bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primer reporte de la especie exótica Puntigrus tetrazona (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) para República Dominicana
Authors: Dalmau-Disla Alfredo , Torres-Pineda Patricia , De Jesús Nelvinson
Published: July 2020

Se reporta por primera vez para República Dominicana, isla Hispaniola, el pez de agua dulce, Puntigrus tetrazona (Bleeker, 1855) en un tributario del río Haina, provincia San Cristóbal. Se colectaron varios individuos en distintos puntos a lo largo del tributario, sin embargo, no se encontraron individuos de esta especie en el curso principal del río. Se presume que se introdujo intencionalmente y que tiene gran potencial de invasión.
İş Yaşamında Bekar Kadınların Sorunlarına İlişkin Nitel Bir Araştırma
Authors: Küçükaltan Ebru Günlü , Gökhan Songül , Demirağ Ilgaz Feray
Published: July 2020

Literatürde evli kadınların iş hayatında yaşadıkları zorluklara ilişkin çok sayıda çalışma mevcuttur. Ancak bekâr kadınların çalışma yaşamlarının perde arkasında evli ve çocuklu hemcinslerine yapılan ayrımcılık neticesinde yaşadıkları sorunlar gözardı edildiğinden araştırmanın sorunsalı bu şekilde belirlenmiştir. Bu bağlamda araştırmanın nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden yüzyüze görüşme tekniği  ile yapılmasına karar verilmiş ve 40 bekâr çalışan kadınla görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmaya katılan kadınların yaşları 25 ile 48 arasında değişmektedir. Katılımcılar hemşire, veteriner, mühendis, gazeteci, mağazacı, güvenlik, polis, bankacı, öğretmen gibi farklı meslek gruplarından  seçilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda elde edilen bulgular ise bekâr kadınların çalışma hayatlarındaki yoğunluktan dolayı iş yaşam dengelerinin olmadığı ve özellikle kadınlara uygulanan pozitif ayrımcılığın hemcinsler arasında eşit dağıtılmadığı nitekim evli ve çocuklu hemcinsleriyle yaptıkları karşılaştırmada çalışma koşullarının ağırlaştığı çünkü evli ve çocuklu çalışanların eşlerini ve çocuklarını bahane ederek kendilerine fırsat yarattıklarına ilişkin bulgulara rastlanmıştır. Bekâr çalışanlar evlilerin kendilerine ait hayatın sorumluluklarının yükünü almadıklarını yöneticilerin de bu duruma uyduklarını sonuç olarak kendilerinin mağdur edildiğini düşünmektedirler.
A Review of	Network to Combat Sexual Harassment and Assault at Universities: SHA Studies Book edited by Gülriz Uygur- Hülya Şimga (Eastern Mediterrenean Univeristy: Eastern Mediterrenean University Press, 2018)
Authors: Sabancı Tümel
Published: July 2020

This book is a product of collective experience and solidarity based on the struggle of different groups in order to prevent sexual harassment and assault at universities. Gender inequality, which exists in many areas, also manifests itself in universities that have hierarchical relationships.

It is believed that this book will also be a guide for Women’s Studies Centers about the topic of sexual harassment and assault.  Of the 187 universities in Turkey, there are 95 Women's Research Centres. It is very vital that these centers have a feminist perspective. Universities contributed with their own Sexual Harassment and Assault prevention experiences to the book are: Ankara University, Atılım University, Istanbul Bilgi University, Eastern Mediterranean University, Dokuz Eylül University, İstanbul Koç University, Mimar Sinan University, Middle East Technical University, Sabancı University and Van Yüzüncü Yıl University. By sharing their experiences with other stakeholders, they emphasized the importance of SHA Network and intercollegiate dialogue and cooperation. It started with the question “What can be done against sexual harassment and assault at universities?” and thirteen workshops were held in six years in different universities. This book is an attempt to record and investigate exactly this process.

Another point of this book is to talk about   “the unspoken”. The problem of sexual harassment and assault occurs in almost every part of society but is "untouched" occurs on and off campus. Universities have the potential to transcend the people involved in achieving gender equality. In this book review, it is aimed to address the differences, similarities, gains and difficulties encountered in these experiences, each of which is very valuable.
Cepas de Pleurotus pulmonarius con alta capacidad productiva seleccionadas de micelios dicarióticos
Authors: Salmones Dulce , Mata Gerardo , Gaitán-Hernández Rigoberto , Ortega Carlos
Published: July 2020

Antecedentes: Pleurotus pulmonarius es uno de los hongos comestibles comercialmente más importantes en el mundo. En México, su producción se sustenta en pocas cepas comerciales, por lo que es de interés seleccionar germoplasma altamente productivo y de buena calidad, adecuado para su propagación bajo las condiciones ambientales regionales.
Objetivo: Obtener y seleccionar cepas altamente productivas de P. pulmonarius a partir del cruzamiento interespécimen de parentales comerciales.
Métodos: Se aislaron cultivos monospóricos de tres cepas, seleccionándose los de más rápido crecimiento micelial para determinar los tipos de compatibilidad y realizar las cruzas interespécimen. Los nuevos dicariones se cultivaron en paja de cebada para cuantificar: Precocidad en formación de primordios, eficiencia biológica (EB), tasa de producción (TP) y tamaño de los basidiomas, comparativamente con sus parentales.
Resultados y conclusiones: Se evaluaron 48 nuevos dicariones. Las EB’s fluctuaron de 7.3 a 147.5 % y las TP’s de 0.14 a 2.59 %. Trece cepas progenie superaron el 80 % de EB y 16 cepas el 1.5 % de TP. La mayoría de las fructificaciones presentaron píleos de 5 a 15 cm Ø. Aunque la productividad de las cepas progenie fue variable, algunos dicariones presentaron características aceptables para su aprovechamiento comercial.
Applicability of Aeroacoustic Scaling Laws of Leading Edge Serrations for Rotating Applications
Authors: Biedermann Till M. , Czeckay Pasquale , Hintzen Nils , Kameier Frank , Paschereit C. O.
Published: July 2020

The dominant aeroacoustic mechanisms of serrated leading edges, subjected to highly turbulent inflow conditions, can be compressed to spanwise decorrelation effects as well as effects of destructive interference. For single aerofoils, the resulting broadband noise reduction is known to follow spectral scaling laws. However, transferring serrated leading edges to rotating machinery, results in noise radiation patterns of significantly increased complexity, impeding to allocate the observed noise reduction to the underlying physical mechanisms. The current study aims at concatenating the scaling laws for stationary aerofoil and rotating-blade application and thus at providing valuable information on the aeroacoustic transferability of leading edge serrations. For the pursued approach, low-pressure axial fans are designed, obtaining identical serrated fan blade geometries than previously analyzed single aerofoils, hence allowing for direct comparison. Highly similar spectral noise reduction patterns are obtained for the broadband noise reduction of the serrated rotors, generally confirming the transferability and showing a scaling with the geometrical parameters of the serrations as well as the inflow conditions. Continuative analysis of the total noise reduction, however, constrains the applicability of the scaling laws to a specific operating range of the rotors and motivates for a devaluation of the scaling coefficients regarding additional rotor-specific effects.
Extending the Applicability of Newton’s Algorithm with Projections for Solving Generalized Equations
Authors: Argyros Michael I. , Argyros Gus I. , Argyros Ioannis K. , Regmi Samundra , George Santhosh
Published: July 2020

A new technique is developed to extend the convergence ball of Newton’s algorithm with projections for solving generalized equations with constraints on the multidimensional Euclidean space. This goal is achieved by locating a more precise region than in earlier studies containing the solution on which the Lipschitz constants are smaller than the ones used in previous studies. These advances are obtained without additional conditions. This technique can be used to extend the usage of other iterative algorithms. Numerical experiments are used to demonstrate the superiority of the new results.
Cell Replacement Strategies for Lithium Ion Battery Packs
Authors: Nenadic Nenad G. , Trabold Thomas A. , Thurston Michael G.
Published: July 2020

The economic value of high-capacity battery systems, being used in a wide variety of automotive and energy storage applications, is strongly affected by the duration of their service lifetime. Because many battery systems now feature a very large number of individual cells, it is necessary to understand how cell-to-cell interactions can affect durability, and how to best replace poorly performing cells to extend the lifetime of the entire battery pack. This paper first examines the baseline results of aging individual cells, then aging of cells in a representative 3S3P battery pack, and compares them to the results of repaired packs. The baseline results indicate nearly the same rate of capacity fade for single cells and those aged in a pack; however, the capacity variation due to a few degrees changes in room temperature (≃±3 ∘ C) is significant (≃±1.5% of capacity of new cell) compared to the percent change of capacity over the battery life cycle in primary applications (≃20–30%). The cell replacement strategies investigation considers two scenarios: early life failure, where one cell in a pack fails prematurely, and building a pack from used cells for less demanding applications. Early life failure replacement found that, despite mismatches in impedance and capacity, a new cell can perform adequately within a pack of moderately aged cells. The second scenario for reuse of lithium ion battery packs examines the problem of assembling a pack for less-demanding applications from a set of aged cells, which exhibit more variation in capacity and impedance than their new counterparts. The cells used in the aging comparison part of the study were deeply discharged, recovered, assembled in a new pack, and cycled. We discuss the criteria for selecting the aged cells for building a secondary pack and compare the performance and coulombic efficiency of the secondary pack to the pack built from new cells and the repaired pack. The pack that employed aged cells performed well, but its efficiency was reduced.
B-Vitamins Determination in Donkey Milk
Authors: Vincenzetti Silvia , Pucciarelli Stefania , Santini Giuseppe , Klimanova Yulia , Polzonetti Valeria , Polidori Paolo
Published: July 2020

Background: Donkey milk is used in infant nutrition for the treatment of children affected by cow’s milk protein allergy, thanks to its hypo-allergenicity, mainly due to its protein profile, which is very close to that of human milk. Furthermore, donkey milk is characterized by the presence of a fair amount of bioactive proteins, that may have a positive impact on human health. Despite the presence of numerous articles that describe the chemical composition and nutraceutical properties of donkey milk, few works have been performed to determine its vitamin profile; therefore, the purpose of this work is to give further information on the B-vitamins profile of donkey milk. Methods: B-vitamins have been determined through a reversed-phase liquid chromatography analysis. Results: The results indicated that donkey milk (DM) contains thiamine 0.661 ± 0.26 μM, riboflavin 0.168 ± 0.04 μM, nicotinic acid 18.75 ± 1.92 μM, pyridoxine 5.38 ± 3.3 5μM, and folic acid 0.83 ± 0.08 μM. Conclusions: Donkey milk contains a high quantity of nicotinic acid, known for its lipid-lowering effect, and a good amount of vitamin B6 and folic acid, the latter very important for children’s growth. To notice, vitamin B6 has been determined for the first time in donkey milk.
N-acetylcysteine Provides Cytoprotection in Murine Oligodendrocytes through Heme Oxygenase-1 Activity
Authors: Zhou Jie , Terluk Marcia R. , Basso Lisa , Mishra Usha R. , Orchard Paul J. , Cloyd James C. , Schröder Henning , Kartha Reena V.
Published: July 2020

Oligodendrocytic injury by oxidative stress can lead to demyelination, contributing to neurodegeneration. We investigated the mechanisms by which an antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), reduces oxidative stress in murine oligodendrocytes. We used normal 158N and mutant 158JP cells with endogenously high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Oxidative stress was induced in 158N cells using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 500 μM), and both cells were treated with NAC (50 µM to 500 µM). ROS production, total glutathione (GSH) and cell survival were measured 24 h after treatment. In normal cells, H2O2 treatment resulted in a ~5.5-fold increase in ROS and ~50% cell death. These deleterious effects of oxidative stress were attenuated by NAC, resulting in improved cell survival. Similarly, NAC treatment resulted in decreased ROS levels in 158JP cells. Characterization of mechanisms underlying cytoprotection in both cell lines revealed an increase in GSH levels by NAC, which was partially blocked by an inhibitor of GSH synthesis. Interestingly, we observed heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a cytoprotective enzyme, play a critical role in cytoprotection. Inhibition of HO-1 activity abolished the cytoprotective effect of NAC with a corresponding decrease in total antioxidant capacity. Our results indicate that NAC promotes oligodendrocyte survival in oxidative stress-related conditions through multiple pathways.
Amorphization Mitigation in Boron-Rich Boron Carbides Quantified by Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Schaefer Mark C. , Haber Richard A.
Published: July 2020

Boron carbide is an extremely hard and lightweight material used in armor systems. Upon impact above the Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL), boron carbide loses strength and suddenly fails. Atomistic models suggest that boron-rich boron carbides could mitigate amorphization. Such samples were processed, and indentation-induced amorphous zones were created throughout the boron-rich samples of varying degrees and were mapped with Raman spectroscopy to assess changes in the amorphization intensity. Boron-rich samples with a B/C ratio of 6.3 showed a large reduction in amorphization intensity compared to commonly used stoichiometric B4 C, in agreement with recent TEM results. Additionally, hardness trends were also noted as boron content is varied. This offers another pathway in which doping boron carbide can reduce amorphization.
Subjective Family Socioeconomic Status and Adolescents’ Attention: Blacks’ Diminished Returns
Authors: Assari Shervin , Boyce Shanika , Bazargan Mohsen
Published: July 2020

Background: Racial minorities, particularly non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs) in the US, experience weaker effects from their families’ socioeconomic status on tangible outcomes, a pattern called the Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory. These MDRs are frequently shown in the effects of the families’ socioeconomic status (SES) on NHB adolescents’ school performance. As a result of these MDRs, NHB adolescents from high SES families show a worse than expected school performance. The existing knowledge is, however, minimal about the role of attention in explaining the diminished returns of the families’ SES with regard to the adolescents’ outcomes. Aim: To investigate the racial differences in the effects of the subjective family SES on adolescents’ attention, we compared non-Hispanic white (NHW) and NHB adolescents to assess the effect of the subjective family SES on adolescents’ attention. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis that included 4188 adolescents from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. The independent variable was the subjective family SES. The primary outcome was the adolescents’ attention to be measured by the stop-signal task (SST). The attention domain of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was also measured. Results: Overall, a high subjective family SES was associated with a higher task-based and CBCL-based attention. Race showed statistically significant interactions with subjective family SES in terms of adolescents’ attention outcomes. These interactions suggested that a high subjective family SES has smaller tangible effects on increasing the attention of NHB than NHW adolescents. Conclusion: The boosting effect of subjective family SES on attention is diminished for NHB rather than NHW adolescents. To minimize the racial gap in attention-related behaviors, such as school performance, we need to address the diminished returns of resources in the lives of NHB families. Not only should we equalize SES, but also increase the marginal returns of SES for racial minorities, particularly NHB families. Such efforts require public policies that empower NHB families to better leverage their SES resources and turn them into tangible outcomes. In addition, social policies should directly aim to alter the societal barriers that limit NHB families’ ability to effectively utilize their resources. Discrimination, segregation, and racism should be targets of our policy solutions.
A Dataset to Evaluate IEEE 802.15.4g SUN for Dependable Low-Power Wireless Communications in Industrial Scenarios
Authors: Tuset-Peiró Pere , Gomes Ruan D. , Thubert Pascal , Cuerva Eva , Egusquiza Eduard , Vilajosana Xavier
Published: July 2020

This article presents a dataset obtained from the deployment of an IEEE 802.15.4g SUN (Smart Utility Network) single-hop network (11 nodes) in a large industrial scenario (110,044 m 2 ) for a long period of time (99 days). The dataset contains ∼11 M entries with RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), CCA (Clear Channel Assessment), and PDR (Packet Delivery Ratio) values. The analyzed results show a high variability in the average RSSI (i.e., between −82.1 dBm and −101.7 dBm) and CCA (i.e., between −111.2 dBm and −119.9 dBm) values, which is caused by the effects of multi-path propagation and external interference. Despite being above the sensitivity limit for each modulation, these values result in poor average PDR values (i.e., from 65.9% to 87.4%), indicating that additional schemes are needed to meet the link reliability requirements of industrial applications. Hence, the presented dataset will allow researchers and practitioners to propose novel mechanisms and evaluate their performance using realistic conditions, enabling the dependability vision of the RAW (Reliable and Available Wireless) WG (Working Group) at the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force).
REVERT: A Network Failure Recovery Method for Data Center Networks
Authors: Cui Yunhe , Qian Qing , Shen Guowei , Guo Chun , Li Saifei
Published: July 2020

As a repository that holds computing facilities, storage facilities, network facilities and other facilities, the Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) can provide computing and storage resources for users. For a SDDC, it is important to provide continuous services for users. Hence, in order to achieve high reliability in Software Defined Data Center Networks (SDDCNs), a network failure recovery method for software defined data center networks (REVERT) is proposed to recover failures in SDDCNs. In REVERT, the network failures that occurred in SDDCNs are classified into three types, which are switch failure, failure of links among switches and failure of links between switches and servers. Specially, except recovering the switch failure and failure of links between switches, REVERT can also recover the failures of links between the switches and servers. To achieve that, a failure preprocessing method used to classify the network failures, a data structure for storing and finding the affected flows, a server cluster agent for communicating with the server clustering algorithm and a routing path calculation method are designed in REVERT. Meanwhile, REVERT has been implemented and evaluated on RYU controller and Mininet using three routing algorithms. Compared with the link usage before recovering the network failures, when there are more than 200 flows in the network, the mean link usages only slightly increase at about 1.83 percent. More importantly, the evaluation results also demonstrate that except recovering switch failures, intra-topo link failures, REVERT has the ability of recovering failures of links between servers and edge switches successfully.
Anaerobic Digestion Performance: Separate Collected vs. Mechanical Segregated Organic Fractions of Municipal Solid Waste as Feedstock
Authors: Seruga Przemysław , Krzywonos Małgorzata , Seruga Anna , Niedźwiecki Łukasz , Pawlak-Kruczek Halina , Urbanowska Agnieszka
Published: July 2020

The replacement of fossil fuel with renewable energy sources seems as though it will be crucial in the future. On the other hand, waste generation increases year by year. Thus, waste-to-energy technologies fit in with the actual trends, such as the circular economy. The crucial type of generated waste is municipal solid waste, which is in the research area. Regarding the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), anaerobic digestion (AD) allows the recovery of biogas and energy. Furthermore, if it is supported by source segregation, it should allow the recovery of material as fertilizer. The AD process performance (biogas yield and stability) comparison of source-segregated OFMSW (ss-OFMWS) and mechanically sorted OFMSW (ms-OFMSW) as feedstocks was performed in full-scale conditions. The daily biogas volume and methane content were measured to assess AD efficiency. To verify the process stability, the volatile fatty acid (VFA) content, pH value, acidity, alkalinity, and dry matter were determined. The obtained biogas yield per ton was slightly higher in the case of ss-OFMSW (111.1 m3/ton), compared to ms-OFMSW (105.3 m3/ton), together with a higher methane concentration: 58–60% and 51–53%, respectively, and followed by a higher electricity production capacity of almost 700 MWh for ss-OFMSW digestion. The obtained VFA concentrations, at levels around 1.1 g/kg, pH values (slightly above 8.0), acidity, and alkalinity indicate the possibilities of the digester feeding and no-risk exploitation of either as feedstock.
A Novel Strategy to Reduce Computational Burden of the Stochastic Security Constrained Unit Commitment Problem
Authors: Marín-Cano Cristian Camilo , Sierra-Aguilar Juan Esteban , López-Lezama Jesús M. , Jaramillo-Duque Álvaro , Villegas Juan G.
Published: July 2020

The uncertainty related to the massive integration of intermittent energy sources (e.g., wind and solar generation) is one of the biggest challenges for the economic, safe and reliable operation of current power systems. One way to tackle this challenge is through a stochastic security constraint unit commitment (SSCUC) model. However, the SSCUC is a mixed-integer linear programming problem with high computational and dimensional complexity in large-scale power systems. This feature hinders the reaction times required for decision making to ensure a proper operation of the system. As an alternative, this paper presents a joint strategy to efficiently solve a SSCUC model. The solution strategy combines the use of linear sensitivity factors (LSF) to compute power flows in a quick and reliable way and a method, which dynamically identifies and adds as user cuts those active security constraints N − 1 that establish the feasible region of the model. These two components are embedded within a progressive hedging algorithm (PHA), which breaks down the SSCUC problem into computationally more tractable subproblems by relaxing the coupling constraints between scenarios. The numerical results on the IEEE RTS-96 system show that the proposed strategy provides high quality solutions, up to 50 times faster compared to the extensive formulation (EF) of the SSCUC. Additionally, the solution strategy identifies the most affected (overloaded) lines before contingencies, as well as the most critical contingencies in the system. Two metrics that provide valuable information for decision making during transmission system expansion are studied.
Determinants of Oil Footprints Embodied in Sino-US Trade: A Perspective from the Globalizing World
Authors: Liu Jinghui , Geng Tingting , Wang Xingwei , Qin Guojin
Published: July 2020

Oil plays an important role in global resource allocation. With the continuous development of the global supply chain, trade has brought a great impact on oil consumption. However, few studies have been focused on the oil consumption embodied in trade, that is, the oil footprints. Therefore, based on the multi-regional input-output model and structural decomposition model, this paper investigates the evolution and driving factors of the oil footprint between the two countries with the largest oil consumption in the world (China and the United States). By measuring the flow of oil footprint in bilateral trade, their trade transactions are analyzed at the national and industry levels. The results show that in Sino-US trade, China is a net exporter of virtual oil and the trade surplus is huge. The United States is the main destination of China’s virtual oil consumption exports. In 2004, China’s embodied oil net exports flowing into the US even exceeded its total net exports. Low value-added, high-consumption manufacturing is the main channel for China’s virtual oil to flow to the United States, which reflects that China is still at the bottom of the value chain. The most important factor in promoting exports’ growth is the scale effect of demand, followed by the input structure effect of intermediate products. The technical effect is an important force to curb the growth of oil footprints. This requires China and the United States to accelerate technological progress and reduce energy consumption intensity. At the same time, China should continue to optimize its trade structure, encourage the export of high-value-added products, and strive to climb the global value chain.
Multi-Level Model Reduction and Data-Driven Identification of the Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: Li Yong , Yang Jue , Liu Wei Long , Liao Cheng Lin
Published: July 2020

The lithium-ion battery is a complicated non-linear system with multi electrochemical processes including mass and charge conservations as well as electrochemical kinetics. The calculation process of the electrochemical model depends on an in-depth understanding of the physicochemical characteristics and parameters, which can be costly and time-consuming. We investigated the electrochemical modeling, reduction, and identification methods of the lithium-ion battery from the electrode-level to the system-level. A reduced 9th order linear model was proposed using electrode-level physicochemical modeling and the cell-level mathematical reduction method. The data-driven predictor-based subspace identification algorithm was presented for the estimation of lithium-ion battery model in the system-level. The effectiveness of the proposed modeling and identification methods was validated in an experimental study based on LiFePO4 cells. The accuracy and dynamic characteristics of the identified model were found to be much more likely related to the operating State of Charge (SOC) range. Experimental results showed that the proposed methods perform well with high precision and good robustness in the SOC range of 90% to 10%, and the tracking error increases significantly within higher (100–90%) or lower (10–0%) SOC ranges. Moreover, to achieve an optimal balance between high-precision and low complexity, statistical analysis revealed that the 6th, 3rd, and 5th order battery model is the optimal choice in the SOC range of 90% to 100%, 90% to 10%, and 10% to 0%, respectively.
Efficient Stabilization of Mono and Hybrid Nanofluids
Authors: Wciślik Sylwia
Published: July 2020

Currently; the transfer of new technologies makes it necessary to also control heat transfer in different industrial processes—both in practical and research—applications. Not so long ago water and ethylene glycol were the most frequently used media in heat transfer. However, due to their relatively low thermal conductivity, they cannot provide the fast and effective heat transfer necessary in modern equipment. To improve the heat transfer rate different additives to the base liquid are sought, e.g., nanoadditives that create mono and hybrid nanofluids with very high thermal conductivity. The number of scientific studies and publications concerning hybrid nanofluids is growing, although they still represent a small percentage of all papers on nanofluids (in 2013 it was only 0.6%, and in 2017—ca. 3%). The most important point of this paper is to discuss different ways of stabilizing nanofluids, which seems to be one of the most challenging tasks in nanofluid treatment. Other future challenges concerning mono and hybrid nanofluids are also thoroughly discussed. Moreover, a quality assessment of nanofluid preparation is also presented. Thermal conductivity models are specified as well and new representative mono and hybrid nanofluids are proposed.
Cultural Community Wealth: Project Pride (People Re-Collecting Insightful Data Effervescently) a Commemorative MEmorial Black Collective in Trenton, NJ
Authors: Dean Angeline
Published: July 2020

Presently, an insurgence is taking place in which Blacks are reclaiming Black bodies, Black community history, and Black responsibility. I employed the theoretical concepts of Cultural Community Capital and the conceptualization of two vectors-the vector of similarity and continuity, and the vector of difference and rupture. I positioned genealogy as a collective familial history that is integrated and aligned through ancestral roots and development as—“We as one, a village, are one.” Using narrative inquiry, I collected the stories of four Elders and showed how they positioned their bodies, their communal spaces, and their histories as an ancestral community family in relation to the city of Trenton, New Jersey. I define Elders as those 65 and older who serve as present-day sites of wisdom and historical knowledge and chose them as a sign of respect and honor. This paper provides a unique positioning as it gives voice to Elders (ages 68–99) and provides insight into the intricacies and dehumanizing components of enslavement coupled with a determination to thrive. These are stories that one will never experience through White-washed, indoctrinated, and sanitized history books.
Relationship between Lipid Profiles and Glycemic Control Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Qingdao, China
Authors: Wang Shukang , Ji Xiaokang , Zhang Zhentang , Xue Fuzhong
Published: July 2020

Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was the best indicator of glycemic control, which did not show the dynamic relationship between glycemic control and lipid profiles. In order to guide the health management of Type 2 diabetes (T2D), we assessed the levels of lipid profiles and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and displayed the relationship between FPG control and lipid profiles. We conducted a cross-sectional study that included 5822 participants. Descriptive statistics were conducted according to gender and glycemic status respectively. Comparisons for the control of lipid profiles were conducted according to glycemic control. Four logistic regression models were generated to analyze the relationship between lipid profiles and glycemic control according to different confounding factors. The metabolic control percentage of FPG, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was 27.50%, 73.10%, 28.10%, 64.20% and 44.80% respectively. In the fourth model with the most confounding factors, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of TG, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C were 0.989 (0.935, 1.046), 0.862 (0.823, 0.903), 0.987 (0.920, 1.060) and 2.173 (1.761, 2.683). TC and HDL-C were statistically significant, and TG and LDL-C were not statistically significant with adjustment for different confounding factors. In conclusion, FPG was significantly associated with HDL and TC and was not associated with LDL and TG. Our findings suggested that TC and HDL should be focused on in the process of T2D health management.
Real-Time Sensing and Control of Integrative Horticultural Lighting Systems
Authors: Durmus Dorukalp
Published: July 2020

Optical radiation, including light, plays a crucial role in the structural development of plants through photomorphogenesis and the response to environmental changes. However, plant sensitivity to optical radiation widely varies across species. While research efforts are currently underway to discover the fundamentals of plant physiology, light sources with preprogrammed light settings (light recipes) are offered to clients to expedite plant growth. Since horticultural lighting research is in its infancy, prescribed lighting conditions are not likely to address every plants’ needs in terms of the spatial and spectral distribution, intensity, and duration of the light sources. However, it is possible to imagine an intelligent horticultural lighting system that can diagnose plants through sensors, and adjust the light intensity, the spatial and spectral distribution for the specific plant species with active feedback. Such an advanced real-time horticultural lighting system would consist of sensors to detect physiological markers from plants and environmental factors and an artificial intelligence algorithm to adjust the output. While the underlying technology for a real-time optimization system exists, the implementation and training would require further research.
Dual In-Situ Water Diffusion Monitoring of GFRPs based on Optical Fibres and CNTs
Authors: Marro Bellot Cristian , de Leo Giulia , Zhang Han , Kernin Arnaud , Scarponi Claudio , Sangermano Marco , Olivero Massimo , Bilotti Emiliano , Salvo Milena
Published: July 2020

Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GRFP) composites are increasingly being used as new materials for civil and petrochemical engineering infrastructures, owing to the combination of relatively high specific strength and stiffness and cost-competitiveness over traditional materials. However, practical concerns remain on the environmental stability of these materials in harsh environments. For instance, diffusion of salty water through the composites can trigger degradation and ageing. For this reason, a continuous monitoring of the integrity of GFRP composites is required. GRFPs health monitoring solutions, being non-destructive, in-situ, real-time, highly reliable and remotely controllable, are as desirable as challenging. Herein we develop and compare two methods for real-time monitoring of GRFP: one based on the electrical sensing signals of percolated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) networks and the other on optical fibre sensors (OFSs). As a proof-of-concept of dual sensory system, both sensors were used in combination to detect the diffusion of water through the composite. Measurements demonstrated that both CNTs and OFSs were able to detect water diffusion through the epoxy matrix successfully, with an on-off sensing behaviour. OFSs exhibit some advantages since they do not require electrical supply as required in hazardous environments and are more suitable for remote operation, which make them attractive for new developments in harsh-environment sensing. On the other hand, CNTs can be easily embedded in the composite without compromising its performance (e.g., mechanical properties) and are easily interrogated by measurement of electrical conductance, therefore could be used as spot sensors in the most failure-prone sections of GFRP components. This study opens up the possibility for an early detection of composites degradation, which could prevent failures in GFRP structures such as pipelines and storage tanks used in the oil and gas industry.
Hand Gesture Recognition Based on Computer Vision: A Review of Techniques
Authors: Oudah Munir , Al-Naji Ali , Chahl Javaan
Published: July 2020

Hand gestures are a form of nonverbal communication that can be used in several fields such as communication between deaf-mute people, robot control, human–computer interaction (HCI), home automation and medical applications. Research papers based on hand gestures have adopted many different techniques, including those based on instrumented sensor technology and computer vision. In other words, the hand sign can be classified under many headings, such as posture and gesture, as well as dynamic and static, or a hybrid of the two. This paper focuses on a review of the literature on hand gesture techniques and introduces their merits and limitations under different circumstances. In addition, it tabulates the performance of these methods, focusing on computer vision techniques that deal with the similarity and difference points, technique of hand segmentation used, classification algorithms and drawbacks, number and types of gestures, dataset used, detection range (distance) and type of camera used. This paper is a thorough general overview of hand gesture methods with a brief discussion of some possible applications.
Investigation and Modeling of the Preheating Effects on Precipitation and Hot Flow Behavior for Forming High Strength AA7075 at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Zheng Kailun , Li Yong , Yang Song , Fu Kunning , Zheng Jinghua , He Zhubin , Yuan Shijian
Published: July 2020

Preheating is the first but critical step for hot stamping high strength precipitate hardened aluminum alloys. To thoroughly understand the effects of preheating conditions—i.e., preheating rate and heating temperature—on the strength and hot deformation of aluminum alloys, a series of thermal–mechanical tests was performed to determine the post-hardness evolution and hot flow behaviors. Typical microstructures with different preheating conditions were also observed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with which a unified model of both hot flow and strength based on key microstructural variables was developed, enabling the successful prediction of macroscopic properties using different preheating strategies. The results have shown that for high strength AA7075 at the T6 condition, the dominant mechanism of precipitate evolution with increasing temperature is the coarsening of precipitates first, followed by dissolution when they exceed a critical temperature. A higher heating rate results in a slower coarsening and a relatively higher strength level. In addition, the flow stress of hot deformation is also higher using a quick heating rate, with more significant softening and reduced ductility.
Antioxidant Response and Oxidative Stress in the Respiratory Tree of Sea Cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) Following Exposure to Crude Oil and Chemical Dispersant
Authors: Li Xishan , Liao Guoxiang , Ju Zhonglei , Wang Chengyan , Li Nan , Xiong Deqi , Zhang Yulu
Published: July 2020

Sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) is mainly cultured in the coastal zone, where it is easily threatened by accidental oil spills. Chemical dispersant is one of the efficient oil spill responses for mitigating the overall environmental damage of oil spills. However, the impact of crude oil and chemical dispersants on sea cucumber is less well known. Hence, the present study focused on exploring the antioxidant response and oxidative stress in the respiratory tree of sea cucumber following exposure to GM-2 chemical dispersant (DISP), water-accommodated fractions (WAF), and chemically enhanced WAF (CEWAF) of Oman crude oil for 24 h. Results manifested that WAF exposure caused a significant increase in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level (5.29 ± 0.30 AU·mgprot−1), and the effect was much more obvious in CEWAF treatment (5.73 ± 0.16 AU·mgprot−1). Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), as an important biomarker of the antioxidant defense capacity, showed an increasing trend following WAF exposure (0.95 ± 0.12 U·mgprot−1) while a significant reduction in T-AOC was observed following CEWAF exposure (0.23 ± 0.13 U·mgprot−1). Moreover, we also evaluated the oxidative damage of the macromolecules (DNA, protein, and lipid), and our results revealed that the presence of chemical dispersant enhanced oxidative damage caused by crude oil to sea cucumber.
Implementation of Offshore Wind Turbines to Reduce Air Pollution in Coastal Areas—Case Study Constanta Harbour in the Black Sea
Authors: Raileanu Alina Beatrice , Onea Florin , Rusu Eugen
Published: July 2020

Considering the current concerns regarding the level of air pollution from the Black Sea area, the aim of the present work is to establish whether a cold ironing project that involves the use of the wind resources from the port of Constanta (Romania) could become a reality. The regional and local wind resources measured at a height of 100 m above sea level were assessed by taking into account 20 years (2000–2019) of ERA5 wind data. The wind speed significantly increases as we move towards the offshore areas, with the wind Class C7 reporting a maximum of 41%. By combining the annual electricity production with the emissions associated with the port activities, it was possible to show that at least 385 turbines (each rated at eight MW) will be required to cover the electricity demand for this port. The present study has found it difficult to implement such a project based only on the available wind resources and has identified that more likely a mixed project that involves some other resources will be more appropriate. Finally, it is worth mentioning that the future of the ship industry is becoming greener and definitely, a wind project located near Constanta harbour will represent a viable solution in this direction.
COVID-19 Associated Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges
Authors: Mohamed Aia , Rogers Thomas R. , Talento Alida Fe
Published: July 2020

Aspergillus co-infection in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome, has recently been reported. To date, 38 cases have been reported, with other cases most likely undiagnosed mainly due to a lack of clinical awareness and diagnostic screening. Importantly, there is currently no agreed case definition of COVID-19 associated invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) that could aid in the early detection of this co-infection. Additionally, with the global emergence of triazole resistance, we emphasize the importance of antifungal susceptibility testing in order to ensure appropriate antifungal therapy. Herein is a review of 38 published CAPA cases, which highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges posed by this novel fungal co-infection.
Effectiveness of the Entomopathogenic Fungal Species Metarhizium anisopliae Strain NCAIM 362 Treatments against Soil Inhabiting Melolontha melolontha Larvae in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)
Authors: Putnoky-Csicsó Barna , Tonk Szende , Szabó Attila , Márton Zsuzsanna , Tóthné Bogdányi Franciska , Tóth Ferenc , Abod Éva , Bálint János , Balog Adalbert
Published: July 2020

The effect of fungal entomopathogen M. anisopliae strain NCAIM 362 against M. melolontha larvae in sweet potato was tested under open field conditions when crop management included compost supply and soil cover (agro-foil or agro-textile). Additionally, the effect of M. anisopliae same strain against M. melolontha was compared with the effect of α-cypermethrin under greenhouse conditions. Soil microbial community using Illumina sequencing and soil biological activity were tested as possible parameter influencing M. anisopliae effect. According to the results, compost supply and textile cover may enhance the effectiveness of M. anisopliae under open field conditions, while no effect of fungal treatment was detected under greenhouse conditions. Even if soil parameters (chemical composition, bacterial, and biological activity) were identical, the effect of α-cypermethrin against M. melolontha larvae was significant: lower ratio of larval survival and less damaged tubers were detected after the chemical treatment. Our results suggest that M. anisopliae strain NCAIM 362 is not effective to control M. melolontha larvae, further pieces of research are needed to test other species of the Metarhizium genus to find an effective agent for sustainable pest control in sweet potato.
The Mössbauer Effect: A Romantic Scientific Page
Authors: Principi Giovanni
Published: July 2020

This article is focused firstly on the basic physics and some historical aspects concerning the discovery of the Mössbauer effect. Then, elements of the spectroscopic methods utilizing this physical phenomenon are given, with some examples of applications to the field of metallurgy.
Emulsion PCR (ePCR) as a Tool to Improve the Power of DGGE Analysis for Microbial Population Studies
Authors: Iacumin Lucilla , Cecchini Francesca , Vendrame Marco , Comi Giuseppe
Published: July 2020

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of the use of emulsion-Polymerase chain reaction (e-PCR) coupled with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. In the present work the effectiveness of ePCR in improving the power of the DGGE technique for microbial population studies was tested. Our results indicated that ePCR results in uniform amplification of several DNA molecules, overcoming the major limitations of conventional PCR, such as preferential amplification and DNA concentration dependence. Moreover, ePCR-DGGE resulted in higher sensitivity when compared to conventional PCR-DGGE methods used for studying microbial populations in a complex matrix. In fact, compared to conventional PCR, the DGGE profiles of ePCR products permitted the detection of a higher number of the species that were present in the tested sample.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Properties of Vibrio cholerae non-O1, non-O139 Isolates Recovered from Domestic Ducks in Germany
Authors: Hirsch Nicola , Kappe Eva , Gangl Armin , Schwartz Keike , Mayer-Scholl Anne , Hammerl Jens Andre , Strauch Eckhard
Published: July 2020

Vibrio cholerae non-O1, non-O139 bacteria are natural inhabitants of aquatic ecosystems and have been sporadically associated with human infections. They mostly lack the two major virulence factors of toxigenic V. cholerae serogroups O1 and O139 strains, which are the causative agent of cholera. Non-O1, non-O139 strains are found in water bodies, sediments, and in association with other aquatic organisms. Occurrence of these bacteria in fecal specimens of waterfowl were reported, and migratory birds likely contribute to the long-distance transfer of strains. We investigated four V. cholerae non-O1, non-O139 isolates for phenotypic traits and by whole genome sequencing (WGS). The isolates were recovered from organs of domestic ducks with serious disease symptoms. WGS data revealed only a distant genetic relationship between all isolates. The isolates harbored a number of virulence factors found in most V. cholerae strains. Specific virulence factors of non-O1, non-O139 strains, such as the type III secretion system (TTSS) or cholix toxin, were observed. An interesting observation is that all isolates possess multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin toxins (MARTX) closely related to the MARTX of toxigenic El Tor O1 strains. Different primary sequences of the abundant OmpU proteins could indicate a significant role of this virulence factor. Phenotypic characteristics such as hemolysis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) were studied. Three isolates showed susceptibility to a number of tested antimicrobials, and one strain possessed AMR genes located in an integron. Knowledge of the environmental occurrence of V. cholerae non-O1, non-O139 in Germany is limited. The source of the infection of the ducks is currently unknown. In the context of the ‘One Health’ concept, it is desirable to study the ecology of V. cholerae non-O1, non-O139, as it cannot be excluded that the isolates possess zoonotic potential and could cause infections in humans.