bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the New Advantages of Colonoscope Insertion with an Endoscopic Position Detection Unit
Authors: Kawai Takashi , Kawai Yusuke , Akimoto Yoshika , Hamada Mariko , Iwata Eri , Niikura Ryota , Nagata Naoyoshi , Sugimoto Mitsushige , Yanagisawa Kyosuke , Yamagishi Tetsuya , Fukuzawa Masakatsu , Itoi Takao
Published: October 2022

Background: The use of an endoscopic position detection unit (UPD) enables better and more objective understanding of the shape and position of the colonoscope. Here, we investigated the reproducibility of the insertion of a colonoscope with UPD. Materials and Methods: Study participants were 122 patients who received a colonoscopy with UPD twice for the purpose of large bowel screening and surveillance. The mean age of participants was 69.7 ± 10.4 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 9.2:1. The colonoscope insertion technique was primarily based on the shaft-holding, shortening insertion method. The cecal intubation time was recorded; the method used for passing through the sigmoid/descending colon junction (SDJ) and the hepatic flexure. Results: The mean cecal intubation time was 990 ± 511 s. The cecal intubation time and the patterns for passing through the SDJ and hepatic flexure were significantly correlated between the first and second colonoscopies. Conclusion: Use of a UPD revealed good reproducibility of colonoscope insertion. This is the first time we have proved that both time and pattern are inserted in much the same way for the first and second times. In patients’ conducted UPD combination TCS after the second time, it was suggested that individual tailor-made insertions are possible based on the information from the first time.
Functionalized Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle-Based Electrochemical Immunosensor for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody
Authors: Sadique Mohd Abubakar , Yadav Shalu , Khare Vedika , Khan Raju , Tripathi Gagan Kant , Khare Purnima Swarup
Published: October 2022

The advancement in biosensors can overcome the challenges faced by conventional diagnostic techniques for the detection of the highly infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Hence, the development of an accurate, rapid, sensitive, and selective diagnostic technique can mitigate adverse health conditions caused by SARS-CoV-2. This work proposes the development of an electrochemical immunosensor based on bio-nanocomposites for the sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies through the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) electroanalytical method. The facile synthesis of chitosan-functionalized titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-CS bio-nanocomposites) is performed using the sol-gel method. Characterization of the TiO2-CS bio-nanocomposite is accomplished using UV-vis spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrochemical performance is studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), DPV, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for its electroanalytical and biosensing capabilities. The developed immunosensing platform has a high sensitivity with a wide range of detection from 50 ag mL−1 to 1 ng mL−1. The detection limit of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody in buffer media is obtained to be 3.42 ag mL−1 and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) to be 10.38 ag mL−1. The electrochemical immunosensor has high selectivity in different interfering analytes and is stable for 10 days. The results suggest that the developed electrochemical immunosensor can be applicable for real sample analysis and further high-throughput testing.
A Bipartite Obturator Artery with Multiple Pelvic Branching—A Gynecologic Approach
Authors: Quiñones-Rodríguez Jailenne I. , Acevedo-Arroyo Alexandra N. , Santiago-Negrón Camille L. , Garcés-Torres Lucia F. , Fonseca-Salgado Carlos
Published: October 2022

Background: The obturator artery (OA) often presents multiple anatomical variations. These can be an atypical origin, variable anastomosis, or abnormal course within the pelvis. Methods: This study aimed to report a rare arterial variation in a Puerto Rican female cadaver that showed two abnormal obturator arteries with multiple pelvic branches. The OA emerged from the anterior branch of the internal iliac artery, which typically runs anteroinferior along the lateral wall of the pelvis to the upper part of the obturator foramen. Results: The atypical OA described in this report provided two variant branches. Abnormal obturator artery I (AOAI) emerged first and gave rise to three additional branches, while abnormal obturator artery II (AOAII) emerged second and gave rise to two other branches. Conclusions: Identifying these accessory arteries is essential for surgical interventions, particularly within the field of gynecology and urogynecology. Knowledge regarding anatomical variations within this region must be assessed preoperatively to decrease the risk of iatrogenic injury.
Adaptive Nonlinear Model Predictive Horizon Using Deep Reinforcement Learning for Optimal Trajectory Planning
Authors: Al Younes Younes , Barczyk Martin
Published: October 2022

This paper presents an adaptive trajectory planning approach for nonlinear dynamical systems based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL). This methodology is applied to the authors’ recently published optimization-based trajectory planning approach named nonlinear model predictive horizon (NMPH). The resulting design, which we call ‘adaptive NMPH’, generates optimal trajectories for an autonomous vehicle based on the system’s states and its environment. This is done by tuning the NMPH’s parameters online using two different actor-critic DRL-based algorithms, deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) and soft actor-critic (SAC). Both adaptive NMPH variants are trained and evaluated on an aerial drone inside a high-fidelity simulation environment. The results demonstrate the learning curves, sample complexity, and stability of the DRL-based adaptation scheme and show the superior performance of adaptive NMPH relative to our earlier designs.
FEC: Fast Euclidean Clustering for Point Cloud Segmentation
Authors: Cao Yu , Wang Yancheng , Xue Yifei , Zhang Huiqing , Lao Yizhen
Published: October 2022

Segmentation from point cloud data is essential in many applications, such as remote sensing, mobile robots, or autonomous cars. However, the point clouds captured by the 3D range sensor are commonly sparse and unstructured, challenging efficient segmentation. A fast solution for point cloud instance segmentation with small computational demands is lacking. To this end, we propose a novel fast Euclidean clustering (FEC) algorithm which applies a point-wise scheme over the cluster-wise scheme used in existing works. The proposed method avoids traversing every point constantly in each nested loop, which is time and memory-consuming. Our approach is conceptually simple, easy to implement (40 lines in C++), and achieves two orders of magnitudes faster against the classical segmentation methods while producing high-quality results.
An Improvement of Holistic Control Tuning for Reducing Energy Consumption in Seamless Transitions for a BESS Grid-Connected Converter
Authors: Arellanes Alberto , Nuñez Ciro , Visairo Nancy , Valdez-Fernandez Andres A.
Published: October 2022

This paper presents an improvement of the tuning process of the holistic control published by the authors in previous research to achieve a seamless transition among three operation mode changes and load transients. The proposed tuning approach reveals an improvement in the energy consumption of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) during all operation mode transients compared to the holistic control. For this aim, the system addressed is a BESS with the capability to ride through three operation modes of interest: the grid-connected mode as an inverter, the grid-connected mode as a rectifier, and the islanded operation mode. The LCL filter design by using the Butterworth polynomial approach is presented in more detail, and its smooth inherent transient response is preserved when the tuning of the controller gains is carried out by using the same polynomial approach but now including the integral action within the Butterworth polynomial. To reveal the reduction in energy consumption, the closed-loop transfer functions of each mode were used to compare the previous holistic control and this new one named by the authors as the “improved holistic control”. The closed-loop system fulfills the frequency and voltage thresholds of the IEEE 1547-2018 standard seamlessly. The simulation runs were conducted on the PSCAD/EMTDC to evaluate the seamless transition among the operation mode changes and load steps. The experimental results in a 617 W, 120 VL−L three-phase converter prototype are included to demonstrate the validity of the improved holistic control.
Successful Charge–Discharge Experiments of Anthraquinone-Bromate Flow Battery: First Report
Authors: Abunaeva Lilia , Kartashova Natalia , Karpenko Kirill , Chikin Dmitry , Verakso Darya , Loktionov Pavel , Pichugov Roman , Vereshchagin Anatoly , Petrov Mikhail , Antipov Anatoly
Published: October 2022

The proposed anthraquinone-bromate cell combines the advantages of anthraquinone-bromine redox flow batteries and novel hybrid hydrogen-bromate flow batteries. The anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid is of interest as a promising organic negolyte due its high solubility, rapid kinetics of electrode reactions and suitable redox potentials combined with a high chemical stability during redox reactions. Lithium or sodium bromates as posolytes provide an anomalously high discharge current density of order ~A cm−2 due to a novel autocatalytic mechanism. Combining these two systems, we developed a single cell of novel anthraquinone-bromate flow battery, which showed a power density of 1.08 W cm−2, energy density of 16.1 W h L−1 and energy efficiency of 72% after 10 charge–discharge cycles.
Experimental Study on the Contact Force between the Vessel and CBF in the Integrated Floating Transportation Process of Offshore Wind Power
Authors: Meng Lingqian , Ding Hongyan
Published: October 2022

More and more clean energy is used worldwide and offshore wind power is an important part of clean energy. The difficulty of offshore construction is an important problem. The integrated floating transport technique of composite bucket foundation (CBF) provides an important method to solve this problem. The main purpose of this paper is to study and verify the safety of the integrated floating transport technique of the composite bucket foundation. Through the test method, we determine the location distribution where the contact force changes greatly and identify the factors that have a great impact on the contact force. We study the influencing factors of the contact force between the composite bucket foundation and the installation vessel during the towing process and verify the experimental results through project data monitoring. We conclude by proposing feasible suggestions for the safety assurance of the project based on the contact force problem.
Thermo-Hydraulic Performance of Multiple Channels and Pin Fins Forming Convergent/Divergent Shape
Authors: Saghir Mohamad Ziad
Published: October 2022

Heat enhancement has been addressed by studying flow in channels with different shapes. The present paper investigates a particular channel shape with divergent and convergent forms. Two configurations are addressed: wall channels and pin-fin walls forming divergent/convergent shapes. The flow is assumed to be in a laminar and steady-state condition. The numerical model investigated the heat enhancement for different flow rates represented by Reynolds numbers. The average Nusselt number and the performance evaluation criterion revealed that wall channels outperformed the pin-fin shape. The performance evaluation criterion is higher than 1 for the wall channels. The main reason for this is that the flow passes through and above the wall creating mixing. This flow configuration happened since the wall height is shorter than the test cavity height. It is important to emphasize that pin-fins forming convergent channels did not improve heat enhancement when compared to convergent channels. No significant variation in the pressure drop was detected.
Review of the State-of-the-Art Uses of Minimal Surfaces in Heat Transfer
Authors: Dutkowski Krzysztof , Kruzel Marcin , Rokosz Krzysztof
Published: October 2022

The design of heat exchangers may change dramatically through the use of additive manufacturing (AM). Additive manufacturing, colloquially known as 3D printing, enables the production of monolithic metal bodies, devoid of contact resistance. The small volume of the exchanger, its lightness of weight, and the reduction of its production costs, compared to conventional methods, make the production of heat exchangers by AM methods conventional technologies. The review study presents a new look at the TPMS as a promising type of developed surface that can be used in the area of heat transfer. (Thus far, the only attractive option. The most important feature of additive manufacturing is the ability to print the geometry of theoretically any topography. Such a topography can be a minimal surface or its extended version—triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS). It was practically impossible to manufacture a TPMS-based heat exchanger with the method of producing a TPMS.) The issues related to the methods of additive manufacturing of metal products and the cycle of object preparation for printing were discussed, and the available publications presenting the results of CFD simulations and experimental tests of heat exchangers containing a TPMS in their construction were widely discussed. It has been noticed that the study of thermal-flow heat transfer with the use of TPMSs is a new area of research, and the number of publications in this field is very limited. The few data (mainly CFD simulations) show that the use of TPMSs causes, on the one hand, a several-fold increase in the number of Nu, and on the other hand, an increase in flow resistance. The use of TPMSs in heat exchangers can reduce their size by 60%. It is concluded that research should be carried out in order to optimize the size of the TPMS structure and its porosity so that the gains from the improved heat transfer compensate for the energy expenditure on the transport of the working fluid. It has been noticed that among the numerous types of TPMSs available for the construction of heat exchangers, practically, four types have been used thus far: primitive, gyroid, I-WP, and diamond. At the moment, the diamond structure seems to be the most promising in terms of its use in the construction of heat exchangers and heat sinks. It is required to conduct experimental research to verify the results of the CFD simulation.
X-ray and Synchrotron FTIR Studies of Partially Decomposed Magnesium Borohydride
Authors: Dahal Rashmi , Vitillo Jenny G. , Åsland Anna C. , Frommen Christoph , Deledda Stefano , Zavorotynska Olena
Published: October 2022

Magnesium borohydride (Mg(BH4)2) is an attractive compound for solid-state hydrogen storage due to its lucratively high hydrogen densities and theoretically low operational temperature. Hydrogen release from Mg(BH4)2 occurs through several steps. The reaction intermediates formed at these steps have been extensively studied for a decade. In this work, we apply spectroscopic methods that have rarely been used in such studies to provide alternative insights into the nature of the reaction intermediates. The commercially obtained sample was decomposed in argon flow during thermogravimetric analysis combined with differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC) to differentiate between the H2-desorption reaction steps. The reaction products were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), near edge soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy at boron K-edge (NEXAFS), and synchrotron infrared (IR) spectroscopy in mid- and far-IR ranges (SR-FTIR). Up to 12 wt% of H2 desorption was observed in the gravimetric measurements. PXRD showed no crystalline decomposition products when heated at 260–280 °C, the formation of MgH2 above 300 °C, and Mg above 320 °C. The qualitative analysis of the NEXAFS data showed the presence of boron in lower oxidation states than in (BH4)−. The NEXAFS data also indicated the presence of amorphous boron at and above 340 °C. This study provides additional insights into the decomposition reaction of Mg(BH4)2.
Optimizing Operation Strategy in a Simulated High-Proportion Wind Power Wind–Coal Combined Base Load Power Generation System under Multiple Scenes
Authors: Yu Qingbin , Dong Yuliang , Du Yanjun , Yuan Jiahai , Fang Fang
Published: October 2022

In order to accommodate more intermittent renewable energy in coal-dominated power systems, conventional thermal power plants need to improve their operational flexibility to balance the energy system at all times. However, flexible operation of coal-fired power plants could reduce energy efficiency and increase CO2 and pollutant emission, so it is important to consider environmental implications and optimize the dispatch of wind and coal power units in the system. In this paper, based on the output profile of wind power, a wind power peak (T, H) simulation model based on Gaussian distribution was established. Using a high-proportion wind power wind–coal combined base load power generation system as an example, the economical and environmentally friendly unit operation based on different wind power penetration was studied by simulation, and the decision strategy was established. Wind energy curtailment boundary was determined with power generation cost, energy consumption, CO2 and pollutant emissions as decision targets, respectively. Weekly scale results indicate that incorporating energy consumption and pollutant emissions into consideration will lead to different decision-making strategies compared with only targeting minimizing wind curtailment. This paper established a decision-making model of wind–coal system operation strategy based on economy and environmental criteria. This work directly contributes to real system operation and is of great significance for future scheduling/dispatch studies of actual power systems.
Maximum Power Point Tracking Implementation under Partial Shading Conditions Using Low-Cost Photovoltaic Emulator
Authors: Ahmed Mostafa , Harbi Ibrahim , Kennel Ralph , Abdelrahem Mohamed
Published: October 2022

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is a pivotal objective for photovoltaic (PV) systems. To test various MPPT techniques, a reliable and effective PV emulator is required. Therefore, this article proposes a low-cost PV emulator for partial shading conditions, in which a cascaded structure of a DC power source with a resistor is constructed to generate the multiple peaks of the power-voltage (P-V) curve. The proposed structure is simple and modular. Consequently, it can be extended to obtain several peaks in the P-V characteristics to emulate more complex partial shading conditions. The partial shading occurrence over the PV source (PV array) causes a significant power loss production from the PV system. To increase the PV system’s efficiency, optimization techniques are employed to harness the global power. Accordingly, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique is used to track the global peak. Furthermore, the conventional perturb and observe (P&O) method is applied for comparison and investigation. The proposed PV emulation system is validated under different operating conditions using simulation and experimental hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) results.
Identification of Bacteria and Fungi in Various Types of Multi-Use Facilities in Bucheon, South Korea
Authors: Kim Min-kyeong , Seo Sung chul , Park Duckshin
Published: October 2022

The recent sequential appearance of infectious pathogens has caused ongoing social and economic damage. Despite the very high potential for pathogen transmission within indoor multi-use facilities, there are insufficient measures for the systematic analysis, diagnosis, and reduction in such transmission. Although real-time environmental information is available for pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide in South Korea, an automatic network for the real-time measurements of harmful microorganisms has not yet been established. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the concentrations of bacteria and fungi in different types of multiple-use facilities in Bucheon, South Korea, using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. All multi-use facilities in the region were classified into six types: facilities for pollution-sensitive groups (e.g., children or the elderly) and transportation-related, public transportation, temperature-controlled, food preparation, and other facilities. Next, the importance of each facility type in terms of bacterial and fungal abundance was evaluated using the AHP method, according to criteria selected using the AHP method. The highest importance was assigned to multi-use facilities for air-pollution-sensitive groups, which were associated with higher user density and more confirmed cases of COVID-19; the second-highest importance was assigned to public-transportation facilities. Bacteria detected at representative multi-use facilities were identified using 16S rRNA sequencing and included the human pathogens Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Erwinia billingiae, and Enterobacter cloacae. This study is the first to measure monthly and seasonal concentrations of bacteria and fungi at 30 multi-use facilities in Bucheon. The results of this study will be useful for designing systematic measures for the control of infectious bacteria and fungi in various types of multi-use facilities, according to their specific characteristics.
Fire Severity Controls Successional Pathways in a Fire-Affected Spruce Forest in Eastern Fennoscandia
Authors: Ananyev Vladimir A. , Timofeeva Vera V. , Kryshen’ Alexandr M. , Pekkoev Alexey N. , Kostina Ekaterina E. , Ruokolainen Anna V. , Moshnikov Sergei A. , Medvedeva Maria V. , Polevoi Alexei V. , Humala Andrey E.
Published: October 2022

Tree stand dynamics, changes in the ground vegetation and soils, and species diversity of wood-decaying fungi were studied in pristine middle boreal spruce forests affected by a surface fire in the Vodlozersky National Park (Arkhangelsk Region, Russia) in 2011. In the third year after the fire, the burnt area was dominated by birch, which contributed an average of 72% to the total amount of major tree species regeneration. In sites affected by a high-severity fire, the ground vegetation cover did not exceed 40%, with Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop. and Marchantia polymorpha L. dominating in the first years after. By the tenth year, the diversity of the newly forming tree layer increased from 5 to 11 species and natural thinning of deciduous tree regeneration was already underway, although its amount was still over 100,000 plants per hectare throughout. By the end of the first post-fire decade, Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. and Pinus sylvestris L. accounted for 11% of the total regeneration. The occurrence and cover of pyrogenic species Chamaenerion angustifolium and Marchantia polymorpha declined sharply at this stage. Vegetation in sites affected by mid-severity fire was mostly regenerating through propagation of the survivor Avenella flexuosa (L.) Drejer, Vaccinium myrtillus L., V. vitis-idaea, etc. In the burnt area, the species diversity of wood-destroying fungi was reduced compared to the adjacent unburned areas, and it was the same in both heavily and moderately burnt areas. This is probably due to the fact that the downed deadwood in post-fire sites was trunks of the same age and in the same degree of decay whereas the total amount of downed deadwood in the control (unburnt forest) was lower but featuring all stages of decay and, furthermore, there were plenty of fungi-populated dead standing and weakened overmature trees.
The Effects of Land-Use and Climatic Changes on the Hydrological Environment in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi Province
Authors: Zhao Kuifeng , Li Jing , Ma Xinping , Deng Chenhui
Published: October 2022

Under the dual influence of climate change and land-use change, different protection policies in Qinling Mountains lead to different hydrological responses. On the basis of land-use and climatic changes in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi province, we constructed a response model among land use, climate, and runoff in the Qinling Mountains through the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model was used to predict and simulate land-use types of the Qinling Mountains in 2025 and 2030. On the basis of the current ecological protection policy in China, two scenarios of land use were set up to find the best method for forestland protection. The results show the following. The SWAT model is applicable to the Weihe River and Hanjiang River basins of the Qinling Mountains, the simulation results were verified, and the Nash coefficient was above 0.6. Under future climate change and land-use patterns, runoff in the Qinling Mountains watershed shows an upward trend, and the runoff in the Hanjiang River basin increased by more than that in the Weihe River basin, with change rates of 47.471 and 33.356 m3/10a, respectively. According to the future trend of the two different scenarios, the increase degree of runoff in the natural scenario of Weihe River basin was 16.567 m3/10a higher than that in the woodland scenario, and the increase degree of runoff in the Hanjiang River basin was 17.692 m3/10a higher than that in the woodland scenario. Therefore, blindly increasing the forestland area in Qinling Mountains cannot achieve a better hydrological effect.
Deep Learning Model for Soil Environment Quality Classification of Pu-erh Tea
Authors: Cai Xiaobo , Yuan Wenxia , Liu Xiaohui , Wang Xinghua , Chen Yaping , Deng Xiujuan , Wu Qi , Han Ke , Cao Zhiyong , Wu Wendou , Wang Baijuan
Published: October 2022

Pu-erh tea, Camellia sinensis is a traditional Chinese tea, one of the black teas, originally produced in China’s Yunnan Province, named after its origin and distribution center in Pu-erh, Yunnan. Yunnan Pu-erh tea is protected by geographical Indication and has unique quality characteristics. It is made from Yunnan large-leaf sun-green tea with specific processing techniques. The quality formation of Pu-erh tea is closely related to the soil’s environmental conditions. In this paper, time-by-time data of the soil environment of tea plantations during the autumn tea harvesting period in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China, in 2021 were analyzed. Spearman’s correlation analysis was conducted between the inner components of Pu’er tea and the soil environmental factor. The analysis showed that three soil environmental indicators, soil temperature, soil moisture, and soil pH, were highly significantly correlated. The soil environmental quality evaluation method was proposed based on the selected soil environmental characteristics. Meanwhile, a deep learning model of Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) Network for the soil environmental quality of tea plantation was established according to the proposed method, and the soil environmental quality of tea was classified into four classes. In addition, the paper also compares the constructed models based on BP neural network and random forest to evaluate the coefficient of determination (R2), mean absolute error (MAE), mean square error (MSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and root mean square error (RMSE) of the indicators for comparative analysis. This paper innovatively proposes to introduce the main inclusions of Pu’er tea into the classification and discrimination model of the soil environment in tea plantations, while using machine learning-related algorithms to classify and predict the categories of soil environmental quality, instead of relying solely on statistical data for analysis. This research work makes it possible to quickly and accurately determines the physiological status of tea leaves based on the establishment of a soil environment quality prediction model, which provides effective data for the intelligent management of tea plantations and has the advantage of rapid and low-cost assessment compared with the need to measure the intrinsic quality of Pu-erh tea after harvesting is completed.
Changes in Chemical Properties and Fungal Communities of Mineral Soil after Clear-Cutting and Reforestation of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Sites
Authors: Povilaitienė Aistė , Gedminas Artūras , Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė Iveta , Marčiulynienė Diana , Marčiulynas Adas , Lynikienė Jūratė , Mishcherikova Valeriia , Menkis Audrius
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to assess the changes in chemical properties and fungal communities in the upper mineral soil layer in managed Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) ecosystems. Study sites were located in the three largest P. sylvestris massifs in Lithuania, and six sampling sites, representing different development stages of the P. sylvestris forest ecosystem, were selected in each of them: mature P. sylvestris forest stands; clear-cuts of former P. sylvestris mature stand; and the P. sylvestris plantations aging from the 1st to 4th year. High-throughput sequencing was performed to evaluate the soil fungus community at clear-cuts, early-stage reforested sites, and mature forests in Lithuania. This study has shown that, among other chemical soil parameters, the mean concentrations of mineral nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), and P2O5 were slightly higher in the clear-cut sites, and significantly higher in the 1st year plantations compared to the mature forests. The quality filtering after PacBio sequencing showed the presence of 60,898 high-quality fungal sequences, and 1143 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The most abundant fungal OTU in our study was Archaeorhizomyces sp. 5425_1. In total, 70 mycorrhizal fungal OTUs were found in the soil samples at the studied sites. The most abundant ectomycorrhizal fungus identified was Amanita fulva (Schaeff.) Fr. The highest amount of ectomycorrhizal fungal OTUs was found in the clear-cut sites and in the mature forests. The concentrations of mineral N and P2O5 in the upper mineral soil layer did not significantly affect fungal OTUs diversity. Conversely, a relatively strong correlation was obtained between the number of mycorrhizal fungal OTUs and the concentrations of total N and soil organic carbon (SOC), as well as between the numbers of saprotrophic fungal OTUs and the concentration of magnesium ions (Mg2+).
Renewable Tannin-Based Adhesive from Quebracho Extract and Furfural for Particleboards
Authors: Cesprini Emanuele , Causin Valerio , De Iseppi Alberto , Zanetti Michela , Marangon Matteo , Barbu Marius Catalin , Tondi Gianluca
Published: October 2022

With increasing concerns about the production of sustainable materials, the field of wood-based materials still offers a critical challenge. Indeed, a close dependence on petroleum derivatives is still required, involving high consumption of non-renewable and toxic chemicals in the assembly of wooden parts. Herein, the aim of this research was to evaluate the potentiality of an entirely renewable tannin-based adhesive for particleboard production. Industrial quebracho (Schinopsis balansae) tannin powder was selected as a raw material and analyzed in terms of polyphenols, polysaccharides, and the total condensed amount. Furfural was proposed as a bio-sourced hardener to establish crosslinking between the flavonoid units and hence produce a resin. This formulation was analyzed in terms of viscosity and curing time and then applied to laboratory-scale single-layer particleboard production. The density, mechanical properties, and thickness swelling of the panels were investigated at different glue ratios and pressing conditions. It was observed that time has a higher impact than temperature on the internal bond, and panels pressed at 160 °C for a longer pressing time (>7 min) performed better than the boards obtained at a higher temperature. The registered values at 160 °C for 11 min of pressing of internal bond (0.37 MPa) and modulus of elasticity (1417 MPa) met the required standards for P1 panels according to European norms EN 312 (2010). Conversely, the modulus of rupture (4.9 MPa) did not satisfy the requirements suggesting the need for the use of additive or post-treatments. Considering the results achieved, quebracho–furfural adhesives are an interesting base for bio-based adhesive formulations.
LoRaWAN Network Downlink Routing Control Strategy Based on the SDN Framework and Improved ARIMA Model
Authors: Qian Qi , Shu Liang , Leng Yuxiang , Bao Zhizhou
Published: October 2022

In order to improve the downlink communication performance of the traditional LoRa wide area network (LoRaWAN), a LoRaWAN downlink routing control strategy based on the software defined networks (SDN) framework and the improved auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model is proposed. The SDN architecture is used to monitor the network traffic, and the link bandwidth occupancy rate is calculated based on the monitored downlink traffic. Taking into account the impact of data volatility on the accuracy of the prediction results, the Savitzky–Golay (S–G) smoothing filter and the sliding window method are introduced for data pre-processing. Stationarity processing is carried out for the time series data in the window, and the ARIMA model is developed to predict the downlink bandwidth occupancy rate. The triangle module operator is then used to incorporate multiple path parameters to finally calculate the selectivity of different paths, and the optimal path for LoRaWAN downlink communication is then provided. Simulation and experimental results show that the root mean square error of the improved ARIMA prediction model is reduced by 87% compared with the standard ARIMA model. The proposed routing control strategy effectively reduces the service transmission delay and packet loss rate. In the LoRaWAN test environment, as the downlink load rate increases, the average link bandwidth occupancy rate of this solution increases by 12% compared with the traditional method.
Identification and Characterization of microRNAs in the Gonads of Litopenaeus vannamei Using High-Throughput Sequencing
Authors: Li Wei , He Pingping , Zhang Xingzhi , Guan Junliang , Chen Yongxian , Zhang Li , Zhang Bin , Zheng Yusi , Li Xin , He Qingsong , Liu Longcheng , Yuan Chang , Wei Pinyuan , Peng Jinxia
Published: October 2022

Although the expression of miRNAs has been widely applied to investigate on gonads, the role of miRNAs in the gonadal development of white Pacific shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) remains unknown. In this study, we performed high-throughput sequencing to identify the sex-related microRNAs (miRNAs) that elucidated the regulatory mechanisms on the gonadal differentiation of L. vannamei. We obtained a total of 29,671,557 and 28,526,942 raw reads from the ovaries and testes library, respectively. We then mapped 26,365,828 (92.73%) of the ovarian clean sequences and 23,694,294 (85.65%) of the testicular clean sequences for a transcriptome reference sequence of L. vannamei. After blasting the miRNA sequences against the miRBase database, we identified 153 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs between the ovaries and testes. To confirm the high-throughput sequencing results, we used a reverse transcriptase–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to verify the expression patterns of the seven most differentially expressed miRNAs (i.e., novel_mir23, miR-92b-3p_3, miR-12-5p_2, novel_mir67, miR-279_1, let-7-5p_6, miR-263a-5p_1). According to the results of RT-qPCR, most of the miRNAs were expressed consistently with the high-throughput sequencing results. In addition, the target genes significantly enriched several Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) pathways that were closely related to gonadal differentiation and development, including extracellular matrix–receptor interaction, Hedgehog signaling pathway, protein digestion and absorption and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). This study revealed the first miRNAs sequencing of L. vannamei gonads. We identified sex-related differentially expressed miRNAs and KEGG pathways, which will be helpful to facilitate future research into the regulatory mechanism on the gonadal differentiation of L. vannamei.
Nutritional Profiling of Wild (Pangasius pangasius) and Farmed (Pangasius hypophthalmus) Pangasius Catfish with Implications to Human Health
Authors: Chakma Suprakash , Rahman Md. Arifur , Siddik Muhammad A. B. , Hoque Md. Sazedul , Islam SM Majharul , Vatsos Ioannis N.
Published: October 2022

This study analyzed and compared the nutritional profiles of wild (Pangasius pangasius) and farmed (Pangasius hypophthalmus) pangasius catfish collected from the various sources of river and culture ponds in Bangladesh. The results indicated that the wild pangasius catfish had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of moisture, fat and ash content, compared to the farmed one. However, the farmed pangasius had significantly higher level of protein and carbohydrate, compared to wild pangasius. The total EAA ratio was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in wild pangasius (1.51 ± 0.01 g/100 g), compared to farmed pangasius (1.55 ± 0.01 g/100 g), which exceeded the FAO/WHO minimum standard of 40% for both species. In regard to fatty acid contents, wild pangasius was found to be rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with a mean value of 4.89% and 2.72%, respectively, while the values in the farmed pangasius were 1.07% and 0 (not detected), respectively. A higher ω-3/ω-6 ratio was found in wild pangasius 14.26%, in comparison with farmed pangasius (0.14%). Overall, the results indicated that pangasius catfish either farmed or wild are suitable for human consumption wherein wild pangasius has superior amino acid and fatty acid quality, compared to the pangasius reared in captivity.
Experimental and CFD Investigation of Directional Stability of a Box-Wing Aircraft Concept
Authors: Djahid Gueraiche , Elena Karpovich , Maxim Pikulev , Alexander Kuznetsov , Popov Sergey , Sinha Manoranjan
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to explore the directional stability issues of a previously studied light box-wing aircraft model with a pusher propeller engine in the fuselage aft section. Earlier configurations have included the use of fuselage together with a lifting system consisting of two wings joined together at their wingtips with vertical stabilizers. However, these side vertical surfaces failed to provide the aircraft with sufficient directional stability, thus prompting the quest in this study for novel solutions that would exclude the need for a fuselage extension and a typical fin. Solutions included the use of a ducted propeller and few configurations of small “fishtail” vertical fins, which formed part of the aft fuselage itself and coupled with vortex generators on the fuselage surface to improve their interference and heal flow separation at the fuselage aft cone. The results of wind tunnel testing were supported with CFD simulations to explain the flow behavior of each of the studied solutions. Tuft visualization and computed flow patterns allowed identification of the sources of the observed low efficiency in terms of directional stability of the fishtail against a simple idle duct without a propeller. A final configuration with a duct and a modified version of the fuselage fins was achieved that provides enough yaw stability margins for a safe flight.
Analysis and Research on Starch Content and Its Processing, Structure and Quality of 12 Adzuki Bean Varieties
Authors: Zhang Lei , Dong Weixin , Yao Yaya , Chen Congcong , Li Xiangling , Yin Baozhong , Li Huijing , Zhang Yuechen
Published: October 2022

Investigating starch properties of different adzuki beans provides an important theoretical basis for its application. A comparative study was conducted to evaluate the starch content, processing, digestion, and structural quality of 12 adzuki bean varieties. The variation ranges of the 12 adzuki bean varieties with specific analyzed parameters, including the amylose/amylopectin (AM/AP) ratio, bean paste rate, water separation rate, solubility, swelling power and resistant starch (RS) content level, were 5.52–39.05%, 44.7–68.2%, 45.56–54.29%, 6.79–12.07%, 11.83–15.39%, and 2.02–14.634%, respectively. The crystallinity varied from 20.92 to 37.38%, belonging to type BC(The starch crystal type is mainly type C, supplemented by type B). In correlation analysis, red and blue represent positive and negative correlation, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that the termination temperature of adzuki bean starch was positively correlated with AM/AP ratio. Therefore, the higher the melting temperature, the better the freeze–thaw stability. The 12 varieties were divided into Class I, Class II, and Class III by cluster analysis, based on application field. Class I was unsuitable for the diabetics’ diet; Class II was suitable for a stabilizer; and Class III was suitable for bean paste, mixtures, and thickeners. The present study could provide a theoretical basis for their application in the nutritional and nutraceutical field.
The Effect of Deep Frying French Fries and Two Types of Iberian Pork on the Characteristics of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and the Fried Products
Authors: Carrapiso Ana Isabel , Otero-Bazago Eva María , Gil-Amado José Ángel , Martín Lourdes
Published: October 2022

Although deep frying is widely used, little is known about the effect of frying different meats on the frying oil. The aims of this study were to investigate whether the pork type influences the characteristics of the frying oil, to compare any effects with those of French fries, and to research whether the use of thermally damaged oil differentially affects those products. French fries and pork from pigs reared outdoors on acorns and grass (outdoor) or indoors on a concentrated feed (indoor) were deep-fried in either raw or previously heated olive oil. The type of product affected most color parameters, K268 and the α-tocopherol content of the oil. The frying of outdoor pork hardly affected the α-tocopherol content, whereas the frying of indoor pork and especially French fries caused a significant decrease. This suggests that the meat type should be considered when setting the frying lifespan of olive oil. Regarding the fried products, L*, moisture (only French fries) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content (only indoor pork) were the only parameters affected by the previous oil damage. The outdoor pork was less susceptible to oxidation than the indoor pork when the oil was severely damaged. Therefore, pig outdoor-based systems based on antioxidant-rich diets might be convenient to maintain oxidation at the lowest level after frying.
Thermal and Non-Thermal Treatments to Preserve and Encourage Bioactive Compounds in Fruit- and Vegetable-Based Products
Authors: Cano-Lamadrid Marina , Artés-Hernández Francisco
Published: October 2022

Fruit- and vegetable-based products (F&Vs) have been conventionally processed using thermal techniques such as pasteurization, scalding, or/and drying, ensuring microbial safety and/or enzyme deactivation [...]
Deflection of Beams Modeled by Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Villa-Morales José , Rodríguez-Esparza Luz Judith , Ramírez-Aranda Manuel
Published: October 2022

Using the concept of a fractional derivative, in Caputo’s sense, we derive and solve a fractional differential equation that models the deflection of beams. The scheme to introduce the fractional concept can be used for different situations; in the article, we only consider four cases as an example of its usefulness. In addition, we establish a relationship between the fractional index and the level of stiffness (or flexibility) of the material with which the beam is made.
Occurrence of vanHAX and Related Genes beyond the Actinobacteria Phylum
Authors: Yushchuk Oleksandr , Binda Elisa , Fedorenko Victor , Marinelli Flavia
Published: October 2022

Clinically relevant glycopeptide antibiotics remain among the most successful classes of natural antibacterials. This success, however, is endangered by the spread of glycopeptide resistance genes, also known as van genes. Thus, it is important to trace and comprehend possible routes of van gene dissemination. In the current work, we present a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis aimed at mapping the occurrence of van genes beyond the Actinobacteria phylum—the most likely natural reservoir of van genes. We show that two additional classes of Gram-positive bacteria, Erysipelotrichia and Ktedonobacteria, as well as one class of Gram-negative bacteria, Anaerolineae, carry van genes. Additionally, we demonstrate that various new genera belonging to the classes Clostridia and Bacilli also carry van genes. The majority of discovered van loci are co-localized with MGE-related genes of various types. Finally, we propose a phylogeny-based scenario for the spread of van genes, unraveling a network of consequential horizontal gene transfer events linking the phylum Actinobacteria with the five other bacterial classes carrying van genes.
Ancient DNA Reveals Maternal Philopatry of the Northeast Eurasian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Population during the Holocene
Authors: Boulygina Eugenia , Sharko Fedor , Cheprasov Maksim , Gladysheva-Azgari Maria , Slobodova Natalia , Tsygankova Svetlana , Rastorguev Sergey , Grigorieva Lena , Kopp Martina , Fernandes Jorge , Novgorodov Gavril , Boeskorov Gennady , Protopopov Albert , Hwang Woo-Suk , Tikhonov Alexei , Nedoluzhko Artem
Published: October 2022

Significant palaeoecological and paleoclimatic changes that took place during Late Pleistocene—Early Holocene transition are considered important factors that led to megafauna extinctions. Unlike many other species, the brown bear (Ursus arctos) has survived this geological time. Despite the fact that several mitochondrial DNA clades of brown bears became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene, this species is still widely distributed in Northeast Eurasia. Here, using the ancient DNA analysis of a brown bear individual that inhabited Northeast Asia in the Middle Holocene (3460 ± 40 years BP) and comparative phylogenetic analysis, we show a significant mitochondrial DNA similarity of the studied specimen with modern brown bears inhabiting Yakutia and Chukotka. In this study, we clearly demonstrate the maternal philopatry of the Northeastern Eurasian U. arctos population during the several thousand years of the Holocene.
North to South through a Post-Feminist Prism: Israeli Society as Reflected in Ora Shem-Ur’s Fictional Detective Novels
Authors: Koplowitz-Breier Anat
Published: October 2022

Ora Shem-Ur’s detective series starring Ali Honigsberg established her as one of the early female pioneers in the new wave of Israeli detective fiction writers. In line with the current trend in post-feminist criticism towards analyzing the place of women within popular culture by looking at fiction as an agent of social change, this article suggests that the series not only addresses gendered topics but also other tensions and social exploitations of power within Israeli society. Shem-Ur thus provides a fascinating portrait of Israeli society in the 1990s, reflecting the way in which female detective fiction developed from light reading material into a social mirror presenting and addressing social changes and shifts in gender conception. Reading the series through a post-feminist lens, the article seeks to demonstrate how its themes of the relations between men, women, and power, and of economic corruption and politics, shed light on contemporaneous Israeli social issues.