bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sodium Content and Labelling of Packaged Foods and Beverages in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ojo Adedayo E. , Jones Alexandra , Okoro Clementina Ebere , Alfa Vanessa O. , Okoli Rosemary , Shedul Gabriel L. , Orji Ikechukwu A. , Osagie Samuel , Chopra Aashima , Van Horn Linda V. , Hirschhorn Lisa R. , Trieu Kathy , Taylor Fraser , Howes Kylie , Ilias Maliha , Williams Makeda J. , Tutse-Tonwe Veronica , Neal Bruce , Huffman Mark D. , Ojji Dike B.
Published: December 2022

Increased consumption of unhealthy processed foods, particularly those high in sodium, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The nutrition information on packaged foods can help guide consumers toward products with less sodium and support government actions to improve the healthiness of the food supply. The aims of this study were to estimate the proportion of packaged foods displaying nutrition information for sodium and other nutrients specified by Nigerian nutrition labelling regulations and to determine the amount of sodium in packaged foods sold in Nigeria using data from the nutritional information panel. Data were collected from November 2020 to March 2021 from in-store surveys conducted in supermarkets in three states. A total of 7039 products were collected. Overall, 91.5% (n = 6439) provided only partial nutrition information, 7.0% (n = 495) provided no nutritional information, and only 1.5% (n = 105) displayed a nutrient declaration that included all nutrients specified by 2019 Nigerian regulations. Some form of sodium content information was displayed for 86% of all products (n = 6032), of which around 45% (n = 2689) expressed this as ‘salt’ and 59% (n = 3559) expressed this as ‘sodium’, while a small number of food products had both ‘salt’ and ‘sodium’ content (3.6%). Provision of sodium or salt information on the label varied between food categories, ranging from 50% (vitamins and supplements, n = 2/4) to 96% (convenience foods, n = 44/46). Food categories with the highest median sodium content were ‘meat and meat alternatives’ (904 mg/100 g), ‘sauces, dressings, spreads, and dips’ (560 mg/100 g), and ‘snack foods’ (536 mg/100 g), although wide variation was often observed within categories. These findings highlight considerable potential to improve the availability and consistency of nutrition information on packaged products in Nigeria and to introduce further policies to reduce the amount of sodium in the Nigerian food supply.
Entomo-Virological Aedes aegypti Surveillance Applied for Prediction of Dengue Transmission: A Spatio-Temporal Modeling Study
Authors: Leandro André de Souza , Ayala Mario J. C. , Lopes Renata Defante , Martins Caroline Amaral , Maciel-de-Freitas Rafael , Villela Daniel A. M.
Published: December 2022

Currently, DENV transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti affects approximately one in three people annually. The spatio-temporal heterogeneity of vector infestation and the intensity of arbovirus transmission require surveillance capable of predicting an outbreak. In this work, we used data from 4 years of reported dengue cases and entomological indicators of adult Aedes collected from approximately 3500 traps installed in the city of Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, to evaluate the spatial and temporal association between vector infestation and the occurrence of dengue cases. Entomological (TPI, ADI and MII) and entomo-virological (EVI) indexes were generated with the goal to provide local health managers with a transmission risk stratification that allows targeting areas for vector control activities. We observed a dynamic pattern in the evaluation; however, it was a low spatio-temporal correlation of Ae. aegypti and incidence of dengue. Independent temporal and spatial effects capture a significant portion of the signal given by human arbovirus cases. The entomo-virological index (EVI) significantly signaled risk in a few areas, whereas entomological indexes were not effective in providing dengue risk alert. Investigating the variation of biotic and abiotic factors between areas with and without correlation should provide more information about the local epidemiology of dengue.
Janthinobacterium sp. Strain SLB01 as Pathogenic Bacteria for Sponge Lubomirskia baikalensis
Authors: Chernogor Lubov , Eliseikina Marina , Petrushin Ivan , Chernogor Ekaterina , Khanaev Igor , Belikov Sergei I.
Published: December 2022

Sponges (phylum Porifera) are ancient, marine and inland water, filter feeding metazoans. In recent years, diseased sponges have been increasingly occurring in marine and freshwater environments. Endemic freshwater sponges of the Lubomirskiidae family are widely distributed in the coastal zone of Lake Baikal. The strain Janthinobacterium sp. SLB01 was isolated previously from the diseased sponge Lubomirskia baikalensis (Pallas, 1776), although its pathogenicity is still unknown. The aim of this study was to confirm whether the Janthinobacterium sp. strain SLB01 is the pathogen found in Baikal sponge. To address this aim, we infected the cell culture of primmorphs of the sponge L. baikalensis with strain SLB01 and subsequently reisolated and sequenced the strain Janthinobacterium sp. PLB02. The results showed that the isolated strain has more than 99% homology with strain SLB01. The genomes of both strains contain genes vioABCDE of violacein biosynthesis and floc formation, for strong biofilm, in addition to the type VI secretion system (T6SS) as the main virulence factor. Based on a comparison of complete genomes, we showed the similarity of the studied bacterial strains of Janthinobacterium spp. with the described strain of Janthinobacterium lividum MTR. This study will help expand our understanding of microbial interactions and determine one of the causes in the development of diseases and death in Baikal sponges.
The Human Dermis as a Target of Nanoparticles for Treating Skin Conditions
Authors: Salazar Javier , Carmona Thais , Zacconi Flavia C. , Venegas-Yazigi Diego , Cabello-Verrugio Claudio , Il Choi Won , Vilos Cristian
Published: December 2022

Skin has a preventive role against any damage raised by harmful microorganisms and physical and chemical assaults from the external environment that could affect the body’s internal organs. Dermis represents the main section of the skin, and its contribution to skin physiology is critical due to its diverse cellularity, vasculature, and release of molecular mediators involved in the extracellular matrix maintenance and modulation of the immune response. Skin structure and complexity limit the transport of substances, promoting the study of different types of nanoparticles that penetrate the skin layers under different mechanisms intended for skin illness treatments and dermo-cosmetic applications. In this work, we present a detailed morphological description of the dermis in terms of its structures and resident cells. Furthermore, we analyze the role of the dermis in regulating skin homeostasis and its alterations in pathophysiological conditions, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. Additionally, we describe the use of nanoparticles for skin illness treatments focused on dermis release and promote the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as an integrative strategy for skin treatments.
Embedding of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs in Orodispersible Films—Comparison of Five Formulation Strategies
Authors: Steiner Denise , Tidau Marius , Finke Jan Henrik
Published: December 2022

The poor bioavailability of many newly developed active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) poses a major challenge in formulation development. To overcome this issue, strategies such as the preparation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), and the application of the APIs in lipid nanocarriers or the wet-milling of the substances into nanoparticles have been introduced. In addition to an efficient formulation strategy, a dosage form that is accepted by all patients is also of great importance. To enable a simple application of the oral dosage form for all patients, orodispersible films (ODFs) are a very promising delivery platform for the APIs because the films directly disintegrate in the mouth. In this study, two poorly water-soluble APIs, fenofibrate and naproxen, were formulated using five different formulation strategies and then embedded in ODFs. It was found that the deliverable amount of API with one ODF highly depends on the formulation strategy as well as the physicochemical properties of the formulated API. The most promising film formulations were ASD-ODFs as well as films with API-loaded lipid nanoemulsions. Both showed a reduction of the dissolution time of the APIs from the ODF compared to an ODF with unformulated API micro particles. In addition, short disintegration times were achieved, although the mechanical film properties were slightly worse compared to the API-free film formulation.
Characterization of Neochloris oleoabundans under Different Cultivation Modes and First Results on Bioactivity of Its Extracts against HCoV-229E Virus
Authors: Baldisserotto Costanza , Gentili Valentina , Rizzo Roberta , Di Donna Chiara , Ardondi Luna , Maietti Annalisa , Pancaldi Simonetta
Published: December 2022

Microalgae are proposed in several biotechnological fields because of their ability to produce biomass enriched in high-value compounds according to cultivation conditions. Regarding the health sector, an emerging area focuses on natural products exploitable against viruses. This work deals with the characterization of the green microalga Neochloris oleoabundans cultivated under autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions as a source of whole aqueous extracts, tested as antivirals against HCoV-229E (Coronaviridae family). Glucose was employed for mixotrophic cultures. Growth and maximum quantum yield of photosystem II were monitored for both cultivations. Algae extracts for antiviral tests were prepared using cultures harvested at the early stationary phase of growth. Biochemical and morphological analyses of algae indicated a different content of the most important classes of bioactive compounds with antiviral properties (lipids, exo-polysaccharides, and total phenolics, proteins and pigments). To clarify which phase of HCoV-229E infection on MRC-5 fibroblast cells was affected by N. oleoabundans extracts, four conditions were tested. Extracts gave excellent results, mainly against the first steps of virus infection. Notwithstanding the biochemical profile of algae/extracts deserves further investigation, the antiviral effect may have been mainly promoted by the combination of proteins/pigments/phenolics for the extract derived from autotrophic cultures and of proteins/acidic exo-polysaccharides/lipids in the case of mixotrophic ones.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Gas Adsorption Performance of Amine-Functionalized Styrene-Based Porous Polymers
Authors: Setnickova Katerina , Jerabek Karel , Strasak Tomas , Mullerova Monika , Jandova Vera , Soukup Karel , Petrickovic Roman , Tseng Hui-Hsin , Uchytil Petr
Published: December 2022

In recent years, porous materials have been extensively studied by the scientific community owing to their excellent properties and potential use in many different areas, such as gas separation and adsorption. Hyper-crosslinked porous polymers (HCLPs) have gained attention because of their high surface area and porosity, low density, high chemical and thermal stability, and excellent adsorption capabilities in comparison to other porous materials. Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization, and gas (particularly CO2) adsorption performance of a series of novel styrene-based HCLPs. The materials were prepared in two steps. The first step involved radical copolymerization of divinylbenzene (DVB) and 4-vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC), a non-porous gel-type polymer, which was then modified by hyper-crosslinking, generating micropores with a high surface area of more than 700 m2 g−1. In the following step, the polymer was impregnated with various polyamines that reacted with residual alkyl chloride groups on the pore walls. This impregnation substantially improved the CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 adsorption selectivity.
Predicting and Improving Interlaminar Bonding Uniformity during the Robotic Fiber Steering Process
Authors: Zhao Pan , Shirinzadeh Bijan , He Xiaodong , Guo Jian , Shi Kaining , Qiang Biyao , Jin Qichao , Li Fengping
Published: December 2022

With their high specific stiffness, corrosion resistance and other characteristics, especially their outstanding performance in product weight loss, fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites are widely used in the aviation, shipbuilding and automotive fields. The difficulties in minimizing defects are an important factor in the high cost of composite material component fabrication. Fiber steering is one of the typical means of producing composite parts with increased strength or stiffness. However, fiber waviness is an important defect induced by fiber steering during the fiber placement process. Meanwhile, the laying speeds of the inner and outer tows along the path width direction are different during the fiber steering process, resulting in different interlaminar bond strengths. Therefore, the fiber waviness and uneven interlaminar bonding strength during fiber steering not only affect the dimensions of a composite product, but also influence the mechanical properties of the part. This study aims to reduce fiber waviness and improve interlaminar bonding uniformity along the path width direction using a multi-piece compaction roller. By analyzing the mechanism of the generation of fiber waviness, the interlaminar bonding strength for each tow during fiber steering is investigated. Through analyzing and optimizing the compaction force, laying temperature and laying velocity during fiber steering experiments, the optimization approach is verified.
Sustainable Exopolysaccharide Production by Rhizobium viscosum CECT908 Using Corn Steep Liquor and Sugarcane Molasses as Sole Substrates
Authors: Gudiña Eduardo J. , Couto Márcia R. , Silva Soraia P. , Coelho Elisabete , Coimbra Manuel A. , Teixeira José A. , Rodrigues Lígia R.
Published: December 2022

Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS) are promising alternatives to synthetic polymers in a variety of applications. Their high production costs, however, limit their use despite their outstanding properties. The use of low-cost substrates such as agro-industrial wastes in their production, can help to boost their market competitiveness. In this work, an alternative low-cost culture medium (CSLM) was developed for EPS production by Rhizobium viscosum CECT908, containing sugarcane molasses (60 g/L) and corn steep liquor (10 mL/L) as sole ingredients. This medium allowed the production of 6.1 ± 0.2 g EPS/L, twice the amount produced in the standard medium (Syn), whose main ingredients were glucose and yeast extract. This is the first report of EPS production by R. viscosum using agro-industrial residues as sole substrates. EPSCSLM and EPSSyn exhibited a similar carbohydrate composition, mainly 4-linked galactose, glucose and mannuronic acid. Although both EPS showed a good fit to the Herschel–Bulkley model, EPSCSLM displayed a higher yield stress and flow consistency index when compared with EPSSyn, due to its higher apparent viscosity. EPSCSLM demonstrated its potential use in Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery by enabling the recovery of nearly 50% of the trapped oil in sand-pack column experiments using a heavy crude oil.
Analysis of Fuel Alternative Products Obtained by the Pyrolysis of Diverse Types of Plastic Materials Isolated from a Dumpsite Origin in Pakistan
Authors: Javed Nuzhat , Muhammad Sana , Iram Shazia , Ramay Muhammad Wajahat , Jaffri Shaan Bibi , Damak Mariem , Fekete György , Varga Zsolt , Székács András , Aleksza László
Published: December 2022

The current energy crisis and waste management problems have compelled people to find alternatives to conventional non-renewable fuels and utilize waste to recover energy. Pyrolysis of plastics, which make up a considerable portion of municipal and industrial waste, has emerged as a feasible resolution to both satisfy our energy needs and mitigate the issue of plastic waste. This study was therefore conducted to find a solution for plastic waste management problems, as well as to find an alternative to mitigate the current energy crisis. Pyrolysis of five of the most commonly used plastics, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high- and low-density polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS), was executed in a pyrolytic reactor designed utilizing a cylindrical shaped stainless steel container with pressure and temperature gauges and a condenser to cool down the hydrocarbons produced. The liquid products collected were highly flammable and their chemical properties revealed them as fuel alternatives. Among them, the highest yield of fuel conversion (82%) was observed for HDPE followed by PP, PS, LDPE, PS, and PET (61.8%, 58.0%, 50.0%, and 11.0%, respectively). The calorific values of the products, 46.2, 46.2, 45.9, 42.8 and 42.4 MJ/kg for LPDE, PP, HPDE, PS, and PET, respectively, were comparable to those of diesel and gasoline. Spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis proved the presence of alkanes and alkenes with carbon number ranges of C9–C15, C9–C24, C10–C21, C10–C28, and C9–C17 for PP, PET, HDPE, LDPE, and PS, respectively. If implemented, the study will prove to be beneficial and contribute to mitigating the major energy and environmental issues of developing countries, as well as enhance entrepreneurship opportunities by replicating the process at small-scale and industrial levels.
Urban Regional Building Energy Planning Model under the Guidance of Network Flow Theory
Authors: Liu Jing , Zheng Pengqiang , Zhan Yubao , Li Zhiguo , Shi Zhaoxia
Published: December 2022

The satisfactory construction of regional building energy planning models is a key technology in effective energy allocation. At present, the selection of energy planning is only based on artificial judgment criteria, which leads to a high subjectivity in energy planning. This research innovatively introduces the network flow theory into the urban regional building energy planning model. Combined with the actual characteristics of regional building energy planning, the regional building energy planning model was constructed and the regional energy distribution mode was optimized. The model includes the energy supply layer, energy conversion layer, and energy demand layer. At the same time, the minimum cost and maximum flow problem of the model was solved with the help of the BG iterative algorithm. The model includes the energy supply layer, energy conversion layer, and energy demand layer. We used the BG iterative algorithm to solve the minimum cost and maximum flow problem of the model. The accuracy, accuracy, recall rate, and specificity of the four minimum cost maximum flows tended to be stable with the increase of the number of iterations. After the application of BG iterative algorithm, the cost consumption of each part of the regional building energy planning model in summer will be significantly reduced, and the total consumption cost is 929 million dollars. The research results verify the high applicability of introducing the network flow theory and BG iterative algorithm to construct and solve the regional building energy planning model, which can be applied to the rational allocation of resources in the region.
Short-Term Functional Outcomes of Unicompartmental versus Total Knee Arthroplasty in an Asian Population
Authors: Soh Tamara Lee Ting , Loh Nicholas Li Khai , Ho Sean Wei Loong , Kaliya-Perumal Arun-Kumar , Kau Chung Yuan
Published: December 2022

Unicompartmental and Total Knee Arthroplasty (UKA and TKA) are both established surgical options for the treatment of medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee. However, the superiority of one over the other remains controversial. Our retrospective study aims to compare short-term functional outcomes in similar patients who underwent either TKA or UKA. Pre- and post-operative range of motion (ROM), the Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Knee Society Knee Score (KSKS), and Knee Society Function Score (KSFS) were used as outcome measures. Our sample included 57 patients, among which 27 underwent TKA and 30 underwent UKA, including one patient who underwent bilateral UKA. At 1 year, there were no differences in the OKS, KSKS, or KSFS scores between the two groups. There was a significantly better range of motion in patients who underwent UKA compared to TKA (122.9 ± 11.7 degrees vs 109.9 ± 13.9 degrees, p < 0.001). Functional outcomes following UKA and TKA were found to be similar. Hence, in view of its lower morbidity and shorter length of hospital stay, UKA may be considered over a TKA for the treatment of medial compartment osteoarthritis whenever deemed appropriate.
TransUNet++SAR: Change Detection with Deep Learning about Architectural Ensemble in SAR Images
Authors: Du Yu , Zhong Ruofei , Li Qingyang , Zhang Furao
Published: December 2022

In the application of change detection satellite remote sensing images, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images have become a more important data source. This paper proposes a new end-to-end SAR image change network architecture—TransUNet++SAR—that combines Transformer with UNet++. First, the convolutional neural network (CNN) was used to obtain the feature maps of the single time SAR images layer by layer. Tokenized image patches were encoded to extract rich global context information. Using improved Transformer for effective modeling of global semantic relations can generate rich contextual feature representations. Then, we used the decoder to upsample the encoded features, connected the encoded multi-scale features with the high-level features by sequential connection to learn the local-global semantic features, recovered the full spatial resolution of the feature map, and achieved accurate localization. In the UNet++ structure, the bitemporal SAR images are composed of two single networks, which have shared weights to learn the features of the single temporal image layer by layer to avoid the influence of SAR image noise and pseudo-change on the deep learning process. The experiment results show that the experimental effect of TransUNet++SAR on the Beijing, Guangzhou, and Qingdao datasets were significantly better than other deep learning SAR image change detection algorithms. At the same time, compared with other Transformer related change detection algorithms, the description of the changed area edge was more accurate. In the dataset experiments, the model had higher indices than the other models, especially the Beijing building change datasets, where the IOU was 9.79% higher and F1-score was 4.38% higher.
Toward Multi-Stage Phenotyping of Soybean with Multimodal UAV Sensor Data: A Comparison of Machine Learning Approaches for Leaf Area Index Estimation
Authors: Zhang Yi , Yang Yizhe , Zhang Qinwei , Duan Runqing , Liu Junqi , Qin Yuchu , Wang Xianzhi
Published: December 2022

Leaf Area Index (LAI) is an important parameter which can be used for crop growth monitoring and yield estimation. Many studies have been carried out to estimate LAI with remote sensing data obtained by sensors mounted on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in major crops; however, most of the studies used only a single type of sensor, and the comparative study of different sensors and sensor combinations in the model construction of LAI was rarely reported, especially in soybean. In this study, three types of sensors, i.e., hyperspectral, multispectral, and LiDAR, were used to collect remote sensing data at three growth stages in soybean. Six typical machine learning algorithms, including Unary Linear Regression (ULR), Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Random Forest (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Back Propagation (BP), were used to construct prediction models of LAI. The results indicated that the hyperspectral and LiDAR data did not significantly improve the prediction accuracy of LAI. Comparison of different sensors and sensor combinations showed that the fusion of the hyperspectral and multispectral data could significantly improve the predictive ability of the models, and among all the prediction models constructed by different algorithms, the prediction model built by XGBoost based on multimodal data showed the best performance. Comparison of the models for different growth stages showed that the XGBoost-LAI model for the flowering stage and the universal models of the XGBoost-LAI and RF-LAI for three growth stages showed the best performances. The results of this study might provide some ideas for the accurate estimation of LAI, and also provide novel insights toward high-throughput phenotyping of soybean with multi-modal remote sensing data.
Maritime DGPS System Positioning Accuracy as a Function of the HDOP in the Context of Hydrographic Survey Performance
Authors: Specht Cezary
Published: December 2022

The Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) is a marine navigation system operating at frequencies of 283.5–325 kHz, which is now the primary method for locating vessels in coastal shipping, as well as hydrography and mapping systems worldwide. Its positioning accuracy is determined by the following: the pseudorange error to Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, the age of pseudorange corrections, and the value of the Horizontal Dilution of Precision (HDOP), which, in terms of accuracy, is crucial in positioning using GPS satellites. In 2020, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) introduced a new (the highest) order of hydrographic surveys, i.e., the Exclusive Order, which requires a positioning system to provide an accuracy of 1 m (p = 0.95). The aim of this article is to provide an answer to the question as to whether the maritime DGPS system, whose positioning accuracy is constantly increasing with that of the GPS system, fulfils the requirements for the hydrographic surveys of harbours. To this end, an extensive experimental study on the maritime DGPS system, involving a total of nearly 3.5 million fixes, was conducted. Statistical analyses showed that when ensuring the HDOP values range from 0.8 to 1.4, the DGPS system can be used in hydrographic surveys of harbours.
Evaluation of Sentinel-6 Altimetry Data over Ocean
Authors: Jiang Maofei , Xu Ke , Wang Jiaming
Published: December 2022

The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (S6-MF) satellite was launched on 21st November 2020. Poseidon-4, the main payload onboard S6-MF, is the first synthetic aperture radar (SAR) altimeter operating in an interleaved open burst mode. In this study, the sea surface height (SSH), significant wave height (SWH) and wind speed observations from the Poseidon-4 Level 2 altimetry products from November 2021 to October 2022 are assessed. The assessment contains synthetic aperture radar mode (SARM) as well as low-resolution mode (LRM) data. The SSH assessment is conducted using range noise, sea level anomaly (SLA) spectral analysis and crossover analysis, whereas the SWH and wind speed assessments are performed against NDBC buoy data and other satellite altimetry missions. The performance of the Sentinel-6 altimetry data is compared to those of Sentinel-3A/B and Jason-3 altimetry data. The 20 Hz range noise is 3.07 cm for SARM and 6.40 cm for LRM when SWH is 2 m. The standard deviation (STD) of SSH differences at crossovers is 3.76 cm for SARM and 4.27 cm for LRM. Compared against the NDBC measurements, the Sentinel-6 SWH measurements have a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.361 m for SARM and an RMSE of 0.225 m for LRM. The Sentinel-6 wind speed measurements show an RMSE of 1.216 m/s for SARM and an RMSE of 1.323 m/s for LRM. We also present the impacts of ocean waves on parameter retrievals from Sentinel-6 SARM data. The Sentinel-6 SARM data are sensitive to wave period and direction as well as vertical velocity. It should be paid attention to in the future.
Understanding the Effects of Inlet Structure on Separation Performance Based on Axial Velocity Wave Zone Characteristics
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Cui Baoyu , Zhao Sikai , Shen Yanbai , Zhao Qiang
Published: December 2022

There are many factors that affect the separation performance of the hydrocyclone, including the structure of the feed body, but the mechanism of influence of the internal flow field of the hydrocyclone on the Axial Velocity Wave Zone (AVWZ) is not yet clear. Based on the numerical test method, this paper analyzes the influence of the feed body structure on the internal flow field and the particle distribution characteristics of the AVWZ and its internal relationship with its separation performance. The results show that the influence mechanism of the structural parameters of the inlet structure on its separation performance is extremely complex, but all of them are reflected in the AVWZ’s characteristics, including the flow field characteristics, spatial distribution characteristics, and internal particle distribution. The changes on the inlet diameter will also influence the flow field, centrifugal strength, turbulence strength, and particle distribution, while the inlet aspect ratio is altered largely by changing the settling distance of particles. Finally, effects of inlet structure on the separation performance of the hydrocyclone can be explained from the AVWZ, which provides the basis for designing the inlet structure to improve separation performance.
Documenting Local Food Knowledge at Hindukush: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Aziz Muhammad Abdul
Published: December 2022

Local knowledge on food heritage is an important asset of communities in Hindkush Mountains of Pakistan. Literature is scarce on recording local food knowledge (LFK) and the associated challenges; therefore, to partially fill this gap of knowledge, the current research study presents an overview of some of the prominent challenges that curb documenting local knowledge on food heritage among various communities in the region. Qualitative data were gathered through direct observations during ethnobotanical research work across the region. The current research reveals that the complex sociocultural and political circumstances, in one way or another, might be impacting the recording of the LFK in the study areas. For instance, I have found that the fragile security circumstances in the western belt of the country is one of the obstacles that do not fully allow researchers to get access to the local communities. The lack of educational understanding among the local communities, especially those who are living in rural areas, has been creating a gap of communication between researchers and the communities. It is worth mentioning that globalization and social change have also changed the perception of the people regarding the local food resources and attached local knowledge. In addition, the policy issues linked to social science research in the country also have an indirect effect on community-based research, which does not encourage researchers to explore meaningful research findings. Hence, to deal with all these challenges, in this article, I propose some possible solutions to protect the local food heritage and practically revitalize the local/traditional knowledge through future development programs, as this knowledge is very important for combating future food insecurity.
Optimal Drop Height in Prepubertal Boys Is Revealed by the Performance in Squat Jump
Authors: Bassa Eleni , Adamopoulos Ilias , Panoutsakopoulos Vassilios , Xenofondos Anthi , Yannakos Athanasios , Galazoulas Christos , Patikas Dimitrios A.
Published: December 2022

Drop jump (DJ) performance gain with increasing drop height is well documented in adults, but there is still no clear evidence of such gain in children. This study aimed to examine the differences in DJ performance gain in male adults and prepubescent boys by comparing drop heights tailored to each individual’s performance and expressed as a percentage of their squat jump (SJ) performance. Fifteen boys (9–11 y) and 15 men (19–27 y) executed DJs from drop heights that were set at 75%, 100%, 125%, and 150% of their best performance in SJ (DJ75, DJ100, DJ125, and DJ150, respectively). Vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), contact time and kinematics of the lower extremities were captured. The results showed that boys jumped significantly lower than adults in DJs, and both age groups presented jumping gain with increasing drop height, up to DJ125. Boys demonstrated longer total contact time, lower angular velocity and vGRF during the propulsive phase, as well as smaller knee flexion at touchdown and lower reactive strength index. vGRF in DJ75 and DJ100 was lower than in DJ125 and DJ150. The highest value for maximum knee flexion was also presented at DJ150. It is concluded that in prepubescent boys, the appropriate drop height for an effective DJ is linked to their performance in SJ and might be between 75% and 125% of their maximum SJ performance.
Effect of Seismic Isolation on the Performance of High-Rise Buildings with Torsional Instability
Authors: Saritaş Fevzi , Bedirhanoglu Idris , Konak Arova , Keskin Mehmet Salih
Published: December 2022

Seismic bearings have been used to mitigate the harmful effect of the earthquakes. Torsion mode, one of the most important irregularities, generally increases the shear forces to the vertical members such as columns and shear walls in turn this may results in brittle failure of the reinforced concrete (RC) members. Accordingly, it is vital to eliminate the torsion failure mode or switch to the higher modes with lower mass contribution. This study has evaluated the seismic performance of a high-rise building with torsion mode through push-over analysis including nonlinear time history analyses. The damage conditions of RC structural members are defined considering the Eurocode definitions and general performance assessments of the building have been evaluated accordingly. Lead rubber bearings have been used for base isolation system. By using enough number of rubber bearings, the dominant torsion mode (first free vibration mode) has been shifted to higher modes. Various earthquake records have been used in non-linear dynamic analysis to evaluate the positive effects of the bearings. The results revealed that proper arrangement of rubber bearings in structural plan of ground floor can effectively improve dynamic behavior of a high rise building with torsional instability to achieve better seismic performance.
Unmet Needs and Resilience: The Case of Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations in Nairobi’s Informal Settlements
Authors: Chumo Ivy , Kabaria Caroline , Shankland Alex , Mberu Blessing
Published: December 2022

Catalyzing change and promoting sustainable cities in informal settlements and their residents requires an understanding of unmet needs and resilience among marginalized and vulnerable groups (MVGs). This is because needs identified on behalf of MVGs as “unmet” are sometimes not perceived as unmet, or even “meetable”, and resilience strategies from above are often perceived as unsuitable by the MVGs. To the best of our knowledge, no study has used governance diaries to identify the unmet needs and resilience strategies of MVGs from their perspectives. As such, this study explored the unmet needs and resilience strategies of MVGs in informal settlements using governance diaries. This was a qualitative study using governance diaries with 24 participants from two informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. We used Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for the framework analysis. We identified unmet needs related to physiology, safety, love and belonging, and self-esteem, in the order of the hierarchy. MVGs did not need the full satisfaction of a lower need to yearn for a higher one, and continue living despite their unmet needs. However, there were no self-actualization needs as the participants could not satisfy the lower level needs. The urban paradox reminds us that cities are not always beneficial for all. There is a continued need for holistic approaches to uncover the often hidden resilience strategies for achieving unmet needs. Our study identified behavioural and cognitive resilience strategies. As such, actors need to embrace and build on local resilience strategies in efforts to address the unmet needs of MVGs in pursuit of inclusive urbanization in Africa. The identification of unmet needs and resilience strategies adds to the literature, policy and practice on how and why residents and MVGs continue working and living in informal settlements despite a lack of or inadequate basic amenities. Our study findings imply that actors in informal settlements need to build on and re-build local resilience strategies in pursuit of inclusive and liveable urbanization in Africa, as unmet needs tend to increase with worsened marginality and vulnerability status. Beyond the resilience strategies adopted by MVGs, governments, service providers and caregivers should take more useful actions to prevent or reduce unmet needs.
Study on Urban Land Ecological Security Pattern and Obstacle Factors in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region
Authors: Peng Wenying , Sun Yue , Liu Can , Liu Dandan
Published: December 2022

Land ecological security is the material basis of the sustainable development of human society. The coordinated development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region is a major national strategy of China. Land ecological security is of great significance to the coordinated development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and the maintenance of China’s ecological security. In this paper, the pressure–state–response (PSR) model is used to construct an evaluation index system of land ecological security, an entropy-weight technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method is used to calculate the land ecological security index in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, and an obstacle degree model is used to reveal the obstacle factors. The results show that the overall level of land ecological security in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region was low, and that the security level presented a pattern of “high in the north and low in the south”. The land ecological security level was mainly affected by the state subsystem and response subsystem, and the average index of the pressure subsystem was 0.543, which reached the safe state. The main obstacle factors are per capita grassland area, per capita forest area, green land rate of built-up area, urbanization rate, per capita cultivated land, etc. This study provides a theoretical basis for the construction of the land ecological security system, sustainable utilization of land resources and regional sustainable development in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and promotes the formation of a benign circulation pattern of land ecosystem and effective prevention and control of land ecological and environmental risks in the region.
The First Step of Single-Use Plastics Reduction in Thailand
Authors: Sedtha Salinda , Nitivattananon Vilas , Ahmad Mokbul Morshed , Cruz Simon Guerrero
Published: December 2022

Single-use plastics reduction is the primary mission of SDG promotion in Thailand. This study discusses the implementation and challenges of plastics reduction campaigns through interviews and field investigations focusing on stakeholder participation and perceptions of policy approaches in Bangkok. Convenience and economic factors are the major challenges for reduction practices in addition to insufficient financial support and the weak participation of stakeholders, all of which lead to the avoidance of penalties, reliance on voluntary collaborations, and market-led measures. The implementation of a ban without preparation guidelines for alternatives, practices, and an unequal regulatory scope has created tensions for consumers and businesses. Suasive instruments drawing on consumer merit, emotion, and ethics, in addition to incentives that lead to the perception of benefits related to single-use plastics reduction, could provide a motivation for society and shift current behaviors. Policymakers need to collaborate with academics and NGOs to provide the private sector and consumers with detailed, suitable, and short- and long-term strategies that promote pro-environmental behavior, encourage reuse, and discourage single-use practices—including clear duration times, targets, detailed guidelines, and facilities. The combination of a ban and a penalty, while still offering a fee as an alternative option and maintaining acknowledgment and communication with stakeholders, would result in better consumer feedback.
Potential Application of Blockchain Technology in Eco-Industrial Park Development
Authors: Ahmad Termizi Siti Nor Azreen , Wan Alwi Sharifah Rafidah , Manan Zainuddin Abd , Varbanov Petar Sabev
Published: December 2022

The concept of an eco-industrial park (EIP) that promotes resource sharing, reutilization of waste, and exchange of materials among industries and communities brings significant benefits in terms of environmental, social, and economic aspects. EIP can be accomplished with the aid of blockchain technology to manage data and integration complexity and problem dimensionality. This work proposes the application of blockchain technology in combination with other Industry 4.0 (IR4.0) technologies as enablers for EIP development. We review the international frameworks for EIP and the IR4.0 principles and applications focusing on blockchain technology to evaluate the suitability of blockchain technology integration into the green industrial park concept. An illustrative model of a blockchain-based EIP data management platform has been proposed in this work as a starting point for exploring the full potential of this technology for future EIP applications.
Rational Allocation of Water Resources in the Arid Area of Northwestern China Based on Numerical Simulations
Authors: Wang Lifang , Nie Zhenlong , Liu Min , Cao Le , Zhu Pucheng , Yuan Qinlong
Published: December 2022

Adding a series of surface-water transfer projects still cannot solve the current water shortages in the arid area of northwestern China. Selecting a rational allocation plan for the water resources is the key to coordinating water use for the national economy and ecological environment. In this study, taking the Wuwei Basin as the study area, long-term data of source-sink terms from 2007 to 2018 were analyzed. Following the calibration and validation of the numerical simulation model of the groundwater system, the data was highly fitted. Based on this model, the groundwater system balance, water level variations, and suitable ecological water level area in 2050 under four water resource allocation plans were compared. Under plan 4, the groundwater resources change from an average decrease of 7656.4 × 104 m3·yr−1 from 2007 to 2018, to an increase of 4624.6 × 104 m3·yr−1 in 2050, which means the groundwater systems are almost in a positive balance state. Compared with 2018, the water level with small groundwater depth drops by 2.2–5.7 m, while that with large groundwater depths steadily rises by 2.7–8.6 m. In addition, it can maintain the 9 km2 natural oasis wetland area and the 116 km2 well-growing natural vegetation area, which can effectively promote the benign evolution and efficient, balanced sustainable development of the regional water resources, economy, and ecological environment.
Characterization of a Thermal Insulating Material Based on a Wheat Straw and Recycled Paper Cellulose to Be Applied in Buildings by Blowing Method
Authors: Soto Matías , Rojas Carlos , Cárdenas-Ramírez Juan Pablo
Published: December 2022

The thermal envelope is a key component of a building’s energy efficiency. Therefore, considerable efforts have been made to develop thermal insulating materials with a better performance than the existing products. However, in the current climate change scenario, these materials must be sustainable, principally during their production stage. In this context, the use of recycled raw materials and agro-industrial waste can be the basis of a material with a low environmental impact and a good thermal performance. In this study, cellulose and wheat straw were characterized. Then, they were mixed in different proportions and densities and the best thermal behavior was selected. The materials were chemically analyzed by TAPPI 2007, thermogravimetric and infrared spectroscopy, together with the measurement of their thermal conductivity with a thermal property analyzer based on the transient line heat source method. The results show that both raw materials are chemically similar to each other. When mixed, they have a thermal conductivity ranging from 0.031 to 0.036 (W/mK), being comparable with several conventional thermal insulators. On the other hand, to achieve the commercial use of this material, an installation through a blowing process has been proposed and proves to be highly promising, achieving a proper density and efficiency in its application.
Response Analysis of Curved Tunnel under Near-Field Long-Period Ground Motion Considering Seismic Wave Propagation Effect
Authors: Liu Shaofeng , Yao Luyan , Feng Xiaojiu , Wang Peng
Published: December 2022

In this paper, long-period ground motion is used as the dynamic input to study the performance evolution of curved tunnel lining structure under seismic wave propagation excitation. This paper presents numerical studies on seismic waves, considering propagation effect, and aims to illustrate the response principle and structural failure mechanism of tunnel structures under long-period ground motion. Firstly, based on the dynamic analysis method, the dynamic balance equation of a tunnel under the seismic wave effect was analyzed. Secondly, this equation was applied to the 3D finite element software, the corresponding numerical model and boundary conditions were established, and the parameterized numerical analysis of the tunnel was carried out. Finally, according to the numerical simulation results, the seismic response principle and structural failure mechanism of a tunnel structure under long-period ground motion were discussed. The research results show that the depth and segment thickness of the tunnel significantly affect the seismic performance of the tunnel. The seismic response mechanism of a curved tunnel is complex, which shows that the relative displacements on the left and right symmetrical positions are different. The displacement inside the curve is less than the displacement outside the curve. Compared with other types of ground motion, the near-site motion considering the seismic wave propagation effect can lead to large deformation of the tunnel, which damages the lining structure greatly, and the enhancement effect is prominent for the long shield tunnel.