bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Examination of Street-Level Bureaucrats’ Discretion and the Moderating Role of Supervisory Support: Evidence from the Field
Authors: Hassan Mohammed Salah , Raja Ariffin Raja Noriza , Mansor Norma , Al Halbusi Hussam
Published: June 2021

This study aims to provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between the discretion of street-level bureaucrats and their willingness to implement as well as between discretion and client meaningfulness by testing street-level bureaucrat theory in a different context. The effect of discretion on willingness to implement and client meaningfulness may differ due to perceived supervisory support. Data from 241 bureaucrats (labor inspectors) in the Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources indicated that discretion significantly influences bureaucrats’ willingness to implement and client meaningfulness. Critically, the moderating role of perceived supervisory support augmented only the positive impact of discretion on client meaningfulness; for example, this relationship is more significant among bureaucrats who perceive high supervisory support. This study sheds new light on the notable role of supervisory support in ensuring that discretion enhances client meaningfulness and willingness to implement.
Novel Route Planning Method to Improve the Operational Efficiency of Capacitated Operations. Case: Application of Organic Fertilizer
Authors: Vahdanjoo Mahdi , Sorensen Claus G.
Published: June 2021

A field area coverage-planning algorithm has been developed for the optimization and simulation of capacitated field operations such as the organic fertilizer application process. The proposed model provides an optimal coverage plan, which includes the optimal sequence of the visited tracks with a designated application rate. The objective of this paper is to present a novel approach for route planning involving two simultaneous optimization criteria, non-working distance minimization and the optimization of application rates, for the capacitated field operations such as organic fertilizer application to improve the overall operational efficiency. The study and the developed algorithm have shown that it is possible to generate the optimized coverage plan based on the required defined capacity of the distributer. In this case, the capacity of the distributer is not considered a limiting factor for the farmers. To validate this new method, a shallow injection application process was considered, and the results of applying the optimization algorithm were compared with the conventional methods. The results show that the proposed method increase operational efficiency by 19.7%. Furthermore, the applicability of the proposed model in robotic application were demonstrated by way of two defined scenarios.
Evaluation of the Microclimate in a Traditional Colombian Greenhouse Used for Cut Flower Production
Authors: Villagrán Edwin , Flores-Velazquez Jorge , Bojacá Carlos , Akrami Mohammad
Published: June 2021

Cut flower production in the Bogotá savanna is one of Colombia’s main export products. Flower production is mainly carried out in greenhouses, as this type of production system has substantial advantages over crops grown in open fields. Protected agriculture provides timely climate management that improves crop yields. The objective of this work was to build and validate a 3D CFD numerical model to understand the spatial distribution of temperatures because of the air flow dynamics inside a typical greenhouse in the Bogotá savanna. Root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) were the statistical indicators used between experimental and simulated wind speed and temperature data. The simulations considered twelve evaluation scenarios that were established based on the climatic conditions characteristic of the study region. The results indicate that under regional conditions of temperature and wind for this type of passive greenhouse, there is a deficient ventilation rate. This rate does not exceed 35 exchanges h−1 compared to the recommended rates for crops, which is between 45 and 60 air exchanges h−1. This renewal rate contributes to the heterogeneity of the microclimatic dynamics of the greenhouse, presenting hot spots with temperature values above 32 °C in all examined scenarios. For the lower air speed scenarios (<1 ms−1), these areas of high temperature can reach up to 50% of the cultivated area. Therefore, it is suggested that future studies should seek technical solutions to optimize the microclimatic conditions of the greenhouse design used in the Colombian floriculture sector.
Improving Adventitious Shoot Regeneration and Transient Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation of Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Hypocotyl Sections
Authors: Pérez-Caselles Cristian , Faize Lydia , Burgos Lorenzo , Alburquerque Nuria
Published: June 2021

The improvement of previously described protocols for the regeneration of shoots from ‘Canino’ mature seed hypocotyl slices has been accomplished. The effects of different factors such as the part of the hypocotyl used, vacuum-infiltration, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid pulse, vacuum-infiltration and sonication on regeneration and transient transformation were analyzed. When the three slices obtained from the hypocotyls were evaluated separately on regeneration medium, the highest percentages of regenerating explants were achieved in the part close to the epicotyl and in the central part. On the other hand, sonication of the explants for 30 s followed by vacuum-infiltration during Agrobacterium infection for 20 min allowed for an increase in the transformation events. The application of these modifications to the procedure increased the regeneration efficiencies, and transient transformation events and may reduce the frequency of failed experiments. An efficient regeneration/transformation protocol could facilitate its use as a biotechnological technique for apricot breeding.
Identification and Genomic Characterization of Pathogenic Bacillus altitudinis from Common Pear Trees in Morocco
Authors: Lemjiber Naima , Naamani Khalid , Merieau Annabelle , Dihazi Abdelhi , Zhar Nawal , Jediyi Hicham , Boukerb Amine M.
Published: June 2021

Bacterial burn is one of the major diseases affecting pear trees worldwide, with serious impacts on producers and economy. In Morocco, several pear trees (Pyrus communis) have shown leaf burns since 2015. To characterize the causal agent of this disease, we isolated fourteen bacterial strains from different parts of symptomatic pear trees (leaves, shoots, fruits and flowers) that were tested in planta for their pathogenicity on Louise bonne and Williams cultivars. The results showed necrotic lesions with a significant severity range from 47.63 to 57.77% on leaves of the Louise bonne cultivar inoculated with isolate B10, while the other bacterial isolates did not induce any disease symptom. 16S rRNA gene sequencing did not allow robust taxonomic discrimination of the incriminated isolate. Thus, we conducted whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and phylogenetic analyzes based on gyrA, gyrB and cdaA gene sequences, indicating that this isolate belongs to the Bacillus altitudinis species. This taxonomic classification was further confirmed by the Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) and the in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (isDDH) analyzes compared to sixty-five Bacillus spp. type strains. The genome was mined for genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) known to play a role in the vegetal tissue degradation. 177 candidates with functions that may support the in planta phytopathogenicity results were identified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first data reporting B. altitudinis as agent of leaf burn in P. communis in Morocco. Our dataset will improve our knowledge on spread and pathogenicity of B. altitudinis genotypes that appears as emergent phytopathogenic agent, unveiling virulence factors and their genomic location (i.e., within genomic islands or the accessory genome) to induce trees disease.
Flock Management Risk Factors Associated with Q Fever Infection in Sheep in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Elsohaby Ibrahim , Elmoslemany Ahmed , El-Sharnouby Mohamed , Alkafafy Mohamed , Alorabi Mohammed , El-Deeb Wael M. , Al-Marri Theeb , Qasim Ibrahim , Alaql Fanan A. , Fayez Mahmoud
Published: June 2021

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), an intracellular, Gram-negative bacterium that infects humans and domestic ruminants. Information on flock management factors associated with Q fever seropositivity in Saudi Arabia is very scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the animal and flock management factors associated with Q fever seropositivity. For the assessment of risk factors, a case-control study was carried out. Cases (n = 25) were flocks that had recent abortions within the previous two weeks and were PCR positive for C. burnetii. Control flocks (n = 25) had no history of recent abortion and were PCR negative for C. burnetii. A questionnaire was developed to collect information about the flock management risk factors possibly associated with Q fever exposure in sheep. A total of 2437 sheep serum samples, collected from infected (n = 1610, 10–150 samples/flock) and non-infected (n = 827, 10–65 samples/flock) flocks, were tested for C. burnetii antibodies using a commercial ELISA kit between May 2018 and April 2019. In addition, 521 samples, including 50 aborted materials, 173 vaginal swabs, 134 faecal, and 164 milk samples, were collected for PCR testing. Infected flocks were 100% seropositive (within-flock seroprevalence ranging between 13.8% and 60%) and 100% PCR positive (with animal shedders of C. burnetii through aborted materials and/or vaginal fluids, feces, and milk). However, in non-infected control flocks, 28% were seropositive (within-flock seroprevalence ranging between 6.7% and 20%) and none had C. burnetii shedders. Epidemiological data were analyzed using mixed-effect logistic regression with a random effect for the flock. The results identified three protective factors: flocks with a lambing pen (odds ratio (OR): 0.46; 95% CI: 0.28–0.76), change bedding after removing aborted materials (OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.23–0.76), and flocks that isolated aborted ewes (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.25–0.67), as well as two risk factors: flocks infested with ticks (OR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.65–4.70) and flocks with a history of Q fever (OR: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.42–6.50). These results could be used to improve sheep flock biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction and reduce exposure of sheep and humans to Q fever infection.
Investigating the Effects of a Phytobiotics-Based Product on the Fecal Bacterial Microbiome of Weaned Pigs
Authors: Fresno Rueda Anlly , Samuel Ryan , St-Pierre Benoit
Published: June 2021

The transition to a solid diet, as well as environmental and social stress, have a direct impact on swine gut physiology during weaning, affecting host gastrointestinal functions, as well as resident symbiotic microbial communities. While plant-derived bioactive products, such as phytobiotics, have shown great potential to mitigate these challenges, providing benefits such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, their mechanisms of action remain largely unexplored. To gain more insight, a 21 day trial is conducted to investigate the effects of LiveXtract, a commercial plant-based product, using fecal samples as a proxy for gut bacteria in weaned pigs. High-throughput sequencing of amplicons targeting the V1–V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene is used to determine bacterial composition at days 1 (pre-treatment), 4, 10, and 21 postweaning. Our results show that Lactobacillaceae and Peptostreptococcaceae are both higher in the supplemented group at D4 (p < 0.05), while Streptococcaceae are significantly lower in the treated group at D10 and D21. At D10, Erysipelotrichaceae are lower, and Veillonellaceae are higher in the treated samples than the control group (p < 0.05). Of the thirteen abundant Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) that have different representation between treated and control pigs (p < 0.05), six are predicted to be lactate producers (affiliation to Lactobacillus or Streptococcus), and one is predicted to be a lactate utilizer, based on its high identity to Megasphaera elsdenii. Together, these data suggest that phytobiotics may provide a favorable metabolic equilibrium between lactate production and utilization. Lactate is considered a critical microbial end product in gut environments, as it can inhibit pathogens or be metabolized to propionate for utilization by host cells.
Anabolic Implants Varying in Hormone Type and Concentration Influence Performance, Feeding Behavior, Carcass Characteristics, Plasma Trace Mineral Concentrations, and Liver Trace Mineral Concentrations of Angus Sired Steers
Authors: Reichhardt Caleb C. , Messersmith Elizabeth M. , Brady Tevan J. , Motsinger Laura A. , Briggs Reganne K. , Bowman Brett R. , Hansen Stephanie L. , Thornton Kara J.
Published: June 2021

Fifty Angus-sired steers were utilized to evaluate the effects of anabolic implants varying in hormone type and concentration on performance, carcass traits, and plasma and liver trace mineral concentrations over 129 d. Steers were stratified by weight into one of four (n = 12 or 13/treatment) implant treatments: (1) estradiol (E2; 25.7 mg E2; Compudose, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN, USA), (2) trenbolone acetate (TBA; 200 mg TBA; Finaplix-H, Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ, USA), (3) combination implant (ETBA; 120 mg TBA + 24 mg E2; Revalor-S, Merck Animal Health), or (4) no implant (CON). Steers were randomly assigned to pens equipped with GrowSafe bunks and fed a corn and barley-based finishing ration. Overall average daily gain and body weight were greater for ETBA and TBA than CON (p ≤ 0.04), but not E2 (p ≥ 0.12). Feed efficiency and hot carcass weight were only greater than CON for ETBA (p ≤ 0.03). Plasma and d 2 liver Zn concentrations were lesser for ETBA than CON (p ≤ 0.01) and d 10 liver Mn was lesser (p = 0.0003) for TBA than CON. These data indicate that implants containing TBA influence growth and trace mineral parameters, though more work investigating this relationship is necessary.
Recovery of Polyphenols from Vineyard Pruning Wastes—Shoots and Cane of Hybrid Grapevine (Vitis sp.) Cultivars
Authors: Rätsep Reelika , Karp Kadri , Maante-Kuljus Mariana , Aluvee Alar , Kaldmäe Hedi , Bhat Rajeev
Published: June 2021

Grapevine shoots and canes represent a significant amount of biomass, considered as a waste in viticulture. In cooler climates, grapevines are pruned in the autumn (October) and spring (March) due to harsh winter conditions (e.g., snow, low temperatures), and large amounts of biomass are produced at these different pruning times. This work was undertaken in order to investigate the potential of vineyard pruning waste for recovery of polyphenolic compounds for biomass valorization. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of grapevine shoot and cane polyphenols, including flavonoids and stilbenoids were performed using UHPLC MS/MS method. The results revealed the flavonols (quercetin) to be the most abundant compounds in shoots among all the three cultivars screened (Zilga, Hasansky Sladky, Rondo). Stilbenoids (ε-viniferin) dominated in the canes, while increased level of flavonols with lower contents of stilbenoids was detected in the endo-dormant canes, and higher amounts of flavanols and stilbenoids were recorded in eco-dormant canes. In conclusion, the content of polyphenols in grapevine shoots and canes differed among the cultivars and dormancy phases. The results generated from the present study contribute to the sustainable and environmentally friendly viticulture practice via valorization of vineyard pruning wastes.
Analysis of the Chemical, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Pink Pepper (Schinus molle L.)
Authors: Kim Min Jeong , Kim Dae Won , Kim Ju Gyeong , Shin Youngjae , Jung Sung Keun , Kim Young-Jun
Published: June 2021

Here, we compared the chemical properties and antioxidant effects of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and pink pepper (Schinus molle L.). Additionally, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities of pink pepper were measured to determine nutraceutical potential. Pink peppers from Brazil (PPB), India (PPI), and Sri Lanka (PPS) had higher Hunter a* (redness) values and lower L* (lightness) and b* (yellowness) values than black pepper from Vietnam (BPV). Fructose and glucose were detected in PPB, PPI, and PPS, but not in BPV. PPB, PPI, and PPS had greater 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical scavenging stabilities and higher total phenolic contents than BPV. BPV had higher levels of piperine than the pink peppers. Gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, and p-coumaric acid were detected only in the three pink peppers. PPB significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced reactive oxygen species production with increased Nrf2 translocation from cytosol to nucleus and heme oxygenase-1 expression. PPB and PPS significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced nitrite production and nitric oxide synthase expression by suppressing phosphorylation of p38 without affecting cell viability. Additionally, PPB and PPS significantly suppressed ultraviolet B-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression by affecting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 without cell cytotoxicity. These results suggest that pink pepper is a potential nutraceutical against oxidative and inflammatory stress.
Comparing Three Machine Learning Techniques for Building Extraction from a Digital Surface Model
Authors: Notarangelo Nicla Maria , Mazzariello Arianna , Albano Raffaele , Sole Aurelia
Published: June 2021

Automatic building extraction from high-resolution remotely sensed data is a major area of interest for an extensive range of fields (e.g., urban planning, environmental risk management) but challenging due to urban morphology complexity. Among the different methods proposed, the approaches based on supervised machine learning (ML) achieve the best results. This paper aims to investigate building footprint extraction using only high-resolution raster digital surface model (DSM) data by comparing the performance of three different popular supervised ML models on a benchmark dataset. The first two methods rely on a histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) feature descriptor and a classical ML (support vector machine (SVM)) or a shallow neural network (extreme learning machine (ELM)) classifier, and the third model is a fully convolutional network (FCN) based on deep learning with transfer learning. Used data were obtained from the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) and cover the urban areas of Vaihingen an der Enz, Potsdam, and Toronto. The results indicated that performances of models based on shallow ML (feature extraction and classifier training) are affected by the urban context investigated (F1 scores from 0.49 to 0.81), whereas the FCN-based model proved to be the most robust and best-performing method for building extraction from a high-resolution raster DSM (F1 scores from 0.80 to 0.86).
Marine Resources Application Potential for Biotechnological Purposes
Authors: Lemos Marco F. L. , Novais Sara C. , Silva Susana F. J. , Félix Carina
Published: June 2021

Blue biotechnology plays a major role in converting marine biomass into societal value; therefore, it is a key pillar for many marine economy developmental frameworks and sustainability strategies, such as the Blue Growth Strategy, diverse Sea Basin Strategies (e [...]
Is There a Correlation of Cervical Mobility with Clinical Variables and Psychosocial Factors in Women with Migraine?
Authors: Pinheiro Carina F. , Marçal Jene C. S. , Oliveira Anamaria S. , Florencio Lidiane L. , Dach Fabiola , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Bevilaqua-Grossi Debora
Published: June 2021

We aimed to determine the association of cervical range of motion (ROM) with the clinical features of headache and neck pain and psychosocial factors in patients with migraine. Seventy women diagnosed with migraine were questioned regarding migraine onset and frequency, and the presence, frequency, and intensity of self-reported neck pain. These individuals also completed the following questionnaires: Neck Disability Index, Migraine Disability Assessment, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. Active cervical ROM was assessed in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes using the Multi-Cervical Unit Rehabilitation® equipment. Potential associations were calculated using Pearson’s correlation test or Spearman’s correlation (p < 0.05). A weak negative correlation was observed between the PHQ-9 scores and sagittal (ρ = −0.30, p = 0.010), frontal (ρ = −0.34, p = 0.004), and transverse (ρ = −0.31, p = 0.009) cervical ROM. No correlation was found between cervical ROM and kinesiophobia, migraine-related disability, neck pain disability, or clinical features of neck pain and migraine (p > 0.05). Our findings indicated that cervical mobility was associated with the severity of depressive symptoms, but not with the clinical variables of migraine and neck pain, kinesiophobia levels, neck pain disability, and migraine-related disability in women with migraine.
New Insight into Breast Cancer Cells Involving Drug Combinations for Dopamine and Serotonin Receptors
Authors: Costa Bárbara , Matos Rita , Amorim Irina , Gärtner Fátima , Vale Nuno
Published: June 2021

The breast cancer therapies available are insufficient, especially since first-line treatments, such as paclitaxel, result in drug resistance and their toxicity often limits their concentration. Strategies like drug repurposing are beneficial, and novel treatments can emerge by repurposing drugs that interfere with the dopamine and serotonin receptors, and thus influence tumor growth. In this study, the MTT assay was used to test the efficacy of such repurposed drugs commonly used for neurodegenerative disorders that act on the dopamine and serotonin receptors to reduce the MCF-7 cell’s viability, either by their single use or in combination with the reference drug paclitaxel. Furthermore, the expression of vimentin and E-cadherin was assayed by immunofluorescence. The dopamine receptor-altering drugs benztropine and thioridazine resulted in the strongest reduction of cell viability when combined with paclitaxel, which may be connected to the alteration of E-cadherin rather than vimentin expression. More studies are needed to understand the mechanism of action of the combinations tested and the efficacious role of dopamine and serotonin.
PoreAnalyzer—An Open-Source Framework for the Analysis and Classification of Defects in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Ellendt Nils , Fabricius Fabian , Toenjes Anastasiya
Published: June 2021

Additive manufacturing processes offer high geometric flexibility and allow the use of new alloy concepts due to high cooling rates. For each new material, parameter studies have to be performed to find process parameters that minimize microstructural defects such as pores or cracks. In this paper, we present a system developed in Python for accelerated image analysis of optical microscopy images. Batch processing can be used to quickly analyze large image sets with respect to pore size distribution, defect type, contribution of defect type to total porosity, and shape accuracy of printed samples. The open-source software is independent of the microscope used and is freely available for use. This framework allows us to perform such an analysis on a circular area with a diameter of 5 mm within 10 s, allowing detailed process maps to be obtained for new materials within minutes after preparation.
Content Management Based on Content Popularity Ranking in Information-Centric Networks
Authors: Nasir Nazib Abdun , Jeong Seong-Ho
Published: June 2021

Users can access the Internet anywhere they go at any time due to the advancement of communications and networking technologies. The number of users and connected devices are rapidly increasing, and various forms of content are becoming increasingly available on the Internet. Consequently, several research ideas have emerged regarding the storage policy for the enormous amount of content, and procedures to remove existing content due to the lack of storage space have also been discussed. Many of the proposals related to content caching offer to identify the popularity of certain content and hold the popular content in a repository as long as possible. Although the host-based Internet has been serving its users for a long time, managing network resources efficiently during high traffic load is problematic for the host-based Internet because locating the host with their IP address is one of the primary mechanisms behind this architecture. A more strategical networking paradigm to resolve this issue is Content-Centric Networking (CCN), a branch of the networking paradigm Information-Centric Networking (ICN) that is focused on the name of the content, and therefore can deliver the requested content efficiently, securely, and faster. However, this paradigm has relatively simple content caching and content removal mechanisms, as it caches all the relevant content at all the nodes and removes the content based on the access time only when there is a lack of space. In this paper, we propose content popularity ranking (CPR) mechanism, content caching scheme, and content removal scheme. The proposed schemes are compared to existing caching schemes such as Leave Copy Everywhere (LCE) and Leave Copy Down (LCD) in terms of the Average Hop Count, content removal schemes such as Least Recently Used (LRU) and Least Frequently Used (LFU) in terms of the Cache Hit Ratio, and finally, the CCN paradigm incorporating the LCE and the LRU schemes and the host-based Internet architecture in terms of Content Delivery Time. Graphical presentations of performance results utilizing the proposed schemes show that the proposed CPR-based schemes for content caching and content removal provide better performance than the host-based Internet and the original CCN utilizing LCE and LRU schemes.
Vascular and Cardiac Prognostic Determinants in Patients with Gynecological Cancers: A Six-Year Follow-up Study
Authors: Scicchitano Pietro , Tucci Marco , Ricci Gabriella , Gesualdo Michele , Carbonara Santa , Totaro Giuseppe , Cecere Annagrazia , Carbonara Rosa , Cortese Francesca , Loizzi Vera , Cormio Gennaro , Cicinelli Ettore , Ciccone Marco Matteo
Published: June 2021

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the role of cardiac and vascular parameters as all-cause mortality determinants in patients suffering from gynecological cancers. Methods: This was an observational, prospective, non-randomized, and non-controlled study. Forty-seven consecutive patients (mean age: 58 ± 13 years) were enrolled after cancer staging. All patients underwent evaluation of vascular (common carotid intima-media thickness (mean C-IMT), flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD), and antero-posterior diameter of the infrarenal abdominal aorta (APAO)) and cardiac function and morphology before cancer-related interventions. A 6-year follow-up was carried out to assess the overall survival of the whole population. Results: Twenty patients (42%) died by the time of the 6-year follow-up. The brachial artery FMD values were higher in the survivors than the non-survivors (9.71 ± 3.53% vs. 6.13 ± 2.62%, p < 0.001), as well as the LVEF (60.8 ± 3.0% vs. 57.8 ± 4.4%, p = 0.009). There were no differences in the mean C-IMT, APAO, and other echocardiographic parameters. ROC curve analysis identified a baseline LVEF < 57% and FMD value < 5.8% as the best cut-offs. Kaplan–Meier evaluation showed that the LVEF, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and FMD were the best predictors of all-cause mortality, although only the LVEF and FMD were confirmed in multivariate Cox regression analysis. Conclusions: The LVEF and brachial artery FMD are independent prognostic determinants in patients with gynecological cancers.
The Influence of Wood Moisture Content on the Processes of Freezing and Heating
Authors: Klement Ivan , Vilkovský Peter , Vilkovská Tatiana
Published: June 2021

In wood processing, wood is exposed to an environmental temperature of less than 0 °C for some time, which mainly occurs during the air drying of wood in the winter months, or when lumber is stored in wood piles outdoors before the kiln drying process. In these cases, the wood freezing process increases the degree of freezing of the wood, subsequently significantly affecting the process of its heating during further processing (for example, in the cutting process). The most common method is heating by humid air, during the hot air drying of wood. We analyzed the temperature profiles on a cross-section of wood and moisture losses due to the freezing process and the size of moisture gradients. We compared theoretical calculations of the time required for defrosting and heating of wood with the experimentally measured values. The results show that the moisture content (MC) of wood has a remarkable effect on the wood freezing process. In samples with an average MC of 35.47%, the temperature drop was faster. After 10 h, the temperatures on the entire cross-section of the samples reached the lowest value of −13.2 °C. In samples with an average initial MC of 81.38%, three stages of temperature reduction in the wood were observed. The temperature dropped and the lowest temperature of −20.11 °C was reached after 24 h. The defrosting and heating process of samples with lower MC was significantly easier. The desired temperature of 65 °C in the middle of the samples was reached in 2 h and 20 min. The total time to defrost and heat the second group of samples (MC > FSP) was 3 h 30 min.
Strength Enhancement in Fused Filament Fabrication via the Isotropy Toolpath
Authors: Xiao Xinyi , Roh Byeong-Min , Zhu Feng
Published: June 2021

The fused filament fabrication (FFF) process deposits thermoplastic material in a layer-by-layer manner, expanding the design space and manufacturing capability compared with traditional manufacturing. However, the FFF process is inherently directional as the material is deposited in a layer-wise manner. Therefore, the in-plane material cannot reach the isotropy character when performing the tensile test. This would cause the strength of the print components to vary based on the different process planning selections (building orientation, toolpath pattern). The existing toolpaths, primarily used in the FFF process, are linear, zigzag, and contour toolpaths, which always accumulate long filaments and are unidirectional. Thus, this would create difficulties in improving the mechanical strength from the existing toolpath strategies due to the material in-plane anisotropy. In this paper, an in-plane isotropy toolpath pattern is generated to enhance the mechanical strength in the FFF process. The in-plane isotropy can be achieved through continuous deposition while maintaining randomized distribution within a layer. By analyzing the tensile strength on the specimens made by traditional in-plane anisotropy toolpath and the proposed in-plane isotropy toolpath, our results suggest that the mechanical strength can be reinforced by at least 20% using our proposed toolpath strategy in extrusion-based additive manufacturing.
Research on the Influence of Production Technologies on the Positioning Accuracy of a Robotic Arm for Low-Handling Weights
Authors: Michalik Peter , Molnár Vieroslav , Fedorko Gabriel , Stehlíková Beáta , Tirpák Peter , Macej Jozef
Published: June 2021

The subject of the paper is the research of production technologies’ influence on positioning accuracy of a robotic arm. The aim was to find out whether different production technologies (additive and conventional) and the related design differences of the robotic arm affect its operational functionality. In the research, positioning accuracy of a robotic arm formed by three partial arms was specifically investigated, while the first partial arm, Arm I, was manufactured by two different technologies. On the robotic arm, the research was carried out in such a way that the first partial arm, Arm I, was being continuously changed and was available for research purposes in two variants. Each of the Arm I variants was manufactured using a different technology (additive and conventional) while, at the same time, the individual variants also differed in construction. The design differences of both variants were related to the production technology used. The measurement of positioning accuracy was performed with the use of two methods. Specifically, a contact and a non-contact method were used. The contact method was implemented on a 3D-measuring machine, RAPID, and the second contactless method was performed using an inductive sensor.
Sugarcane Bagasse Torrefaction for Fluidized Bed Gasification
Authors: Pedroso Daniel Travieso , Machin Einara Blanco , Cabrera-Barjas Gustavo , Flores Mauricio , Urra Héctor Grandón , de Carvalho Felipe Solferini , Santos Maria Isabel Silva dos , Machín Adrian Blanco , Canettieri Eliana Vieira , Pérez Néstor Proenza , Teixeira Lacava Pedro , Ribeiro dos Santos Leila , Andrade de Carvalho Júnior João
Published: June 2021

Sugarcane bagasse has a great potential to be used as biofuel; however, its use as feedstock in fluidized bed reactors is hampered due to its fibrous nature, low apparent density, high moisture content, and difficulties with its fluidization. The present study evaluated the torrefaction of sugarcane bagasse to propose suitable process conditions that balance the properties of the fuel obtained in the torrefaction and the process’s energy requirements. Based on the thermogravimetric analysis and previous reports, two final process temperatures (230 °C and 280 °C) and residence times (35 and 45 min) for the same heating rate (5 °C/min) and nitrogen flow (1 L/min) were evaluated. Within the experimental conditions evaluated, it can be concluded that for 30 min of residence time, the average target temperature of 230 °C should be high enough to produce a stable torrefacted bagasse with a 3.41% reduction in the volatile content and obtain 98.85% of energy yield. Higher temperatures increase the feedstock’s carbon content and energy density, but the reduction in energy yield and the fraction of volatiles do not justify higher temperatures or longer residence times for pretreating the sugarcane bagasse.
Item Genre-Based Users Similarity Measure for Recommender Systems
Authors: Al-Safi Jehan , Kaleli Cihan
Published: June 2021

A technique employed by recommendation systems is collaborative filtering, which predicts the item ratings and recommends the items that may be interesting to the user. Naturally, users have diverse opinions, and only trusting user ratings of products may produce inaccurate recommendations. Therefore, it is essential to offer a new similarity measure that enhances recommendation accuracy, even for customers who only leave a few ratings. Thus, this article proposes an algorithm for user similarity measures that exploit item genre information to make more accurate recommendations. This algorithm measures the relationship between users using item genre information, discovers the active user’s nearest neighbors in each genre, and finds the final nearest neighbors list who can share with them the same preference in a genre. Finally, it predicts the active-user rating of items using a definite prediction procedure. To measure the accuracy, we propose new evaluation criteria: the rating level and reliability among users, according to rating level. We implement the proposed method on real datasets. The empirical results clarify that the proposed algorithm produces a predicted rating accuracy, rating level, and reliability between users, which are better than many existing collaborative filtering algorithms.
Alkali-Activated Mortars Modified by Epoxy-Carbon Fiber Composites Wastes
Authors: Saccani Andrea , Manzi Stefania , Totaro Grazia , Lancellotti Isabella
Published: June 2021

Short chopped fibers coated by epoxy resin of different length (5 to 10 mm length) were added at low volume content (about 4.6% on the composite) to alkali-activated fly ash or metakaolin mortars. These uncured scraps derive from the production of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites and they are not presently recycled, despite their outstanding mechanical properties. The workability, microstructure, porosity, and physical and mechanical properties (mainly flexural strength) of the derived materials were investigated. Superior flexural strength and increased toughness were obtained. An acid treatment of the scraps further improved the mechanical properties of the mortars by changing the chemical structure of the surface, thus increasing the interaction with the inorganic phase. These results foster the use of these wastes to improve the performance of low carbon footprint building materials such as alkali-activated composites in the building industry.
Arts Special Issue “The Contemporary Art Market”
Authors: Zarobell John
Published: June 2021

When setting out to organize this Special Issue of Arts, I began with the goal to survey the emerging field of art market studies but also to expand the notion of the market to include alternatives, such as art collectives and festivals, that challenge the dominance of the market as the pre-eminent arbiter of cultural value [...]
Applications of Radar Data Assimilation with Hydrometeor Control Variables within the WRFDA on the Prediction of Landfalling Hurricane IKE (2008)
Authors: Shen Feifei , Min Jinzhong , Li Hong , Xu Dongmei , Shu Aiqing , Zhai Danhua , Guo Yakai , Song Lixin
Published: June 2021

The impact of assimilating radar radial velocity and reflectivity on the analyses and forecast of Hurricane IKE is investigated within the framework of the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model and its three-dimensional variational (3DVar) data assimilation system, including the hydrometeor control variables. Hurricane IKE in the year 2008 was chosen as the study case. It was found that assimilating radar data is able to effectively improve the small-scale information of the hurricane vortex area in the model background. Radar data assimilation experiments yield significant cyclonic wind increments in the inner-core area of the hurricane, enhancing the intensity of the hurricane in the model background. On the other hand, by extending the traditional control variables to include the hydrometeor control variables, the assimilation of radar reflectivity can effectively adjust the water vapor and hydrometeors of the background, further improving the track and intensity forecast of the hurricane. The precipitation forecast skill is also enhanced to some extent with the radar data assimilation, especially with the extended hydrometeor control variables.
The Key Success Factors for Attracting Foreign Investment in the Post-Epidemic Era
Authors: Huang Sun-Weng , Liou James J. H. , Cheng Shih-Hsiung , Tang William , Ma Jessica C. Y. , Tzeng Gwo-Hshiung
Published: June 2021

The global economy has been hit by the unexpected COVID-19 outbreak, and foreign investment has been seen as one of the most important tools to boost the economy. However, in the highly uncertain post-epidemic era, determining how to attract foreign investment is the key to revitalizing the economy. What are the important factors for governments to attract investment, and how to improve them? This will be an important decision in the post-epidemic era. Therefore, this study develops a novel decision-making model to explore the key factors in attracting foreign investment. The model first uses fuzzy Delphi to explore the key factors of attracting foreign investment in the post-epidemic era, and then uses DEMATEL to construct the causal relationships among these factors. To overcome the uncertainty of various information sources and inconsistent messages from decision-makers, this study combined neutrosophic set theory to conduct quantitative analysis. The results of the study show that the model is suitable for analyzing the key factors of investment attraction in the post-epidemic period. Based on the results of the study, we also propose strategies that will help the relevant policy-making departments to understand the root causes of the problem and to formulate appropriate investment strategies in advance. In addition, the model is also used for comparative analysis, which reveals that this novel approach can integrate more incomplete information and present expert opinions in a more objective way.
Null Darboux Curve Pairs in Minkowski 3-Space
Authors: Qian Jinhua , Sun Mingyu , Yin Pei , Kim Young-Ho
Published: June 2021

Based on the fundamental theories of null curves in Minkowski 3-space, the null Darboux mate curves of a null curve are defined which can be regarded as a kind of extension for Bertrand curves and Mannheim curves in Minkowski 3-space. The relationships of null Darboux curve pairs are explored and their expression forms are presented explicitly.
Investigation into the Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Resistance Testing Procedure for Commercial Use
Authors: Darnikowski Daniel , Mieloszyk Magdalena
Published: June 2021

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have many advantages (e.g., high voltage and long-life cycle) in comparison to other energy storage technologies (e.g., lead acid), resulting in their applicability in a wide variety of structures. Simultaneously, the thermal stability of LIBs is relatively poor and can be damaged by exposure to fire. This paper presents an investigation into a fire resistance safety test for LIBs and the use of thermal sensors to evaluate exposure conditions and estimate the temperatures to which cells are subjected. Temperature distribution data and statistical analysis show significant differences of over 200 ∘C, indicating the stochastic nature of the heating curve despite following the testing procedure requirements. We concluded that the current testing procedure is inadequate for the reliable testing of LIBs, leaving an alarming loophole in the fire safety evaluation. The observed instability is mostly related to wind speed and direction, and fire source size.
Lysosomal Storage Disorders: Molecular Basis and Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Moro Enrico
Published: June 2021

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are a group of 60 rare inherited diseases characterized by a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical symptoms, ranging from severe intellectual disabilities, cardiac abnormalities, visceromegaly, and bone deformities to slowly progressive muscle weakness, respiratory insufficiency, eye defects (corneal clouding and retinal degeneration), and skin alterations [...]
Engineering the Vasculature of Stem-Cell-Derived Liver Organoids
Authors: Zhang Xv , Tang Liling , Yi Qian
Published: June 2021

The vasculature of stem-cell-derived liver organoids can be engineered using methods that recapitulate embryonic liver development. Hepatic organoids with a vascular network offer great application prospects for drug screening, disease modeling, and therapeutics. However, the application of stem cell-derived organoids is hindered by insufficient vascularization and maturation. Here, we review different theories about the origin of hepatic cells and the morphogenesis of hepatic vessels to provide potential approaches for organoid generation. We also review the main protocols for generating vascularized liver organoids from stem cells and consider their potential and limitations in the generation of vascularized liver organoids.
Cerebral Hemodynamics and Intracranial Compliance Impairment in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Pilot Study
Authors: Brasil Sérgio , Taccone Fabio Silvio , Wayhs Sâmia Yasin , Tomazini Bruno Martins , Annoni Filippo , Fonseca Sérgio , Bassi Estevão , Lucena Bruno , Nogueira Ricardo De Carvalho , De-Lima-Oliveira Marcelo , Bor-Seng-Shu Edson , Paiva Wellingson , Turgeon Alexis Fournier , Jacobsen Teixeira Manoel , Malbouisson Luiz Marcelo Sá
Published: June 2021

Introduction: One of the possible mechanisms by which the new coronavirus (SARS-Cov2) could induce brain damage is the impairment of cerebrovascular hemodynamics (CVH) and intracranial compliance (ICC) due to the elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP). The main objective of this study was to assess the presence of CVH and ICC alterations in patients with COVID-19 and evaluate their association with short-term clinical outcomes. Methods: Fifty consecutive critically ill COVID-19 patients were studied with transcranial Doppler (TCD) and non-invasive monitoring of ICC. Subjects were included upon ICU admission; CVH was evaluated using mean flow velocities in the middle cerebral arteries (mCBFV), pulsatility index (PI), and estimated cerebral perfusion pressure (eCPP), while ICC was assessed by using the P2/P1 ratio of the non-invasive ICP curve. A CVH/ICC score was computed using all these variables. The primary composite outcome was unsuccessful in weaning from respiratory support or death on day 7 (defined as UO). Results: At the first assessment (n = 50), only the P2/P1 ratio (median 1.20 [IQRs 1.00–1.28] vs. 1.00 [0.88–1.16]; p = 0.03) and eICP (14 [11–25] vs. 11 [7–15] mmHg; p = 0.01) were significantly higher among patients with an unfavorable outcome (UO) than others. Patients with UO had a significantly higher CVH/ICC score (9 [8–12] vs. 6 [5–7]; p < 0.001) than those with a favorable outcome; the area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) for CVH/ICC score to predict UO was 0.86 (95% CIs 0.75–0.97); a score > 8.5 had 63 (46–77)% sensitivity and 87 (62–97)% specificity to predict UO. For those patients undergoing a second assessment (n = 29), after a median of 11 (5–31) days, all measured variables were similar between the two time-points. No differences in the measured variables between ICU non-survivors (n = 30) and survivors were observed. Conclusions: ICC impairment and CVH disturbances are often present in COVID-19 severe illness and could accurately predict an early poor outcome.
A Prospectively Validated Prognostic Model for Patients with Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Based on Radiomics of Computed Tomography Images
Authors: Keek Simon A. , Wesseling Frederik W. R. , Woodruff Henry C. , van Timmeren Janita E. , Nauta Irene H. , Hoffmann Thomas K. , Cavalieri Stefano , Calareso Giuseppina , Primakov Sergey , Leijenaar Ralph T. H. , Licitra Lisa , Ravanelli Marco , Scheckenbach Kathrin , Poli Tito , Lanfranco Davide , Vergeer Marije R. , Leemans C. René , Brakenhoff Ruud H. , Hoebers Frank J. P. , Lambin Philippe
Published: June 2021

Background: Locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients have high relapse and mortality rates. Imaging-based decision support may improve outcomes by optimising personalised treatment, and support patient risk stratification. We propose a multifactorial prognostic model including radiomics features to improve risk stratification for advanced HNSCC, compared to TNM eighth edition, the gold standard. Patient and methods: Data of 666 retrospective- and 143 prospective-stage III-IVA/B HNSCC patients were collected. A multivariable Cox proportional-hazards model was trained to predict overall survival (OS) using diagnostic CT-based radiomics features extracted from the primary tumour. Separate analyses were performed using TNM8, tumour volume, clinical and biological variables, and combinations thereof with radiomics features. Patient risk stratification in three groups was assessed through Kaplan–Meier (KM) curves. A log-rank test was performed for significance (p-value < 0.05). The prognostic accuracy was reported through the concordance index (CI). Results: A model combining an 11-feature radiomics signature, clinical and biological variables, TNM8, and volume could significantly stratify the validation cohort into three risk groups (p < 0∙01, CI of 0.79 as validation). Conclusion: A combination of radiomics features with other predictors can predict OS very accurately for advanced HNSCC patients and improves on the current gold standard of TNM8.