bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grain Boundary Wetting Transition in the Mg-Based ZEK 100 Alloy
Authors: Straumal Boris , Khrapova Natalya , Druzhinin Aleksandr , Tsoy Kristina , Davdian Gregory , Orlov Valery , Gerstein Gregory , Straumal Alexander
Published: October 2023

Modern magnesium-based alloys are broadly used in various industries as well as for biodegradable medical implants due to their exceptional combination of light weight, strength, and plasticity. The studied ZEK100 alloy had a nominal composition of 1 wt.% zinc, 0.1 wt.% zirconium, and 0.1 wt.% rare earth metals (REMs) such as Y, Ce, Nd, and La, with the remainder being Mg. It has been observed that between the solidus (Ts = 529.5 ± 0.5 °C) and liquidus temperature (Tl = 645 ± 5 °C), the Mg/Mg grain boundaries can contain either the droplets of a melt (incomplete or partial wetting) or the continuous liquid layers separating the abutting Mg grains (complete wetting). With the temperature increasing from Ts to Tl, the transformation proceeds from incomplete to complete grain boundary wetting. Below 565 °C, all grain boundaries are partially wetted by the melt. Above 565 °C, the completely wetted Mg/Mg grain boundaries appear. Their portion grows quickly with an increasing temperature until reaching 100% at 622 °C. Above 622 °C, all the solid Mg grains are completely surrounded by the melt. After rapid solidification, the REM-rich melt forms brittle intermetallic compounds. The compression strength as well as the compression yield strength parameter σ02 strongly depend on the morphology of the grain boundary layers. If the hard and brittle intermetallic phase has the shape of separated particles (partial wetting), the overall compression strength is about 341 MPa and σ02 = 101 MPa. If the polycrystal contains the continous intergarnular layers of the brittle intermetallic phase (complete wetting), the overall compression strength drops to 247 Mpa and σ02 to 40 Mpa. We for the first time observed, therefore, that the grain boundary wetting phenomena can strongly influence the mechanical properties of a polycrystal. Therefore, grain boundary wetting can be used for tailoring the behavior of materials.
Defect-Free Phononic Crystal Waveguides on GaAs
Authors: Muzar Edward , Stotz James A. H.
Published: October 2023

A phononic crystal waveguide is presented that consists of the inverse of a typical structure. Instead of a defect waveguide within an extended phononic crystal, this waveguide consists of a phononic crystal of finite width, and the phononic crystal itself is composed of a shallow array of holes. The acoustic velocity is actually reduced in the phononic crystal region, which subsequently enables the waveguiding of the acoustic wave underneath the micro-structured surface. As the width of the waveguide increases with the number of inclusions, the waveguide morphs from an unstructured surface to an extended phononic crystal with a transitional modal region of an intermediate number of inclusions that is suitable for waveguiding. For the chosen phononic crystal parameters in terms of the hole depth and filling fraction, the optimum waveguide width of four inclusions is determined.
Raman Spectroscopic Study of Ruddlesden—Popper Tetragonal Sr2VO4
Authors: Viennois Romain , Bourgogne David , Haines Julien
Published: October 2023

The lattice dynamics of tetragonal Sr2VO4 with a Ruddlesden—Popper-layered crystal structure was studied via Raman spectroscopy. We observed three of the four expected Raman-active modes under ambient conditions. Mode Grüneisen parameters and the implicit fractions of two A1g Raman-active modes were determined from high-pressure and high-temperature Raman spectroscopy experiments. The low-energy A1g Raman-active mode involving Sr motions along the c direction has a large isothermal Grüneisen parameter about seven times larger than that of the high-energy A1g Raman-active mode involving apical O motions along the c direction and is, therefore, more anharmonic. The thermodynamic Grüneisen parameter is significantly smaller in Sr2VO4 than in Sr2TiO4 due to the smaller Grüneisen parameter of the high-energy A1g Raman-active mode and other vibrational modes that still need to be identified. The explicit contribution of the low-energy A1g Raman-active mode is negative, and the implicit contribution due to volume change is much larger. Both volume implicit and anharmonic explicit contributions of the high-energy A1g Raman-active mode have similar positive values. The Raman experiment in the air shows that Sr2VO4 begins to decompose above 200 °C.
eDNA Metabarcoding Analysis as Tool to Assess the Presence of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS): A Case Study in the Bilge Water
Authors: Maggio Teresa , Cattapan Federica , Falautano Manuela , Julian Daniel , Malinverni Roberto , Poloni Elena , Sanseverino Walter , Todesco Sara , Castriota Luca
Published: October 2023

One of the most important causes of biodiversity loss are non-indigenous species (NIS), in particular invasive ones. The dispersion of NIS mainly depends on anthropogenic activities such as maritime traffic, which account for almost half of the total NIS introduction in the European seas, as reported by the European Environmental Agency. For this reason, NIS management measures are mainly focused on commercial ports (i.e., ballast water management and Marine Strategy Framework Directive monitoring), underestimating the role of marinas and tourist harbors; these host small vessels (<20 m), such as recreational, fishery, and sail ones without ballast waters, but are also responsible for NIS arrival and spread through the bilge water as well as from hull fouling. With the aim of paying attention to marinas and tourist harbors and validating an innovative molecular methodology for NIS surveillance and monitoring, in the present work, eDNA metabarcoding of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) was applied to both bilge waters and adjacent ones to assess species composition and particularly NIS presence. A total of 140 OTUs/species with extra-Mediterranean distribution were found in the bilge samples; several of these are most likely ascribed to food contamination (e.g., Salmo salar). Excluding food contamination species, twelve of these found in the bilge waters were already known as NIS in the Mediterranean Sea, belonging to algae, mollusks, crustaceans, annelids, echinoderms, and fishes. Nine of these species are new to Italian waters. The results obtained in the present work support the importance of NIS monitoring in marinas and small harbors, particularly in the bilge waters, through eDNA metabarcoding, having detected several potential NIS that otherwise would not have been discovered.
The Development of a Water Resource Monitoring Ontology as a Research Tool for Sustainable Regional Development
Authors: Ospan Assel , Mansurova Madina , Barakhnin Vladimir , Nugumanova Aliya , Titkov Roman
Published: October 2023

The development of knowledge graphs about water resources as a tool for studying the sustainable development of a region is currently an urgent task, because the growing deterioration of the state of water bodies affects the ecology, economy, and health of the population of the region. This study presents a new ontological approach to water resource monitoring in Kazakhstan, providing data integration from heterogeneous sources, semantic analysis, decision support, and querying and searching and presenting new knowledge in the field of water monitoring. The contribution of this work is the integration of table extraction and understanding, semantic web rule language, semantic sensor network, time ontology methods, and the inclusion of a module of socioeconomic indicators that reveal the impact of water quality on the quality of life of the population. Using machine learning methods, the study derived six ontological rules to establish new knowledge about water resource monitoring. The results of the queries demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, demonstrating its potential to improve water monitoring practices, promote sustainable resource management, and support decision-making processes in Kazakhstan, and can also be integrated into the ontology of water resources at the scale of Central Asia.
Multi-Objective Decision-Making Tool for Envelope Energy Retrofitting Measures of Gated Community Housing in Egypt
Authors: Algohary Sarah Ahmad , Mahmoud Ayman , Yehya Manal
Published: October 2023

Due to climate change, Egypt has recently suffered from recurring electricity crises. Despite efforts made to increase electricity production in Egypt, recently, in the summer months, the energy demand has increased at unprecedented rates, especially in the housing sector. Therefore, the government and homeowners should work together to improve the energy performance of residential buildings. This paper aimed to develop a decision-making tool that helps homeowners choose optimal energy retrofit measures that suit their priorities. The study began with the data-collection and case study selection. Then, the thermal evaluation of the base case for dwellings in the case study was conducted through simulation runs using the DesignBuilder v7.1 software. Then, the optimal envelope energy retrofitting measures were determined, followed by a retrofitting-measure scenario simulation process. Then, the payback periods were calculated for all scenarios, and the tool database was developed using an Excel spreadsheet. Finally, the user interface for envelope energy retrofitting measures for gated communities (EERMGCs) tool was designed by Visual Basic for Applications. EERMGCs, the tool developed in this paper, is a simple, multi-objective and interactive tool that provides the optimal envelope retrofit measures according to user priorities, either a specific budget, the shortest payback period, the lowest possible costs, or the highest energy saving rate. The outcome of this research is developing a framework that can be considered a basis for developing decision-making tools for gated community housing in Egypt.
Diagnostic Approach to Pulmonary B-Cell Lymphomas in Small Biopsies, with Practical Recommendations to Avoid Misinterpretation
Authors: Pina-Oviedo Sergio , Roggli Victor L. , Sporn Thomas A. , Li Huihua , Glass Carolyn , DiBernardo Louis R. , Pavlisko Elizabeth N.
Published: October 2023

Pulmonary lymphomas are rare. With the current less invasive approaches used to obtain material for diagnosis, the diagnosis of pulmonary lymphoma is now frequently established in a small biopsy rather than in a resection. Therefore, the diagnosis has become more challenging and requires correlation with the clinico-radiologic presentation and with ancillary studies (immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and/or molecular analysis). Due to the rarity of pulmonary lymphomas, clinical suspicion of a lymphomatous process is low at initial presentation, and material may be only submitted for histopathology. For this reason, herein, we provide recommendations to arrive at the correct diagnosis of the most common lung B-cell lymphomas (marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, intravascular large B-cell lymphoma, lymphomatoid granulomatosis) in the setting of small biopsies, utilizing only immunohistochemistry. The differential diagnosis varies according to the lymphoma subtype and includes reactive conditions, solid tumors, and other hematolymphoid malignancies. Although morphology and immunohistochemistry may be sufficient to establish a diagnosis, in some cases, the best recommendation is to obtain additional tissue via a VATS biopsy/wedge resection with material submitted for flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and/or molecular studies to be able to properly classify a pulmonary lymphoid process.
A Case Study of a Secondary Biology Teacher’s Pedagogical Reasoning and Action with Augmented Reality Technology
Authors: Hsu Hsiao-Ping , Cheah Yin Hong , Hughes Joan E.
Published: October 2023

While recognizing the vital role of teachers in augmented reality (AR) integration, a noticeable literature gap exists regarding how science educators address challenges related to technology, pedagogy, and content during AR instructional design and implementation. Conducted in a secondary school in Taiwan, this study addressed this gap by conducting a qualitative single-case analysis of a science teacher’s integration of AR technology into her biology lessons. The teacher’s pedagogical reasoning and action processes were observed and analyzed over 10 weeks, with a focus on micro-level exploration across two iterations of pedagogical analysis, design, implementation, reflection, and revision. The primary data collection includes teacher interviews, supplemented by teacher reflective notes, lesson plans, teaching materials, researcher observations and field notes taken during the weekly, one-hour teacher learning community meetings, and the AR-integrated lessons, student assessment results, and feedback. The study was informed by both the Technology Integration Planning model and the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge framework. Data analysis techniques involved deductive coding and thematic analysis. The findings reveal the teacher’s developmental proficiency in AR, a reimagined depiction of AR-enhanced instructional content, a shift from didactic-based to inquiry-based teaching approaches, and an intertwined development of technological pedagogical knowledge, technological content knowledge, and pedagogical content knowledge. This study provides valuable insights into how the educator became a pedagogical designer, overcame individual and contextual challenges, and leveraged reflective strategies to enhance biology lessons using AR technology, emphasizing technology’s potential to enrich pedagogy in science education.
The Global Imperative for Higher Education: Cultivating Students’ Ontological Relationships to Multiscalar Spaces through Glonacal Agency
Authors: Kubow Patricia K. , Jin Seonmi
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the cause and treatment of global emergencies are bounded within a space (e.g., local communities, a country, or a region). This establishes a new purpose for higher education, namely to move from the notion that institutions must physically house students to that of cultivating students’ glonacal agency through the online learning environment. Such a model intrinsically motivates students to navigate the multiscalar spaces (i.e., global, national, and local spheres) as part of their higher education learning and to lead actions that do not subjugate the interests and rights of communities in diverse spaces. In serving the new purpose of higher education, online graduate education, particularly asynchronous comparative and international education courses, can play an imperative role. This essay, thus, establishes an ontological and pedagogical conceptualization of how comparative and international education can prepare students to develop glonacal agency by interrogating the concept of space and attending to students’ ontological sense of being in the context of education and agency development.
Contextual Modulation of Adult–Child Language Interaction: Semantic Network Connectivity and Children’s Vocabulary Development
Authors: Jang Wonkyung , Leech Kathryn
Published: October 2023

Word learning encompasses the understanding of interconnected clusters of words, where the comprehension of one word aids in the learning of another. Semantic networks, which have a long history in cognitive science, are commonly employed to explore these semantic relationships. However, limited research has been conducted on adults’ use of semantically relevant conversations in the field of early childhood education, and there is insufficient information regarding contextual factors influencing the development of semantic networks. The present study investigated the extent to which the use and effectiveness of semantically relevant conversations vary across activity contexts. This study analyzed data from the Home-School Study of Language and Literacy Development (HSLLD) Corpus available in the CHILDES database, focusing on a subset of 62 children. This study utilized four statistical features to describe the structure of semantic networks: short path length, diameter, density, and clustering coefficient. The following findings emerged: (1) Book reading displayed a significantly greater diameter than toy play and mealtime, indicating that there exist specific pairs of concepts or words within its semantic networks that are notably more distant from each other than in the other two activity settings. (2) Toy play exhibited a significantly greater density in comparison to book reading and mealtime, suggesting a higher degree of overlap or interdependence among the concepts within its semantic networks. (3) Book reading demonstrated a significantly greater clustering coefficient compared to toy play and mealtime, signifying the existence of cohesive word communities or groups of words characterized by dense internal connections. (4) Adults’ use of semantically relevant conversations during book reading was positively associated with children’s lexical diversity.
The Influence of Sleep Disorders on Neurobiological Structures and Cognitive Processes in Pediatric Population with ASD and Epilepsy: A Systematic Review
Authors: López-Zamora Miguel , Cano-Villagrasa Alejandro , Cortés-Ramos Antonio , Porcar-Gozalbo Nadia
Published: October 2023

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and epilepsy are increasingly prevalent comorbidities in our society. These two disorders are often accompanied by other comorbidities, such as sleep disorders, significantly impacting the quality of life of individuals with ASD and epilepsy. To date, clinical approaches have primarily been descriptive in nature. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between ASD, epilepsy, and sleep disorders, exploring neurobiological dysfunctions and cognitive alterations. A total of 22 scientific articles were selected using a systematic literature review following the criteria established using the PRISMA model. The selected articles were gathered from major databases: Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria specified that study participants had an official diagnosis of ASD, the article precisely described the evaluation parameters used in the study participants, and individual characteristics of the sleep disorders of the study participants were specified. The results indicate, firstly, that the primary cause of sleep disorders in this population is directly linked to abnormal serotonin behaviors. Secondly, significant alterations in memory, attention, and hyperactivity were observed. In conclusion, sleep disorders negatively impact the quality of life and neurocognitive development of the pediatric population with ASD and epilepsy.
GAN-Based Abrupt Weather Data Augmentation for Wind Turbine Power Day-Ahead Predictions
Authors: Liu Renfeng , Song Yinbo , Yuan Chen , Wang Desheng , Xu Peihua , Li Yaqin
Published: October 2023

This study introduces a data augmentation technique based on generative adversarial networks (GANs) to improve the accuracy of day-ahead wind power predictions. To address the peculiarities of abrupt weather data, we propose a novel method for detecting mutation rates (MR) and local mutation rates (LMR). By analyzing historical data, we curated datasets that met specific mutation rate criteria. These transformed wind speed datasets were used as training instances, and using GAN-based methodologies, we generated a series of augmented training sets. The enriched dataset was then used to train the wind power prediction model, and the resulting prediction results were meticulously evaluated. Our empirical findings clearly demonstrate a significant improvement in the accuracy of day-ahead wind power prediction due to the proposed data augmentation approach. A comparative analysis with traditional methods showed an approximate 5% increase in monthly average prediction accuracy. This highlights the potential of leveraging mutated wind speed data and GAN-based techniques for data augmentation, leading to improved accuracy and reliability in wind power predictions. In conclusion, this paper presents a robust data augmentation method for wind power prediction, contributing to the potential enhancement of day-ahead prediction accuracy. Future research could explore additional mutation rate detection methods and strategies to further enhance GAN models, thereby amplifying the effectiveness of wind power prediction.
Power Systems’ Resilience: A Comprehensive Literature Review
Authors: Chivunga Joyce Nyuma , Lin Zhengyu , Blanchard Richard
Published: October 2023

Several natural hazards have caused unexpected problems to power systems due to climate change, emphasising the position that power systems are not prepared for extremely large-scale events. As a result, the need to study resilience in the context of power systems has been increased. A comprehensive review of the literature on power system resilience (PSR) from various perspectives is presented herein. In this work, the first ever comprehensive definition for PSR is proposed, accounting for both social and technical aspects of resilience. The properties to be included in the construction of a standard definition are also suggested. Well-developed PSR concepts based on resilience trapezoids are discussed. Then, the PSR metrics (PSRMs) are defined, classified, and their selection criteria presented. Subsequently, several evaluation and enhancement frameworks proposed in recent years for PSR are investigated, and a novel comprehensive multidisciplinary PSR evaluation framework is proposed that provides for the application of the proposed comprehensive definition. In addition, classifications of threats to PSR and their respective adaptation measures are also proposed. Finally, this study highlights gaps and proposes future works to achieve a resilient PS. Procedures were followed to (i) identify articles; (ii) review, compare, and analyse articles; and (iii) identify the current literature and research gaps.
Nano-Scale Pore Structure Characterization and Its Controlling Factors in Wufeng and Longmaxi Shale in the Zigong Area, Southwest Sichuan Basin
Authors: Li Zhongcheng , Bao Zhidong , Wang Hailong , Zhu Xiaohua , Wang Hongxue , Jiang Zhenchang , He Taohua
Published: October 2023

The nano-scale pore systems in shale reservoirs control shale gas transportation and aggregation, which is of great significance for the resource evaluation of shale oil and gas and the selection of a “sweet spot”. Taking twelve marine shale samples from the Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation in the Zigong area, southwest Sichuan Basin, as the research target, we carried out a series of experiments, including total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), gas adsorption (CO2 + N2), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), to study the full-scale pore structure characterization and controlling factors of pore volume and specific surface area. The results presented the following findings. (1) Marine shale samples from the target area are rich in organic matter, with an average TOC value of 3.86%; additionally, the mineral composition was dominated by quartz and clay minerals, with average contents of 44.1% and 31.4%, respectively. (2) The full-scale pore size distribution curves of pore volume developed multimodally, with the main peaks at 0.5 nm–2 nm, 3 nm–6 nm, and 700 nm–2.2 um; moreover, the full-scale pore size distribution curves of a specific surface area developed unimodally, with the main peak ranging from 0.5 nm to 1.2 nm. (3) Pore volume was mainly contributed by mesopores and macropores, with an average contribution of 46.66% and 42.42%, respectively, while the contribution of micropores was only 10.91%. The specific surface area was mainly contributed by micropores and mesopores, with an average contribution of 64.63% and 29.22%, respectively, whereas the contribution of micropores was only 6.15%. (4) The TOC content mainly controlled the pore volume and specific surface area of micropores and mesopores, while the clay and feldspar content generally controlled the pore volume and specific surface area of macropores. Additionally, the quartz content had an inhibitory effect on the development of all pore types. These results will help researchers understand the laws of gas accumulation and migration.
Numerical Simulation of Processes in an Electrochemical Cell Using COMSOL Multiphysics
Authors: Iliev Iliya K. , Gizzatullin Azamat R. , Filimonova Antonina A. , Chichirova Natalia D. , Beloev Ivan H.
Published: October 2023

Fuel cells are a promising source of clean energy. To find optimal parameters for their operation, modeling is necessary, which is quite difficult to implement taking into account all the significant effects occurring in them. We aim to develop a previously unrealized model in COMSOL Multiphysics that, on one hand, will consider the influence of electrochemical heating and non-isothermal fluid flow on the temperature field and reaction rates, and on the other hand, will demonstrate the operating mode of the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) on carbonaceous fuel. This model incorporates a range of physical phenomena, including electron and ion transport, gas species diffusion, electrochemical reactions, and heat transfer, to simulate the performance of the SOFC. The findings provide a detailed view of reactant concentration, temperature, and current distribution, enabling the calculation of power output. The developed model was compared with a 1-kW industrial prototype operating on hydrogen and showed good agreement in the volt-ampere characteristic with a deviation not exceeding 5% for the majority of the operating range. The fuel cell exhibits enhanced performance on hydrogen, generating 1340 W/m2 with a current density of 0.25 A/cm2. When fueled by methane, it produces 1200 W/m2 at the same current density. Using synthesis gas, it reaches its peak power of 1340 W/m2 at a current density of 0.3 A/cm2.
Double-Coupling Resonant Network for Dynamic IPT Systems Used in EV Charging Applications
Authors: Costa Valter S. , Mendes André M. S. , Marques Emanuel , Perdigão Marina S.
Published: October 2023

Dynamic inductive power transfer (DIPT) systems as well as static inductive power transfer (SIPT) systems are typically implemented with H-bridge inverters with resonant compensation networks to control and limit the charging current. However, contrary to SIPT, DIPT implies inherent displacements, in the travel direction, as well as the already expected misalignments (vertical and lateral). The challenges imposed by this feature have an impact on the selected compensation network. Typical single-coupling resonant topologies SS, SP, PS, PP, LCL-S and LCL-P are considered. In this work, a double-coupling SSS topology is proposed for DIPT applications to overcome the limitations of classical topologies. A resonant converter topology with natural current and voltage limitation under misalignment conditions is preferable. This paper performs a finite element analysis (FEA) simulation of the magnetic coupler (MC) in order to extract the coupling factor and self and mutual inductances as a function of the electric vehicle (EV) movement. The MC parameters are used to build a model in MATLAB/Simulink with coupling variation in order to assess the converter behavior under misalignment conditions. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate the applicability of the double-coupling SSS topology for DIPT application by exhibiting safe converter operation under the full range of coupling and load operation (full to no-coupling and full to no-load).
Pollutant Emissions from Municipal Biowaste Composting: Comparative Analysis and Contribution of N-Containing Organic Compounds
Authors: Mironov Vladimir , Zhukov Vitaly , Moldon Ivan , Zagustina Nataliya , Shchelushkina Anna , Ostrikova Valeria , Kotova Irina B. , Zhang Shenghua
Published: October 2023

The disposal of municipal biowaste is associated with the formation of malodorous and frequently hazardous volatile compounds. The composition of volatile pollutants formed during composting of mechanically sorted organic fraction of municipal solid waste (ms-OFMSW), sewage sludge (SS), food waste (FW), and wood waste (WC) during 28 days in a laboratory setup was analysed using electrochemical measurements, gas chromatography, and solid phase microextraction. Despite the close biodegradation intensity of SS+WC, ms-OFMSW, and FW+WC, the average temperature values were 57.0, 51.7, and 50.6 °C. The emission of volatile substances per day were: CO2 0.64, 0.68, and 0.64 g/kg, NH3 22.3, 93.1, and 4.9 µg/kg, CH4 5.3, 1.5 and 8.7 mg/kg, H2S 5.0, 3.3 and 1.8 µg/kg organic matter. The ratios of emission from SS+FW, ms-OFMSW and FW+WC for inorganic substances were 1.0, 1.1, and 1.0, and for organic compounds (VOC) were 1, 24, and 123. A total of 121 VOC was identified. The 12 N-containing compounds detected at the beginning of composting, some of which are highly toxic, ranged from 3.2 to 21.0% of the total VOC and belonged to amines with a very low olfactory thresholds and heterocyclic compounds. The results of this research help to optimise the systems used to remove pollutants from exhaust air.
Investigating Yeast–Lactobacilli Interactions through Co-Culture Growth and Metabolite Analysis
Authors: Nenciarini Stefano , Reis-Costa Ana , Pallecchi Marco , Renzi Sonia , D’Alessandro Aldo , Gori Agnese , Cerasuolo Benedetta , Meriggi Niccolò , Bartolucci Gian Luca , Cavalieri Duccio
Published: October 2023

The various forms of interactions that microorganisms engage in within fermented foods result in distinct metabolic product patterns. Fermentation products often feature both yeasts and bacteria, each possessing characteristics that can enhance the overall quality of the food, thus benefiting consumers. Kefir, a fermented milk originating from grains containing a unique and intricate blend of bacteria and yeasts living in a symbiotic relationship, is a valuable model for studying the evolution of the interactions between yeasts and bacteria. Targeted metagenomics was applied to investigate the microbiome of a batch of traditional Romanian kefir and further examine the growth and metabolic properties of the dominant yeast and bacterial strains isolated from this batch. In contrast to yeast, which is either unaffected or harmed by the presence of bacteria, our study revealed that a specific strain of Lactobacillus (L. rhamnosus) derived from the kefir batch benefited from the presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The analysis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by in vitro cultures of these two chosen strains indicated significant changes in SCFA levels compared to single cultures. The dynamic interactions described in this and other studies on kefir emphasize the importance of a more profound comprehension of the ecological mechanisms governing interactions between yeast, bacterial, and mammalian cells.
Exploring the Prospects of Fermenting/Co-Fermenting Marine Biomass for Enhanced Bioethanol Production
Authors: Osman Mohamed E. H. , Abo-Shady Atef M. , Elshobary Mostafa E. , Abd El-Ghafar Mahasen O. , Hanelt Dieter , Abomohra Abdelfatah
Published: October 2023

With the rising demands for renewable fuels, there is growing interest in utilizing abundant and sustainable non-edible biomass as a feedstock for bioethanol production. Macroalgal biomass contains a high content of carbohydrates in the form of special polysaccharides like alginate, agar, and carrageenan that can be converted to fermentable sugars. In addition, using seagrass as a feedstock for bioethanol production can provide a sustainable and renewable energy source while addressing environmental concerns. It is a resource-rich plant that offers several advantages for bioethanol production, including its high cellulose content, rapid growth rates, and abundance in coastal regions. To reduce sugar content and support efficient microbial fermentation, co-fermentation of macroalgae with seagrass (marine biomass) can provide complementary sugars and nutrients to improve process yields and economics. This review comprehensively covers the current status and future potential of fermenting macroalgal biomass and seagrass, as well as possible combinations for maximizing bioethanol production from non-edible energy crops. An overview is provided on the biochemical composition of macroalgae and seagrass, pretreatment methods, hydrolysis, and fermentation processes. Key technical challenges and strategies to achieve balanced co-substrate fermentation are discussed. The feasibility of consolidated bioprocessing to directly convert mixed feedstocks to ethanol is also evaluated. Based on current research, macroalgae-seagrass co-fermentation shows good potential to improve the bioethanol yields, lower the cost, and enable more optimal utilization of diverse marine biomass resources compared to individual substrates.
Latency-Aware Semi-Synchronous Client Selection and Model Aggregation for Wireless Federated Learning
Authors: Yu Liangkun , Sun Xiang , Albelaihi Rana , Yi Chen
Published: October 2023

Federated learning (FL) is a collaborative machine-learning (ML) framework particularly suited for ML models requiring numerous training samples, such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), and Random Forest, in the context of various applications, e.g., next-word prediction and eHealth. FL involves various clients participating in the training process by uploading their local models to an FL server in each global iteration. The server aggregates these models to update a global model. The traditional FL process may encounter bottlenecks, known as the straggler problem, where slower clients delay the overall training time. This paper introduces the Latency-awarE Semi-synchronous client Selection and mOdel aggregation for federated learNing (LESSON) method. LESSON allows clients to participate at different frequencies: faster clients contribute more frequently, therefore mitigating the straggler problem and expediting convergence. Moreover, LESSON provides a tunable trade-off between model accuracy and convergence rate by setting varying deadlines. Simulation results show that LESSON outperforms two baseline methods, namely FedAvg and FedCS, in terms of convergence speed and maintains higher model accuracy compared to FedCS.
Investigations into the Effect of Mixing on Steam–Water Two-Phase Subsonic Cross-Flow Stability
Authors: Ghazwani Hassan Ali , Sanaullah Khairuddin , Sinitsin Vladimir Vladimirovich , Khan Afrasyab
Published: October 2023

Theoretical and experimental aspects of the project were conducted to investigate the effect of the mixing of a swirling steam jet into cross-flowing water. It was observed that based on the theoretical adiabatic estimations for the equilibrium temperature of steam–water mixing and by varying Psteam = 1–3 bar, Pwater = 1 bar and RPM = 60–300 around 97% (experimentally compared to the area it has at initial condition) and 85% (CFD study compared to the area it has at initial condition), an increase in the area under the influence of perfect adiabatic mixing was found. A virtual cover over the steam duct was seen. The area of this virtual cover based on the void fraction of swirling steam had a weak relationship with the total area of the region, inhibiting the perfect mixing for which an analytical relationship had been developed. The effect of mixing on the stability of swirling steam–water cross-flows was overall more than twice that of the effect on the area under the influence of the stability profile protrusions. Thus, an overall rise in inlet pressure contributed to improper mixing, whereas a rise in the RPM contributed to proper mixing inside a fixed window of observations. The effect of spatial scaling of a swirling steam trajectory on mixing in cross-flowing water was also investigated across the vertical plane. Also, the scaling of the vertical trajectories of the swirling steam jets under all operating conditions resulted in merging the regions of perfect mixing to some extent. Thus, the area under the influence of perfect mixing was reduced to around 3–4.7% under all operating conditions with scaling. This type of scaling has enormous potential for the characterization of larger fluid domains in environmental and process engineering studies.
Study of Microstructural, Nutritional, and Biochemical Changes in Hulled and Hulless Barley during Storage Using X-ray and Infrared Techniques
Authors: Indore Navnath S. , Jayas Digvir S. , Karunakaran Chithra , Stobbs Jarvis , Bondici Viorica F. , Vu Miranda , Tu Kaiyang , Marinos Omar
Published: October 2023

Four varieties of barley (Esma, AC Metacalf, Tradition, and AB Cattlelac), representing four Canadian barley classes, were stored at 17% moisture content (mc) for 8 week. Stored barely was characterized using synchrotron X-ray phase contrast microcomputed tomography, synchrotron X-ray fluorescence imaging, and mid-infrared spectroscopy at the Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon. The deterioration was observed in all the selected varieties of barley at the end of 8 week of storage. Changes due to spoilage over time were observed in the grain microstructure and its nutrient distribution and composition. This study underscores the critical importance of the initial condition of barley grain microstructure in determining its storage life, particularly under unfavorable conditions. The hulled barley varieties showed more deterioration in microstructure than the hulless varieties of barley, where a direct correlation between microstructural changes and alterations in nutritional content was found. All selected barley classes showed changes in the distribution of nutrients (Ca, Fe, K, Mn, Cu, and Zn), but the two-row AC Metcalf variety exhibited more substantial variations in their nutrient distribution (Zn and Mn) than the other three varieties during storage. The two-row class barley varieties showed more changes in biochemical components (protein, lipids, and carbohydrates) than the six-row class varieties.
Essential Oils of Mentha arvensis and Cinnamomum cassia Exhibit Distinct Antibacterial Activity at Different Temperatures In Vitro and on Chicken Skin
Authors: Vepštaitė-Monstavičė Iglė , Ravoitytė Bazilė , Būdienė Jurga , Valys Algirdas , Lukša Juliana , Servienė Elena
Published: October 2023

The bacterial contamination of meat is a global concern, especially for the risk of Salmonella infection that can lead to health issues. Artificial antibacterial compounds used to preserve fresh meat can have negative health effects. We investigated the potential of natural essential oils (EOs), namely Mentha arvensis (mint) and Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) EOs, to prevent contamination of the food pathogen, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Typhimurium, in vitro and on chicken skin. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique was used to determine the compositions of mint EO (MEO) and cinnamon EO (CEO); the most abundant compound in MEO was menthol (68.61%), and the most abundant compound was cinnamaldehyde (83.32%) in CEO. The antibacterial activity of MEO and CEO were examined in vapor and direct contact with S. typhimurium at temperatures of 4 °C, 25 °C, and 37 °C. The minimal inhibitory concentration at 37 °C for MEO and CEO reached 20.83 µL/mL, and the minimal bactericidal concentration of CEO was the same, while for MEO, it was two-fold higher. We report that in most tested conditions in experiments performed in vitro and on chicken skin, CEO exhibits a stronger antibacterial effect than MEO. In the vapor phase, MEO was more effective against S. typhimurium than CEO at 4 °C. In direct contact, the growth of S. typhimurium was inhibited more efficiently by MEO than CEO at small concentrations and a longer exposure time at 37 °C. The exploration of CEO and MEO employment for the inhibition of Salmonella bacteria at different temperatures and conditions expands the possibilities of developing more environment- and consumer-friendly antibacterial protection for raw meat.
Exploring the Potential of Artificial Intelligence for Hydrogel Development—A Short Review
Authors: Negut Irina , Bita Bogdan
Published: October 2023

AI and ML have emerged as transformative tools in various scientific domains, including hydrogel design. This work explores the integration of AI and ML techniques in the realm of hydrogel development, highlighting their significance in enhancing the design, characterisation, and optimisation of hydrogels for diverse applications. We introduced the concept of AI train hydrogel design, underscoring its potential to decode intricate relationships between hydrogel compositions, structures, and properties from complex data sets. In this work, we outlined classical physical and chemical techniques in hydrogel design, setting the stage for AI/ML advancements. These methods provide a foundational understanding for the subsequent AI-driven innovations. Numerical and analytical methods empowered by AI/ML were also included. These computational tools enable predictive simulations of hydrogel behaviour under varying conditions, aiding in property customisation. We also emphasised AI’s impact, elucidating its role in rapid material discovery, precise property predictions, and optimal design. ML techniques like neural networks and support vector machines that expedite pattern recognition and predictive modelling using vast datasets, advancing hydrogel formulation discovery are also presented. AI and ML’s have a transformative influence on hydrogel design. AI and ML have revolutionised hydrogel design by expediting material discovery, optimising properties, reducing costs, and enabling precise customisation. These technologies have the potential to address pressing healthcare and biomedical challenges, offering innovative solutions for drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, and more. By harmonising computational insights with classical techniques, researchers can unlock unprecedented hydrogel potentials, tailoring solutions for diverse applications.
Three-Dimensional Membranes of Natural Polymer Complex Nanoparticle for Potential Medical Applications
Authors: Elgegren Mariela , Nakamatsu Javier , Galarreta Betty , Kim Suyeon
Published: October 2023

Skin wound healing is a complex biological process of tissue regeneration in which the wound dressing is crucial for rapid healing; it must protect the wound keep an adequate level of moisture and prevent infections. Alginate (AL), a polysaccharide from brown algae, has been extensively studied for wound treatment, and aloe vera gels (AVGs) have also been used in the treatment of skin. The AVG main bioactive polysaccharide was combined with AL for the preparation of membranes. Two-dimensional membranes were prepared by casting and, for comparison, transparent nanoparticle 3D membranes were produced by high-intensity ultrasonication followed by ionotropic crosslinking. The effects of the amount of AVG, ionotropic gelation, and the structure (2D or 3D) of the AL-AVG membranes were compared. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed higher surface roughness on 3D membranes. Three-dimensional membranes showed a higher swelling ratio, and swelling increased with AVG content and decreased with higher calcium concentration and longer gelation times. The degradation of the membranes was evaluated with and without a lysozyme at pH 5.5, 7.5, and 8.5, to simulate different skin conditions; the results evidence that pH had a higher effect than the enzyme. The cytotoxicity of the membranes was evaluated with ATCC CCL 163 and ATCC CCL 81 cells, and an excellent biocompatibility of both cell types (>90% of cell viability after 48 h incubation) was observed for all AL-AVG membranes.
Geocryological Structure of a Giant Spring Aufeis Glade at the Anmangynda River (Northeastern Russia)
Authors: Olenchenko Vladimir , Zemlianskova Anastasiia , Makarieva Olga , Potapov Vladimir
Published: October 2023

Gigantic aufeis fields serve as indicators of water exchange processes within the permafrost zone and are important in assessing the state of the cryosphere in a changing climate. The Anmangynda aufeis, located in the upstream of the Kolyma River basin, is present in the mountainous regions of Northeast Eurasia. Recent decades have witnessed significant changes in aufeis formation patterns, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of cryospheric processes. The objective of the study, conducted in 2021–2022, was to examine the structure of the Anmangynda aufeis and its glade, aiming to understand its genesis and formation processes. The tasks included identifying above- and intra-frozen taliks, mapping groundwater (GW) discharge channels, determining permafrost base depth, and assessing ice thickness distribution. Soundings using ground-penetrating radar (GPR), capacitively coupled electrical resistivity tomography (CCERT), and the transient electromagnetic (TEM) method were employed. GW discharge channels originating from alluvial deposits and extending to the aufeis surface within river channels were identified through GPR and verified through drilling. Deep-seated sources of GW within the bedrock were inferred. CCERT data allowed us to identify large and localized frozen river taliks, from which water is forced onto the ice surface. According to the TEM data, the places of GW outlets spatially coincide with the zones interpreted as faults.
Comparing Three Wearable Brassiere Braces Designed to Correct Rounded Posture
Authors: Lee Ji-Hyun , Shin A-Reum , Cynn Heon-Seock
Published: October 2023

Rounded shoulder posture (RSP) causes shoulder pain and can lead to shoulder impingement and thoracic outlet syndromes, ultimately resulting in a frozen shoulder. Altered scapular positions in RSP patients affect muscle activity. Many studies have explored methods to correct and prevent RSP, including shoulder braces, muscle strengthening, stretching, and inhibition techniques. Using a shoulder brace reduces RSP and improves shoulder discomfort and function, similar to conventional rehabilitation. However, despite their effectiveness, these braces are bulky and inconvenient, which makes continuous daily wear challenging. This is especially true for women who are sensitive to their appearance. To address this issue, methods have been developed to convert women’s underwear bra straps into braces. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of three underwear-mounted rounded shoulder braces and to identify the brace that is most effective in decreasing RSP and upper trapezius (UT) muscle activity and increasing lower trapezius (LT) muscle activity in patients with RSP. The study included 18 patients with an RSP. The RSP amount and UT and LT muscle activities were measured before and after three interventions. The interventions were scapular posterior tilting (SPT) exercises with the X strap, X + 8 strap, and inner brace. Compared with the baseline value, the RSP amount was significantly lower with the three braces. The RSP was significantly lower with the X + 8 strap and the inner brace than with the X strap. The inner brace showed significantly lower UT muscle activity than those with the X strap and X + 8 straps and significantly greater LT muscle activity than that with the X + 8 strap. These results show underwear-mounted braces as a potential RSP solution, but long-term sustainability and improving comfort, especially for those concerned about appearance, require further research and development.