bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficiency of Resistant Starch and Dextrins as Prebiotics: A Review of the Existing Evidence and Clinical Trials
Authors: Włodarczyk Michał , Śliżewska Katarzyna
Published: October 2021

In well-developed countries, people have started to pay additional attention to preserving healthy dietary habits, as it has become common knowledge that neglecting them may easily lead to severe health impairments, namely obesity, malnutrition, several cardiovascular diseases, type-2 diabetes, cancers, hypertensions, and inflammations. Various types of functional foods were developed that are enriched with vitamins, probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary fibers in order to develop a healthy balanced diet and to improve the general health of consumers. Numerous kinds of fiber are easily found in nature, but they often have a noticeable undesired impact on the sensory features of foods or on the digestive system. This led to development of modified dietary fibers, which have little to no impact on taste of foods they are added to. At the same time, they possess all the benefits similar to those of prebiotics, such as regulating gastrointestinal microbiota composition, increasing satiety, and improving the metabolic parameters of a human. In the following review, the evidence supporting prebiotic properties of modified starches, particularly resistant starches and their derivatives, resistant dextrins, was assessed and deliberated, which allowed drawing an interesting conclusion on the subject.
Dietary Intake and Representativeness of a Diverse College-Attending Population Compared with an Age-Matched US Population
Authors: Rana Ziaul H. , Frankenfeld Cara L. , de Jonge Lilian , Kennedy Erika J. , Bertoldo Jaclyn , Short Jerome L. , Cheskin Lawrence J.
Published: October 2021

Young adults typically gain more dietary autonomy as they start college, though this can also present nutritional challenges; however, research on the generalizability of their dietary intake data is scarce. To address this representativeness concern, we compared food and nutrient intakes reported by college freshmen attending a large, diverse university to an age-matched sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We studied 269 students 18–24 years old recruited through the Mason: Health Start Here (HSH) study, a population-based cohort study of college students. Diet was assessed using a diet history questionnaire (DHQ-III) and estimated with food source composition tables. The NHANES sample of 835 adults was the reference dataset. Reported dietary intakes were weighted and compared with national intakes via t-tests. We observed comparable energy, carbohydrate, fat, and protein intakes in both groups; however, the HSH cohort reported a higher density intake of most micronutrients than the NHANES sample. Differences between these samples in intake, mode of dietary assessment administration, and reactivity may help explain the differences detected. These results demonstrate that when appropriately contextualized in terms of methodology and potential sources of bias, single college studies can be useful for understanding nutrition in young adults more broadly.
Work Environment Characteristics and Emotional Intelligence as Correlates of Nurses’ Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study
Authors: Maillet Stephanie , Read Emily
Published: October 2021

This cross-sectional survey study examined the relationship between Canadian nurses’ work environment characteristics, emotional intelligence, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction (n = 1271). Psychological demands, decision latitude, supervisor and coworker support, and emotional intelligence (EI) were significantly correlated with nurses’ compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, except for two EI subscales. Furthermore, these relationships were stronger for compassion satisfaction than compassion fatigue, suggesting that they are influenced by different factors. Our results highlight the importance of creating reasonable psychological demands, empowering nurses to make decisions in their jobs, supportive relationships at work, and fostering the development of nurses’ EI.
Acaricidal and Repellent Effects of Essential Oils against Ticks: A Review
Authors: Selles Sidi Mohammed Ammar , Kouidri Mokhtaria , González Marta G. , González Julia , Sánchez María , González-Coloma Azucena , Sanchis Jaime , Elhachimi Latifa , Olmeda A. Sonia , Tercero José Maria , Valcárcel Félix
Published: October 2021

Tick control is a priority in order to prevent the transmission of vector-borne diseases. Industrial chemical acaricides and repellents have been the most efficient tools against hard ticks for a long time. However, the appearance of resistances has meant the declining effectiveness of the chemicals available on the market. The trend today is to develop alternative control methods using natural products to replace nonefficient pesticides and to preserve the efficient ones, hoping to delay resistance development. Traditional in vitro evaluation of acaricidal activity or resistance to synthetic pesticides have been reviewed and they mainly focus on just one species, the one host tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)). Recent reports have called for the standardization of natural product components, extraction techniques, and experimental design to fully discover their acaricidal potential. This study reviews the main variables used in the bibliography about the efficiency of natural products against ticks, and it proposes a unification of variables relating to ticks, practical development of bioassays, and estimation of ixodicidal activity.
Kinetics of Eosinophils during Development of the Cellular Infiltrate Surrounding the Nurse Cell of Trichinella spiralis in Experimentally Infected Mice
Authors: Vega-Sánchez Vicente , Gómez-De-Anda Fabián-Ricardo , Calderón-Domínguez Georgina , Ramírez-y-Ramírez Mary-Carmen-del-Sol , Reyes-Rodríguez Nydia-E. , Zepeda-Velázquez Andrea-P. , Tapia-Romero Raquel , de-la-Rosa-Arana Jorge-Luis
Published: October 2021

We study the kinetics of eosinophils during the development of the cellular infiltrate surrounding the nurse cell of Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) in experimentally infected mice. Male CD1 mice were experimentally infected with 50 viable muscle larvae of the MSUS/MEX/91/CM-91 T. spiralis strain. Tongues and diaphragms were obtained daily from days 13 to 39 post infection. Diaphragms were compressed and subjected to Giemsa stain. Tongues were histologically sectioned and stained with erythrosine B or hematoxylin and eosin. The cellular infiltrate and the nurse cell-larva complex were detected by optical microscopy since day 16 post infection. The size of the larva increased exponentially during the course of the infection. The kinetics of eosinophils showed a multimodal trend, with a bimodal predominance. The maximum peaks were reached on days 21 and 27 post infection. The results of this study demonstrate that eosinophils occur abundantly in two transcendent moments of the T. spiralis life cycle: first, when the stage 1 larva invades the myocyte and second when the nurse cell-larva complex has been fully developed. These results help one to understand the immunobiology of T. spiralis, highlighting the importance of eosinophils in the survival of the larva in skeletal muscle. Further studies are needed to characterize the cell populations that comprise the cellular infiltrate during the development of the mother cell.
Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in CNS Disorders and Putative Therapeutic Targets: An Overview
Authors: Archie Sabrina Rahman , Al Shoyaib Abdullah , Cucullo Luca
Published: October 2021

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a fundamental component of the central nervous system (CNS). Its functional and structural integrity is vital to maintain the homeostasis of the brain microenvironment by controlling the passage of substances and regulating the trafficking of immune cells between the blood and the brain. The BBB is primarily composed of highly specialized microvascular endothelial cells. These cells’ special features and physiological properties are acquired and maintained through the concerted effort of hemodynamic and cellular cues from the surrounding environment. This complex multicellular system, comprising endothelial cells, astrocytes, pericytes, and neurons, is known as the neurovascular unit (NVU). The BBB strictly controls the transport of nutrients and metabolites into brain parenchyma through a tightly regulated transport system while limiting the access of potentially harmful substances via efflux transcytosis and metabolic mechanisms. Not surprisingly, a disruption of the BBB has been associated with the onset and/or progression of major neurological disorders. Although the association between disease and BBB disruption is clear, its nature is not always evident, specifically with regard to whether an impaired BBB function results from the pathological condition or whether the BBB damage is the primary pathogenic factor prodromal to the onset of the disease. In either case, repairing the barrier could be a viable option for treating and/or reducing the effects of CNS disorders. In this review, we describe the fundamental structure and function of the BBB in both healthy and altered/diseased conditions. Additionally, we provide an overview of the potential therapeutic targets that could be leveraged to restore the integrity of the BBB concomitant to the treatment of these brain disorders.
Linezolid for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci
Authors: Wingler Mary Joyce , Patel Neel R. , King S. Travis , Wagner Jamie L. , Barber Katie E. , Stover Kayla R.
Published: October 2021

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) account for a large proportion of hospital-acquired infections. Determining optimal treatment of VRE urinary tract infections (UTIs) is challenging. The purpose of this study was to determine if a difference in efficacy or safety exists between linezolid and non-linezolid treatments for VRE UTIs. This retrospective cohort evaluated patients admitted between 1 June 2012–30 November 2017 who were treated for VRE UTI. Patients must have had at least one sign, symptom, or laboratory confirmation of UTI to be included. The primary endpoint of this study was difference in clinical cure between linezolid and non-linezolid treatment options. Secondary endpoints included 30-day recurrence, 30-day infection-related readmission, inpatient mortality, infection-related hospital length of stay (LOS), and time to appropriate therapy. A total of 45 patients (33 linezolid and 12 non-linezolid) were included. Clinical cure occurred in 71.4% linezolid and 58.3% non-linezolid (p = 0.476). No patients had a 30-day infection-related readmission or 30-day recurrence. Of the 45 patients, 6 (13.3%) patients died during admission, and 5 of those deaths were in the linezolid group (p = 1.000). No significant difference was found for clinical cure between linezolid and non-linezolid treatment options for VRE UTIs.
Reproductive Cycle of the Seagrass Zostera noltei in the Ria de Aveiro Lagoon
Authors: Ankel Manuel , Rubal Marcos , Veiga Puri , Sampaio Leandro , Guerrero-Meseguer Laura
Published: October 2021

Sexual reproduction in seagrasses is essential to increase their resilience towards environmental stressors, but its phenology is still unknown in some regions, limiting our knowledge about the recovery capacity of these ecosystems. In this study, the flowering effort, reproductive phenology, seed production and ability of germination of Zostera noltei was studied for the first time in the Ria de Aveiro lagoon, Portugal. Flowering of Z. noltei in the Ria de Aveiro lasts from June to November, reaching a peak between July and August. All the meadows showed similar flowering effort and phenology over time. Comparing with other European populations, the flowering effort of Z. noltei in Ria de Aveiro lasted for a longer period, which could be related with the milder temperatures in summer and autumn and the great anthropogenic stress to which the meadows are subjected in the lagoon. The number of seeds produced and their ability of germination were similar among meadows and sampling periods, reaching levels similar to those of other European regions. Nevertheless, future studies are needed to determine the fate of the produced seeds in the field to have a better understanding about the natural recovery capacity of the species.
On the Reproductive Potential in Primula veris L. (Primulaceae): Embryological Features, Pollen and Seed Viability, Genetic Diversity
Authors: Yankova-Tsvetkova Elina , Yurukova-Grancharova Petka , Aneva Ina , Zhelev Petar
Published: October 2021

Primula veris (Primulaceae) is a valuable medicinal plant. The main characteristics for assessing the reproductive potential (embryological features; mode of reproduction; pollen and seed viability) and the genetic diversity of populations of the species from Bulgaria were studied. The anthers are tetrasporangiate. Their wall development follows the Dicotyledonous-type and consists of: epidermis, a fibrous endothecium, an ephemeral middle layer and a secretory (glandular) tapetum. After meiosis in pollen mother cells and simultaneous microsporogenesis tetrahedral tetrads are formed predominantly in the anthers. Many ovules (approximately 20) develop in the unilocular ovary and are anatropous, tenuinucellate and bitegmic. The embryo sac (ES) develops after Polygonum (monosporic)-type from the chalazal cell of linear megaspore tetrad in the ovule. After double fertilization, a Caryophyllad-type embryo and initially nuclear endosperm form. In the studied populations, high pollen viability of more than 95% was established. Extremely low viability (about 4%) of the seeds obtained from natural populations was established. The results reveal P. veris to be a predominantly amphimictic (sexually reproducing) species, although rare vegetative propagation is also observed. As a result of this study, essential data were obtained about the reproductive structures and processes and for assessing the reproductive potential of P. veris.
Freezing Tolerance Enhancement and Thermographic Observation of Whole Peach Trees Applied with Cellulose Nanocrystals under Realistic Spring Frost Conditions Using a Soil–Fruit–Daylit–System
Authors: Lee Seongho , Jeong Jae Hoon , Kim Seung Heui , Shin Hyunsuk
Published: October 2021

Due to recent abnormal weather caused by global warming, peach flowering has gradually accelerated, and spring frost damage caused by premature de-acclimation has increased. In this study, under a simulated spring frost environment using a Soil–Fruit–Daylit–System (SFDS) chamber, we investigated whether treatment with 2% cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) could enhance the freezing tolerance of the flower buds from 2-year-old whole peach trees. Visual changes in the ice propagation were observed using an infrared camera at the same time. After the peach flower buds in the calyx red stage were placed in the SFDS chamber with a minimum temperature of −4 °C for ~20 h, the percentage of browning in the pistils and stamens was 57.0% in the control group and 14.1% in the group treated with 2% CNCs. During the first pink stage, the percentages of browning in the pistils and stamens in the control group and the group treated with 2% CNCs were 98.2% and 70.3%, respectively. However, when peach flower buds in the group treated with 2% CNCs were exposed to a −6 °C-targeted chamber, they could not mitigate frost injury. Almost all flower buds were damaged. Infrared thermal images showed that the first exotherm in the control group began at 2:33:03 am, whereas that of the group treated with 2% CNCs began at 3:01:33 am. The control started to express exothermic behavior at −4.2 °C, while the group treated with 2% CNCs started expressing exothermic behavior at −5.1 °C. Thus, treatment with 2% CNCs enhanced the freezing tolerance by −0.9 °C and delayed the first instance of exothermic behavior by ~28 min. These results indicate that treatment with 2% CNCs could mitigate the frost damage of peach flower buds in a frost environment of −5 °C.
Identification of Stripe Rust Resistance Genes in Common Wheat Cultivars and Breeding Lines from Kazakhstan
Authors: Kokhmetova Alma , Rsaliyev Aralbek , Malysheva Angelina , Atishova Makpal , Kumarbayeva Madina , Keishilov Zhenis
Published: October 2021

Stripe (yellow) rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici (Pst), is a fungal disease that presents one of the most serious threats to the wheat crops, causing severe yield losses worldwide, including Kazakhstan. The objectives of this study were to: (1) evaluate a winter wheat collection for stripe rust resistance during an adult plant growth stage, (2) identify the presence of selected Yr genes using linked molecular markers in wheat germplasm, (3) identify potentially useful resistant wheat genotypes among leading cultivars and advanced breeding lines. This study evaluated 70 winter wheat genotypes for stripe rust resistance. According to the field reactions, 42 entries (60%) had R or MR reactions including 27 breeding lines (38.6%) and 15 (21.4%) cultivars. Twenty-eight breeding lines/cultivars (40.0%) were susceptible in both years. According to the average coefficient of infection value (ACI) six genotypes were regarded as possessing high level of adult plant resistance. Cultivars/lines carrying Yr10 alone or in combination with other Yr resistance genes provided resistance to stripe rust. Eleven breeding lines showed <5% disease severity in both years. Linked marker analysis revealed the presence of several gene and gene complexes (Yr5, Yr10, Yr15, Yr17/Lr37/Sr38 and Yr18/Lr34). Among a collection of 70 winter wheat breeding lines and cultivars produced in Kazakhstan three stripe rust resistance genes (Yr10, Yr5 and Yr15) demonstrated high frequency occurrence (31.4%, 14.0% and 7.0%, respectively). The most abundant was gene Yr10 identified in 22 genotypes. It was followed by the Yr5 gene, which conferred resistance in 14 lines (20%) and Yr18 gene-11 lines (15.7%). Yr15 was identified in 7 genotypes. Yr17/Lr37/Sr38 gene complex was found in 2 entries. Among 70 evaluated germplasm sources, 42 disease resistant entries are potentially useful resistant wheat genotypes. These carriers of different Yr genes can be used directly in breeding programs to improve stripe rust resistance of winter wheat. Marker-assisted selection can be efficiently applied to develop wheat cultivars with effective gene combinations that would directly assist in developing durable resistance in Kazakhstan.
Fungicide Difenoconazole Induced Biochemical and Developmental Toxicity in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Liu Runqiang , Li Jingchong , Zhang Lei , Feng Ta , Zhang Zhiyong , Zhang Baohong
Published: October 2021

Difenoconazole is one of the most commonly used fungicides to prevent and treat plant diseases caused by certain fungi. Due to increasing usage, more difenoconazole has been released into the environment and caused environment pollution. However, the potential impact of difenoconazole on plant growth and development and its involved mechanism are unclear. In this study, we discovered that difenoconazole exposure significantly inhibited plant growth, evidenced by the decrease in root dry weight, total root length, and surface area by 20–70%, 43–73%, and 26–66%, respectively, under different regimes of treatment concentrations and periods. Difenoconazole exposure also significantly inhibited shoot growth and development by decreasing 33–61% of the shoot dry weight and 50–65% of the leaf area. Difenoconazole exposure induced plant leaf cells to generate more ROS (O2•− and H2O2) and MDA, which resulted in a decreased chlorophyll content and then inhibited leaf photosynthesis. Difenoconazole exposure also induced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in the roots and leaves of the wheat seedlings. SOD and APX activities were higher and more stable in the roots than those in the leaves. Based on our study, plant roots exhibited a more pronounced superoxide radical scavenging ability than plant leaves. In summary, difenoconazole exposure caused oxidative stress, reduced chlorophyll biosynthesis and functions, and then inhibited wheat plant growth and development.
Evaluation of Cellular and Systemic Toxicity of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma-Treated N-Acetylcysteine as Potential Antimicrobial Catheter Lock Solution
Authors: Ercan Utku K. , Yost Adam D. , Wasko Kimberly , Brooks Ari D. , Joshi Suresh G.
Published: October 2021

Intravenous catheter-related bloodstream infections are a cause of remarkable problems. Catheter lock solutions are used to keep catheter patency and prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections. The leakage of catheter lock solution to the bloodstream raises toxicity concerns. Plasma-treated liquids carry the potential to act as catheter lock solutions by virtue of their strong antimicrobial effects. The present study investigates the tolerance of the proposed solution in vitro and in vivo. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) solution was treated with atmospheric-air DBD plasma and antimicrobial assays were performed. The cytotoxicity of the plasma-treated NAC solution was evaluated on an EA.hy926 cell line. Intravenous administration of plasma-treated NAC solution in different doses was given to Sprague Dawley rats. One week after infusion with plasma-treated NAC solution, first, the blood samples were collected, and then liver, kidney, tail vein, heart, and lung tissue samples were collected from euthanized rats for histopathological examination. The cytotoxicity of plasma-treated NAC solution depended on plasma treatment time, contact time, and cell number. A strong antimicrobial effect with no cytotoxicity of plasma-treated NAC solution was observed in endothelial cells. Based on blood tests and histopathological examination, no signs of systemic toxicity were observed that can be correlated to the plasma-treated-NAC solution. This solution has the potential to be used as a catheter lock solution with strong antimicrobial properties, keeping catheter patency.
Applying Acoustic Emission Technique for Detecting Various Damages Occurred in PCL Nanomodified Composite Laminates
Authors: Gholizadeh Ali , Mansouri Hasan , Nikbakht Ali , Saghafi Hamed , Fotouhi Mohamad
Published: October 2021

Interleaving composite laminates by nanofibers is a well-known method of increasing interlaminar fracture toughness. Among many possibilities, polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers is one of the best choices for toughening composite laminates. The influence of PCL on delamination mode of failure is considered before. However, the effect of PCL on other damage modes, such as fiber breakage and matrix cracking, is yet to be studied. In this study, the acoustic emission (AE) technique is applied to determine the effect of toughening composite laminates by PCL nanofibers on matrix cracking, fiber/matrix debonding, and fiber breakage failure mechanisms. For this purpose, mode I and mode II fracture tests are conducted on modified and non-modified glass/epoxy laminates. Three different methods, i.e., peak frequency, wavelet transform, and sentry function, are utilized for analyzing the recorded AE data from mode I test. The results show that applying PCL nanofibers not only increases the mode I critical strain energy release rate by about 38%, but also decreases different failure mechanisms by between 75 and 94%.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles as an Effective Antibiofouling Material for Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Ultrafiltration Membrane
Authors: Alnairat Nour , Abu Dalo Muna , Abu-Zurayk Rund , Abu Mallouh Saida , Odeh Fadwa , Al Bawab Abeer
Published: October 2021

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully synthesized using the aqueous extract of the Paronychia argentea Lam (P. argentea) wild plant. The results showed that the conversion of Ag+ to Ag0 nanoparticles ratio reached 96.5% as determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), with a negative zeta potential (ζ) of −21.3 ± 7.68 mV of AgNPs expected to improve the stability of synthesized AgNPs. AgNP antibacterial activity has been examined against Streptococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) was 4.9 µL/mL for both E. coli and S. aureus bacteria, while the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were 19.9 µL/mL and 4.9 µL/mL for S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. The synthesized AgNPs were incorporated in ultrafiltration polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) membranes and showed remarkable antibiofouling behavior against both bacterial strains. The membranes were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The contact angle and porosity of the membrane were also determined. The efficiency of the membranes regarding rejection rate was assessed using bovine serum albumin (BSA). It was found in the flux experiments that membranes BSA rejection was 99.4% and 98.7% with and without AgNPs, respectively.
Extraction of Cyclic Oligomer and Their Influence on Polyester Dyeing in a Silicone Waterless Dyeing System
Authors: Li Hao , Pei Liujun , Zhang Hongjuan , Wang Zhiwen , Saleem Muhammad Asad , Alebeid Omer Kamal , Wang Jiping
Published: October 2021

As a promising new dyeing process without using water, the non-aqueous medium dyeing of polyester has attracted people’s attention and some progress has been made in related research. However, the oligomers of polyester fiber can affect the dyeing of polyester during the use of a silicone waterless dyeing system. Based on this point, the oligomer problem in the silicone waterless dyeing system was investigated. The oligomers of some different types of polyester were extracted by solvent extraction. A treatment method with little influence on the fiber was used to reduce the oligomer content in polyester. The improvement of the dyeing effect of polyester after treatment in silicone medium was studied, and the influence of the oligomer on polyester dyeing was also analyzed. For the dyeing of disperse blue 366, the dye exhaustion was increased by 3.25–3.71%, and the color depth of the dyed sample was increased by 6–13%. Moreover, the colorfastness to rubbing was also improved. In the comparison, the changes in thermal properties and crystallization properties of polyester were tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The results showed that the thermal and crystalline properties of polyester fiber were not changed before and after solvent extraction.
Synthesis and Properties of Copolyphenylene Sulphones with Cardo Fragments
Authors: Kurdanova Zhanna , Zhansitov Azamat , Shakhmurzova Kamila , Slonov Azamat , Baykaziev Artur , Khashirova Svetlana
Published: October 2021

Copolymers based on 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl, phenolphthalein and 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone were synthesized by the method of high temperature polycondensation. The structure of the synthesized copolymers was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. Their physical, mechanical and thermal properties were investigated. It is shown that increases in the content of carded fragments lead to higher glass transition temperatures and heat resistance of the copolymers, as well as higher elastic and strength properties.
The Role of Stochastic Time-Variations in Turbulent Stresses When Predicting Drop Breakup—A Review of Modelling Approaches
Authors: Håkansson Andreas
Published: October 2021

Many industrially relevant emulsification devices are of the high-energy type, where drop deformation and subsequent breakup, take place due to intense turbulent fluid–drop interactions. This includes high-pressure homogenizers as well as rotor-stator mixers (also known as high-shear mixers) of various designs. The stress acting on a drop in a turbulent flow field varies over time, occasionally reaching values far exceeding its time-averaged value, but only during limited stretches of time, after which it decreases down to low values again. This it is one factor separating turbulent from laminar emulsification. This contribution reviews attempts to take this intermittently time-varying stress into account in models predicting the characteristic drop diameter resulting from emulsification experiments, focusing on industrially applicable emulsification devices. Two main frameworks are discussed: the Kolmogorov–Hinze framework and the oscillatory resonance framework. Modelling suggestions are critically discussed and compared, with the intention to answer how critical it is to correctly capture this time-varying stress in emulsification modelling. The review is concluded by a list of suggestions for future investigations.
Technology Recommendations for an Innovative Agricultural Robot Design Based on Technology Knowledge Graphs
Authors: Jin Yucheng , Liu Jizhan , Wang Xiuhong , Li Pingping , Wang Jizhang
Published: October 2021

The process of agricultural robot design is a complex system requiring the cooperation and integration of agricultural, machinery, automation, and information technology. These demands create great challenges for the innovative design of agricultural robots. Meanwhile, more than 95% of the latest inventions and creations in the world are recorded in the patent literature. In order to make effective use of the information and data resources of patents, shorten the design cycle, and provide knowledge for the designers, according to the operation’s objectives, an agricultural robot technology knowledge graph (TKG) was established for innovative designs. By analyzing the patent information, a patent IPC co-classification network (IPCNet) for adaptive design process recognition was put forward to meet the requirements of the different operation objectives and operation links. Through the extraction of the technology keywords and efficacy keywords, based on the word co-occurrence network (WCONet), a technology–efficacy map (TEM) was constructed. Through the integration of the adaptive design process and the TEM, the agricultural robot design TKG was constructed for determining technological recommendations for agricultural robot design. The case of the citrus picking robot design was realized to implement the design process. With the technology recommendation results, the moving system, body, and end-effector for the citrus picking robot were designed to verify the results of the recommendation.
Modeling the Effects of Seasonal Weathering on Centrifuged Oil Sands Tailings
Authors: Rima Umme Salma , Beier Nicholas , Abdulnabi Ahlam
Published: October 2021

The oil sands industry employs different technologies at pilot and commercial demonstration scales in order to improve the dewatering rate of fluid fine tailings. Of these technologies, centrifugation has advanced to the commercial scale and is playing a major role in the fluid fine tailings management strategy. However, centrifuge technology on its own may not develop the required strength to ensure fine tailings can be incorporated into dry landform reclamation, which requires water contents close to their plastic limit. Hence, it is paramount to combine more than one technology to maximize post-depositional dewatering. Management of the tailings deposit to promote seasonal weathering (freeze–thaw, evaporation and self-weight consolidation) can promote further dewatering. Properly assessing the contributions of the seasonal weathering components is vital to optimizing this strategy. Using the geotechnical properties of centrifuged tailings, the effects of seasonal weathering on tailings were modeled under two different freezing temperature gradients. A coupled analysis combining FSConsol and Unsatcon was used to simulate the deposition scenario similar to the laboratory. The modeling results were found to match the laboratory response reasonably well, indicating the coupled approach proposed in this manuscript is valid and helps to predict the seasonal weathering effects on dewatering.
Increase of Cycling Stability in Pilot-Scale 21700 Format Li-Ion Cells by Foil Tab Design
Authors: Waldmann Thomas , Scurtu Rares-George , Brändle Daniel , Wohlfahrt-Mehrens Margret
Published: October 2021

Li-ion cells of the industrially-relevant 21700 format were built on pilot-scale with tabs made from (a) the electrodes’ current collecting foils (Al and Cu, “foil tabs”) in comparison with (b) conventional tabs (Al and Ni) welded to the electrodes’ current collecting foils (“welded tabs”). Both cell types use the same anode (graphite), cathode (NMC622), separator, electrolyte, as well as the same tab positions. This allows a direct comparison of welded tabs and foil tabs regarding formation, C-rate capability, cell electrical resistance, and long-term cycling stability tests. Our data reproducibly shows 14.4% longer cycling stability and 11.2% increased total charge throughput in the case of the cells with foil tabs until 80% SOH, which is likely due to less inhomogeneities in the case of the foil tab design.
Convective Heat Transfer Motivated by Liquid-to-Vapor Density Difference in Centrifugal Force Field of Axially Rotating Loop Thermosyphons
Authors: Chang Shyy Woei , Hsieh Min-Fu , Wu Pey-Shey , Cai Wei Ling
Published: October 2021

The innovative rotating looped thermosyphons (RLTs) with and without a coil insert were proposed with cooling applications in rotating machinery. The spatial gradients of body forces among the vapor–liquid mixture of the distilled water in a strong centrifugal acceleration field motivated the flow circulation in a RLT to facilitate the latent heat transmissions. The effective thermal conductivity (Keff), the thermal resistance (Rth), the Nusselt numbers in the condenser (Nucon) and evaporator (Nueva), and the Nusselt number of the airflow induced by the rotating bend of the condenser (Nuext,con) of each RLT were measured at various rotating speeds and heat powers with two filling ratios of 0.5 and 0.8. The increase of filling ratio from 0.5 to 0.8 to maintain a thin liquid film along the rotating inner leg of each RLT substantially improved the heat transfer performances. The Keff, Nucon, Nueva, and Nuext,con were increased with rotating speed, leading to the corresponding reduction of Rth. On the basis of the experimental data, the empirical correlations that were used to calculate Rth, Keff, Nucon, Nueva, and Nuext,con of the RLTs at the two filling ratios with and without coil were proposed to assist the relevant design applications.
Purification of Textile Effluents Containing C.I. Acid Violet 1: Adsorptive Removal versus Hydrogen Peroxide and Peracetic Acid Based Advanced Oxidation
Authors: Wawrzkiewicz Monika , Kotowska Urszula , Sokół Aneta
Published: October 2021

Textile effluent containing azo dyes such as C.I. Acid Violet 1 (AV1) can be degraded to toxic aromatic amines in the environment. Thus, there is a legitimate need to treat such effluents before they are discharged to surface waters. Two methods were proposed to remove AV1 from aqueous solutions: adsorption and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The sorption capacity of the strongly basic anion exchanger Purolite A520E of the polystyrene matrix determined from the Langmuir isotherm model was found to be 835 mg/g, while that of Lewatit S5428 of the polyacrylamide matrix Freundlich model seems to be more appropriate for describing the experimental data. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and external diffusion are the rate limiting steps of adsorption. The removal efficiency of AV1 by the anion exchangers was higher than 99% after 40 min of phase contact time. AOPs involved the usage of hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid (PAA) as oxidizing agents, while Fe2+ and simulated sunlight were used as oxidizing activators. AV1 oxidation followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the systems with the highest values of the rate constants turned out to be those in which Fe2+ was present. The efficiency of oxidation measured by the degree of decolorization in the systems with Fe2+ was higher than 99% after 10–60 min. AV1 mineralization was slower, but after 120 min of oxidation it was higher than 98% in the H2O2/Fe2+, PAA/Fe2+ and PAA/Fe2+/sunlight systems.
A Mixed-Initiative Formation Control Strategy for Multiple Quadrotors
Authors: Karras George C. , Bechlioulis Charalampos P. , Fourlas George K. , Kyriakopoulos Kostas J.
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we present a mixed-initiative motion control strategy for multiple quadrotor aerial vehicles. The proposed approach incorporates formation specifications and motion-planning commands as well as inputs by a human operator. More specifically, we consider a leader–follower aerial robotic system, which autonomously attains a specific geometrical formation, by regulating the distances among neighboring agents while avoiding inter-robot collisions. The desired formation is realized by a decentralized prescribed performance control strategy, resulting in a low computational complexity implementation with guaranteed robustness and accurate formation establishment. The multi-robot system is safely guided towards goal configurations, by employing a properly defined navigation function that provides appropriate motion commands to the leading vehicle, which is the only one that has knowledge of the workspace and the goal configurations. Additionally, the overall framework incorporates human commands that dictate the motion of the leader via a teleoperation interface. The resulting mixed-initiative control system has analytically guaranteed stability and convergence properties. A realistic simulation study, considering a team of five quadrotors operating in a cluttered environment, was carried out to demonstrate the performance of the proposed strategy.
Gabor Filter-Based Segmentation of Railroad Radargrams for Improved Rail Track Condition Assessment: Preliminary Studies and Future Perspectives
Authors: Zauner Gerald , Groessbacher David , Buerger Martin , Auer Florian , Staccone Giuseppe
Published: October 2021

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has been used for several years as a non-contact and non-destructive measurement method for rail track analysis with the aim of recording the condition of ballast and substructures. As the recorded data sets typically cover a distance of many kilometers, the evaluation of these data involves considerable effort and costs. For this reason, there is an increasing need for automated support in the evaluation of GPR measurement data. This paper presents an image segmentation pipeline based on 2D Gabor filter texture analysis, which can assist users in GPR data-based track condition assessment. Gabor filtering is used to transform a radargram image (or B-scan) into a high-dimensional, multi-resolution representation. Principal component analysis (PCA) is then applied to reduce the data content to three characteristic dimensions (namely amplitude, frequency, and local scattering) to finally obtain a segmented radargram image representing different classes of relevant image structures. From these results, quantitative measures can be derived that allow experts an improved condition assessment of the rail track.
Use of Sentinel-2 Data to Improve Multivariate Tree Species Composition in a Forest Resource Inventory
Authors: Malcolm Jay R. , Brousseau Braiden , Jones Trevor , Thomas Sean C.
Published: October 2021

Aerial-photo interpreted inventories of forest resources, including tree species composition, are valuable in forest resource management, but are expensive to create and can be relatively inaccurate. Because of differences among tree species in their spectral properties and seasonal phenologies, it might be possible to improve such forest resource inventory information (FRI) by using it in concert with multispectral satellite information from multiple time periods. We used Sentinel-2 information from nine spectral bands and 12 dates within a two-year period to model multivariate percent tree species composition in >51,000 forest stands in the FRI of south-central Ontario, Canada. Accuracy of random forest (RF) and convolutional neural network (CNN) predictions were tested using species-specific basal area information from 155 0.25-ha field plots. Additionally, we created models using the Sentinel-2 information in concert with the field data and compared the accuracy of these models and the FRI-based models by use of basal areas from a second (13.7-ha) field data set. Based on average R2 values across species in the two field data sets, the Sentinel-FRI models outperformed the FRI, showing 1.5- and 1.7-fold improvements relative to the FRI for RF and 2.1- and 2.2-fold improvements for CNN (mean R2: 0.141–0.169 (FRI); 0.217–0.295 (RF); 0.307–0.352 (CNN)). Models created with the field data performed even better: improvements relative to the FRI were 2.1-fold for RF and 2.8-fold for CNN (mean R2: 0.169 (FRI); 0.356 (RF); 0.469 (CNN)). As predicted, R2 values between FRI- and field-trained predictions were higher than R2 values with the FRI. Of the 21 tree species evaluated, 8 relatively rare species had poor models in all cases. Our multivariate approach allowed us to use more FRI stands in model creation than if we had been restricted to stands dominated by single species and allowed us to map species abundances at higher resolution. It might be possible to improve models further by use of tree stem maps and incorporation of the effects of canopy disturbances.
An Indoor Positioning and Tracking Algorithm Based on Angle-of-Arrival Using a Dual-Channel Array Antenna
Authors: Li Chenhui , Zhen Jie , Chang Kanglong , Xu Aigong , Zhu Huizhong , Wu Jianxin
Published: October 2021

The angular position measurement of an array antenna based on a wireless signal has high accuracy in an indoor no-occlusion environment. However, due to the high complexity of indoor environments, signal occlusion, multipath, and other interfering factors are inevitable when users move randomly, which can greatly reduce the positioning accuracy. In addition, different directions of the positioning source signal can also affect the positioning result. The switching wheels of the dual-polarization antenna array are collected in channel 1, the fast Fourier transform (FFT) is applied to the data of channel 2 to estimate the frequency offset, and the phase of the data is compensated. Using the FFT frequency offset estimation, the high-precision positioning of a single base station is realized using the dual-channel switch and dual-polarization antenna array in turn. Aiming at analyzing the affecting factors of the positioning system accuracy, the strong tracking kalman filter algorithm is studied. At the same time, the singular value decomposition of the covariance matrix is performed to improve the robustness of the strong tracking kalman filter, and the adaptive factor is introduced to improve the filtering accuracy. The proposed positioning algorithm can achieve the positioning accuracy within 1 m in the coverage area in a line-of-sight (LOS) environment, while the dynamic positioning accuracy within 1 m cannot be guaranteed in the coverage area in a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environment. On this basis, the analysis of the static, rotational, and dynamic positioning accuracies of the source in the LOS and NLOS environments shows that the proposed singular value decomposition strong tracking kalman filter (SVD-STKF) algorithm can improve the overall positioning accuracy of the system by 0.03 m, and the maximum error in the LOS environment can be reduced by 0.08 m. The proposed SVD-STKF algorithm can correct the Hausdorff distance of dynamic positioning by up to 0.513 m in the NLOS environment where the system’s positioning accuracy decreases sharply due to the signal shielding. Also, it can make the positioning results smoother and achieve a good correction effect for the points far away from the true trajectory.
Changes in the Dynamics and Nutrient Budget of a Macroalgal Community Exposed to Land-Based Fish Farm Discharge Off Jeju Island, Korea
Authors: Choi Sun Kyeong , Kim Tae Hyeon , Kang Yun Hee , Kim Sangil , Kim Tae-Hoon , Kim Jang Kyun , Lee Taehee , Son Young Baek , Lee Hyuk Je , Park Sang Rul
Published: October 2021

This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of the nutrient budget of a macroalgal community exposed to water discharged from aquaculture farms. This study was conducted in the coastal area exposed to water discharged from aquaculture farms located on Jeju Island, Korea, in May and October of 2017. Water-column-dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations were higher in the intertidal zone than in the subtidal zone. High nutrient concentrations in the intertidal zone resulted in the bloom of Ulva spp., consequently leading to a low species number. This indicates the vulnerability of the intertidal macroalgal community to discharge from land-based aquaculture. Ecklonia cava contributed to 29–53% of the total incorporation of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in the subtidal zone. In the intertidal zone, the highest tissue N content was found in Ulva spp. due to the high and rapid nutrient uptake rate from the effluent with high nutrient concentrations, thereby indicating high total N incorporation. The estimated total C, N, and P incorporation rates by macroalgae were 181.5, 8.6, and 0.95 tons year−1, respectively. These results suggest that the macroalgal community in this area absorbs or removes large amounts of nutrients from the water column and plays an important role in the budgets and cycling of nutrients in the surrounding coastal areas.
Associations of Physical Activity, Sleep Quality and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in University Students
Authors: Saat N. Z. M. , Hanawi Siti Aishah , Farah Nor M. F. , Mohd Amin Hazilah , Hanafiah Hazlenah , Selvaraj Thavamalar
Published: October 2021

Physical activity is associated with enhanced sleep quality and optimal body composition, as well as a reduction in cardiovascular risk factors in the general population. Although earlier research has established a link between physical exercise and excellent sleep quality as well as an optimum BMI in adults, little is known about the relationship in the young adult populations. The purpose of this study is to discover if there is a relationship between sleep quality, blood pressure, waist circumference, socio-demographic variables with physical activity among young adult in Kuala Lumpur. A cross-sectional sample of 120 university students was recruited for this study. Physical activity and sleep quality were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. Blood pressure, Body mass index, and waist circumference were also measured. Approximately 36% of university students engage in moderate to vigorous physical exercise. The average physical activity was 2430.37 ± 2509.16 MET-minutes each week, which meets the minimal need. The median difference in MET-minutes per week between gender was not significant, with males having greater MET than females (p > 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant variation in MET-minutes each week between study year and mode of transportation. (p > 0.05). Approximately 40.3% of university students were classified as having good sleep quality. The average sleep quality is 5.37 ± 2.38, indicating that the students have slightly a poor sleep quality. There was no statistically significant variation in sleep score between gender, year of study, and mode of transportation (p > 0.05). The waist circumference (WC) has a significant relationship with body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). According to multinomial logistic regression, there was a significant association between level of physical activity (PA) and BMI and year of study when comparing moderate and low PA. Physical activity is essential because it may alter a young adult’s lifestyle, encouraging active commuting to work or other short-distance destinations. Attention must be given to this particular population to encourage regular and sustainable participation in physical activity to achieve lifelong health benefits. Other variables, such as body fat, energy intake, stress level and muscle mass, can also be examined for future research.