bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling and Analysis of Neuro Fuzzy Employee Ranking System in the Public Sector
Authors: Giotopoulos Konstantinos , Michalopoulos Dimitrios , Karras Aristeidis , Karras Christos , Sioutas Spyros
Published: March 2023

Human resource management has a significant influence on the performance of any public body. Employee classification and ranking are definitely time-consuming processes, which in many cases lead to controversial results. In addition, assessing employee efficiency through a variety of skills could lead to never-ending calculations and error-prone statistics. On the other hand, hard skill selection is proven to formulate a base for further investigation since subjectivity is not included in the performance equation. This research proposes a ranking model of employee selection based on certain criteria and attributes. The proposed prototype shows a series of results with a low error rate using ANFIS as the base methodology approach. This research was explanatory, and the population of this study consisted of employees with the majority of the sample in the wider region of Western Greece. The results showed a harmonic co-existence of the factors that proportionally affect the productivity of the employees in public service. Therefore, it provides the HR department with valuable information regarding the overall productivity of the public body, as well as significant material based on each profile separately. Therefore, efficiency was achieved through an automated time-saving procedure. The final output will enhance any personnel selection system with data extracted directly from the system, ensuring that the current method outperformed traditional approaches and secured a non-subjective procedure on employee management applied to the public sector.
Speaker-Independent Spectral Enhancement for Bone-Conducted Speech
Authors: Cheng Liangliang , Dou Yunfeng , Zhou Jian , Wang Huabin , Tao Liang
Published: March 2023

Because of the acoustic characteristics of bone-conducted (BC) speech, BC speech can be enhanced to better communicate in a complex environment with high noise. Existing BC speech enhancement models have weak spectral recovery capability for the high-frequency part of BC speech and have poor enhancement and robustness for the speaker-independent BC speech datasets. To improve the enhancement effect of BC speech for speaker-independent speech enhancement, we use a GANs method to establish the feature mapping between BC and air-conducted (AC) speech to recover the missing components of BC speech. In addition, the method adds the training of the spectral distance constraint model and, finally, uses the enhanced model completed by the training to reconstruct the BC speech. The experimental results show that this method is superior to the comparison methods such as CycleGAN, BLSTM, GMM, and StarGAN in terms of speaker-independent BC speech enhancement and can obtain higher subjective and objective evaluation results of enhanced BC speech.
Fusion of CCTV Video and Spatial Information for Automated Crowd Congestion Monitoring in Public Urban Spaces
Authors: Wong Vivian , Law Kincho
Published: March 2023

Crowd congestion is one of the main causes of modern public safety issues such as stampedes. Conventional crowd congestion monitoring using closed-circuit television (CCTV) video surveillance relies on manual observation, which is tedious and often error-prone in public urban spaces where crowds are dense, and occlusions are prominent. With the aim of managing crowded spaces safely, this study proposes a framework that combines spatial and temporal information to automatically map the trajectories of individual occupants, as well as to assist in real-time congestion monitoring and prediction. Through exploiting both features from CCTV footage and spatial information of the public space, the framework fuses raw CCTV video and floor plan information to create visual aids for crowd monitoring, as well as a sequence of crowd mobility graphs (CMGraphs) to store spatiotemporal features. This framework uses deep learning-based computer vision models, geometric transformations, and Kalman filter-based tracking algorithms to automate the retrieval of crowd congestion data, specifically the spatiotemporal distribution of individuals and the overall crowd flow. The resulting collective crowd movement data is then stored in the CMGraphs, which are designed to facilitate congestion forecasting at key exit/entry regions. We demonstrate our framework on two video data, one public from a train station dataset and the other recorded at a stadium following a crowded football game. Using both qualitative and quantitative insights from the experiments, we demonstrate that the suggested framework can be useful to help assist urban planners and infrastructure operators with the management of congestion hazards.
Design of High Precision Interval Observer for Robot System
Authors: Duan Shuang , Shao Zhida , Chen Xinyao , Li Xuan , Chen Yiyang , He Haidong
Published: March 2023

In order to solve the problem of parameter uncertainty and unknown external interference of wheeled mobile robots (WMR) in a complex environment, the design of a high-precision interval observer for the robot system is proposed. In this paper, the kinematics and dynamics model of a wheeled mobile robot is derived first, and then the control strategy of high-precision interval observer is introduced to estimate and compensate for the unknown state and uncertainty of the system in real-time, which realizes the robustness of the system to disturbance and high adaptability to the environment. The stability of the system is proved by Lyapunov’s theory. The experimental results show that other methods based on coordinate transformation, though the design conditions are relaxed to a certain extent, bring some conservatism. The method proposed in this paper can obtain more accurate interval estimation, so the performance of the method proposed in this paper is better. In conclusion, the control method proposed in this paper can make the mobile robot system have good tracking control performance and strong robustness.
The Dvaraka Initiative: Mars’s First Permanent Human Settlement Capable of Self-Sustenance
Authors: Mukundan Arvind , Patel Akash , Shastri Bharadwaj , Bhatt Heeral , Phen Alice , Wang Hsiang-Chen
Published: March 2023

From the farthest reaches of the universe to our own galaxy, there are many different celestial bodies that, even though they are very different, each have their own way of being beautiful. Earth, the planet with the best location, has been home to people for as long as we can remember. Even though we cannot be more thankful for all that Earth has given us, the human population needs to grow so that Earth is not the only place where people can live. Mars, which is right next to Earth, is the answer to this problem. Mars is the closest planet and might be able to support human life because it is close to Earth and shares many things in common. This paper will talk about how the first settlement on Mars could be planned and consider a 1000-person colony and the best place to settle on Mars, and make suggestions for the settlement’s technical, architectural, social, and economic layout. By putting together assumptions, research, and estimates, the first settlement project proposed in this paper will suggest the best way to colonize, explore, and live on Mars, which is our sister planet.
Shock Equations and Jump Conditions for the 2D Adjoint Euler Equations
Authors: Lozano Carlos , Ponsin Jorge
Published: March 2023

This paper considers the formulation of the adjoint problem in two dimensions when there are shocks in the flow solution. For typical cost functions, the adjoint variables are continuous at shocks, wherein they have to obey an internal boundary condition, but their derivatives may be discontinuous. The derivation of the adjoint shock equations is reviewed and detailed predictions for the behavior of the gradients of the adjoint variables at shocks are obtained as jump conditions for the normal adjoint gradients in terms of the tangent gradients. Several numerical computations on a very fine mesh are used to illustrate the behavior of numerical adjoint solutions at shocks.
Contributions to the Optimization of the Medicinal Plant Sorting Process into Size Classes
Authors: Pruteanu Mirabela Augustina , Ungureanu Nicoleta , Vlăduț Valentin , Matache Mihai-Gabriel , Niţu Mihaela
Published: March 2023

This study aims to optimize and assess the quality of the sorting process into homogeneous size classes of dried and chopped medicinal plants, by obtaining multivariate regression functions of polytropic and polynomial forms. Assessment of sorting quality was carried out by calculating the average coefficient of separation. The influence of several important factors (material feed rate on the sieve, sieve dimensions, sieve inclination angle, sieve oscillation frequencies) on the sorting process was followed. Research was carried out on dried nettle herb (Urtica dioica) using a plant sorter with plane sieves, which allowed for modifying some constructive and functional parameters, making it possible to obtain optimal values. The results showed that the dry nettle herb chopped in bulk at 4 mm, with a moisture of 11.45%, was optimally sorted (index of average separation coefficient, 0.922) if the following parameters were met: drive mechanism speed n = 1000 rpm; sieve inclination angle α = 12.08°; material-specific flow q = 4 kg/dm·h; recommended sieve length L = 1.4 m. It was observed that at high rates, the average coefficient of separation decreased with the decrease in the sieve drive mechanism speed, and when the inclination angle of the sieve decreased, the average coefficient of separation increased. The maximum average deviation of the average separation coefficient was 5.5% for the polytropic function. The new advanced processing technologies of medicinal plants involve the short-term production of quality-finished products, thus supporting the processors of medicinal plants and the consumers of phytotherapeutic products with beneficial effects for health.
Response of Kentucky Bluegrass Turfgrass to Plant Growth Regulators
Authors: Głąb Tomasz , Szewczyk Wojciech , Gondek Krzysztof
Published: March 2023

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are widely used in turfgrass management. This study aimed to find the influence of different rates of PGRs on Kentucky bluegrass visual quality. Six PGRs were applied, Trinexapac Ethyl, Paclobutrazol, Flurprimidol, Mefluidide, Ethephon, and Gibberellic Acid. The measurement of the leaf color was performed using a spectrophotometer. The turfgrass visual quality was judged using a visual rating system. Trinexapac Ethyl and Flurprimidol applications improved the overall appearance of turfgrass. Paclobutrazol and Gibberellic Acid decreased the overall appearance of investigated Kentucky bluegrass cultivars. The leaf texture assessment was only improved by Gibberellic Acid. The color assessment was enhanced with Paclobutrazol but deteriorated with Gibberellic Acid. PGRs affected the wavelength in a range of 520 to 630 nm. Gibberellic Acid caused lighter leaves with higher green and yellow hues. Paclobutrazol caused darker leaves with a lower green and a reddish hue. Trinexapac Ethyl application resulted in a more reddish hue. PGR rates also affected the visual quality of Kentucky bluegrass turfgrass.
The Relationship between Cadmium-Related Gene Sequence Variations in Rice and Cadmium Accumulation
Authors: Li Weixing , Xu Feng , Cai Tingting , Zhao Wanling , Lin Jianting , Huang Jiayu , Wang Liguo , Bian Jianmin , Fu Junru , Ouyang Linjuan , Cai Yicong , He Haohua , Sun Xiaotang , Zhu Changlan
Published: March 2023

Cadmium (Cd) pollution and uptake into the grains of developing rice plants represent a major threat to human health. Studies of specific genes can offer new insights into the functional roles of particular genes, highlighting candidate alleles that can be leveraged as DNA markers. Accordingly, the identification of novel Cd-related traits and sequence variants can provide new molecular markers for Cd resistance in rice. In the present study, a genetic diversity analysis was carried out on 85 rice varieties exhibiting varied Cd accumulation, and 436 single polymorphic sites (SNP) corresponding to 43 haplotypes were detected across 12 Cd-associated genes (CAL1, OsCADT1, Oscd1, OsHMA4, OsHMA9, OsNRAMP1, OsNRAMP2, OsNRAMP5, OsHMA2, OsHSMA3, OsPCR1, and OsABCG43). By utilizing the information of the SNPs, 85 rice varieties was classified the into 2 clusters with different source categories and Cd contents. Among the variants, 45 sites in 5 genes were significantly associated with the Cd content in rice grains, of which 8 alleles in OsPCR1, CAL1, and Oscd1 were negatively correlated with Cd accumulation. The results of haplotype aggregation analysis for OsPCR1, Oscd1, and CAL1 showed that 85 rice varieties were divided into 5 clusters. Interestingly, most of the varieties in Cluster A belonged to tropical type, which contained the aggregation of three favorable alleles, whereas the temperate varieties constituted the majority of Cluster B lacking favorable alleles. This observation suggests that the allelic combination found in tropical rice varieties may hold promise for reducing Cd accumulation levels in rice grains. The Cd-associated alleles identified in the present study can not only be used to check the Cd tolerance of rice varieties, but also serve as functional molecular markers to differentiate the source of the rice varieties, which provides a better understanding of the relationship between the sequence variation in Cd-related genes and Cd accumulation in rice.
Effects of Harvest Time on the Fruit Quality of Kinnow and Feutrell’s Early Mandarins (Citrus reticulata Blanco)
Authors: Manzoor Meryam , Hussain Syed Bilal , Anjum Muhammad Akbar , Naseer Mudassar , Ahmad Riaz , Ziogas Vasileios
Published: March 2023

The intrinsic and extrinsic traits of citrus fruits change throughout their developmental process, and, therefore, to ensure the highest quality, fruit must be harvested at an appropriate stage of maturity. In a 2-year study, mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) cultivars (Kinnow and Feutrell’s Early) grafted on rough lemon (C. jambheri Lush) rootstock were selected to analyze the effect of harvest time on their physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant potential in two consecutive growing seasons in the Multan region of South Pakistan, which has a subtropical climate. Fruits were harvested from commercial citrus groves at intervals of one month (from September to February). The results showed that different maturity stages/harvesting dates have a significant effect on the fruit quality and yield characteristics of mandarin cultivars. An increase in fruit weight, juice content, total soluble solids, ripening index, juice pH, and total sugar content was observed with the advancement of fruit maturity, while juice acidity, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, and vitamin C content had a decreasing trend towards fruit maturity. Overall, both cultivars showed similar profiles to the change in fruit quality traits during growth and development, but their amounts showed great variation. Based on the comprehensive consideration, Kinnow attained the maximum fruit quality and yield values from mid-January to February, whilst Feutrell’s Early attained the maximum values of these parameters from mid-December to mid-January, attributing to higher consumer acceptability. This study demonstrated that harvest time plays a key role in controlling the fruit quality and yield of mandarin cultivars. In practice, harvest time should be highly considered for the fresh and processed citrus market and industry.
Evaluating Sustainable Options for Valorization of Rice By-Products in Sri Lanka: An Approach for a Circular Business Model
Authors: Illankoon W. A. M. A. N. , Milanese Chiara , Karunarathna A. K. , Liyanage Kumuditha D. Hikkaduwa Epa , Alahakoon A. M. Y. W. , Rathnasiri Puhulwella G. , Collivignarelli Maria Cristina , Sorlini Sabrina
Published: March 2023

Due to the significant quantities of waste generated by the Sri Lankan rice industry, circular bioeconomy methodologies were applied to examine value-adding entrepreneurial activities for rice industry by-products (RIB). The study was conceived after scouring the existing literature on agricultural waste management and interviewing experts in the field and the rice industry. In the first phase, the suitability of valorizing alternatives for RIB was considered via a multi-criteria decision-making method. Valorization options, such as biochar production, energy purposes, composting, and other activities, were evaluated using an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) based on four criteria, namely environmental, social, technical, and economic issues. The results indicated that the highest priority should be given to environmental, social, and economic considerations, with local priority vectors of 0.5887, 0.2552, and 0.0955, respectively. It was found that biochar production is the optimal valorization strategy for managing RIB in Sri Lanka. From these findings, the development of a sustainable business model for making biochar out of RIB was done based on commercial motivations and value addition in biochar manufacturing processes. The Business Model Canvas elements played a vital role in categorizing and interpreting the case study data. Though the RIB seems undervalued at present, it was found that as a direct result of environmental concerns, several stakeholders have developed RIB valorization with an emphasis on bioenergy generation and biochar production. Adequate subsidies (technology and knowledge), standard regulations, more collective actions for creating economies of scale, and marketing strategies (consumer awareness) are all necessary for the successful implementation of sustainable circular business models.
Three-Year Survey of Fusarium Multi-Metabolites/Mycotoxins Contamination in Wheat Samples in Potentially Epidemic FHB Conditions
Authors: Spanic Valentina , Maricevic Marko , Ikic Ivica , Sulyok Michael , Sarcevic Hrvoje
Published: March 2023

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a fungal disease of cereals including wheat, which results in significant economic losses and reductions in grain quality. Additionally, the presence of Fusarium spp. results in productions of mycotoxins/metabolites, some of which are toxic in low concentrations. The liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was applied to 216 wheat samples from field conditions diseased with FHB. Data obtained show that out of 28 metabolites detected, deoxynivalenol (DON), deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (D3G), enniatin B (ENN B), enniatin B1 (ENN B1), culmorin, 15-hydroxyculmorin, and aurofusarin were the most prevalent mycotoxins/metabolites over three years (2014–2016). In 2014–2016, 100, 100 and 96% of the samples were contaminated with zearalenone (ZEN). Of the masked mycotoxins, D3G occurred at a high incidence level of 100% in all three investigated years. Among emerging mycotoxins, moniliformin (MON), beauvericin (BEA) and enniatins (ENNs) showed high occurrences ranging from 27 and 100% during three investigated years. Co-occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins/metabolites was high and almost all were highly correlated to each other but their possible synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effects of toxicity, should be taken into consideration. Our results demonstrated that modified and emerging mycotoxins/metabolites contributed substantially to the overall contamination of wheat grains. To avoid disparagement, it is necessary to analyse these forms in future mycotoxin monitoring programs and to set their maximum levels.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Glyceryl 1,3-Distearate Identified from Clinacanthus nutans Extract against Bovine Mastitis Pathogens
Authors: Thongyim Saruda , Chiangchin Salinee , Pandith Hataichanok , Tragoolpua Yingmanee , Jangsutthivorawat Siriphorn , Panya Aussara
Published: March 2023

Clinacanthus nutans is widely used as a traditional medicine in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia. Although its effectiveness is well documented, its therapeutic use is limited to the treatment of only a few diseases; mostly it is used as an anti-viral agent against varicella-zoster and herpes simplex virus infections. Herein, we demonstrate the therapeutic activity of C. nutans extracts in lowering inflammation in a model of bovine mastitis caused by bacterial infection. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a gram-negative bacterial component, caused inflammation activation in bovine endothelial cells (CPAE) through the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines (IL6 and IL1β) and chemokines (CXCL3 and CXCL8) gene expression, partially leading to cell death. Treatment with C. nutans crude extract significantly diminished these responses in a dose-dependent manner. The solvent fractionation of C. nutans extract revealed that the ethyl acetate (C4H8O2) fractions had a high potential to protect against cell death and diminished IL1β, IL6, CXCL3, and CXCL8 levels to less than 0.45 folds relative to the LPS-treated control. Glyceryl 1,3-distearate (C39H76O5) was identified as a bioactive compound responsible for the anti-inflammation activity but not the anti-cell death activity of C. nutans extract. This study highlighted the efficiency of C. nutans extracts as an alternative therapeutic option for the natural-product sustainable development of bovine mastitis treatment.
Antibiotic Resistance and Food Safety: Perspectives on New Technologies and Molecules for Microbial Control in the Food Industry
Authors: Wu-Wu Jannette Wen Fang , Guadamuz-Mayorga Carolina , Oviedo-Cerdas Douglas , Zamora William J.
Published: March 2023

Antibiotic resistance (ABR) has direct and indirect repercussions on public health and threatens to decrease the therapeutic effect of antibiotic treatments and lead to more infection-related deaths. There are several mechanisms by which ABR can be transferred from one microorganism to another. The risk of transfer is often related to environmental factors. The food supply chain offers conditions where ABR gene transfer can occur by multiple pathways, which generates concerns regarding food safety. This work reviews mechanisms involved in ABR gene transfer, potential transmission routes in the food supply chain, the prevalence of antibiotic residues in food and ABR organisms in processing lines and final products, and implications for public health. Finally, the paper will elaborate on the application of antimicrobial peptides as new alternatives to antibiotics that might countermeasure ABR and is compatible with current food trends.
Comparative Evaluation of Existing and Rationally Designed Novel Antimicrobial Peptides for Treatment of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
Authors: Ramata-Stunda Anna , Boroduskis Martins , Kaktina Elza , Patetko Liene , Kalnenieks Uldis , Lasa Zane , Rubina Marta , Strazdina Inese , Kalnins Gints , Rutkis Reinis
Published: March 2023

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and acne are among the most common skin conditions in primary care. SSTIs caused by ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter sp.) can range in severity, and treating them is becoming increasingly challenging due to the growing number of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. There is also a rise in antibiotic-resistant strains of Cutibacterium acne, which plays a role in the development of acne. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered to be a promising solution to the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance. In this study, six new AMPs were rationally designed and compared to five existing peptides. The MIC values against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, E. faecium, S. aureus, and C. acnes were determined, and the peptides were evaluated for cytotoxicity using Balb/c 3T3 cells and dermal fibroblasts, as well as for hemolytic activity. The interaction with bacterial membranes and the effect on TNF-α and IL-10 secretion were also evaluated for selected peptides. Of the tested peptides, RP556 showed high broad-spectrum antibacterial activity without inducing cytotoxicity or hemolysis, and it stimulated the production of IL-10 in LPS-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Four of the novel AMPs showed pronounced specificity against C. acnes, with MIC values (0.3–0.5 μg/mL) below the concentrations that were cytotoxic or hemolytic.
Building an International One Health Strain Level Database to Characterise the Epidemiology of AMR Threats: ESBL—AmpC Producing E. coli as An Example—Challenges and Perspectives
Authors: Perestrelo Sara , Amaro Ana , Brouwer Michael S. M. , Clemente Lurdes , Ribeiro Duarte Ana Sofia , Kaesbohrer Annemarie , Karpíšková Renata , Lopez-Chavarrias Vicente , Morris Dearbháile , Prendergast Deirdre , Pista Angela , Silveira Leonor , Skarżyńska Magdalena , Slowey Rosemarie , Veldman Kees T. , Zając Magdalena , Burgess Catherine , Alvarez Julio
Published: March 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top public health threats nowadays. Among the most important AMR pathogens, Escherichia coli resistant to extended spectrum cephalosporins (ESC-EC) is a perfect example of the One Health problem due to its global distribution in animal, human, and environmental sources and its resistant phenotype, derived from the carriage of plasmid-borne extended-spectrum and AmpC β-lactamases, which limits the choice of effective antimicrobial therapies. The epidemiology of ESC-EC infection is complex as a result of the multiple possible sources involved in its transmission, and its study would require databases ideally comprising information from animal (livestock, companion, wildlife), human, and environmental sources. Here, we present the steps taken to assemble a database with phenotypic and genetic information on 10,763 ESC-EC isolates retrieved from multiple sources provided by 13 partners located in eight European countries, in the frame of the DiSCoVeR Joint Research project funded by the One Health European Joint Programme (OH-EJP), along with its strengths and limitations. This database represents a first step to help in the assessment of different geographical and temporal trends and transmission dynamics in animals and humans. The work performed highlights aspects that should be considered in future international efforts, such as the one presented here.
Effect of Extracellular Matrix Stiffness on Candesartan Efficacy in Anti-Fibrosis and Antioxidation
Authors: Zhu Tong , Song Jingjing , Gao Bin , Zhang Junjie , Li Yabei , Ye Zhaoyang , Zhao Yuxiang , Guo Xiaogang , Xu Feng , Li Fei
Published: March 2023

Myocardial fibrosis progression and imbalanced redox state are closely associated with increased extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness. Candesartan (CAN), an angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor inhibitor, has shown promising anti-fibrosis and antioxidant efficacy in previous cardiovascular disease studies. However, the effect of ECM stiffness on CAN efficacy remains elusive. In this study, we constructed rat models with three different degrees of myocardial fibrosis and treated them with CAN, and then characterized the stiffness, cardiac function, and NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2) expression of the myocardial tissues. Based on the obtained stiffness of myocardial tissues, we used polyacrylamide (PA) gels with three different stiffness to mimic the ECM stiffness of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) at the early, middle, and late stages of myocardial fibrosis as the cell culture substrates and then constructed CFs mechanical microenvironment models. We studied the effects of PA gel stiffness on the migration, proliferation, and activation of CFs without and with CAN treatment, and characterized the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels of CFs using fluorometry and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). We found that CAN has the best amelioration efficacy in the cardiac function and NOX2 levels in rats with medium-stiffness myocardial tissue, and the most obvious anti-fibrosis and antioxidant efficacy in CFs on the medium-stiffness PA gels. Our work proves the effect of ECM stiffness on CAN efficacy in myocardial anti-fibrosis and antioxidants for the first time, and the results demonstrate that the effect of ECM stiffness on drug efficacy should also be considered in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Effect of the Drying Method and Optimization of Extraction on Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic of Rose Petals
Authors: Baibuch Sabrina , Zema Paula , Bonifazi Evelyn , Cabrera Gabriela , Mondragón Portocarrero Alicia del Carmen , Campos Carmen , Malec Laura
Published: March 2023

The effect of freeze and hot air drying methods on the retention of total phenolics, antioxidant activity (AA), and color of different cultivars of rose petals was analyzed. Both methods similarly preserved the phenolic content and AA, while freeze drying showed better red color retention. Furthermore, the conditions of total phenolics and AA extraction from two rose cultivars, Lovely Red and Malu, were optimized by response surface methodology through a Box–Behnken design. The solvent exhibited a major effect on the total phenolic content (TPC) and AA. The selected parameters were ethanol 38%, 75 °C, and 30 min. Under these conditions, the predicted values for Lovely Red were 189.3 mg GA/g dw (TPC) and 535.6 mg Trolox/g dw (AA), and those for Malu were 108.5 mg GA/g dw (TPC) and 320.7 mg Trolox/g dw (AA). The experimental values were close to the predicted values, demonstrating the suitability of the model. Ultrasound-assisted extraction increased the AA of the extracts but not the TPC. Fifteen compounds were identified in the Lovely Red cultivar, with no differences between the two drying methods. The results obtained suggest that the analyzed cultivars, particularly the red ones, can be considered a natural source of powerful antioxidant compounds.
Edible Seaweeds Extracts: Characterization and Functional Properties for Health Conditions
Authors: Coelho Mariana , Duarte Ana Patrícia , Pinto Sofia , Botelho Hugo M. , Reis Catarina Pinto , Serralheiro Maria Luísa , Pacheco Rita
Published: March 2023

Seaweeds are popular foods due to claimed beneficial health effects, but for many there is a lack of scientific evidence. In this study, extracts of the edible seaweeds Aramé, Nori, and Fucus are compared. Our approach intends to clarify similarities and differences in the health properties of these seaweeds, thus contributing to target potential applications for each. Additionally, although Aramé and Fucus seaweeds are highly explored, information on Nori composition and bioactivities is scarce. The aqueous extracts of the seaweeds were obtained by decoction, then fractionated and characterized according to their composition and biological activity. It was recognized that fractioning the extracts led to bioactivity reduction, suggesting a loss of bioactive compounds synergies. The Aramé extract showed the highest antioxidant activity and Nori exhibited the highest potential for acetylcholinesterase inhibition. The identification of the bioactive compounds in the extracts allowed to see that these contained a mixture of phloroglucinol polymers, and it was suggested that Nori’s effect on acetylcholinesterase inhibition may be associated with a smaller sized phlorotannins capable of entering the enzyme active site. Overall, these results suggest a promising potential for the use of these seaweed extracts, mainly Aramé and Nori, in health improvement and management of diseases, namely those associated to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration.
Aging-Accelerated Mouse Prone 8 (SAMP8) Mice Experiment and Network Pharmacological Analysis of Aged Liupao Tea Aqueous Extract in Delaying the Decline Changes of the Body
Authors: Pan Wenjing , Li Wangshu , Wu Huan , Xie Xinya , Xie Mingwei , Nie Qing , Liu Zhonghua , Cai Shuxian
Published: March 2023

Aging and metabolic disorders feedback and promote each other and are closely related to the occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, neurodegeneration and other degenerative diseases. Liupao tea is a geographical indication product of Chinese dark tea, with a “red, concentrated, aged and mellow” flavor quality. In this study, the aqueous extract of aged Liupao tea (ALPT) administered by continuous gavage significantly inhibited the increase of visceral fat and damage to the intestinal–liver–microbial axis in high-fat modeling of SAMP8 (P8+HFD) mice. Its potential mechanism is that ALPT significantly inhibited the inflammation and aggregation formation pathway caused by P8+HFD, increased the abundance of short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria Alistipes, Alloprevotella and Bacteroides, and had a calorie restriction effect. The results of the whole target metabolome network pharmacological analysis showed that there were 139 potential active components in the ALPT aqueous extract, and the core targets of their actions were SRC, TP53, AKT1, MAPK3, VEGFA, EP300, EGFR, HSP90AA1, CASP3, etc. These target genes were mainly enriched in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, glucose and lipid metabolism and other pathways of degenerative changes. Molecular docking further verified the reliability of network pharmacology. The above results indicate that Liupao tea can effectively delay the body’s degenerative changes through various mechanisms and multi-target effects. This study revealed that dark tea such as Liupao tea has significant drinking value in a modern and aging society.
A New Flow Control Method of Slat-Grid Channel-Coupled Configuration on High-Lift Device
Authors: Yu Jingyi , Mi Baigang
Published: March 2023

A slot formed between the slat and the main wing of the 2D high-lift device is used to accelerate the convergence of the flow to the upper surface of the main wing to improve the flow field quality. In order to further enhance flow characteristics, this paper proposes a design method for multi-channel leading-edge slats based on grid flow channels. On the one hand, a specific shape of a shrinking expansion tube is formed to improve the lift characteristics of the leading slat. On the other hand, the newly formed slot plays a similar role to that of the jet stream, delaying the separation on the upper surface of the main wing, making the separation point move back and helping to improve the lift characteristics of the main wing. The optimization of coupled slat-grid channel configuration is developed by using the DOE algorithm. The geometric parameters, such as coordinates and curve slope, are considered as design variables, and the maximum lift–drag ratio is taken as the optimization objective required to obtain the optimal configuration. The simulation and optimization results show that the lift coefficient increases by 3.3%, the drag coefficient decreases by 12.7%, and the lift–drag ratio increases by 18.4% of the optimal configuration compared with the original airfoil at an angle of attack of 16.3°.
Soil Spectral Behavior Related to Its Load-Bearing Capacity Based on Moisture Content
Authors: Ahmed Ahmed Elawad Eltayeb , El Hariri Alaa , Kiss Péter
Published: March 2023

Soil’s load-bearing capacity is a crucial property from which the ability of soil to resist the vertical deformation resulting from a normal load can be determined, and this property is essential for analyzing a vehicle’s performance over soil terrain in terramechanics studies. Soil’s moisture content has a significant impact on its load-bearing capacity and spectral behavior. This study aims to show the relation between the load-bearing capacity and the spectral behavior of sandy loam soil. The study presents the load-bearing capacity and color results of sandy loam soil at different moisture contents. The load-bearing capacity was measured using the Bevameter technique, and the color was measured using spectrophotometer technology that sends waves in the visible range (400–700 nm). The pressure–sinkage results of the tested soil show that with an increase in the moisture content, the bearing capacity of the soil decreases, and the color results show a decrease in the color reflectance with the increase in the moisture content. The measurements were performed in the laboratory of the vehicle technology department at Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE).
Physical and Functional Characteristics of Extrudates Prepared from Quinoa Enriched with Goji Berry
Authors: Dushkova Mariya , Simitchiev Apostol , Petrova Todorka , Menkov Nikolay , Desseva Ivelina , Mihaylova Dasha
Published: March 2023

In this research, the possibilities of applying the extrusion process to produce functional food from quinoa enriched with goji berries were studied. The physical (expansion ratio, bulk density, hardness, and specific mechanical energy) and functional (water solubility index, water absorption index) characteristics were determined and optimized by the response surface methodology. Extrudates were produced using a laboratory single-screw extruder. The full factorial experimental design was used (N = 22) with three complementary center points to show the interactions of the amount of goji berry (1, 3, and 5%) and the feed moisture content (13, 16, and 19%) of the mixture on the physical and functional characteristics. Increasing moisture content from 13 to 19% resulted in extrudates with a lower expansion ratio, water absorption index, water solubility index, specific mechanical energy, and higher density and hardness. Increasing the amount of goji berries from 1 to 5% led to a decrease in expansion ratio, water absorption index, and hardness, and an increase in density, water solubility index, and specific mechanical energy. Optimal extrusion conditions for production of extrudates from quinoa enriched with goji berry were 16.3% feed moisture content and 1.32% goji berry’s amount.
Dental Erosion and Diet in Young Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ruiz Dolores Casaña , Marqués Martínez Laura , García Miralles Esther
Published: March 2023

Dental erosion is the irreversible loss of tooth enamel caused by acid attack without any bacterial involvement. Interest in dental erosion has increased considerably during the past decade. This paper aims to determine the prevalence of and association of dental erosion with diet or beverages in children. A systematic review of the literature has been carried out in accordance with the PRISMA recommendations. A search was performed in PubMed, Embase Scopus and Web of Science databases, and completed manually. Those studies that dealt with erosive risk factors related to diet and that included their effect on deciduous or mixed dentition were selected. Dual independent screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were concluded. A total number of 708 articles were identified from the initial electronic search of the four databases. Some 466 articles were selected after duplicated articles were discarded. After reading the title and abstract, we eliminated 376 articles; the remaining 90 were meant to be read in order that we could dispatch the ones that did not answer the research question or the inclusion criteria. A total of 25 articles remained for the systematic review. Erosive lesions are favored by the consumption of carbonated and isotonic drinks, fruit juices and acid sauces. Carbonated, isotonic drinks and fruit drinks favor the development of erosive lesions, not so the consumption of fruit juices mixed with dairy products such as milkshakes, yogurts and/or tea. The findings of this article will help researchers, academics and students to characterize the scientific results regarding dental erosion and diet, to evaluate management strategies and to identify significant topics and questions that will help to design future research with the aim of the prevention of the disease. Registration number: CDR42023389750.
Predictive Control for Current Distortion Mitigation in Mining Power Grids
Authors: Gómez Juan S. , Navas-Fonseca Alex , Flores-Bahamonde Freddy , Tarisciotti Luca , Garcia Cristian , Nuñez Felipe , Rodriguez Jose , Cipriano Aldo Z.
Published: March 2023

Current distortion is a critical issue of power quality because the low frequency harmonics injected by adjustable speed drives increase heating losses in transmission lines and induce torque flickering in induction motors, which are widely used in mining facilities. Although classical active filtering techniques mitigate the oscillatory components of imaginary power, they may not be sufficient to clean the sensitive nodes of undesirable power components, some of which are related to real power. However, the usage of power electronic converters for distributed generation and energy storage, allows the integration of complementary power quality control objectives in electrical systems, by using the same facilities required for active power transferring. This paper proposes a predictive control-based scheme for mitigating the current distortion in the coupling node between utility grid and the mining facility power system. Instead of the classical approach of active filtering, this task is included as a secondary level objective control referred into the microgrid control hierarchy. Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation results showed that the proposed scheme is capable of bounding the current distortion, according to IEEE standard 1547, for both individual harmonics and the total rated current distortion, through inequality constraints of the optimization problem.
Highly Compact 4 × 4 Flower-Shaped MIMO Antenna for Wideband Communications
Authors: Ali Wael A. E. , Ibrahim Rowan A.
Published: March 2023

This paper introduces an MIMO antenna with a highly compact size of 30 mm width and 30 mm length. Four symmetrical MIMO antenna radiators are utilized with decoupling stubs in the top and bottom planes of the substrate to improve the isolation level. The simulated and measured outcomes are validated to investigate the impact of the suggested MIMO antenna for wideband applications. The suggested MIMO antenna has an impedance matching less than −10 dB from 5.8 GHz up to 11 GHz, and the isolation between the four radiators exceeds 20 dB over this band. Moreover, the antenna provides an envelope correlation coefficient not exceeding 0.004, a diversity gain above 9.97 dB, and a mean effective gain of ≤−3 dB over the achieved frequency range. The suggested MIMO antenna exhibits a nearly omnidirectional radiation pattern in one plane and a bi-directional radiation pattern in the other plane with an acceptable average value of the realized gain (4 dBi) over the achieved frequency band. A comparison with the state-of-the-art is tabulated to show the distinct performance of the suggested MIMO antenna for wideband applications.
Effects of Blade Extension on Power Production and Ultimate Loads of Wind Turbines
Authors: Li Yuan , Liang Xiao , Cai Anmin , Zhang Linwei , Lin Weirong , Ge Mingwei
Published: March 2023

Blade extension is an important type of technical transformation to improve the energy production of turbines for early-built wind farms. To evaluate the effects of blade extension on wind turbines, a 1.5 MW commercial wind turbine with three 37.5 m long blades is taken as the research object; the power enhancement and the load variations are systemically evaluated for three different blade extension lengths (1 m, 1.5 m and 2 m) resorting to the software GH-Bladed. The load cases cover all the requirements of the IEC-61400-1 standard. It is found that the optimum tip-speed ratio λopt and the corresponding power coefficient CPmax increase with the blade extension length. The annual energy power production is enhanced by about 3%, 4% and 6% for the extension length of 1 m, 1.5 m and 2 m, respectively. The steady loads and dynamic loads, especially the thrust force of the rotor, the flapwise moment of the blade root and the overturning moment at the tower bottom, are significantly enhanced as the improvement of the power. In particular, the percentage increase of these quantities are over 10% when the extension achieves 2 m. It is also shown that blade extension can produce good economic benefit and the benefit improves with the extension length within the safety margin. The paper provides an important reference for this type of technical transformation.
Linear Trees, Lattice Walks, and RNA Arrays
Authors: Evans Jasmine Renee , Nkwanta Asamoah
Published: March 2023

The leftmost column entries of RNA arrays I and II count the RNA numbers that are related to RNA secondary structures from molecular biology. RNA secondary structures sometimes have mutations and wobble pairs. Mutations are random changes that occur in a structure, and wobble pairs are known as non-Watson–Crick base pairs. We used topics from RNA combinatorics and Riordan array theory to establish connections among combinatorial objects related to linear trees, lattice walks, and RNA arrays. In this paper, we establish interesting new explicit bijections (one-to-one correspondences) involving certain subclasses of linear trees, lattice walks, and RNA secondary structures. We provide an interesting generalized lattice walk interpretation of RNA array I. In addition, we provide a combinatorial interpretation of RNA array II as RNA secondary structures with n bases and k base-point mutations where ω of the structures contain wobble base pairs. We also establish an explicit bijection between RNA structures with mutations and wobble bases and a certain subclass of lattice walks.
A Systematic Literature Analysis on Electrolyte Filling and Wetting in Lithium-Ion Battery Production
Authors: Kaden Nicolaj , Schlimbach Ricarda , Rohde García Álvaro , Dröder Klaus
Published: March 2023

Electrolyte filling and wetting is a quality-critical and cost-intensive process step of battery cell production. Due to the importance of this process, a steadily increasing number of publications is emerging for its different influences and factors. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify common parameters that influence wetting behavior in experimental settings, specifically focusing on material, processes, and experimental measurement methods but excluding simulation studies. We reduced the initially found 544 records systematically to 39 fully labeled articles. Our profound analysis guided by attributed labelings revealed current research gaps such as the lack of a holistic view on measurement methods for filling and wetting, underrepresented studies relevant to series production, as well as the negligence of research targeting the transferability of results from the material to the cell level, while also examining the measured variables’ interactions. After comparatively illustrating and discussing implications of our findings, we also discussed limitations of our contribution and suggested ideas for potential further research topics.