bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Seed Production Technology of CIMMYT Tropical Single Cross Maize Hybrids
Authors: Chassaigne-Ricciulli Alberto A. , Mendoza-Onofre Leopoldo E. , Córdova-Téllez Leobigildo , Carballo-Carballo Aquiles , San Vicente-García Félix M. , Dhliwayo Thanda
Published: July 2020

Medium and small seed companies require information on maize parental seed production to make rational choices on what germplasm to introduce into their seed and breeding pipelines. The objective of this study was to generate public data on the appropriate hybrid seed production information of five female lines (T21, T26, T28, T33 and T38) and one line (T10) as a male hybrid parent. The effect of female and male sowing date and sowing density on hybrid seed production characteristics including flowering time, flowering duration, distance between tassel and stigmas and effective seed yield was determined. Recommendations to stagger male and female sowing to achieve flowering synchrony for the hybrid parents were complemented with data of seedling growth stages. The results were similar for T21, T26, T28, and T38; sowing the female and T10 on a row proportion of 4 females:1 male, and on a second date, when the coleoptiles of the female plants are halfway to emerge, sowing the missing male row to complete the 4:2 ratio. T33 is a late flowering line, therefore it is desirable to sow T33 first and T10 five days later, or when the T33 coleoptile begins to emerge. Plant densities did not cause differences in most plant characteristics. Line T21 showed good female parental traits. While this study provides a knowledge framework for seed production technology for these single cross hybrids, data specific to seed production regions need to be generated by seed companies to define the best regimes for hybrid production.
The Effects of Condensed Molasses Soluble on the Growth and Development of Rapeseed through Seed Germination, Hydroponics and Field Trials
Authors: Li Shuang , Zhao Xinghai , Ye Xiangsheng , Zhang Limei , Shi Lei , Xu Fangsen , Ding Guangda
Published: July 2020

Condensed molasses soluble (CMS) has been reported to be rich in mineral nutrients and organic matter. However, the potential of CMS as a new organic fertilizer for crops is poorly understood. In this study, we explored the effects of CMS on seed germination, plant growth and field production of Brassica napus through seed germination, hydroponics and field trials. The results demonstrated that a small amount of CMS (0.05 g L−1) on the basis of normal nutrient supply significantly increased plant biomass, root vigor and root development, and improved the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of shoot at the seedling growth stage. Nevertheless, a high concentration of CMS (0.2 g L−1) inhibited plant growth, root development, the activities of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), and elevated accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the shoot at the same stage. In the field, exogenous application of CMS as well as chemical fertilizers increased seed yield up to 20% compared with chemical fertilization only. Collectively, our results conclude that the appropriate amount of CMS could promote the growth and development of rapeseed at both seedling and mature stages. Hence, CMS may be used as a new potential organic fertilizer for crop production in the future.
Strategic Addition of Different Additives to Improve Silage Fermentation, Aerobic Stability and In Vitro Digestibility of Napier Grasses at Late Maturity Stage
Authors: Kaewpila Chatchai , Khota Waroon , Gunun Pongsatorn , Kesorn Piyawit , Cherdthong Anusorn
Published: July 2020

Napier cultivars are widespread in the tropics. To effectively prepare two Napier grasses at the late maturity stageas silage for ruminant feedstock, the silage fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, in vitro digestibility, and gas kinetics were studied. Napier Pakchong grass (NP) and sweet grass (SG) were harvested at 120 dof regrowth and untreated (control) or treated with normal or a double dose of cellulase, urea, and formic acid. After 30 d of ensiling, the pH values of silages (ranging from 3.91 to 7.79) were affected (p < 0.05) by additives and lower in control and cellulase-treated silages than in urea- and formic acid-treated silages. Adding cellulase resulted in greater lactic acid concentrations in SG silage. Adding urea boosted acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and ammonia nitrogen levels of silages. Adding formic acid spoiled silages and shortened the aerobic stability of NP silage. Compared with the control, the addition of cellulase at a double dose enhanced in vitrodry matter digestibility, and the gas production kinetics parameters of silages. Taking silage fermentation quality and in vitro dry matter digestibility into consideration, adding cellulase (0.2 g/kg fresh matter) to Napier grasses at the late maturity stage could be a better option compared with the other additives.
Potato Phosphorus Response in Soils with High Value of Phosphorus
Authors: Jasim Ahmed , Sharma Lakesh K. , Zaeen Ahmed , Bali Sukhwinder K. , Buzza Aaron , Alyokhin Andrei
Published: July 2020

Phosphorus (P) is an element that is potatoes require in large amounts. Soil pH is a crucial factor impacting phosphorus availability in potato production. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of P application rates on the P efficiency for tuber yield, specific gravity, and P uptake. Additionally, the relationship between soil pH and total potato tuber yield was determined. Six rates of P fertilization (0–280 kg P ha−1) were applied at twelve different sites across Northern Maine. Yield parameters were not responsive to P application rates. However, regression analysis showed that soil pH was significantly correlated with total potato tuber yield(R2 = 0.38). Sites with soil pH values < 6 had total tuber yields, marketable tuber yields, tuber numbers per plant, and total tuber mean weights that were all higher than these same parameters at sites with soil pH ≥ 6. All sites with soil pH< 6 showed a highly correlated relationship between P uptake and petiole dry weight (R2 = 0.76). The P application rate of 56 kg P ha−1 was the best at sites with a soil pH < 6, but 0–56 kg P ha−1 was the best at sites with soil pH ≥ 6.
CO2 Emission and Change in the Fertility Parameters of a Calcareous Soil Following Annual Applications of Deinking Paper Sludge (The Case of Tunisia)
Authors: Marouani Emna , Kolsi Benzina Naïma , Ziadi Noura , Bouslimi Besma , Abida Khouloud , Tlijani Hanen , Koubaa Ahmed
Published: July 2020

The use of deinking paper sludge (DPS) as a fertilizer instead of sending it to landfill could play a role in reducing greenhouse gases and improving soil properties. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the changes in the physical (permeability and structural stability), chemical (particularly soil pH), and biological (microbial metabolic quotient (qCO2), microbial biomass soil CO2 emissions) of a calcareous agricultural soil following two successive annual amendments with three treatments (0, 30, and 60 Mg DPS ha−1—control, DPS30, and DPS60, respectively); and (2) to determine whether the addition of N-fertilizer to these treatments (controlF, DPS30F, and DPS60F, respectively) causes changes to soil fertility. The DPS application increased soil organic matter (+0.80%: DPS60 vs. control; and +0.35%: controlF vs. DPS60F), available phosphorus (+23.14 mg kg−1: DPS60 vs. control; and +14.34 mg kg−1: DPS60F vs. controlF), potassium (+0.6 g kg−1: controlF vs. DPS30F), and calcium (+0.28 g kg−1: DPS60 vs. control). The 60 Mg DPS ha−1 rate improved permeability and structural stability, regardless of the presence or absence of N-fertilizer. On the other hand, the 60 Mg DPS ha−1 rate without N-fertilizer lead to a decrease in total mineralization rate and qCO2, thereby indicating a reduction in CO2 emissions. The rate of 60 Mg ha−1 DPS could be effectively used to enhance the permeability and stability (soil restoration) and mitigate CO2 emissions, whereas the 30 Mg ha−1 rate could be used as fertilizer to improve the fertility of calcareous soils.
A Potent Lignan from Prunes Alleviates Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Lithium/Pilocarpine-Induced Epileptic Seizures in Rats
Authors: Youssef Fadia S. , Menze Esther T. , Ashour Mohamed L.
Published: July 2020

Prunus domestica L. is an edible plant that is included in the family Rosaceae and proven to possess potent anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic activity. Pinoresinol-4-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (PGu) was isolated from Prunus domestica methanol extract and its structure was determined using 1-D and 2-D NMR (one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance). PGu was evaluated for its anticonvulsant activity using lithium/pilocarpine-induced epileptic seizures in rats. PGu displayed a notable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. It ameliorates the seizures triggered by pilocarpine in a dose-dependent manner, manifested by retarding seizure onset, reducing the number of rats developing seizures, and enhancing the survival of animals after seizure exposure. PGu reduced MDA (malondialdehyde) level by 24.2% in addition to increasing catalase activity by 44.4% at 50 mg/kg b.w compared to pilocarpine-treated animals. This was confirmed by histopathological examination in which pretreatment with PGu (50 mg/kg b.w.) attenuated neurodegeneration and seizures with no histopathological alteration in neurons of the cerebral cortex. In the immunohistochemical examination, it significantly declined the elevated Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by 40% and decreased Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by 18% as expressed by the optical density. PGu revealed a pronounced fitting within the active site of 5-LOX (lipoxygenase-5) with a free binding energy (∆G) equals to −65.05 kcal/mol. PGu could perfectly serve as a potent lead drug for the relief of epileptic seizures, which appeals to many patients owing to its natural origin.
An Innovative Olive Pâté with Nutraceutical Properties
Authors: Cavallo Pierpaolo , Dini Irene , Sepe Immacolata , Galasso Gennaro , Fedele Francesca Luisa , Sicari Andrea , Bolletti Censi Sergio , Gaspari Anna , Ritieni Alberto , Lorito Matteo , Vinale Francesco
Published: July 2020

Food plays a central role in health, especially through consumption of plant-derived foods. Functional foods, supplements, and nutraceuticals are increasingly entering the market to respond to consumer demand for healthy products. They are foods, supplements, and ingredients which offer health benefits beyond the standard nutritional value. Some benefits are associated with phenolic compounds and phytochemicals with antioxidant properties. An olive pâté (OP) was added with antioxidants derived from olive mill wastewater (OMWW) to obtain a functional product rich in phenolic compounds. The olive pâté is produced from the ground olive pericarp, which shows an excellent natural antioxidant content. The OMWW is a waste product from oil processing, which is also rich in phenolic compounds. The result was a product rich in trans-resveratrol, OH tyrosol, and tyrosol in concentrations such as satisfying the European community’s claims regarding the possible antioxidant action on plasma lipids with excellent shelf-life stability. The total phenolic content was assayed by a colorimetric method, the antioxidant activity by the ABTS [(2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] test, the phenolic profile by Q Exactive Orbitrap LC-MS/MS. The shelf-life stability was confirmed by yeast, molds, and total microbial count, pH, and water activity determinations, and the best pasteurization parameters were determined. The palatability was judged as excellent.
Optimization of Associative Knowledge Graph using TF-IDF based Ranking Score
Authors: Kim Hyun-Jin , Baek Ji-Won , Chung Kyungyong
Published: July 2020

This study proposes the optimization method of the associative knowledge graph using TF-IDF based ranking scores. The proposed method calculates TF-IDF weights in all documents and generates term ranking. Based on the terms with high scores from TF-IDF based ranking, optimized transactions are generated. News data are first collected through crawling and then are converted into a corpus through preprocessing. Unnecessary data are removed through preprocessing including lowercase conversion, removal of punctuation marks and stop words. In the document term matrix, words are extracted and then transactions are generated. In the data cleaning process, the Apriori algorithm is applied to generate association rules and make a knowledge graph. To optimize the generated knowledge graph, the proposed method utilizes TF-IDF based ranking scores to remove terms with low scores and recreate transactions. Based on the result, the association rule algorithm is applied to create an optimized knowledge model. The performance is evaluated in rule generation speed and usefulness of association rules. The association rule generation speed of the proposed method is about 22 seconds faster. And the lift value of the proposed method for usefulness is about 0.43 to 2.51 higher than that of each one of conventional association rule algorithms.
A Circle of Violence: Are Burnout, Disengagement and Self-Efficacy in Non-University Teacher Victims of Workplace Violence New and Emergent Risks?
Authors: Acquadro Maran Daniela , Begotti Tatiana
Published: July 2020

Workplace violence (WV) is defined as an intentional misuse of power, including threats of physical force against another person or group, which can cause physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social harm. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence, characteristics and consequences of WV in a sample of Italian teachers. Our hypothesis was that WV impacted workplace satisfaction, self-efficacy and burnout. A self-administered questionnaire was answered by 331 teachers. A total of 192 (58%) subjects reported experiencing a physical or psychological form of WV. Overall, findings confirmed our hypothesis: teacher victims of WV showed high levels of burnout—both in terms of exhaustion (F = 3.96; p = 0.04) and disengagement (F = 5.85; p = 0.016), lower levels of workplace satisfaction (F = 13.24; p < 0.001) and regulatory emotional self-efficacy—especially for negative emotions (F = 5.45; p = 0.02) compared with teachers who have never experienced WV. This investigation suggests the importance of preventing WV and offering support to victims. Doing so will increase teachers’ ability to manage and cope with violent behavior. Prevention and intervention may also decrease serious consequences in relation to victims’ wellbeing, and improve the general stability of the classroom, as well as motivation and academic commitment.
Potential Role of Plant Extracts and Phytochemicals Against Foodborne Pathogens
Authors: Ullah Farhat , Ayaz Muhammad , Sadiq Abdul , Ullah Farman , Hussain Ishtiaq , Shahid Muhammad , Yessimbekov Zhanibek , Adhikari-Devkota Anjana , Devkota Hari Prasad
Published: July 2020

Foodborne diseases are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality, especially in low-income countries with poor sanitation and inadequate healthcare facilities. The foremost bacterial pathogens responsible for global outbreaks include Salmonella species, Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Shigella sp., Vibrio, Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium botulinum. Among the viral and parasitic pathogens, norovirus, hepatitis A virus, Giardia lamblia, Trichinella spiralis, Toxoplasma and Entamoeba histolytica are commonly associated with foodborne diseases. The toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens also cause these infections. The currently available therapies for these infections are associated with various limited efficacy, high cost and side-effects. There is an urgent need for effective alternative therapies for the prevention and treatment of foodborne diseases. Several plant extracts and phytochemicals were found to be highly effective to control the growth of these pathogens causing foodborne infections in in vitro systems. The present review attempts to provide comprehensive scientific information on major foodborne pathogens and the potential role of phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of these infections. Further detailed studies are necessary to evaluate the activities of these extracts and phytochemicals along with their mechanism of action using in vivo models.
An Image-Based Uninterrupted Lagrangian Tracking Method for Measurement of Sediment Motion at Grain Scale
Authors: Miao Wei , Li Danxun , Zhong Qiang
Published: July 2020

The imaging technique provides an efficient non-intrusive way for studying local sediment transport with a low rate in open-channel flows. It aims to track all sediment trajectories above the background consists of similar particles (i.e., top-view images of the channel). For this area of interest, currently used imaging methods can be summarized as a two-step framework for identifying and matching active bed-load particles. While effective against a simple and clear background, the two-step approach fails to yield accurate and uninterrupted Lagrangian paths for the sediment particles against complex image background consists of similar particles. This study presents a three-step approach to improve the accuracy of the tracking method. The first two steps of this approach based on image subtraction, centroid exaction and Kalman filter entail improvements to those of the classic methods. The third step based on the nearest neighbor algorithm and spline interpolation manage to identify broken chains and connect them to reconstruct uninterrupted Lagrangian paths of the sediment particles. The verification against simulated images and experimental data shows that the improved three-step approach yields more accurate estimation of bed-load kinematics than the classic two-step method.
Single and Multivariate Statistics of Jet-Induced Pressure Fluctuations over an Infinite Plate
Authors: Meloni Stefano , Camussi Roberto , Di Marco Alessandro , Mancinelli Matteo
Published: July 2020

Motivated by the problem of the installation effects of modern turbofan engines, we experimentally investigated the interaction between a compressible subsonic jet and a tangential flat plate. Measurements of wall pressure fluctuations were performed in a semi-anechoic environment addressing the effect of several governing parameters, such as the stream-wise and span-wise location, the jet Mach number and the radial distance of the plate surface from the jet axis. The statistical properties of the wall pressure signals were analyzed in terms of both power spectra and cross-correlations, with the latter providing the estimation of the phase speed. The analysis is also carried out in the time-frequency domain through the application of the wavelet transform to further characterize the dynamics of the wall pressure signatures.
Classification of Photoplethysmographic Signal Quality with Deep Convolution Neural Networks for Accurate Measurement of Cardiac Stroke Volume
Authors: Liu Shing-Hong , Li Ren-Xuan , Wang Jia-Jung , Chen Wenxi , Su Chun-Hung
Published: July 2020

As photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals are comprised of numerous pieces of important physiological information, they have been widely employed to measure many physiological parameters. However, only a high-quality PPG signal can provide a reliable physiological assessment. Unfortunately, PPG signals are easily corrupted by motion artifacts and baseline drift during recording. Although several rule-based algorithms have been developed for evaluating the quality of PPG signals, few artificial intelligence-based algorithms have been presented. Thus, this study aims to classify the quality of PPG signals by using two two-dimensional deep convolution neural networks (DCNN) when the PPG pulse is used to measure cardiac stroke volume (SV) by impedance cardiography. An image derived from a PPG pulse and its differential pulse is used as the input to the two DCNN models. To quantify the quality of individual PPG pulses, the error percentage of the beat-to-beat SV measured by our device and medis® CS 2000 synchronously is used to determine whether the pulse quality is high, middle, or low. Fourteen subjects were recruited, and a total of 3135 PPG pulses (1342 high quality, 73 middle quality, and 1720 low quality) were obtained. We used a traditional DCNN, VGG-19, and a residual DCNN, ResNet-50, to determine the quality levels of the PPG pulses. Their results were all better than the previous rule-based methods. The accuracies of VGG-19 and ResNet-50 were 0.895 and 0.925, respectively. Thus, the proposed DCNN may be applied for the classification of PPG quality and be helpful for improving the SV measurement in impedance cardiography.
A Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis Framework for Dispersed Group Decision-Making Contexts
Authors: Carneiro João , Martinho Diogo , Alves Patrícia , Conceição Luís , Marreiros Goreti , Novais Paulo
Published: July 2020

To support Group Decision-Making processes when participants are dispersed is a complex task. The biggest challenges are related to communication limitations that impede decision-makers to take advantage of the benefits associated with face-to-face Group Decision-Making processes. Several approaches that intend to aid dispersed groups attaining decisions have been applied to Group Decision Support Systems. However, strategies to support decision-makers in reasoning, understanding the reasons behind the different recommendations, and promoting the decision quality are very limited. In this work, we propose a Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis Framework that intends to overcome those limitations through a set of functionalities that can be used to support decision-makers attaining more informed, consistent, and satisfactory decisions. These functionalities are exposed through a microservice, which is part of a Consensus-Based Group Decision Support System and is used by autonomous software agents to support decision-makers according to their specific needs/interests. We concluded that the proposed framework greatly facilitates the definition of important procedures, allowing decision-makers to take advantage of deciding as a group and to understand the reasons behind the different recommendations and proposals.
Influence of Pressure on Gas/Liquid Interfacial Area in a Tray Column
Authors: Almoslh Adel , Alobaid Falah , Heinze Christian , Epple Bernd
Published: July 2020

The influence of pressure on the gas/liquid interfacial area is investigated in the pressure range of 0.2–0.3 MPa by using a tray column test rig. A simulated waste gas, which consisted of 30% CO2 and 70% air, was used in this study. Distilled water was employed as an absorbent. The temperature of the inlet water was 19 °C. The inlet volumetric flow rate of water was 0.17 m3/h. Two series of experiments were performed; the first series was performed at inlet gas flow rate 15 Nm3/h, whereas the second series was at 20 Nm3/h of inlet gas flow rate. The results showed that the gas/liquid interfacial area decreases when the total pressure is increased. The effect of pressure on the gas/liquid interfacial area at high inlet volumetric gas flow rates is more significant than at low inlet volumetric gas flow rates. The authors studied the effect of decreasing the interfacial area on the performance of a tray column for CO2 capture.
Reversible Hydrogen Storage Using Nanocomposites
Authors: Srinivasan Sesha , Demirocak Dervis Emre , Kaushik Ajeet , Sharma Meenu , Chaudhary Ganga Ram , Hickman Nicoleta , Stefanakos Elias
Published: July 2020

In the field of energy storage, recently investigated nanocomposites show promise in terms of high hydrogen uptake and release with enhancement in the reaction kinetics. Among several, carbonaceous nanovariants like carbon nanotubes (CNTs), fullerenes, and graphitic nanofibers reveal reversible hydrogen sorption characteristics at 77 K, due to their van der Waals interaction. The spillover mechanism combining Pd nanoparticles on the host metal-organic framework (MOF) show room temperature uptake of hydrogen. Metal or complex hydrides either in the nanocomposite form and its subset, nanocatalyst dispersed alloy phases illustrate the concept of nanoengineering and nanoconfinement of particles with tailor-made properties for reversible hydrogen storage. Another class of materials comprising polymeric nanostructures such as conducting polyaniline and their functionalized nanocomposites are versatile hydrogen storage materials because of their unique size, high specific surface-area, pore-volume, and bulk properties. The salient features of nanocomposite materials for reversible hydrogen storage are reviewed and discussed.
Modeling and Identification of an Industrial Robot with a Selective Modal Approach
Authors: Bottin Matteo , Cocuzza Silvio , Comand Nicola , Doria Alberto
Published: July 2020

The stiffness properties of industrial robots are very important for many industrial applications, such as automatic robotic assembly and material removal processes (e.g., machining and deburring). On the one hand, in robotic assembly, joint compliance can be useful for compensating dimensional errors in the parts to be assembled; on the other hand, in material removal processes, a high Cartesian stiffness of the end-effector is required. Moreover, low frequency chatter vibrations can be induced when low-stiffness robots are used, with an impairment in the quality of the machined surface. In this paper, a compliant joint dynamic model of an industrial robot has been developed, in which joint stiffness has been experimentally identified using a modal approach. First, a novel method to select the test configurations has been developed, so that in each configuration the mode of vibration that chiefly involves only one joint is excited. Then, experimental tests are carried out in the selected configurations in order to identify joint stiffness. Finally, the developed dynamic model of the robot is used to predict the variation of the natural frequencies in the workspace.
Covid-19 Airborne Transmission and Its Prevention: Waiting for Evidence or Applying the Precautionary Principle?
Authors: Carducci Annalaura , Federigi Ileana , Verani Marco
Published: July 2020

Besides the predominant ways of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (namely, contacts and large droplets) the airborne one is increasingly taken into consideration as a result of latest research findings. Nevertheless, this possibility has been already suggested by previous studies on other coronaviruses including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. To describe the state of the art of coronaviruses and airborne transmission, a systematic review was carried out using the PRISMA methodology. Overall, 64 papers were selected and classified into three main groups: laboratory experiments (12 papers), air monitoring (22) and epidemiological and airflow model studies (30). The airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is suggested by the studies of the three groups, but none has yet obtained complete evidence. The sampling and detection methods have not been validated, therefore monitoring results are affected by a possible underestimation. Then, epidemiological investigations only hypothesize the airborne transmission as a possible explanation for some illness cases, but without estimating its attributable risk. Nevertheless, while waiting for more evidence, it is urgent to base advice on preventive measures, such as the use of masks, safe distancing and air ventilation, on the precautionary principle.
The Effect of Pasteurization and Shelf Life on the Physicochemical, Microbiological, Antioxidant, and Sensory Properties of Rose Apple Cider during Cold Storage
Authors: Techakanon Chukwan , Sirimuangmoon Chirat
Published: July 2020

Rose apple fruits (Syzygium agueum Alston cv. Taaptimjan) were used to produce cider to overcome their limitation of short shelf life. Following fermentation, alternative pasteurization conditions at 63 °C for 15 s and at 71 °C for 6 s were compared. The effects of pasteurization conditions on physicochemical properties, microbial safety, antioxidant capacity, and sensory properties of the cider were investigated during storage for 6 months at refrigerated temperature. The unpasteurized cider had 5.9% ethanol content with TSS of 4.1 °Brix. Alcohol content of this treatment group increased while TSS decreased during storage, as effects of continuing fermentation. Pasteurization at 63 or 71 °C effectively prolonged cider shelf life to 3 and 6 months, respectively. Nonetheless, the processing significantly decreased contents of ascorbic acid and antioxidants and affected sensory profile of the cider. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated storage time as the dominant factor determining cider quality. Trained panelists in the sensory study perceived more intense sweetness, less sourness, and less flavor in the pasteurized samples compared to the control group. The pasteurization conditions 71 °C for 6 s achieved microbiological safety and resulted in desirable sensory quality for up to 6 months of shelf life.
A Selective PPARγ Modulator Reduces Hepatic Fibrosis
Authors: McVicker Benita L. , Hamel Frederick G. , Simpson Ronda L. , Bennett Robert G.
Published: July 2020

Hepatic fibrosis is the accumulation of excess collagen as a result of chronic liver injury. If left unabated, hepatic fibrosis can lead to the disruption of the liver architecture, portal hypertension, and increased risk of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The thiazolidinedione class of antidiabetic drugs, through their target peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), have protective effects against liver fibrosis, and can inhibit the profibrotic activity of hepatic stellate cells, the major collagen-producing liver cells. However, these drugs have been ineffective in the treatment of established fibrosis, possibly due to side effects such as increased weight and adiposity. Recently, selective PPARγ modulators that lack these side effects have been identified, but their role in treating fibrosis has not been studied. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of one of these selective modulators, SR1664, in the mouse carbon tetrachloride model of established hepatic fibrosis. Treatment with SR1664 reduced the total and type 1 collagen content without increasing body weight. The abundance of activated hepatic stellate cells was also significantly decreased. Finally, SR1664 inhibited the profibrotic phenotype of hepatic stellate cells. In summary, a selective PPARγ modulator was effective in the reduction of established hepatic fibrosis and the activated phenotype of hepatic stellate cells. This may represent a new treatment approach for hepatic fibrosis.
Tuneable Functionalization of Glass Fibre Membranes with ZnO/SnO2 Heterostructures for Photocatalytic Water Treatment: Effect of SnO2 Coverage Rate on the Photocatalytic Degradation of Organics
Authors: Rogé Vincent , Didierjean Joffrey , Crêpellière Jonathan , Arl Didier , Michel Marc , Fechete Ioana , Dinia Aziz , Lenoble Damien
Published: July 2020

The construction of a ZnO/SnO2 heterostructure is considered in the literature as an efficient strategy to improve photocatalytic properties of ZnO due to an electron/hole delocalisation process. This study is dedicated to an investigation of the photocatalytic performance of ZnO/SnO2 heterostructures directly synthesized in macroporous glass fibres membranes. Hydrothermal ZnO nanorods have been functionalized with SnO2 using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The coverage rate of SnO2 on ZnO nanorods was precisely tailored by controlling the number of ALD cycles. We highlight here the tight control of the photocatalytic properties of the ZnO/SnO2 structure according to the coverage rate of SnO2 on the ZnO nanorods. We show that the highest degradation of methylene blue is obtained when a 40% coverage rate of SnO2 is reached. Interestingly, we also demonstrate that a higher coverage rate leads to a full passivation of the photocatalyst. In addition, we highlight that 40% coverage rate of SnO2 onto ZnO is sufficient for getting a protective layer, leading to a more stable photocatalyst in reuse.
Catalytic Cracking of Heavy Crude Oil over Iron-Based Catalyst Obtained from Galvanic Industry Wastes
Authors: Villamarin-Barriga Estefanía , Canacuán Jéssica , Londoño-Larrea Pablo , Solís Hugo , De La Rosa Andrés , Saldarriaga Juan F. , Montero Carolina
Published: July 2020

Sewage sludge from the galvanic industry represents a problem to the environment, due to its high metal content that makes it a hazardous waste and must be treated or disposed of properly. This study aimed to evaluate the sludge from three galvanic industries and determine its possible use as catalysts for the synthesis of materials. Catalyst was obtained from a thermal process based on dried between 100–120 °C and calcination of sludges between 400 to 700 °C. The physical–chemical properties of the catalyst were analyzed by several techniques as physisorption of N2 and chemisorption of CO of the material. Catalytic activity was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis of a thermo-catalytic decomposition of crude oil. The best conditions for catalyst synthesis were calcination between 400 and 500 °C, the temperature of reduction between 750 and 850 °C for 15 min. The catalytic material had mainly Fe as active phase and the specific surface between 17.68–96.15 m2·g−1, the catalysts promote around 6% more weight-loss of crude oil in the thermal decomposition compared with assays without the catalyst. The results show that the residual sludge of galvanic industries after thermal treatment can be used as catalytic materials due to the easiness of synthesis procedures required, the low E-factor obtained and the recycling of industrial waste promoted.
Physical Origin of Diminishing Photocatalytic Efficiency for Recycled TiO2 Nanotubes and Ag-Loaded TiO2 Nanotubes in Organic Aqueous Solution
Authors: Wint Theint Hay Mar , Smith Michael F. , Chanlek Narong , Chen Fuming , Oo Than Zaw , Songsiriritthigul Prayoon
Published: July 2020

Arrays of titania nanotubes (TiO2NTs) were developed by electrochemical anodization and doped with silver on their surface by photodeposition to achieve TiO2NTs/Ag. It is found that only anatase TiO2NTs were formed, with the preferential growth direction perpendicular to the titanium substrate, and with the length and diameter of ~2 µm and 90–120 nm, respectively. The presence of Ag on the surface of TiO2NTs was also confirmed. The TiO2NTs and TiO2NTs/Ag were used as photocatalysts to decolorize the methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution. The photodegradation efficiency (PDE) is as high as 83% for TiO2NTs and 98% for TiO2NTs/Ag photocatalysts. This work focused on the investigation of the stability and recyclability of these photocatalysts in terms of efficiency and its physical origin by surface analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is found that PDE diminishes from 83% to 76% in TiO2NTs upon eight recycling runs and from 98% to 80% in TiO2NTs/Ag upon six recycling runs. The XPS analysis revealed that the physical origin of diminishing efficiency is the carbon contamination on the surface of recycled TiO2NTs and a combination of carbon contamination and Ag leaching in recycled TiO2NTs/Ag.
The Publications of Howard Flack (1943–2017)
Authors: Constable Edwin Charles
Published: July 2020

Howard Flack was a driving force in the development of modern crystallography. Today “the Flack parameter” has entered into the common parlance of crystallography but his influence was far wider. This article provides an overview of his scientific output and a full bibliography.
Effect of Temperature on the Dynamic Properties of Mixed Surfactant Adsorbed Layers at the Water/Hexane Interface under Low-Gravity Conditions
Authors: Kovalchuk Volodymyr I. , Loglio Giuseppe , Bykov Alexey G. , Ferrari Michele , Krägel Jürgen , Liggieri Libero , Miller Reinhard , Milyaeva Olga Yu. , Noskov Boris A. , Ravera Francesca , Santini Eva , Schneck Emanuel
Published: July 2020

An increase in temperature typically leads to a decrease in the interfacial tension of a water/oil interface. The addition of surfactants to the system can complicate the situation significantly, i.e., the interfacial tension can increase or decrease with an increasing temperature. For most concentrations of the two studied surfactants, the cationic tetradecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (TTAB) and the nonionic tridecyl dimethyl phosphine oxide (C13DMPO), the measured interfacial tension of the aqueous mixed surfactant solutions against hexane increases when the temperature decreases between 30 °C and 20 °C. However, with a further temperature decrease between 20 °C and 15 °C, the reverse effect has also been observed at some concentrations, i.e., a decrease of interfacial tension. Additionally, the corresponding dilational interfacial visco-elasticity shows some discrepant temperature effects, depending on the bulk concentration and oscillation frequency. The experiments have been performed with a capillary pressure tensiometer under the conditions of micro-gravity. The reason for the positive and negative interfacial tension and visco-elasticity gradients, respectively, within certain ranges of the temperature, concentration and mixing ratios, are discussed on the basis of all available parameters, such as the solubility and partitioning of the surfactants in the two liquid phases and the oscillation frequency.
The Use of 13C-Urea Breath Test for Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Comparison to Endoscopy and Stool Antigen Test
Authors: Alzoubi Hamed , Al-Mnayyis Asma’a , Al rfoa Ibrahim , Aqel Amin , Abu-Lubad Mohammad , Hamdan Omar , Jaber Kareem
Published: July 2020

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can cause gastritis, peptic ulcer diseases and gastric carcinoma. Endoscopy as the gold standard method of diagnosis is an invasive procedure that might not be suitable in all scenarios. Therefore, this first study in Jordan aimed to assess the non-invasive 13C urea breath test (UBT) and stool antigen test for diagnosis of H. pylori infection and the successfulness of eradication therapy as alternatives for endoscopy. Hence, a total of 30 patients attending the endoscopy units at Alkarak teaching hospital were asked to complete a questionnaire with demographic and clinical data. They were then tested for H. pylori using 13C UBT and H. pylori stool antigen before having endoscopy. Another 30 patients who were positive for H. pylori by endoscopy were tested using both tests 6 weeks post eradication therapy. Results showed that the rate of H. pylori detection using endoscopy was 56.7% (17/30). Heartburns (82.3%, p value = 0.019), epigastric pain (88.2%, p value = 0.007) and vomiting (70.5%, p value = 0.02) were the most significant symptoms. Family history of peptic ulcer diseases was significantly associated with an increased risk for having a H. pylori positive result (p value = 0.02). Compared to endoscopy, the sensitivity of 13C UBT for the diagnosis of H. pylori was 94.1% (16/17), while it was 76.5% (13/17) for the stool antigen test. The specificity of both tests was equal (76.9%). However, the positive predictive and negative predictive values (84.2% and 90.9%) for 13C UBT were higher than those (81.3% and 71.4%) for the stool antigen test. The accuracy of 13C UBT was 86.7% compared to 76.7% for the stool antigen test. There was an 87% agreement (20 patients out of 23) between both tests when used to assess success of the eradication therapy. In conclusion, the 13C UBT was found to be more sensitive and accurate than the stool antigen test when used for diagnosis; furthermore, it has a comparable outcome to the stool antigen test in assessing the successfulness of the eradication treatment.
Ensemble Learning Using Fuzzy Weights to Improve Learning Style Identification for Adapted Instructional Routines
Authors: Troussas Christos , Krouska Akrivi , Sgouropoulou Cleo , Voyiatzis Ioannis
Published: July 2020

Mobile personalized learning can be achieved by the identification of students’ learning styles; however, this happens with the completion of large questionnaires. This task has been reported as tedious and time-consuming, causing random selection of the questionnaires’ choices, and thus, erroneous adaptation to students’ needs, endangering knowledge acquisition. Moreover, mobile environments render the selection of questionnaires’ choices impractical due to confined mobile user interfaces. In view of the above, this paper presents Learnglish, a fully developed mobile language learning system incorporating automatic identification of students’ learning styles according to the Felder-Silverman model (FSLSM) using ensemble classification. In particular, three classifiers, namely SVM, NB and KNN, are combined based on the majority voting rule. The major innovation of this task, apart from the ensemble classification and the mobile learning environment, is that Learnglish takes as input a minimum number of personal (i.e., age and gender) and cognitive characteristics (i.e., prior academic performance categorized using fuzzy weights), and solely four questions pertaining to the FSLSM dimensions, to identify the learning style. Furthermore, Learnglish incorporates adapted instructional routines to create an individualized learning environment based on students’ learning preferences as determined by their style. Learnglish was fully evaluated with very encouraging results.
Eulerian Two-Fluid Model of Alkaline Water Electrolysis for Hydrogen Production
Authors: Le Bideau Damien , Mandin Philippe , Benbouzid Mohamed , Kim Myeongsub , Sellier Mathieu , Ganci Fabrizio , Inguanta Rosalinda
Published: July 2020

Hydrogen storage is a promising technology for storage of renewable energy resources. Despite its high energy density potential, the development of hydrogen storage has been impeded, mainly due to its significant cost. Although its cost is governed mainly by electrical energy expense, especially for hydrogen produced with alkaline water electrolysis, it is also driven by the value of the cell tension. The most common means of electrolyzer improvement is the use of an electrocatalyst, which reduces the energy required for electrochemical reaction to take place. Another efficient means of electrolyzer improvement is to use the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-assisted design that allows the comprehension of the phenomena occurring in the electrolyzer and also the improvement in the electrolyzer’s efficiency. The designed two-phase hydrodynamics model of this study has been compared with the experimental results of velocity profiles measured using Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) method. The simulated results were in good agreement with the experimental data in the literature. Under the good fit with experimental values, it is efficient to introduce a new physical bubble transfer phenomenon description called “bubble diffusion”.
Thermodynamic Features of the Intensive Formation of Hydrocarbon Hydrates
Authors: Pavlenko Anatoliy M.
Published: July 2020

This paper presents the results of a study on the influence of pressure and temperature of the gas–water medium on the process of hydrocarbon gas hydrate formation occurring at the phase interface. Herein, a mathematical model is proposed to determine the optimum ratios of pressure, gas temperatures, water, and gas bubble sizes in the bubbling, gas ejection, or mixing processes. As a result of our work, we determined that gas hydrate in these processes is formed at the gas–water interface, that is, on the boundary surface of gas bubbles. Moreover, there is a gas temperature range where the hydrate formation rate reaches its maximum. These study findings can be used to optimize various technological processes associated with the production of gas hydrates in the industry.
Error Analysis of QUB Method in Non-Ideal Conditions during the Experiment
Authors: Ahmad Naveed , Ghiaus Christian , Qureshi Moomal
Published: July 2020

Overall heat transfer coefficient, also known as the intrinsic performance measurement of the building, determines the amount of heat lost by a building due to temperature difference between indoor and outdoor. QUB (Quick U-value of Buildings) is a short-term method for measuring the overall heat transfer coefficient of buildings. The test involves heating and cooling the house with a power step and measuring the indoor temperature response in a single night. Ideally, the outdoor temperature during QUB experiment should remain constant. To compare the influence of variable outdoor temperature, the QUB experiments are simulated on a well-calibrated model with real weather conditions. The experiments at varying outdoor temperature and constant outdoor temperature during the night show that the results in both conditions are nearly similar. A ±2 °C increase or decrease in the outdoor temperature during the QUB experiment can change the results in the measured overall heat transfer coefficient by ±5%. QUB experiments simulated during the months of winter show that the majority of results are ±15% of the steady-state overall heat transfer coefficient. The QUB results during the months of summer show relatively large variation. The large errors coincide with the small temperature difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures before the start of QUB experiment. The median error of multiple QUB experiments during summer can be reduced by increasing the setpoint temperature before the start of QUB experiment.
An Inverse Design Method for Airfoils Based on Pressure Gradient Distribution
Authors: Zhang Yufei , Yan Chongyang , Chen Haixin
Published: July 2020

An airfoil inverse design method is proposed by using the pressure gradient distribution as the design target. The adjoint method is used to compute the derivatives of the design target. A combination of the weighted drag coefficient and the target dimensionless pressure gradient is applied as the optimization objective, while the lift coefficient is considered as a constraint. The advantage of this method is that the designer can sketch a rough expectation of the pressure distribution pattern rather than a precise pressure coefficient under a certain lift coefficient and Mach number, which can greatly reduce the design iteration in the initial stage of the design process. Multiple solutions can be obtained under different objective weights. The feasibility of the method is validated by a supercritical airfoil and a supercritical natural laminar flow airfoil, which are designed based on the target pressure gradients on the airfoils. Eight supercritical airfoils are designed under different upper surface pressure gradients. The drag creep and drag divergence characteristics of the airfoils are numerically tested. The shockfree airfoil demonstrates poor performance because of a high suction peak and the double-shock phenomenon. The adverse pressure gradient on the upper surface before the shockwave needs to be less than 0.2 to maintain both good drag creep and drag divergence characteristics.