bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF IMPACT OF PERCUSSIVE PULSE FORM ON SINKING PROCESS OF HOLLOW ROD ELEMENTS INTO SOILS
Authors: Smolentsev Alexander , Primichkin Alexander
Published: November 2019

The work has experimental nature and it is aimed to development of vibro-percussion method of pipe-cover sinking during trenchless constructions of underground utilities. The maid idea of the research is the determination of regularities of filling inner tube hollow by soil at different forms of percussive pulse. Theoretical dependences of impact of percussion energy structure (form of percussion pulse) on efficiency of hollow rod element advance in the solid at different stages of insertion.
Dimensionless parameter – filling coefficient is used for quantitative evaluation of filling rate by soil. Influence of pipe diameter on incrementation of length of soil core-sample for different percussive machines with the same percussive energy is shown. Stand and method of field test operation at various soil condition and interpretation of obtained data and its comparison with previous results obtained by the authors of the work and foreign researchers are represented.
Modeling and Solving Scheduling Problem with m Uniform Parallel Machines Subject to Unavailability Constraints
Authors: Kaabi Jihene
Published: November 2019

The problem investigated in this paper is scheduling on uniform parallel machines, taking into account that machines can be periodically unavailable during the planning horizon. The objective is to determine planning for job processing so that the makespan is minimal. The problem is known to be NP-hard. A new quadratic model was developed. Because of the limitation of the aforementioned model in terms of problem sizes, a novel algorithm was developed to tackle big-sized instances. This consists of mainly two phases. The first phase generates schedules using a modified Largest Processing Time ( L P T )-based procedure. Then, theses schedules are subject to further improvement during the second phase. This improvement is obtained by simultaneously applying pairwise job interchanges between machines. The proposed algorithm and the quadratic model were implemented and tested on variously sized problems. Computational results showed that the developed quadratic model could optimally solve small- to medium-sized problem instances. However, the proposed algorithm was able to optimally solve large-sized problems in a reasonable time.
Combined Dominance and Additive Gene Effects in Trait Inheritance of Drought-Stressed and Full Irrigated Popcorn
Authors: Lima Valter Jário de , Amaral Júnior Antonio Teixeira do , Kamphorst Samuel Henrique , Bispo Rosimeire Barboza , Leite Jhean Torres , Santos Talles de Oliveira , Schmitt Kátia Fabiane Medeiros , Chaves Marcelo Moura , Oliveira Uéliton Alves de , Santos Pedro Henrique Araújo Diniz , Gonçalves Gabriel Moreno Bernardo , Khan Shahid , Guimarães Lauro José Moreira
Published: November 2019

To define breeding strategies, the understanding of trait inheritance is critical. The objective of this study was to determine the inheritance of popcorn under different water regimes. To this end, Hayman’s diallel methodology was used, with 8 parents and 28 hybrids. The experiment was carried out under well-watered conditions (WW) and water stress (WS). For popping expansion (PE) under both water regimes, the effects of complete dominance and greater importance of the components associated with the dominance effects were observed. In contrast, the number of dominant genes was zero and the determination coefficient in the narrow sense was >50%; additive effects were also present. For the number of grains per row (GR), ear length (EL), and grain yield (GY) under WS and WW conditions, the dominance effects were the most relevant, and the mean degree of dominance with overdominance effects and greatest relevance of the components associated with this effect were also observed. The same breeding methods can be applied under the studied WS and WW conditions. Exploiting heterosis for GY and related components is a promising way to adapt popcorn to WS. To be able to capitalize on additive and dominance effects, a reciprocal recurrent selection is recommended.
Viticulture and Winemaking under Climate Change
Authors: Fraga Helder
Published: November 2019

The importance of viticulture and the winemaking socio-economic sector is acknowledged worldwide. The most renowned winemaking regions show very specific environmental characteristics, where climate usually plays a central role. Considering the strong influence of weather and climatic factors on grapevine yields and berry quality attributes, climate change may indeed significantly impact this crop. Recent-past trends already point to a pronounced increase in the growing season mean temperatures, as well as changes in the precipitation regimes, which has been influencing wine typicity across some of the most renowned winemaking regions worldwide. Moreover, several climate scenarios give evidence of enhanced stress conditions for grapevine growth until the end of the century. Although grapevines have a high resilience, the clear evidence for significant climate change in the upcoming decades urges adaptation and mitigation measures to be taken by the sector stakeholders. To provide hints on the abovementioned issues, we have edited a special issue entitled: “Viticulture and Winemaking under Climate Change”. Contributions from different fields were considered, including crop and climate modeling, and potential adaptation measures against these threats. The current special issue allows the expansion of the scientific knowledge of these particular fields of research, also providing a path for future research.
Estimation of Soil Loss Tolerance in Olive Groves as an Indicator of Sustainability: The Case of the Estepa Region (Andalusia, Spain)
Authors: Rodríguez Sousa Antonio , Barandica Jesús , Rescia Alejandro
Published: November 2019

Spain is the world's leading producer of olive oil, with the largest number of olive agro-systems in the Andalusia region. However, rural migration, low profitability, and biophysical limitations to production have compromised their sustainability. Soil erosion is the main cause of declining production and must be controlled to sustain production and keep soil loss below a threshold (soil loss tolerance, SLT). In this paper, the Soil Loss Tolerance Index (SLTI) for non-specific crops was calculated, theoretically, in different Andalusian olive-growing areas. A new Soil Loss Tolerance Index specifically for olive groves was developed (SLTIog) using soil variables related to erosion corresponding to the Estepa region. This index and the Soil Productive Index (SPI) were estimated. Andalusian olive groves with severe erosion were unsustainable for a 150-year period according to SLTI. However, applying the SLTIog in olive groves of Estepa, soil loss was not unsustainable. Although no statistically significant differences were detected between the two SLT indices, the consideration of specific soil variables in the SLTIog made it more accurate and reliable for the assessment of potential long-term sustainability. The use of specific indices for olive groves can inform the adoption of management measures to maintain productivity and support conservation.
LPG Flaming—A Safe Post-Emergence Weed Control Tool for Direct Seeded and Bulb Onion
Authors: Horesh Alon , Igbariya Karam , Peleg Zvi , Lati Ran Nisim
Published: November 2019

The demand for pesticide-free food has increased the need for sustainable organic farming. Onion (Allium cepa L.) is an important vegetable crop cultivated worldwide. The available weed control tools for intra-row weeds following onion emergence are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the potential use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) flaming as a pre- and post-emergence weed control method for both direct-seeded onion seedlings and transplanted onion bulbs. The safety of cross-row, where the flames are targeted to the intra-row area from both sides of the row, and broadcast flaming for bulb onion was compared. Cross-row flaming at twelve days after planting had no effect on onion dry weight, while broadcast flaming-treated plants’ dry weight was reduced by 36% as compared to controls. For the cross-row technique, the tested burners’ angle (45° and 30°) and inter-burner distances (30 and 40 cm) had no impact on weed control efficacy, and similar control levels, between 55% (15 cm) and 45% (10 cm), were observed 15 cm from both sides of the row-center. Direct-seeded onion cultivars were treated at various growth stages. The pre-crop-emergence stage was completely safe for the crop, and the second leaf stage exhibited a wide range of tolerance levels to flaming treatment across the different onion cultivars, with dry weights ranging between 39 and 117% compared to non-treated control in the flaming sensitive and tolerant cultivars, respectively. These results were validated under field conditions using the two most tolerant cultivars (Orlando and Browny); no yield reductions were observed for either cultivar when treated from the third leaf stage. In bulb onion, flaming had no impact on dry weight of shoots or roots when applied from four weeks after planting. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the potential of using flaming as a post-emergence weed control tool for direct-seeded and bulb onion, and at earlier time points than previously shown. Cross-row flaming proved effective for controlling intra-row weeds and can lower weeding costs. Future research should evaluate the safety of sequential applications and test complementary control methods for the initial growth stages.
Performances of Durum Wheat Varieties Under Conventional and No-Chemical Input Management Systems in a Semiarid Mediterranean Environment
Authors: Anastasi Umberto , Corinzia Sebastiano Andrea , Cosentino Salvatore Luciano , Scordia Danilo
Published: November 2019

Chemical input reduction in agricultural systems is strongly demanded with the aim to improve the quality and the safety of food/feed products in an environmental sustainable perspective. Durum wheat is the most important food crop widely grown across the Mediterranean basin. However, the choice of tailored-genotypes can represent a key strategy in resource limiting conditions. The present study investigated the performance of fourteen commercial durum wheat varieties, in terms of morphologic, productive and quality traits under two cropping systems, conventional (CH) and no-chemical input (NC), for two growing seasons. The NC cropping system affected plant phenology, grain yield, and its components (i.e., ears m−2 and test weight). However, the negative influence exerted by the NC depended by the growing season (significant interaction between growing season and cropping system), which in turn affected the production behavior of genotypes (significant interaction between growing season and genotype). The additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis showed that genotype (G) effect explained the 4.3% of the total variability, the environment (E) the 71.7% and the G × E interaction the 9.4%. The AMMI stability value (ASV) indicated that Meridiano, Claudio, Saragolla, and Normanno were the most stable genotypes among environments (combination of years and management systems). An integrated environmental assessment, including a soil nitrogen balance, can help to provide a more holistic approach to the sustainability of the no-chemical Mediterranean cropping systems based on cereal-legume rotation.
Growth, Evapotranspiration, and Ion Uptake Characteristics of Alfalfa and Triticale Irrigated with Brackish Groundwater and Desalination Concentrate
Authors: Kankarla Vanaja , Shukla Manoj K. , VanLeeuwen Dawn , Schutte Brian J. , Picchioni Geno A.
Published: November 2019

Persistent drought, low snowfall, and low rainfall have reduced availability of fresh water for irrigating agricultural crops in many arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Brackish groundwater (electrical conductivity; EC > 3 dSm−1) is increasingly used for irrigation in New Mexico. This study investigates the effect of ion uptake from brackish groundwater and concentrate irrigation on the performance of two forage species, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and triticale (×Triticosecale), in sand soils in greenhouse conditions. Two simultaneous experiments were run for 90 days using tap water (control; 0.7 dSm−1), brackish groundwater (BGW; 4 dSm−1), reverse osmosis concentrate (RO; 8 dSm−1, Ca2+ dominant), and BGW plus sodium chloride (BGW + NaCl; 8 dSm−1, Na+ dominant). BGW + NaCl irrigation significantly reduced the evapotranspiration (ET) of both the species. Deep percolation (DP) increased significantly with RO and BGW + NaCl irrigation in alfalfa but only with BGW + NaCl irrigation in triticale. Alfalfa plant growth decreased with increasing salinity, while triticale plants followed an opposite trend. ET continued to decrease with increasing salinity for both species. Na+ dominant (BGW + NaCl) irrigation produced robust growth and early flowering and ear head formation in triticale. Na+ ion concentration in shoots was above 0.66%, which led to reduced alfalfa growth, while more than 1.22% did not decrease triticale growth or biomass. Increased Ca2+ sequestration in alfalfa played a crucial role in reducing Na+ ion toxicity. Species performance primarily confirmed that alfalfa is moderately salt-tolerant while triticale is confirmed to be a halophyte producing abundant growth and biomass with higher Na+ uptake. Triticale proved to be a promising species for reuse of RO concentrate for agriculture in marginal lands.
Mulching-Induced Changes in Tuber Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Potato in China: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Linlin , Coulter Jeffrey A. , Palta Jairo A. , Xie Junhong , Luo Zhuzhu , Li Lingling , Carberry Peter , Li Qiang , Deng Xiping
Published: November 2019

In dry environments, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is grown under mulching for water conservation and improving tuber yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). A meta-analysis was conducted to determine how mulching improved tuber yield and NUE in potato and how yield and NUE is influenced by fertilization, tillage practices, and growing environment in China. A search of peer-reviewed publications was performed to collect data on the effects of mulching on yield and NUE in potato grown in China. The data included were from field studies with a mulching and a no mulching treatment and data on tuber yield and NUE. A total of 169 publications (17 in English and 152 in Chinese) containing 1802 observations from 105 sites were compiled into the dataset. Mulching significantly increased both tuber yield and NUE by an average of 24% compared to no mulching, respectively. Plastic film mulching was more effective in improving yield and NUE than straw mulching. The yield and NUE increase were highest under plastic film mulching on ridge-furrow plots and straw mulching on flat plots. Mulching was more effective at improving yield and NUE in the Northwest dryland region at a plant density between 55,000 and 70,000 plants ha−1 and with application of synthetic N and P2O5 at rates of 100−200 kg ha−1, K fertilization at 0−100 kg K2O ha−1, and without organic fertilization. Integrated use of organic fertilizer and mulching was found to reduce synthetic N and P fertilizer input by 50% and K fertilizer input by 100% for production without affecting yield and NUE. These results demonstrate that mulching increases yield and NUE in potato in China, but the benefits occur when the growing region, tillage, and fertilization practices are appropriately considered.
Exogenous Melatonin Delays Methyl Jasmonate-Triggered Senescence in Tomato Leaves
Authors: Wang Meiling , Zhang Tong , Ding Fei
Published: November 2019

Leaf senescence represents the last stage of leaf development and is highly regulated by plant hormones and environmental factors. Leaf senescence limits growth and yields in crops, leading to a significant portion of agricultural loss. It is thus crucial to develop strategies to delay this physiological process. Melatonin, an extensively studied molecule, has been demonstrated to play a role in the regulation of leaf senescence in plants. Here, we report the role of exogenous melatonin in the alleviation of methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-induced senescence in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaves. The application of melatonin led to slower degradation of chlorophyll, reduced electrolyte leakage, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in tomato leaves incubated with MeJA. In addition, melatonin repressed the upregulation of senescence-related genes (SAG and SEN) and chlorophyll degradation genes (SGR1 and PAO) in tomato leaves exposed to MeJA. Furthermore, melatonin stimulated the activity of a Calvin-Benson Cycle enzyme sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) and alleviated the inhibition of SlSBPASE (tomato SBPase gene) expression and in MeJA-treated tomato leaves, suggesting an action of melatonin on the capacity for carbon fixation during senescence. Collectively, these results support a role for melatonin in the alleviation of MeJA-induced senescence in tomato leaves. This work also presents a case study that melatonin may be a useful agent in the delay of crop senescence in agricultural practice.
Functional Components, Antioxidant Activity and Hypoglycemic Ability Following Simulated Gastro-Intestinal Digestion of Pigments from Walnut Brown Shell and Green Husk
Authors: Sun Yanan , Li Shanshan , Zeng Fanhang , Qi Jingyi , Qin Wen , Tan Cui , Luo Qingying , Wu Dingtao , Zhang Qing , Lin Derong , Chen Hong
Published: November 2019

To assess the effects of digestion on the functional components of walnut pigment and their bioactivities, we developed an in vitro model simulating gastro-intestinal digestion. Results showed an increase in the contents of flavonoids and conjugated phenols (with retention rates higher than 100%) in husk pigment after digestion. The lowest of the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging abilities was reached in the group with the minimum flavonoid content after digestion. Close correlation was observed between free phenol content and total reducing power, as the reducing power among different groups of husk pigment was in consistent with free phenols changes. The inhibitory effect of walnut pigment on α-amylase with/without digestion enzyme was similar. However, shell pigment showed improved inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase activity, with an increased inhibitory rate of 5.42%. In general, the antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic ability of walnut pigment were prone to chemical and enzymatic changes during simulated digestion, which were also related to the alteration of flavonoids and phenols.
Oleuropein, a Bioactive Compound from Olea europaea L., as a Potential Preventive and Therapeutic Agent in Non-Communicable Diseases
Authors: Nediani Chiara , Ruzzolini Jessica , Romani Annalisa , Calorini Lido
Published: November 2019

Growing scientific literature data suggest that the intake of natural bioactive compounds plays a critical role in preventing or reducing the occurrence of human chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Oleuropein, the main phenolic component of Olea europaea L., has attracted scientific attention for its several health beneficial properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardio- and neuro-protective, and anti-cancer. This article is a narrative review focused on the current literature concerning the effect of oleuropein in NCDs, such as neuro- and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney diseases, and cancer, by its putative antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, but also for its other peculiar actions such as an autophagy inducer and amyloid fibril growth inhibitor and, finally, for its anti-cancer effect. Despite the increasing number of published studies, looking at the beneficial effects of oleuropein, there is limited clinical evidence focused on the benefits of this polyphenol as a nutraceutical product in humans, and many problems are still to be resolved about its bioavailability, bioaccessibility, and dosage. Thus, future clinical randomized trials are needed to establish the relation between the beneficial effects and the mechanisms of action occurring in the human body in response to the intake of oleuropein.
A Kinematic Controller for Liquid Pouring between Vessels Modelled with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics
Authors: Camporredondo Gabriel , Barber Ramón , Legrand Mathieu , Muñoz Lourdes
Published: November 2019

In robotics, the task of pouring liquids into vessels in non-structured or domestic spaces is an open field of study. A real time, fluid dynamic simulation, based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), together with solid motion kinematics, allow for a closed loop control of pouring. In the first place, a control criterion related with the behavior of the liquid free surface is established to handle sloshing, especially in the initial phase of pouring to prevent liquid adhesion over the vessel rim. A 2-D, free surface SPH simulation is implemented on a graphic processing unit (GPU) to predict the liquid motion with real-time capability. The pouring vessel has a single degree of freedom of rotation, while the catching vessel has a single degree of freedom of translation, and the control loop handles the tilting angle of the pouring vessel. In this work, a two-stage pouring method is proposed, differentiating an initial phase where sloshing is particularly relevant, and a nearly constant outflow phase. For control purposes, the free outflow trajectory was simplified and modelled as a free falling solid with an initial velocity at the vessel crest, as calculated by the SPH simulation. As the first stage of pouring is more delicate, a novel slosh induction method (SIM) is proposed to overcome spilling issues during initial tilting in full filled vessels. Both robotic control and fluid modelling showed good results at multiples initial vessel filling heights.
Emotion, Respiration, and Heart Rate Variability: A Mathematical Model and Simulation Analyses
Authors: Hirabayashi Satoko , Iwamoto Masami
Published: November 2019

Although the generation mechanism of the low-frequency (LF) component of heart rate variability (HRV) is controversial, HRV is a potential candidate in designing objective measurement methodologies for emotions. These methodologies could be valuable for several biosignal applications. Here, we have conducted a simulation analysis using a novel mathematical model that integrates emotion, respiration, the nervous system, and the cardiovascular system. Our model has well reproduced experimental results, specifically concerning HRV with respiratory sinus arrhythmia and LF, the relation between HRV total power and the respiration frequency, and the homeostatic maintenance by the baroreflex. Our model indicates the following possibilities: (i) The delay in the heart rate control process of the parasympathetic activity works as a low-pass filter and the HRV total power decreases with a higher respiration frequency; (ii) the LF component of HRV and the Mayer wave are generated as transient responses of the baroreflex feedback control to perturbations induced by an emotional stimulus; and (iii) concentration on breathing to reduce the respiration frequency can reduce LF/HF and the reduction can be fed back to the emotional status.
Energy and Exergy Analysis of Combined Organic Rankine Cycle-Single and Dual Evaporator Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle
Authors: Pektezel Oguzhan , Acar Halil Ibrahim
Published: November 2019

This paper presents energy and exergy analysis of two vapor compression refrigeration cycles powered by organic Rankine cycle. Refrigeration cycle of combined system was designed with single and dual evaporators. R134a, R1234ze(E), R227ea, and R600a fluids were used as working fluids in combined systems. Influences of different parameters such as evaporator, condenser, boiler temperatures, and turbine and compressor isentropic efficiencies on COPsys and ηex,sys were analyzed. Second law efficiency, degree of thermodynamic perfection, exergy destruction rate, and exergy destruction ratio were detected for each component in systems. R600a was determined as the most efficient working fluid for proposed systems. Both COPsys and ηex,sys of combined ORC-single evaporator VCR cycle was detected to be higher than the system with dual evaporator.
Clustering and Auction-Based Power Allocation Algorithm for Energy Efficiency Maximization in Multi-Cell Multi-Carrier NOMA Networks
Authors: Adam Abuzar B. M. , Wan Xiaoyu , Wang Zhengqiang
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we investigate the energy efficiency (EE) maximization in multi-cell multi-carrier non-orthogonal multiple access (MCMC-NOMA) networks. To achieve this goal, an optimization problem is formulated then the solution is divided into two parts. First, we investigate the inter-cell interference mitigation and then we propose an auction-based non-cooperative game for power allocation for base stations. Finally, to guarantee the rate requirements for users, power is allocated fairly to users. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme has the best performance compared with the existing NOMA-based fractional transmit power allocation (FTPA) and the conventional orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA).
Silica-Based Sol-Gel Coating with High Transmission at 1053 and 527 nm and Absorption at 351 nm for Frequency-Converting Crystals in High-Power Laser System
Authors: Deng Xue-Ran , Yang Wei , Hui Hao-Hao , Zhang Qing-Hua , Xu Qiao , Chen Jin-Ju , Zhu Ji-Liang , Lei Xiang-Yang
Published: November 2019

A high-power laser system is employed to drive the fusion ignition to realize sustainable supply of green energy according to the inertial confinement fusion theory, in which frequency-converting crystals are sealed in the terminal vacuum chamber and utilized to turn the incident laser (1053 nm) to the desired one (351 nm). However, the reflected 351 nm laser from the pellet hohlraum that goes back through the frequency-converting crystal is found to be harmful for the upstream elements that are located before the terminal chamber. In this study, a specialized coating system for the frequency-converting crystals was designed and fabricated to both ensure high output power for the fusion and reduce the reflected 351 nm laser energy by absorption. Furthermore, the structural, mechanical, and laser-damage resistant properties of this coating were investigated as well.
An Effective Framework Using Spatial Correlation and Extreme Learning Machine for Moving Cast Shadow Detection
Authors: Yi Yugen , Dai Jiangyan , Wang Chengduan , Hou Jinkui , Zhang Huihui , Liu Yunlong , Gao Jin
Published: November 2019

Moving cast shadows of moving objects significantly degrade the performance of many high-level computer vision applications such as object tracking, object classification, behavior recognition and scene interpretation. Because they possess similar motion characteristics with their objects, moving cast shadow detection is still challenging. In this paper, we present a novel moving cast shadow detection framework based on the extreme learning machine (ELM) to efficiently distinguish shadow points from the foreground object. First, according to the physical model of shadows, pixel-level features of different channels in different color spaces and region-level features derived from the spatial correlation of neighboring pixels are extracted from the foreground. Second, an ELM-based classification model is developed by labelled shadow and unlabelled shadow points, which is able to rapidly distinguish the points in the new input whether they belong to shadows or not. Finally, to guarantee the integrity of shadows and objects for further image processing, a simple post-processing procedure is designed to refine the results, which also drastically improves the accuracy of moving shadow detection. Extensive experiments on two publicly common datasets including 13 different scenes demonstrate that the performance of the proposed framework is superior to representative state-of-the-art methods.
Wind-Induced Response Control of High-Rise Buildings Using Inerter-Based Vibration Absorbers
Authors: Wang Qinhua , Qiao Haoshuai , De Domenico Dario , Zhu Zhiwen , Xie Zhuangning
Published: November 2019

The beneficial mass-amplification effect induced by the inerter can be conveniently used in enhanced variants of the traditional Tuned Mass Damper (TMD), namely the Tuned Mass-Damper-Inerter (TMDI) and its special case of Tuned Inerter Damper (TID). In this paper, these inerter-based vibration absorbers are studied for mitigating the wind-induced response of high-rise buildings, with particular emphasis on a 340 m tall building analyzed as case study. To adopt a realistic wind-excitation model, the analysis is based on aerodynamic forces computed through experimental wind tunnel tests for a scaled prototype of the benchmark building, which accounts for the actual cross-section of the structure and the existing surrounding conditions. Mass and stiffness parameters are extracted from the finite element model of the primary structure. Performance-based optimization of the TMDI and the TID is carried out to find a good trade-off between displacement- and acceleration-response mitigation, with the installation floor being an explicit design variable in addition to frequency and damping ratio. The results corresponding to 24 different wind directions indicate that the best vibration mitigation is achieved with a lower installation floor of the TMDI/TID scheme than the topmost floor. The effects of different parameters of TMD, TMDI and TID on wind-induced displacement and acceleration responses and on the equivalent static wind loads (ESWLs) are comparatively evaluated. It is shown that the optimally designed TMDI/TID can achieve better wind-induced vibration mitigation than the TMD while allocating lower or null attached mass, especially in terms of acceleration response.
Aromatic Compounds and Organic Matter Behavior in Pilot Constructed Wetlands Treating Pinus Radiata and Eucalyptus Globulus Sawmill Industry Leachate
Authors: Muñoz C. , Gómez G. , Stefanakis A.I. , de los Reyes C. Plaza , Vera-Puerto I. , Vidal G.
Published: November 2019

The objective of this research was to evaluate the fate of aromatic compounds and organic matter in pilot constructed wetlands (CW) treating Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus sawmill industry leachate. Six lab-scale surface flow CW were built and fed in batches. Three CW were fed with P. radiata leachate, while the other three CW were fed with E. globulus leachate. Each group of three CW included two CW planted with Phragmites australis and one unplanted CW as control unit. A stable hydraulic retention time of seven days was maintained in each CW. The organic loading rate was gradually increased in three phases in the CW fed with P. radiata leachate (i.e., from 12 to 19 g COD/m2/day) and with E. globulus leachate (i.e., from 14 to 40 g COD/m2/day). The operation of the six CWs lasted 98 days. The CW treating P. radiata and E. globulus leachate had a similar performance. The highest performance was obtained by the unplanted CW (approximately 10–20% higher than the planted CW), without significant differences observed between the P. radiata and E. globulus leachate treatment, regarding the removal efficiencies of organic matter and total phenolic compounds. The planted systems were probably affected by the high concentrations of these compounds applied, which probably created a toxic environment hindering the microbial community growth.
Urban Transportation Network Design for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Using GIS–The Case of Bangkok
Authors: Suraraksa Juthathip , Shin Kwang Sup
Published: November 2019

A cold chain for perishable fresh products aims to preserve the quality of the products under the control of a predefined temperature range. To satisfy the delivery conditions within appropriate time windows, the most critical operations in cold chain management is the transportation and distribution of fresh products. Due to rapid population growth and increasing demand for high-quality fresh foods, it becomes critical to develop advanced transportation and distribution networks for fresh products, particularly in urban areas. This research aims to design different scenarios based on mathematical models for fresh products transportation and distribution network in the Bangkok metropolitan area using Geographic Information system (GIS). The proposed methodology integrates location–allocation and vehicle routing problem analysis. The performance of all possible scenarios is evaluated and compared by considering the number of required distribution centers and trucks, total travel time, total travel distance, as well as fairness among drivers. The results of the scenario analysis highlight that the alternative scenarios show a better performance as compared to the current network. In addition, the administrator can make a different decision among several alternatives by considering different aspects, such as investment cost, operating cost, and balance of using available resources. Therefore, it may help a public officer to design the fresh products logistics network considering actual demand and traffic conditions in Bangkok.
The Average Coding Length of Huffman Coding Based Signal Processing and Its Application in Fault Severity Recognition
Authors: Yin Jiancheng , Lei Mingjia , Zheng Huailiang , Yang Yuantao , Li Yuqing , Xu Minqiang
Published: November 2019

The transient impact components in vibration signal, which are the major information for bearing fault severity recognition, are often interfered with by ambient noise. Meanwhile, for bearing fault severity recognition, the frequency band selection methods which are employed to pre-process the contaminated vibration signal only select the partial frequency band of the vibration signal and cause information loss of other frequency band. Aiming at this issue, this paper proposes a novel fault severity recognition method based on Huffman coding, which can retain all the information of the frequency band, and is applied for the first time to bearing fault severity recognition. Specifically, the average coding length of Huffman coding (ACLHC) of the original vibration signal is first calculated to reduce the noise and highlight the impact components of the signal. Then, the ACLHC is encoded by symbolic aggregate approximation (SAX) to reflect the modulation information of bearing. Finally, the Lempel‑Ziv indicator (LZ indicator) of the symbol sequence is calculated to reflect the fault severity. The proposed method is verified by the bearing datasets under different working conditions. Compared with the methods based on frequency band selection, the proposed method effectively recognizes the fault severity of bearing for more working conditions.
Synergetic Application of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Models to Credit Granting Decision Problems
Authors: García Vicente , Sánchez J. Salvador , Marqués Ana I.
Published: November 2019

Although various algorithms have widely been studied for bankruptcy and credit risk prediction, conclusions regarding the best performing method are divergent when using different performance assessment metrics. As a solution to this problem, the present paper suggests the employment of two well-known multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques by integrating their preference scores, which can constitute a valuable tool for decision-makers and analysts to choose the prediction model(s) more properly. Thus, selection of the most suitable algorithm will be designed as an MCDM problem that consists of a finite number of performance metrics (criteria) and a finite number of classifiers (alternatives). An experimental study will be performed to provide a more comprehensive assessment regarding the behavior of ten classifiers over credit data evaluated with seven different measures, whereas the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment of Evaluations (PROMETHEE) techniques will be applied to rank the classifiers. The results demonstrate that evaluating the performance with a unique measure may lead to wrong conclusions, while the MCDM methods may give rise to a more consistent analysis. Furthermore, the use of MCDM methods allows the analysts to weight the significance of each performance metric based on the intrinsic characteristics of a given credit granting decision problem.
Gendering the Japanese Empire: Ri Kōran as ‘Transnational’ Star?
Authors: Kirsch Griseldis
Published: November 2019

This paper aims to assess how Ri Kōran came to represent the gender dichotomies of the Japanese Empire. Looking at two propaganda films, Suzhou Nights (1941) and Sayon’s Bell (1943), I will work out how the roles she played are indicative of the gender roles in the Japanese Empire, taking into account her transnational star persona.
A Pathway Home: Connecting Museum Collections with Native Communities
Authors: Chavez Lamar Cynthia
Published: November 2019

In 2016, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and the Poeh Cultural Center, owned and operated by the Pueblo of Pojoaque in New Mexico, begin work on a loan of 100 ceramics in NMAI’s collections to the Poeh Cultural Center. Making loans to other institutions is regular practice for NMAI. In making loans to tribal museums and cultural centers, a loan can take on cultural and spiritual significance, which was the case for the Poeh Cultural Center and the community members it supports and represents. This article addresses the importance of connecting Native peoples with museum collections, which has the potential to contribute to community well-being, by featuring the partnership between NMAI and the Poeh Cultural Center.
Gene Expression Profiling of MicroRNAs in HPV-Induced Warts and Normal Skin
Authors: AL-Eitan Laith N. , Alghamdi Mansour A. , Tarkhan Amneh H. , Al-Qarqaz Firas A.
Published: November 2019

Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common occurrence among the global population, with millions of new cases emerging on an annual basis. Dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression is increasingly being identified to play a role in a number of different diseases, especially in the context of high-risk HPV infection. The present study investigated the miRNA expression profiles of warts induced by low-risk HPV. In warts, miR-27b, miR-24-1, miR-3654, miR-647, and miR-1914 were downregulated while miR-612 was upregulated compared to normal skin. Using miRTargetLink Human, experimentally supported evidence was obtained showing that miR-27b targeted the vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC) and CAMP-responsive element binding protein 1 (CREB1) genes. The VEGFC and CREB1 genes have been reported to be involved in tumorigenesis and wart formation, respectively. Similarly, the oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (OLR1) gene, which plays an important role in the humoral immunity of the skin, and the plexin D1 (PLXND1) gene, which is highly expressed in tumor vasculature, were both found to be common targets of miR-27b, miR-1914, and miR-612.
Bioactive Compounds: Natural Defense Against Cancer?
Authors: Subramaniam Shonia , Selvaduray Kanga Rani , Radhakrishnan Ammu Kutty
Published: November 2019

Cancer is a devastating disease that has claimed many lives. Natural bioactive agents from plants are gaining wide attention for their anticancer activities. Several studies have found that natural plant-based bioactive compounds can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, and in some cases ameliorate some of the side-effects of drugs used as chemotherapeutic agents. In this paper, we have reviewed the literature on the anticancer effects of four plant-based bioactive compounds namely, curcumin, myricetin, geraniin and tocotrienols (T3) to provide an overview on some of the key findings that are related to this effect. The molecular mechanisms through which the active compounds may exert their anticancer properties in cell and animal-based studies also discussed.
Preparation and Evaluation of the ZnO NP–Ampicillin/Sulbactam Nanoantibiotic: Optimization of Formulation Variables Using RSM Coupled GA Method and Antibacterial Activities
Authors: Sharma Nidhi , Singh Vineeta , Pandey Asheesh Kumar , Mishra Bhartendu Nath , Kulsoom Maria , Dasgupta Nandita , Khan Saif , El-Enshasy Hesham A. , Haque Shafiul
Published: November 2019

Nanoparticles (NPs) possessing antibacterial activity represent an effective way of overcoming bacterial resistance. In the present work, we report a novel formulation of a nanoantibiotic formed using Ampicillin/sulbactam (Ams) and a zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NP). ‘ZnO NP–Ams’ nanoantibiotic formulation is optimized using response surface methodology coupled genetic algorithm approach. The optimized formulation of nanoantibiotic (ZnO NP: 49.9 μg/mL; Ams: 33.6 μg/mL; incubation time: 27 h) demonstrated 15% enhanced activity compared to the unoptimized formulation against K. pneumoniae. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was directly proportional to the interaction time of nanoantibiotic and K. pneumoniae after the initial lag phase of ~18 h as evident from 2s’-7’-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay. A low minimum inhibitory concentration (6.25 μg/mL) of nanoantibiotic formulation reveals that even a low concentration of nanoantibiotic can prove to be effective against K. pneumoniae. The importance of nanoantibiotic formulation is also evident by the fact that the 100 μg/mL of Ams and 25 µg of ZnO NP was required individually to inhibit the growth of K. pneumonia, whereas only 6.25 μg/mL of optimized nanoantibiotic formulation (ZnO NP and Ams in the ratio of 49.9: 33.6 in μg/mL and conjugation time of 27 h) was needed for the same.
Individual Variation and the Bilingual Advantage—Factors that Modulate the Effect of Bilingualism on Cognitive Control and Cognitive Reserve
Authors: van den Noort Maurits , Struys Esli , Bosch Peggy
Published: November 2019

This editorial is an introduction to the special issue ‘Individual variation and the bilingual advantage—factors that modulate the effect of bilingualism on cognitive control’ [...]
Genetic Algorithm Applied to Multi-Criteria Selection of Thermal Insulation on Industrial Shed Roof
Authors: Stamoulis Michel Nikolaos , Santos Gerson Henrique dos , Lenz Wagner Barth , Tusset Angelo Marcelo
Published: November 2019

The rational use of energy has motivated research on improving the energy efficiency of buildings, which are responsible for a large share of world consumption. A strategy to achieve this goal is the application of optimized thermal insulation on a building envelope to avoid thermal exchanges with the external environment, reducing the use of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. In order to contribute to the best choice of insulation applied to an industrial shed roof, this study aims to provide an optimization tool to assist this process. Beyond the thermal comfort and cost of the insulation, some hygrothermic properties also have been analysed to obtain the best insulation option. To implement this optimization technique, several thermo-energetic simulations of an industrial shed were performed using the Domus software, applying 4 types of insulation material (polyurethane, expanded polystyrene, rockwool and glass wool) on the roof. Ten thicknesses ranging from 0.5 cm to 5 cm were considered, with the purpose of obtaining different thermal comfort indexes (PPD, predicted percentage dissatisfied). Posteriorly, the best insulation ranking has been obtained from the weights assigned to the parameters in the objective function, using the technique of the genetic algorithm (GA) applied to multi-criteria selection. The optimization results showed that polyurethane (PU) insulation, applied with a thickness of 1 cm was the best option for the roof, considering the building functional parameters, occupant metabolic activity, clothing insulation and climate conditions. On the other hand, when the Brazilian standard was utilized, rock wool (2 cm) was considered the best choice.
Facile Synthesis of Water-Soluble, Highly-Fluorescent Graphene Quantum Dots from Graphene Oxide Reduction for Efficient Cell Labelling
Authors: Minati Luca , Del Piano Alessia
Published: November 2019

In this work, we report a simple, one-step, green procedure to fabricate strong blue and yellow photoluminescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) as by-product of the synthesis of mesoporous graphene hydrogel (GHs). The graphene hydrogel was obtained by chemical reduction of graphene oxide using ascorbic acid at mild temperature. As a consequence of the network formation, small fluorescent GQDs can be isolated from the residual solvent, purified from the by-products and finally concentrated to produce GQDs. The GQDs chemistry and morphology were characterized by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The GQDs mean diameter was about 5–10 nm and they exhibited an intense luminescence in the visible range with an excitation wavelength-dependent fluorescence. Our experiments showed that GQDs were easily internalized in living cells and furthermore, such internalization did not adversely affect cell viability.
Electrospinning a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell
Authors: Kohn Sophia , Wehlage Daria , Juhász Junger Irén , Ehrmann Andrea
Published: November 2019

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) offer new possibilities to harvest solar energy by using non-toxic inexpensive materials. Since they can generally be produced on flexible substrates, several research groups investigated possibilities to integrate DSSCs in textile fabrics, either by coating full fabrics with the DSSC layer structure or by producing fiber-shaped DSSCs which were afterwards integrated into a textile fabric. Here we show a new approach, electrospinning all solid layers of the DSSC. We report on electrospinning the counter electrode with a graphite catalyst followed by a thin nonconductive barrier layer and preparing the front electrode by electrospinning semiconducting TiO2 from a polymer solution dyed with natural dyes. Both electrodes were coated with a conductive polymer before the system was finally filled with a fluid electrolyte. While the efficiency is lower than for glass-based cells, possible problems such as short-circuits—which often occur in fiber-based DSSCs—did not occur in this proof-of-concept. Since graphite particles did not fully cover the counter electrode in this first study, and the typical bathochromic shift indicating adsorption of dye molecules on the TiO2 layer was not observed, several ways are open to increase the efficiency in forthcoming studies.
Glycerol Electro-Oxidation in Alkaline Media and Alkaline Direct Glycerol Fuel Cells
Authors: Antolini Ermete
Published: November 2019

The low price, highly active triol structure, high volumetric energy density, simple storage and environment-friendly properties make glycerol a promising fuel for an alkaline direct alcohol fuel cell (ADAFC). Unlike other ADAFCs, alkaline direct glycerol fuel cells (ADGFCs) can be used either to generate only energy (the common use of fuel cells) or to produce both energy and valuable chemicals. This work presents an overview of catalysts for glycerol oxidation in alkaline media, and their use in ADGFCs. A particular attention was paid to binary and ternary catalysts able both to increase the selectivity to valuable C3 glycerol oxidation products, reducing the C–C bond cleavage, and simultaneously to enhance glycerol conversion.