bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is ISO20121 Certification a Detour or Gamechanger for Eco-Striving Sport Events? A Conceptual Typology
Authors: Næss Hans Erik
Published: May 2021

An increasing number of sport organizations express interest in international accreditation standards as a way of tackling environmental sustainability (ES) challenges. This article, however, argues that the commercial context of these standards and “the bazaar economy” in which its suppliers operate may hamper the diverse solutions needed to reduce the ecological footprint of sport. At the same time, it acknowledges that standards are useful to certain sporting organizations. To sort out the pros and cons of the relation between such standards and ES work in sport organizations, the Formula E (for Electric) championship is used as case example. The championship became the first category in motorsport to receive ISO certification in 2018, and 2 years later, it achieved net zero carbon footprint from inception. On that basis, the article provides a typology that provides coordinates for empirical research on how sport organizations may avoid “organizational hypocrisy” in their ES work by viewing the pros and cons of ISO certification. While the practical implication is insight into what it takes for a sport organization to achieve a specific certification, the academic implication is conceptual coordinates for empirical and comparative research of ES initiatives and certifications.
Evaluation of Agricultural Byproducts and Cover Crops as Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation Carbon Sources for Managing a Soilborne Disease Complex in High Tunnel Tomatoes
Authors: Testen Anna L. , Rotondo Francesca , Mills Matthew P. , Horvat Madeline M. , Miller Sally A.
Published: May 2021

Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a viable option for disease management in tomato production and reduces damage due to a soilborne disease complex consisting of Pyrenochaeta lycopersici, Colletotrichum coccodes, Verticillium dahliae, and Meloidogyne spp. There are plentiful options for ASD carbon sources using byproducts of Midwestern United States agriculture or cover crops, yet these carbon sources have not been evaluated for use in Midwestern settings. Low (10.1 Mg/ha) and high (20.2 Mg/ha) rates of corn gluten meal, distillers dried grains, soybean meal, wheat bran, and dry sweet whey were evaluated as ASD carbon sources in growth chamber and greenhouse bioassays. Cover crops including buckwheat, cowpea, crimson clover, mustard, oilseed radish, sorghum-sudangrass, white clover, and winter rye were evaluated in similar bioassays with one amendment rate (20.2 Mg/ha). Reducing conditions developed in soils regardless of carbon source or rate. Use of high rates of corn gluten meal, distillers dried grains, soybean meal, and wheat bran led to the lowest levels of root rot severity compared to non-treated controls. The higher rate of any byproduct carbon source was always more effective than the lower rate in reducing root rot severity. Use of both rates of soybean meal or corn gluten meal and the high rate of distillers dried grains or dry sweet whey led to significant increases in dry root and shoot biomass compared to controls. For cover crops, ASD with crimson clover, sorghum-sudangrass, white clover, or winter rye amendments reduced root rot severity relative to the aerobic control, but not relative to the anaerobic control. Use of cover crops did not significantly impact plant biomass. A subset of three ASD carbon sources [distillers dried grains, soybean meal, and wheat middlings (midds), all 20.2 Mg/ha] were evaluated in five on-farm ASD trials in high tunnels. Soil temperatures were low during the application period, limiting treatment efficacy. Reducing conditions developed in all soils during ASD treatment, and a moderate but significant reduction in root rot severity was observed following ASD with the soybean meal or wheat midds compared to ASD with distillers dried grains. Tomato yield was not significantly affected by ASD treatment.
Hyper-Interleukin-6 Protects Against Renal Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury—A Mouse Model
Authors: Zuaiter Mohammad , Axelrod Jonathan H. , Pizov Galina , Gofrit Ofer N.
Published: May 2021

Background: Most of the ischemia-reperfusion injury (IR-I) occurs during reperfusion and is mediated by the immune system. In this study we determined whether immunomodulation with hyper-Interleukin-6 (a recombinant designer cytokine composed of interleukin-6 linked to its soluble receptor) is protective against IR-I in mice kidneys.

Methods: Hyper-Interleukin-6 (HIL-6) was administered by in vivo plasmid DNA transfection to 10 male mice. Twenty-four hours later, unilateral nephrectomy was done. IR-I immediately followed by closure of the remaining kidney vascular pedicle for 40 min. Seven mice transfected with non-coding control plasmid served as the control group. The functional and morphological effects of IR-I and its effect on mice longevity were explored. This was done by serial blood tests and by histopathology done upon sacrifice of the animals at post-operative day 7.

Findings: Mice pretreated with HIL-6 had a mean creatinine level at post-operative day 1 of 35.45 ± 4.03 μmol/l and mean Urea level was 14.18 ± 2.69 mmol/l, whereas mean creatinine was 89.33 ± 69.27 μmol/l (P = 0.025), and mean urea was 38.17 ± 20.77 mmol/l (P = 0.0024) in the control group. Histological changes in the control group included inflammatory infiltration, tubular damage, and architectural distortion. These were not seen in the treatment group. Seven days post-operatively the survival rate of treated mice was 100% compared to 50% in the control group (P = 0.015).

Interpretation: In this single kidney mouse model, pretreatment with HIL-6 administration effectively protected against IR-I both morphologically and functionally. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanism and feasibility of using this immunomodulator.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Agri-Food Companies in the Region of Extremadura (Spain)
Authors: Corchuelo Martínez-Azúa Beatriz , López-Salazar Pedro Eugenio , Sama-Berrocal Celia
Published: May 2021

The coronavirus pandemic is having an economic impact, previously non-existent, on the world economy. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on agri-food companies in the region of Extremadura (Spain). A multiple-case study based on in-depth interviews was carried out in the period February 2020–January 2021. The results reveal the existence of negative and positive impacts, both financial (decrease in turnover; decrease/displacement in the demand for products; budget reduction in R&D projects; increase in certain product sales) and operational (difficulty in marketing activities, lack of staff, stoppage in company activity, and supply problems), depending, principally, on the nature of the products, the changes generated in consumer behavior, and mobility problems. Likewise, changes were observed in processes (search of clients in other markets, increased use of technology in communication and marketing activities, and development of new products) and procedures (reorganization of personnel activities, implementation of new health protocols) in companies to overcome the obstacles imposed by the new situation. In conclusion, the change in surrounding conditions, and the characteristics of the spread of the pandemic, have impacted on the strategies, behavior, processes, dynamics and results of organizations regardless of their size and the nature of their work product or service.
Sustainable Crop Production, the Concurrent Adoption of Contract Farming, and Managing Risks through Income Diversification
Authors: Akhtar Shoaib , Abbas Azhar , Kassem Hazem S. , Bagadeem Salim , Ullah Raza , Alotaibi Bader Alhafi
Published: May 2021

This paper is aimed at evaluating the factors affecting the concurrent adoption of two risk coping strategies among hybrid maize farmers, namely income diversification supplemented with off-farm work and contract farming in the wake of changing climatic conditions. Climatic changes and food insecurity at the national level have emerged as key risk elements for hybrid maize production due to varying economic conditions. The present paper addresses these risks by examining various sources of risks faced by hybrid maize farmers and develops ideas to tackle these risks. Bivariate and multinomial probit models were employed to analyze numerous factors that influence farmers’ choice of the simultaneous adoption of income diversification (both on and off the farm) and contract farming at the farm level. The results reveal that hybrid maize farmers’ socioeconomic attributes significantly affect their adoption of risk coping tools. Similarly, the climatic, economic (price-related), biological, and financial risk perceptions and risk preference significantly influence the utilization of risk coping strategies in maize production. These outcomes extend our understanding of farmers’ risk preferences and provide parameters for policymakers to forestall diverse risk sources associated with hybrid maize production.
Maternal Factors and Their Association with Patterns of Beverage Intake in Mexican Children and Adolescents
Authors: Lopez-Gonzalez Desiree , Avila-Rosano Fatima , Montiel-Ojeda Diana , Ortiz-Obregon Marcela , Reyes-Delpech Pamela , Diaz-Escobar Laura , Clark Patricia
Published: May 2021

Childhood and adolescence represent critical periods where beverage and food consumption behaviors are learned and developed. Mexican mothers’ presence and influence are instrumental in shaping such behaviors. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk associations of maternal factors for unhealthy patterns of beverage intake. This study analyzed data from a population-based cross-sectional study of healthy children and adolescents from Mexico City. Data of subject’s total water intake (TWI) and its’ sources were collected using two 24-h recall surveys. Patterns of beverage intake were constructed based on the guidance system of beverage consumption in the US. Maternal factors of interest included age, body mass index (BMI), mother’s educational level (MEL), socioeconomic status (SES), and belongingness to the paid workforce (BPW). Data of 1532 subject–mother dyads informed that 47% of subjects did not meet the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations for TWI, and 94.6% showed an unhealthy beverage intake pattern, mainly consisting in a lower intake of water and a higher intake of caloric beverages with some nutrients; and calorically sweetened beverages. The major sources of hydration were caloric beverages with some nutrients (i.e., whole milk, fruit water, and flavored milk). The highest risk association for an unhealthy beverage intake pattern was seen in those subjects with mothers in the cluster with lower SES, lower MEL, lower proportion of BPW, higher BMI, and younger age (OR = 9.3, 95% CI 1.2–72.8, P = 0.03). Thus, there is a remarkably high prevalence of an unhealthy pattern of beverage intake, and specific maternal factors may be implicated as enablers of such behaviors, which is also addressable for future interventions.
Psychometric Characteristics of Oral Pathology Test Items in the Dental Hygiene Curriculum—A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Srinivasan Mythily
Published: May 2021

As the landscape of oral healthcare and the delivery of services continue to undergo change, the dental hygienist plays an increasing role in assisting dentists with oral diagnosis and preventive strategies. Hence, the dental hygiene curriculum standards require biomedical science instructions, including general and oral pathology. Student learning and cognitive competencies are often measured using multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The objectives of this study were to perform a longitudinal analysis of test items and to evaluate their relation to the absolute grades of the oral pathology course in the dental hygiene curriculum. A total of 1033 MCQs covering different concepts of oral pathology administered from 2015 through 2019 were analyzed for difficulty and discriminatory indices, and the differences between the years were determined by one-way ANOVA. Test reliability as determined by the average KR-20 value was 0.7 or higher for each exam. The mean difficulty index for all exams was 0.73 +/− 0.05, and that of the discriminatory index was 0.33 +/− 0.05. Wide variations were observed in the discriminatory indices of test items with approximately the same difficulty index, as well as in the grade distribution in each cohort. Furthermore, longitudinal data analyses identified low achieving cohorts amongst the groups evaluated for the same knowledge domain, taught with the same instruction, and using similar test tools. This suggest that comparative analyses of tests could offer feedback not only on student learning attributes, but also potentially on the admission processes to the dental hygiene program.
Adding Prior Information in FWI through Relative Entropy
Authors: Cruz Danilo Santos , de Araújo João M. , da Costa Carlos A. N. , da Silva Carlos C. N.
Published: May 2021

Full waveform inversion is an advantageous technique for obtaining high-resolution subsurface information. In the petroleum industry, mainly in reservoir characterisation, it is common to use information from wells as previous information to decrease the ambiguity of the obtained results. For this, we propose adding a relative entropy term to the formalism of the full waveform inversion. In this context, entropy will be just a nomenclature for regularisation and will have the role of helping the converge to the global minimum. The application of entropy in inverse problems usually involves formulating the problem, so that it is possible to use statistical concepts. To avoid this step, we propose a deterministic application to the full waveform inversion. We will discuss some aspects of relative entropy and show three different ways of using them to add prior information through entropy in the inverse problem. We use a dynamic weighting scheme to add prior information through entropy. The idea is that the prior information can help to find the path of the global minimum at the beginning of the inversion process. In all cases, the prior information can be incorporated very quickly into the full waveform inversion and lead the inversion to the desired solution. When we include the logarithmic weighting that constitutes entropy to the inverse problem, we will suppress the low-intensity ripples and sharpen the point events. Thus, the addition of entropy relative to full waveform inversion can provide a result with better resolution. In regions where salt is present in the BP 2004 model, we obtained a significant improvement by adding prior information through the relative entropy for synthetic data. We will show that the prior information added through entropy in full-waveform inversion formalism will prove to be a way to avoid local minimums.
A Complete Flow of Miniaturizing Coil Antennas Based on Matching Circuit
Authors: Yang Xiaokun , Ding Zhao , Zhang Zhengping
Published: May 2021

This paper proposes and verifies a complete design flow of miniaturizing a coil antenna and widening its impedance bandwidth for near-field application, such as NFC, RFID and WPT. The proposed scheme based on mature electronic element matching technology is interpreted in detail by two equivalent circuit models in theory. For convenience, only the series equivalent circuit and its matching circuit are respectively established in the circuit simulator ADS and ANSYS HFSS to assess the scheme proposed from two aspects. The parallel equivalent circuit can be optimized by a similar approach. Then, a WPT system is established in HFSS to further verify the feasibility of miniaturization. Finally, the dimension of the coil antenna can be reduced by about 70%, and its impedance bandwidth can be increased by approximately 40% after two electronic modules are integrated.
Stochastic Analysis-Based Volt–Var Curve of Smart Inverters for Combined Voltage Regulation in Distribution Networks
Authors: Lee Dongwon , Han Changhee , Jang Gilsoo
Published: May 2021

The proliferation of renewable energy resources (RES), especially solar photovoltaic (PV) generation resources, causes overvoltage and line overloading in distribution networks. This study proposes a two-level volt–var control method based on multiple timescales. The on-load tap changer (OLTC) operates on an hourly timescale, to regulate the voltage on the secondary winding. In the 15-minutes timescale, PV-connected smart inverters and static var compensators (SVCs) are obliged to compensate the reactive power for the voltage control at the point of common coupling. In the multi-timescale voltage control framework, this study proposes a new multi-sectional volt–var curve (MSVVC) of a PV inverter. The objective of the MSVVC is to minimize the energy loss in the network, improve the voltage profile, and obtain the operational margin of other reactive power compensation devices. In the process of determining the optimal parameters of the MSVVC, stochastic modeling-based load flow analysis is utilized to consider the intermittency and uncertainty of RES generation. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified on the IEEE 33-bus system in comparison with the conventional volt–var curve cases.
Classification of Flow Modes for Natural Convection in a Square Enclosure with an Eccentric Circular Cylinder
Authors: Yoon Hyun-Sik , Shim Yoo-Jeong
Published: May 2021

The present study investigated the natural convection for a hot circular cylinder embedded in a cold square enclosure. The numerical simulations are performed to solve a two-dimensional steady natural convection for three Rayleigh numbers of 103, 104 and 105 at a fixed Prandtl number of 0.7. This study considered the wide range of the inner cylinder positions to identify the eccentric effect of the cylinder on flow and thermal structures. The present study classifies the flow structures according to the cylinder position. Finally, the present study provides the map for the flow structures at each Rayleigh number (Ra). The Ra = 103 and 104 form the four modes of the flow structures. These modes are classified by mainly the large circulation and inner vortices. When Ra = 105, one mode that existed at Ra = 103 and 104, disappears in the map of the flow structures. The new three modes appear, resulting in total six modes of flow structures at Ra = 105. New modes at Ra = 105 are characterized by the top side secondary vortices. The corresponding isotherms are presented to explain the bifurcation of the flow structure.
WAMS-Supported Power Mismatch Optimization for Secure Intentional Islanding
Authors: Grozdanovski Jovancho , Mihalic Rafael , Rudez Urban
Published: May 2021

It is expected that a coordinated operation of several system integrity protection schemes will become a necessity in the future. This research represents an innovative strategy for coordinating under-frequency load shedding and intentional controlled islanding schemes for improving electric power system stability and resilience. In the great majority of real-world cases, both approaches follow conventional tactics, i.e., disconnecting a fixed number of feeders at predefined frequency thresholds and isolating a predefined area of a power system regardless of the actual conditions. Under the newly arisen network conditions in which weather-dependent distributed energy sources introduce a significant level of intermittency, conventional approaches need to be upgraded in order to retain a high level of power system operation security. In this paper, a mixed-integer linear programming approach is used to adjust the island size, including/excluding additional substations according to the available amount of generation in the region. The fine-tuning of the power rebalancing is achieved by potentially blocking selected load shedding stages. This minimizes the power imbalance of the newly formed islands, which helps to reduce the number of partial or even total blackouts and also accelerates the power system’s restoration process. The optimization approach was tested on a generic IEEE 39-bus network and shows promising results along with the capability of coping with real-world applications using wide-area monitoring systems as a source of real-time measurements. The results also indicated the importance of appropriate load modelling since both voltage and frequency dependence are recognized to have a significant effect on intentional controlled islanding.
Recent Developments in the Modelling of Transformer Windings
Authors: Gawrylczyk Konstanty M. , Banaszak Szymon
Published: May 2021

The paper provides a review of the modelling techniques used to simulate the frequency response of transformer windings. The aim of the research and development of modelling methods was to analyze the influence of deformations and faults in the windings on the changes in the frequency response. All described methods are given with examples of the modelling results performed by the authors of this paper and from literature sources. The research is prefaced with a thorough literature review. There are described models based on lumped parameters with input data coming from direct calculations based on the winding geometry and obtained from FEM modelling software and models considering the wave phenomena in the windings. The analysis was also performed for practical problems in winding modelling: the influence of windings other than the modelled one and the influence of parallel wires in a winding.
Numerical Simulation of Fluidized Bed Gasifier Coupled with Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Fed with Solid Carbon
Authors: Zhang Dongxu , Min Ting , Jiang Ming , Yu Yaxiong , Zhou Qiang
Published: May 2021

A model of a fluidized bed coupled with direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is developed to explore the effect of coupling between fluidized bed and solid oxide fuel cell. Three gas–solid flow regimes are involved including fixed bed, delayed bubbling bed and bubbling bed. The anode reaction of SOFC is treated as the coupling processes of Boudouard gasification of carbon and electrochemical oxidation of CO. The effects of inlet velocity of the fluidizing agent CO2, carbon activity, channel width and coupling extent on the system performance are investigated. The results show that the inlet velocity of CO2 can promote the gasification rate in the anode, but too high velocities may lower CO molar fraction. The gasification rate generally increases with the increase of the channel width and carbon activity. The overlapping area between the anode surface and the initial carbon bed, gas–solid regime and carbon activity have a significant influence on the gasification rate and the maximum current density the system can support. Overall, the mass transport in the anode is dramatically enhanced by the expansion of the carbon bed, back-mixing, solid mixing and gas mixing, especially for the delayed bubbling bed and bubbling bed. This indicates that the adopted coupling method is feasible to improve the anode performance of direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell.
Study on Spectral Radiative Heat Transfer Characteristics of a Windowed Receiver with Particle Curtain
Authors: Wang Li , Yang Long , Liu Junjie , Wang Pei
Published: May 2021

In this paper, a windowed receiver with a particle curtain is numerically simulated under full-spectrum conditions. The discrete phase model (DPM) is used to model the particle flow and interactions between the particle phase and the air phase. The scattering, absorption of the particle curtain and quartz glass window are considered in detail. The spectral characteristics of glass have an important influence on the heat transfer characteristics and the receiver efficiency. The results show that the quartz window can reduce the convective heat loss and the cavity re-radiation heat loss. Under the same conditions, the receiver efficiency of a windowed receiver with a particle curtain is increased by 11.9% compared with an aerowindow receiver with a particle curtain. Under the same mass flow, the particle curtain thickness and particle size have a non-negligible influence on the flow pattern and temperature distribution of the particle curtain. When the particle curtain thickness is low, the flow stability of the particle curtain is high; as the particle curtain thickness increases, the volume fraction of the particle curtain decreases, and the flow stability of the particle curtain decreases, which affects the shape of the curtain. The scattering and absorption characteristics of the particles are different, resulting in different net fluxes of incident radiation under the reflection of the particle curtain and the back wall. As the particle curtain thickness increases, the particle average exit temperature and the receiver efficiency show a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. When d = 30 mm, the incident radiation (G) at the position of the particle curtain is larger, the particle average exit temperature reaches 1156.72 K, and the receiver efficiency reaches 74.4%. Therefore, different particle sizes also have a significant impact on the flow pattern of the particle curtain and the radiation distribution inside it. In the range of 250–750 μm particle size, the particles average exit temperature reaches above 1150 K, and the receiver efficiency is above 72.6%. As the particle size increases, the particle average exit temperature, and the receiver efficiency show a trend of first decreasing and then increasing. When the particle size is 500 mm, the particle average exit temperature reaches 1175.8 K, and the receiver efficiency reaches 79.4%.
Feasibility Study of the Solar-Promoted Photoreduction of CO2 to Liquid Fuels with Direct or Indirect Use of Renewable Energy Sources
Authors: Conte Francesco , Tripodi Antonio , Rossetti Ilenia , Ramis Gianguido
Published: May 2021

Solar irradiation data collected at the latitude of Milan city, near the 45th parallel North, and original activity data of some high-performing photocatalysts (i.e., commercial TiO2 P25, TiO2 prepared by flame spray pyrolysis, 0.2% wt/wt Au/P25) have been used to evaluate the feasibility and the efficiency of an ideal solar photoreactor for the CO2 photoreduction in liquid phase. The best theoretical performance was achieved with commercial bare P25 titania, despite the fact that it was the material with the widest band gap (3.41 eV vs. 3.31 for FSP and 3.12 for Au/P25). In that case the efficiency of energy storage was calculated as about 2% (considering the total irradiated solar energy) and ca 18% (considering only the UV fraction of solar irradiance). Most of the energy content of the products was stored as formic acid, which would return a productivity of about 640 kg/year kgcat under daylight solar irradiation considering the variance of the irradiance data. Bare FSP titania gave a less promising result, while Au/P25 ranked in the middle. A comparison between the proposed setup and a photoreactor irradiated with UV lamps powered through a wind turbine or solar panels, which allow for an indirect use of renewable energy sources also intended for energy storage purposes, unveil that the latter is many times less efficient than the hypothesized direct solar photoreactor, despite the fact that it could be a reasonable storage system for energy production peaks.
Online Short-Term Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Fuel Cell Vehicles Based on Cloud System
Authors: Ma Tiancai , Xu Jianmiao , Li Ruitao , Yao Naiyuan , Yang Yanbo
Published: May 2021

The durability of automotive fuel cells is one of the main factors restricting their commercial application. Therefore, establishing a remaining useful life (RUL) prediction model and developing an online operational method to apply it to the RUL optimization of fuel cell vehicles is an urgent academic problem. In this work, a short-term RUL prediction model and an online operation scheme for fuel cell vehicles are proposed. Firstly, based on historical data of a fuel cell bus under multiple conditions, the daily mode of stack voltage under a 75 A operation condition was selected as a health indicator that could better reflect the health status of a fuel cell stack. Then, an adaptive locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS) algorithm was developed to adjust the most appropriate step size to smooth the original data automatically. Furthermore, for better prediction accuracy and stronger adaptability, a short-term RUL prediction model consisting of the adaptive LOWESS and bi-directional long short-term memory was established. Finally, an online operation scheme of the RUL prediction model based on a cloud system gave the model a strong powerful practicability. After validation, this work demonstrated good application prospects in the prognostic and health management of automotive fuel cells.
A System Dynamics Approach to Comparative Analysis of Biomass Supply Chain Coordination Strategies
Authors: Khoddami Shohre , Mafakheri Fereshteh , Zeng Yong
Published: May 2021

Biomass is an abundant energy source, particularly in Canada, as an alternative or primary source for electricity generation. However, low economy of scale could cause a loss of efficiency for bioenergy adoption in small remote communities. In this sense, coordination among the players could promote the efficiency and profitability of bioenergy supply chains for these communities. There are different coordination strategies with varying impacts on supply chain players’ profit or cost. Therefore, analyzing and comparing them could provide insights on how to decide about the choice of coordination strategy. In doing so, this study considers the coordination strategies of quantity discounts and cost-sharing. The study adopts a system dynamics approach for simulating these coordination scenarios, obtaining their corresponding optimal supply chain decisions, followed by a comparative analysis. For a case study, the study considers multiple suppliers providing biomass for electricity generation in three communities in northern Quebec.
PIV-Measurements of Centrifugal Instabilities in a Rectangular Curved Duct with a Small Aspect Ratio
Authors: Goharzadeh Afshin , Rodgers Peter
Published: May 2021

In this study, experimental measurements were undertaken using non-intrusive particle image velocimetry (PIV) to investigate fluid flow within a 180° rectangular, curved duct geometry of a height-to-width aspect ratio of 0.167 and a curvature of 0.54. The duct was constructed from Plexiglas to permit optical access to flow pattern observations and flow velocity field measurements. Silicone oil was used as working fluid because it has a similar refractive index to Plexiglas. The measured velocity fields within the Reynolds number ranged from 116 to 203 and were presented at the curved channel section inlet and outlet, as well as at the mid-channel height over the complete duct length. It was observed from spanwise measurements that the transition to unsteady secondary flows generated the creation of wavy structures linked with the formation of Dean vortices close to the outer channel wall. This flow structure became unsteady with increasing Reynolds number. Simultaneously, the presence of Dean vortices in the spanwise direction influenced the velocity distribution in the streamwise direction. Two distinct regions defined by a higher velocity distribution were observed. Fluid particles were accelerated near the inner wall of the channel bend and subsequently downstream near the outer channel wall.
New Frontiers in Wine Microbiology
Authors: Nisiotou Aspasia
Published: May 2021

The wine sectoris currently facing new challenges [...]
Valeriana rigida Ruiz & Pav. Root Extract: A New Source of Caffeoylquinic Acids with Antioxidant and Aldose Reductase Inhibitory Activities
Authors: Zuo Guanglei , Kim Hyun-Yong , Guillen Quispe Yanymee N. , Wang Zhiqiang , Kim Kang-Hyuk , Gonzales Arce Paul H. , Lim Soon-Sung
Published: May 2021

Valeriana rigida Ruiz & Pav. (V. rigida) has long been used as a herbal medicine in Peru; however, its phytochemicals and pharmacology need to be scientifically explored. In this study, we combined the offline 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH)-/ultrafiltration-high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC)/pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography (pH-zone-refining CCC) to screen and separate the antioxidants and aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors from the 70% MeOH extract of V. rigida, which exhibited remarkable antioxidant and AR inhibitory activities. Seven compounds were initially screened as target compounds exhibiting dual antioxidant and AR inhibitory activities using DPPH-/ultrafiltration-HPLC, which guided the subsequent pH-zone-refining CCC and HSCCC separations of these target compounds, namely 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-O-di-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-O-di-caffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-O-di-caffeoylquinic acid, and 3,4,5-O-tri-caffeoylquinic acid. These compounds are identified for the first time in V. rigida and exhibited remarkable antioxidant and AR inhibitory activities. The results demonstrate that the method established in this study can be used to efficiently screen and separate the antioxidants and AR inhibitors from natural products and, particularly, the root extract of V. rigida is a new source of caffeoylquinic acids with antioxidant and AR inhibitory activities, and it can be used as a potential functional food ingredient for diabetes.
A Comparative Study on Volatile Compounds and Sensory Profile of White and Red Wines Elaborated Using Bee Pollen versus Commercial Activators
Authors: Amores-Arrocha Antonio , Sancho-Galán Pau , Jiménez-Cantizano Ana , Palacios Víctor
Published: May 2021

Lack of nutrients in grape may cause problems for a proper alcoholic fermentation process, resulting in an altered aromatic profile of the wines. To avoid this situation, commercial winemakers often use fermentation activators, which are usually combinations of ammonium salts, inactivated yeast and thiamine. In addition, it has been shown that bee pollen addition to the grape can help to improve fermentation, resulting in better volatile compound profile of wines responsible for sensory quality. For this reason, the aim of this research work was to carry out a comparative study using bee pollen versus commercial fermentation activators in white and red winemaking. The same dose of bee pollen and commercial activators (0.25 g/L) were used in all experiments. Volatile compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, odor activity values were determined to assess odorant impact of various volatile compound families, and finally a descriptive sensory analysis was carried out. Then, the triangular test and the ranking assay were used to identify perceptible differences as well as preference among the wines elaborated. Compared to commercial activators, bee pollen wines increased volatile compound formation, mainly higher alcohols, esters, and terpenes, enhancing fruity and floral odorant series. On the other hand, triangular test showed significant differences between wines, and the ranking assay showed a greater preference for bee pollen wines.
The Molecular Basis of Calcium and Phosphorus Inherited Metabolic Disorders
Authors: Papadopoulou Anna , Bountouvi Evangelia , Karachaliou Fotini-Eleni
Published: May 2021

Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P) hold a leading part in many skeletal and extra-skeletal biological processes. Their tight normal range in serum mirrors their critical role in human well-being. The signalling “voyage” starts at Calcium Sensing Receptor (CaSR) localized on the surface of the parathyroid glands, which captures the “oscillations” of extracellular ionized Ca and transfers the signal downstream. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), Vitamin D, Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF23) and other receptors or ion-transporters, work synergistically and establish a highly regulated signalling circuit between the bone, kidneys, and intestine to ensure the maintenance of Ca and P homeostasis. Any deviation from this well-orchestrated scheme may result in mild or severe pathologies expressed by biochemical and/or clinical features. Inherited disorders of Ca and P metabolism are rare. However, delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis may cost patient’s quality of life or even life expectancy. Unravelling the thread of the molecular pathways involving Ca and P signaling, we can better understand the link between genetic alterations and biochemical and/or clinical phenotypes and help in diagnosis and early therapeutic intervention.
Statistical Learning Methods Applicable to Genome-Wide Association Studies on Unbalanced Case-Control Disease Data
Authors: Dai Xiaotian , Fu Guifang , Zhao Shaofei , Zeng Yifei
Published: May 2021

Despite the fact that imbalance between case and control groups is prevalent in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), it is often overlooked. This imbalance is getting more significant and urgent as the rapid growth of biobanks and electronic health records have enabled the collection of thousands of phenotypes from large cohorts, in particular for diseases with low prevalence. The unbalanced binary traits pose serious challenges to traditional statistical methods in terms of both genomic selection and disease prediction. For example, the well-established linear mixed models (LMM) yield inflated type I error rates in the presence of unbalanced case-control ratios. In this article, we review multiple statistical approaches that have been developed to overcome the inaccuracy caused by the unbalanced case-control ratio, with the advantages and limitations of each approach commented. In addition, we also explore the potential for applying several powerful and popular state-of-the-art machine-learning approaches, which have not been applied to the GWAS field yet. This review paves the way for better analysis and understanding of the unbalanced case-control disease data in GWAS.
Catering Work Profession and Medico-Oral Health: A Study on 603 Subjects
Authors: Saccomanno Sabina , Mummolo Stefano , Giancaspro Silvia , Manenti Rebecca Jewel , Mastrapasqua Rodolfo Francesco , Marzo Giuseppe , Quinzi Vincenzo
Published: May 2021

The present observational prospective study analyzes the eating habits in association with the medico-oral health of catering workers, since they seem the category at higher risk of developing dental problems. Objective: To evaluate oral and medical health through a questionnaire in a total sample of 603 participants. Additionally, this article aims to provide information regarding the medico-oral implications of an unbalanced diet linked to this particular profession. Material and methods: A questionnaire created through Google Forms platform was sent to all members of the Italian Federation of Chefs (FIC). The mean age was 46.9 ± 32.6 ranging from 17 to 66 years old. Results: Catering workers’ years of service showed a significant impact on the presence of teeth pain (p < 0.05), missing teeth (excluding the third molars) (p < 0.01), treatment with prothesis (p < 0.01), dental fillings (p < 0.01), dental extractions (p < 0.01), diabetes (p < 0.05), high blood pressure (p < 0.01), joint pain (p < 0.01), back pain (p < 0.01), neck pain (p < 0.01), and gastroesophageal reflux (p < 0.05). Conclusions: A conspicuous part of the study sample was overweight, with a high BMI. Moreover, the years of service in this field showed significant impact on dental problems. Therefore, a very important role is that of preventing dental problems and giving information on the causes and effects unknown to many workers in the sector.
Visualization and Analysis of Mapping Knowledge Domains for Food Waste Studies
Authors: Ouyang Yiran , Cai Yanpeng , Guo Hongjiang
Published: May 2021

Food waste and loss is a global issue involving ethics, society, the environment, and the economy. However, there is a lack of systematic and visual scientific knowledge and graph methods to study the precedents of this field’s development over time. The article is based on the scientific knowledge graph research of articles published in the past 22 years to review the latest food waste research developments. The study will be conducted from the following perspectives: country/region, institution, author, journal, keyword co-occurrence, and article co-citation. It turns out that in the past eight years, food waste research has grown rapidly. A total of 8298 research articles have been published in 8064 journals and 176 Web of Science (WOS) subject categories. Research shows in the past 20 years. The main research hotspots were anaerobic digestion, biogas production, composting, biological hydrogen production, and innovation in system management methods. In the future, efficient and multitask biological value-added conversion technology, systematization of food-supply-chain decision-making aid models, and research on differences in management strategies may become the frontiers of research.
Physical, Cognitive and Social Rehabilitation in Relation to Sleep Quality and Cognitive Functions in the Elderly
Authors: Filipczyk Karolina , Smolarczyk-Kosowska Joanna , Kunert Łukasz , Filipczyk Przemysław , Dębski Paweł , Piegza Magdalena , Pudlo Robert
Published: May 2021

The aim of the study was to assess cognitive functions and sleep quality after a 3-month holistic intervention including physical, social and cognitive rehabilitation in patients 65+. Twenty-nine people participated in the study. The study was divided into two stages. In the first stage, a self-administered questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic questions was used, and cognitive functions were assessed using the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test, Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III (ACE III) test, Montreal Cognitive Function Assessment Scale (MoCA) and digit repetition test. All patients were also assessed for sleep quality using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). After three months, the patients were assessed for cognitive functions and sleep quality, which was the second stage of the study. Analysis of the results obtained by patients in the study showed a statistically significant improvement in sleep quality and cognitive function. Rehabilitation activities, including physical training, cognitive exercises and occupational therapy, reduce the severity of mild cognitive disorders and reduce insomnia.
Exploration and Analysis of the Aesthetic Cognitive Schema of Contemporary Western Urban Landscapes
Authors: Gao Shan , Liu Songfu
Published: May 2021

The multidimensional iterative composition of urban landscapes and the formation mechanism of the aesthetic perception dimension are elucidated. The cognitive schema theory aims to reveal the intrinsic mechanism of urban landscape aesthetic activities. Using London as an empirical case to explore the representation and structure of urban landscape aesthetic, a cognitive schema, the cognitive map of its urban landscape, was constructed based on the qualitative analysis of the texts derived from travel notes. Eight aspects of urban landscapes, together with 21 representative concepts of cognitive schema closely related to aesthetic perception, indicate the structures and approaches people perceive in urban landscapes. This article provides experience and reference for urban landscape enhancement and related practices in China by studying the contemporary Western urban landscape.
Personality Variables as Predictors of Health Services Consumption
Authors: Taboada-Vázquez Antonio , Gonzalez-Rodriguez Ruben , Gandoy-Crego Manuel , Clemente Miguel
Published: May 2021

Expenditure on healthcare and services can be a serious problem for public health. Personality variables should be included as indicators to be considered when studying the consumption of health resources and their planning. This study aims to identify the psychological and psychosocial variables that identify people who can be considered high consumers of health resources versus those who barely consume such resources. The sample was made up of a total of 1124 subjects; one half were men, and one half were women, all of legal age and residents in Spain. A battery of tests was created that included a questionnaire of sociodemographic variables and of healthcare consumption, as well as several psychological variables (Zimbardo Time Paradox Inventory, Multidimensional Locus of Control Scale, Psychological Reactance Scale, Coping Responses Inventory, self-efficacy scale applied to health, and the Symptom Checklist-90-R). The following variables of the model were significant predictors (p ≤ 0.05): a negative past, a fatalistic present, psychological cognitive reactance, behavioral coping, health self-efficacy, and the level of somatization. Data from the statistical analyses show how to create a psychological profile of people who are high consumers of healthcare resources that will allow for the creation of intervention programs in this regard.
Increased Risk of Sub-Clinical Blood Lead Levels in the 20-County Metro Atlanta, Georgia Area—A Laboratory Surveillance-Based Study
Authors: Dickinson-Copeland Carmen M. , Immergluck Lilly Cheng , Britez Maria , Yan Fengxia , Geng Ruijin , Edelson Mike , Kendrick-Allwood Salathiel R. , Kordas Katarzyna
Published: May 2021

Lead (Pb) is a naturally occurring, highly toxic metal that has adverse effects on children across a range of exposure levels. Limited screening programs leave many children at risk for chronic low-level lead exposure and there is little understanding of what factors may be used to identify children at risk. We characterize the distribution of blood lead levels (BLLs) in children aged 0–72 months and their associations with sociodemographic and area-level variables. Data from the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Healthy Homes for Lead Prevention Program surveillance database was used to describe the distribution of BLLs in children living in the metro Atlanta area from 2010 to 2018. Residential addresses were geocoded, and “Hotspot” analyses were performed to determine if BLLs were spatially clustered. Multilevel regression models were used to identify factors associated with clinical BBLs (≥5 µg/dL) and sub-clinical BLLs (2 to <5 µg/dL). From 2010 to 2018, geographically defined hotspots for both clinical and sub-clinical BLLs diffused from the city-central area of Atlanta into suburban areas. Multilevel regression analysis revealed non-Medicaid insurance, the proportion of renters in a given geographical area, and proportion of individuals with a GED/high school diploma as predictors that distinguish children with BLLs 2 to <5 µg/dL from those with lower (<2 µg/dL) or higher (≥5 µg/dL) BLLs. Over half of the study children had BLLs between 2 and 5 µg/dL, a range that does not currently trigger public health measures but that could result in adverse developmental outcomes if ignored.