bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethanol- and Methanol-Coordinated and Solvent-Free Dodecahydro closo-Dodecaborates of 3d Transition Metals and of Magnesium
Authors: Didelot Emilie , Łodziana Zbigniew , Murgia Fabrizio , Černý Radovan
Published: July 2019

Magnesium and 3d transition metals closo-borates were prepared by mechanosynthesis (ball milling) of the mixtures Na2B12H12 + MCl2 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Mg), followed by addition of ethanol or methanol and drying under dynamic vacuum. The dead mass of NaCl is partly removed by filtration. The crystal structures of solvent-coordinated and solvent-free closo-borates have been characterized by temperature dependent synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction, ab initio calculations, thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy. Various solvated complexes containing six, four, three, two or one solvent molecules were obtained by successive removal of the solvent until in most case the solvent-free metal closo-borates were obtained with the exception of Mg whose hypothetical crystal structure, however, could have its prototype in MnB12H12. The 3d transition metal closo-borates were studied in the view of their potential use as Na- or Li-ion battery electrodes in combination with Na or Li closo-borate solid electrolytes. The metal oxidation state (II) obtained in compounds presented here does not allow such application.
Accuracy and Precision of Low-Cost Echosounder and Automated Data Processing Software for Habitat Mapping in a Large River
Authors: Helminen Jani , Linnansaari Tommi , Bruce Meghann , Dolson-Edge Rebecca , Curry R. Allen
Published: July 2019

The development of consumer hydroacoustic systems continues to advance, enabling the use of low-cost methods for professional mapping purposes. Information describing habitat characteristics produced with a combination of low-cost commercial echosounder (Lowrance HDS) and a cloud-based automated data processing tool (BioBase EcoSound) was tested. The combination frequently underestimated water depth, with a mean absolute error of 0.17 ± 0.13 m (avg ± 1SD). The average EcoSound bottom hardness value was high (0.37–0.5) for all the substrate types found in the study area and could not be used to differentiate between the substrate size classes that varied from silt to bedrock. Overall, the bottom hardness value is not informative in an alluvial river bed setting where the majority of the substrate is composed of hard sands, gravels, and stones. EcoSound separated vegetation presence/absence with 85–100% accuracy and assigned vegetation height (EcoSound biovolume) correctly in 55% of instances but often overestimated it in other instances. It was most accurate when the vegetation canopy was ≤25% or >75% of the water column. Overall, as a low-cost, easy-to-use application EcoSound offers rapid data collection and allows users with no specialized skill requirements to make more detailed bathymetry and vegetation maps than those typically available for many rivers, lakes, and estuaries.
Investigation of C-K Theory Based Approach for Innovative Solutions in Bioinspired Design
Authors: Graceraj P. Prabaharan , Nagel Jacquelyn K. , Rose Christopher S. , Pidaparti Ramana M.
Published: July 2019

This paper discusses the investigation of a Concept-Knowledge (C-K) theory based approach for generating innovative design solutions in bioinspired design projects. Undergraduate students enrolled in sophomore engineering design courses at both the University of Georgia (UGA) and James Madison University (JMU) completed bioinspired design projects using C-K theory based templates. Hypothesis testing, principal component analysis (PCA) and support vector machine (SVM) techniques were applied on the students’ performance scores of a C-K theory based bioinspired design process to identify the biomimicry attributes which supported the evolution of innovative design solutions. Results from the analysis suggest that the C-K theory based approach is useful for generating innovative design solutions.
Pathological Mechanisms Underlying Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Missailidis Daniel , Annesley Sarah J. , Fisher Paul R.
Published: July 2019

The underlying molecular basis of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is not well understood. Characterized by chronic, unexplained fatigue, a disabling payback following exertion (“post-exertional malaise”), and variably presenting multi-system symptoms, ME/CFS is a complex disease, which demands a concerted biomedical investigation from disparate fields of expertise. ME/CFS research and patient treatment have been challenged by the lack of diagnostic biomarkers and finding these is a prominent direction of current work. Despite these challenges, modern research demonstrates a tangible biomedical basis for the disorder across many body systems. This evidence is mostly comprised of disturbances to immunological and inflammatory pathways, autonomic and neurological dysfunction, abnormalities in muscle and mitochondrial function, shifts in metabolism, and gut physiology or gut microbiota disturbances. It is possible that these threads are together entangled as parts of an underlying molecular pathology reflecting a far-reaching homeostatic shift. Due to the variability of non-overlapping symptom presentation or precipitating events, such as infection or other bodily stresses, the initiation of body-wide pathological cascades with similar outcomes stemming from different causes may be implicated in the condition. Patient stratification to account for this heterogeneity is therefore one important consideration during exploration of potential diagnostic developments.
A Peak Traffic Congestion Prediction Method Based on Bus Driving Time
Authors: Huang Zhao , Xia Jizhe , Li Fan , Li Zhen , Li Qingquan
Published: July 2019

Road traffic congestion has a large impact on travel. The accurate prediction of traffic congestion has become a hot topic in intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Recently, a variety of traffic congestion prediction methods have been proposed. However, most approaches focus on floating car data, and the prediction accuracy is often unstable due to large fluctuations in floating speed. Targeting these challenges, we propose a method of traffic congestion prediction based on bus driving time (TCP-DT) using long short-term memory (LSTM) technology. Firstly, we collected a total of 66,228 bus driving records from 50 buses for 66 working days in Guangzhou, China. Secondly, the actual and standard bus driving times were calculated by processing the buses’ GPS trajectories and bus station data. Congestion time is defined as the interval between actual and standard driving time. Thirdly, congestion time prediction based on LSTM (T-LSTM) was adopted to predict future bus congestion times. Finally, the congestion index and classification (CI-C) model was used to calculate the congestion indices and classify the level of congestion into five categories according to three classification methods. Our experimental results show that the T-LSTM model can effectively predict the congestion time of six road sections at different time periods, and the average mean absolute percentage error ( M A P E ¯ ) and root mean square error ( R M S E ¯ ) of prediction are 11.25% and 14.91 in the morning peak, and 12.3% and 14.57 in the evening peak, respectively. The TCP-DT method can effectively predict traffic congestion status and provide a driving route with the least congestion time for vehicles.
Surrogate Data Preserving All the Properties of Ordinal Patterns up to a Certain Length
Authors: Hirata Yoshito , Shiro Masanori , Amigó José M.
Published: July 2019

We propose a method for generating surrogate data that preserves all the properties of ordinal patterns up to a certain length, such as the numbers of allowed/forbidden ordinal patterns and transition likelihoods from ordinal patterns into others. The null hypothesis is that the details of the underlying dynamics do not matter beyond the refinements of ordinal patterns finer than a predefined length. The proposed surrogate data help construct a test of determinism that is free from the common linearity assumption for a null-hypothesis.
Gender, Intra-Household Discrimination and Cash Transfer Schemes: The Case of Indian Punjab
Authors: Singh Nadia
Published: July 2019

For many years, the Punjab province of India has had the dubious distinction of having the worst sex ratio among all other states of India. In recent years, both the child sex ratio and the overall sex ratio has shown a marked improvement in the state. This paper analyses whether the improvement in sex ratios has narrowed down gender discrimination against the girl child in Punjab. This paper examines the intra-household gender differences in indicators of nutrition and well-being by employing logistic regression analysis on the latest available data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) for the year 2015–2016. It also evaluates the cash transfer schemes currently being implemented in Punjab for the welfare of the girl child and analyses their relative efficacy. The key results from the study reveal that gender continues to have a significant impact on indicators of child well-being and nutrition such as the average duration of breastfeeding and intra-household food allocation. The paper also finds that cash transfer schemes do not have a statistically significant impact on indicators of child malnutrition in the state.
All Animals Learn, but Only Humans Teach: The Professional Place of Teacher Educators
Authors: Clarke Linda , McFlynn Paul
Published: July 2019

The profession that creates all other professions has been subject to much debate in recent years. Largely invisible at times, teacher educators have recently been visible mainly in the negative headlines which have surrounded attempts to disrupt this important, but often unsung, profession in order to introduce neoliberal reforms. This paper uses both Eliot Freidson’s three logics (adding artificial intelligence as a fourth logic) and Clarke’s Place Model to deconstruct and map the contested place of the teacher educator in respect of status and career-long learning journey. The question, ‘who is my teacher education professional’? is addressed, highlighting the complexity surrounding teacher educators’ roles and realms. In a world where many animals learn but only humans teach, teaching teachers is poorly recognised for the singularly inclusive profession it might be.
Ancillary Service with Grid Connected PV: A Real-Time Hardware-in-the-Loop Approach for Evaluation of Performances
Authors: Huo Yujia , Gruosso Giambattista
Published: July 2019

The integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems with the grid is undoubtedly an issue of great interest both in terms of energy production, but also as a support to the grid as an ancillary service, but to evaluate the performance of the use of PV in an unconventional way, it is necessary to have reference models to be applied to evaluate the characteristics and integration requirements. In this work, an ancillary service provided by a grid-connected PV is shown and a hardware in the loop simulation environment is created to simulate performances and integration issues.
Design of an Oscillation-Based BIST System for Active Analog Integrated Filters in 0.18 µm CMOS
Authors: Kladovščikov Leonid , Jurgo Marijan , Navickas Romualdas
Published: July 2019

In this paper, an oscillation-based built-in self-test system for active an analog integrated circuit is presented. This built-in self-test system was used to detect catastrophic and parametric faults, introduced during chip manufacturing. As circuits under test (CUT), second-order Sallen-Key, Akerberg-Mossberg and Tow-Thomas biquad filters were designed. The proposed test hardware detects parametric and catastrophic faults on changeable limits. The influence of both oscillation and test hardware on fault detection limits were investigated and analyzed. The proposed oscillation based self-test system was designed and simulated in 0.18 µm complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Due to the easiness of implementation and configuration for testing of different active analog filters, such self-test systems can be effectively used in modern integrated circuits, made of a large number of devices and circuits, such as the multi-standard transceivers used in the core hardware of software-defined radios. Using the proposed test strategy, the fault tolerance limits for catastrophic faults varied from 96% to 100% for all injected faults in different structures of low pass filters (LPF). The detection range of parametric faults of passive components’ nominal value, depending on the used structure of the filter, did not exceed –0.74% – 0.72% in case of Sallen-Key, –3.31% – 1.00% in case of Akerberg-Mossberg and –2.39% – 1.44% in case of Tow-Thomas LPF.
Enhancement Effect of Bimetallic Amide K2Mn(NH2)4 and In-Situ Formed KH and Mn4N on the Dehydrogenation/Hydrogenation Properties of Li–Mg–N–H System
Authors: Gizer Gökhan , Cao Hujun , Puszkiel Julián , Pistidda Claudio , Santoru Antonio , Zhang Weijin , He Teng , Chen Ping , Klassen Thomas , Dornheim Martin
Published: July 2019

In this work, we investigated the influence of the K2Mn(NH2)4 additive on the hydrogen sorption properties of the Mg(NH2)2 + 2LiH (Li–Mg–N–H) system. The addition of 5 mol% of K2Mn(NH2)4 to the Li–Mg–N–H system leads to a decrease of the dehydrogenation peak temperature from 200 °C to 172 °C compared to the pristine sample. This sample exhibits a constant hydrogen storage capacity of 4.2 wt.% over 25 dehydrogenation/rehydrogenation cycles. Besides that, the in-situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction analysis performed on the as prepared Mg(NH2)2 + 2LiH containing K2Mn(NH2)4 indicates the presence of Mn4N. However, no crystalline K-containing phases were detected. Upon dehydrogenation, the formation of KH is observed. The presence of KH and Mn4N positively influences the hydrogen sorption properties of this system, especially at the later stage of rehydrogenation. Under the applied conditions, hydrogenation of the last 1 wt.% takes place in only 2 min. This feature is preserved in the following three cycles.
Energy Retrofitting Effects on the Energy Flexibility of Dwellings
Authors: Mancini Francesco , Nastasi Benedetto
Published: July 2019

Electrification of the built environment is foreseen as a main driver for energy transition for more effective, electric renewable capacity firming. Direct and on-time use of electricity is the best way to integrate them, but the current energy demand of residential building stock is often mainly fuel-based. Switching from fuel to electric-driven heating systems could play a key role. Yet, it implies modifications in the building stock due to the change in the temperature of the supplied heat by new heat pumps compared to existing boilers and in power demand to the electricity meter. Conventional energy retrofitting scenarios are usually evaluated in terms of cost-effective energy saving, while the effects on the electrification and flexibility are neglected. In this paper, the improvement of the building envelope and the installations of electric-driven space heating and domestic hot water production systems is analyzed for 419 dwellings. The dwellings database was built by means of a survey among the students attending the Faculty of Architecture at Sapienza University of Rome. A set of key performance indicators were selected for energy and environmental performance. The changes in the energy flexibility led to the viable participation of all the dwellings to a demand response programme.
Better Fuel Economy by Optimizing Airflow of the Fuel Cell Hybrid Power Systems Using Fuel Flow-Based Load-Following Control
Authors: Bizon Nicu , Mazare Alin Gheorghita , Ionescu Laurentiu Mihai , Thounthong Phatiphat , Kurt Erol , Oproescu Mihai , Serban Gheorghe , Lita Ioan
Published: July 2019

In this paper, the results of the sensitivity analysis applied to a fuel cell hybrid power system using a fuel economy strategy is analyzed in order to select the best values of the parameters involved in fuel consumption optimization. The fuel economy strategy uses the fuel and air flow rates to efficiently operate the proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell (FC) system based on the load-following control and the global extremum seeking (GES) algorithm. The load-following control will ensure the charge-sustained mode for the batteries’ stack, improving its lifetime. The optimization function’s optimum, which is defined to improve the fuel economy, will be tracked in real-time by two GES algorithms that will generate the references for the controller of the boost DC-DC converter and air regulator. The optimization function and performance indicators (such as FC net power, FC electrical efficiency, fuel efficiency, and fuel economy) have a multimodal behavior in dithers’ frequency. Furthermore, the optimum in the considered range of frequencies depends on the load level. So, the best value could be selected as the frequency where the optimum is obtained for the most load levels. Considering a dither frequency of 100 Hz selected as the best value, the sensitivity analysis of the fuel economy is further analyzed for different values of the weighting parameter keff, highlighting the multimodal feature in the parameters for the optimization function and fuel economy as well. A keff value around of 20 lpm/W seems to give the best fuel economy in the full range of load.
Enhancing the Performance of Energy Harvesting Sensor Networks for Environmental Monitoring Applications
Authors: Zareei Mahdi , Vargas-Rosales Cesar , Anisi Mohammad Hossein , Musavian Leila , Villalpando-Hernandez Rafaela , Goudarzi Shidrokh , Mohamed Ehab Mahmoud
Published: July 2019

Fast development in hardware miniaturization and massive production of sensors make them cost efficient and vastly available to be used in various applications in our daily life more specially in environment monitoring applications. However, energy consumption is still one of the barriers slowing down the development of several applications. Slow development in battery technology, makes energy harvesting (EH) as a prime candidate to eliminate the sensor’s energy barrier. EH sensors can be the solution to enabling future applications that would be extremely costly using conventional battery-powered sensors. In this paper, we analyze the performance improvement and evaluation of EH sensors in various situations. A network model is developed to allow us to examine different scenarios. We borrow a clustering concept, as a proven method to improve energy efficiency in conventional sensor network and brought it to EH sensor networks to study its effect on the performance of the network in different scenarios. Moreover, a dynamic and distributed transmission power management for sensors is proposed and evaluated in both networks, with and without clustering, to study the effect of power balancing on the network end-to-end performance. The simulation results indicate that, by using clustering and transmission power adjustment, the power consumption can be distributed in the network more efficiently, which result in improving the network performance in terms of a packet delivery ratio by 20%, 10% higher network lifetime by having more alive nodes and also achieving lower delay by reducing the hop-count.
Design, Manufacturing and Characterization of Linear Fresnel Reflector’s Facets
Authors: Pulido-Iparraguirre Diego , Valenzuela Loreto , Fernández-Reche Jesús , Galindo José , Rodríguez José
Published: July 2019

This paper presents a procedure for making facetted mirrors to use in linear Fresnel reflectors, considering the design of the transversal geometry, materials, and structure configuration. Four different assemblies of the structure that supports and shapes the mirror are documented and evaluated. An assembly that implies a curved, pleated aluminum rectangular plate with a thin silvered-glass mirror vacuum glued to the plate is defined as the optimal. The geometrical quality of the chosen mirror facet’s configuration is accomplished by photogrammetry.
Quantitative Study of the Geometrical and Hydraulic Characteristics of a Single Rock Fracture
Authors: Li Xinling , Jiang Zeyun , Min Chao
Published: July 2019

Three-dimensional images of fractured rocks can be acquired by an X-ray micro-CT scanning technique, which allows researchers to investigate the ‘true’ inner void structure of a natural fracture without destroying the core. The 3D fractures in images can be characterised by measuring morphological properties on both fracture apertures and its trend surface, like the medial surface, that reveals the undulation of fracture planes. In a previous paper, we have proposed a novel method to generate fracture models stochastically. Based on a large number of such fracture models, in this work a modified factor was proposed for improving the performance of the cubic law by incorporating the flow-dominant characteristics, including two parameters (aperture roughness and spatial correlation length) for fracture apertures and two (surface undulation coefficient and spatial correlation length) for fracture trend-surface. We assess and validate the modified cubic law by applying it to natural fractures in images that have varying apertures and extremely bended trend-surfaces, with the permeabilities calculated by a Lattice Boltzmann Method as ‘ground truths’.
A Survey of Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis toward Integrated O&M for Wind Turbines
Authors: Zhang Pinjia , Lu Delong
Published: July 2019

Wind power, as a renewable energy for coping with global climate change challenge, has achieved rapid development in recent years. The breakdown of wind turbines (WTs) not only leads to high repair expenses but also may threaten the stability of the whole power grid. How to reduce the operation and the maintenance (O&M) cost of wind farms is an obstacle to its further promotion and application. To provide reliable condition monitoring and fault diagnosis (CMFD) for WTs, this paper presents a comprehensive survey of the existing CMFD methods in the following three aspects: energy flow, information flow, and integrated O&M system. Energy flow mainly analyzes the characteristics of each component from the angle of energy conversion of WTs. Information flow is the carrier of fault and control information of WT. At the end of this paper, an integrated WT O&M system based on electrical signals is proposed.
Bench-Scale Cultivation of Microalgae Scenedesmus almeriensis for CO2 Capture and Lutein Production
Authors: Molino Antonio , Mehariya Sanjeet , Karatza Despina , Chianese Simeone , Iovine Angela , Casella Patrizia , Marino Tiziana , Musmarra Dino
Published: July 2019

In this study, Scenedesmus almeriensis as green microalga was cultivated on bench-scale for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and lutein production. The autotrophic cultivation of S. almeriensis was carried out by using a vertical bubble column photo-bioreactor (VBC-PBR) with a continuous flow of a gaseous mixture of oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), and CO2, the latter in content of 0.0–3.0 %v/v. The liquid phase was batch. S. almeriensis growth was optimized. In addition, lutein extraction was carried out by using accelerated solvent extraction with ethanol as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) solvent at 67 °C and 10 MPa. Upon optimization of CO2 concentration, the maximum biomass productivity, equal to 129.24 mg·L−1·d−1, was achieved during the cultivation by using a content of CO2 equal to 3.0 %v/v and it allowed to obtain a lutein content of 8.54 mg·g−1, which was 5.6-fold higher in comparison to the analogous process carried out without CO2 addition. The ion chemical analysis in the growth medium showed that by gradually increasing CO2 content, the nutrient consumption during the growth phase also increased. This study may be of potential interest for lutein extraction at industrial scale, since it is focused on pigment production from a natural source with a concomitantly CO2 capture.
Health Assessment and Fault Detection System for an Industrial Robot Using the Rotary Encoder Signal
Authors: Algburi Riyadh Nazar Ali , Gao Hongli
Published: July 2019

In an industrial robot, rotary encoders have been extensively used for dynamic control and positioning. This study shows that the encoder signal, after appropriate processing, can also be efficiently utilized for the health observation of energy performance of industrial robots system. Singular spectrum analysis (SSA) and Hilbert transform (HT) is proposed in this work, for detecting weak position oscillations to estimate the instantaneous amplitudes (IA) and the instantaneous frequencies (IF) of an industrial robot based on the encoder signal. Compared with empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and HT, the singular spectrum analysis and Hilbert transform (SSAHT) outperforms empirical mode decomposition Hilbert transform (EMDHT) in terms of ability and precision to determine source noise, and it can accurately catch the weak oscillations without signal deformation in both position and speed introduced via mechanical flaws. Combined with SSA, the IA and IF of both oscillations and residual are extracted by HT. They are obtained from the robot arm movement. These features play an important role in improving the performance detecting weak oscillations and the residual, essential information to evaluate the health conditions and fault detection to serve the energy performance for the industrial robot. The efficiency of the proposed system has been verified both numerical simulation and experimental data. The outcomes prove that the proposed SSAHT can detect flaw indications and additionally, it can also identify faulty components. Thus, the study presents a promising tool for the health monitoring of an industrial robot instead of the vibration-based monitoring scheme.
Potential Impacts to Wetlands and Water Bodies Due to Mineral Exploration, Pebble Copper-Gold Prospect, Southwest Alaska
Authors: Zamzow Kendra , Chambers David M.
Published: July 2019

There is little information in the literature about the impacts of mineral exploration drilling on natural waters. A copper-gold-molybdenum mining deposit in Alaska was heavily explored until 2012 and partially reclaimed; however, full reclamation of drill sites remained incomplete in 2016. Copper is sub-lethally toxic to salmon, a highly-valued resource in this area. Of 109 sites inspected, 9 sites had confirmed impacts due to un-reclaimed drill-holes or drill waste disposal practices. At seven sites artesian waters at the drill stem resulted in surface water or sediment elevated in aluminum, iron, copper, or zinc with neutral pH. Copper concentrations at artesian sites were <0.4, 0.7, 2, 7, 15, 76, and 215 µg/L; the latter four exceed water quality criteria. Drilling waste is known to have been disposed of in ponds and unlined sumps. At one of five ponds sampled, copper declined from 51 to 8 µg/L over nine years. At the one sump area with historical data, copper increased from 0.3 to 1.8 µg/L at a downgradient wetland spring over five years. This research identifies contaminant types and sources and can be used to guide future ecotoxicity studies and improve regulatory oversight.
Complete Chloroplast Genome of Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. and Comparative Analysis with Five Pine Trees
Authors: Kang Hye-In , Lee Hyun Oh , Lee Il Hwan , Kim In Sik , Lee Seok-Woo , Yang Tae Jin , Shim Donghwan
Published: July 2019

Pinus densiflora (Korean red pine) is widely distributed in East Asia and considered one of the most important species in Korea. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of P. densiflora was sequenced by combining the advantages of Oxford Nanopore MinION and Illumina MiSeq. The sequenced genome was then compared with that of a previously published conifer plastome. The chloroplast genome was found to be circular and comprised of a quadripartite structure, including 113 genes encoding 73 proteins, 36 tRNAs and 4 rRNAs. It had short inverted repeat regions and lacked ndh gene family genes, which is consistent with other Pinaceae species. The gene content of P. densiflora was found to be most similar to that of P. sylvestris. The newly attempted sequencing method could be considered an alternative method for obtaining accurate genetic information, and the chloroplast genome sequence of P. densiflora revealed in this study can be used in the phylogenetic analysis of Pinus species.
Implementation and Evaluation of Activity-Based Congestion Management Using P4 (P4-ABC)
Authors: Menth Michael , Mostafaei Habib , Merling Daniel , Häberle Marco
Published: July 2019

Activity-Based Congestion management (ABC) is a novel domain-based QoS mechanism providing more fairness among customers on bottleneck links. It avoids per-flow or per-customer states in the core network and is suitable for application in future 5G networks. However, ABC cannot be configured on standard devices. P4 is a novel programmable data plane specification which allows defining new headers and forwarding behavior. In this work, we implement an ABC prototype using P4 and point out challenges experienced during implementation. Experimental validation of ABC using the P4-based prototype reveals the desired fairness results.
Effect of Agave Fructans as Carrier on the Encapsulation of Blue Corn Anthocyanins by Spray Drying
Authors: Sánchez-Madrigal Miguel Á. , Quintero-Ramos Armando , Amaya-Guerra Carlos A. , Meléndez-Pizarro Carmen O. , Castillo-Hernández Sandra L. , Aguilera-González Carlos J.
Published: July 2019

Effects of agave fructans as carrier agents on the encapsulation of blue corn anthocyanins using spray-drying were evaluated. Blue corn extract was mixed with 6%, 8%, 10%, and 12% (w/v) of agave fructans in duplicate and dried at 150 °C. The extract showed good contents of anthocyanins, polyphenols, and antioxidant activity. The increase of agave fructans in the encapsulated powders caused a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the humidity, water activity (aw), pH, bulk density, water solubility index (WSI), and color L* values. On the contrary, the agave fructan addition decreased the hygroscopicity, water absorption index (WAI), antioxidant activity, total anthocyanin, total polyphenol, and individual anthocyanin contents. The encapsulation of blue corn extract with 6% agave fructans (w/v) resulted in good physical, thermal, morphological, and high antioxidant properties. The results suggest that the use of agave fructans as wall material represents advantages in the conservation of anthocyanins and other bioactive compounds from blue corn extract during their encapsulation. The application of blue corn anthocyanin encapsulated powders as a food ingredient is promising for food pigmentation, representing additional advantages for their contribution as a soluble fiber that can benefit the health of consumers.
Emulsifiers from Partially Composted Olive Waste
Authors: Koliastasi Aikaterini , Kompothekra Vasiliki , Giotis Charilaos , Moustakas Antonis , Skotti Efstathia , Gerakis Argyrios , Kalogianni Eleni P. , Ritzoulis Christos
Published: July 2019

Partial (one month) composting of solid olive processing waste is shown to produce extractable emulsifiers. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) show that these consist of polysaccharides and proteins from the composted waste. Aqueous extraction at pH 5, pH 7, and pH 9 all yield extracts rich in oligosacchrides and oligopeptides which derive from the break-down of the macromolecules under composting, with the extract obtained at pH 5 being the richer in such components. Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy also confirms that these materials consist of proteinic and poly/oligosaccharidic populations. These materials can emulsify stable oil–in–water emulsions at pH 3 for a few days, while the same emulsions collapse in less than 24 h at pH 7. Confocal microscopy and droplet size distribution data suggest that Ostwald ripening, rather than coalescence, is the major course of emulsion instability. The above point to a short-process alternative to full composting in producing a high added value product from solid olive processing waste.
Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Profiles of Salmonella Biofilm and Planktonic Bacteria Challenged with Disinfectants Commonly Used During Poultry Processing
Authors: Cadena Myrna , Kelman Todd , Marco Maria L. , Pitesky Maurice
Published: July 2019

Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella that survive cleaning and disinfection during poultry processing are a public health concern because pathogens that survive disinfectants have greater potential to exhibit resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants after their initial disinfectant challenge. While the mechanisms conferring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) after exposure to disinfectants is complex, understanding the effects of disinfectants on Salmonella in both their planktonic and biofilm states is becoming increasingly important, as AMR and disinfectant tolerant bacteria are becoming more prevalent in the food chain. This review examines the modes of action of various types of disinfectants commonly used during poultry processing (quaternary ammonium, organic acids, chlorine, alkaline detergents) and the mechanisms that may confer tolerance to disinfectants and cross-protection to antibiotics. The goal of this review article is to characterize the AMR profiles of Salmonella in both their planktonic and biofilm state that have been challenged with hexadecylpyridinium chloride (HDP), peracetic acid (PAA), sodium hypochlorite (SHY) and trisodium phosphate (TSP) in order to understand the risk of these disinfectants inducing AMR in surviving bacteria that may enter the food chain.
Venous Thromboembolism in Prader–Willi Syndrome: A Questionnaire Survey
Authors: Manzardo Ann M. , Heinemann Janalee , McManus Barbara , Loker Carolyn , Loker James , Butler Merlin G.
Published: July 2019

Prader–Willi Syndrome Association (USA) monitors the ongoing health and welfare of individuals with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) through active communication with members by membership surveys and data registries. Thromboembolism and blood clots have emerged in clinical studies as significant risk factors for injury and death in PWS. A 66-item questionnaire was developed by a panel of PWS medical and scientific experts, with input from Prader–Willi Syndrome Association (USA) leadership, so as to probe their membership on the frequency, risk, and protective factors for venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, and related findings. The characteristics of those with and without a reported history of blood clots and related health factors were tabulated and analyzed. Responses were obtained for 1067 individuals with PWS (554 females and 513 males), and 38 (23 females and 15 males) had a history of blood clots. The individuals with clots did not differ by gender, but were significantly older 32.8 ± 15 years vs 20.4 ± 13 years, and were more likely to have a reported history of obesity (76%), edema (59%), hypertension (24%), vasculitis (33%), and family history of blood clots (33%) than those without clots. Growth hormone treatment was more common in individuals without clots. The risk factors for thromboembolism in PWS overlap those commonly observed for the general population.
A Guide on Deep Learning for Complex Trait Genomic Prediction
Authors: Pérez-Enciso Miguel , Zingaretti Laura M.
Published: July 2019

Deep learning (DL) has emerged as a powerful tool to make accurate predictions from complex data such as image, text, or video. However, its ability to predict phenotypic values from molecular data is less well studied. Here, we describe the theoretical foundations of DL and provide a generic code that can be easily modified to suit specific needs. DL comprises a wide variety of algorithms which depend on numerous hyperparameters. Careful optimization of hyperparameter values is critical to avoid overfitting. Among the DL architectures currently tested in genomic prediction, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) seem more promising than multilayer perceptrons (MLPs). A limitation of DL is in interpreting the results. This may not be relevant for genomic prediction in plant or animal breeding but can be critical when deciding the genetic risk to a disease. Although DL technologies are not “plug-and-play”, they are easily implemented using Keras and TensorFlow public software. To illustrate the principles described here, we implemented a Keras-based code in GitHub.
Lower Eocene Footprints from Northwest Washington, USA. Part 1: Reptile Tracks
Authors: Mustoe George E.
Published: July 2019

Lower Eocene fluvial strata in the Chuckanut Formation preserve abundant bird and mammal tracks. Reptile trace fossils include footprints from a small turtle (ichnogenus Chelonipus), and several Crocodylian trackways that consist of irregularly spaced footprints associated with linear tail drag marks. The latter trackways represent “punting” locomotion, where a submerged Crocodylian used intermittent substrate contacts to provide forward motion of their neutrally buoyant bodies. Two adjacent sandstone blocks preserve Crocodylian trace fossils that are named herein as a new ichnogenus and ichnospecies Anticusuchipes amnis. Two other Crocodylian trackways lack sufficient detail for ichnotaxonomic assignment.
Scale-Optimized Surface Roughness for Topographic Analysis
Authors: Lindsay John B. , Newman Daniel R. , Francioni Anthony
Published: July 2019

Surface roughness is a terrain parameter that has been widely applied to the study of geomorphological processes. One of the main challenges in studying roughness is its highly scale-dependent nature. Determining appropriate mapping scales in topographically heterogenous landscapes can be difficult. A method is presented for estimating multiscale surface roughness based on the standard deviation of surface normals. This method utilizes scale partitioning and integral image processing to isolate scales of surface complexity. The computational efficiency of the method enables high scale sampling density and identification of maximum roughness for each grid cell in a digital elevation model (DEM). The approach was applied to a 0.5 m resolution LiDAR DEM of a 210 km2 area near Brantford, Canada. The case study demonstrated substantial heterogeneity in roughness properties. At shorter scales, tillage patterns and other micro-topography associated with ground beneath forest cover dominated roughness scale signatures. Extensive agricultural land-use resulted in 35.6% of the site exhibiting maximum roughness at micro-topographic scales. At larger spatial scales, rolling morainal topography and fluvial landforms, including incised channels and meander cut banks, were associated with maximum surface roughness. This method allowed for roughness mapping at spatial scales that are locally adapted to the topographic context of each individual grid cell within a DEM. Furthermore, the analysis revealed significant differences in roughness characteristics among soil texture categories, demonstrating the practical utility of locally adaptive, scale-optimized roughness.
A Simplistic Approach for Assessing Hydroclimatic Vulnerability of Lakes and Reservoirs with Regulated Superficial Outflow
Authors: Demertzi Kleoniki , Papadimos Dimitris , Aschonitis Vassilis , Papamichail Dimitris
Published: July 2019

This study proposes a simplistic model for assessing the hydroclimatic vulnerability of lakes/reservoirs (LRs) that preserve their steady-state conditions based on regulated superficial discharge (Qd) out of the LR drainage basin. The model is a modification of the Bracht-Flyr et al. method that was initially proposed for natural lakes in closed basins with no superficial discharge outside the basin (Qd = 0) and under water-limited environmental conditions {mean annual ratio of potential/reference evapotranspiration (ETo) versus rainfall (P) greater than 1}. In the proposed modified approach, an additional Qd function is included. The modified model is applied using as a case study the Oreastiada Lake, which is located inside the Kastoria basin in Greece. Six years of observed data of P, ETo, Qd, and lake topography were used to calibrate the modified model based on the current conditions. The calibrated model was also used to assess the future lake conditions based on the future climatic projections (mean conditions of 2061-2080) derived by 19 general circulation models (GCMs) for three cases of climate change (three cases of Representative Concentration Pathways: RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). The modified method can be used as a diagnostic tool in water-limited environments for analyzing the superficial discharge changes of LRs under different climatic conditions and to support the design of new management strategies for mitigating the impact of climate change on (a) flooding conditions, (b) hydroelectric production, (c) irrigation/industrial/domestic use and (d) minimum ecological flows to downstream rivers.
How Surface Radiation on Forested Snowpack Changes across a Latitudinal Gradient
Authors: Seyednasrollah Bijan , Kumar Mukesh
Published: July 2019

Radiation is the major driver of snowmelt, and, hence, its estimation is critically important. Net radiation reaching the forest floor is influenced by vegetation density. Previous studies in mid-latitude conifer forests have confirmed that net radiation decreases and then subsequently increases with increasing vegetation density, for clear sky conditions. This leads to the existence of a net radiation minimum at an intermediate vegetation density. With increasing cloud cover, the minimum radiation shifts toward lower densities, sometimes resulting in a monotonically increasing radiation with vegetation density. The net radiation trend, however, is expected to change across sites, affecting the magnitude and timing of individual radiation components. This research explores the variability of net radiation on a snow-covered forest floor for different vegetation densities along a latitudinal gradient. We especially investigate how the magnitude of minimum/maximum radiation and the corresponding vegetation density change with the site geographical location. To evaluate these, the net radiation is evaluated using the Forest Radiation Model at six different locations in predominantly white spruce (Picea glauca) canopy cover across North America, ranging from 45 to 66° N latitudes. Results show that the variation of net radiation with vegetation density considerably varies with latitude. In higher latitude forests, the magnitude of net radiation is generally smaller, and the minimum radiation is exhibited at relatively sparser vegetation densities, under clear sky conditions. For interspersed cloudy sky conditions, net radiation non-monotonically varies with latitude across the sites, depending on the seasonal sky cloudiness and air temperature. The latitudinal sensitivity of net radiation is lower on north-facing hillslopes than on south-facing sites.
Effect of Pyrochar and Hydrochar on Water Evaporation in Clayey Soil under Greenhouse Cultivation
Authors: Liu Yang , Liu Xiaoyu , Ren Ni , Feng Yanfang , Xue Lihong , Yang Linzhang
Published: July 2019

Greenhouse cultivation consumes large volumes of freshwater, and excessive irrigation induces environmental problems, such as nutrient leaching and secondary salinization. Pyrochar (biochar from high-temperature pyrolysis) is an effective soil amendment, and researches have shown that pyrochar application could maintain soil nutrient and enhance carbon sequestration. In addition to pyrochar from pyrolysis, hydrochar from hydrothermic carbonization is considered as a new type of biochar and has the advantages of low energy consumption and a high productive rate. However, the effect of these two biochars on water evaporation in clayey soils under a greenhouse system has seldom been studied. The relationship between water evaporation and biochar properties is still unknown. Thus, in the present study, water evaporation under pyrochar and hydrochar application were recorded. Results showed that both pyrochar and hydrochar application could inhibit water evaporation in clayey soil under greenhouse cultivation. Pyrochar showed a better inhibition effect compared with hydrochar. Correlation analysis indicated that the water evaporation rate was significantly positively correlated with bulk density of biochar (p < 0.05). Overall, application of pyrochar or hydrochar could both reduce soil bulk density and inhibit soil evaporation, and be available for greenhouse cultivation. However, the inhibition effect depends on the properties of the biochar.
Study Design, Rationale and Procedures for Human Biomonitoring of Hazardous Chemicals from Foods and Cooking in Korea
Authors: Lee Seokwon , Ahn Ryoung Me , Kim Jae Hyoun , Han Yoon-Deok , Lee Jin Heon , Son Bu-Soon , Lee Kyoungho
Published: July 2019

Objectives: A nationwide biomonitoring program identified the long-term trends of environmental exposures to hazardous chemicals in the general population and found geographical locations where body burdens of an exposed group significantly differed from those of the general population. The purpose of this study is to analyze the hazardous compounds associated with foods and cooking in the nationwide general population for evaluation of the environmental exposures and health risk factors and for the establishment of the reference levels at the national level. Methods: During 2009–2010, the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) conducted a nationwide human biomonitoring study, including a questionnaire survey and environmental exposure assessments for specific hazardous compounds from foods and cooking among the general population in South Korea. Results: A total of 2139 individuals voluntarily participated in 98 survey units in South Korea, including 889 (41.6%) men and 1250 women (58.4%). Bio-specimens (serum and urine) and questionnaires were collected from the study population. Acrylamides, heterocyclic amines (HCAs), phenols, and phthalates were analyzed from urine, and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and organic chloride pesticides (OCPs) were analyzed from serum samples. The information on exposure pathway and geographical locations for all participants was collected by questionnaire interviews, which included demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, history of family diseases, conditions of the indoor and outdoor environment, lifestyles, occupational history, and food and dietary information. Conclusion: We describe the design of the study and sampling of human biospecimen procedures including bio-sample repository systems. The resources produced from this nationwide human biomonitoring study and survey will be valuable for use in future biomarkers studies and for the assessment of exposure to hazardous compounds associated with foods and cooking.
The Role of Culture in Maintaining Post-Partum Sexual Abstinence of Swazi Women
Authors: Shabangu Zinhle , Madiba Sphiwe
Published: July 2019

Eswatini is one of the countries in the African continent where post-partum sexual abstinence is practiced. Beside scarcity of research exploring sexual abstinence in Eswatini, there are only a few studies that explore post-partum abstinence across HIV-positive and negative women in sub-Saharan Africa. The study explored the practice of post-partum sexual abstinence in Swazi women and examined how cultural beliefs influence and promotes the perpetuation of the practice. The study population consisted of post-partum women who were selected, using purposive sampling. Thematic approach was used for data analysis. Despite feeling that the period for post-partum, sexual abstinence was long; the participants adhered to the practice as prescribed by their culture. Nevertheless, they felt that the practice is imposed on women only because while they are observing post-partum abstinence, their partners get to sleep with other sexual partners. They raised concerns that the practice increases the risk of acquiring HIV and sexually transmitted infections. There is an element of coercion to the practice of post-partum abstinence, the myths and misconceptions around the early resumption of sexual intercourse forces the practice on women. At the family and community level, the discussions to change the way sexual abstinence is viewed and practiced are crucial.