bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photoprotective Effects of Cannabidiol against Ultraviolet-B-Induced DNA Damage and Autophagy in Human Keratinocyte Cells and Mouse Skin Tissue
Authors: Li Yanmei , Hao Dan , Wei Danfeng , Xiao Yue , Liu Lian , Li Xiaoxue , Wang Lian , Gan Yu , Yan Wei , Ke Bowen , Jiang Xian
Published: October 2022

Cannabidiol (CBD) has emerged as a phytocannabinoid with various beneficial effects for the skin, including anti-photoaging effects, but its mechanisms of action are not fully elucidated. The study assessed CBD’s photoprotective effects against acute ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced damage in HaCaT human keratinocyte cells and murine skin tissue. CBD (8 μM) alleviated UVB-induced cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and G2/M cell cycle arrest in HaCaT cells. The contents of γH2AX and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers were decreased after CBD treatment. CBD reduced the production of reactive oxygen species and modulated the expression of antioxidant-related proteins such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in UVB-stimulated HaCaT cells. Furthermore, CBD mitigated the UVB-induced cytotoxicity by activating autophagy. In addition, a cream containing 5% CBD showed effectiveness against UVB-induced photodamage in a murine model. The CBD cream improved the skin’s condition by lowering the photodamage scores, reducing abnormal skin proliferation, and decreasing expression of the inflammation-related protein cyclooxygenase-2 in UVB-irradiated skin tissue. These findings indicate that CBD might be beneficial in alleviating UVB-induced skin damage in humans. The photoprotective effects of CBD might be attributed to its modulatory effects on redox homeostasis and autophagy.
Nitrogenase Fe Protein: A Multi-Tasking Player in Substrate Reduction and Metallocluster Assembly
Authors: Ribbe Markus W. , Górecki Kamil , Grosch Mario , Solomon Joseph B. , Quechol Robert , Liu Yiling A. , Lee Chi Chung , Hu Yilin
Published: October 2022

The Fe protein of nitrogenase plays multiple roles in substrate reduction and metallocluster assembly. Best known for its function to transfer electrons to its catalytic partner during nitrogenase catalysis, the Fe protein is also a key player in the biosynthesis of the complex metalloclusters of nitrogenase. In addition, it can function as a reductase on its own and affect the ambient reduction of CO2 or CO to hydrocarbons. This review will provide an overview of the properties and functions of the Fe protein, highlighting the relevance of this unique FeS enzyme to areas related to the catalysis, biosynthesis, and applications of the fascinating nitrogenase system.
Non-Conventional Time Domain (TD)-NMR Approaches for Food Quality: Case of Gelatin-Based Candies as a Model Food
Authors: Uguz Sirvan Sultan , Ozel Baris , Grunin Leonid , Ozvural Emin Burcin , Oztop Mecit H.
Published: October 2022

The TD-NMR technique mostly involves the use of T1 (spin-lattice) and T2 (spin-spin) relaxation times to explain the changes occurring in food systems. However, these relaxation times are affected by many factors and might not always be the best indicators to work with in food-related TD-NMR studies. In this study, the non-conventional TD-NMR approaches of Solid Echo (SE)/Magic Sandwich Echo (MSE) and Spin Diffusion in food systems were used for the first time. Soft confectionary gelatin gels were formulated and conventional (T1) and non-conventional (SE, MSE and Spin Diffusion) TD-NMR experiments were performed. Corn syrups with different glucose/fructose compositions were used to prepare the soft candies. Hardness, °Brix (°Bx), and water activity (aw) measurements were also conducted complementary to NMR experiments. Relaxation times changed (p < 0.05) with respect to syrup type with no obvious trend. SE/MSE experiments were performed to calculate the crystallinity of the samples. Samples prepared with fructose had the lowest crystallinity values (p < 0.05). Spin Diffusion experiments were performed by using Goldman–Shen pulse sequence and the interface thickness (d) was calculated. Interface thickness values showed a wide range of variation (p < 0.05). Results showed that non-conventional NMR approaches had high potential to be utilized in food systems for quality control purposes.
A Simple, Improved Method for Scarless Genome Editing of Budding Yeast Using CRISPR-Cas9
Authors: Aguilar Rhiannon R. , Shen Zih-Jie , Tyler Jessica K.
Published: October 2022

Until recently, the favored method for making directed modifications to the budding yeast genome involved the introduction of a DNA template carrying the desired genetic changes along with a selectable marker, flanked by homology arms. This approach both limited the ability to make changes within genes due to disruption by the introduced selectable marker and prevented the use of that selectable marker for subsequent genomic manipulations. Following the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing, protocols were developed for modifying any DNA region of interest in a similar single transformation step without the need for a permanent selectable marker. This approach involves the generation of a DNA double-strand break (DSB) at the desired genomic location by the Cas9 nuclease, expressed on a plasmid which also expresses the guide RNA (gRNA) sequence directing the location of the DSB. The DSB is subsequently repaired via homologous recombination using a PCR-derived DNA repair template. Here, we describe in detail an improved method for incorporation of the gRNA-encoding DNA sequences into the Cas9 expression plasmid. Using Golden Gate cloning, annealed oligonucleotides bearing unique single-strand DNA overhangs are ligated into directional restriction enzyme sites. We describe the use of this CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing protocol to introduce multiple types of directed genetic changes into the yeast genome.
Predicting the Success of International Pharmacists in a Distance-Based US Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Program: Results from a 5-Year Cohort
Authors: Reynolds Paul M. , Altiere Ralph J. , Franson Kari L. , Brock Tina P. , Malhotra Jodie V. , Wagmaister Rachel , Gleason Shaun Ellen
Published: October 2022

Background: To establish the predictors of success in an international-trained PharmD (ITPD) program between admission criteria and academic performance. Methods: The primary outcome of this study was the correlation of admission criteria with didactic and experiential grade point averages (GPA) for the first 5 years. Candidates meeting the minimum criteria completed a competency exam or the US-Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Exam (US-FPGEE). Tests of English language proficiency (TOEFL(R) and ACTFL’s Oral Proficiency Interview) plus interview with faculty, students, and alumni were also required. Scores were correlated with both didactic and experiential GPAs. Results: The 23 students admitted to the ITPD program had a cumulative GPA of 3.72. There was a significant correlation between total admissions score and the median pharmacy and healthcare course category GPA (ρ 0.53), but not other categories. The composite TOEFL did not predict any performance but TOEFL writing and speaking did correlate with advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) performance. The OPI scores were associated with higher GPAs overall, in advanced integrated clinical sciences, and APPEs. The admission interview scores consistently and significantly correlated with preceptor-rated APPE GPA, practitioner skills, and professionalism (ρ > 0.5; p < 0.05). Performance in early courses significantly predicted the performance in advanced courses and experiential performance (ρ 0.48–0.61). Conclusion: The correlations between early and late course performance demonstrated the cohesiveness of this program. Further study is needed between the predictors of success using non-cognitive admission criteria.
Approach for Designing Human-Centered and Energy Saving Lighting Luminaires
Authors: Jou Jwo-Huei , He Zhe-Kai , Dubey Deepak Kumar , Tsai Yi-Fang , Sahoo Snehasis , Su Yu-Ting , Wu Chun-Hua
Published: October 2022

Electric light has been widely adopted in numerous applications, including signage, display, and illumination. Enhancing its efficiency and quality has been the focal point until now. Long exposure to intensive blue-light-enriched white light is, however, likely to cause health concerns, such as retina damage and melatonin suppression. A good light should hence be redefined as, at least, human-friendly, besides energy-saving and high-quality. Here, we demonstrate a novel design approach toward a good light based on the state-of-the-art solid-state lighting technologies. Taking the typical phosphor converted white-light-emitting diode (LED) for lighting, for example, a 2000 K orange-white emission with a black-body-radiation chromaticity can be 5 times safer than the 5000 K pure-white counterpart from a retina-protection perspective and 3.9 times safer from an MLT-secretion perspective. Further tuning its chromaticity from black-body-radiation- to sunlight-style, the 2000 K LED can be made 303% safer in terms of maximum retina permissible exposure limit or 100% better in terms of melatonin suppression sensitivity. Moreover, its corresponding efficacy limit can be increased from 270 to 285 lm/W, while keeping light quality constant at 91, in terms of natural light spectrum resemblance index. The same approach can be extended to organic LED as well as the design of a good light for display, wherein pure-white emission with a color temperature around 6000 K is suggested to replace the bluish-white backlight to safeguard human health.
Optical Nonreciprocity in Double Optomechanical Systems with Quadratic Coupling
Authors: Ji Xinyu , Pan Peipei , Huang Sumei , Chen Aixi
Published: October 2022

In this paper, the optical nonreciprocal phenomena in double optomechanical systems with quadratic coupling are studied. Our model belongs to an optomechanical system in which three coupling modes coexist, that is, the two cavity fields are coupled with the mechanical oscillator at the same time and the couplings are in the form of quadratic interactions. In addition, there is a linear coupling mode between the two cavity fields. In the entire system, each cavity field is effectively coupled by a control field and a probe field simultaneously. The expression of the transmission coefficient of the probe field is obtained by solving the dynamic evolution equation satisfied by the system. Using numerical analysis, we analyze the change in transmission coefficient of the probe field under the conditions of different physical parameters. The results show that we can realize optical nonreciprocal transmission in this system. Appropriate choices about physical parameters can achieve perfect nonreciprocity. Our theoretical scheme to realize optical nonreciprocal transmission in a double optomechanical system provides a theoretical basis for optical circulators, cyclic amplifiers and directional amplifiers.
A Transmissive Imaging Spectrometer for Ground-Based Oxygen A-Band Radiance Observation
Authors: Wu Heng , Wu Junqing , Hu Nanxi , Cui Hang , Wu Pengfei , Lin Guanyu , Cao Diansheng , Zhang Zihui , Shao Yingqiu , Li Bo
Published: October 2022

The oxygen A-band (759–770 nm) is a commonly used band for atmospheric observations. The signal in this band has wide dynamic range and can be used to invert several atmospheric parameters, such as air pressure and atmospheric optical depth, at different altitudes. High-resolution oxygen A-band radiance imaging spectrometer (HARIS) is an imaging spectrometer that operates in the oxygen A-band, which is designed for the observation of the direct solar radiance that passes through the atmosphere. HARIS is a transmissive imaging spectrometer that uses a compact transmissive optical system combined with reflective grating spectroscopy, while an area scan CMOS detector is used as the photosensitive element for the observations. HARIS response is associated with the observed target through a calibration process, which uses a monochromator with a supercontinuum laser for the spectral calibration, an integrating sphere with a spectrophotometer for the radiometric calibration and a meridian for the geometric calibration is employed to correct for distortions. The calibration results show that HARIS has an average spectral resolution of 0.33 nm and a field-of-view of 3.085 × 0.03° with an average spatial sampling interval of 0.0138°. Finally, the performance of HARIS is verified through field tests, in which the solar radiance data with an average signal-to-noise ratio of 438.93 is obtained.
Design and Dispersion Calibration of Direct-Vision Push-Broom Compressive Double-Amici-Prism Hyperspectral Imager
Authors: Zhu Mengjun , Qi Junli , Yi Wenjun , Du Junyi , Fu Meicheng , Zhu Shuyue , Liu Ju , Li Xiujian
Published: October 2022

The design and calibration of the dispersive device in a hyperspectral imager significantly affect the performance of hyperspectral imaging, especially the spectral accuracy. To achieve high-accuracy hyperspectral imaging over the visible band, firstly, the geometric and dispersive parameters of the double Amici prism (DAP) that serves as a dispersive device in the direct-vision push-broom compressive hyperspectral imager (PBCHI) are designed and optimized; secondly, a calibration method based on the numerical calculation of the DAP model is put forward, which can turn the conventional pixel-wise dispersive shift calibration by a monochromator into a group of numerical calculations; lastly, a PBCHI prototype is built to test the performances of the designed and calibrated DAP and the hyperspectral imager. The calibration experiments demonstrate that the mean squared error (MSE) of the dispersive pixel shifts calibrated by the proposed numerical method is 0.1774, which indicates the calibration result of the proposed method is consistent with the directly calibrated result. Furthermore, after this numerical calculation, the spectral signatures of the reconstructed cubes of the DAP-based PBCHI system show consistency with the ground truth. This work will benefit the design and calibration of the DAP-based hyperspectral imager.
Integer and Fractional Floquet Resonances in a Driven Three-Well System
Authors: Li Liping , Wang Bo , Li Weibin
Published: October 2022

We investigate Floquet dynamics of a particle held in a three-well system driven by a two-frequency field and identify integer and fractional photon resonances due to the dual-frequency driving. It is found that pairs of photon-assisted tunneling near the resonance originate from avoided level crossings in the Floquet spectra which, in essence, are quantum features of the hybridization between different quantum states. In particular, we establish a close connection between fractional-order resonances and Floquet mode properties under two-frequency driving conditions and illustrate their dependence on driving parameters. These results provide us a possibility to realize coherent control of quantum states with the assistance of classical external driving fields.
Highly Selective Production of Valuable Aromatic Hydrocarbons/Phenols from Forestry and Agricultural Residues Using Ni/ZSM-5 Catalyst
Authors: Zhou Xuan , Pan Hongling , Xie Shuixiang , Li Guotao , Du Zhicai , Wang Xiang , Luo Yan
Published: October 2022

The aim of this research is to design and synthesize an efficient catalyst to enhance high value-added products, such as aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols, from the catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) of different types of forestry and agricultural residues. All three biomasses (rape straw, wheat straw, and bamboo powder) had no aromatic production via thermal pyrolysis alone; however, the aromatic selectivity and monocyclic aromatic selectivity were largely enhanced using ZSM-5, with suitable silica-alumina ratios and Ni loadings. Specifically, for rape straw, the optimum catalyst was 15 wt.% Ni/ZSM-5 (silica-aluminum ratios = 85), and the selectivity of aromatic hydrocarbons was achieved at 39%, of which 71% were monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. For wheat straw, the optimum catalyst was 10 wt.% Ni/ZSM-5 (silica-aluminum ratios = 18), and the selectivity of aromatic hydrocarbons was 67%, of which 55% were monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. For bamboo powder, the optimum catalyst was 10 wt.% Ni/ZSM-5 (silica-aluminum ratios = 18), and the selectivity of aromatic hydrocarbons was achieved at 21%, of which 80% were monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Meanwhile, biomass types have significant effects on the pyrolyzed product distribution due to their different components. Cellulose and hemicellulose promoted the production of aromatic hydrocarbons, while lignin enhanced the production of phenols. The promotion of phenol by Ni was better and more efficient than that by the molecular sieve.
Acetone–Butanol–Ethanol Fermentation Phenomenological Models for Process Studies: Parameter Estimation and Multi-Response Model Reduction with Statistical Analysis
Authors: Moura Felipe Ramalho , de Medeiros José Luiz , Araújo Ofélia de Queiroz F.
Published: October 2022

A phenomenological multi-response multi-parameter Acetone–Butanol–Ethanol fermentation dynamic model is developed and calibrated for fermentation process studies. The model was constructed based on other models reported in the literature and was calibrated with a maximum likelihood parameter estimation over Acetone–Butanol–Ethanol fermentation experimental data from the literature. After parameter estimation, a rigorous statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate standard deviations of estimated parameters and predicted responses as well as their respective 95% probability confidence intervals for correct parameters and responses. The significance of parameters was assessed via a Fisher’s F test. From the Base-Model with 17 parameters, a tight, more compact, Reduced-Model was developed with 9 highly significant parameters after deleting 8 nonsignificant parameters from the Base-Model and re-estimating the remaining 9 parameters. This Reduced-Model showed good adherence to the experimental data and had better performance comparatively relative to the Base-Model with 17 parameters using two different inhibition functions reported in the literature. The Reduced-Model is sufficiently good for preliminary engineering and economic assessments of ABE fermentation processes.
Chemical Vapor Deposition of Longitudinal Homogeneous Parylene Thin-Films inside Narrow Tubes
Authors: Redka David , Buttberg Milan , Franz Gerhard
Published: October 2022

The effect of quasi-exponentially decreasing film thicknesses of thin poly-para-xylylene (PPX-N) coatings inside narrow tubes or micro scaled gaps is well known and has been discussed by many authors since the late 1970s. However, for technical applications it is often necessary to provide a longitudinal homogeneous film thickness to ensure the constant properties that are required. In a previous work, it was shown, in principle and for the first time, that a temperature gradient along the tube will effectively counteract the longitudinal decreasing film thickness of the PPX-N coating of the interior wall of a capillary. Therefore, this effect is discussed in theory and the provided model is verified by experiments. Our prediction of a required sticking coefficient curve yields experimentally measured homogeneous film thicknesses and shows a good agreement with the given prognosis. Further, it is shown in theory that there is a maximum achievable homogeneous film thickness in the tube in comparison to a blank surface, which can be understood as a coating efficiency for this type of deposition.
Renewable-Aware Geographical Load Balancing Using Option Pricing for Energy Cost Minimization in Data Centers
Authors: Khalil Muhammad Imran Khan , Shah Syed Adeel Ali , Taj Amer , Shiraz Muhammad , Alamri Basem , Murawwat Sadia , Hafeez Ghulam
Published: October 2022

It is becoming increasingly difficult to properly control the power consumption of widely dispersed data centers. Energy consumption is high because of the need to run these data centers (DCs) that handle incoming user requests. The rising cost of electricity at the data center is a contemporary problem for cloud service providers (CSPs). Recent studies show that geo-distributed data centers may share the load and save money using variable power prices and pricing derivatives in the wholesale electricity market. In this study, we evaluate the problem of reducing energy expenditures in geographically dispersed data centers while accounting for variable system dynamics, power price fluctuations, and renewable energy sources. We present a renewable energy-based load balancing employing an option pricing (RLB-Option) online algorithm based on a greedy approach for interactive task allocation to reduce energy costs. The basic idea of RLB-Option is to process incoming user requests using available renewable energy sources. In contrast, in the case of unprocessed user requests, the workload will be processed using brown energy or call option contract at each timeslot. We formulate the energy cost minimization in geo-distributed DCs as an optimization problem considering geographical load balancing, renewable energy, and an option pricing contract from the derivative market while satisfying the set of constraints. We prove that the RLB-Option can reduce the energy cost of the DCs close to that of the optimal offline algorithm with future information. Compared to standard workload allocation methods, RLB-Option shows considerable cost savings in experimental evaluations based on real-world data.
Thermal Behavior of Estonian Graptolite–Argillite from Different Deposits
Authors: Kaljuvee Tiit , Tõnsuaadu Kaia , Einard Marve , Mikli Valdek , Kivimäe Eliise-Koidula , Kallaste Toivo , Trikkel Andres
Published: October 2022

Graptolite–argillites (black shales) are studied as potential source of different metals. In the processing technologies of graptolite–argillites, a preceding thermal treatment is often applied. In this study, the thermal behavior of Estonian graptolite–argillite (GA) samples from Toolse, Sillamäe and Pakri areas were studied using a Setaram Labsys Evo 1600 thermoanalyzer coupled with the Pfeiffer OmniStar Mass Spectrometer. The products of thermal treatment were studied by XRD, FTIR, and SEM analytical methods. The experiments were carried out under non-isothermal conditions of up to 1200 °C at different heating rates in the atmosphere containing 79% Ar and 21% O2. The differential isoconversional Friedman method was applied for calculating the kinetic parameters. All studied GA samples are characterized with high content of orthoclase (between 38.0 and 57.3%) and quartz (between 23.8 and 35.5%), and with lower content of muscovite, jarosite, pyrite, etc. The content of organic carbon in GA samples studied varied between 7.3 and 14.2%. The results indicated that, up to 200 °C, the emission of hygroscopic and physically bound water takes place. Between 200 °C and 500–550 °C, this is followed by thermo-oxidative decomposition of organic matter. The first step of thermo-oxidation of pyrite with the emission of water, carbon and sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and different hydrocarbon fragments indicated the complicated composition of organic matter. At higher temperatures, between 550 °C and 900 °C, the transformations continued by dehydroxylation processes in clay minerals, and the decomposition of jarosite and carbonates took place. At temperatures above 1000–1050 °C, a slow increase in the emission of sulphur dioxide followed, indicating the beginning of the second step of thermo-oxidative decomposition of pyrite, which was not completed for temperatures of up to 1000 °C. Kinetic calculations prove the complicated mechanism of thermal decomposition of GA samples: for Pakri GA samples, it occurs in two steps, and for Silllamäe and Toolse GA samples, it occurs in three steps. Preliminary tests for the estimation of the influence of pre-roasting of GA samples on the solubility of different elements contained in GA at the following leaching in sulphuric acid is based on Toolse GA sample.
Application of Artificial Intelligence for Determining the Volume Percentages of a Stratified Regime’s Three-Phase Flow, Independent of the Oil Pipeline’s Scale Thickness
Authors: Mayet Abdulilah Mohammad , Chen Tzu-Chia , Alizadeh Seyed Mehdi , Al-Qahtani Ali Awadh , Qaisi Ramy Mohammed Aiesh , Alhashim Hala H. , Eftekhari-Zadeh Ehsan
Published: October 2022

As time passes, scale builds up inside the pipelines that deliver the oil or gas product from the source to processing plants or storage tanks, reducing the inside diameter and ultimately wasting energy and reducing efficiency. A non-invasive system based on gamma-ray attenuation is one of the most accurate diagnostic methods to detect volumetric percentages in different conditions. A system including two NaI detectors and dual-energy gamma sources (241Am and 133Ba radioisotopes) is the recommended requirement for modeling a volume-percentage detection system using Monte Carlo N particle (MCNP) simulations. Oil, water, and gas form a three-phase flow in a stratified-flow regime in different volume percentages, which flows inside a scaled pipe with different thicknesses. Gamma rays are emitted from one side, and photons are absorbed from the other side of the pipe by two scintillator detectors, and finally, three features with the names of the count under Photopeaks 241Am and 133Ba of the first detector and the total count of the second detector were obtained. By designing two MLP neural networks with said inputs, the volumetric percentages can be predicted with an RMSE of less than 1.48 independent of scale thickness. This low error value guarantees the effectiveness of the intended method and the usefulness of using this approach in the petroleum and petrochemical industries.
A Review of Lean Methodology Application and Its Integration in Medical Device New Product Introduction Processes
Authors: Slattery Owen , Trubetskaya Anna , Moore Sean , McDermott Olivia
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study is to review the Lean tool application and its utilisation in medical device design and the new product introduction process to establish the benefits and best practices for its integration with existing new product introduction processes. A review of the literature on the current state of medical device New Product Introduction (NPI) processes is completed along with a comprehensive review of the literature on the history and development of Lean NPI. The review indicates that Lean can be combined with the predominant NPI execution tools, Stage-Gate and Concurrent Engineering within the medical device industry to achieve a best-in-class continuous improvement methodology within the NPI process. This integration eliminates waste, focusses on customer value, and ultimately reduces cost and lead time to market. This review highlights for the first time the main challenges and issues with Lean in the medical device sector NPI processes, identifying possible future strands of research. Limitations of the current review are that despite the heavy emphasis placed on Lean manufacturing processes, comparatively little emphasis is placed on the use of Lean in the medical device NPI process. Future longitudinal case studies on case study application of Lean in medical device NPI processes would be useful. This study has implications for identifying best practices for Lean in NPI in the device industry, improving what is considered state-of-the-art for the introduction of devices into the public domain.
The Disposition of Bioactive Compounds from Fruit Waste, Their Extraction, and Analysis Using Novel Technologies: A Review
Authors: Ali Anwar , Riaz Sakhawat , Sameen Aysha , Naumovski Nenad , Iqbal Muhammad Waheed , Rehman Abdur , Mehany Taha , Zeng Xin-An , Manzoor Muhammad Faisal
Published: October 2022

Fruit waste contains several bioactive components such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, and numerous other phytochemicals, including pigments. Furthermore, new financial opportunities are created by using fruit ‘leftovers’ as a basis for bioactivities that may serve as new foods or food ingredients, strengthening the circular economy’s properties. From a technical standpoint, organic phenolic substances have become more appealing to industry, in addition to their application as nutritional supplements or functional meals. Several extraction methods for recovering phenolic compounds from fruit waste have already been published, most of which involve using different organic solvents. However, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable techniques that result in phenolic-rich extracts with little ecological impact. Utilizing these new and advanced green extraction techniques will reduce the global crisis caused by fruit waste management. Using modern techniques, fruit residue is degraded to sub-zero scales, yielding bio-based commodities such as bioactive elements. This review highlights the most favorable and creative methods of separating bioactive materials from fruit residue. Extraction techniques based on environmentally friendly technologies such as bioreactors, enzyme-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and their combination are specifically covered.
Analytical Research on the Bearing Characteristics of Oil Film Supplied with Constant Oil Flow Hydrostatic Turntables under Fixed Eccentric Load Condition
Authors: Wang Shaoli , Lu Jie , Zhang Yilin , Ge Kehan , Zhong Chao
Published: October 2022

This study was initiated in view of the phenomenon that hydrostatic turntable rails are prone to scrape damage when the liquid hydrostatic turntable is running under fixed partial load. The existing bias-load hydrostatic turntable oil film bearing characteristics are mainly calculated by using the calculus integration method and CFD fluid simulation method. The calculating formula obtained by the calculus integration method is complex and inefficient. The CFD fluid simulation calculation method requires 3D modeling and meshing of the oil film, which is a tedious and time-consuming process and may not yield convergent calculation results due to improper meshing methods or boundary condition settings. In order to solve the shortage of the above calculation methods, this paper simplifies and equates the uneven thickness of the oil film of each sealing edge of the oil pad of the bias-loaded hydrostatic rotary table to the equivalent uniform thickness of the oil film, and based on this idea, the analytical calculation formula of the oil film bearing capacity, bending moment and stiffness under constant bias-load conditions of the constant-flow liquid hydrostatic rotary table is derived. In this paper, Fluent software was used to numerically simulate the oil film under this working condition, and a hydrostatic turntable test bench was established to conduct an experimental study on the biased load hydrostatic turntable; the experimental data and simulation results were compared with the results obtained from this simplified method of calculating the oil film loading characteristics. The results show that the error of oil film bearing capacity is less than 6% and the error of overturning moment is less than 7%, which has verified the validity of the calculation method. The simplified analytical calculation method proposed in this paper is used to study the influence of tilt displacement rate, lubricant flow rate and turntable speed on the basic performance parameters of oil film, which provides a theoretical basis for the study of oil film load-bearing characteristics under constant bias-load conditions of the constant-flow liquid hydrostatic turntable.
A Practical Field Test and Simulation Procedure for Prediction of Scaling in Geothermal Wells Containing Noncondensable Gases
Authors: Cen Jiwen , Jiang Fangming
Published: October 2022

Scaling in a hydrothermal type of geothermal well reduces or interrupts the production of geothermal energy. Calcite is one of the most common scales in geothermal wells. The reason for its formation in geothermal production wells is clear. The flowing up of geothermal water causes a change in the pressure and temperature, which results in the escape of CO2 gas from the geothermal water, causing a rise in pH and the supersaturation of CaCO3 in the solution. To predict scaling in a new geothermal well, conditional data for geothermal well simulations are required. It is important to determine what field data are needed and how to obtain them. It is necessary to deal with some parameters that are hard to measure and that have not been described in detail in the existing literature. In this study, a two-phase flow model and a chemical reaction equilibrium model are integrated to simulate the scaling process in production wells. Based on the simulation, a comprehensive and practical approach, including a novel noncondensable gas content measurement method, is applied to predict the depth of the first gas bubble using simple field test data and does not require reservoir permeability and earth conductivity. The result shows good agreement with the location of scaling detected in the field.
Modelling for the Efficient Effluent Dye Removal to Reuse Water and Salt
Authors: Buscio Valentina , López-Grimau Víctor , Vallés Bettina , Pepió Montserrat , Gutiérrez-Bouzán Carmen
Published: October 2022

The objective of this work was to determine the optimal conditions for the electrooxidation treatment in order to decolourise the effluents that contain reactive dyes. According to the results, when Na2SO4 is used as an electrolyte, the decolouration reactions follow first-order kinetics. However, when NaCl is present in the effluent, the first-order kinetics is stabilised after applying a minimal electric current value. The models obtained from the results show that the higher the concentration of NaCl, the lower the energy consumption. On the other hand, an increase in dye concentration leads to an increase in electrical consumption. In relation to the pH, the results show that it is not a key factor in the decolouration efficiency. Finally, the obtained model was applied to two real effluents. The feasibility of individually treating the effluents from the dyeing process and those from the subsequent wash-off process was evaluated. From an industrial application point of view, it is recommended to mix both effluents before treatment, especially when the dye concentration is high.
Particle Flow Simulation of Failure Process of Defective Sandstone under Different Intermediate Principal Stress under True Triaxial Action
Authors: Wang Ziyi , Su Hengyu , Luo Chang , Ma Shu , Ding Heng
Published: October 2022

In order to explore the mechanical response characteristics of fractured sandstone under true triaxial different medium principal stresses, matdem particle flow software was used to study the mechanical response characteristics, fracture mechanism and damage evolution characteristics of sandstone specimens under the conditions of 30 MPa, 40 MPa and 50 MPa respectively. The simulation results are verified by true triaxial test. The results show that under true triaxial stress, the increase of medium principal stress is beneficial to increase the strength of sandstone. The fracture degree of the specimen increases with the increase of the intermediate principal stress, and finally the interlacing macroscopic cracks are formed. When the intermediate principal stress is perpendicular to the fracture strike, the fracture mode of sandstone is that the macroscopic fracture plane is perpendicular to the fracture strike, and the fracture mechanism of sandstone under true triaxial compression is mainly shear failure, accompanied by tensile failure. With the increasing of the intermediate principal stress, the fractal dimension of the fracture of sandstone specimen increases significantly and the degree of fracture deepens. Combined with the true triaxial test results, the rationality of particle flow simulation test is proved.
Hazardous Waste Advanced Management in a Selected Region of Poland
Authors: Grzegorz Przydatek , Emilian Moșneguțu , Adrian Cabała , Oana Irimia
Published: October 2022

This article presents a study on hazardous waste management in the Malopolskie region of Poland. The study was based on the information obtained during three years from 2016 to 2018, and following analysis, it was found that in 2016 there was the highest amount of 24,872.13 tons of hazardous waste produced, of which only a three-fold lower amount was disposed of. In this study, various types of hazardous waste were analyzed, including the waste from construction materials and asbestos. The predominant share of 50% of the mass of analyzed hazardous waste was felt on the generated one. Waste recovered in installations had a lower share of 43%, with a significant and favorable increase of over 5000.00 tons. In the context of the correctness of environmental aspects, it was considered an advisable solution that would optimize treatment conditions, and at the same time minimize the costs of hazardous waste management.
Time-of-Use Pricing Strategy of Integrated Energy System Based on Game Theory
Authors: Yuan Xiaoling , Guo Yi , Cui Can , Cao Hao
Published: October 2022

The integrated energy system is the mainstream energy utilization form of integrating a power system, natural gas system and thermal system, which provides a new way to solve the problem of renewable energy accommodation. The integrated energy system includes a variety of energy generation and conversion equipment, and its internal electricity, gas, cooling and thermal systems must balance the multiple energy supplies required by users. The integrated energy supplier (IES) and integrated energy user (IEU), as different stakeholders, pursue the maximization of their own profit. However, integrated energy suppliers should consider their market share and the sustainability of participating in market competition. Based on the constraints of energy access, conversion and accommodation, and the equipment for energy generation, conversion and consumption, we established an energy flow model. Constrained by the dynamic equilibrium of the supply of integrated energy suppliers and the demand of integrated energy users, a Stackelberg game model of integrated energy suppliers and users was established, and the existence of a Nash equilibrium solution of the game was proved. A genetic algorithm was used to solve the Nash equilibrium solution under two conditions aiming at the integrated energy supplier’s maximum profit and target profit. Considering the demand of integrated energy users in different time periods, we analyzed the time-of-use pricing strategy of the integrated energy based on the balance of the energy supply and demand. The results of a case study show that if integrated energy suppliers adopt the time-of-use pricing strategy of maximum profit, the energy load distribution of integrated energy users can be smoothed, and energy utilization and economic benefits of the system can be improved. If integrated energy suppliers adopt the time-of-use pricing strategy of target profit, enlarge the market by limiting their own profit and obtain the purchase willingness of integrated energy users by reducing the energy price, they can have a larger market share, a more reliable profit and a guarantee of long-term participation in market transactions.
Prediction and Control of Input and Output for Industry–University–Research Collaboration Network in Construction Industry
Authors: Zhong Ruiqiong , Wang Dong , Hu Cheng , Li Yuxin , Feng Gege
Published: October 2022

An unreasonable allocation of resources has led to a low rate of output in the industry–university–research collaboration network. A solution to this problem is to control and predict the input and output. However, the network has the characteristics of strong nonlinearity and insufficient samples. It is difficult for the existing control methods to migrate to collaboration networks because the traditional control methods, including Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) control and Model Predictive Control (MPC), are usually not applied to the system with strong nonlinearity and the controlled system needs to have specific parameters, while the modern control methods, including feedforward control and feedback control, have their limitations in both parameters and other aspects. In addition, there is a lack of research on the control and output prediction of collaboration networks, and there is no effective and applicable scheme for the control and prediction. Considering the nonlinearity and insufficient samples of the collaboration network, a Feedforward Control–Feedback Control Model based on the Multi-Layer Perceptron (FCFCM-MLP) is proposed in this paper. Adopting the controller structure of the Grid Search-Multilayer Perceptron (GS-MLP), a control block diagram, a feedforward controller, a feedback controller, and prediction methods such as Harris Hawk Optimization-Support Vector Regression (HHO-SVR) are designed for the FCFCM-MLP, which effectively realizes the feedforward control, feedback control, and prediction of inputs and outputs. In this paper, simulation tests on output-feedback tracking control are conducted with real statistics of papers jointly produced by the industry–university–research collaboration network in the construction industry. The results show that the proposed model has obvious effectiveness. Specifically, compared with the model composed of other controller structures and prediction methods, the optimal model Particle Dynamic Multiple Perturbation_Butterfly Optimization Algorithm-Support Vector Regression_Grid Search-Multi-Layer Perceptron (PDM_BOA-SVR_GS-MLP) obtained in this paper can minimize the predictive control error and effectively improve the control accuracy.
The Research Environment in a Developing Economy: Reforms, Patterns, and Challenges in Kazakhstan
Authors: Amirbekova Diana , Narbaev Timur , Kussaiyn Meruyert
Published: October 2022

Kazakhstan has implemented numerous policy reforms to improve its research environment since 1991, experiencing both positive changes and critical challenges. In this study, we conduct a comprehensive investigation of the country’s research environment. Our materials include statistical data, science policy reports, bibliometric data from Scopus, and interview responses. Using descriptive statistics and regression analysis, we analyze the country’s publication capacity, key characteristics, and science funding by the government. We critically review significant policy reforms and conduct interviews with subject matter experts. Our findings suggest there has been an increasing number of publications and growth in citations since joining the Bologna process in 2010, and that there is a high positive correlation between the volume of science funding and publication output, development levels across fields of science, and focus from science on commercialization of science. The challenges relate to publishing in international journals, government financing and commercialization, researcher capacity, scientific areas, and international collaboration. Our contributions to scholarly communication and science policy are two-fold. First, we present the relationship between several factors/policies and the research environment. Second, we reveal the main challenges Kazakhstan and its academic community have experienced which can be considered by stakeholders, including the government, academic institutions, researchers, and other developing countries.
Effect of Stop-Loss Reinsurance on Primary Insurer Solvency
Authors: Constantinescu Corina , Dias Alexandra , Li Bo , Šiška David , Wang Simon
Published: October 2022

Stop-loss reinsurance is a risk management tool that allows an insurance company to transfer part of their risk to a reinsurance company. Ruin probabilities allow us to measure the effect of stop-loss reinsurance on the solvency of the primary insurer. They further permit the calculation of the economic capital, or the required initial capital to hold, corresponding to the 99.5% value-at-risk of its surplus. Specifically, we show that under a stop-loss contract, the ruin probability for the primary insurer, for both a finite- and infinite-time horizon, can be obtained from the finite-time ruin probability when no reinsurance is bought. We develop a finite-difference method for solving the (partial integro-differential) equation satisfied by the finite-time ruin probability with no reinsurance, leading to numerical approximations of the ruin probabilities under a stop-loss reinsurance contract. Using the method developed here, we discuss the interplay between ruin probability, reinsurance retention level and initial capital.
LidSonic V2.0: A LiDAR and Deep-Learning-Based Green Assistive Edge Device to Enhance Mobility for the Visually Impaired
Authors: Busaeed Sahar , Katib Iyad , Albeshri Aiiad , Corchado Juan M. , Yigitcanlar Tan , Mehmood Rashid
Published: October 2022

Over a billion people around the world are disabled, among whom 253 million are visually impaired or blind, and this number is greatly increasing due to ageing, chronic diseases, and poor environments and health. Despite many proposals, the current devices and systems lack maturity and do not completely fulfill user requirements and satisfaction. Increased research activity in this field is required in order to encourage the development, commercialization, and widespread acceptance of low-cost and affordable assistive technologies for visual impairment and other disabilities. This paper proposes a novel approach using a LiDAR with a servo motor and an ultrasonic sensor to collect data and predict objects using deep learning for environment perception and navigation. We adopted this approach using a pair of smart glasses, called LidSonic V2.0, to enable the identification of obstacles for the visually impaired. The LidSonic system consists of an Arduino Uno edge computing device integrated into the smart glasses and a smartphone app that transmits data via Bluetooth. Arduino gathers data, operates the sensors on the smart glasses, detects obstacles using simple data processing, and provides buzzer feedback to visually impaired users. The smartphone application collects data from Arduino, detects and classifies items in the spatial environment, and gives spoken feedback to the user on the detected objects. In comparison to image-processing-based glasses, LidSonic uses far less processing time and energy to classify obstacles using simple LiDAR data, according to several integer measurements. We comprehensively describe the proposed system’s hardware and software design, having constructed their prototype implementations and tested them in real-world environments. Using the open platforms, WEKA and TensorFlow, the entire LidSonic system is built with affordable off-the-shelf sensors and a microcontroller board costing less than USD 80. Essentially, we provide designs of an inexpensive, miniature green device that can be built into, or mounted on, any pair of glasses or even a wheelchair to help the visually impaired. Our approach enables faster inference and decision-making using relatively low energy with smaller data sizes, as well as faster communications for edge, fog, and cloud computing.