deficit regimes, an N application rate of 250 kg ha−1 could be adequate. However, questions about which environmental factors impressively restricted the quinoa growth for optimizing the potential yield need further investigation.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Dof Transcription Factors in Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.)
Authors: Cao Xiaohan , Wan Wenyang , Mao Huimin , Yin Dandan , Deng Xianhui , Yan Huan , Ren Liping
Published: August 2022

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is a traditional Chinese aquatic flower with high ornamental and economic value, but water salinity seriously affects lotus cultivation and distribution. The Dof transcription factors (TFs) play a crucial function in the regulatory network of growth and defense in plants. However, no systematic investigations of the Dof TFs in lotus have been performed. In this study, comprehensive searches of the lotus genome yielded 29 potential NnDofs. We carried out a series of standardized analyses, which include physical properties, multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, gene structure, motif composition, cis-acting element prediction, chromosome distribution, and synteny analysis. The results showed that segment duplication probably caused the NnDofs gene family expansion. The potential functions of NnDofs in lotus development and stress conditions are speculated by promoter analysis. Furthermore, a complete expression investigation of NnDofs utilizing an RNA-seq atlas and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed. The majority of the NnDofs exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns, and many genes have been identified as being extremely sensitive to salt stressors. Overall, this study is the first to report a genome-wide assessment of the Dof family in lotus, and the findings offer vital insights for prospective functional studies on lotus salinity stress.
Annotation of Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) Nuclear Genome—One of the Most Cold-Resistant Tree Species in the Only Deciduous GENUS in Pinaceae
Authors: Bondar Eugenia I. , Feranchuk Sergey I. , Miroshnikova Ksenia A. , Sharov Vadim V. , Kuzmin Dmitry A. , Oreshkova Natalya V. , Krutovsky Konstantin V.
Published: August 2022

The recent release of the nuclear, chloroplast and mitochondrial genome assemblies of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.), one of the most cold-resistant tree species in the only deciduous genus of Pinaceae, with seasonal senescence and a rot-resistant valuable timber widely used in construction, greatly contributed to the development of genomic resources for the larch genus. Here, we present an extensive repeatome analysis and the first annotation of the draft nuclear Siberian larch genome assembly. About 66% of the larch genome consists of highly repetitive elements (REs), with the likely wave of retrotransposons insertions into the larch genome estimated to occur 4–5 MYA. In total, 39,370 gene models were predicted, with 87% of them having homology to the Arabidopsis-annotated proteins and 78% having at least one GO term assignment. The current state of the genome annotations allows for the exploration of the gymnosperm and angiosperm species for relative gene abundance in different functional categories. Comparative analysis of functional gene categories across different angiosperm and gymnosperm species finds that the Siberian larch genome has an overabundance of genes associated with programmed cell death (PCD), autophagy, stress hormone biosynthesis and regulatory pathways; genes that may play important roles in seasonal senescence and stress response to extreme cold in larch. Despite being incomplete, the draft assemblies and annotations of the conifer genomes are at a point of development where they now represent a valuable source for further genomic, genetic and population studies.
Polyphenolic Compound Variation in Globe Artichoke Cultivars as Affected by Fertilization and Biostimulants Application
Authors: Montesano Vincenzo , Negro Donatella , Sonnante Gabriella , Laghetti Gaetano , Urbano Marcella
Published: August 2022

Globe artichoke is an ancient herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean Basin. The edible part of the plant is limited to the fleshy leaves (bracts) and receptacle of a large immature inflorescence (head) that has been shown to be a rich source of bioactive compounds. Nutritional and pharmacological properties of artichoke heads and leaves are attributed mainly to polyphenolic compounds and inulin present at high concentration. In this study, polyphenols were investigated in two artichoke cultivars (Opal and Madrigal) in response to four nitrogen rates and foliar applications of biostimulating products under drip irrigation. Field experiments were carried out over two growing seasons (2015–2016, 2016–2017) in Policoro (MT), Southern Italy, on a deep clay soil in sub-humid climate conditions. Phenolic compounds were isolated and characterized by means of high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) analysis. In both cultivars, caffeoylquinic acids were more abundant when a dose of 100 kg ha−1 of ammonium nitrate was provided, whereas apigenins were not affected by nitrogen fertilization. Luteolins increased in cv Opal and decreased in cv Madrigal following N fertilization. The application of biostimulants (3 L ha−1) favored the accumulation of polyphenols, in particular of caffeoylquinic acids and apigenin, in artichoke heads in both cultivars. The results obtained highlight some positive aspects related to the synergistic effect of nitrogen fertilization and biostimulant foliar application.
Functional Ecology of External Secretory Structures in Rivea ornata (Roxb.) Choisy (Convolvulaceae)
Authors: Chitchak Natthaphong , Stewart Alyssa B. , Traiperm Paweena
Published: August 2022

Plants have evolved numerous secretory structures that fulfill diverse roles and shape their interactions with other organisms. Rivea ornata (Roxb.) Choisy (Convolvulaceae) is one species that possesses various external secretory organs hypothesized to be ecologically important. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate five secretory structures (nectary disc, petiolar nectaries, calycinal glands, staminal hairs, and foliar glands) using micromorphology, anatomy, histochemistry, and field observations of plant–animal interactions in order to assess the functional contributions of these structures. Results show that the nectary disc and petiolar nectaries are complex working units consisting of at least epidermis and ground tissue, while the other structures are glandular trichomes. Various groups of metabolites (lipids, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, terpenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids) were detected in all structures, while starch grains were only found in the nectary disc, petiolar nectaries, and their adjacent tissues. Integrating preliminary observation of animal visitors with micromorphological, anatomical, and histochemical results, two hypotheses are proposed: (I) nectary disc and staminal hairs are important for pollination as they potentially attract and reward floral visitors, and (II) petiolar nectaries, calycinal glands, and foliar glands contribute to plant defense. Specifically, petiolar nectaries and calycinal glands provide protection from herbivores via guard ants, while calycinal and foliar glands may use plant metabolites to help prevent tissue damage from dehydration and insolation.
The Effect of Mammalian Sex Hormones on Polymorphism and Genomic Instability in the Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Türkoğlu Aras , Haliloğlu Kamil , Balpinar Özge , Öztürk Halil Ibrahim , Özkan Güller , Poczai Peter
Published: August 2022

Mammalian sex hormones are steroid-structured compounds that support the growth and development of plants at low concentrations. Since they affect the physiological processes in plants, it has been thought that mammalian sex hormones may cause modifications to plant genomes and epigenetics. This study aims to determine whether different mammalian sex hormones (17 β-estradiol, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) in several concentrations (0, 10−4, 10−6, and 10−8 mM) affect genetic or epigenetic levels in bean plants, using in vitro tissue cultures from plumule explants. We investigated levels of DNA damage, changes in DNA methylation and DNA stability in common bean exposed to mammalian sex hormones (MSH) using inter-primer binding site (iPBS) and Coupled Restriction Enzyme Digestion-iPBS (CRED-iPBS) assays, respectively. The highest rate of polymorphism in iPBS profiles was observed when 10−4 mM of estrogen (52.2%) hormone was administered. This finding indicates that genetic stability is reduced. In the CRED-iPBS profile, which reveals the methylation level associated with the DNA cytosine nucleotide, 10−4 mM of estrogen hormone exhibited the highest hypermethylation value. Polymorphism was observed in all hormone administrations compared to the control (without hormone), and it was determined that genomic stability was decreased at high concentrations. Taken together, the results indicate that 17 β-estradiol, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in bean plants affect genomic instability and cause epigenetic modifications, which is an important control mechanism in gene expression.
Distribution, Polymorphism and Function Characteristics of the GST-Encoding Fhb7 in Triticeae
Authors: Guo Xianrui , Wang Mian , Kang Houyang , Zhou Yonghong , Han Fangpu
Published: August 2022

Encoding a glutathione S-transferase (GST) and conferring resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB), Fhb7 was successfully isolated from the newly assembled Thinopyrum elongatum genome by researchers, with blasting searches revealing that Thinopyrum gained Fhb7 through horizontal gene transfer from an endophytic Epichloë species. On the contrary, our molecular evidence reveals that the homologs of Fhb7 are distributed commonly in Triticeae. Other than Thinopyrum, the Fhb7 homologs were also detected in four other genera, Elymus, Leymus, Roegneria and Pseudoroegneria, respectively. Sequence comparisons revealed that the protein sequences were at least 94% identical across all of the Fhb7 homologs in Triticeae plants, which in turn suggested that the horizontal gene transfer of the Fhb7 might have occurred before Triticeae differentiation instead of Thinopyrum. The multiple Fhb7 homologs detected in some Triticeae accessions and wheat-Thinopyrum derivatives might be attributed to the alloploid nature and gene duplication during evolution. In addition, we discovered that some wheat-Thinopyrum derivatives carrying the Fhb7 homologs had a completely different reaction to Fusarium head blight, which made us question the ability of the GST-encoding Fhb7 to resist FHB.
The Effect of Ignition Timing on the Emission and Combustion Characteristics for a Hydrogen-Fuelled ORP Engine at Lean-Burn Conditions
Authors: Huang Junfeng , Gao Jianbing , Yang Ce , Tian Guohong , Ma Chaochen
Published: August 2022

The application of hydrogen fuel in ORP engines makes the engine power density much higher than that of a reciprocating engine. This paper investigated the impacts of combustion characteristics, energy loss, and NOx emissions of a hydrogen-fuelled ORP engine by ignition timing over various equivalence ratios using a simulation approach based on FLUENT code without considering experiments. The simulations were conducted under the equivalence ratio of 0.5~0.9 and ignition timing of −20.8~8.3° CA before top dead centre (TDC). The engine was operated under 1000 RPM and wide-open throttle condition which was around the maximum engine torque. The results indicated that significant early ignition of the ORP engine restrained the flame development in combustion chambers due to the special relative positions of ignition systems to combustion chambers. In-cylinder pressure evolutions were insensitive to early ignition. The start of combustion was the earliest over the ignition timing of −17.3° CA for individual equivalence ratios; the correlations of the combustion durations and equivalence ratios were dependent on the ignition timing. Combustion durations were less sensitive to equivalence ratios in the ignition timing range of −14.2~−11.1° CA before TDC. The minimum and maximum heat release rates were 15 J·(°CA)−1 and 22 J·(°CA)−1 over the equivalence ratios of 0.5 and 0.9, respectively. Indicated thermal efficiency was higher than 41% for early ignition scenarios, and it was significantly affected by late ignition. Energy loss by cylinder walls and exhaust was in the range of 10~16% and 42~58% of the total fuel energy, respectively. The impacts of equivalence ratios on NOx emission factors were affected by ignition timing.
Optimization of Water Injection Strategy before Re-Stimulation Considering Fractures Propagation
Authors: Ren Guangcong , Ma Xinfang , Zhang Shicheng , Zou Yushi , Duan Guifu , Xiong Qiyong
Published: August 2022

Water injection before re-stimulation has a positive effect to mitigate the “frac hit” and increase oil production in tight reservoirs. However, the study of water injection strategy optimization has not been thoroughly investigated. Some conclusions can be found in the existing literature, but the pressure and stress distribution, fractures morphology and oil production were not considered as a whole workflow during the study. In addition, the different reservoir deficit was not considered. Although technical experience and economic benefit have been obtained in some field tests, failed cases still exist. To fill this gap, a series of numerical models are established based on a tight reservoir located in northwest China. Under the different re-stimulation timing, the pressure distribution, stress distribution, and fractures morphology after water injection of different injection/production ratios are calculated, respectively. The oil and water production are predicted. The results show that, after a short period of production with a small deficit, the degree of “frac hit” is slight. Injecting water has an obvious effect on increasing oil production for both parent and infill well. After a long period of production with a large deficit, the problem of “frac hit” is very severe. Injecting water has an obvious effect on increasing oil production only for the parent well. The production of infill well is influenced by the fractures’ interference and pressure increasing comprehensively. For the well group, measured by the final cumulative oil production, the optimal injection/production ratio is different, but the water injection volume is similar, which is about 15,000 m3.
Trajectory Planning of the Exit Point for a Cable-Driven Parallel Mechanism by Considering the Homogeneity of Tension Variation
Authors: Peng Cheng , Yang Fang , Hou Zequn , Li Yanglong , Li Hang
Published: August 2022

Considering the uniformity of cable tension variation, in this paper, the trajectory planning problem of the exit point for a continuously reconfigurable four-cable-driven two-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) parallel mechanism was studied. Furthermore, an improved quadratic programming model-based trajectory planning method is proposed, which greatly reduces the change in cable tension and can be used to solve the problem of excessive cable tension change when the existing mechanism moves on the moving platform. First, the structural characteristics of the parallel mechanism with a fixed exit point were analyzed, and the static model was established. Considering the cable length and tension constraints, the feasible workspace of the mechanism force was solved. Then, based on the dynamic modeling, an improved quadratic programming model was used to solve the cable tension values under the typical trajectory in the force-feasible workspace. Finally, considering the influence of structural parameters on the change in cable tension, the improved quadratic programming model was transformed, and an exit point trajectory planning model was proposed. The uniform change in cable tension was realized by continuously changing the exit point position. The results show that the cable tension can change uniformly in a very small range by planning the trajectory of the exit point, and the stability of the moving platform movement is guaranteed to the greatest extent.
Analysis and Application of Horizontal Well Test in Low Permeability Porous Carbonate Reservoir
Authors: Zhao Zeqi , Li Yong , Jiang Tongwen , Hu Dandan , Zhang Lixia , Ma Ruicheng
Published: August 2022

Low permeability porous carbonate rocks occupy a certain proportion in the Middle East. Horizontal injection-production well pattern development is often adopted. Due to the influence of well type and wellbore, reservoir dynamic monitoring is mainly based on conventional daily measurement data, well test and pressure monitoring. Therefore, it is particularly important to combine well test interpretation with production dynamic analysis to diagnose the main control factors and production characteristics of this type of reservoir. In this paper, the point source function is used to obtain the pressure variation function of a horizontal well in infinite formation with upper and lower closed boundary. The difference between the horizontal well test curve of A reservoir and the typical horizontal well test curve is compared and analyzed, and the abnormal well test curve of horizontal wells is characterized by a linear flow phase with a slope of 1/3 or 1/4. The abnormal well test curve accounted for 33.34%. The main influencing factors are the permeability around the well and the well trajectory. By combining well test interpretation with dynamic inversion method, the correlation between well test interpretation and dynamic characteristics of horizontal wells with different characteristics is classified and clarified. The main controlling factors that affect the difference in the water injection development effect of different horizontal wells are further clarified, and provide an important reference for the adjustment of injection-production parameters and the optimal deployment of schemes.
Research on Load Optimal Dispatch for High-Temperature CHP Plants through Grey Wolf Optimization Algorithm with the Levy Flight
Authors: Wang Yang , Yu Xiaobing , Yang Li , Li Jie , Zhang Jun , Liu Yonglin , Sun Yongjun , Yan Fei
Published: August 2022

The combined heating and power (CHP) plants are considered one of the promising methods to support the goal of “Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality”. It is an important means to take heat and power load optimal dispatch (LOD) to further reduce the energy consumption of CHP plants. To achieve a better load dispatch scheme, this paper employs a potent algorithm by integrating the grey wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm and the Levy flight (i.e., Levy–GWO algorithm) to overcome premature convergence. Moreover, the constraint condition processing method is also proposed to handle the system constraints for ensuring the results within feasible zones. To confirm the effectiveness of this algorithm, it is tested on two widely used test systems (Test system I and Test system II). The accuracy of the used algorithm is proved by comparing the obtained results and reported data in other literature. Results show that the Levy–GWO algorithm can be used to obtain relatively lower power generation costs, with the values of 9231.41 $/h (Test system I) and 10,111.79 $/h (Test system II). The proposed constraint processing method effectively solves the problem that load optimal dispatch scheduling is difficult to solve due to the existence of multiple constraints. In addition, the comparison results indicate that the Levy–GWO algorithm owns a better robustness and convergence effect and has a promising application for solving LOD problems.
Influence of Water Mist Temperature Approach on Fire Extinguishing Effect of Different Pool Fires
Authors: Liu Tao , Yin Xiao-Yu , Liu Ye-Cheng , Tang Yan , Huang An-Chi , Dong Xi-Lin , Liu Yuan-Jun
Published: August 2022

The aim of this paper was to study the suppression influence of water mist on oil pool fires, taking diesel fires and n-heptane fires as experimental objects. The effects of spray pressure and temperature on water mist suppression were examined, and an experimental platform for the suppression of water mist in a small space was set up. Their fire prevention performance and fire extinguishing mechanisms were analyzed by comparing the flame temperature and extinguishing time of diesel and n-heptane pool fire. Three types of spray pressure were set. Water mist was designed at different temperatures and design experiments were carried out for this purpose. The change process of smoke concentration, thermocouple temperature, and flame combustion under different working conditions were analyzed, and the factors affecting the fire extinguishing effect of water mist on oil pool fire were discussed. The results show that 20 °C water mist is more effective at medium and high pressure than at low pressure. Moreover, 80 °C water mist at 9 MPa is more effective in extinguishing n-heptane fire. The flame extinction time is about 10 s, which is more than 40 s higher than that of cold water.
On the Microcrack Propagation and Mechanical Behavior of Granite Induced by Thermal Cycling Treatments
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Wu , Xu Jin-Hai , Cao Yue , Liu Ding , Sun Lei , Shaikh Faiz
Published: August 2022

Deep geothermal energy is a renewable and environmentally friendly resource, and the hot dry rock in a geothermal reservoir is subjected to thermal cycling treatment. Thermal cycling treatment can cause thermal stresses in the rock matrix and result in thermal cracking, which significantly influence the physical and mechanical properties of a rock. To investigate the influence of thermal cycling treatment on the microcrack propagation and mechanical behavior of a granite rock, a series of physical and mechanical tests were performed on nontreated and treated granite samples. The testing results show that the mass, density, and P-wave velocity of granite decrease with heating temperature and cycling time increase, while the volume of the samples increases significantly. The UCS and elastic modulus of the granite declined from 178.65 MPa and 20.09 GPa to 24.58 MPa and 3.81 GPa after treatment at 500 °C for 30 thermal cycling times, respectively. The degradation trends of the UCS and the elastic modulus of the granite can be characterized by the heating temperature and the thermal cycling times. High temperature and frequent thermal cycling treatment can induce microcrack propagation within the granite, which causes the failure of the samples and leads a transformation of granite from brittleness to ductility.
Diffusion Coefficients in Systems Related to Reservoir Fluids: Available Data and Evaluation of Correlations
Authors: Yang Yibo , Stenby Erling H. , Shapiro Alexander A. , Yan Wei
Published: August 2022

Molecular diffusion determines the time to reach local equilibrium in a reservoir. It can be a main production mechanism in scenarios such as production from fractured reservoirs or tight formation. However, there is a lack of high-pressure diffusion coefficients for reservoir fluids and its related systems. Many correlations exist, but there is no consensus on their accuracy for these systems. We provide a systematic review of the available data for systems related to reservoir fluids, as well as a comprehensive comparison of five commonly used correlations for hydrocarbon mixtures, including the extended Sigmund, Riazi-Whitson, Leahy-Dios-Firoozabadi, Wilke–Chang, and the Hayduk–Minhas correlations. We collected extensive data of diffusion coefficients in binary mixtures related to petroleum fluids and established a database of over 80 binaries and 1600 data points. We also collected the data for gas diffusion in different oils and reservoir fluids, but the data in high-pressure live oils are extremely scarce. The five correlations were evaluated using the binary database, and a few selected correlations using the oil database. None of the correlations show consistent and dominant superiority for all the binary mixtures, although some are better for particular groups/regions. For oils and reservoir fluids, the composition information is often incomplete. Only a few sets allow a comparison between different correlations. Although some trends can be identified from the correlation evaluation, no conclusive recommendation is made for a particular model, due to the data scarcity. The findings underscore the need for more accurate measurement and modeling of gas diffusion in mixtures that are more representative of reservoir fluids at high pressures.
Enhanced Adsorption, Photocatalytic Degradation Efficiency of Phenol Red Using CuZnAl Hydrotalcite Synthesized by Co-Precipitation Technique
Authors: Vu Van Nhuong , Pham Thi Ha Thanh , Nguyen Quoc Dung , Vu Thi Hau , Duong Thi Tu Anh , Tran Thi Hue , Tran Thi Kim Ngan
Published: August 2022

ZnAlCO3 hydrotalcite materials modified by Cu2+ ions were synthesized by the co-precipitation method according to the molar ratios of (Cu2+ + Zn2+):Al3+ as 7:3. Thus, the modified materials contain various molar ratios of Cu2+ from 0–3.5 in the samples. The synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), FT–IR, EDS, SEM, the N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm (BET), and UV–Vis DRS spectrum. The synthesized materials were characterized by a layered double hydroxide structure—such as hydrotalcite. The specific surface area BET increases slightly, corresponding to the increasing Cu2+ molar ratios, and the bandgap energy Eg decreases accordingly. Especially, these material samples have a high phenol red (PR) adsorption capacity at a concentration of 100 ppm and PR was degraded under a 30 W LED light with over 90% of conversion efficiency in the presence of 1.2 mL of 30% H2O2 solution. In addition, the CuH–3.5 material sample maintained stability after four times catalytic reuse. Therefore, this material can be used as an effective treatment for the wastewater of the sedge mat weaving village.
Two Pre-Islamic Places of Worship in the Tourism Landscape of the UAE
Authors: De Man Adriaan
Published: August 2022

As suggested by the title, this paper explores two of the several archaeological sites that configure religious loci in the territory of the current United Arab Emirates. It does so by assessing their relevance, by refining their nature and historical context, and by analyzing their positioning as components of a tourism mix. The core research question is whether or not integration is accomplished. Both structures are quite well known in the academic literature and underwent excavation and conservation investments that allow their proper use and promotion. Discussion and conclusions identify challenges for achieving an appropriate integration with conditioning supply factors.
An Edge-Based Architecture for Offloading Model Predictive Control for UAVs
Authors: Seisa Achilleas Santi , Satpute Sumeet Gajanan , Lindqvist Björn , Nikolakopoulos George
Published: August 2022

Thanks to the development of 5G networks, edge computing has gained popularity in several areas of technology in which the needs for high computational power and low time delays are essential. These requirements are indispensable in the field of robotics, especially when we are thinking in terms of real-time autonomous missions in mobile robots. Edge computing will provide the necessary resources in terms of computation and storage, while 5G technologies will provide minimal latency. High computational capacity is crucial in autonomous missions, especially for cases in which we are using computationally demanding high-level algorithms. In the case of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the onboard processors usually have limited computational capabilities; therefore, it is necessary to offload some of these tasks to the cloud or edge, depending on the time criticality of the application. Especially in the case of UAVs, the requirement to have large payloads to cover the computational needs conflicts with other payload requirements, reducing the overall flying time and hindering autonomous operations from a regulatory perspective. In this article, we propose an edge-based architecture for autonomous UAV missions in which we offload the high-level control task of the UAV’s trajectory to the edge in order to take advantage of the available resources and push the Model Predictive Controller (MPC) to its limits. Additionally, we use Kubernetes to orchestrate our application, which runs on the edge and presents multiple experimental results that prove the efficacy of the proposed novel scheme.
MaD GUI: An Open-Source Python Package for Annotation and Analysis of Time-Series Data
Authors: Ollenschläger Malte , Küderle Arne , Mehringer Wolfgang , Seifer Ann-Kristin , Winkler Jürgen , Gaßner Heiko , Kluge Felix , Eskofier Bjoern M.
Published: August 2022

Developing machine learning algorithms for time-series data often requires manual annotation of the data. To do so, graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are an important component. Existing Python packages for annotation and analysis of time-series data have been developed without addressing adaptability, usability, and user experience. Therefore, we developed a generic open-source Python package focusing on adaptability, usability, and user experience. The developed package, Machine Learning and Data Analytics (MaD) GUI, enables developers to rapidly create a GUI for their specific use case. Furthermore, MaD GUI enables domain experts without programming knowledge to annotate time-series data and apply algorithms to it. We conducted a small-scale study with participants from three international universities to test the adaptability of MaD GUI by developers and to test the user interface by clinicians as representatives of domain experts. MaD GUI saves up to 75% of time in contrast to using a state-of-the-art package. In line with this, subjective ratings regarding usability and user experience show that MaD GUI is preferred over a state-of-the-art package by developers and clinicians. MaD GUI reduces the effort of developers in creating GUIs for time-series analysis and offers similar usability and user experience for clinicians as a state-of-the-art package.
Sulfur-Doped Graphene-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Fast and Sensitive Determination of (R)-(+)-Limonene from Beverages
Authors: Niculae Andreea-Roxana , Stefan-van Staden Raluca-Ioana , van Staden Jacobus Frederick , Georgescu State Ramona
Published: August 2022

Two sensors based on sulfur-doped graphene, a gold nanoparticle paste modified with 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl chloride)-21H,23H-iron (III) porphyrin, were proposed for the determination of R-limonene in beverages (triple sec liqueur and limoncello). Differential pulse voltammetry was the method used to characterize and validate the proposed sensors. The response characteristics showed that the detection limits for both sensors were 3 × 10−6 mol L−1, while the quantification limits were 1 × 10−5 mol L−1. Both sensors can be used to determine R-limonene in a concentration range between 1 × 10−5–6 × 10−4 mol L−1 for TPP/AuNPs-S-Gr and 1 × 10−5–1 × 10−3 mol L−1 for Fe(TPFPP)Cl/AuNPs-S-Gr. The highest sensitivity (0.7068 µA/mol L−1) was recorded when the TPP/AuNPs-S-Gr sensor was used, proving that the electrocatalytic effect of this electrocatalyst is higher compared to that of Fe(TPFPP)Cl/AuNPs-S-Gr. High recoveries (values greater than 99.00%) and low RSD values (%) (below 5.00%) were recorded for both sensors when used to determine R-limonene in triple sec liqueur and limoncello.
Smart Strawberry Farming Using Edge Computing and IoT
Authors: Cruz Mateus , Mafra Samuel , Teixeira Eduardo , Figueiredo Felipe
Published: August 2022

Strawberries are sensitive fruits that are afflicted by various pests and diseases. Therefore, there is an intense use of agrochemicals and pesticides during production. Due to their sensitivity, temperatures or humidity at extreme levels can cause various damages to the plantation and to the quality of the fruit. To mitigate the problem, this study developed an edge technology capable of handling the collection, analysis, prediction, and detection of heterogeneous data in strawberry farming. The proposed IoT platform integrates various monitoring services into one common platform for digital farming. The system connects and manages Internet of Things (IoT) devices to analyze environmental and crop information. In addition, a computer vision model using Yolo v5 architecture searches for seven of the most common strawberry diseases in real time. This model supports efficient disease detection with 92% accuracy. Moreover, the system supports LoRa communication for transmitting data between the nodes at long distances. In addition, the IoT platform integrates machine learning capabilities for capturing outliers in collected data, ensuring reliable information for the user. All these technologies are unified to mitigate the disease problem and the environmental damage on the plantation. The proposed system is verified through implementation and tested on a strawberry farm, where the capabilities were analyzed and assessed.
Characterizing and Removing Artifacts Using Dual-Layer EEG during Table Tennis
Authors: Studnicki Amanda , Downey Ryan J. , Ferris Daniel P.
Published: August 2022

Researchers can improve the ecological validity of brain research by studying humans moving in real-world settings. Recent work shows that dual-layer EEG can improve the fidelity of electrocortical recordings during gait, but it is unclear whether these positive results extrapolate to non-locomotor paradigms. For our study, we recorded brain activity with dual-layer EEG while participants played table tennis, a whole-body, responsive sport that could help investigate visuomotor feedback, object interception, and performance monitoring. We characterized artifacts with time-frequency analyses and correlated scalp and reference noise data to determine how well different sensors captured artifacts. As expected, individual scalp channels correlated more with noise-matched channel time series than with head and body acceleration. We then compared artifact removal methods with and without the use of the dual-layer noise electrodes. Independent Component Analysis separated channels into components, and we counted the number of high-quality brain components based on the fit of a dipole model and using an automated labeling algorithm. We found that using noise electrodes for data processing provided cleaner brain components. These results advance technological approaches for recording high fidelity brain dynamics in human behaviors requiring whole body movement, which will be useful for brain science research.
Self-Sufficient Sensor Node Embedding 2D Visible Light Positioning through a Solar Cell Module
Authors: Cappelli Irene , Carli Federico , Fort Ada , Micheletti Federico , Vignoli Valerio , Bruzzi Mara
Published: August 2022

Nowadays, indoor positioning (IP) is a relevant aspect in several scenarios within the Internet of Things (IoT) framework, e.g., Industry 4.0, Smart City and Smart Factory, in order to track, amongst others, the position of vehicles, people or goods. This paper presents the realization and testing of a low power sensor node equipped with long range wide area network (LoRaWAN) connectivity and providing 2D Visible Light Positioning (VLP) features. Three modulated LED (light emitting diodes) sources, the same as the ones commonly employed in indoor environments, are used. The localization feature is attained from the received light intensities performing optical channel estimation and lateration directly on the target to be localized, equipped with a low-power microcontroller. Moreover, the node exploits a solar cell, both as optical receiver and energy harvester, provisioning energy from the artificial lights used for positioning, thus realizing an innovative solution for self-sufficient indoor localization. The tests performed in a ~1 m2 area reveal accurate positioning results with error lower than 5 cm and energy self-sufficiency even in case of radio transmissions every 10 min, which are compliant with quasi-real time monitoring tasks.