bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality and Safety of Ready-to-Eat Golden Thistle (Scolymus hispanicus L.): A New Product for Traditional Italian Dishes
Authors: Sergio Lucrezia , Di Venere Donato , Gonnella Maria , D’Imperio Massimiliano , Baruzzi Federico , Pinto Loris , Boari Francesca , Cantore Vito , Candido Vincenzo
Published: April 2023

Golden thistle (Scolymus hispanicus L.) is a wild edible plant belonging to Asteraceae family, with a great potential for food applications. The aim of this study was to identify the best cooking procedure able to provide a high-quality, ready-to-use product. For this purpose, leaf midribs (the most used edible part of the plant) were cooked by boiling, steaming, and ‘sous vide’, and the cooked products were compared for their phenolic content and composition, antioxidant activity, sugar and inorganic ion content, organoleptic characteristics, and microbial safety, this latter also during storage. In general, boiling caused a decrease in the value of these parameters, despite being the best product for taste and overall acceptability. On the contrary, steaming and ‘sous vide’ resulted in the best treatments to preserve antioxidant activity, total phenols, and chlorogenic acid. In particular, in ‘sous vide’ cooked samples, a significant increase in the value of these parameters and a remarkable decrease in nitrate content were found. Moreover, ‘sous vide’ resulted in the best treatment also regarding microbial safety during shelf life; actually, after 15 days of storage at 8 °C, Enterobacteriaceae and mesophilic aerobic bacteria were not detectable in ‘sous vide’ samples. These results contributed to increase the knowledge of a wild edible plant with high nutritional properties and promoting its consumption by obtaining a ready-to-use product with good organoleptic characteristics and endowed with a long period of shelf life.
Root Distribution of Tomato Cultivated in Greenhouse under Different Ventilation and Water Conditions
Authors: Ge Jiankun , Liu Huanhuan , Gong Xuewen , Yu Zihui , Li Lusheng , Li Yanbin
Published: April 2023

Mastering root distribution is essential for optimizing the root zone environment and for improving water use efficiency, especially for crops cultivated in greenhouses. Here, we set up two irrigation amount levels based on measurements of the cumulative 20 cm pan evaporation (Ep) (i.e., K0.9: 0.9 Ep; K0.5: 0.5 Ep), and three ventilation modes through opening the greenhouse vents at different locations (TR: open the roof vents only; TRS: open both the roof and south vents; TS: open the south vents only) to reveal the effects of the ventilation mode and irrigation amount on the root distribution of greenhouse tomato. Six treatments were designed in blocks with the ventilation mode as the main treatment and the irrigation amount as the vice treatment. On this basis, the normalized root length density (NRLD) model of six treatments was developed by considering air environment, soil water and temperature conditions, root length density (RLD) and yield. The results showed that air speed of the TRS was significantly higher than TR and TS (p < 0.01), and the air temperature and relative humidity under different ventilation showed the rule: TR > TS > TRS. There was a significant third-order polynomial function relationship between NRLD and soil depth, and the coefficient of the cubic term (R0) had a bivariate quadratic polynomial function relationship with irrigation amount and air speed (determination coefficient, R2 = 0.86). Root mean square errors of the simulated and measured value of NRLD under TR, TRS and TS were 0.20, 0.23 and 0.27 in 2020, and 0.31, 0.23 and 0.28 in 2021, respectively, normalized root mean squared errors were 15%, 17%, 20% in 2020, and 23%, 18% and 21% in 2021. The RLD distribution ratio from the ground surface to a one-quarter relative root depth was 74.1%, and 88.0% from the surface to a one-half relative root depth. The results of the yield showed that a better combination of ventilation and irrigation was recommended as TRS combined with K0.9.
In Vitro Cytotoxic Potential of Selected Jordanian Flora and Their Associated Phytochemical Analysis
Authors: Alruwad Manal I. , Sabry Manal M. , Gendy Abdallah M. , El-Dine Riham Salah , El Hefnawy Hala M.
Published: April 2023

Traditional medicines are a significant source of phytochemicals with potential anticancer effects. Ten Jordanian plants were chosen to be tested for cytotoxicity on human colorectal (HT-29) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell lines. The ethanol extracts were screened for their potential cytotoxic effects using a Sulforhodamine B (SRB) colorimetric assay, using doxorubicin as positive control. Plants extracts exhibiting marked cytotoxic activity were further investigated by qualitative and quantitative phytochemical methods. Total phenolics were quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, while flavonoids were quantified using aluminum chloride. The total saponins of the n-butanol fraction were estimated using diosgenin as a standard. The total alkaloids and total terpenoids were also evaluated using the gravimetric method. As results, Senecio leucanthemifolius (IC50: 13.84 μg/mL) and Clematis cirrhosa (IC50: 13.28 μg/mL) exhibited marked cytotoxic effects on human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cell lines. Total phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, and terpenoids found in Senecio leucanthemifolius were (91.82, 14.90, 14.27, 101, and 135.4 mg/g of dry extract), respectively. They were revealed to be (68.18, 7.16, 31.25, 73.6, and 180 mg/g of dry extract) in Clematis cirrhosa, respectively. Senecio leucanthemifolius and Clematis cirrhosa have been found to possess cytotoxicity against colorectal (HT-29). In conclusion, the findings of this study offer a new perspective on Jordanian plant extracts anticancer activity research.
Review of Konjac Glucomannan Structure, Properties, Gelation Mechanism, and Application in Medical Biology
Authors: Sun Yilan , Xu Xiaowei , Zhang Qinhua , Zhang Di , Xie Xiaoyu , Zhou Hanlin , Wu Zhenzhen , Liu Renyi , Pang Jie
Published: April 2023

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a naturally occurring macromolecular polysaccharide that exhibits remarkable film–forming and gel–forming properties, and a high degree of biocompatibility and biodegradability. The helical structure of KGM is maintained by the acetyl group, which plays a crucial role in preserving its structural integrity. Various degradation methods, including the topological structure, can enhance the stability of KGM and improve its biological activity. Recent research has focused on modifying KGM to enhance its properties, utilizing multi–scale simulation, mechanical experiments, and biosensor research. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the structure and properties of KGM, recent advancements in non–alkali thermally irreversible gel research, and its applications in biomedical materials and related areas of research. Additionally, this review outlines prospects for future KGM research, providing valuable research ideas for follow–up experiments.
Mixtures of Modified Starch and Rice and Pea Protein Concentrate as Wall Material in the Microencapsulation of Flaxseed Oil
Authors: Perrechil Fabiana , Natal Gabriela Santos Valentin , Paiva Lidia Alves da Silva , Braga Matheus Boeira
Published: April 2023

Flaxseed oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and its incorporation into food formulations is limited due to its hydrophobic nature and susceptibility to oxidation. The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of wall material mixtures (modified starch Capsul® and rice and pea protein concentrate) on the efficiency of flaxseed oil encapsulation by freeze-drying, physical characterization, and determining oxidative stability. For the preparation of powders, four emulsions with an oil–wall material ratio of 1:3 were produced and characterized. The mass ratio between rice and pea proteins was fixed at 50–50%. The mass ratio of the protein-Capsul® mixtures was varied by 0–100%, 10–90%, 20–80%, and 30–70%. Based on the creaming index results, all emulsions showed good stability after 24 h of analysis. The powders showed low moisture content (<3.23%), bulk density (<0.2659 kg/kg), and packed bulk density (<0.4389 kg/kg). Encapsulation efficiency decreased with increasing protein content, ranging from 93.40% (protein-Capsul® ratio of 0–100%) to 18.26% (protein-Capsul® ratio of 30–70%). However, the best oxidative stability results (smaller increases in the peroxide index values at the end of the stability experiments) were obtained for the powders containing the highest levels of vegetable proteins (protein-Capsul® ratio of 20–80% and 30–70%, respectively).
A Static and Dynamic Analysis of Photovoltaic Penetration into MV Distribution Network
Authors: Maghami Mohammad Reza , Pasupuleti Jagadeesh , Ling Chee Mei
Published: April 2023

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, particularly in power distribution networks. However, their intermittency and integration into distribution networks can have adverse effects. This study investigates the impact of large-scale solar integration into a typical Malaysian power grid network, focusing on voltage stability, short circuits, and power loss under peak and no-load conditions. Using Digsilent Power Factory software, static and dynamic power flow analyses were performed on a network consisting of two 132/11 kV transformers, an 11 kV busbar, and 112 loads served through eight feeders. Solar PV of 100 kW was integrated into each node, and the maximum allowable solar grid connection level was determined. The static results show that there were no violations in no-load conditions at 100 kW PV penetration. However, during peak load, there were violations at 0% PV penetration, but by increasing the level of solar grid connection to 60% (60 kW), the voltage level moves up to the acceptable range. Under contingency conditions, the results show that the minimum level of solar penetration is 80% (80 kW). The highest power loss occurs during peak time and is observed at 0% PV penetration. Feeder 8, the lounge feeder with the highest number of loads, is identified as the main cause of power loss. According to the short circuit analysis in peak and no-load conditions, the system experiences the highest shorts during peak loads. On the other hand, we conducted a dynamic simulation with load characteristics and compared the results for different levels of PV penetration. The results from the dynamic simulations show that lower limit violations occur even at 100% PV penetration for a brief period in all case studies. This study identifies the maximum permissible PV penetration as 125 kW.
Numerical Investigation on the Liquid Hydrogen Leakage and Protection Strategy
Authors: Rong Yangyiming , Peng Jianbin , Gao Jun , Zhang Xiang , Li Xinkun , Pan Xi , Chen Jianye , Chen Shunyi
Published: April 2023

One of China’s ambitious hydrogen strategies over the past few years has been to promote fuel cells. A number of hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) are currently being built in China to refuel hydrogen-powered automobiles. In this context, it is crucial to assess the dangers of hydrogen leaking in HRSs. The present work simulated the liquid hydrogen (LH2) leakage with the goal of undertaking an extensive consequence evaluation of the LH2 leakage on an LH2 refueling station (LHRS). Furthermore, the utilization of an air curtain to prevent the diffusion of the LH2 leakage is proposed and the defending effect is studied accordingly. The results reveal that the Richardson number effectively explained the variation of plume morphology. Furthermore, different facilities have great influence on the gas cloud diffusion trajectory with the consideration of different leakage directions. The air curtain shows satisfactory prevention of the diffusion of the hydrogen plume. Studies show that with the increase in air volume (equivalent to wind speed) and the narrowing of the air curtain width (other factors remain unchanged), the maximum flammable distance of hydrogen was shortened.
Expanding Measuring Range of LWD Resistivity Instrument in High Permittivity Layers
Authors: Gao Chengquan , Wu Dong , Liu Jichun , He Quan , Deng Rui
Published: April 2023

The effective measuring range of an electromagnetic wave resistivity instrument used in logging while drilling (LWD) is small, and the resistivity measurement is greatly influenced by the dielectric constant, especially in high-dielectric-constant formations. In this paper, the response characteristics of the instrument under a high dielectric constant are investigated by a numerical simulation algorithm, and the resistivity conversion method is determined. The results show that the higher the working frequency of the electromagnetic wave resistivity instrument while drilling, and the greater the formation of background resistivity, the greater the influence of the dielectric constant on the logging response. The existence of the dielectric constant will cause the phase shift and amplitude attenuation of the measured signal to migrate, and this migration is proportional to the formation resistivity and the dielectric constant. According to this rule, the resistivity–permittivity response library is established, and the formation permittivity is calculated by the inversion of the library. On the basis of obtaining the formation permittivity, the migration of the logging signal permittivity is corrected, the influence of the dielectric constant is eliminated, and the measuring precision and measuring range of the instrument in the high-dielectric-constant formation are enlarged.
Differential Enrichment of Trace and Major Elements in Biodegraded Oil: A Case Study from Bohai Bay Basin, China
Authors: Yang Haifeng , Wang Deying , Wang Feilong , Gao Yanfei , Tang Guomin , Tang Youjun , Sun Peng
Published: April 2023

Inorganic elements in crude oil have been used in the reconstruction of the sedimentary environment and oil–oil (source) correlations; however, the effect of biodegradation on these elements has not been investigated sufficiently. In this study, 14 crude oils from the Miaoxi Sag of the Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, were analyzed using molecular markers, trace elements, and major elements to determine the effect of biodegradation on inorganic elements. The molecular markers indicated that the oils are in the low maturity stage and are derived from similar parent materials in lacustrine source rocks. The high-sulfur oil came from a more reductive and saltier environment compared with the low-sulfur oil. The oils were subjected to varying degrees of biodegradation. The concentrations of Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Be, Sc, Rb, Sr, Zr, Pb, Th, and U increased significantly throughout the biodegradation process, while the concentrations of Na, K, Ti, Al, Cr, Zn, Cs, Nb, Ba, Hf, and Tl increased considerably only during the intense biodegradation stage (PM < 4). The concentrations of P, Li, V, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Sn, and Ta were not correlated with the level of biodegradation. The V/Ni, V/Co, Ni/Co, Cr/V, Sc/V, and Th/U ratios were affected by biodegradation when PM ≥ 4. Several ratios, including Mg/P, Ca/P, Mn/P, and Fe/P, are proposed as favorable indicators of the level of biodegradation. Differential enrichment of these elements is associated with the effects of organic acids generated by biodegradation on the oil–water–rock interactions in the reservoir.
The Process and Kinetics of Pesticide Desorption from Clay as a Function of Cleaning Polluted Waters
Authors: Behrami Esad , Avdiu Vahid
Published: April 2023

This study presents an investigation into the desorption process of pesticides, namely benalaxyl, atrazine, dimethoate, and methomyl, from aqueous solutions in natural Brari clay (Tirana) located at 41°21′14.49″ N and 19° 50′17.74″ E and Dardha clay (Korça) located at 40°31′16.59″ N and 20°49′33.69″ E. The desorption process was fast, where in the first 2 hours of contact, 99.1% of atrazine was desorbed from Brari clay, and 90.1% of atrazine was desorbed from Dardha clay. In addition, in the first 2 hours of contact, 80.3% of benalaxyl was desorbed from pear clay and 79.2% of benalaxyl from Brari clay; 96.2% of methomyl and 81.2% of dimethoate were desorbed. According to the acquired curves, the desorption process began with the dominance of methomyl from Brari clay, followed by dimethoate from Brari clay, dimethoate from Dardha clay, atrazine from Brari clay, benalaxyl from Brari clay, benalaxyl from Dardha clay, and lastly atrazine from Dardha clay. Hence, compared to Dardha clay, less pesticide underwent desorption with Brari clay. Researchers immediately wondered how long (time) these pesticides would remain in the corresponding clays following the adsorption process, so the study of the kinetics of the desorption of pesticides from clay is of special interest. The kinetics of the pesticides atrazine, benalaxyl, dimethoate, and methomyl (all at a concentration of 25 mg/L) desorbing from natural Brari and Dardha clays are presented here.
Cogeneration of Fresh Water and Electricity with High-Temperature Power Cycles: Comparative Assessment of Multi-Effect Distillation and Reverse Osmosis
Authors: Palenzuela Patricia , Alarcón-Padilla Diego-César , Ortega-Delgado Bartolomé , Zaragoza Guillermo
Published: April 2023

The pressing problems of water scarcity in many parts of the planet make water desalination one of the technological solutions for guaranteeing the fresh water supply. However, desalination processes require high energy consumption, mainly provided by fossil fuels. The integration of renewable energy sources into desalination processes is a promising option for decarbonizing the desalination sector. As most water-scarce regions with access to seawater frequently have high solar irradiation levels, it seems appropriate to exploit the sun to power the desalination process. This work presents the assessment of two integrated solar power and desalination systems regarding efficiency and water production. Two desalination processes (multi-effect distillation and reverse osmosis) are studied for potential coupling with the combined cycle of a central receiver solar plant to produce electricity and freshwater. In the case of the multi-effect distillation plant, it is integrated by replacing the Rankine cycle condenser of the combined cycle. In the case of the reverse osmosis plant, it is powered by the electricity generated from the combined cycle. For this comparison, the 21st of March has been considered as the design point and Almería (in the Southeast of Spain) as the plant location. The results show that the thermal cogeneration option renders a worse outcome (thermal efficiency of 50.2% for LT-MED case) than the decoupled generation of electricity and water (thermal efficiency of 53.3% for RO case), producing 18% less fresh water than the RO configuration (3831 m3/d vs. 4640 m3/d), due to the 6% penalty in the efficiency of the Rankine power cycle in the MED configuration as a result of increasing the condensation temperature from 42.6 °C to 70 °C.
Comparison of Medium-Pressure UV/Peracetic Acid to Remove Three Typical Refractory Contaminants of Textile Wastewater
Authors: Zhu Yanping , Cao Yuxuan , Shu Shihu , Zhu Pengjin , Wang Dongfang , Xu He , Cai Dongqing
Published: April 2023

In this work, the performance of medium-pressure UV/peracetic acid (MPUV/PAA/H2O2) was explored on removing reactive black 5 (RB5), aniline (ANL), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), three typical refractory contaminants in printing and dyeing wastewater, compared with MPUV/H2O2. MPUV/PAA/H2O2 showed 75.0, 44.9, and 57.7% removals of RB5, ANL, and PVA, respectively, within 5 min. The removal of RB5 increased from 68.98 to 91.2%, with pH increasing from 6 to 9, while the removals of ANL and PVA were much less pH-dependent. Quenching experiment results indicated that UV photolysis and radical (i.e., •OH and R-C•) oxidation contributed to RB5 removal, while PAA showed high activity in the oxidation of ANL. For PVA, •OH oxidation and UV photolysis were likely the main mechanisms. The coexisting natural organic matter had a negative effect on the degradation of RB5 and PVA. In addition, MPUV/PAA/H2O2 could effectively degrade those pollutants without increasing the toxicity. This work provides a theoretical reference for the utilization of MPUV/PAA/H2O2 in removing structurally diverse refractory contaminants from printing and dyeing wastewater.
Dynamic Analysis of Regional Wheat Stripe Rust Environmental Suitability in China
Authors: Huang Linsheng , Chen Xinyu , Dong Yingying , Huang Wenjiang , Ma Huiqin , Zhang Hansu , Xu Yunlei , Wang Jing
Published: April 2023

Stripe rust is one of the most destructive wheat diseases in China, negatively affecting the production safety and causing yield losses of wheat. Thus, it is important to analyze the environmental suitability and dynamic changes of wheat stripe rust in China. The occurrence of stripe rust is affected by multiple factors. Therefore, this study combined data from various disciplinary fields such as remote sensing, meteorology, biology, and plant protection to evaluate the environmental suitability of stripe rust in China using species distribution models. The study also discusses the importance and effect of various variables. Results revealed that meteorological factors had the greatest impact on the occurrence of stripe rust, especially temperature and precipitation. Wheat growth factors have a greater impact from April to August. Elevation has a greater impact in summer. The ensemble model results were better than the single model, with TSS and AUC greater than 0.851 and 0.971, respectively. Overlapping analysis showed that the winter stripe rust suitable areas were mainly in the Sichuan Basin, Northwestern Hubei, Southern Shaanxi, and Southern Henan wheat areas. In spring, the suitable areas of stripe rust increased in Huang-Huai-Hai and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and Guanzhong Plain, and the development of northwestern wheat areas such as Xinjiang and Gansu slightly lagged behind. In summer, wheat threatened by stripe rust is mainly in late-ripening spring wheat areas in Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, and Xinjiang. This study can provide a scientific basis for optimizing and improving the comprehensive management strategy of stripe rust.
Efficiency Study of Combined UAS Photogrammetry and Terrestrial LiDAR in 3D Modeling for Maintenance and Management of Fill Dams
Authors: Kang Joonoh , Kim Daljoo , Lee Chulhee , Kang Jaemo , Kim Donggyou
Published: April 2023

Low-cost unmanned aerial system (UAS) photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanner (TLS, terrestrial LiDAR) technologies are being used as noncontact measurement methods for collecting unstructured data for the maintenance of construction infrastructure facilities. This study investigated the possibility of settlement, which is a maintenance condition evaluation item for fill-dam bodies, using point clouds based on the UAS (unmanned aerial system) structure from motion (UAS-SfM) and TLS (terrestrial laser scanner) point clouds. Specifically, the Z-axis RMSE of the point cloud improved to 0.012 m and the shape reproducibility rate to 98.53% by complementing the heterogeneous data of the UAS and TLS by combining the two systems with block coordination and ICP algorithms. The maximum settlement height and volume (heaving) of the dam crest and upstream and downstream slopes were derived from the combined UAS/TLS point-cloud-based 3D model. The quantitative values for the settlement of the fill-dam body were derived using the combined 3D model with high accuracy and density. This result verified the possibility of using the combined 3D model for evaluation of the maintenance condition.
Efficient Deep Semantic Segmentation for Land Cover Classification Using Sentinel Imagery
Authors: Tzepkenlis Anastasios , Marthoglou Konstantinos , Grammalidis Nikos
Published: April 2023

Nowadays, different machine learning approaches, either conventional or more advanced, use input from different remote sensing imagery for land cover classification and associated decision making. However, most approaches rely heavily on time-consuming tasks to gather accurate annotation data. Furthermore, downloading and pre-processing remote sensing imagery used to be a difficult and time-consuming task that discouraged policy makers to create and use new land cover maps. We argue that by combining recent improvements in deep learning with the use of powerful cloud computing platforms for EO data processing, specifically the Google Earth Engine, we can greatly facilitate the task of land cover classification. For this reason, we modify an efficient semantic segmentation approach (U-TAE) for a satellite image time series to use, as input, a single multiband image composite corresponding to a specific time range. Our motivation is threefold: (a) to improve land cover classification performance and at the same time reduce complexity by using, as input, satellite image composites with reduced noise created using temporal median instead of the original noisy (due to clouds, calibration errors, etc.) images, (b) to assess performance when using as input different combinations of satellite data, including Sentinel-2, Sentinel-1, spectral indices, and ALOS elevation data, and (c) to exploit channel attention instead of the temporal attention used in the original approach. We show that our proposed modification on U-TAE (mIoU: 57.25%) outperforms three other popular approaches, namely random forest (mIoU: 39.69%), U-Net (mIoU: 55.73%), and SegFormer (mIoU: 53.5%), while also using fewer training parameters. In addition, the evaluation reveals that proper selection of the input band combination is necessary for improved performance.
InSARTrac Field Tests—Combining Computer Vision and Terrestrial InSAR for 3D Displacement Monitoring
Authors: Zambanini Christoph , Reinprecht Volker , Kieffer Daniel Scott
Published: April 2023

InSARTrac is an innovative method for 3D displacement monitoring that combines terrestrial interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and computer vision-based feature tracking. The 3D measurements obtained are considered far superior to 1D or 2D data and facilitate evaluations concerning the mechanisms controlling kinematics. This study presents the results of InSARTrac measurements at the Mölltal Glacier in Carinthia, Austria. The duration of glacier monitoring was four weeks and involved two instrument setup positions to obtain comparative measurements of supraglacial rock debris from different angles without utilizing retroreflectors. The mean displacement rate of the resultant vector is 22 mm/day and includes ~11 mm/day in the downgradient ice surface direction and 6 to 18 mm/day vertically downward. Additionally, the entire glacier surface was measured three times using a LIDAR-equipped UAV, revealing mean vertical displacements of 16 mm/day. The measurements indicate an InSARTrac accuracy of 4.2 ppm, which is 27% lower than in the initial controlled tests utilizing retroreflectors. The field test demonstrates the capability of InSARTrac to provide meaningful 3D displacement measurements of supraglacial rock debris. The material monitored has texture and reflectivity similar to certain classes of landslides, rock glaciers, and other alpine processes, indicating that InSARTrac has promising applications for monitoring a variety of geologic phenomena.
Evaluation of Radar Precipitation Products and Assessment of the Gauge-Radar Merging Methods in Southeast Texas for Extreme Precipitation Events
Authors: Li Wenzhao , Jiang Han , Li Dongfeng , Bedient Philip B. , Fang Zheng N.
Published: April 2023

Many radar-gauge merging methods have been developed to produce improved rainfall data by leveraging the advantages of gauge and radar observations. Two popular merging methods, Regression Kriging and Bayesian Regression Kriging were utilized and compared in this study to produce hourly rainfall data from gauge networks and multi-source radar datasets. The authors collected, processed, and modeled the gauge and radar rainfall data (Stage IV, MRMS and RTMA radar data) of the two extreme storm events (i.e., Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019) occurring in the coastal area in Southeast Texas with devastating flooding. The analysis of the modeled data on consideration of statistical metrics, physical rationality, and computational expenses, implies that while both methods can effectively improve the radar rainfall data, the Regression Kriging model demonstrates its superior performance over that of the Bayesian Regression Kriging model since the latter is found to be prone to overfitting issues due to the clustered gauge distributions. Moreover, the spatial resolution of rainfall data is found to affect the merging results significantly, where the Bayesian Regression Kriging model works unskillfully when radar rainfall data with a coarser resolution is used. The study recommends the use of high-quality radar data with properly spatial-interpolated gauge data to improve the radar-gauge merging methods. The authors believe that the findings of the study are critical for assisting hazard mitigation and future design improvement.
How to Build Live-Cell Sensor Microdevices
Authors: Gouma Pelagia-Irene
Published: April 2023

There is a lot of discussion on how viruses (such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2) are transmitted in air, potentially from aerosols and respiratory droplets, and thus it is important to monitor the environment for the presence of an active pathogen. Currently, the presence of viruses is being determined using primarily nucleic acid-based detection methods, such as reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. Antigen tests have also been developed for this purpose. However, most nucleic acid and antigen methods fail to discriminate between a viable and a non-viable virus. Therefore, we present an alternative, innovative, and disruptive approach involving a live-cell sensor microdevice that captures the viruses (and bacteria) from the air, becomes infected by them, and emits signals for an early warning of the presence of pathogens. This perspective outlines the processes and components required for living sensors to monitor the presence of pathogens in built environments and highlights the opportunity to use immune sentinels in the cells of normal human skin to produce monitors for indoor air pollutants.
A Real-Time Deep Machine Learning Approach for Sudden Tool Failure Prediction and Prevention in Machining Processes
Authors: Hassan Mahmoud , Sadek Ahmad , Attia Helmi
Published: April 2023

Tool Condition Monitoring systems are essential to achieve the desired industrial competitive advantage in terms of reducing costs, increasing productivity, improving quality, and preventing machined part damage. A sudden tool failure is analytically unpredictable due to the high dynamics of the machining process in the industrial environment. Therefore, a system for detecting and preventing sudden tool failures was developed for real-time implementation. A discrete wavelet transform lifting scheme (DWT) was developed to extract a time-frequency representation of the AErms signals. A long short-term memory (LSTM) autoencoder was developed to compress and reconstruct the DWT features. The variations between the reconstructed and the original DWT representations due to the induced acoustic emissions (AE) waves during unstable crack propagation were used as a prefailure indicator. Based on the statistics of the LSTM autoencoder training process, a threshold was defined to detect tool prefailure regardless of the cutting conditions. Experimental validation results demonstrated the ability of the developed approach to accurately predict sudden tool failures before they occur and allow enough time to take corrective action to protect the machined part. The developed approach overcomes the limitations of the prefailure detection approach available in the literature in terms of defining a threshold function and sensitivity to chip adhesion-separation phenomenon during the machining of hard-to-cut materials.
Development and Control of a Real Spherical Robot
Authors: Schröder Karla , Garcia Gonzalo , Chacón Roberto , Montenegro Guelis , Marroquín Alberto , Farias Gonzalo , Dormido-Canto Sebastián , Fabregas Ernesto
Published: April 2023

This paper presents the design and implementation of a spherical robot with an internal mechanism based on a pendulum. The design is based on significant improvements made, including an electronics upgrade, to a previous robot prototype developed in our laboratory. Such modifications do not significantly impact its corresponding simulation model previously developed in CoppeliaSim, so it can be used with minor modifications. The robot is incorporated into a real test platform designed and built for this purpose. As part of the incorporation of the robot into the platform, software codes are made to detect its position and orientation, using the system SwisTrack, to control its position and speed. This implementation allows successful testing of control algorithms previously developed by the authors for other robots such as Villela, the Integral Proportional Controller, and Reinforcement Learning.
Joint Data Transmission and Energy Harvesting for MISO Downlink Transmission Coordination in Wireless IoT Networks
Authors: Liu Jain-Shing , Lin Chun-Hung , Hu Yu-Chen , Donta Praveen Kumar
Published: April 2023

The advent of simultaneous wireless information and power (SWIPT) has been regarded as a promising technique to provide power supplies for an energy sustainable Internet of Things (IoT), which is of paramount importance due to the proliferation of high data communication demands of low-power network devices. In such networks, a multi-antenna base station (BS) in each cell can be utilized to concurrently transmit messages and energies to its intended IoT user equipment (IoT-UE) with a single antenna under a common broadcast frequency band, resulting in a multi-cell multi-input single-output (MISO) interference channel (IC). In this work, we aim to find the trade-off between the spectrum efficiency (SE) and energy harvesting (EH) in SWIPT-enabled networks with MISO ICs. For this, we derive a multi-objective optimization (MOO) formulation to obtain the optimal beamforming pattern (BP) and power splitting ratio (PR), and we propose a fractional programming (FP) model to find the solution. To tackle the nonconvexity of FP, an evolutionary algorithm (EA)-aided quadratic transform technique is proposed, which recasts the nonconvex problem as a sequence of convex problems to be solved iteratively. To further reduce the communication overhead and computational complexity, a distributed multi-agent learning-based approach is proposed that requires only partial observations of the channel state information (CSI). In this approach, each BS is equipped with a double deep Q network (DDQN) to determine the BP and PR for its UE with lower computational complexity based on the observations through a limited information exchange process. Finally, with the simulation experiments, we verify the trade-off between SE and EH, and we demonstrate that, apart from the FP algorithm introduced to provide superior solutions, the proposed DDQN algorithm also shows its performance gain in terms of utility to be up to 1.23-, 1.87-, and 3.45-times larger than the Advantage Actor Critic (A2C), greedy, and random algorithms, respectively, in comparison in the simulated environment.
Electrochemical Evaluation of Tyrosinase Enzymatic Activity in Deep Eutectic Solvent and Aqueous Deep Eutectic Solvent
Authors: Svigelj Rossella , Zanette Fabiola , Toniolo Rosanna
Published: April 2023

The use of green, inexpensive, and biodegradable deep eutectic solvents as nonaqueous solvents and electrolytes could be a useful way to potentially improve the enzyme biosensor performance as well as a profitable strategy to extend their use in the gas phase. However, enzyme activity in these media, although fundamental for their implementation in electrochemical analysis, is still almost unexplored. In this study, an electrochemical approach was employed to monitor tyrosinase enzyme activity in a deep eutectic solvent. This study was performed in a DES consisting of choline chloride (ChCl) as a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and glycerol as a hydrogen bond donor (HBD), while phenol was chosen as the prototype analyte. The tyrosinase enzyme was immobilized on a gold-nanoparticle-modified screen-printed carbon electrode, and its activity was monitored following the reduction current of orthoquinone produced by the tyrosinase biocatalysis of phenol. This work represents a first step toward the realization of green electrochemical biosensors capable of operating in both nonaqueous and gaseous media for the chemical analysis of phenols.
Box–Behenken-Supported Development and Validation of UPLC Method for the Estimation of Eugenol in Syzygium aromaticum, Cinnamomum tamala, and Myristica fragrance
Authors: Ahmad Wasim
Published: April 2023

Eugenol (EUG) is one of the most important components available in several spices, including clove, bay leaves, and nutmeg. These spices are used as flavouring agents in foods and beverages. The aim of the present study is to develop and validate a rapid, simple, sensitive, and robust ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) technique for the quantitative estimation of EUG in the ultrasound-assisted methanolic extracts of three spices, namely Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry (SA), Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) T.Nees & Eberm (CT), and Myristica fragrance Houtt. (MF). EUG was isocratically separated on a UPLC C18 column. The acetonitrile:methanol:water (50:40:10, v/v/v) solvent in different proportions was optimized as the mobile phase for the determination of EUG in ultrasound-assisted methanolic extracts of three different spices. The quantitative estimation of EUG was performed at a 281 nm detection wavelength. The column oven temperature was maintained at 35 ± 5 °C, and the flow rate of the mobile phase was 0.2 mL/min using an injection volume of 1 µL. The UPLC technique was validated according to the ICH guidelines and showed an excellent linearity range of 10–100 ng/mL. The robustness of the method was validated using Box–Behenken response surface design (BBD) software, and a 0.2 mL/min flow rate of the mobile phase, a column oven temperature of 308 K, and a 281 nm detection wavelength were found to be the best optimal conditions for obtaining the highest amount and separation of EUG. The content of EUG in ultrasound-assisted methanolic extracts of SA, CT, and MF using the UPLC technique showed 313.67 ± 0.87 mg g−1, 44.95 ± 0.56 mg g−1, and 59.66 ± 0.41 mg g−1, respectively. The antioxidant potentials of EUG, SA, CT, and MF were analysed using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-pcrylhydrazil radical) method, which revealed the antioxidant potential of EUG (IC50 = 3.12 µg/mL), standard ascorbic acid (IC50 = 7.06 µg/mL), SA ultrasound-assisted methanolic extract (IC50 = 5.97 µg/mL), CT ultrasound-assisted methanolic extract (IC50 = 49.48 µg/mL), and MF ultrasound-assisted methanolic extract (IC50 = 65.16 µg/mL). The proposed UPLC technique can be used to quantitatively assess various spices, plants, pharmaceutical products, and polyherbal formulations containing EUG as an active constituent.
Magnetically Grafted Carbon Nanotubes Synthesis and Its Oriented Nanochannels Construction in the Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) (PVDF) Ultrafiltration Membranes
Authors: Song Xiangyuan , Ma Wenzhong , Peng Peisen , Yin Sicheng , Ma Binghao , Yang Haicun , Gong Fanghong , Liu Chunlin
Published: April 2023

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with hollow nanochannels have attracted much attention in preparing high-performance water treatment membranes. In this paper, the grafting polymer chains, including alkynyl terminated poly(methyl methacrylate) methacrylate (PMMA) single chain and PMMA-b-poly (ethylene glycol) methacrylate [P(PEGMA)] diblock molecular chains, were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. A UV-induced click reaction was used to graft different linear polymers onto the surface of magnetic thiol-functionalized carbon nanotubes (mCNTs-SH). The poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite ultrafiltration membrane within the oriented nanochannels was prepared using phase inversion and magnetic field orientation. TEM and XRD results confirmed that the magnetic carbon nanotubes grafted with a diblock molecular chain had good nano-dispersion and orientation array effects in PVDF composite ultrafiltration membrane. The water contact angle of the array mCNT-g-diblock molecular chain-based composite membrane was 48.5°, significantly enhancing the PEGMA chain segments. The composite membrane with CTNs’ nanochannels attained a higher water flux. As the diblock molecular chain grafted mCNTs oriented in the membrane, the water flux reached 17.6 LMH (five times greater than the pure PVDF membrane), while the molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) for PEG1400 rejection could reach higher than 80%.
The Perception of Security and Youth: A Practical Example
Authors: Vílchez María , Trujillo Francisco
Published: April 2023

This investigation presents the perspective that Spanish postgraduate students have on security. The data compiled here encompass the results of a research study involving Spanish Master’s students with backgrounds in international law and international relations. This study aims to conceptualize what security means for young adults, with the concept of security being extracted from their own opinions. This is a qualitative investigation of students who are pursuing their studies in international and security fields. In their coursework, they study matters related to security, and therefore their opinions are well grounded. The results indicate that the concept of security is progressively more ambiguous and distant from those of conventional standards, where personal, economic, environmental, and border security (as well as other aspects of security) intertwine. The concept itself is increasingly more ambiguous and closer to the idea of human security. Young people have a greater perception of insecurity, and they demand more to ensure that the State and different institutions fulfill their responsibility of guaranteeing security. They also feel more committed to participating in different aspects that construct their very open sense of security.
Exploring the Interplay of Cultural Restraint: The Relationship between Social Media Motivation and Subjective Happiness
Authors: Hatamleh Islam Habis Mohammad , Safori Amjad Omar , Ahmad Amer Khaled , Al-Etoum Neibal Moh’d Ibrahim
Published: April 2023

This study aims to investigate the intricate relationship between social media motivations and subjective happiness, utilizing a novel framework based on the uses and gratifications theory and cultural restraint. Through a quantitative analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) of a sample of 391 young Jordanian adults, the findings reveal a surprising positive correlation between social media motivations and subjective happiness, with cultural restraint emerging as a critical moderator in this dynamic. Cultural restraint negatively moderates the relationship between social media motivations and subjective happiness. By shedding light on the powerful role of cultural factors in shaping our relationship with social media, this study offers essential insights for practitioners seeking to enhance user experiences and maximize well-being. This research expands upon existing knowledge, providing a fresh perspective on the interplay between motivation and happiness, and highlighting the potential for understanding cultural restraint to unlock greater happiness and fulfillment in the digital age. The findings indicate that the positive impact of social media motivations on subjective happiness may be influenced by the level of cultural restraint within a society.
Does Obesity Affect Neuromuscular and Cardiovascular Adaptations after a 3-Month Combined Exercise Program in Untrained Premenopausal Middle-Aged Women?
Authors: Karatrantou Konstantina , Gerodimos Vassilis
Published: April 2023

Previous studies indicated different acute adaptations between obese and lean individuals, while there is limited information with conflicting results regarding long-term adaptations. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a 3-month integrated combined training between obese and lean middle-aged untrained premenopausal women. In total, 72 women (36 obese/36 lean) were divided into four groups: (a) obese exercise (OB-EG), (b) obese control (OB-CG), (c) lean exercise (L-EG), and (d) lean control (L-CG). The exercise groups followed a 3-month (3 times/week) integrated combined aerobic and strength training program. Health indices (body composition, body circumferences, blood pressure, respiratory function), functional capacity (flexibility, balance), and physical fitness (strength, aerobic capacity) were measured before and after the 3-month time period. Participants’ enjoyment was also assessed following the program. OB-EG and L-EG significantly improved (p < 0.05) similarly across all functional capacity and physical fitness indices (10–76%; depending on the evaluation index), except balance and strength indices of the non-preferred limb where OB-EG showed greater improvement (reducing the existing pre-training strength/balance asymmetries) than L-EG. Furthermore, both obese and lean individuals showed similarly high levels of enjoyment. This program could be effectively used in fitness settings causing similar neuromuscular and cardiovascular adaptations in obese and lean women.
Assessment of the Compression Properties of Different Giant Bamboo Species for Sustainable Construction
Authors: Drury Ben , Padfield Cameron , Russo Mirko , Swygart Lowri , Spalton Oliver , Froggatt Sam , Mofidi Amir
Published: April 2023

In this study, compression mechanical properties of five giant bamboo species from different continents were investigated based on the ISO 22157:2019 standard. The selected species have been used for rural construction for centuries. The chosen bamboo species for this study, which are considered strong candidates to be used in modern construction as well, are as follows: Phyllostachys edulis (Moso), Guadua angustifolia (Guadua), Gigantochloa apus (Tali), Gigantochloa atroviolacea (Black Java), and Phyllostachys bambusoides (Madake). The excellent properties of bamboo species in tension are well established. Hence, this article principally focuses on the behaviour of selected giant species in compression to be used as structural members. In this study, the mentioned bamboo species were gathered from different continents of origin to be critically assessed, analysed, and compared with one another to better understand their compression behaviour as structural columns. The compression properties of these bamboo species have not been evaluated and compared with one another in an academic study so far. The results show that all tested species were able to provide mean compressive strengths greater than 50 MPa, which makes them highly promising construction material candidates for modern construction. The Guadua test series was able to provide outstanding consistency in the presented compression behaviour and strengths among all the tested species. The specimens with the maximum sustained load belonged to the Tali species. The greatest average failure load belonged to the Moso species. The greatest mean compressive strength measured was 88.9 MPa, reported for Madake species with smaller diameters compared to the other test series. Among the specimens with larger diameters, the greatest mean ultimate strengths were for Moso, Guadua, and Tali species with 69.9 MPa, 60.7 MPa, and 59.1 MPa compressive strengths, respectively.