bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DYNAMICS AND ECONOMICS OF PASTURE PRODUCTION RESPONSES TO A REPRESENTATIVE RANGE OF PHOSPHORUS AND SULPHUR FERTILISERS
Authors: Wilson H.G. , Jordan W.J.
Published: July 2020

Two trials in the Nelson province with 6 alternative phosphate(P) fertilisers and 4 sulphur (S) fertilisers measured initial and residual responses ovar 3 seasons and used the results to determine appropriate topdressing frequencies, from which economic implications could be determined. P and S treatments were applied at 50 kg total element/ha for all alternatives in a randomised block design with 4 replicate.s Appropriate basal fertillsers were applied, and plots were mown at intervals for 2% years. Superphosphate was an effective P fertiliser at both sites, but at the lower rainfall yellow brown earth site at Dovedale the intermediate solubility P fertiliser Longlife Super and Phospate PARPR and the low solubility P fertilisers Sechura and North Carolina RPR caught up with Superphosphate by years 2 and 3. At the high rainfall Collingwood site on a pakihi soil Superphosphate and Longlife super responded significantly in year 1 only while there were no significant responses to the other 4 P fertilisers at any stage. Gypsum S was an effective source of S at both sites, but tended to be exceeded by elemental S forms at Collingwood. There were however, no significant differences between the four S ferfilisers at either site. The economic analysis of all products, assuming a PS requirement of 1 : l and appropriate spreading frequencies, shows Superphosphate to be the most cost effective at the time of analysis. Keywords: yellow-brown earth, pakihi. cost effectiveness, phosphorus, sulphur, fertilisers, economics
WHITE CLOVER OPTIONS FOR SHEEPFARMING IN SOUTHERN REGIONS OF NEW ZEALAND
Authors: Ryan D.L.
Published: July 2020

Four white clover cultivars 'Grasslands tluia', 'Grasslands Tahora', 'Grasslands Kopu' and 'Grasslands Pit& were evaluated at Grasslands Division, Gore, for 4 years, under 2 grazing managements. Year round rotational grazing was compared with rotational grazing incorporating a 1 P-week period of set stocking during spring. Huia was the best cultivar under both grazing managements. Tahora yields were comparable with those of Huia in spring and summer, and ryegrass yields were best in Tahora wards. The larger leaved and less stoloniferous Kopu and Pitau were not suited to the climatic conditions or the mtensive sheep grazing practices of the region. Keywords: Trifolium repens, Huia, Tahora, Pitau. KOPU, grazing management, stolon morphology, persistence, sheepfarming
PERENNIAL OR RUSSELL LUPIN: A POTENTIAL HIGH COUNTRY PASTURE LEGUME
Authors: Scott D.
Published: July 2020

The origin of the horticultural strain of Lupinus polyphyllus is outlined and New Zealand investigations showing its potential as a pasture legume suited to moister, low fertility high country both in revegetation and as grazing are briefly reviewed. Provisional management guidelines on site selection, establishment, management, animal use and seed production are given. Keywords: high country, Lupinus polyphyllus, soil fertility, Russell lupin
Shoot growth and herbage element concentrations of 'Grasslands Puna' chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) under varying soil pH
Authors: Crush J.R. , Evans J.P.M.
Published: July 2020

In the glasshouse chicory (Cichon'um intybus L.) shoot growth was not influenced by variations in soil pH from 4 to 6. The concentration in shoot dry matter of aluminium, cadmium, iron, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, tin and strontium was not affected by pH. Zinc, boron, manganese, potassium and sulphur all decreased significantly with increasing pH while calcium increased. Eight elements (arsenic, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, lead, selenium, silicon) were below the limits of measurement. The concentrations of major elements in field grown chicory were similar to those in the glasshouse plants. Potassium, sodium, calcium, sulphur, boron, manganese and zinc in chicory were at levels higher than those normally found in ryegrass and white clover. The results co&m that chicory may supply grazing animals with some minerals at relatively high concentrations. Keywords chicory, Cichorium intybus, element composition, soil pH, pH requirement
What is happening to the natural landscape of Aotearoa?
Authors: Meurk Colin D. , Buxton Rowan P.
Published: July 2020

Aotearoa is g restless land with an eventful though isolated history which has spawned many distinctive biological qualities. Human occupation decreased our isolation and increased rates of change. Consequently, our potential natural and cultural identity is in danger of being swamped by cosmopolitan, temperate elements. This has serious consequences for agriculture, tourism, our sensitivity to local and global environmental issues, and the development of a nationhood founded on sturdy roots that dig deeply into the texture and history of the land. We examine the values of natural landscape, concepts of land custodianship, a conservation ethic and practical ways of integrating protection of natural values and sustainable production. Keywords change, conservation, culture, development, habitats, history, land management, landscape, vegetation
Grass grub tolerant pastures and fertiliser nitrogen as an alternative to white clover in pasture subject to grass grub attack
Authors: Mccallum D.A. , Thomson N.A. , Roberts A.H.C.
Published: July 2020

The effect of replacing white clover with fertiliser nitrogen (N) on dry matter production and grass grub populations in 'Grasslands Roa' tell fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), 'Grasslands Mat-u' phalaris (Phalutis aquatica L.), 'Grasslands Kara' cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), 'Grasslands Mama' prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) and 'old' (30 year plus) ryegrass was measured over a 2 year period. For all pastures the replacement of white clover with fertiliser N significantly reduced grass grub numbers. This was greatest in tall fescue, phalaris and cocksfoot, showing that pure swards of these species were resistant to grass grub. Decreases in grass grub numbers in ryegrass and prairie grass were less. There was overall a significant increase in pasture production by eliminating white clover and applying fertiliser N, with a differential response between species. Average annual production of prairie grass was unaffected, whereas the yield of cocksfoot increased by 9 % and old ryegrass, phalaris and tall fescue increased by 26 % . Most of this extra production for tall fescue and phalaris occurred in autumn. These results show that the use of tall fescue and phalaris and the replacement of white clover with fertiliser N has potential for increasing pasture production in districts subject to grass damage. Keywords old ryegrass, Roa tall fescue, Maru phalaris, Kara cocksfoot, Matua prairie grass, white clover, grass grub, nitrogen fertiliser
A Study on the Corrosion and Microstructure Characteristics of Early Iron Age Bronze Swords Excavated from Sinpung Site in Wanju, Jeollabuk-Do, Republic of Korea
Authors: Jang Min Kyeong , Cho Nam Chul
Published: July 2020

The subject of this study was a bronze sword excavated from the early Iron Age area of Sinpung site in Wanju. SEM-EDS, FE-EPMA and Raman Micro-Spectroscopy analysis methods were applied to investigate the manufacturing techniques and corrosion characteristics. The results of the analysis indicated a casting structure composed of both α and α+δ phases. The α phase developed in the form of dendrite, and it seems that no heat treatment was performed. Through the EDS analysis results, the main components of the bronze sword were identified as Cu, Sn, Pb, etc., and it seems that the cooling rate was different depending on the shape of the dendrite, which is the α phase, and the size and distribution of the Pb particles. Regarding corrosion characteristics, the corrosion progressed considerably to the surface, and a high tin corrosion layer was formed, and lead oxide and copper oxide particles were observed between the corroded microstructures. These materials were identified by Raman spectroscopic analysis as Cuprite (Cu2O), Malachite (Cu2CO3(OH)2), Cassiterite (SnO2), Cerussite (PbCO3), Anglesite (PbSO4), and Litharge (PbO). Among them, the presence of nanocrystalline SnO2 confirmed the characteristics of long-term corrosion of bronze artifacts in the burial environment. And, materials such as Cerussite (PbCO3), Anglesite (PbSO4), and Litharge (PbO) were found only in weapons and tools such as bronze sword and spear when compared with previous studies.
Nonparametric Estimation of Continuously Parametrized Families of Probability Density Functions—Computational Aspects
Authors: Rafajłowicz Wojciech
Published: July 2020

We consider a rather general problem of nonparametric estimation of an uncountable set of probability density functions (p.d.f.’s) of the form: f ( x ; r ) , where r is a non-random real variable and ranges from R 1 to R 2 . We put emphasis on the algorithmic aspects of this problem, since they are crucial for exploratory analysis of big data that are needed for the estimation. A specialized learning algorithm, based on the 2D FFT, is proposed and tested on observations that allow for estimate p.d.f.’s of a jet engine temperatures as a function of its rotation speed. We also derive theoretical results concerning the convergence of the estimation procedure that contains hints on selecting parameters of the estimation algorithm.
RobHortic: A Field Robot to Detect Pests and Diseases in Horticultural Crops by Proximal Sensing
Authors: Cubero Sergio , Marco-Noales Ester , Aleixos Nuria , Barbé Silvia , Blasco Jose
Published: July 2020

RobHortic is a remote-controlled field robot that has been developed for inspecting the presence of pests and diseases in horticultural crops using proximal sensing. The robot is equipped with colour, multispectral, and hyperspectral (400–1000 nm) cameras, located looking at the ground (towards the plants). To prevent the negative influence of direct sunlight, the scene was illuminated by four halogen lamps and protected from natural light using a tarp. A GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) was used to geolocate the images of the field. All sensors were connected to an on-board industrial computer. The software developed specifically for this application captured the signal from an encoder, which was connected to the motor, to synchronise the acquisition of the images with the advance of the robot. Upon receiving the signal, the cameras are triggered, and the captured images are stored along with the GNSS data. The robot has been developed and tested over three campaigns in carrot fields for the detection of plants infected with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’. The first two years were spent creating and tuning the robot and sensors, and data capture and geolocation were tested. In the third year, tests were carried out to detect asymptomatic infected plants. As a reference, plants were analysed by molecular analysis using a specific real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), to determine the presence of the target bacterium and compare the results with the data obtained by the robot. Both laboratory and field tests were done. The highest match was obtained using Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis PLS-DA, with a 66.4% detection rate for images obtained in the laboratory and 59.8% for images obtained in the field.
Potential Adoption of Integrated Pest Management Strategy for Suppression of Mango Fruit Flies in East Africa: An Ex Ante and Ex Post Analysis in Ethiopia and Kenya
Authors: Muriithi Beatrice W. , Gathogo Nancy G. , Diiro Gracious M. , Mohamed Samira A. , Ekesi Sunday
Published: July 2020

To sustain agricultural development in Africa, innovative strategies for addressing a myriad of biotic and abiotic constraints facing the agricultural systems must be established. One current biotic stress is the mango infesting fruit flies. In the effort to contain the widely spreading and damaging invasive species of tephritid fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) (Hendel), an area-wide integrated pest management (IPM) program is being promoted in the horticultural sub-sector in sub-Saharan Africa. Such a new technology in which farmers have limited information before commercialization may have diffusion paths that are different from the often-assumed sigmoid (or “s”) shaped curve. We apply the descriptive and econometric analysis of ex ante and ex post integrated fruit fly management used by mango farmers in Kenya and Ethiopia. The results reveal that this technology has a relatively high adoption rate and high prospects for adoption growth in Kenya compared to Ethiopia in the near future.
Patterns of Antibiotic Prescription in Colombia: Are There Differences between Capital Cities and Municipalities?
Authors: Machado-Alba Jorge Enrique , Valladales-Restrepo Luis Fernando , Gaviria-Mendoza Andrés , Machado-Duque Manuel Enrique , Figueras Albert
Published: July 2020

The use of antibiotics is the most important modifiable risk factor for the development of microorganism resistance. A cross-sectional study of outpatients receiving antibiotic prescriptions registered in a population database in Colombia was conducted. The characteristics of the consumption in capital cities and small municipalities was studied and the AWaRe classification was used. AWaRe classifies antibiotics into three stewardship groups: Access, Watch and Reserve, to emphasize the importance of their optimal use and potential harms of antimicrobial resistance. A total of 182,397 patients were prescribed an antibiotic; the most common were penicillins (38.6%), cephalosporins (30.2%) and fluoroquinolones (10.9%). ‘Access’ antibiotics (86.4%) were the most frequently prescribed, followed by ‘Watch’ antibiotics (17.0%). Being 18 or older, being male, living in a municipality, having one or more comorbidities and urinary, respiratory or gastrointestinal disorders increased the probability of receiving ‘Watch’ or ‘Reserve’ antibiotics. Penicillin and urinary antiseptic prescriptions predominated in cities, while cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone prescriptions predominated in municipalities. This analysis showed that the goal set by the WHO Access of mainly using Access antibiotics is being met, although the high use of Watch antibiotics in municipalities should be carefully studied to determine if it is necessary to design specific campaigns to improve antibiotics use.
Antimicrobial Spectrum of Titroleane™: A New Potent Anti-Infective Agent
Authors: Johansen Bianca , Duval Raphaël E. , Sergere Jean-Christophe
Published: July 2020

Tea Tree oil (TTO) is well known for its numerous good properties but might be also irritating or toxic when used topically or ingested, thus limiting the number of possible applications in Humans. The aim of the study was to characterize the antimicrobial spectrum as well as the toxicity of Titroleane™, a new anti-infective agent obtained from TTO but cleared of its toxic monoterpenes part. The susceptibility to Titroleane™ of various pathogens (bacteria and fungi) encountered in animal and human health was studied in comparison with that of TTO. Antimicrobial screening was carried out using the broth microdilution method. Activities against aerobic, anaerobic, fastidious and non-fastidious microorganisms were performed. For all microorganisms tested, the MIC values for Titroleane™ ranged from 0.08% to 2.5%, except for Campylobacter jejuni, and Aspergillus niger. In particular, Titroleane™ showed good efficacy against skin and soft tissue infection pathogens, such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), intra-abdominal infections and oral pathogens, as well as fish farming pathogens. Toxicity testing showed little and similar cytotoxicities between TTO and Titroleane™ of 37% and 23%, respectively at a concentration of 0.025% (v/v). Finally, we demonstrated that the antimicrobial activity of Titroleane™ is similar to that of TTO.
Forensic Exchange Analysis of Contact Artifacts on Data Hiding Timestamps
Authors: Kao Da-Yu
Published: July 2020

When computer systems are increasingly important for our daily activities, cybercrime has created challenges for the criminal justice system. Data can be hidden in ADS (Alternate Data Stream) without hindering performance. This feature has been exploited by malware authors, criminals, terrorists, and intelligence agents to erase, tamper, or conceal secrets. However, ADS problems are much ignored in digital forensics. Rare researches illustrated the contact artifacts of ADS timestamps. This paper performs a sequence of experiments from an inherited variety and provides an in-depth overview of timestamp transfer on data hiding operations. It utilizes files or folders as original media and uses the timestamp rules as an investigative approach for the forensic exchange analysis of file sets. This paper also explores timestamp rules using case examples, which allow practical applications of crime scene reconstruction to real-world contexts. The experiment results demonstrate the effectiveness of temporal attributes, help digital forensic practitioners to uncover hidden relations, and trace the contact artifacts among crime scenes, victims, and suspects/criminals.
Vibration Analysis and Empirical Law Definition for Different Equipment in a Civil Construction
Authors: Rodríguez Rafael , Bascompta Marc
Published: July 2020

The potential affection of any construction, and especially historical sites, is of great concern for their long-term maintenance and stability. This study has determined the vibration behavior in poor-quality rock mass conditions generated by some of the most typical equipment used in construction: excavator, ripper, ripper vibrator, hydraulic hammer, bulldozer and vibrating roller. Several empirical expressions are proposed to know the maximum velocity at different distances for each type of equipment, taking into account the intensity of the vibration generated and its pattern. A general equation has also been defined to determine the vibration propagation along the distance at a construction site, based on the impact generated by all the possible vibration elements, exogenous and endogenous, including machinery working individually or in any possible combination and number. On the other hand, the maximum allowable velocity in the case study is also discussed and compared to international standards, stating some recommendations. It would be very important to have a clear legislation in this regard due to the high density of sensitive constructions in Spain and the economic implications of applying too high or too low standard values.
An Approach to Industrial Automation Based on Low-Cost Embedded Platforms and Open Software
Authors: Minchala Luis I. , Peralta Jonnathan , Mata-Quevedo Paul , Rojas Jaime
Published: July 2020

This paper presents a performance evaluation of the development of the instrumentation, communications and control systems of a two-tank process by using low-cost hardware and open source software. The hardware used for automating this process consists of embedded platforms (Arduino and Raspberry Pi) integrated into programmable logic controllers (PLCs), which are connected to a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system implemented with an open source Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform. The main purpose of the proposed approach is to evaluate low-cost automation solutions (hardware and software) within the framework of modern industry requirements in order to determine whether these technologies could be enabling factors of IIoT. The proposed control strategy for regulating tank levels combines the classic PID algorithm and the fuzzy gain scheduling PID (FGS-PID) approach. Fault detection capabilities are also enabled for the system through a fault detection and diagnosis module (FDD) implemented with an extended Kalman filter (EKF). The distributed controller’s (DC) algorithms are embedded into the PLC’s processors in order to demonstrate the flexibility of the proposed system. Additionally, a remote human to machine interface (HMI) is deployed through a web client of the IIoT application. Experimental results show the proper operation of the overall system.
Investigation of Biomechanical Characteristics of Orthopedic Implants for Tibial Plateau Fractures by Means of Deep Learning and Support Vector Machine Classification
Authors: Niculescu Bogdan , Faur Cosmin Ioan , Tataru Tiberiu , Diaconu Bogdan Marian , Cruceru Mihai
Published: July 2020

An experimental comparative study of the biomechanical behavior of commonly used orthopedic implants for tibial plateau fractures was carried out. An artificial bone model Synbone1110 was used and a Schatzker V type tibial plateau fracture was created in vitro, then stabilized with three different implant types, classic L plate, Locking Plate System (PLS), and Hybrid External Fixator (HEF). The stiffness of the bone—implant assembly was assessed by means of mechanical testing using an automated testing machine. It was found that the classic L plate type internal implant has a significantly higher value of deformation then the other two implant types. In case of the other implant types, PLS had a better performance than HEF at low and medium values of the applied force. At high values of the applied forces, the difference between deformation values of the two types became gradually smaller. An Artificial Neural Network model was developed to predict the implant deformation as a function of the applied force and implant device type. To establish if a clear-cut distinction exists between mechanical performance of PLS and HEF, a Support Vector Machine classifier was employed. At high values of the applied force, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier predicts that no statistically significant difference exists between the performance of PLS and HEF.
Influence of Titania Synthesized by Pulsed Laser Ablation on the State of Platinum during Ammonia Oxidation
Authors: Stadnichenko Andrey , Svintsitskiy Dmitry , Kibis Lidiya , Fedorova Elizaveta , Stonkus Olga , Slavinskaya Elena , Lapin Ivan , Fakhrutdinova Elena , Svetlichnyi Valery , Romanenko Anatoly , Doronkin Dmitry , Marchuk Vasyl , Grunwaldt Jan-Dierk , Boronin Andrei
Published: July 2020

A set of physicochemical methods, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diraction, electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, was applied to study Pt/TiO2 catalysts prepared by impregnation using a commercial TiO2-P25 support and a support produced by pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLA). The Pt/TiO2-PLA catalysts showed increased thermal stability due to the localization of the highly dispersed platinum species at the intercrystalline boundaries of the support particles. In contrast, the Pt/TiO2-P25 catalysts were characterized by uniform distributionof the Pt species over the support. Analysis of Pt4f XP spectra shows that oxidized Pt2+ and Pt4+ species are formed in the Pt/TiO2-P25 catalysts, while the platinum oxidation state in the Pt/TiO2-PLA catalysts is lower due to stronger interaction of the active component with the support due to stronginteraction via Pt-O-Ti bonds. The Pt4f XP spectra of the samples after reaction show Pt2+ and metallic platinum, which is the catalytically active species. The study of the catalytic properties in ammonia oxidation showed that, unlike the catalysts prepared with a commercial support, the Pt/TiO2-PLA samples show higher stability during catalysis and significantly higher selectivity to N2 in a wide temperature range of 200–400 C.
Bioactive, Physicochemical and Sensory Properties as Well as Microstructure of Organic Strawberry Powders Obtained by Various Drying Methods
Authors: Sadowska Anna , Świderski Franciszek , Hallmann Ewelina
Published: July 2020

This study compared the quality of organic strawberry powders, obtained by convective drying (CD), freeze drying (FD) and spray drying (SD) methods. In the study, such analyses were performed: the content of vitamin C and polyphenols by liquid chromatography method, antioxidant activity using ABTS+• radicals, microstructure using a scanning microscope, sensory quality by profile method and the determination of the physicochemical properties. The FD powders were characterised by the highest content of vitamin C and polyphenols, obtained values were close to fresh strawberries after conversion to the dry matter content. The content of these ingredients in CD and SD powders was lower by 55%–80% for vitamin C, and 80% for the polyphenols content. Strawberry flavour was most beneficial for the FD powders, while smoothness and homogeneity of appearance were equally rated for the FD and SD powders. Strawberry powders are a concentrate source of bioactive compounds and, therefore, the FD powders should especially be mainly used as a valuable component of high-value foods, especially functional foods, while CD and SD powders can be used to enrich food with vitamin C and as a valuable natural flavour and colouring component, replacing food additives.
Development and Testing of a Railway Bridge Weigh-in-Motion System
Authors: Hajializadeh Donya , Žnidarič Aleš , Kalin Jan , OBrien Eugene John
Published: July 2020

This study describes the development and testing of a railway bridge weigh-in-motion (RB-WIM) system. The traditional bridge WIM (B-WIM) system developed for road bridges was extended here to calculate the weights of railway carriages. The system was tested using the measured response from a test bridge in Poland, and the accuracy of the system was assessed using statically-weighed trains. To accommodate variable velocity of the trains, the standard B-WIM algorithm, which assumes a constant velocity during the passage of a vehicle, was adjusted and the algorithm revised accordingly. The results showed that the vast majority of the calculated carriage weights fell within ±5% of their true, statically-weighed values. The sensitivity of the method to the calibration methods was then assessed using regression models, trained by different combinations of calibration trains.
Spatial Variations in Microbial Compositions in a Karst Critical Zone in Samcheok, Republic of Korea
Authors: Kim Heejung , Jang Jiwook , Park Sangwook , Kim Chang-Seong , Ryu Han-Sun , Lee Jin-Yong
Published: July 2020

The effects of the unpredictability of the flow system in a karst area, with respect to bacterial communities in the aquatic environment, were evaluated. Bacterial communities from two different types of flow conditions (spring and sinkhole) were characterized and compared in the karst area. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia were the major phyla present in the sampled spring and sinkhole waters. The water samples from the spring points were heavily loaded with Actinobacteria, especially Firmicutes, which accounted for 4.3% of the bacterial content. Furthermore, Actinobacteria were prevalent in some water samples, serving as indicators of the effects of seawater inundation. The richness and diversity of bacterial species were evaluated at the spring and sinkhole water points. The spring waters showed a higher bacterial richness and diversity compared to the sinkhole waters. Our results provide valuable information for the evaluation and investigation of microbial compositions in karst areas, which are characterized by heterogeneous hydrological conditions. The microbial species in karst areas are already exposed to changing hydrogeological conditions, and are likely to be confronted with future changes; thus, their spatiotemporal variations reflect the shifting baselines of physicochemical and ecosystem processes.
Anti-Intuitionistic Fuzzy Soft a-Ideals Applied to BCI-Algebras
Authors: Muhiuddin G. , Al-Kadi D. , Balamurugan M.
Published: July 2020

The notion of anti-intuitionistic fuzzy soft a-ideals of B C I -algebras is introduced and several related properties are investigated. Furthermore, the operations, namely; AND, extended intersection, restricted intersection, and union on anti-intuitionistic fuzzy soft a-ideals are discussed. Finally, characterizations of anti-intuitionistic fuzzy soft a-ideals of B C I -algebras are given.
A Self-Powered Biosensor for Monitoring Maximal Lactate Steady State in Sport Training
Authors: Mao Yupeng , Yue Wen , Zhao Tianming , Shen MaiLun , Liu Bing , Chen Song
Published: July 2020

A self-powered biosensor for monitoring the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) during exercise has been developed for intelligently assisting training system. It has been presented to create poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/Tetrapod-shaped ZnO (T-ZnO)/enzyme-modified nanocomposite film through an efficient and cost-effective fabrication process. This sensor can be readily attached to the skin surface of the tester. Due to the piezoelectric surface coupling effect, this biosensor can monitor/sense and analyze physical information in real-time under the non-invasive condition and work independently without any battery. By actively outputting piezoelectric signals, it can quickly and sensitively detect body movements (changes of joint angle, frequency relative humidity during exercise) and physiological information (changes of lactate concentration in sweat). A practical application has been demonstrated by an excellent professional speed skater (male). The purpose of this study is to increase the efficiency of MLSS evaluation, promote the development of piezoelectric surface coupling effect and motion monitoring application, develop an intelligently assisting training system, which has opened up a new direction for human motion monitoring.
Sex Differences in Work-Stress Memory Bias and Stress Hormones
Authors: Dumont Laurence , Marin Marie-France , Lupien Sonia J. , Juster Robert-Paul
Published: July 2020

Mental health problems related to chronic stress in workers appear to be sex-specific. Psychosocial factors related to work–life balance partly explain these sex differences. In addition, physiological markers of stress can provide critical information on the mechanisms explaining how chronic stress gets “under the skull” to increase vulnerability to mental health disorders in working men and women. Stress hormones access the brain and modulate attentional and memory process in favor of threatening information. In the present study, we tested whether male and female workers present a memory bias towards work-stress related information, and whether this bias is associated with concentrations of stress hormones in reactivity to a laboratory stressor (reactive levels) and samples taken in participants’ workday (diurnal levels). In total, 201 participants (144 women) aged between 18 and 72 years underwent immediate and delayed recall tasks with a 24-word list, split as a function of valence (work-stress, positive, neutral). Participants were exposed to a psychosocial stressor in between recalls. Reactivity to stress was measured with saliva samples before and after the stressor. Diurnal cortisol was also measured with five saliva samples a day, during 2 workdays. Our exploratory results showed that men presented greater cortisol reactivity to stress than women, while women recalled more positive and neutral words than men. No sex difference was detected on the recall of work-stress words, before or after exposure to stress. These results do not support the hypothesis of a sex-specific cognitive bias as an explanatory factor for sex differences in stress-related mental health disorders in healthy male and female workers. However, it is possible that such a work-stress bias is present in individuals who have developed a mental-health disorder related to workplace stress or who have had one in the recent past. Consequently, future studies could use our stress memory bias task to assess this and other hypotheses in diverse working populations.
Influence of Voluntary Contraction Level, Test Stimulus Intensity and Normalization Procedures on the Evaluation of Short-Interval Intracortical Inhibition
Authors: Neige Cécilia , Grosprêtre Sidney , Martin Alain , Lebon Florent
Published: July 2020

Short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) represents an inhibitory phenomenon acting at the cortical level. However, SICI estimation is based on the amplitude of a motor-evoked potential (MEP), which depends on the discharge of spinal motoneurones and the generation of compound muscle action potential (M-wave). In this study, we underpin the importance of taking into account the proportion of spinal motoneurones that are activated or not when investigating the SICI of the right flexor carpi radialis (normalization with maximal M-wave (Mmax) and MEPtest, respectively), in 15 healthy subjects. We probed SICI changes according to various MEPtest amplitudes that were modulated actively (four levels of muscle contraction: rest, 10%, 20% and 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)) and passively (two intensities of test transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): 120 and 130% of motor thresholds). When normalized to MEPtest, SICI remained unchanged by stimulation intensity and only decreased at 30% of MVC when compared with rest. However, when normalized to Mmax, we provided the first evidence of a strong individual relationship between SICI and MEPtest, which was ultimately independent from experimental conditions (muscle states and TMS intensities). Under similar experimental conditions, it is thus possible to predict SICI individually from a specific level of corticospinal excitability in healthy subjects.
Effect of Pretreatment Methods on Enzymatic Kinetics of Ungelatinized Cassava Flour Hydrolysis
Authors: Nguyen Tien Cuong , Chu-ky Son , Luong Hong Nga , Nguyen Hai Van
Published: July 2020

The energy-saving glucose production process from starchy sources was developed by replacing high-temperature, liquid-phase by low-temperature, solid-phase. Therefore, the enzymatic hydrolysis under gelatinization temperature at very high gravity (≥300 g.L−1) of starchy substrates presents as an emerging technology. This study focused on the hydrolysis kinetics of cassava flour affected by different pretreatment methods. Cassava flour (dried, milled) was prepared in acetate buffer (pH 4.2) with starch concentration ranging from 10–30% (w/w). The mash was then pre-treated by three different methods for 30 min using heating (30, 40, 50 °C), enzyme (Viscozyme L 0.1% w/w) and microwave (3 × 20 s at 800 W). The suspension was then hydrolyzed with Stargen 002 (0.2% w/w) at 30 °C for 48 h. The enzyme adsorption kinetics was described by the Langmuir isotherm equation. The pretreatments at 50 °C and with enzyme resulted in the highest efficiency with the hydrolysis yield ranging from 76–79% after 48 h. The hydrolysis yield decreased to 67% (using microwave), 66% (at 45 °C), 61% (at 40 °C) and 59% (at 30 °C). The linear relationship between enzyme adsorption and produced glucose was demonstrated. The kinetics of glucose production was fitted by an empirical equation (analogy with Michaelis-Menten model) and allowed predicting the maximum hydrolysis yield.
Ru-Catalyzed Repetitive Batch Borylative Coupling of Olefins in Ionic Liquids or Ionic Liquids/scCO2 Systems
Authors: Szyling Jakub , Sokolnicki Tomasz , Franczyk Adrian , Walkowiak Jędrzej
Published: July 2020

The first, recyclable protocol for the selective synthesis of (E)-alkenyl boronates via borylative coupling of olefins with vinylboronic acid pinacol ester in monophasic (cat@IL) or biphasic (cat@IL/scCO2) systems is reported in this article. The efficient immobilization of [Ru(CO)Cl(H)(PCy3)2] (1 mol%) in [EMPyr][NTf2] and [BMIm][OTf] with the subsequent extraction of products with n-heptane permitted multiple reuses of the catalyst without a significant decrease in its activity and stability (up to 7 runs). Utilization of scCO2 as an extractant enabled a significant reduction in the amount of catalyst leaching during the separation process, compared to extraction with n-heptane. Such efficient catalyst immobilization allowed an intensification of the processes in terms of its productivity, which was indicated by high cumulative TON values (up to 956) in contrast to the traditional approach of applying volatile organic solvents (TON = ~50–100). The reaction was versatile to styrenes with electron-donating and withdrawing substituents and vinylcyclohexane, generating unsaturated organoboron compounds, of which synthetic utility was shown by the direct transformation of extracted products in iododeborylation and Suzuki coupling processes. All synthesized compounds were characterized using 1H, 13C NMR and GC-MS, while leaching of the catalyst was detected with ICP-MS.
Enhanced Visible-Light Driven Photocatalytic Activity of Ag@TiO2 Photocatalyst Prepared in Chitosan Matrix
Authors: Grčić Ivana , Gajović Andreja , Plodinec Milivoj , Šimunković Kristina , Ivanković Hrvoje , Willinger Marc-Georg
Published: July 2020

Ag doped TiO2 photocatalysts (Ag@TiO2) were prepared with an aim to extend the absorption range of TiO2 into the visible region, for tentative application under solar irradiation. Photocatalyst synthesized by the novel method using chitosan for reduction of Ag+ to Ag0 nanoparticles was compared to similar catalysts previously reported. The photocatalytic activity of Ag@TiO2 obtained by a simple novel method was evaluated based on degradation of salicylic acid as a model compound. The higher activity under visible irradiation can be attributed to the surface plasmon resonance and suppression of the electron-hole recombination when deposition of Ag nanoparticles on TiO2 was achieved using chitosan. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), selected area diffraction (SAED), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The photochromism of Ag was observed and explained.
Experimental Study on the Local Drag of Completion String with Packers in Horizontal Wells
Authors: Liang Qimin , Xia Bairu , Liu Baolin , Nie Zhen , Gao Baokui
Published: July 2020

The multistage stimulation technology of horizontal wells has brought huge benefits to the development of oil and gas fields. However, the completion string with packers often encounters stuck due to the large drag in the horizontal section, causing huge economic losses. The local drag of the completion string with packers in the horizontal section is very complicated, and it has not been fully understood by theoretical calculations. A local drag experiment is designed to simulate the influence of microsteps and cuttings on the local drag of the completion string with packers in the inclined and horizontal sections. An obvious increase of the local drag of the packer is found at microsteps of the horizontal section, and the local drag is greatly affected by the amount of sand. In addition, the string with packers will vibrate during the tripping process in the deviated section, and the local drag is different when different amounts of sand are in the hole, but the change law is similar. The experimental results show that the friction coefficients of the packers with different materials in the horizontal section vary greatly, resulting in different local drags. It indicates that the local drag of the completion string not only depends on the microsteps and sand quantity in the wellbore, but also on the material difference of the packers. Only if microsteps and cuttings are removed can the completion string be tripped into horizontal wells smoothly.
Bioanalytical Performance of a New Particle-Enhanced Method for Measuring Procalcitonin
Authors: Dupuy Anne Marie , Bargnoux Anne Sophie , Larcher Romaric , Merindol Antoine , Masetto Thomas , Badiou Stéphanie , Cristol Jean Paul
Published: July 2020

We report the analytical performances of two particle-enhanced (PETIA) methods for measuring procalcitonin (PCT), the Diazyme PCT and the new DiaSys PCT assay, and their concordance of values with BRAHMS PCT Kryptor©. The total imprecisions onto two control levels and one serum pool were for DiaSys 5.42%, 3.3% and 7.53% and for Diazyme 10.7%, 2.9% and 13.23%, respectively. The limit of blank, limit of detection and limit of quantification were under the 0.25 cut-off for the two methods. The linearity in the lower range was acceptable for both methods. No significant effect on PCT determination was observed for DiaSys’ assay upon addition of interfering substances. With the Diazyme assay, significant effects were seen with rheumatoid factor (RF), lipid and hemoglobin. Correlation studies on 136 sera showed a good correlation between PCT measurements using DiaSys assay against the Kryptor system, while only a poor correlation was observed between the Diazyme assay, especially for low values. The novel PETIA PCT assay from DiaSys shows analytical performances acceptable for clinical use and the concordance with Kryptor method was fine at all clinical cut-offs. In contrast, despite comparable analytical performances, the Diazyme PETIA method exhibited a poor concordance with the Kryptor method.
A Novel Cross-Layer V2V Architecture for Direction-Aware Cooperative Collision Avoidance
Authors: Haider Shahab , Abbas Ziaul Haq , Abbas Ghulam , Waqas Muhammad , Tu Shanshan , Zhao Wei
Published: July 2020

The death toll due to highway crashes is increasing at an alarming rate across the globe. Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) have emerged as a promising solution to prevent crashes by enabling collision avoidance applications. However, a robust and stable collision avoidance application is a cross-layer problem that must address a number of key challenges across all layers of a VANET communication architecture. This paper presents and evaluates a novel VANET protocol suite, named Direction-Aware Vehicular Collision Avoidance (DVCA), which covers application, security services, network, and link layers. DVCA is a vehicle-to-vehicle communication architecture that provides enhanced collision probability computation and adaptive preventive measures for cooperative collision avoidance on bi-directional highways. Moreover, DVCA enables secure, in-time, and reliable dissemination of warning messages, which provides adequate time for vehicles to prevent collisions. Simulation and analytical results demonstrate reasonable reduction in collisions by DVCA, as compared with eminent VANET communication architectures.
An Experimental Study of the Sweep Frequency Impedance Method on the Winding Deformation of an Onsite Power Transformer
Authors: Wang Song , Wang Shuang , Cui Ying , Long Jie , Ren Fuqiang , Ji Shengchang , Wang Shuhong
Published: July 2020

Power transformers are one of the most important devices in electrical networks. The safety operation of the transformers directly affects the reliability of the power system. To diagnose the internal deformation of the transformer as soon as possible is of great significance. As a new technique, sweep frequency impedance (SFI) method has been used to detect the short-circuit fault of the transformer winding. However, the SFI method is still in the early stage and more experimental tests are needed to further demonstrate its accuracy in the detection of other types of winding faults. Therefore, in this paper, the SFI method is investigated to diagnose an open-circuit fault of an onsite transformer. By deeply analyzing the SFI curves and SFI values at power frequency obtained by the SFI test, the open-circuit fault of this transformer winding is determined. Meanwhile, the accuracy of the diagnostic results based on the SFI method is validated by introducing the results of the short-circuit impedance (SCI) and winding resistance measurements. The application of the SFI method on the detection of the open-circuit fault within the transformer winding not only enrich the SFI method research but also provide valuable practical guidance significance for the fault detection.
Effect of Dual Porous Layers with Patterned Wettability on Low-Temperature Start Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
Authors: Wang Guozhuo , Utaka Yoshio , Wang Shixue
Published: July 2020

The low-temperature start problem of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is a factor limiting their large-scale application. To improve the low-temperature start performance of a PEMFC, a novel microporous layer (MPL) and a gas diffusion layer (GDL) with planar wettability distribution, in which the hydrophilic and hydrophobic lines were arranged alternately in the in-plane direction, were investigated in this study. The influence of the dual planar-distributed wettability of the MPL and GDL on the normal temperature and low-temperature start performance of the PEMFC was investigated. Before performing the major experiment, the effect of the assembly pressure of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which has a significant effect on the PEMFC performance, was examined and determined to use in the experiment. The experimental results show that the dual hybrid MPL and GDL can further prolong the operation time of the PEMFC at different below-freezing temperatures owing to efficient water management and thus significantly improve the low-temperature start performance of the PEMFC.
Assessing Post-Harvest Regeneration in Northern Hardwood and Mixedwood Stands: Evolution of Species Composition and Dominance within 15-Year-Old Group Selection and Patch Cutting
Authors: Bilodeau-Gauthier Simon , Bédard Steve , Guillemette François
Published: July 2020

Multi-cohort forest management in northern hardwood stands may well be the best way to successfully regenerate tree species of intermediate shade tolerance, such as yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.). The creation of large enough gaps in the canopy favors increased light availability within the opening, while soil scarification provides suitable germination seedbeds. Evidence of these methods’ success nonetheless remains mostly the purview of experimental studies rather than operational tests. In Quebec, Canada, the multi-cohort methods promoted include group selection cutting and patch cutting. The present study tested their implementation at an operational scale and over a large territory in both hardwood-dominated and mixedwood stands. We assessed their efficacy in promoting natural regeneration of commercial hardwood trees, notably yellow birch and sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.). We conducted regeneration surveys at 2, 5, 10, and 15 years after harvest. Overall, group selection and patch cuttings were successful in regenerating the target species. Yellow birch, for instance, showed a mean stocking around 60% and a mean sapling density around 3400 stems ha−1 after 15 years. We compared several variables for measuring regeneration in early years, and found that the relative abundance, the stocking based on one stem per sampling unit, and the mean maximum height were good predictors of the relative presence of yellow birch and sugar maple in 15-year-old canopy openings. Using smaller sampling units (6.25 m2 rather than 25 m2) and waiting until year 5 may be more useful for making such predictions. In addition, there was an important turnover in vertical dominance in these openings. Non-commercial woody competitors were frequently dominant in early years but were often replaced by commercial hardwoods, notably yellow birch. We propose certain thresholds for assessing the success of post-harvest regeneration and for evaluating the need for a cleaning treatment.
Science Cafés, Science Shops and the Lockdown Experience in Florence and Rome
Authors: Pacini Giovanna , Belmonte Cinzia , Bagnoli Franco
Published: July 2020

The lockdown was crucial to stop the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, but it affected many aspects of social life, among which traditional live science cafés. Moreover, citizens and experts asked for a direct contact, not relying on mass-media communication. In this paper, we describe how the Florence and Rome science cafés, contacted by citizens and experts, either directly or through the Florence science shop, responded to these needs by organizing online versions of traditional face-to-face events, experiencing high levels of participation. The science café methodology was also requested by a high school that needed to conclude an engagement experience with students and their families. We also report the results of a survey about the satisfaction of this new methodology with respect to the old one.