bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect Used Nangka (Musa X Paradisiaca L.) Plantain Flour With A Different Process to The Macro-Micronutrient and Sensory of A Snack Bar
Authors: Ekafitri R , Desnilasari D , Mayasti N K I , Kristanti D , Indriati A
Published: October 2023

Snack bars can be made from plantain flour, processed with and without peeling combined with fermentation and nonfermentation process as one of sustainable food innovation. This studied aimed to utilize peeled and unpeeled Nangka plantain processed with fermentation and non-fermentation on snack bar products and examined the effect on macro and micronutrient content and sensory acceptability. The snack bar was made from peeled and unfermented plantain flour (SB_TK), peeled and fermented plantain flour (SB_TKF), unpeeled and unfermented plantain flour (SB_K), and peeled and fermented plantain flour (SB_KF)The results showed that based on effectiveness index, the best snack bar was made from peeled and unfermented banana flour. This snack bar has 4.66% moisture content, 2.42% ash content, 6.37% protein content, 23.91% fat content, 62.67% carbohydrate content, 5.48% dietary fiber, and 28.39% total sugar, with micronutrients of K, Ca, Na, P, Vit A, Vit D, and Se respectively 304.10 (mg/100g); 111.92 (mg/100g); 425.18 (mg/100g); 270.14 (mg/100g); 97.36 (μg/100 g); 26.22 (μg/100 g); 13.86(μg/100 g). All snack bar has sensory acceptability that was not significantly different.
Modified Sorghum Flour as a Wheat Substitute in Functional Food Muffin Products
Authors: Suarni  , Sulistyaningrum A.
Published: October 2023

Muffin products have become increasingly popular as a functional food due to its antioxidant activity. Post-Covid-19 consumers have shown particular interest in foods that can boost their immune systems, making muffins a desirable option. This study aims to explore the potential of modified sorghum flour as a substitute for wheat in muffin production to meet the increasing demand for functional foods with antioxidant activity. A completely randomized design was employed to test six different flour combinations in muffin preparation, ranging from 100% wheat flour to 100% modified sorghum flour. The study evaluated the chemical quality, antioxidant activity, and panelist acceptance level of each muffin variant. The results demonstrated that a combination of wheat flour and modified sorghum flour, with 60% modified sorghum flour and 40% wheat flour, produced the most preferred muffin variant among panelists with 5.04% antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the study utilized pre-gelatinization method in processing modified sorghum flour, which is a feasible technology for community-level applications. These findings suggest the potential of modified sorghum flour as a wheat substitute in functional muffin production.
Effect of Anchovies’ Fish Meal Concentration and Heat Moisture Treatment Modification Time on The Quality of Dry Noodles
Authors: Litaay Christina , Triyono Agus , Rahmisa Audri Syifa , Andriansyah Raden Cecep E , Sriharti  , Tribowo Raden Ismu
Published: October 2023

Sago a raw material for flour for noodles has the potential to be developed and becomes a challenge to be able to compete with noodles made from wheat, which is an imported ingredient. However, the use of noodles made from sago is very limited because it does not have gluten and lacks functional properties, besides that it is also low in protein. The effect of anchovies’ fish meal concentration and heat moisture treatment modification time were studied. The chemical, color, resistant starch, and acceptability of dry noodles were evaluated. The experiments were a completely randomized factorial design with two factors, namely anchovies’ fish meal concentration (0, 5, and 10%) and duration of HMT modification (24 hours and 32 hours). Each treatment was repeated three times. The concentration of anchovies’ fish meal had been significantly different on protein content, water content, color, and acceptability of dry noodles. Heat Moisture Treatment (HMT) modification duration influenced water content, color, and acceptability, but did not affect protein content. The interaction of anchovies’ fish meal with a concentration of 10% and modification time of HMT for 32 hours can increase protein content, and color, and produce highly resistant starch. The resistant starch content in dry noodles was 16.84%-25.14%. Acceptance analysis with anchovies’ fish meal concentration for 32 hours of HMT modification yielded the preferred aroma and taste values of 5.07 and 5.27, respectively.
Study of Mocaf Biscuits Made from a Combination of Bean Flour and Banana Puree Types
Authors: Ratnawati L , Desnilasari D , Indrianti N , Ekafitri R
Published: October 2023

Mocaf (modified cassava flour) is a locally sourced ingredient that can be an alternative in making complementary biscuits. However, the low protein content in mocaf, it is necessary to add ingredients that contain high protein, one of which is beans. The addition of banana puree also intended to increase its nutritional content of biscuit because bananas contain inulin. The aims of this research were to investigated the influence of combination of bean flour and banana puree types to the chemical characteristics of mocaf biscuit. This study employed a Completely Randomized Design with two factors : bean flour types (soybean, mung bean, and red bean flour) and banana puree types (Raja, Ambon, and Nangka). It was observed that the proximate, calorie, total sugar, total dietary fiber (TDF) and inulin content of mocaf biscuit. The results showed that the bean flour and banana puree types had a significantly affected on the TDF and inulin content of mocaf biscuit. Mocaf biscuit which fullfilled SNI 01-7111.2-2005 for complementary biscuits was sample A2B3 (mung bean flour and Nangka banana puree) with 4.90% moisture content, 1.82% ash, 10.50% protein, 16.30% fat, 71.38% carbohydrate, 474.21 kcal/100g, 21.50% total sugar, 4.85% TDF and 1.77% inulin.
Current Technological Approach for Chicken Meat Freshness Evaluation: A Review
Authors: Purwandoko P B , Kuala S I , Susanti N D , Apriyanto I F , Novianti F , Tribowo R I
Published: October 2023

Chicken meat is the most widely consumed commodity by the public because it contains high protein and low fat. The freshness of food needs to be considered by producers and consumers. Therefore, many people have difficulty determining the freshness of chicken meat. Freshness assessment using conventional methods is usually based on chemical, physical, and microbiological parameters analysis. Some disadvantages of freshness assessment using traditional methods are time-consuming, expensive, and destructive. In recent decades, the development and implementation of meat quality analysis methods have increased. This paper aims to examine various methods of non-destructive detection of chicken meat freshness which have several advantages, including requiring quick time analysis, less sample preparation, low cost, and non-destructive measurements. In this paper, we explain various principles and technological applications used in assessing the freshness of chicken meat, including smart packaging, digital imaging, electronic nose and gas sensors, and spectroscopy. Ultimately, developing chicken meat freshness evaluation technology will help all customers and stakeholders monitor the product more effectively and efficiently.
Stability Study of Fermented Milk using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum DAD-13 with Alpha Glucosidase Enzyme Inhibitory Activity on Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion and Storage at Cold Temperature
Authors: Miftakhussolikhah  , Utami T , Lisdiyanti P , Rahayu ES
Published: October 2023

Fermented milk has bioactive peptides with alpha-glucosidase inhibitor capabilities. To be used widely, it must have stability when it stored and when it enters the human digestive tract. The purpose of this research was to understand the stability of alphaglucosidase inhibitory (AGI) activity of bioactive peptide from fermented milk on simulated gastrointestinal digestion and the stability during storage on cold temperature. Fermented milk was prepared by inoculating L. plantarum subsp. plantarum DAD-13 on sterilized milk for 18 h. The fermented milk was placed in simulated gastrointestinal digestion used consecutive pepsin for 3 h, bile salt and tripsin for 2h and tripsin for 8h. Determination of storage stability was carried out at cold temperature (4oC) for 30 days. Bioactive peptides simulated in the human digestive tract still had AGI abilities even though the values had decreased. The AGI activity of bioactive peptide of fermented milk decreased during digestion. AGI value decreased during storage but still had high inhibitory ability after 30 days (19,0126%). Thus, fermented milk could serve as an antihyperglycemic peptide source and alternative food for maintaining/reducing blood glucose.
Climatic Factors and Its Effect on Chili Production: One Step Forward Combating Climate Change
Authors: Widowati I , Dhamira A , Anggrasari H , Seleky R N
Published: October 2023

The impacts of climate change are increasingly visible from time to time, where it’s also arisen in the agricultural sector, including chili cultivation. In order to solve this problem, we need to know how climate factors actually impacts chili production. This study aimed to find out which and how climate factors impacted chili production, also the optimum point of each factor in regard of its impact on chili production. In this study, we used secondary data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Climate Change Knowledge Portal (World Bank) with data ranging from 1961 to 2021 (61 years). Regression analysis using a quadratic model is used to determine the impact of climatic factors on chili production. The analysis shows that the mean and minimum temperatures, followed by rainfall have a significant impact on chili production with an optimum point of 25.20°C; 20.95°C; and 2,751.54 mm respectively.
Farmer’s Preferences of Source Seed New Superior Varieties Character for Rice Seed Production
Authors: Liana Twenty , Susilawati  , Lion Eddy , Toni Hendra
Published: October 2023

Increasing rice production can be achieved by applying technological innovations such as the use of new superior seed varieties that are easily adopted by farmers. Seed variety contributed the most to increasing rice production by 56,1% as a production component. This research was conducted in Belanti Siam Village, Pandih Batu District, and the Pulang Pisau Regency. The choice of location and respondents was purposive with the consideration that Belanti Siam Village is a rice farming center that use of various rice varieties every year. This study analyzed farmers’ preference levels for potential seed sources to be produced, namely Inpari 32 Hewar Daun Bakteri and Inpari Padjajaran Agritan. The research was conducted from September 2021 to January 2022 through surveys and field observations of 20 seed breeders and four officers. Data were collected through direct interviews, using a questionnaire consisting of several parameters to determine farmers' preferences and responses. Secondary data were obtained from The Central Kalimantan BPS data. The results showed that the characteristics of resistance to pests and diseases were the most important factors for farmers in selecting varieties, followed by the production characteristics. Resistance to pests and diseases is the most important characteristic because this condition can lead to crop failure. In the vegetative phase, farmers preferred the Inpari Padjajaran Agritan variety (0.38), whereas in the generative phase, they preferred Inpari 32 Hewar Daun Bakteri (0.43 – 0.55). Farmers preferred the Inpari 32 Hewar Daun Bakteri variety (0.68) for resistance to pests and diseases.
Arthropods, Pests, and Diseases of Jack Bean (Canavalia Ensiformis) in Upland and Dry Climate Areas
Authors: Uge E , Yusnawan E , Baliadi Y , Inayati A
Published: October 2023

Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) is one of the potential crops in tropical areas. Arthropods, plant pests, and microorganisms were observed in Jack bean crop ecosystems. The aims of this study were to observe the presence of arthropods in Jack bean plants in dry land and dry climate area, and disease symptoms caused by microorganisms. This research was conducted at Muneng experimental station Probolinggo, using a diagonal sampling method, with yellow trap, pitfall trap, and swapping net. Symptom variation, arthropod diversity, pest attack intensity, and disease incidence were recorded. The results showed that the types of arthropods, pests, and diseases that infect and the incidence of pest and disease attack on each accession do not differ between accessions. The highest number was recorded in the sweeping net with 12 families, followed by the pitfall trap with 4 families, while in yellow traps there were 3 families. Two insects as plant pest organisms were Liriomyza sp and Maruca sp with attack rates up to 70% and 80% respectively, while jack bean diseases were wilting and mosaic with 25% and 40%. It is necessary to identify the pathogens that caused the diseases in more detail and to study the proper management of pests to reduce yield loss.
Coastal Traders’ Adaptation: Farming as Secondary Livelihood Amidst COVID-19
Authors: Pratiwi L F L , Nissa Z N A , Soriano J D
Published: October 2023

Amid the economic disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, coastal communities in Bantul Regency, particularly Baru Beach and Goa Cemara Beach, experienced vulnerabilities and potential poverty, challenging the SDGs’ first priority of eradicating poverty. This study aimed to evaluate community characteristics and assess livelihood diversification strategies during the pandemic. Using purposive sampling in the selected regions, descriptive analysis revealed that the majority of business individuals were of productive age, held high school education, had over ten years of trading experience, and mainly worked in commerce, with farming as a secondary occupation. Despite the pandemic’s economic challenges, these communities displayed resilience through diversification into commerce, agriculture, and service sectors, with a notable shift from offline to online activities. This diversification not only buffered against immediate economic shocks but also suggested avenues for sustainable livelihoods, aligning with the broader ambitions of environmental sustainability and ecological balance in the context of the Agricultural Environment, Ecology, and Resources.
Sustainable environment: Road to educopolis and green city in the post covid-19 in Indonesia
Authors: Nuraini L , Hastangka  , Nurrahma AH
Published: October 2023

Sustainable environment and green city becoming the future trend of civilization. Green city is a dynamic design toward good civilization that is possessed of good health, educative, and harmonious living. Focused on the development of a green city is the aesthetic view, eco-friendly environment, and sustainable future. The research obstacle is the problem of dense population, pollution, load of work, mess situation, and loss of biodiversity due to degraded environment. The method used in study uses a qualitative approach. Primary data was obtained through direct observation in 2 locations, including the Malioboro area and the public space area in Sleman district. While secondary data obtained through bibliometric analysis. Data analysis uses an interpretation. This research aims to find a suitable model of an environmentally friendly, educative, and green city full of plants that support human health, good for current and future living, specifically through a case study in Yogyakarta. The results of this study shows that a sustainable environment is the road to educating cities through sustainable policies in cities. The results also indicate that improving the quality of sustainable environmental development will have an indirect positive impact on sustainable agricultural development in Indonesia.
Design and Development of Cross-Flow Type Sorghum Chopper for the Cattle Feed Industry
Authors: Unadi A , Budiharti U , Parikesi A , Tjahohutomo R , Asari A , Widodo P
Published: October 2023

The objective of the research is to apply a chopper machine to process forage from sorghum plants for cattle feed and adopt a crop-livestock integrated system to support sustainable agriculture. A cross-flow type chopper machine has been developed for chopping sorghum crops at 7 t/h design capacity and cutting length of less than 10 mm. The machine consists of a cylinder chopper which is designed at 420 mm diameter, 540 mm length, and 1500 rpm. and a feeding conveyor. It has 18 pieces of cutting blades, installed at six rows around and three rows alternately along the chopper cylinder to minimize power requirement and vibration. The power requirement was 2.07 kW and 32.23 kW for feeding and chopping respectively. The performance test has been conducted at the farmer group in Kendit Sub-District, Situbondo district, and showed that the capacity was 7.2 t/h at 3-9 mm cutting length.
Development of Soil Moisture Content Monitoring System for Precision Measurement of Soil Moisture in Sub-Optimal Land for Palm Oil Plantation
Authors: Nugroho A P , Kusumawati N B , Murtiningrum  , Wiratmoko A , Haryadi I M , Pradana F A , Suwardi  , Sukarman  , Primananda S , Sutiarso L
Published: October 2023

Indonesia has 15 million hectares of palm oil plantation, making it one of the world’s greatest palm oil and CPO producers. However, despite the large area of palm oil plantations, the production is not yet optimal. Soil moisture and environmental factors are the leading cause. Thus, a technology suited to monitor soil moisture, soil temperature, and microclimates needs to be developed. This research aims to develop a Soil Moisture Content (SMC) Monitoring System that can be used to monitor soil moisture, supported by soil temperature and microclimates variable and also operates automatically and in real-time. The device is also integrated with a cloud server. The implemented SMC was installed on the palm oil plantation of PT Kerry Sawit Indonesia, Wilmar International Plantation. On top of that, the SMC device can measure soil moisture up to three variations of depth. The acquired data was saved and sent to a cloud server. Then, a user can access the data to execute early water deficit anticipation. The resulting device is capable of measuring soil moisture accurately, which can be proven with these parameters, R square value of 0.9782, RMSE of 1.2%, and MAPE of 2.6%.
Prediction of Particulate Matter (PM10) during High Particulate Event in Peninsular Malaysia using Novel Hybrid Model
Authors: Mohd Jafri Izzati Amani , Mohamed Noor Norazian , A Rahim Nur Alis Addiena , Ul Saufie Ahmad Zia , Habil György Deak
Published: October 2023

High Particulate Events (HPE) contributes to the deterioration of air quality, as the fine particles present can be inhaled, leading to respiratory diseases and other health problem. Knowing the adverse effects of air pollution episodes to human health, it is crucial to create suitable models that can effectively and accurately predict air pollution concentration. This study proposed a hybrid model for forecasting the next day PM10 concentration in peninsular Malaysia namely Shah Alam, Nilai, Bukit Rambai and Larkin. Hourly air pollutant concentration (PM10, NOx, NO2, SO2, CO, O3) and meteorological parameters (RH, T, WS) during the HPE events in 1997, 2005, 2013 and 2015 were used. Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Quantile Regression (QR) was combined to construct a hybrid models (SVM-QR) to reduce the number of input variables. Performance indicators such as Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and Index of Agreement (d2) were used to evaluate the performance of the predictive models. SVM-QR model resulted good performance in all areas. SVM-3 was selected as the best model at Bukit Rambai (MAE=5.72, RMSE=9.71) and Shah Alam (MAE=11.89, RMSE=22.66), while SVM-1 as the best model at Larkin and Nilai with the value (MAE=7.22, RMSE=13.38) and (MAE=6.88, RMSE=11.84), respectively. This strategy was proven to help reducing the complexity of the model and enhance the predictive capacity of the model.
Lake UniSZA Water Quality Monitoring: Pollution Effects to The Aquatic Environment
Authors: Mohamad Hanapi Nur Hanis , Umar Roslan , Ismail Azimah , Lananan Fathurrahman , Nik Wan Nik Ahmad Firdaus , Wan Jusoh Hajjar Hartini , Azahar Nur Ashira , Che Samsudin Nur Fairuz , Nor Aida Mahiddin , Hassan Abdul Rahman
Published: October 2023

Lake is one of the complete ecosystems and source of freshwater itself. Lake serves as a habitat for aquatic plants and animals, including the microorganisms. Lake can either be formed naturally or manmade. Most formed lakes are from volcanic eruptions, or cave ruins and lakes are formed from the rainwater. Man-made lakes usually formed after mining activities, and many can be found all over the world. Water pollution, including lake pollution, is common worldwide. It can be from point-source or non-point source. Natural environmental factors can also contribute to the lake pollution. In this study, aquatic life has been found dead and the samples of both water and aquatic life were taken for analysis. Two types of analysis were conducted; in-situ sampling analysis with YSI handheld parameter and an ICP-OES analysis were conducted. The analysis shown that early low concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) (3.5~4.5 mg/L) and highest concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4-N) (20.69 mg/L) as well as high concentration of sulphur (S) 3.506 mg/L) were found in both water sample and the tissue samples of the organisms. This concludes that the death of the aquatic life was due to the toxicity of sulphur found in the tissue samples.
The Preference of Anadromous Sturgeon Species Regarding Temperature and Depth Parameters During Spawning Migration in The Lower Danube
Authors: Deák György , Sadîca Isabela , Matei Monica , Elena Holban , Raischi Marius , Jawdhari Abdulhusein
Published: October 2023

Anadromous sturgeon populations in the Lower Danube are in severe decline, and this is due to a combination of anthropogenic and natural factors that have a major impact on the life cycle of the species. Stationary swimming parameters, namely water temperature and depth, represent the starting point for developing the best procedures to identify breeding habitats and subsequently develop the best conservation measures in the context of anthropogenic impacts and climate change. According to current data, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii is the most endangered species, as it is the rarest species captured through scientific fishing and has highest temperature sensitivity of the three taxa studied.
Microplastics Removal from Municipal Wastewater Through Oxide-Biological Processes. Phase 1: Preliminary Fragmentation of Microplastics from Wastewater and Aerobic Pre-conditioning of Wastewater with Activated Sludge
Authors: Maria Cristina , Deák György , Ivanov Anton Alexandru , Pop Cristian Emilian , Gina Ghita , Mihaela Ilie , Zamfir Camelia , Grigore Gheorghe
Published: October 2023

Environmental pollution with microplastic waste is a pressing problem of high importance world-wide. This paper is aiming at testing, on an experimental basis, by using a synthetic wastewater, a combined technology to remove the microplastic waste from wastewaters. The method involves a preliminary fragmentation of microplastics followed by the aerobic pre-conditioning of synthetic wastewater with aerobic activated sludge. The results obtained indicate that the ozonation followed by the pre-conditioning of wastewater with activated sludge improves the biodegradability of microplastics from wastewater. As proved in this paper, results in an improved removal efficiency in comparison with the simple biological treatment. An additional advantage of such a combined technology is their great operational variability, being easily changeable and adaptable to a broad range of operating parameters values (e.g.: ozone concentration, pH, retention time, dissolved oxygen, etc.).
Evaluating Recovery Control Concentrations of Bovine Coronavirus (EVAg 015V-02282) Used for SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance
Authors: Deák György , Prangate Raluca , Mohamed Noor Norazian , Matei Monica , Boboc Mădălina , Lupu Laura , Holban Ecol. Elena , Norazrin Ramli
Published: October 2023

SARS-CoV-2 is a pathogenic strain of coronavirus which causes acute respiratory disease in humans. Community spread of COVID-19 was difficult to assess in the beginning of the pandemic, so new methods of detecting the virus had to be discovered. For this reason, national wastewater surveillance systems were implemented in order to detect the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, to establish such systems, there’s a need to standardize protocols for coronavirus concentration, as well as finding the optimal titre of BCoV, generally used as a recovery control. In our study, we used a strain of Betacoronavirus 1 (EVAg 015V-02282) provided by EVAg as our process control. In order to set up which concentration of the Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) will give the most conclusive results, we diluted the virus three times by the decimal method before running the samples in the QIAcuity Digital PCR (dPCR). The evaluation was made so that the BCoV concentration could be used for future studies.
Seasonal Sensitivity of Reco from Aquatic Ecosystem to Meteorological and Physicochemical Water Parameters
Authors: Enache Natalia , Laslo Lucian , György Deák , Matei Eng. Monica , Madalina Boboc , Yusuf Sara Yasina
Published: October 2023

Ecosystem respiration (Reco) is the main contributor to carbon emissions from different types of aquatic ecosystems. For a better understanding of CO2 emissions from the water-atmosphere interface of rivers and to evaluate the influence of meteorological factors and water quality parameters on Reco, in-situ measurements were carried out in Damboviţa River in the winter season when temperatures were up to freezing point as well as in the summer period, which is the most dynamic in terms of CO2 exchange. Reco during the monitoring period ranged from 4.56 to 40.5 gm-2h-1. The statistical analysis of the data set showed that among the meteorological parameters, temperatures explain most temporal variability of CO2 fluxes. By scaling the importance of the water quality parameters, the precision of the permutations indicated the pH as the most influential parameter in the analysis of the dependent factors. The analysed data indicates that aquatic ecosystems are highly sensitive to changes in the current context of climate change, which implies that these ecosystems can easily turn into important sources of carbon in the atmosphere.
Optimization of Biochar Production from Spent Activated Carbon for Anaerobic Biodegradation Enhancement
Authors: Kaewmanee Narunad , Pholchan Patiroop
Published: October 2023

In this study, effects of temperatures (117-683°C) and heating rates (1.9-23.1 °C/min) on pH and specific surface area (SSA) of biochar produced from the pyrolysis of spent activated carbon (SAC) were investigated. Experiments were designed based on the Central Composite Design (CCD) technique. Results showed that the highest pH and SSA of 11.24 and 998 m2/g were obtained under the temperature and heating rate of 683°C and 12.5 °C/min, respectively. These pH and SSA values were found to be 28% and 18% higher than those of the unprocessed SAC. The pH and SSA values achieved were found to be in the same range as those capable of increasing biogas production from different feedstocks in the literature.
Investigation of Post Fire Mechanical Performance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Containing Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag
Authors: Tung Tran Minh , Babalola Olusola Emmanuel , Le Duc-Hien
Published: October 2023

Structures made from recycled aggregate concrete are exposed to high temperatures during fire scenarios which degrade their mechanical properties. Hence, this study investigated the residual mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) containing ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) after exposure to elevated temperatures. 21 experimental runs for design mix of RAC considering recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement of natural coarse aggregate at 50, 75, and 100%, GGBS replacement of cement at 0, 20, 40, and 60% and water to binder ratio at 0.4 and 0.5 levels were used. The residual mechanical properties of RAC including compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and elastic modulus were determined through laboratory experimental tests at room temperature (about 25°C) and after exposure to elevated temperatures of 200, 400, 600, and 800°C. Experimental results showed that residual mechanical properties of RAC decreased with increasing temperatures but their resistance to degradation was significantly enhanced with the addition of GGBS at 40% GGBS content. The novel model developed for the prediction of residual compressive strength of RAC has high prediction accuracy based on the performance metrics used to evaluate the model performance. The model has p-values less than 0.0001, a high R² value of 0.9781, a low root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.456 and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.2287. Overall, the study contributed immensely to the knowledge of RAC as a sustainable alternative to normal concrete in areas prone to exposure to high temperatures which will significantly aid the effective fire safety design of structural members produced with recycled aggregate concrete.
Assessment of bacteria and fungi in food waste compost using hybrid dehydrated food waste associated with Effective Microorganisms (EM)
Authors: Hamzah Nurhidayah , Azizan Nur Aina Yasmin , Zainuddin Nur Syahiza , Mohamed Irma Noorazurah , Ab Wahid Marfiah , Mohd Yatim Zulhailmy , Komari Mohd Zuraidi
Published: October 2023

Food waste is a significant global issue, leading to soil contamination and greenhouse gas emissions. To address this problem and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, composting food waste using Effective Microorganisms (EM) and dehydrated techniques has been explored. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the composting process at different stages using EM-related dehydrated food waste. Bacteria and fungi colonies were measured during early, premature, and mature stages of composting in two systems. The results showed varying trends in bacteria and fungi populations, with mesophilic bacteria dominating the early stage and thermophilic bacteria increasing in System 2 at the mature stage. Fungi colony counts decreased over time in both systems. Correlation analysis indicated a negative correlation between mesophilic bacteria and fungi with pH and temperature, while thermophilic bacteria and fungi in System 2 showed a positive correlation. Dehydrated food waste was found to enhance bacterial and fungal growth, promoting efficient composting under specific pH and temperature conditions. These findings highlight the potential of using dehydrated food waste and EM in sustainable waste management practices and agricultural applications, fostering a more resilient and ecofriendly future.
The Efficacy of Green Organic Fertilizer on the Growth and Health of Mango Tree (Mangifera Indica)
Authors: Supian N. Suhaibah , Kadir A.A. , Zin N.S.M. , Hissham N.F.N. , Supian N.S. , Detho A.
Published: October 2023

In Malaysia, 98% of garden waste is being dumped in the landfills. Meanwhile, only 2% is being recycled or compost. This is because no specified policy or guidelines focusing on garden waste management, and it often collected separately due to its bulk/large in size caused higher disposal cost. In this study, composting of organic fertilizer (OF) was performed to determine the effectiveness using two types of decomposition medium [leaf mold (LM) and green grass] and to evaluate the growth and health status of the Mango Tree (Mangifera Indica). Six different types of soil samples were collected at two-weeks intervals over a three-months period during the composting process. The 6 of tree plots physical monitoring analysis consists of height and diameter of tree and physicochemical parameters tested included pH, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), potassium (K), and heavy metals was performed. Results showed growth and health for plotted tree sample using dripping of OF is more higher and healthy than others. While, N, P and K analysis contents were obviously responsive to the treatments and followed the same trend in wide areas. The result showed highest levels treated with (LM+OF) by dripping automatic system. While, both plot of (LM+OF) manual and both plot (LM) treatments showed significantly the same effectiveness and came second statistically in this regard. In contrast, the lowest values were generally found in plot (control). It was concluded that OF has better effects on plant growth and soil quality with the N, P, and K concentration content. Our results indicate that the residues from the fermentation of organic fertilizers can be widely used.
Cost Reduction Techniques in Public Higher Educational Buildings in Southwestern Nigeria: Awareness Among Project Participants
Authors: Akinola Gbemisola , Fagbenle Olabosipo , Ogunde Ayodeji , Akerele Adebimpe
Published: October 2023

Building projects delivered within higher educational institutions are often left unfinished or finished more than the initial cost, exceeding the duration and not up to standard. This is largely due to several factors affecting the cost and time performance of the educational building projects funded by TETfund, HEIs internally generated revenue and private organisation donors. The study assessed project participants’ awareness of cost-reduction techniques in delivering educational building projects in Nigeria. This study focused on educational building projects deliver in the public HEIs in Southwestern Nigeria. A questionnaire survey was conducted among the stakeholders that participated in constructing educational buildings in the public HEIs in Southwestern Nigeria from 2012-2022 as contractors or consultants. The study employed percentage, mean, and Kruskal-Wallis H Test for data analysis. Result show supply chain management, target value design, budget control, earned value analysis and value analysis/engineering as the top known cost reduction techniques among all the project participants. The study concludes that to improve cost and time performance in the delivery of educational building projects, project participants must understand various cost reductions techniques to deliver projects within cost and time estimate.
Blood Surfaces in the Extra Corporeal Circuit: A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study
Authors: Kurusz Mark , Williams Dennis R.
Published: October 2023

Despite advances in cardiovascular surgery and the use of new equipment for extracorporeal circulation (ECC), the goal of indefinitely safe ECC is not a reality yet. One of the limiting factors is trauma to the blood as it traverses the extracorporeal circuit. Of the factors that have been implicated as sources of trauma, obstructions or disturbances to flow and surface roughness are the two upon which this study is focused.

The method used was scanning electron microscopy because of the ability to visualize the microtopography of a typical ECC with great depth of field and high magnification. Unused components were examined and included: cannulae, tubing, connectors, bubble oxygenator, and microemboli filter. Only components from the major system (ie., excluding cardiotomy suction) were examined because most of the blood volume is contained within it and repeatedly comes in contact with its surfaces. Samples were examined at 50° tilt from the horizontal at magnifications ranging 100-2500X, with SOOX and 1000X considered most useful for visualization of the surfaces on a cellular level.

The results are a series of photomicrographs that show a variety of blood surfaces: some are smooth, and some are rough with ridges, crevices, and surface irregularities often larger than blood cells.

We conclude that rough surfaces do exist within the typical ECC system, and these surfaces are probably responsible, in part, for the trauma blood undergoes during ECC. Long term ECC will require a major improvement in the surface structure of many of the currently used components.
Gamson–Shapley Laws: a formal approach to parliamentary coalition formation
Authors: Demyanenko Nataliya , La Mura Pierfrancesco
Published: October 2023

We consider a set of empirical assumptions formulated by Gamson (1961), namely, Gamson’s Laws, which remain at the heart of government formation forecast in parliamentary systems. While the critical resource postulated in Gamson’s approach is the proportion of votes received by each party, other versions of Gamson’s Laws can be defined by a different choice of critical resource. We model coalition formation as a cooperative game, and provide axiomatic foundations for a version of Gamson’s Laws in which the critical resource is identified with strategic influence, as measured by the Shapley value. We compare the empirical accuracy of the resulting Gamson–Shapley theory against the original Gamson’s Laws in a panel of 33 parliamentary elections, and find that it leads to significantly more accurate predictions of both coalition structure and power distribution. Finally, we propose an extension of the Gamson–Shapley approach which also incorporates information about policy distance among coalition partners. In particular, we discuss the advantages of the extended approach in the context of the German elections in 1987 and 2017.
Compressive damage evolution analysis of self-healing SiC/SiC composites based on acoustic emission pattern recognition
Authors: Yang Jinpeng , Yao Leijiang , Zhang Yongzhen , Li Bin , Tong Xiaoyan
Published: October 2023

The compression test of self-healing SiC/SiC was carried out, and acoustic emission (AE) signals were simultaneously collected. Using the AE signal pattern recognition and the sentry function based on AE, the mechanical property and damage evolution process were studied. Combined with the SEM observation of the fracture surface, four damage modes, namely, matrix cracking, interface debonding, interface friction, and fiber shear breakage, were identified, and their typical AE characteristics were obtained. According to the pattern recognition result and the trend of the sentry function, it is found that although the loading curve is approximately linear, the failure process can actually be divided into four stages. The sentry function provides an early warning before the catastrophic failure of SiC/SiC. The ultimate strength, lower than the maximum stress, can be defined from the damage evolution identified by AE.
Boosting the photodetection of bulk aluminum nitride crystals-based MSM device through an additional electrode
Authors: Cao Yuan , Fan Zelong , Qin Zuoyan , Jin Lei , Li Baikui , Sun Zhenhua , Wu Honglei
Published: October 2023

Aluminum nitride (AlN) exhibits excellent high-temperature resistance, chemical stability, and a wide bandgap, making it a prime candidate material for deep ultraviolet detectors. In this study, a modified metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) photodetector using titanium (Ti) electrodes and millimeter-scale AlN bulk polycrystals grown through physical vapor transport is developed, demonstrating photoresponse to light from visible to vacuum ultraviolet. An additional tungsten (W) electrode is designed on the backside of the device, transforming it into a W-MSM device. A proper bias to the W electrode (VW) is found valid to boost the performance of the photodetector. Representatively, with a V of 20 V and VW of −12 V applied, the device achieves improvements in responsivity (R), detectivity (D*), and external quantum efficiency of 112.84%, 30.5%, and 112.84%, respectively, to 532 nm light and 123.18%, 36.84%, and 123.18%, respectively, to 193 nm light. Furthermore, it is found that with the total voltage being instant, optimizing the distribution of voltage between the Ti electrode and the W electrode would induce a better photoresponse than applying voltage solely to the Ti electrode (VW = 0 V). The reason is elaborated through modeling the voltage distribution in the device, revealing the particular role of the bulk semiconductor in this feature. This research provides a facile and innovative approach to developing low-power photodetectors for bulk materials.
Signal transduction at GPCRs: Allosteric activation of the ERK MAPK by β-arrestin
Authors: Kahsai Alem W. , Shah Kunal S. , Shim Paul J. , Lee Mason A. , Shreiber Bowie N. , Schwalb Allison M. , Zhang Xingdong , Kwon Henry Y. , Huang Li-Yin , Soderblom Erik J. , Ahn Seungkirl , Lefkowitz Robert J.
Published: October 2023

β-arrestins are multivalent adaptor proteins that bind active phosphorylated G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to inhibit G protein signaling, mediate receptor internalization, and initiate alternative signaling events. β-arrestins link agonist-stimulated GPCRs to downstream signaling partners, such as the c-Raf–MEK1–ERK1/2 cascade leading to ERK1/2 activation. β-arrestins have been thought to transduce signals solely via passive scaffolding by facilitating the assembly of multiprotein signaling complexes. Recently, however, β-arrestin 1 and 2 were shown to activate two downstream signaling effectors, c-Src and c-Raf, allosterically. Over the last two decades, ERK1/2 have been the most intensely studied signaling proteins scaffolded by β-arrestins. Here, we demonstrate that β-arrestins play an active role in allosterically modulating ERK kinase activity in vitro and within intact cells. Specifically, we show that β-arrestins and their GPCR-mediated active states allosterically enhance ERK2 autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of a downstream ERK2 substrate, and we elucidate the mechanism by which β-arrestins do so. Furthermore, we find that allosteric stimulation of dually phosphorylated ERK2 by active-state β-arrestin 2 is more robust than by active-state β-arrestin 1, highlighting differential capacities of β-arrestin isoforms to regulate effector signaling pathways downstream of GPCRs. In summary, our study provides strong evidence for a new paradigm in which β-arrestins function as active “catalytic” scaffolds to allosterically unlock the enzymatic activity of signaling components downstream of GPCR activation.
A designed Copper Histidine-brace enzyme for oxidative depolymerization of polysaccharides as a model of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase
Authors: Liu Yiwei , Harnden Kevin A. , Van Stappen Casey , Dikanov Sergei A. , Lu Yi
Published: October 2023

The “Histidine-brace” (His-brace) copper-binding site, composed of Cu(His)
2
with a backbone amine, is found in metalloproteins with diverse functions. A primary example is lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO), a class of enzymes that catalyze the oxidative depolymerization of polysaccharides, providing not only an energy source for native microorganisms but also a route to more effective industrial biomass conversion. Despite its importance, how the Cu His-brace site performs this unique and challenging oxidative depolymerization reaction remains to be understood. To answer this question, we have designed a biosynthetic model of LPMO by incorporating the Cu His-brace motif into azurin, an electron transfer protein. Spectroscopic studies, including ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance, confirm copper binding at the designed His-brace site. Moreover, the designed protein is catalytically active towards both cellulose and starch, the native substrates of LPMO, generating degraded oligosaccharides with multiturnovers by C1 oxidation. It also performs oxidative cleavage of the model substrate 4-nitrophenyl-D-glucopyranoside, achieving a turnover number ~9% of that of a native LPMO assayed under identical conditions. This work presents a rationally designed artificial metalloenzyme that acts as a structural and functional mimic of LPMO, which provides a promising system for understanding the role of the Cu His-brace site in LPMO activity and potential application in polysaccharide degradation.
Adjective phrase fronting in the Malacca Creole Portuguese noun phrase
Authors: Baxter Alan N
Published: October 2023

This paper is concerned with the grammar and origins of a focusing rule in Malacca Creole Portuguese, (MCP)
whereby an adjectival phrase (AdjP) may be extracted from the right branch of a noun phrase and fronted to a position prior to the
determiner. It begins by describing the characteristics of AdjP-fronting in MCP, according to determiner type, syntactic role of
the fronted adjective, syntactic role of the determiner phrase, and the structural complexity of the AdjP. Subsequently, it
considers the presence of AdjP-fronting in 19th and 20th century data of the Creole Portuguese of Tugu/Batavia, Mangalore,
Cannanore, Cochin and Sri Lanka. Building on these comparisons, it then addresses the potential influences of Dravidian
(Malayalam, Tamil) and Indo-Aryan (Bangla) substrates, and Dutch and English adstrates. The paper concludes that AdjP-fronting in
MCP may be added to the list of typological features that demonstrate the connection between the southern Indo-Portuguese creoles
and the Malayo-Portuguese creoles.
Review on high-performance bulk MgB2 superconductors
Authors: Muralidhar M , Shadab Malik , Sai Srikanth A , Jirsa M , Noudem J
Published: October 2023

Although the fascinating effect of superconductivity was discovered more than 100 years ago, only a few low-temperature superconductors, especially Nb3Sn and NbTi, have reached everyday-life use. After the discovery of superconductivity in MgB2 in 2001, a boom appeared in interest in employing MgB2 in commercial applications, facilitated by simple crystallographic structure, high critical temperature, low-cost raw ingredients, simple and fast production, and other advantages for moderate temperature applications. It only lacks high flux pinning and good mechanical performance. In this review, the implications of manufacturing procedures on the superconducting properties, crystal and electronic structure of MgB2 are discussed. The advantages and drawbacks of various manufacturing processes will be presented, as well as the ways how to improve MgB2 superconducting performance. The impact of oxygen reduction, elements doping, the introduction of defects and additives, and the effect of precursor refinement on superconducting properties are here compiled to give an overview of the progress of flux pinning enhancement in bulk MgB2.
Plasma-induced reversible surface modification and its impact on oxygen heterogeneous recombination
Authors: Afonso José , Vialetto Luca , Guerra Vasco , Viegas Pedro
Published: October 2023

A novel model is developed for atomic oxygen surface kinetics in silica-like walls, introducing a plasma-induced surface modification, which may impact intermediate pressure plasma reactors. The model is the first to reproduce experimental measurements in an oxygen glow discharge operating in the pressure range between 0.27 mbar (0.2 Torr) and 4 mbar (3 Torr), showing a decrease with pressure of the O recombination probability on Pyrex between 0.27 mbar and 1 mbar. The numerical simulations suggest that a modification is induced by the production and destruction of metastable chemisorption sites at the surface. As such, the Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L-H) and Eley-Rideal (E-R) recombination mechanisms take place involving not only physisorption and stable chemisorption sites, but also metastable chemisorption sites, produced by the impact of fast O2 ions and neutrals. The presence of metastable sites can be reversed by increasing the plasma pressure.