bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Application of Building Physics in the Design of Roof Windows
Authors: Tywoniak Jan , Calta Vítězslav , Staněk Kamil , Novák Jiří , Maierová Lenka
Published: June 2019

This paper deals with a small but important component in a building envelope, namely roof windows in pitched roofs. Building physics methods were used to support the search for new solutions which correspond to the maximum extent for requirements for passive house level design. The first part of the paper summarizes the key phenomena of heat transfer, mainly based on a comparison of vertical windows in walls. The results of repeated two-dimensional heat transfer calculations in the form of parametric studies are presented in order to express the most important factors influencing thermal transmittance and minimum surface temperatures. Several configuration variants suitable for technical design are discussed. It was found that a combination of wood and hardened plastics in the window frame and sash is the preferred solution. The resulting thermal transmittance can be up to twice as low as usual (from 0.7 down to 0.5 W/(m2·K), with further development ongoing. Surface temperature requirements to avoid the risk of condensation can be safely fulfilled. Concurrently, it is shown that the relative influence of thermal coupling between the window and roof construction increases with the improvement of window quality. Specific attention was given to the effect of the slanting of the side lining, which was analyzed by simulation and measurement in a daylight laboratory. The increase in thermal coupling due to slanting was found to be negligible. Motivations for specific building physics research are mentioned, such as the need to study the surface heat transfer in the case of inclined windows placed in a deep lining.
Accumulation Behaviors of Different Particles and Effects on the Breakdown Properties of Mineral Oil under DC Voltage
Authors: Dan Min , Hao Jian , Liao Ruijin , Cheng Lin , Zhang Jie , Li Fei
Published: June 2019

Particles in transformer oil are harmful to the operation of transformers, which can lead to the occurrence of partial discharge and even breakdown. More and more researchers are becoming interested in investigating the effects of particles on the performance of insulation oil. In this paper, a simulation method is provided to explore the motion mechanism and accumulation characteristics of different particles. This is utilized to explain the effects of particle properties on the breakdown strength of mineral oil. Experiments on particle accumulation under DC voltage as well as DC breakdown were carried out. The simulation results are in agreement with the experimental results. Having a DC electrical field with a sufficient accumulation time and initial concentration are advantageous for particle accumulation. Properties of impurities determine the bridge shape, conductivity characteristics, and variation law of DC breakdown voltages. Metal particles and mixed particles play more significant roles in the increase of current and electrical field distortion. It is noteworthy that cellulose particles along with metal particles cannot have superposition influences on changing conductivity characteristics and the electrical field distortion of mineral oil. The range of electrical field distortion is enlarged as the particle concentration increases. Changes in the electrical field distribution and an increase in conductivity collectively affect the DC breakdown strength of mineral oil.
OpenHPL for Modelling the Trollheim Hydropower Plant
Authors: Vytvytskyi Liubomyr , Lie Bernt
Published: June 2019

An increase of tightly integrated, renewable energy sources with highly varying production leads to a greater need for flexible hydropower plants to “balance” the intermittent production from these sources. From a systems perspective, the intermittency aspect constitutes a disturbance, while the tight integration leads to a multivariable systems, both of which causes increased challenges for good control. This instigates the need for a model based analysis and synthesis tool which can describe dynamic phenomena, supports multiphysics problems, and allows for immediate use in advanced control analysis and design. Previously, an open source Hydro Power Library (OpenHPL) have been developed within the multiphysics Modelica eco-system which satisfies the above requirements: OpenHPL contains a set of model units relevant for hydropower systems, as well as examples of tools for analysis of these models for control purposes. Thus far, OpenHPL has been validated by comparison against other simulation tools. However, a real test of OpenHPL is to use it to describe a real hydropower plant using minimal plant information, to tune model parameters against experimental data, and to validate the model. As a case study, experimental data from the Trollheim hydropower plant in Norway have been made available, and used to test OpenHPL. By flow sheeting a hydropower model in OpenModelica using OpenHPL, the model can be simulated from within a script language (Python via the OMPython API, Julia via the OMJulia API) and further analyzed using analysis tools in the script language. Based on default model parameter suggestions from OpenHPL, least squares model fitting was carried out in Python, and the model was validated with good model fit. Important parts of the modelling phase were the development of a new friction model for the Francis turbine, and iterations on the description of the turbine outlet geometry. The results are complemented with a discussion of possible uses of the model.
Influence of DC Electric Fields on Pollution of HVDC Composite Insulator Short Samples with Different Environmental Parameters
Authors: Qiao Xinhan , Zhang Zhijin , Jiang Xingliang , Liang Tian
Published: June 2019

Pollution-induced flashover is a serious threat to the safe operation of power systems. With the development of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC), it is necessary to study insulator contamination in DC electric fields. In this paper, the energized wind tunnel contamination test was conducted in order to systematically study the pollution ratio, k (ratio of non-soluble deposit density (NSDD) of a DC-energized condition to a non-energized condition), under different environmental parameters. Later, a two-dimensional contamination model of short samples of an HVDC composite insulator was established. The particle motion characteristics under different environmental parameters were then analyzed by the finite element method (FEM). The research results showed that—the DC electric field had an influence on particle motion but in different environments, the degree of influence was different. In addition, k was found to largely vary, with a variation in the environmental parameters. When the electrical stress (Es) increased from 0 to 70 kV/m, k increased gradually. However, when the wind speed (ws) increased, k experienced a decreasing trend. Finally, as the particle diameter (dp) decreased, k increased at first, followed by a decrease, and then again showed an increase. The results of the pollution ratio, k, for different environmental parameters are of great importance for guiding anti-pollution work in power systems.
Nonlinear Synchronous Control for H-Type Gantry Stage Used in Electric Vehicles Manufacturing
Authors: Chen Ran , Jiao Zongxia , Yan Liang , Shang Yaoxing , Wu Shuai
Published: June 2019

The H-type gantry stage (HGS) is widely used in electric vehicle manufacturing and other fields. However, resulting from the existence of mechanical coupling, the synchronous control problem of HGS always troubles many engineers. Most synchronization schemes were either engaged in improving each motor’s tracking performance or committed to pure motion synchronization only. However, tracking and synchronous performance are interconnected, because of the mechanical coupling. In this paper, a rigid assumed system model of HGS, concerning the effects of mid-beam rotary inertia, mid-beam stiffness, and end-effector movement, is presented. Based on the proposed model, an adaptive robust synchronous control based on a rigid assumed model (ARSCR) is proposed to improve both synchronous and tracking performance of the HGS. From the Lyapunov analysis, the proposed ARSCR can achieve the convergence of synchronous error and tracking error, simultaneously. An HGS driven by dual linear motors is built and used to perform the experimental verification. The experimental results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Practicalities and Driving Dynamics of a Real Driving Emissions (RDE) Euro 6 Regulation Homologation Test
Authors: Bodisco Timothy , Zare Ali
Published: June 2019

One of the most important sources of air pollution, especially in urban areas, is the exhaust emissions from passenger cars. New European emissions regulations, to minimize the gap between manufacturer-reported emissions and those emitted on the road, require new vehicles to undergo emission testing on public roads during the certification process. Outlined in the new regulation are specific boundary conditions to which the route on which the vehicle is driven must comply during a legal test. These boundary conditions, as they relate to the design and subsequent driving of a compliant route, are discussed in detail. The practicality of designing a compliant route is discussed in the context of developing a route on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, in a prescriptive manner. The route itself was driven 5 times and the results compared against regulation boundary conditions.
Smart Cities in Turkey: Approaches, Advances and Applications with Greater Consideration for Future Urban Transport Development
Authors: Bıyık Can
Published: June 2019

The smart city transport concept is viewed as a future vision aiming to undertake investigations on the urban planning process and to construct policy-pathways for achieving future targets. Therefore, this paper sets out three visions for the year 2035 which bring about a radical change in the level of green transport systems (often called walking, cycling, and public transport) in Turkish urban areas. A participatory visioning technique was structured according to a three-stage technique: (i) Extensive online comprehensive survey, in which potential transport measures were researched for their relevance in promoting smart transport systems in future Turkish urban areas; (ii) semi-structured interviews, where transport strategy suggestions were developed in the context of the possible imaginary urban areas and their associated contextual description of the imaginary urban areas for each vision; (iii) participatory workshops, where an innovative method was developed to explore various creative future choices and alternatives. Overall, this paper indicates that the content of the future smart transport visions was reasonable, but such visions need a considerable degree of consensus and radical approaches for tackling them. The findings offer invaluable insights to researchers inquiring about the smart transport field, and policy-makers considering applying those into practice in their local urban areas.
Biogas Potential from the Anaerobic Digestion of Potato Peels: Process Performance and Kinetics Evaluation
Authors: Achinas Spyridon , Li Yu , Achinas Vasileios , Euverink Gerrit Jan Willem
Published: June 2019

This article intends to promote the usage of potato peels as efficient substrate for the anaerobic digestion process for energy recovery and waste abatement. This study examined the performance of anaerobic digestion of potato peels in different inoculum-to-substrate ratios. In addition, the impact of combined treatment with cow manure and pretreatment of potato peels was examined. It was found that co-digestion of potato peel waste and cow manure yielded up to 237.4 mL CH4/g VSadded, whereas the maximum methane yield from the mono-digestion of potato peels was 217.8 mL CH4/g VSadded. Comparing the co-digestion to mono-digestion of potato peels, co-digestion in PPW/CM ratio of 60:40 increased the methane yield by 10%. In addition, grinding and acid hydrolysis applied to potato peels were positively effective in increasing the methane amount reaching 260.3 and 283.4 mL CH4/g VSadded respectively. Likewise, compared to untreated potato peels, pretreatment led to an elevation of the methane amount by 9% and 17% respectively and alleviated the kinetics of biogas production.
Data-Driven Stochastic Scheduling for Energy Integrated Systems
Authors: Yang Heng , Jin Ziliang , Wang Jianhua , Zhao Yong , Wang Hejia , Xiao Weihua
Published: June 2019

As the penetration of intermittent renewable energy increases and unexpected market behaviors continue to occur, new challenges arise for system operators to ensure cost effectiveness while maintaining system reliability under uncertainties. To systematically address these uncertainties and challenges, innovative advanced methods and approaches are needed. Motivated by these, in this paper, we consider an energy integrated system with renewable energy and pumped-storage units involved. In addition, we propose a data-driven risk-averse two-stage stochastic model that considers the features of forbidden zones and dynamic ramping rate limits. This model minimizes the total cost against the worst-case distribution in the confidence set built for an unknown distribution and constructed based on data. Our numerical experiments show how pumped-storage units contribute to the system, how inclusions of the aforementioned two features improve the reliability of the system, and how our proposed data-driven model converges to a risk-neutral model with historical data.
Experimental Investigation of Surfactant Partitioning in Pre-CMC and Post-CMC Regimes for Enhanced Oil Recovery Application
Authors: Belhaj Ahmed Fatih , Elraies Khaled Abdalla , Alnarabiji Mohamad Sahban , Shuhli Juhairi Aris B M , Mahmood Syed Mohammad , Ern Lim Wan
Published: June 2019

The applications of surfactants in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) have received more attention in the past decade due to their ability to enhance microscopic sweep efficiency by reducing oil-water interfacial tension in order to mobilize trapped oil. Surfactants can partition in both water and oil systems depending on their solubility in both phases. The partitioning coefficient (Kp) is a key parameter when it comes to describing the ratio between the concentration of the surfactant in the oil phase and the water phase at equilibrium. In this paper, surfactant partitioning of the nonionic surfactant Alkylpolyglucoside (APG) was investigated in pre-critical micelle concentration (CMC) and post-cmc regimes at 80 °C to 106 °C. The Kp was then obtained by measuring the surfactant concentration after equilibration with oil in pre-cmc and post-cmc regimes, which was done using surface tension measurements and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. Surface tension (ST) and interfacial tension (IFT) behaviors were investigated by performing pendant and spinning drop tests, respectively—both tests were conducted at high temperatures. From this study, it was found that APG was able to lower IFT as well as ST between water/oil and air/oil, and its effect was found to be more profound at high temperature. The partitioning test results for APG in pre-cmc and post-cmc regimes were found to be dependent on the surfactant concentration and temperature. The partitioning coefficient is directly proportional to IFT, where at high partitioning intensity, IFT was found to be very low and vice versa at low partitioning intensity. The effect of temperature on the partitioning in pre-cmc and post-cmc regimes had the same impact, where at a high temperature, additional partitioned surfactant molecules arise at the water-oil interface as the association of molecules becomes easier.
Determining Favourable and Unfavourable Thermal Areas in Seoul Using In-Situ Measurements: A Preliminary Step towards Developing a Smart City
Authors: Kwon You Jin , Lee Dong Kun , Lee Kiseung
Published: June 2019

Urban heat island effects (UHIE) are becoming increasingly widespread, thus, there is an urgent need to address thermal comfort, which significantly influences the daily lives of people. In this study, a means of improving the thermal environment by spatial analysis of heat was implemented to ensure basic thermal comfort in future smart cities. Using Seoul as the study site, the relationship between sensible heat and land cover type was used to identify heat islands in this city. Thereafter, k-means clustering was employed to extract unfavourable and favourable thermal areas. High sensible heat indicates locations where environmental heat needs to be mitigated. Sensible heat distribution data were used for spatial typification to formulate an effective land cover factor to mitigate the UHIE. In-situ net radiation data measured at six sites were utilised to confirm the spatial typification of the thermal environment. It was found that expanding the green space by 1% reduces the sensible heat by 4.9 W/m2. Further, the building coverage ratio and green coverage influence the sensible heat in compact residential areas. The study results can be used to establish spatial planning standards to improve the thermal environments of sustainable cities.
Simulation-Based Comparison Between the Thermal Behavior of Coaxial and Double U-Tube Borehole Heat Exchangers
Authors: Quaggiotto Davide , Zarrella Angelo , Emmi Giuseppe , De Carli Michele , Pockelé Luc , Vercruysse Jacques , Psyk Mario , Righini Davide , Galgaro Antonio , Mendrinos Dimitrios , Bernardi Adriana
Published: June 2019

In this study, the thermal behavior of the coaxial and double U borehole heat exchangers was investigated using numerical simulations in both the long- and short-term. As a reference for borehole heat exchanger specifications, the existing coaxial and double U probes of a geothermal heat pump installed within the Horizon 2020 research project named “Cheap GSHPs” were considered. Nine years of simulations revealed that when borehole heat exchangers are subjected to a balanced thermal load, and intermittent operating modes of the ground source heat pump system are set, the coaxial pipes’ configuration provides better thermal performance due to the higher thermal capacitance of the heat-carrier fluid and the lower borehole thermal resistance. The analysis was conducted considering two different types of ground with different thermal conductivity values. As result, the more conductive ground type highlights the higher yield of the coaxial probe.
Changing Climatic Factors Favor Dengue Transmission in Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Naqvi Syed Ali Asad , Jan Bulbul , Shaikh Saima , Kazmi Syed Jamil Hasan , Waseem Liaqat Ali , Nasar-u-minAllah Muhammad , Abbas Nasir
Published: June 2019

Dengue fever (DF) is a national health problem in Pakistan. It has become endemic in Lahore after its recent reemergence in 2016. This study investigates the impacts of climatic factors (temperature and rainfall) on DF transmission in the district of Lahore through statistical approaches. Initially, the climatic variability was explored using a time series analysis on climatic factors from 1970 to 2012. Furthermore, ordinary and multiple linear regression analyses were used to measure the simulating effect of climatic factors on dengue incidence from 2007 to 2012. The time series analysis revealed significant annual and monthly variability in climatic factors, which shaped a dengue-supporting environment. It also showed a positive temporal relationship between climatic factors and DF. Moreover, the regression analyses revealed a substantial monthly relationship between climatic factors and dengue incidence. The ordinary linear regression of rainfall versus dengue showed monthly R2 = 34.2%, whereas temperature versus dengue presented R2 = 38.0%. The multiple regression analysis showed a monthly significance of R2 = 44.6%. Consequently, our study shows a substantial synergism between dengue and climatic factors in Lahore. The present study could help in unveiling new ways for health prediction modeling of dengue and might be applicable in other subtropical and temperate climates.
Land Restoration in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Overview of Recent, Ongoing and Planned Restoration Initiatives and Their Potential for Climate Change Mitigation
Authors: Romijn Erika , Coppus Ruben , De Sy Veronique , Herold Martin , Roman-Cuesta Rosa Maria , Verchot Louis
Published: June 2019

Land degradation is a globally recognized problem and restoration of degraded land is currently high on the international agenda. Forest landscape restoration and other restorative ecosystem management activities are important measures that contribute towards reaching the objectives of the Bonn Challenge, which aims to restore 350 million hectares by 2030. In this context, many restoration projects are being planned and implemented in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). We present an overview of the location, goals and activities, and an estimated climate change mitigation potential of 154 recent, ongoing and planned restoration projects in LAC. Our analysis suggests that most projects are located in the humid tropics and less attention is paid to drylands. Increasing vegetation cover, biodiversity recovery and recovery of ecological processes are the most common goals. Restorative activities to fulfil these goals were diverse and were related to the type and source of funding that projects receive. For example, projects implemented through the Forest Investment Program (FIP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) generally rely on natural or assisted regeneration over large areas (>20,000 ha), whereas Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects establish forest plantations, often including exotic monocultures, in smaller project areas (<5000 ha). Projects that are specifically implemented within the scope of Initiative 20 × 20 and other local initiatives that target the local environmental problems, are more varied and rely on a wider portfolio of restorative activities, such as erosion control, exclusion of grazing and mixed plantations. These projects are usually implemented in smaller project areas (<5000 ha). All projects had the potential to contribute to climate change mitigation by storing additional forest aboveground biomass through natural regeneration, assisted regeneration or establishing a plantation. Further analysis of the implemented activities is an important next step to investigate their effectiveness in terms of goals achieved under Initiative 20 × 20 and the Bonn Challenge. This would provide information for future restoration projects and upscaling of restorative activities in a wider area.
Diurnal and Seasonal Variations in Soil Respiration of Four Plantation Forests in an Urban Park
Authors: Zhu Mengxun , Xue Wanlai , Xu Hang , Gao Yuan , Chen Shengnan , Li Bin , Zhang Zhiqiang
Published: June 2019

Understanding the carbon dynamics of urban trees and forests is one of the key components for developing mitigation strategies for climate change in a fast-paced urbanized world. This study selected four plantation forests composed of poplar, black locust, Chinese pine and mixture of poplar and black locust, located in an urban forest park on a well-drained fluvial plain with same land-use history. The diurnal and seasonal changes in soil respiration (Rs) and biophysical factors were measured from April 2015 to March 2016. At the diurnal scale, Rs varied out of phase with soil temperature (Ts) and the time-lag occurred in May and July when Ts was relatively high and soil moisture (Ms) was low. Strong seasonal variations in Rs were mainly determined by Ts, while the growing-season mean Rs positively correlated with the fine root biomass (FRB), soil organic carbon content (SOC), and total nitrogen content (TN) for all the forests. FRB alone could explain 75% of the among-stand variability. This study concluded that urban forest plantations have similar soil respiration dynamics to forest ecosystems in non-urban settings.
Physiological and Growth Responses to Increasing Drought of an Endangered Tree Species in Southwest China
Authors: Zheng Wuji , Gou Xiaohua , Su Jiajia , Fan Haowen , Yu Ailing , Liu Wenhuo , Deng Yang , Manzanedo Rubén D. , Fonti Patrick
Published: June 2019

Research Highlights: We compared annually resolved records of tree-ring width and stable isotope of dead and surviving Fokienia hodginsii (Dunn) Henry et Thomas trees. We provide new insights into the relationships and sensitivity of tree growth to past and current climate, and explored the underlying mechanism of drought-induced mortality in F. hodginsii. Background and Objectives: Drought-induced tree decline and mortality are increasing in many regions around the world. Despite the high number of studies that have explored drought-induced decline, species-specific responses to drought still makes it difficult to apply general responses to specific species. The endangered conifer species, Fokienia hodginsii, has experienced multiple drought-induced mortality events in recent years. Our objective was to investigate the historical and current responses to drought of this species. Materials and Methods: We used annually resolved ring-width and δ13C chronologies to investigate tree growth and stand physiological responses to climate change and elevated CO2 concentration (Ca) in both dead and living trees between 1960 and 2015. Leaf intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), Ci/Ca and intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) were derived from δ13C. Results: δ13C were positively correlated with mean vapor pressure deficit and PDSI from previous October to current May, while ring widths were more sensitive to climatic conditions from previous June to September. Moreover, the relationships between iWUE, basal area increment (BAI), and Ci/Ca changed over time. From 1960s to early 1980s, BAI and iWUE maintained a constant relationship with increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration. After the mid-1980s, we observed a decrease in tree growth, increase in the frequency of missing rings, and an unprecedented increase in sensitivity of 13C and radial growth to drought, likely related to increasingly dry conditions. Conclusions: We show that the recent increase in water stress is likely the main trigger for the unprecedented decline in radial growth and spike in mortality of F. hodginsii, which may have resulted from diminished carbon fixation and water availability. Given that the drought severity and frequency in the region is expected to increase in the future, our results call for effective mitigation strategies to maintain this endangered tree species.
Effects of Hygrothermal Ageing on the Interphase, Fatigue, and Mechanical Properties of Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy
Authors: Gibhardt Dennis , Doblies Audrius , Meyer Lars , Fiedler Bodo
Published: June 2019

Reliability and cost-effectiveness represent major challenges for the ongoing success of composites used in maritime applications. The development of large, load-bearing, and cyclically loaded structures, like rotor blades for wind or tidal energy turbines, requires consideration of environmental conditions in operation. In fact, the impact of moisture on composites cannot be neglected. As a result of difficult testing conditions, the knowledge concerning the influence of moisture on the fatigue life is limited. In this study, the impact of salt water on the fatigue behaviour of a glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) has been investigated experimentally. To overcome the problem of invalid failure during fatigue testing, an improved specimen geometry has been developed. The results show a significant decrease in fatigue life for saturated GFRP specimens. In contrast, a water absorption of 50% of the maximum content showed no impact. This is especially remarkable because static material properties immediately decrease with the onset of moisture absorption. To identify the water absorption induced damage progress, light and scanning electron microscopy was used. As a result, the formation of debondings and cracks in the fibre–matrix interphase was detected in long-term conditioned specimens, although no mechanical loading was applied.
Hydrogel Nanofibers from Carboxymethyl Sago Pulp and Its Controlled Release Studies as a Methylene Blue Drug Carrier
Authors: Mohd Kanafi Nafeesa , Abdul Rahman Norizah , Rosdi Nurul Husna , Bahruji Hasliza , Maarof Hasmerya
Published: June 2019

The potential use of carboxymethyl sago pulp (CMSP) extracted from sago waste for producing hydrogel nanofibers was investigated as a methylene blue drug carrier. Sago pulp was chemically modified via carboxymethylation reaction to form carboxymethyl sago pulp (CMSP) and subsequently used to produce nanofibers using the electrospinning method with the addition of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The CMSP nanofibers were further treated with citric acid to form cross-linked hydrogel. Studies on the percentage of swelling following the variation of citric acid concentrations and curing temperature showed that 89.20 ± 0.42% of methylene blue (MB) was loaded onto CMSP hydrogel nanofibers with the percentage of swelling 4366 ± 975%. Meanwhile, methylene blue controlled release studies revealed that the diffusion of methylene blue was influenced by the pH of buffer solution with 19.44% of MB released at pH 7.34 within 48 h indicating the potential of CMSP hydrogel nanofibers to be used as a drug carrier for MB.
Targeted and Untargeted Metabolomics as an Enhanced Tool for the Detection of Pomegranate Juice Adulteration
Authors: Dasenaki Marilena E. , Drakopoulou Sofia K. , Aalizadeh Reza , Thomaidis Nikolaos S.
Published: June 2019

Pomegranate juice is one of the most popular fruit juices, is well-known as a “superfood”, and plays an important role in healthy diets. Due to its constantly growing demand and high value, pomegranate juice is often targeted for adulteration, especially with cheaper substitutes such as apple and red grape juice. In the present study, the potential of applying a metabolomics approach to trace pomegranate juice adulteration was investigated. A novel methodology based on high-resolution mass spectrometric analysis was developed using targeted and untargeted screening strategies to discover potential biomarkers for the reliable detection of pomegranate juice adulteration from apple and red grape juice. Robust classification and prediction models were built with the use of unsupervised and supervised techniques (principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA)), which were able to distinguish pomegranate juice adulteration to a level down to 1%. Characteristic m/z markers were detected, indicating pomegranate juice adulteration, and several marker compounds were identified. The results obtained from this study clearly demonstrate that Mass Spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics have the potential to be used as a reliable screening tool for the rapid determination of food adulteration.
Development of a Probiotic Beverage Using Breadfruit Flour as a Substrate
Authors: Gao Yifeng , Hamid Nazimah , Gutierrez-Maddox Noemi , Kantono Kevin , Kitundu Eileen
Published: June 2019

A fermented beverage was developed using breadfruit flour as a substrate by optimising sucrose, inoculum concentrations, and fermentation temperature in the formulation by utilising the D-optimal mixture design. The optimisation was carried out based on CFU counts, pH, titratable acidity, lactic acid, and sugar concentration of the different fermented breadfruit substrate formulations. Results showed that the optimised values based on the contour plots generated were: 7% breadfruit flour, 1% inoculum, and 15% sugar after fermentation at 30 °C for 48 h. Sensory projective mapping results showed that the fermented breadfruit substrate beverage was characterised by a pale-yellow appearance, fruity flavour, and sweet and sour taste. The hedonic test was not significantly different (p > 0.05) for almost all formulations except for formulation 4 (5% sugar, 3% inoculum, 7% breadfruit flour at 30 °C), which was described as bitter and had the lowest acceptance rating. This study successfully demonstrated the development of a novel fermented breadfruit-based beverage with acceptable sensory characteristics and cell viability using a mixture strain of L. acidophilus and L. plantarum DPC 206.
Analysis of Hematological Traits in Polled Yak by Genome-Wide Association Studies Using Individual SNPs and Haplotypes
Authors: Ma Xiaoming , Jia Congjun , Fu Donghai , Chu Min , Ding Xuezhi , Wu Xiaoyun , Guo Xian , Pei Jie , Bao Pengjia , Liang Chunnian , Yan Ping
Published: June 2019

Yak (Bos grunniens) is an important domestic animal living in high-altitude plateaus. Due to inadequate disease prevention, each year, the yak industry suffers significant economic losses. The identification of causal genes that affect blood- and immunity-related cells could provide preliminary reference guidelines for the prevention of diseases in the population of yaks. The genome-wide association studies (GWASs) utilizing a single-marker or haplotype method were employed to analyze 15 hematological traits in the genome of 315 unrelated yaks. Single-marker GWASs identified a total of 43 significant SNPs, including 35 suggestive and eight genome-wide significant SNPs, associated with nine traits. Haplotype analysis detected nine significant haplotype blocks, including two genome-wide and seven suggestive blocks, associated with seven traits. The study provides data on the genetic variability of hematological traits in the yak. Five essential genes (GPLD1, EDNRA, APOB, HIST1H1E, and HIST1H2BI) were identified, which affect the HCT, HGB, RBC, PDW, PLT, and RDWSD traits and can serve as candidate genes for regulating hematological traits. The results provide a valuable reference to be used in the analysis of blood properties and immune diseases in the yak.
Researching the Variation of Typhoon Intensities Under Climate Change in Vietnam: A Case Study of Typhoon Lekima, 2007
Authors: Lap Tran Quoc
Published: June 2019

Most of the typhoons that impact coastal regions of Vietnam occur from the north to the central part, between June and November. As a result of global warming, typhoon intensities are expected to increase. Therefore, an assessment of various typhoon strengths is essential. In this study, Typhoon Lekima, which hit Vietnam in 2007, was simulated by weather research and forecast models, using ensemble simulation methodology. Reproductive results of the typhoon intensity are similar to actual estimated values from the Japan Meteorological Agency. Also, the variation of typhoon intensities and heavy rainfall in future climate scenarios was investigated using numerical simulations based on pseudo global warming conditions, constructed using fifth-phase results of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project multi-model global warming experiments. Simulation results of five Pseudo Global Warming (PGW_FF) models indicate that intensities of the typhoon will be magnified in future climate. The minimum sea level pressure of typhoons similar to Typhoon Lekima in the future will increase from 8 hPa to 9 hPa, and the spatial distribution of maximum wind speed and tracked direction will move towards the southern regions. Total precipitation will significantly increase for a maximum of six hours, and the spatial distribution of heavy rain caused by typhoons will shift from the north to the southwest of Vietnam. In the future, simulated results showed that global warming correlates strongly with a significant increase in typhoon intensity and heavy rain.
A Novel, Individualized Exercise Program for Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease Recovering from Bypass Surgery
Authors: Jakubsevičienė Edita , Mėlinytė Karolina , Kubilius Raimondas
Published: June 2019

The effectiveness of an individual six-month-long physical exercise program in improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is unclear. There is some evidence that an individual exercise program can be effective for this aim. The goal of this study was to compare an individual six-month-long physical exercise program for patients with PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease) with a traditional exercise program and find the effect of these programs on HRQOL and PAD risk factors. The study included patients who underwent femoral–popliteal artery bypass grafting surgery. Patients were divided into three groups: patients participating in an individual six-month-long physical exercise program (group I), in the standard physical activity program (group II), and in a control group (group III), with no subjects participating in rehabilitation II. Results: group I patients had a significantly (p < 0.001) higher HRQOL at 6 months after their surgery compared with groups II and III. The HRQOL scores were significantly (p < 0.05) lower after surgery among older (≥ 65), overweight participants, as well as among patients with diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases when comparing study results with patients without these risk factors.
Usefulness of the Coronary Artery Calcium Score in Predicting Subsequent Coronary Interventions—A Ten-Year Single-Center Perspective
Authors: Mlynarska Agnieszka , Mlynarski Rafal , Sosnowski Maciej
Published: June 2019

There is no consensus as to whether the Coronary Artery Calcium Score (CACS) results can affect the therapeutic approach that is selected for coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to follow patients’ management over a period of ten years after application of the CACS. Methods: The research was conducted as a prospective, single-center, long-distance study. In 174 asymptomatic patients (78M; aged 58.9 ± 7.86), a CACS examination using 64-slice computed tomography was performed between 2008 and 2009. The patients were divided into three subgroups according to the CACS results using Agatston Units (AU)—G1: CACS = 0 AU (52 pts); G2: CACS = 1–399 AU (64 pts) and G3: CACS ≥ 400 AU (58 pts). During the ten years of follow-up, the classical cardiovascular risk factors, drugs, diseases, and information about the therapeutic approach that was used (PCI—Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; CABG—Coronary Artery Bypass Graft) were also analyzed. Results: The average time until a percutaneous intervention (PCI) was 825.2 ± 1111.7 and for CABG, it was 529.0 ± 833.6. PCI was performed in 5.8% (G1), 4.7% (G2) and 32.6% (G3) of the cases, respectively; p = 0.0000. CABG was performed in 0% (G1), 1.6% (G2) and 18.9% (G3) of the cases, respectively; 0.0035 Yates. The area under the curve in PCI was 0.783 (95% CI: 0.714–0.841); in CABG, it was 0.825 (95% CI: 0.760–0.878) and the average for both groups was 0.838 (95% CI: 0.774–0.889). Conclusions: The coronary artery calcium score can potentially help to predict the best therapeutic approach for coronary artery disease in a ten-year perspective.
Sociodemographic Associations of Physical Activity in People of Working Age
Authors: Puciato Daniel
Published: June 2019

The aim of this study was to identify relationships between the physical activity and sociodemographic status of respondents aged 18–64 years. The research was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in Wrocław, Poland. The study group comprised 4460 people. The sample selection was random and stratified. The research tool was the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form. Levels of physical activity declared by respondents were compared with the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Data on respondents’ sociodemographic status was also obtained. The Mann–Whitney U test for samples, Kruskal–Wallis test by ranks, and total and binary logistic regression were used in statistical analysis. Among the respondents, the ACSM health recommendations were met by 43.7% in total (43.2% women and 44.3% men). All analyzed sociodemographic variables differentiated respondents’ physical activity. The youngest respondents were found to be the most physically active. Wrocław residents with a secondary education declared the highest level of physical activity. Among the respondents, manual workers revealed the highest, and the unemployed the lowest odds of meeting the ACSM standards of health-related physical activity. The level of physical activity of unmarried respondents was higher than that of married respondents. The highest percentage of respondents (50.9% women and 54.2% men) with sufficient physical activity levels was found among people living alone. Measures aimed at reducing hypokinesia should be addressed primarily in vulnerable groups, i.e., the unemployed and oldest men.
Multi-Temporal Effects of Urban Forms and Functions on Urban Heat Islands Based on Local Climate Zone Classification
Authors: Quan Jinling
Published: June 2019

Urban forms and functions have critical impacts on urban heat islands (UHIs). The concept of a “local climate zone” (LCZ) provides a standard and objective protocol for characterizing urban forms and functions, which has been used to link urban settings with UHIs. However, only a few structure types and surface cover properties are included under the same climate background or only one or two time scales are considered with a high spatial resolution. This study assesses multi-temporal land surface temperature (LST) characteristics across 18 different LCZ types in Beijing, China, from July 2017 to June 2018. A geographic information system-based method is employed to classify LCZs based on five morphological and coverage indicators derived from a city street map and Landsat images, and a spatiotemporal fusion model is adopted to generate hourly 100-m LSTs by blending Landsat, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and FengYun-2F LSTs. Then, annual and diurnal cycle parameters and heat island and cool island (HI or CI) frequency are linked to LCZs at annual, seasonal, monthly, and diurnal scales. Results indicate that: (1) the warmest zones are compact and mid and low-rise built-up areas, while the coolest zones are water and vegetated types; (2) compact and open high-rise built-up areas and vegetated types have seasonal thermal patterns but with different causes; (3) diurnal temperature ranges are the highest for compact and large low-rise settings but the lowest for water and dense or scattered trees; and (4) HIs are the most frequent summertime and daytime events, while CIs occur primarily during winter days, making them more or less frequent for open or compact and high- or low-rise built-up areas. Overall, the distinguishable LSTs or UHIs between LCZs are closely associated with the structure and coverage properties. Factors such as geolocation, climate, and layout also interfere with the thermal behavior. This study provides comprehensive information on how different urban forms and functions are related to LST variations at different time scales, which supports urban thermal regulation through urban design.
Socio-Demographic and Diet-Related Factors Associated with Insufficient Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Adolescent Girls in Rural Communities of Southern Nepal
Authors: Singh Jitendra Kumar , Acharya Dilaram , Gautam Salila , Adhikari Mandira , Park Ji-Hyuk , Yoo Seok-Ju , Lee Kwan
Published: June 2019

Sufficient fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption has been associated with reduced risks of chronic diseases and adverse health conditions. However, the determinants of insufficient of FV intake among adolescent girls in Nepal have not been determined. This study was undertaken to identify associations between socio-demographic and diet-related factors with insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption among adolescent girls living in rural communities. This community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on 407 adolescent girls from rural communities in the Bateshwar rural municipality of Dhanusha district, Southern Nepal between 12 October, 2018 and 14 December, 2018. The study subjects responded to FV consumption and dietary factor-related questionnaires, and anthropometric measurements were taken. Data were analyzed using the univariate logistic regression followed by multivariable logistic regression analyses. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported. From the 407 study subjects, 359 (88.2%) reported insufficient FV consumption. The factors significantly associated with insufficient FV consumption were education to under the 10th grade, household income in the first tercile, lack of awareness of the importance of FV consumption, the non-availability of FVs at the household level, the low level of dietary diversity, and undernutrition (BMI (body mass index) (<18.5)). The study shows almost 90% of adolescent girls consumed inadequate amounts of FV and that socio-demographic and dietary factors should be taken into account while designing preventive strategies to increase fruit and vegetable consumption to recommended levels.
Validation of Infant and Young Child Feeding Questionnaire for the Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices among Child Care Providers: The IYCF-CCPQ
Authors: Zakria Najihah Mahfuzah , Tengku Ismail Tengku Alina , Wan Mansor Wan Nor Arifin , Sulaiman Zaharah
Published: June 2019

The validation of a new questionnaire is essential to improving its credibility in the assessment and collection of evidence. This study aimed to validate a newly developed infant and young child feeding questionnaire for child care providers (IYCF-CCPQ) to measure the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding infant and young child feeding among them. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 200 child care providers who were involved in handling children less than two years old in child care centers in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The IYCF-CCPQ was self-administered and consists of three domains: Knowledge (104 items), attitude (90 items), and practice (42 items). The dichotomous-scale items in the knowledge domain were analyzed using a two-parameter logistic model of item response theory (2-PL IRT). The Likert-type-scale items in the attitude section were assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The items in the practice section were assessed descriptively. Internal consistency by marginal reliability was assessed in the knowledge domain, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used for the attitude domain. The marginal reliability values were 0.91 and 0.74 for the knowledge domains related to breastfeeding/formula feeding and complementary feeding, respectively, and the Cronbach’s alpha values were 0.89 and 0.90 for the attitude domains related to breastfeeding/formula feeding and complementary feeding, respectively. The analysis showed good psychometric properties (discrimination, difficulty index, factor loading, and communalities) and good reliability. The IYCF-CCPQ is valid for use assessing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Malaysian child care providers regarding infant and young child feeding.