bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One-Dimensional Nanomaterials in Resistive Gas Sensor: From Material Design to Application
Authors: Wang Ze , Zhu Lei , Sun Shiyi , Wang Jianan , Yan Wei
Published: July 2021

With a series of widespread applications, resistive gas sensors are considered to be promising candidates for gas detection, benefiting from their small size, ease-of-fabrication, low power consumption and outstanding maintenance properties. One-dimensional (1-D) nanomaterials, which have large specific surface areas, abundant exposed active sites and high length-to-diameter ratios, enable fast charge transfers and gas-sensitive reactions. They can also significantly enhance the sensitivity and response speed of resistive gas sensors. The features and sensing mechanism of current resistive gas sensors and the potential advantages of 1-D nanomaterials in resistive gas sensors are firstly reviewed. This review systematically summarizes the design and optimization strategies of 1-D nanomaterials for high-performance resistive gas sensors, including doping, heterostructures and composites. Based on the monitoring requirements of various characteristic gases, the available applications of this type of gas sensors are also classified and reviewed in the three categories of environment, safety and health. The direction and priorities for the future development of resistive gas sensors are laid out.
Ionogels Based on a Single Ionic Liquid for Electronic Nose Application
Authors: Gonçalves Wellington B. , Cervantes Evelyn P. , Pádua Ana C. C. S. , Santos Gonçalo , Palma Susana I. C. J. , Li Rosamaria W. C. , Roque Ana C. A. , Gruber Jonas
Published: July 2021

Ionogel are versatile materials, as they present the electrical properties of ionic liquids and also dimensional stability, since they are trapped in a solid matrix, allowing application in electronic devices such as gas sensors and electronic noses. In this work, ionogels were designed to act as a sensitive layer for the detection of volatiles in a custom-made electronic nose. Ionogels composed of gelatin and a single imidazolium ionic liquid were doped with bare and functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles, producing ionogels with adjustable target selectivity. After exposing an array of four ionogels to 12 distinct volatile organic compounds, the collected signals were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and by several supervised classification methods, in order to assess the ability of the electronic nose to distinguish different volatiles, which showed accuracy above 98%.
Current Practices on Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in Pediatric Patients after Solid Organ Transplantation: Results of ERN TransplantChild Healthcare Working Group Survey
Authors: Baker Alastair , Frauca Remacha Esteban , Torres Canizales Juan , Bravo-Gallego Luz Yadira , Fitzpatrick Emer , Alonso Melgar Angel , Muñoz Bartolo Gema , Garcia Guereta Luis , Ramos Boluda Esther , Mozo Yasmina , Broniszczak Dorota , Jarmużek Wioletta , Kalicinski Piotr , Maecker-Kolhoff Britta , Carlens Julia , Baumann Ulrich , Roy Charlotte , Chardot Christophe , Benetti Elisa , Cananzi Mara , Calore Elisabetta , Dello Strologo Luca , Candusso Manila , Lopes Maria Francelina , Brito Manuel João , Gonçalves Cristina , Do Carmo Carmen , Stephenne Xavier , Wennberg Lars , Stone Rosário , Rascon Jelena , Lindemans Caroline , Turkiewicz Dominik , Giraldi Eugenia , Nicastro Emanuele , D’Antiga Lorenzo , Ackermann Oanez , Jara Vega Paloma
Published: July 2021

(1) Background: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a significant complication of solid organ transplantation (SOT). However, there is lack of consensus in PTLD management. Our aim was to establish a present benchmark for comparison between international centers and between various organ transplant systems and modalities; (2) Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire of relevant PTLD practices in pediatric transplantation was sent to multidisciplinary teams from 17 European center members of ERN TransplantChild to evaluate the centers’ approach strategies for diagnosis and treatment and how current practices impact a cross-sectional series of PTLD cases; (3) Results: A total of 34 SOT programs from 13 European centers participated. The decision to start preemptive treatment and its guidance was based on both EBV viremia monitoring plus additional laboratory methods and clinical assessment (61%). Among treatment modalities the most common initial practice at diagnosis was to reduce the immunosuppression (61%). A total of 126 PTLD cases were reported during the period 2012–2016. According to their histopathological classification, monomorphic lesions were the most frequent (46%). Graft rejection after PTLD remission was 33%. Of the total cases diagnosed with PTLD, 88% survived; (4) Conclusions: There is still no consensus on prevention and treatment of PTLD, which implies the need to generate evidence. This might successively allow the development of clinical guidelines.
Construction and Validation of Institutional Identity Scale for University Students
Authors: Bilal Zunaira , Ghayas Saba , Naeem Taram , Kayani Sumaira , Xie Ruibo , Biasutti Michele
Published: July 2021

The current study presents the validation process of a measure of institutional identity for university students. The research is composed of two studies. Study I consisted of the generation of an item pool based on the literature review, semi-structured interviews, and expert opinion, which were administered to a convenient sample of university students (n = 707; 300 males and 407 females) in Pakistan. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a two-factor structure with 20 items, and the factors were named commitment (α = 0.84) and crisis (α = 0.74). The two-factor solution was confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis, which revealed an excellent model fit with the two-factor structure. Study II reports on the convergent and divergent validity of the scale which was carried out on an independent sample (n = 120). Results provided evidence of convergent validity as depression correlated negatively with the commitment subscale and positively with the crisis subscale. Divergent validity was ensured by a non-significant correlation between the subscales of the newly developed scale and a measure of religious belief. Moreover, the implications and limitations of the study are discussed.
The Physical Education Class Perceived by Schoolchildren from 6 to 8 Years Old Expressed through Drawings
Authors: Cachón-Zagalaz Javier , Sanabrias-Moreno Déborah , Sánchez-Zafra María , Lara-Sánchez Amador Jesús , Zagalaz-Sánchez María Luisa
Published: July 2021

Physical Education is one of the subjects that arouses the most interest in children. The aim of this study is to find out the opinion that primary school students have about the Physical Education class. Drawings from a sample of 62 students from an educational centre in the city of Jaén, aged between six and eight years old, were analysed. The results show that the larger size of the drawings corresponds to the aspects that are to be emphasised. This subject is carried out regularly in the sports pavilion of the centre, making frequent use of materials such as sticks, hoops or balls. Cheerful colours are used, reflecting their enthusiasm for the subject. The smiling facial expression represents the schoolchildren’s interest in the subject. The most popular games or sports are basketball and pichi, both of them collective.
Peristaltic Flow with Heat Transfer for Nano-Coupled Stress Fluid through Non-Darcy Porous Medium in the Presence of Magnetic Field
Authors: Abbas Wael , Eldabe Nabil T. M. , Abdelkhalek Rasha A. , Zidan Nehad A. , Marzouk Samir Y.
Published: July 2021

In this paper, the peristaltic motion of nano-coupled stress fluid through non-Darcy porous medium is investigated, and the heat transfer is taken into account. The system is stressed by an external magnetic field. The Ohmic and viscous couple stress dissipations, heat generation and chemical reaction are considered. This motion is modulated mathematically by a system of non-linear partial differential equations, which describe the fluid velocity, temperature and nanoparticles’ concentration. These equations are transformed to non-dimensional form with the associated appropriate boundary conditions. The homotopy perturbation method is used to find the solutions of these equations as a function of the physical parameters of the problem. The effects of the parameters on the obtained solutions are discussed numerically and illustrated graphically. It is found that these parameters play an important role to control the solutions. Significant outcomes from graphical elucidation envisage that the inclusion of more magnetic field strength increases the resistance of the fluid motion. Intensification of the couple stress parameter attenuates the temperature values, while it increases with increasing thermophoresis parameter.
Surface Protection of Wood with Metal Acetylacetonates
Authors: Zhu Yuner , Evans Philip D.
Published: July 2021

Metal acetylacetonates are coordination complexes of metal ions and the acetylacetonate anion with diverse uses including catalysts, cross-linking agents and adhesion promotors. Some metal acetylacetonates can photostabilize polymers whereas others are photocatalysts. We hypothesize that the ability of metal acetylacetonates to photostabilize wood will vary depending on the metal in the coordination complex. We test this hypothesis by treating yellow cedar veneers with different acetylacetonates (Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Ti), exposing veneers to natural weathering in Australia, and measuring changes in properties of treated veneers. The most effective treatments were also tested on yellow cedar panels exposed to the weather in Vancouver, Canada. Nickel, manganese, and titanium acetylacetonates were able to restrict weight and tensile strength losses and delignification of wood veneers during natural weathering. Titanium acetylacetonate was as effective as a reactive UV absorber at reducing the greying of panels exposed to 6 months of natural weathering, and both titanium and manganese acetylacetonates reduced the photo-discoloration of panels finished with a polyurethane coating. We conclude that the effectiveness of metal acetylacetonates at photostabilizing wood varies depending on the metal in the coordination complex, and titanium and manganese acetylacetonate show promise as photoprotective primers for wood.
Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy as a Diagnostic Tool for the Study of LiCoO2 Cathode of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Pagot Gioele , Toso Valerio , Barbiellini Bernardo , Ferragut Rafael , Di Noto Vito
Published: July 2021

Positron annihilation spectroscopy using lifetime and Doppler broadening allows the characterization of the lithiation state in LiCoO2 thin film used in cathode of lithium-ion batteries. The lifetime results reflect positron spillover because of the presence of graphite in between the oxide grains in real cathode Li-ion batteries. This spillover produces an effect in the measured positron parameters which are sensitive to delocalized electrons from lithium atoms as in Compton scattering results. The first component of the positron lifetime corresponds to a bulk-like state and can be used to characterize the state of charge of the cathode while the second component represents a surface state at the grain-graphite interface.
Exploring the Role of Crystal Water in Potassium Manganese Hexacyanoferrate as a Cathode Material for Potassium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Morozova Polina A. , Trussov Ivan A. , Rupasov Dmitry P. , Nikitina Victoria A. , Abakumov Artem M. , Fedotov Stanislav S.
Published: July 2021

The Prussian Blue analogue K2−δMn[Fe(CN)6]1−ɣ∙nH2O is regarded as a key candidate for potassium-ion battery positive electrode materials due to its high specific capacity and redox potential, easy scalability, and low cost. However, various intrinsic defects, such as water in the crystal lattice, can drastically affect electrochemical performance. In this work, we varied the water content in K2−δMn[Fe(CN)6]1−ɣ∙nH2O by using a vacuum/air drying procedure and investigated its effect on the crystal structure, chemical composition and electrochemical properties. The crystal structure of K2−δMn[Fe(CN)6]1−ɣ∙nH2O was, for the first time, Rietveld-refined, based on neutron powder diffraction data at 10 and 300 K, suggesting a new structural model with the Pc space group in accordance with Mössbauer spectroscopy. The chemical composition was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis combined with mass spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy microanalysis and infrared spectroscopy. Nanosized cathode materials delivered electrochemical specific capacities of 130–134 mAh g−1 at 30 mA g−1 (C/5) in the 2.5–4.5 V (vs. K+/K) potential range. Diffusion coefficients determined by potentiostatic intermittent titration in a three-electrode cell reached 10−13 cm2 s−1 after full potassium extraction. It was shown that drying triggers no significant changes in crystal structure, iron oxidation state or electrochemical performance, though the water level clearly decreased from the pristine to air- and vacuum-dried samples.
Intramolecular Hydrogen Bond, Hirshfeld Analysis, AIM; DFT Studies of Pyran-2,4-dione Derivatives
Authors: Boraei Ahmed T. A. , Haukka Matti , Sarhan Ahmed A. M. , Soliman Saied M. , Barakat Assem
Published: July 2021

Intra and intermolecular interactions found in the developed crystals of the synthesized py-ron-2,4-dione derivatives play crucial rules in the molecular conformations and crystal stabili-ties, respectively. In this regard, Hirshfeld calculations were used to quantitatively analyze the different intermolecular interactions in the crystal structures of some functionalized py-ran-2,4-dione derivatives. The X-ray structure of pyran-2,4-dione derivative namely (3E,3′E)-3,3′-((ethane-1,2-diylbis(azanediyl))bis(phenylmethanylylidene))bis(6-phenyl-2H-pyran-2,4(3H)-dione) was determined. It crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system and C2/c space group with unit cell parameters: a = 14.0869(4) Å, b = 20.9041(5) Å, c = 10.1444(2) Å and β = 99.687(2)°. Generally, the H…H, H…C, O…H and C…C contacts are the most important interactions in the molecular packing of the studied pyran-2,4-diones. The molecular structure of these compounds is stabilized by intramolecular O…H hydrogen bond. The nature and strength of the O…H hy-drogen bonds were analyzed using atoms in molecules calculations. In all compounds, the O…H hydrogen bond belongs to closed-shell interactions where the interaction energies are higher at the optimized geometry than the X-ray one due to the shortening in the A…H distance as a con-sequence of the geometry optimization. These compounds have polar characters with different charged regions which explored using molecular electrostatic potential map. Their natural charges, reactivity descriptors and NMR chemical shifts were computed, discussed and compared.
The Possibility of Using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Authors: Obuchowska Aleksandra , Standyło Arkadiusz , Kimber-Trojnar Żaneta , Leszczyńska-Gorzelak Bożena
Published: July 2021

Pregnancy is a time of significant changes occurring in the composition of a woman’s body in order to provide support for the growth and development of the foetus. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is used to assess the body composition and hydration status. This technique represents a non-invasive, reliable, and fast clinical approach, which is well tolerated by patients. A segmental impedance measurement might be advantageous in pregnant women, particularly in late pregnancy. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of different applications of BIA in pregnant and postpartum women. It seems that BIA has a better prognostic potential for gestational and post-partum outcomes than body mass index. The BIA method can be successfully used to study the effect of excessive gestational weight gain in pregnancy on the development of obstetric complications. Studying the mother’s body composition and correlating it with her energy balance could facilitate the development of dietary recommendations for women. Evaluation of the body composition can provide important clues for diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women with a low risk of this disease. BIA is also used as one of the additional tests in assessing the risk of developing gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
Adjuvant Effect of Titanium Brushes in Peri-Implant Surgical Treatment: A Systematic Review
Authors: González Francisco Javier , Requena Estefanía , Miralles Lucía , Sanz José Luis , Barberá Javier , Enciso José Juan , Larrazábal Carolina , Gómez María Dolores
Published: July 2021

Background: the prognosis of peri-implant surgery can be affected by poor decontamination of the implant surface, which could be improved with the use of titanium brushes. The objectives of this systematic review were to evaluate the effectiveness of titanium brushes in the decontamination of the implant surface in terms of plaque index, probing depth, bleeding on probing and bone loss/gain; as well as its effectiveness according to the type of peri-implant bone defect. Methods: an electronic search was carried out in the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane and Embase databases, as well as a manual search. The search strategy included four keywords: “Peri-implantitis”, “Periimplantitis”, “Implant Surface Decontamination” and “Titanium Brush”. Randomized controlled studies published in the last 10 years were included and systematic reviews, in vitro studies and animal studies were excluded. Results: 142 references were found, from which only four articles met the inclusion criteria. All of the studies included in the present review reported beneficial results in terms of probing depth, gingival index and radiographic bone loss and gain after implant surface decontamination adjuvated by titanium brushes. Conclusions: titanium rotary brushes show improvements in the evolution and prognosis of peri-implant surgery, although more long-term studies are needed to draw more solid conclusions.
Numerical Fluid Dynamics Simulation for Drones’ Chemical Detection
Authors: Marturano Fabio , Martellucci Luca , Chierici Andrea , Malizia Andrea , Giovanni Daniele Di , d’Errico Francesco , Gaudio Pasquale , Ciparisse Jean-Franҫois
Published: July 2021

The risk associated with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNe) threats in the last two decades has grown as a result of easier access to hazardous materials and agents, potentially increasing the chance for dangerous events. Consequently, early detection of a threat following a CBRNe event is a mandatory requirement for the safety and security of human operators involved in the management of the emergency. Drones are nowadays one of the most advanced and versatile tools available, and they have proven to be successfully used in many different application fields. The use of drones equipped with inexpensive and selective detectors could be both a solution to improve the early detection of threats and, at the same time, a solution for human operators to prevent dangerous situations. To maximize the drone’s capability of detecting dangerous volatile substances, fluid dynamics numerical simulations may be used to understand the optimal configuration of the detectors positioned on the drone. This study serves as a first step to investigate how the fluid dynamics of the drone propeller flow and the different sensors position on-board could affect the conditioning and acquisition of data. The first consequence of this approach may lead to optimizing the position of the detectors on the drone based not only on the specific technology of the sensor, but also on the type of chemical agent dispersed in the environment, eventually allowing to define a technological solution to enhance the detection process and ensure the safety and security of first responders.
Assessing Reliability of Recycled Water in Wicking Beds for Sustainable Urban Agriculture
Authors: Semananda Niranjani P. K. , Ward James D. , Myers Baden R.
Published: July 2021

Urban agriculture requires sustainable solutions to secure its water resources. A wicking bed (WB) is a simple system that could provide high yield and water use efficiency. This single trial glasshouse study compares the performance of a WB and surface irrigation (SI) system for growing tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) using fresh (FW) and recycled water (RW). The performance of both treatments was compared when irrigating 2 days per week and for two environmental conditions (indoor and outdoor). In addition, the reliability of using FW and RW at a 7-day irrigation interval was studied for WBs alone. Results showed that the irrigation water use efficiency (kg/m3) and the yield (kg/plant) are significantly different only between WB (FW) and SI (RW) considering all conditions. The accumulation of salts and the sodium absorption ratio (SAR) were high in the surface layer of WBs compared to SI. This indicates that the use of RW affects the level of salinity and sodicity in soil, which in turn may decrease the yield. However, WBs perform similar to, if not better than, SI with FW. The WBs show the advantage of reducing the leachate of nutrients into groundwater, compared to SI systems. Further research into irrigation and nutrient management in WBs to reduce the effect of salinity at the surface is recommended to increase the efficiency of the system.
Assessment of the Visual Impact of Existing High-Voltage Lines in Urban Areas
Authors: Sumper Andreas , Boix-Aragones Oriol , Rull-Duran Joan , Amat-Algaba Joan , Wagner Joachim
Published: July 2021

This article proposes a novel methodology to evaluate the visual impact of high-voltage lines in urban areas based on photographic images. The use of photographs allows for calculating the overall aesthetic impact while eliminating the subjective factors of the observer. To apply the proposed methodology based on photographs, the impact of the position and angle where the photograph was taken was analyzed, and a sensibility analysis was carried out. Moreover, it was applied to an application case, and a comparison with results from a previous study of a visual impact was performed. The methodology shows good performance and a better resolution of the indicator.
An Approach of Binary Neural Network Energy-Efficient Implementation
Authors: Gao Jiabao , Liu Qingliang , Lai Jinmei
Published: July 2021

Binarized neural networks (BNNs), which have 1-bit weights and activations, are well suited for FPGA accelerators as their dominant computations are bitwise arithmetic, and the reduction in memory requirements means that all the network parameters can be stored in internal memory. However, the energy efficiency of these accelerators is still restricted by the abundant redundancies in BNNs. This hinders their deployment for applications in smart sensors and tiny devices because these scenarios have tight constraints with respect to energy consumption. To overcome this problem, we propose an approach to implement BNN inference while offering excellent energy efficiency for the accelerators by means of pruning the massive redundant operations while maintaining the original accuracy of the networks. Firstly, inspired by the observation that the convolution processes of two related kernels contain many repeated computations, we first build one formula to clarify the reusing relationships between their convolutional outputs and remove the unnecessary operations. Furthermore, by generalizing this reusing relationship to one tile of kernels in one neuron, we adopt an inclusion pruning strategy to further skip the superfluous evaluations of the neurons whose real output values can be determined early. Finally, we evaluate our system on the Zynq 7000 XC7Z100 FPGA platform. Our design can prune 51 percent of the operations without any accuracy loss. Meanwhile, the energy efficiency of our system is as high as 6.55 × 105 Img/kJ, which is 118× better than the best accelerator based on an NVDIA Tesla-V100 GPU and 3.6× higher than the state-of-the-art FPGA implementations for BNNs.
Synchronous Generator Rectification System Based on Double Closed-Loop Control of Backstepping and Sliding Mode Variable Structure
Authors: Liu Jinfeng , Qu Xin , Iu Herbert Ho-Ching
Published: July 2021

Low-voltage and high-current direct current (DC) power supplies are essential for aerospace and shipping. However, its robustness and dynamic response need to be optimized further on some special occasions. In this paper, a novel rectification system platform is built with the low-voltage and high-current permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), in which the DC voltage double closed-loop control system is constructed with the backstepping control method and the sliding mode variable structure (SMVS). In the active component control structure of this system, reasonable virtual control variables are set to obtain the overall structural control variable which satisfied the stability requirements of Lyapunov stability theory. Thus, the fast-tracking and the global adjustment of the system are realized and the robustness is improved. Since the reactive component control structure is simple and no subsystem has to be constructed, the SMVS is used to stabilize the system power factor. By building a simulation model and experimental platform of the 5 V/300 A rectification module based on the PMSG, it is verified that the power factor of the system can reach about 98.5%. When the load mutation occurs, the DC output achieves stability again within 0.02 s, and the system fluctuation rate does not exceed 2%.
Sustainable Forest Management Evaluation Using Carbon Credits: From Production to Environmental Forests
Authors: Akita Noriko , Ohe Yasuo
Published: July 2021

The biodiversity and carbon dioxide absorption function of forests have received attention due to global warming. However, most of the world’s forests are general production forests. Since production forests are maintained by production activities, a decrease in production or abandonment of management leads to a decline in forest functions and increases the risk of disasters such as landslides. Against this background, the retention approach has been proposed as a way to convert general production forests into forests with enhanced environmental functions, but it has rarely been applied due to technical and cost barriers. This study focuses on cost barriers and examines the possibility of introducing a retention approach to converting production forests to environmental forests, using Japan as a case study. About 70% of Japan’s land area is covered with forests, 40% of which are production forests. However, due to the sharp decline in demand for timber in recent years and price competition with imported timber, the selling price of timber has fallen below the cost of managing production forests, and the management of many production forests has been abandoned. The dilemma is that the retention approach applied to the wood production process cannot be applied to forests where production activities are stagnant. Therefore, we explored the possibility of recovering the necessary costs with carbon credits that are available in the Japanese market. We calculated the cumulative carbon stocks of carbon dioxide in production forests by age, using intensity, and estimated how many years after planting the combined costs of normal production forests management and the retention approach would balance out. Our calculations show that even if carbon credits were sold at the lowest market price, the balance of payments would be balanced about 30 years after planting, resulting in a net profit from the sale of the wood.
Changes in Soil Microbial Community Structure Following Different Tree Species Functional Traits Afforestation
Authors: Gao Yang , Wang Xiuwei , Mao Zijun , Yang Liu , Jiang Zhiyan , Chen Xiangwei , Aubrey Doug P.
Published: July 2021

The soil microbial community structure is critical to the cycling of carbon and nitrogen in forest soils. As afforestation practices increasingly promote different functional traits of tree species, it has become critical to understand how they influence soil microbial community structures, which directly influence soil biogeochemical processes. We used fungi ITS and bacteria 16S rDNA to investigate soil microbial community structures in three monoculture plantations consisting of a non-native evergreen conifer (Pinus sibirica), a native deciduous conifer (Larix gmelinii), and a native deciduous angiosperm (Betula platyphylla) and compared them with two 1:1 mixed-species plantations (P. sibirica and L. gmelinii, P. sibirica and B. platyphylla). The fungal community structure of the conifer–angiosperm mixed plantation was similar to that of the non-native evergreen conifer, and the bacterial community structure was similar to that of the angiosperm monoculture plantation. Fungal communities were strongly related to tree species, but bacterial communities were strongly related to soil nitrogen. The co-occurrence networks were more robust in the mixed plantations, and the microbial structures associated with soil carbon and nitrogen were significantly increased. Our results provide a comparative study of the soil microbial ecology in response to afforestation of species with different functional traits and enhance the understanding of factors controlling the soil microbial community structure.
Glycolipid Biosurfactant Production from Waste Cooking Oils by Yeast: Review of Substrates, Producers and Products
Authors: Liepins Janis , Balina Karina , Soloha Raimonda , Berzina Ieva , Lukasa Liva Kristiana , Dace Elina
Published: July 2021

Biosurfactants are a microbially synthesized alternative to synthetic surfactants, one of the most important bulk chemicals. Some yeast species are proven to be exceptional biosurfactant producers, while others are emerging producers. A set of factors affects the type, amount, and properties of the biosurfactant produced, as well as the environmental impact and costs of biosurfactant’s production. Exploring waste cooking oil as a substrate for biosurfactants’ production serves as an effective cost-cutting strategy, yet it has some limitations. This review explores the existing knowledge on utilizing waste cooking oil as a feedstock to produce glycolipid biosurfactants by yeast. The review focuses specifically on the differences created by using raw cooking oil or waste cooking oil as the substrate on the ability of various yeast species to synthesize sophorolipids, rhamnolipids, mannosylerythritol lipids, and other glycolipids and the substrate’s impact on the composition, properties, and limitations in the application of biosurfactants.
Contributions to the Teaching and Learning of Fluid Mechanics
Authors: Vaidya Ashwin
Published: July 2021

This issue showcases a compilation of papers on fluid mechanics (FM) education, covering different sub topics of the subject [...]
Potential Functional Snacks: Date Fruit Bars Supplemented by Different Species of Lactobacillus spp.
Authors: Maisto Maria , Annunziata Giuseppe , Schiano Elisabetta , Piccolo Vincenzo , Iannuzzo Fortuna , Santangelo Rosaria , Ciampaglia Roberto , Tenore Gian Carlo , Novellino Ettore , Grieco Paolo
Published: July 2021

The influence of the addition of four different potential probiotic strains, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum (L. plantarum), Lactobacillus delbruekii subsp. bulgaricus (L. bulgaricus), Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) and Lactinocaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus), in date fruit-based products was investigated in order to evaluate the possibility of producing a functional snack. All bacterial strains tested were able to grow in date fruit palp, reaching probiotic concentrations ranging from 3.1 × 109 to 4.9 × 109 colony-forming units after 48 h of fermentation, and the pH was reduced to 3.5–3.7 or below. The viability of inoculated probiotic bacteria after 4 weeks of storage at 4 °C was slightly reduced. Some biochemical features of the fermented snacks, such as the total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity and detailed polyphenolic profile, were also evaluated. After fermentation, changes in the polyphenol profile in terms of increased free phenolic compounds and related activity were observed. These results may be attributed to the enzymatic activity of Lactobacillus spp. in catalyzing both the release of bioactive components from the food matrix and the remodeling of polyphenolic composition in favor of more bioaccessible molecules. These positive effects were more evident when the snack were fermented with L. rhamnosus. Our results suggest the use of lactic acid fermentation as an approach to enhance the nutritional value of functional foods, resulting in the enhancement of their health-promoting potential.
Non-Fat Yogurt Fortified with Whey Protein Isolate: Physicochemical, Rheological, and Microstructural Properties
Authors: Hashim Mahmood A. , Nadtochii Liudmila A. , Muradova Mariam B. , Proskura Alena V. , Alsaleem Khalid A. , Hammam Ahmed R. A.
Published: July 2021

The demand for low- and non-fat products has recently increased due to the health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, that have resulted from high-fat products. However, the reduction in fat can affect the quality of products adversely. The objective of this work was to explore the potential of whey protein isolate (WPI) in improving the quality of non-fat yogurt prepared using skim milk powder (SMP). Yogurt mixes (standardized at 14% total solids) were formulated using SMP as a milk base enriched with WPI. The SMP was replaced by WPI in the yogurt mixes at a rate of 3, 5, 7, and 9%. Full-fat and non-fat set-style yogurts were prepared from whole milk and skim milk, respectively, as controls. Yogurts were fermented at 43 °C to get a pH of 4.6 and stored at 4 °C for the next day. The texture, microstructure, rheological characteristics, and sensory properties of the yogurt samples were studied. The incorporation of WPI increased the water holding capacity to 50% as compared to the non-fat control. This improved the rheological properties while the yogurt viscosity increased in direct proportion with increasing the WPI. The firmness of yogurt was inversely proportional to the increase in WPI, which resulted in 180 g firmness when 9% WPI was added to the non-fat yogurt formulations. Yogurts’ microstructure improved by the addition of WPI. The non-fat yogurt incorporated with 3 and 7% WPI had comparable sensory and textural characteristics to the full-fat yogurt. WPI can be used as a fat replacer to develop low-fat yogurt with desired features. WPI may be a natural and economical ingredient for producing low- and non-fat fermented dairy food products.
Headspace/GC–MS Analysis and Investigation of Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity of Essential Oils and Hydrolates from Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Miller
Authors: Garzoli Stefania , Laghezza Masci Valentina , Franceschi Sara , Tiezzi Antonio , Giacomello Pierluigi , Ovidi Elisa
Published: July 2021

In this work, essential oils (EOs) and hydrolates (Hys) of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Mill., grown in Tuscany (Italy), were studied to describe their chemical composition and biological activities. The aromatic profile of the EOs liquid phase was carried out by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), while the volatile composition of vapor phase EOs and Hys was performed by headspace (HS)/GC–MS. The obtained results show that monoterpene hydrocarbons (71.5% and 89.5%) were the main compounds, followed by oxygenated monoterpenes (26.0% and 10.5%) in the liquid and vapor phase of R. officinalis EO, respectively. The oxygenated monoterpenes were the main components of L. angustifolia EO, reaching 86.9% in the liquid phase and 53.7% in the vapor phase. Regarding Hys, they consisted only of oxygenated monoterpenes, and 1,8-cineole (56.2%) and linalool (42.9%), were the main components of R. officinalis and L. officinalis Hys, respectively. Their cytotoxicity was investigated on an SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cell line by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test, showing a notable effect of the EOs with a time-independent manner of activity and half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values quite similar for the two plant species (from 0.05% to 0.06% v/v for the three time points evaluated). A measurable activity of Hys was also obtained although with higher EC50 values. The antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC® 25922, Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC® 13525, Acinetobacter bohemicus DSM 102855 as Gram-negative bacteria and Kocuria marina DSM 16420, Bacillus cereus ATCC® 10876 as Gram-positive bacteria, was evaluated by the agar disk-diffusion method and the VPT (vapor phase test) to determinate the MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) and the MBC (minimal bactericidal concentration) values. Both EOs possessed a high activity against all the bacterial strains with MIC values ranging from 0.19% to 3.13% v/v. Unlike EOs, Hys did not show an inhibition of the bacterial growth at the tested concentrations. Furthermore, antioxidant power was measured by 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt-based (ABTS•+) and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, showing a remarkable ability to reduce radicals by both EOs; Hys were slightly less active. The findings highlighted that R. officinalis and L. angustifolia EOs and Hys have a chemical composition rich in bioactive molecules, which can exert different biological activities.
Breakfast Cereals Intended for Children: Opportunities for Reformulation and Potential Impact on Nutrient Intake
Authors: Santos Mariana , Matias Filipa , Rito Ana Isabel , Castanheira Isabel , Torres Duarte , Loureiro Isabel , Assunção Ricardo
Published: July 2021

Ready-to-eat cereals (RTECs) have become a popular breakfast option claiming to provide important nutrients to children’s diets, despite being a source of excess sugar and, therefore, a health concern. Thus, food reformulation constitutes an important public health strategy that could benefit from inputs provided by nutrient profiling. This study aimed to assess the adequacy of the RTECs for children available in Portuguese supermarkets, applying three nutrient profile models (NPMs)—the nutrient profile model of the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe (WHO-EURO), the profile of the private-sector EU Pledge (EU-Pledge), and the national model developed by the Directorate-General of Health (NPM-PT)—in order to explore the potential for reformulation of the RTECs identified as not adequate and evaluate the impact of RTECs’ reformulation on the nutritional quality of Portuguese children’s diets. In total, 78 RTECs intended for children were assessed and two scenarios—current (not considering reformulation) and alternative (considering reformulation to accomplish the nutrient profile requirements)—were considered to assess the impact of reformulation on nutritional quality. Across all RTECs, only 5.1% could be promoted to children according to the considered NPMs. The most common nutrients requiring reformulation were sugar, saturated fatty acids (SFA), salt, and dietary fiber. The scenarios of reformulation considered could reduce the RTECs average content of total sugars, SFA, and salt by 43%, 8.7%, and 1.1%, respectively, and dietary fiber intake could be increased by 34%. Thus, these results support policies to implement reformulation strategies for developing healthier food products to be promoted to children.
Effect of the Rearing Substrate on Total Protein and Amino Acid Composition in Black Soldier Fly
Authors: Fuso Andrea , Barbi Silvia , Macavei Laura Ioana , Luparelli Anna Valentina , Maistrello Lara , Montorsi Monia , Sforza Stefano , Caligiani Augusta
Published: July 2021

Insects are becoming increasingly relevant as protein sources in food and feed. The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) is one of the most utilized, thanks to its ability to live on many leftovers. Vegetable processing industries produce huge amounts of by-products, and it is important to efficiently rear BSF on different substrates to assure an economical advantage in bioconversion and to overcome the seasonality of some leftovers. This work evaluated how different substrates affect the protein and amino acid content of BSF. BSF prepupae reared on different substrates showed total protein content varying between 35% and 49% on dry matter. Significant lower protein contents were detected in BSF grown on fruit by-products, while higher contents were observed when autumnal leftovers were employed. BSF protein content was mainly correlated to fibre and protein content in the diet. Among amino acids, lysine, valine and leucine were most affected by the diet. Essential amino acids satisfied the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) requirements for human nutrition, except for lysine in few cases. BSF could be a flexible tool to bio-convert a wide range of vegetable by-products of different seasonality in a high-quality protein-rich biomass, even if significant differences in the protein fraction were observed according to the rearing substrate.
A Study of 3D Digitisation Modalities for Crime Scene Investigation
Authors: Galanakis George , Zabulis Xenophon , Evdaimon Theodore , Fikenscher Sven-Eric , Allertseder Sebastian , Tsikrika Theodora , Vrochidis Stefanos
Published: July 2021

A valuable aspect during crime scene investigation is the digital documentation of the scene. Traditional means of documentation include photography and in situ measurements from experts for further analysis. Although 3D reconstruction of pertinent scenes has already been explored as a complementary tool in investigation pipelines, such technology is considered unfamiliar and not yet widely adopted. This is explained by the expensive and specialised digitisation equipment that is available so far. However, the emergence of high-precision but low-cost devices capable of scanning scenes or objects in 3D has been proven as a reliable alternative to their counterparts. This paper summarises and analyses the state-of-the-art technologies in scene documentation using 3D digitisation and assesses the usefulness in typical police-related situations and the forensics domain in general. We present the methodology for acquiring data for 3D reconstruction of various types of scenes. Emphasis is placed on the applicability of each technique in a wide range of situations, ranging in type and size. The application of each reconstruction method is considered in this context and compared with respect to additional constraints, such as time availability and simplicity of operation of the corresponding scanning modality. To further support our findings, we release a multi-modal dataset obtained from a hypothetical indoor crime scene to the public.
Fractional Integral Inequalities for Exponentially Nonconvex Functions and Their Applications
Authors: Srivastava Hari Mohan , Kashuri Artion , Mohammed Pshtiwan Othman , Baleanu Dumitru , Hamed Y. S.
Published: July 2021

In this paper, the authors define a new generic class of functions involving a certain modified Fox–Wright function. A useful identity using fractional integrals and this modified Fox–Wright function with two parameters is also found. Applying this as an auxiliary result, we establish some Hermite–Hadamard-type integral inequalities by using the above-mentioned class of functions. Some special cases are derived with relevant details. Moreover, in order to show the efficiency of our main results, an application for error estimation is obtained as well.
Healing and Rebalancing in the Aftermath of Colonial Violence: An Indigenous-Informed, Response-Based Approach
Authors: Richardson Catherine Kinewesquao , Aviles-Betel Kenna , Ismail-Allouche Zeina , Picard Véronique
Published: July 2021

What is understood as “healing” is often culturally and socially embedded. One’s culture helps to define what it means to be well or unwell, and what it means to heal or recover. Sometimes, one’s culture sits in contrast to the mainstream, western scientific approach to health, often seen as the freedom from illness. A Métis worldview is holistic in itself, and it incorporates notions and practices of well-being that go beyond just being “illness or problem free”. Wellbeing is often directly linked to our relationship with the food that sustains us, to the various animal and plant worlds, to the elements, and to being in “right relationship” to the world and others. Dr. Catherine Richardson Kinewesquao presents an approach to healing which she refers to as transformative, energetic and spiritual. She draws from Cree teachings related to “mamatowisowin”, the life force inherent in all beings and the act of calling forth this energy into the healing process. This life force is connected to dignity, justice and care. Metaphorically, it can be talked about as being released or made available when an individual opens to discussing/facing fears and sorrows, distressing events and losses, and to finding a way to integrate them into their whole being. It is a form of energy transmutation, of becoming more emotionally fluid and liberated from the negativity of what is “acting upon them”. When energy is unblocked or released, particularly in the presence of a compassionate listener, the person may then have more energy for their chosen life projects. By using a response-based approach in the aftermath of violence and degradation, and by contextualizing events through exploratory conversations, one may transform stress into productive energy to fuel life, growth and action. Kinewesquao articulates the use of cultural processes for stress management and working with the natural world to enhance well-being. Ultimately, she makes a case that “positive social responses” (e.g., love, care, compassionate listening, support and cultural rituals) to one’s suffering can be some of the best healing medicines.
A Māori and Pasifika Label—An Old History, New Context
Authors: Enari Dion , Haua Innez
Published: July 2021

The term ‘Māori and Pasifika’ is widely used in Aotearoa, New Zealand to both unite and distinguish these peoples and cultures. As a collective noun of separate peoples, Māori and Pasifika are used to acknowledge the common Pacific ancestry that both cultures share, whilst distinguishing Māori as Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Pasifika as migrants from other lands in the Pacific region. The term ‘Māori and Pasifika’ is a ‘label’ established in New Zealand to combine the minority cultural populations of both Māori, and Pacific migrant peoples, into a category defined by New Zealand policy and discourse. Migration for Māori and Pasifika to Australia (from Aotearoa) has generated new discussion amongst these diasporic communities (in Australia) on the appropriate collective term(s) to refer to Māori and Pasifika peoples and cultures. Some believe that in Australia, Māori should no longer be distinguished from Pasifika as they are not Indigenous (to Australia), while others believe the distinction should continue upon migration. Through the voices of Samoan and Māori researchers who reside in Australia, insider voices are honoured and cultural genealogy is privileged in this discussion of the label ‘Māori and Pasifika’ in the Australian context.