bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are Efficient-Dose Mixtures a Solution to Reduce Fungicide Load and Delay Evolution of Resistance? An Experimental Evolutionary Approach
Authors: Ballu Agathe , Deredec Anne , Walker Anne-Sophie , Carpentier Florence
Published: November 2021

Pesticide resistance poses a critical threat to agriculture, human health and biodiversity. Mixtures of fungicides are recommended and widely used in resistance management strategies. However, the components of the efficiency of such mixtures remain unclear. We performed an experimental evolutionary study on the fungal pathogen Z. tritici to determine how mixtures managed resistance. We compared the effect of the continuous use of single active ingredients to that of mixtures, at the minimal dose providing full control of the disease, which we refer to as the “efficient” dose. We found that the performance of efficient-dose mixtures against an initially susceptible population depended strongly on the components of the mixture. Such mixtures were either as durable as the best mixture component used alone, or worse than all components used alone. Moreover, efficient dose mixture regimes probably select for generalist resistance profiles as a result of the combination of selection pressures exerted by the various components and their lower doses. Our results indicate that mixtures should not be considered a universal strategy. Experimental evaluations of specificities for the pathogens targeted, their interactions with fungicides and the interactions between fungicides are crucial for the design of sustainable resistance management strategies.
Commercial Simplex and Multiplex PCR Assays for the Detection of Intestinal Parasites Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba spp., and Cryptosporidium spp.: Comparative Evaluation of Seven Commercial PCR Kits with Routine In-House Simplex PCR Assays
Authors: Basmaciyan Louise , François Alexandre , Vincent Anne , Valot Stéphane , Bonnin Alain , Costa Damien , Razakandrainibe Romy , Morio Florent , Favennec Loic , Dalle Frédéric
Published: November 2021

Nowadays, many commercial kits allowing the detection of digestive parasites by DNA amplification methods have been developed, including simplex PCR assays (SimpPCRa) allowing the identification of a single parasite, and multiplex PCR assays (MultPCRa) allowing the identification of several parasites at once. Thus, aimed at improving the diagnosis of intestinal protozoal infections, it is essential to evaluate the performances of these new tools. A total of 174 DNA samples collected between 2007 and 2017 were retrospectively included in this study. Performances of four commercial SimpPCRa (i.e., CerTest-VIASURETM) and three MultPCRa (i.e., CerTest-VIASURETM, FAST-TRACK-Diagnostics-FTD-Stool-ParasiteTM and DIAGENODE-Gastroenteritis/Parasite-panel-ITM) were evaluated for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba spp., and Giardia intestinalis in stool samples compared to our routinely used in-house SimpPCRa. Globally, the SimpPCRa showed better sensitivity/specificity for the detection of G. intestinalis, E. histolytica, E. dispar, and Cryptosporidium spp. (i.e., 96.9/93.6%; 100/100%; 95.5/100%; and 100/99.3%, respectively), compared to the three commercial MultPCRa tested. All in all, we showed that MultPCRa offer an interesting alternative for the detection of protozoans in stool samples depending on the clinical context.
Application of Waste Engine Oil for Improving Ilmenite Flotation Combined with Sodium Oleate Collector
Authors: Yu Qingyao , Tian Fuqiang , Cao Yijun , Fan Guixia , Hao Haiqing , Peng Weijun , Zhou Guoli , Li Peng
Published: November 2021

Collectors commonly have synergetic effects in ores flotation. In this work, a waste engine oil (WEO) was introduced as a collector to an ilmenite flotation system with sodium oleate (NaOL). The results show that the floatability of ilmenite was significantly improved by using WEO and NaOL as a combined collector. The recovery of ilmenite was enhanced from 71.26% (only NaOL) to 93.89% (WEO/NaOL combined collector) at the pH of 6.72. The optimum molar ratio of NaOL to WEO was about 2.08 to 1. The WEO and NaOL also have synergetic effects for the collection of ilmenite, because to obtain the ilmenite recovery of 53.96%, the dosage of 45 mg/L NaOL is equal to 38.56 mg/L WEO/NaOL combined collector (30 mg/L NaOL + 8.56 mg/L WEO). In other words, 15 mg/L of NaOL can be replaced by 8.56 mg/L of WEO. It is an effective way to reduce the dosage of the collector and reuse WEO. Therefore, it is a highly valuable and environmentally friendly approach for WEO reuse. WEO mainly consists of oxygen functional groups, aromatics, and long-chain hydrocarbons, especially for the RCONH2 and RCOOH, thereby forming a strong interaction on the ilmenite surface. The adsorption mechanism of waste engine oil and sodium oleate on the ilmenite surface is mainly contributed by chemical adsorption. Therefore, WEO exhibits superior synergistic power with NaOL as a combined collector. Herein, this work provided an effective collector for ilmenite flotation and a feasible approach for reducing NaOL dosage and recycling WEO.
Anaerobic Microscopic Analysis of Ferrous Saponite and Its Sensitivity to Oxidation by Earth’s Air: Lessons Learned for Analysis of Returned Samples from Mars and Carbonaceous Asteroids
Authors: Noda Natsumi , Yamashita Shohei , Takahashi Yoshio , Matsumoto Megumi , Enokido Yuma , Amano Kana , Kawai Takahiro , Sakuma Hiroshi , Fukushi Keisuke , Sekine Yasuhito , Nakamura Tomoki
Published: November 2021

Ferrous saponite is a secondary mineral that can be used to reveal the redox state of past aqueous environments on Mars. In mineralogical analyses for ferrous saponite formed in laboratory simulations or contained in future returned samples from Mars, its oxidation by the Earth’s air could be problematic due to the high redox sensitivity. Here, we performed micro X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy analyses for a single particle of synthesized ferrous saponite without any exposure to air. The sample was reanalyzed after air exposure for 10–18 h to assess the adequacy of our anoxic preparation/measurement methods and the impacts of air on the sample. We found that the crystal structures agreed with ferrous saponite, both before and after air exposure; however, ferrous iron in saponite was partially oxidized, at least until 0.1–1 μm from the surface, after air exposure at the submicron scale, forming micro-vein-like Fe(III)-rich features. Together with our results of infrared spectroscopy of ferrous saponite, we showed that oxidation of octahedral iron occurred rapidly and heterogeneously, even in a short time of air exposure without any structural rearrangement. Since ferrous saponite is expected to exist on carbonaceous asteroids and icy dwarf planets, our methodology is also applicable to mineralogical studies of samples returned from these bodies.
Process Mineralogy Characteristics and Flotation Application of a Refractory Collophanite from Guizhou, China
Authors: Xu Wei , Shi Bo , Tian Yan , Chen Yue , Li Songqing , Cheng Qian , Mei Guangjun
Published: November 2021

A refractory phosphate ore obtained from Guizhou, China, contains high amounts of detrimental metal impurities (e.g., Fe, Al, and Mg) which affect the deep wet processing of phosphorus products before use. In this study, mineralogy parameters of the ore such as mineral composition, disseminated particle size, mineral liberation degree, and intergrowth relationship were investigated using X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), and advanced mineral identification and characterization system (AMICS). The mechanism for flotation separation was also discussed. The results showed that the ore was a fine-grained calcareous-siliceous collophanite with high P2O5 grade. The gangue minerals such as quartz, sericite (muscovite), pyrite, and dolomite were finely disseminated and encapsulated by fluoroapatite particles in a rather complex relationship. A double reverse flotation process was carried out based on the separation principle of less flotation and more inhibition. A phosphorous concentrate with a P2O5 grade of 35.53%, SiO2 content of 5.88%, MgO content of 0.91%, sesquioxide (Fe2O3 + Al2O3) content of 1.98%, MER value of 8.13%, and phosphorus recovery of 75.04% was obtained. Based on the flotation test results and the analysis of process mineralogy parameters, we concluded that the main causes of difficulty in separation of collophanite are fine disseminated particle size, poor mineral liberation degree, and serious argillization. The selection of foam-controlled collectors, efficient dispersing inhibitors and classified desliming process will be necessary for improving flotation index. These results provide a technical reference for subsequent development and utilization of collophanite resources.
Optimization of Oxygen Evolution Reaction with Electroless Deposited Ni–P Catalytic Nanocoating
Authors: Battiato Sergio , Urso Mario , Cosentino Salvatore , Pellegrino Anna Lucia , Mirabella Salvo , Terrasi Antonio
Published: November 2021

The low efficiency of water electrolysis mostly arises from the thermodynamic uphill oxygen evolution reaction. The efficiency can be greatly improved by rationally designing low-cost and efficient oxygen evolution anode materials. Herein, we report the synthesis of Ni–P alloys adopting a facile electroless plating method under mild conditions on nickel substrates. The relationship between the Ni–P properties and catalytic activity allowed us to define the best conditions for the electroless synthesis of highperformance Ni–P catalysts. Indeed, the electrochemical investigations indicated an increased catalytic response by reducing the thickness and Ni/P ratio in the alloy. Furthermore, the Ni–P catalysts with optimized size and composition deposited on Ni foam exposed more active sites for the oxygen evolution reaction, yielding a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential as low as 335 mV, exhibiting charge transfer resistances of only a few ohms and a remarkable turnover frequency (TOF) value of 0.62 s−1 at 350 mV. The present study provides an advancement in the control of the electroless synthetic approach for the design and large-scale application of high-performance metal phosphide catalysts for electrochemical water splitting.
Solar Light-Induced Methylene Blue Removal over TiO2/AC Composites and Photocatalytic Regeneration
Authors: Dalto Fernanda , Kuźniarska-Biernacka Iwona , Pereira Clara , Mesquita Elsa , Soares Olívia Salomé G. P. , Pereira M. Fernando R. , Rosa Maria João , Mestre Ana S. , Carvalho Ana P. , Freire Cristina
Published: November 2021

TiO2-containing photocatalysts, which combine TiO2 with carbon-based materials, are promising materials for wastewater treatment due to synergistic photodegradation and adsorption phenomena. In this work, TiO2/AC composites were produced by the in situ immobilization of TiO2 nanoparticles over activated carbon (AC) derived from spent coffee grains, using different TiO2/AC proportions. The TiO2/AC composites were tested as adsorbents (dark) and as photocatalysts in a combined adsorption+photocatalytic process (solar irradiation) for methylene blue (MB) removal from ultrapure water, and from a secondary effluent (SecEf) of an urban wastewater treatment plant. All the materials were characterized by XRD (X-ray powder diffraction), N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms at −196 °C, SEM (scanning electron microscopy), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance, FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), TPD (temperature programmed desorption), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and TGA (thermogravimetric analysis). The TiAC60 (60% C) composite presented the lowest band gap (1.84 eV), while, for TiAC29 (29% C), the value was close to that of bare TiO2 (3.18 vs. 3.17 eV). Regardless of the material, the solar irradiation improved the percentage of MB discolouration when compared to adsorption in dark conditions. In the case of simultaneous adsorption+photocatalytic assays performed in ultrapure water, TiAC29 presented the fastest MB removal. Nevertheless, both TiAC29 and TiAC60 led to excellent MB removal percentages (96.1–98.1%). UV-induced photoregeneration was a promising strategy to recover the adsorption capacity of the materials, especially for TiAC60 and AC (>95%). When the assays were performed in SecEf, all the materials promoted discolouration percentages close to those obtained in ultrapure water. The bulk water parameters revealed that TiAC60 allowed the removal of a higher amount of MB, associated with the overall improvement of the SecEf quality.
Chitosan as an Underrated Polymer in Modern Tissue Engineering
Authors: Kołodziejska Marta , Jankowska Kamila , Klak Marta , Wszoła Michał
Published: November 2021

Chitosan is one of the most well-known and characterized materials applied in tissue engineering. Due to its unique chemical, biological and physical properties chitosan is frequently used as the main component in a variety of biomaterials such as membranes, scaffolds, drug carriers, hydrogels and, lastly, as a component of bio-ink dedicated to medical applications. Chitosan’s chemical structure and presence of active chemical groups allow for modification for tailoring material to meet specific requirements according to intended use such as adequate endurance, mechanical properties or biodegradability time. Chitosan can be blended with natural (gelatin, hyaluronic acid, collagen, silk, alginate, agarose, starch, cellulose, carbon nanotubes, natural rubber latex, κ-carrageenan) and synthetic (PVA, PEO, PVP, PNIPPAm PCL, PLA, PLLA, PAA) polymers as well as with other promising materials such as aloe vera, silica, MMt and many more. Chitosan has several derivates: carboxymethylated, acylated, quaternary ammonium, thiolated, and grafted chitosan. Its versatility and comprehensiveness are confirming by further chitosan utilization as a leading constituent of innovative bio-inks applied for tissue engineering. This review examines all the aspects described above, as well as is focusing on a novel application of chitosan and its modifications, including the 3D bioprinting technique which shows great potential among other techniques applied to biomaterials fabrication.
Influence of Resin Cement Thickness and Elastic Modulus on the Stress Distribution of Zirconium Dioxide Inlay-Bridge: 3D Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Assaf Joseph , Hardan Louis , Kassis Cynthia , Bourgi Rim , Devoto Walter , Amm Elie , Moussa Carol , Sawicki Jacek , Lukomska-Szymanska Monika
Published: November 2021

The mechanical properties and the thickness of the resin cement agents used for bonding inlay bridges can modify the clinical performance of the restoration such as debonding or prosthetic materials fracture. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution and the maximum strain generated by resin cements with different elastic moduli and thicknesses used to cement resin-bonded fixed partial denture (RBFPD). A three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis (FEA) was used, and a 3D model was created based on a Cone-Beam Computed Tomography system (CBCT). The model was analyzed by the Ansys software. The model fixation occurred at the root of the abutment teeth and an axial load of 300 N was applied on the occlusal surface of the pontic. The highest stress value was observed for the Variolink 0.4 group (1.76 × 106 Pa), while the lowest was noted for the Panavia 0.2 group (1.07 × 106 Pa). Furthermore, the highest total deformation value was found for the Variolink 0.2 group (3.36 × 10−4 m), while the lowest was observed for the Panavia 0.4 group (2.33 × 10−4 m). By means of this FEA, 0.2 mm layer Panavia F2.0 seemed to exhibit a more favorable stress distribution when used for cementation of posterior zirconium-dioxide-based RBFPD. However, both studied materials possessed clinically acceptable properties.
Green Chemistry in the Extraction of Natural Dyes from Colored Food Waste, for Dyeing Protein Textile Materials
Authors: Popescu Vasilica , Blaga Alexandra Cristina , Pruneanu Melinda , Cristian Irina Niculina , Pîslaru Marius , Popescu Andrei , Rotaru Vlad , Crețescu Igor , Cașcaval Dan
Published: November 2021

The beetroot peels can be a sustainable source of betalains that can dye the wool materials through green processes based on low water and energy consumption. Green chemistry in the extraction of betalains from colored food waste/peels from red beetroot involved the use of water as a solvent, without other additives. In order for the extract obtained to be able to dye the wool, it was necessary to functionalize betalains or even the wool. Three types of sustainable functionalizations were performed, with (1) acetic acid; (2) ethanol; and (3) arginine. For each functionalization, the mechanism that can justify dyeing the wool in intense colors was elucidated. The characterization of the extract was performed with the data provided by UV-VIS and HPLC-MS analyses. The characterization of the wool dyed with the extract obtained from the red beetroot peels was possible due to the information resulting from the FTIR and CIELab analyses. The functionalizations of betalains and wool in acid environments lead to the most intense red colors. The color varies depending on the pH and the concentration of betalains.
Transfer Learning Applied to Characteristic Prediction of Injection Molded Products
Authors: Huang Yan-Mao , Jong Wen-Ren , Chen Shia-Chung
Published: November 2021

This study addresses some issues regarding the problems of applying CAE to the injection molding production process where quite complex factors inhibit its effective utilization. In this study, an artificial neural network, namely a backpropagation neural network (BPNN), is utilized to render results predictions for the injection molding process. By inputting the plastic temperature, mold temperature, injection speed, holding pressure, and holding time in the molding parameters, these five results are more accurately predicted: EOF pressure, maximum cooling time, warpage along the Z-axis, shrinkage along the X-axis, and shrinkage along the Y-axis. This study first uses CAE analysis data as training data and reduces the error value to less than 5% through the Taguchi method and the random shuffle method, which we introduce herein, and then successfully transfers the network, which CAE data analysis has predicted to the actual machine for verification with the use of transfer learning. This study uses a backpropagation neural network (BPNN) to train a dedicated prediction network using different, large amounts of data for training the network, which has proved fast and can predict results accurately using our optimized model.
On the Use of Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Biosensors for Advanced Bioprocess Monitoring
Authors: Gaudreault Jimmy , Forest-Nault Catherine , De Crescenzo Gregory , Durocher Yves , Henry Olivier
Published: November 2021

Biomanufacturers are being incited by regulatory agencies to transition from a quality by testing framework, where they extensively test their product after their production, to more of a quality by design or even quality by control framework. This requires powerful analytical tools and sensors enabling measurements of key process variables and/or product quality attributes during production, preferably in an online manner. As such, the demand for monitoring technologies is rapidly growing. In this context, we believe surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensors can play a role in enabling the development of improved bioprocess monitoring and control strategies. The SPR technique has been profusely used to probe the binding behavior of a solution species with a sensor surface-immobilized partner in an investigative context, but its ability to detect binding in real-time and without a label has been exploited for monitoring purposes and is promising for the near future. In this review, we examine applications of SPR that are or could be related to bioprocess monitoring in three spheres: biotherapeutics production monitoring, vaccine monitoring, and bacteria and contaminant detection. These applications mainly exploit SPR’s ability to measure solution species concentrations, but performing kinetic analyses is also possible and could prove useful for product quality assessments. We follow with a discussion on the limitations of SPR in a monitoring role and how recent advances in hardware and SPR response modeling could counter them. Mainly, throughput limitations can be addressed by multi-detection spot instruments, and nonspecific binding effects can be alleviated by new antifouling materials. A plethora of methods are available for cell growth and metabolism monitoring, but product monitoring is performed mainly a posteriori. SPR-based biosensors exhibit potential as product monitoring tools from early production to the end of downstream processing, paving the way for more efficient production control. However, more work needs to be done to facilitate or eliminate the need for sample preprocessing and to optimize the experimental protocols.
Comparative Study of Physicochemical Properties of Nanoemulsions Fabricated with Natural and Synthetic Surfactants
Authors: Fuentes Karen , Matamala Claudia , Martínez Nayaret , Zúñiga Rommy N. , Troncoso Elizabeth
Published: November 2021

This work aims to evaluate the effect of two natural (whey protein isolate, WPI, and soy lecithin) and a synthetic (Tween 20) emulsifier on physicochemical properties and physical stability of food grade nanoemulsions. Emulsions stabilized by these three surfactants and different sunflower oil contents (30% and 50% w/w), as the dispersed phase, were fabricated at two levels of homogenization pressure (500 and 1000 bar). Nanoemulsions were characterized for droplet size distribution, Zeta-potential, rheological properties, and physical stability. Dynamic light scattering showed that droplet size distributions and D50 values were strongly affected by the surfactant used and the oil content. WPI gave similar droplet diameters to Tween 20 and soy lecithin gave the larger diameters. The rheology of emulsions presented a Newtonian behavior, except for WPI-stabilized emulsions at 50% of oil, presenting a shear-thinning behavior. The physical stability of the emulsions depended on the surfactant used, with increasing order of stability as follows: soy lecithin < Tween 20 < WPI. From our results, we conclude that WPI is an effective natural replacement of synthetic surfactant (Tween 20) for the fabrication of food-grade nanoemulsions.
Centrality of Religiosity and Dyadic Coping in Close Romantic Relationships: Actor Partner Interdependence Model
Authors: Wendołowska Anna M. , Czyżowska Dorota
Published: November 2021

Some studies suggest that religious people cope better with stress. For married couples, if partners perceive their relationship as sacred, supportive dyadic coping mediates the association of sanctification with marital satisfaction and well-being. In the current study, applying the actor–partner interdependence model to 116 Polish couples (n = 232), aged between 21 and 64 (males: M = 37.8, SD = 11.8; females M = 37.1, SD = 12.0), we examined the link between centrality of religiosity and dyadic coping. Although general dyadic analyses indicate that centrality of religiosity and dyadic coping are unrelated concepts, at the subscales level, we could observe few significant relationships. The results show that Polish religious men rate their common dyadic coping low. Actor effects in women are moderated by the type of relationship (cohabitation and civil marriage vs. catholic marriage).
Biophilia, Biodiversity, and the Bible
Authors: Brown William P.
Published: November 2021

For all its anthropocentric focus on human agency in history and creation, the Hebrew Bible’s valuing of nonhuman life and its diversity cannot be gainsaid among certain traditions. Such is the case in three major creation texts: Genesis 1, Psalm 104, and Job 38–41. Each in its own way, these biblical accounts affirm the intrinsic worth of biodiversity, the expansiveness of life, and a God who values the flourishing of all creation.
Analyzing Sea Surface Wind Distribution Characteristics of Tropical Cyclone Based on Sentinel-1 SAR Images
Authors: Gao Yuan , Zhang Jie , Guan Changlong , Sun Jian
Published: November 2021

The spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) cross-polarization signal remains sensitive to sea surface wind speed with high signal-to-noise ratio under tropical cyclone (TC) conditions. It has the capability of observing TC intensity and size information over the ocean with large coverage and high spatial resolution. In this paper, TC wind distribution characteristics were studied based on SAR images. We collected 41 Sentinel-1A/B cross-polarization images covering TC eye, which were acquired between 2016 and 2020. For each case, sea surface wind speeds were retrieved by the modified MS1A model in a spatial resolution of 1 km. After deriving the value and location of maximum wind speed, wind fields were simulated symmetrically within a 200 km radius. Two new methodologies were proposed to calculate the decay index and the symmetry index based on the retrieved and simulated wind fields. Characteristics of the two indices were analyzed with respect to maximum wind. In addition, the maximum and averaged wind speeds of the right, back and left side of the motion direction were compared with TC intensity and storm motion speed. Statistical results indicate that right-side wind speed is the strongest for maximum and average, the wind difference between the left and right side is dependent on storm motion speed.
Ice Sheet Topography from a New CryoSat-2 SARIn Processing Chain, and Assessment by Comparison to ICESat-2 over Antarctica
Authors: Aublanc Jérémie , Thibaut Pierre , Guillot Amandine , Boy François , Picot Nicolas
Published: November 2021

In this study, we present a new level-2 processing chain dedicated to the CryoSat-2 Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometric (SARIn) measurements acquired over ice sheets. Compared to the ESA ground segment processor, it includes revised methods to detect waveform leading edges and perform retracking at the Point of Closest Approach (POCA). CryoSat-2 SARIn mode surface height measurements retrieved from the newly developed processing chain are compared to ICESat-2 surface height measurements extracted from the ATL06 product. About 250,000 space–time nearly coincident observations are identified and examined over the Antarctic ice sheet, and over a one-year period. On average, the median elevation bias between both missions is about −18 cm, with CryoSat-2 underestimating the surface topography compared to ICESat-2. The Median Absolute Deviation (MAD) between CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 elevation estimates is 46.5 cm. These performances were compared to those obtained with CryoSat-2 SARIn mode elevations from the ESA PDGS level-2 products (ICE Baseline-D processor). The MAD between CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 elevation estimates is significantly reduced with the new processing developed, by about 42%. The improvement is more substantial over areas closer to the coast, where the topography is more complex and surface slope increases. In terms of perspectives, the impacts of surface roughness and volume scattering on the SARIn mode waveforms have to be further investigated. This is crucial to understand geographical variations of the elevation bias between CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 and continue enhancing the SARIn mode level-2 processing.
Aqueous Two-Phase System–Ion Chromatography for Determination of Thiocyanate in Raw Milk
Authors: Jiang Bin , Zhong Shaojing , Yu Hongliang , Chen Peifeng , Li Baoyun , Li Dongmei , Liu Chunhong , Feng Zhibiao , Tian Bo
Published: November 2021

Thiocyanate could effectively inhibit bacteria in milk and extend the shelf life of milk. However, excessive addition will lead to health risks. Therefore, the determination of thiocyanate in raw milk has received a lot of attention, but the determination could be interfered with by other components in raw milk and the pre-treatment of raw milk is complex. In this study, a new pretreatment method combined with ion chromatography (IC) for rapid and sensitive determination of thiocyanate is proposed. An acetonitrile/(NH4)2SO4 aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was developed for the separation and enrichment of thiocyanate in raw milk. Response surface methodology was performed to optimize the extraction conditions and an efficient pretreatment were obtained using ATPS composed of 42% acetonitrile (w/w) and 16% (NH4)2SO4 (w/w), with the pH 4.7, and the recovery of thiocyanate reached 107.24 ± 0.5%, and the enrichment ratio was 10.74 ± 0.03. IC was used to establish a thiocyanate enrichment method. The linear range was from 0.05 to 15 mg/L and R2 = 0.998, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.2 μg/L, the limit of quantification (LQD) was 0.6 μg/L. Hence, it is feasible to combine ATPS with IC for the enrichment and determination of thiocyanate in raw milk.
Analyzing the Impact of Cyber Security Related Attributes for Intrusion Detection Systems
Authors: Alharbi Abdullah , Seh Adil Hussain , Alosaimi Wael , Alyami Hashem , Agrawal Alka , Kumar Rajeev , Khan Raees Ahmad
Published: November 2021

Machine learning (ML) is one of the dominating technologies practiced in both the industrial and academic domains throughout the world. ML algorithms can examine the threats and respond to intrusions and security incidents swiftly in an instinctive way. It plays a critical function in providing a proactive security mechanism in the cybersecurity domain. Cybersecurity ensures the real time protection of information, information systems, and networks from intruders. Several security and privacy reports have cited that there has been a rapid increase in both the frequency and the number of cybersecurity breaches in the last decade. Information security has been compromised by intruders at an alarming rate. Anomaly detection, phishing page identification, software vulnerability diagnosis, malware identification, and denial of services attacks are the main cyber-security issues that demand effective solutions. Researchers and experts have been practicing different approaches to address the current cybersecurity issues and challenges. However, in this research endeavor, our objective is to make an idealness assessment of machine learning-based intrusion detection systems (IDS) under the hesitant fuzzy (HF) conditions, using a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM)-based analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal-solutions (TOPSIS). Hesitant fuzzy sets are useful for addressing decision-making situations in which experts must overcome the reluctance to make a conclusion. The proposed research project would assist the machine learning practitioners and cybersecurity specialists in identifying, selecting, and prioritizing cybersecurity-related attributes for intrusion detection systems, and build more ideal and effective intrusion detection systems.
Sheep in the Vineyard: First Insights into a New Integrated Crop–Livestock System in Central Europe
Authors: Schoof Nicolas , Kirmer Anita , Hörl Jakob , Luick Rainer , Tischew Sabine , Breuer Michael , Fischer Frank , Müller Sandra , von Königslöw Vivien
Published: November 2021

The multiple land use of agricultural areas is a building block for increased land use efficiency. Unlike monoculture, integrated crop–livestock systems optimally improve ecosystem services, making it an important field of research and application for adapting land use and food systems that have sustainability deficits. The integration of sheep in viticulture production is described as a promising example of an integrated crop–livestock system. While some studies of the integration of sheep into vineyards are already available for other parts of the world, there is still no research on its implementation in Central European viticulture systems. In order to fill this gap of knowledge, we conducted standardized interviews with 34 winegrowers who already graze sheep in their vineyards. The method allowed a wider overview of the implementation of the integrated crop-livestock system than would have been possible with other approaches. Furthermore, the authors kept sheep in their own vineyard for three years to evaluate the statements of the survey participants. The period during which sheep graze in vineyards is quite heterogeneous in Central Europe. Some farms use sheep only during vine dormancy; others also let sheep graze during a certain period in summer. There are also viticulture training systems where grazing is almost continuously possible. In Central Europe, summer grazing normally requires operational adjustments such as lifting the wires of the training system and branches of the vine; otherwise, the vines could be damaged. This option seems to be tailored to the training system in use. Some interviewees mentioned that sheep not only use the accompanying vegetation as fodder and therefore control the undervine growth, but in some cases, they were also able to replace other work processes, such as defoliating the grape zone or cleaning undesired vine shoots near the ground. However, a high additional workload due to livestock keeping was also mentioned by some survey participants. Some of the interviewees cooperate with shepherds, which could help to solve this challenge. Finally, we summarize possible opportunities and risks of this integrated crop–livestock system. Integrating sheep in vineyards seems to be quite feasible in the period of vine dormancy, whereas more information and considerably more effort is needed to integrate sheep during the vegetation period. Further research is needed to answer open questions especially for the necessary adaptions of the common vine training system or the implementation of alternative systems more suitable to combine with livestock keeping. Some practitioners found opportunities to merchandize the use of sheep in wine sales. This potentially unique selling point could be a solution for a broader consideration of sheep in vineyards.
Soil Microbial and Nematode Community Response to the Field Application of Recycled Bio-Based Fertilisers in Irish Grassland
Authors: Karpinska Anna , Ryan Demi , Germaine Kieran , Dowling David , Forrestal Patrick , Kakouli-Duarte Thomais
Published: November 2021

Phosphorus (P) is an essential plant nutrient routinely applied to soils as an agricultural fertiliser, frequently in non-renewable, inorganic forms. Finite reserves and growing demand for agricultural phosphorus mean alternative P resources need to be explored. Recycling-derived fertilisers (RDF) recovered from specific waste streams, using nutrient recovery technologies, have the potential to replace conventional phosphorus fertilisers used in agriculture. Healthy functioning soil microbial and nematode communities are essential players in maintaining soil health and nutrient status. Thus, it is important to assess the responses of these communities to RDF application. We compared soil microbial and nematode communities of conventional fertiliser and RDF treated soil, in the form of struvite and ash, using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies in a phosphate-fertiliser replacement value (P-FRV) field trial. Bacterial and nematode communities displayed significant changes under the different P fertilisation treatments, while fungal communities were relatively unaffected. Bacterial diversity was higher among RDF treatments than conventional treatments, while nematode diversity was reduced by one ash treatment. Available potassium and phosphate were the main drivers of bacterial community changes when analysed by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), while available phosphate alone was the driver of nematode community shifts. Of the RDF, struvite products yielded the highest crop biomass, maintained microbial diversity and were associated with the least disturbed nematode communities.
Consumer Demand for Circular Products: Identifying Customer Segments in the Circular Economy
Authors: Boyer Robert H. W. , Hunka Agnieszka D. , Whalen Katherine A.
Published: November 2021

Understanding consumer preferences in the circular economy can help producers develop profitable strategies, lowering the risk involved in transitioning to circular business models and circular product design. This study uses a choice experiment to identify customer segments for mobile phones and robot vacuum cleaners at different levels of circularity. The experiment observes how a product’s theoretical Circular Economy Score (ranging from 0 to 100) influences consumer preferences as compared to other product attributes like price, appearance, warranty, battery life, reseller type, or ease of repair. Drawing from 800 UK respondents, the results indicate the presence of three customer segments that are sensitive to a product’s Circular Economy Score, including two that appear willing to purchase recirculated items and one that expresses a preference against them. The results offer initial evidence that a market for recirculated consumer electronics exists and that circularity labeling is a marketable option. The results also present a strong rationale for further research that probes a greater variety of products and contexts.
Mitigating Polluted Runoff from Industrial Estates by SUDS Retrofits: Case Studies of Problems and Solutions Co-Designed with a Participatory Approach
Authors: Krivtsov Vladimir , D’Arcy Brian J. , Sevilla Alejandro Escribano , Arthur Scott , Semple Chris
Published: November 2021

Contaminated runoff from industrial estates is a significant cause of poor quality in receiving watercourses. Pollution risk begins at each of the industrial premises, presenting different environmental risks which require individual treatment and contingency plans. This is best achieved using SUDS technology, which adds green infrastructure with passive drainage features to the existing drainage and treatment systems, designed to capture the pollutants present in runoff at source on individual sites, for conveyance and on a regional basis serving the whole estate. Here, we develop a multistage investigative framework structured to facilitate the search for relevant solutions and optimization of their design. This paper presents the results of the awareness survey, identifies barriers and opportunities, and reports on case studies dealing with potential SUDS retrofits at industrial facilities, assessing the existing control measures and the scope for new ones with the aim of improving pollution management. The feasibility of SUDS components was assessed with respect to their functional characteristics, economic costs, and logistical constraints. Lack of knowledge related to SUDS and pollution prevention legislation was identified as the major barrier to retrofits, which should be addressed through educational measures. Although comprehensive SUDS retrofits could be prohibitive in cost for small and medium-sized companies, partial and affordable retrofit solutions can be easily implemented to achieve the environmental benefits sought. In addition to the improvements in water quality and alleviation of flood risk, the introduction of Blue-Green Infrastructure will bring about further multiple benefits related to such ecosystem services as the amelioration of the local climate, reduction of noise, improvements in air quality, enhancement of the local biodiversity, and positive effects for the human well-being and mental health.
Regenerating Places outside the Metropolis. A Reading of Three Global Art-Related Processes and Development Trajectories
Authors: Centis Ludovico , Micelli Ezio
Published: November 2021

The aim of the paper is to reflect on the intersection of two relevant phenomena that unfolded in recent decades in all the most industrialized countries and economies—from the United States to Europe and Japan—as the shrinkage of vast urban and rural areas and the increasing role of culture as a driver for economic growth and social development. The attention is focused on the role of art as one of the main engines of territorial regeneration. Three case studies—Verzegnis in Italy, the Seto Islands in Japan, Marfa in the United States—have been selected to open a reflection on the relation between culture, art and regeneration on a global scale. To measure these effects, the research intertwined field explorations, access to primary and secondary texts, an original mapping of the sites and a series of targeted interviews through an extensive questionnaire. The research addresses the role played by art and culture both in the reuse of abandoned buildings and spaces and in the activation, involvement and self-empowerment of the inhabitants. The aim is not the definition of an immediately generalizable model but to reach the first synthesis, identifying general characters and opening future research paths that engage with the theoretical and practical implementation of politics related to heritage, culture and innovative regeneration processes.
Land Suitability Assessment for Pulse (Green Gram) Production through Remote Sensing, GIS and Multicriteria Analysis in the Coastal Region of Bangladesh
Authors: Hossen Billal , Yabar Helmut , Mizunoya Takeshi
Published: November 2021

The agricultural potential of Bangladesh’s coastal region has been threatened by the impact of climate change. Pulse crops with high nutritional value and low production costs such as green gram constitute an important component of a healthy and accessible diet for the country. In order to optimize the production of this important staple, this research aims to promote climate-smart agriculture by optimizing the identification of the appropriate land. The objective of this research is to investigate, estimate, and identify the suitable land areas for green gram production based on the topography, climate, and soil characteristics in the coastal region of Bangladesh. The methodology of the study included a Geographic Information System (GIS) and the Multicriteria Decision-Making approach: the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Datasets were collected and prepared using Landsat 8 imagery, the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing (CHRS) data portal and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council. All the datasets were processed into raster images and then reclassified into four classes: Highly Suitable (S1), Moderately Suitable (S2), Marginally Suitable (S3), and Not Suitable. Then, the AHP results were applied to produce a final green gram suitability map with four classes of suitability. The results of the study found that 12% of the coastal area (344,619.5 ha) is highly suitable for green gram production, while the majority of the land area (82.3% of the area) shows moderately suitable (S2) land. The sensitivity analysis results show that 3.3%, 63.4%, 28.0%, and 1.2% of the study area are S1, S2, S3, and NS, respectively. It is also found that the highly suitable land area belongs mostly to the southeastern part of the country. The result of this study can be utilized by policymakers to adopt a proper green gram production strategy, providing special agricultural incentive policies in the highly suitable area as a provision for the increased food production of the country.
A Deep Learning Approach to Assist Sustainability of Demersal Trawling Operations
Authors: Sokolova Maria , Mompó Alepuz Adrià , Thompson Fletcher , Mariani Patrizio , Galeazzi Roberto , Krag Ludvig Ahm
Published: November 2021

Bycatch in demersal trawl fisheries challenges their sustainability despite the implementation of the various gear technical regulations. A step towards extended control over the catch process can be established through a real-time catch monitoring tool that will allow fishers to react to unwanted catch compositions. In this study, for the first time in the commercial demersal trawl fishery sector, we introduce an automated catch description that leverages state-of-the-art region based convolutional neural network (Mask R-CNN) architecture and builds upon an in-trawl novel image acquisition system. The system is optimized for applications in Nephrops fishery and enables the classification and count of catch items during fishing operation. The detector robustness was improved with augmentation techniques applied during training on a custom high-resolution dataset obtained during extensive demersal trawling. The resulting algorithms were tested on video footage representing both the normal towing process and haul-back conditions. The algorithm obtained an F-score of 0.79. The resulting automated catch description was compared with the manual catch count showing low absolute error during towing. Current practices in demersal trawl fisheries are carried out without any indications of catch composition nor whether the catch enters the fishing gear. Hence, the proposed solution provides a substantial technical contribution to making this type of fishery more targeted, paving the way to further optimization of fishing activities aiming at increasing target catch while reducing unwanted bycatch.
Optimal Loan Pricing for Agricultural Supply Chains from a Green Credit Perspective
Authors: Deng Liurui , Xu Wentang , Luo Juan
Published: November 2021

In recent years, many countries have proposed various sustainable development strategies around environmental issues. The implementation of green supply chain management is an effective sustainable development approach that combines “environmental awareness” and “economic development.” Therefore, introducing the concept of “green” effectively is the main direction for the sustainable development of agriculture in the future. The impacts of green credit policies on agricultural supply chains have rarely been discussed before. Therefore, we focus on the incentive mechanism of green credit policies in the agricultural supply chain. We use the Stackelberg Leadership Model to construct a pricing model which adds the interest subsidy and required reserve ratio (RRR) cuts, and determines the pricing rules of bank loans and production decisions of the farmer in the agricultural supply chain under the incentive policy of green credit by quantifying the optimization problems of the bank and the farmer. The result shows that optimal decisions exist for both farmer and bank in the supply chain game framework. The implementation of the green credit policies contributes to both of their profits. Additionally, the green credit policies give the bank room to reduce interest rates so that the overall utility level of the supply chain could be improved.
Resiliency Assessment of Road Networks during Mega Sport Events: The Case of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Authors: Serdar Mohammad Zaher , Al-Ghamdi Sami G.
Published: November 2021

Hosting Mega Sport Events (MSEs) is a formidable expedition that requires enormous investments and that has the potential to reform the nation’s future and create a lasting legacy. However, the increase in environmental concerns is pushing host cities to adopt a compact event approach. Compactness increases the concentration of the load on host cities’ infrastructures, which have to preserve an acceptable level of functionality under any possible disturbance; in other words, they should be resilient. Among these infrastructures, the road network plays the most prominent role in the fans’ experiences and the event’s success. To assess its resilience during MSE, we proposed a multilevel assessment approach that focuses on the network cohesion and critical trips performance under several disturbance scenarios, including natural hazards, intentional attacks, and accidents. The framework was applied to the Doha road network, since Doha will be a host city for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022, which exhibited a high level of resilience to intentional attacks and accidents scenarios. However, during the natural hazard scenario (flooding), the network experienced severe fragmentation, signaling weak resilience and highlighting the need to improve storm management plans. Future research could investigate the use of weighted graphs to increase the accuracy or incorporate different assessment approaches into the framework.