bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modeling and numerical simulation of an industrial scale metal hydride reactor based on CFD‐Taguchi combined method
Authors: Mallik Aashish , Sharma Pratibha 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study proposes a cylindrical reactor design embedded with bifurcating longitudinal finned cooling tubes as the heat exchanger for an industrial‐scale metal hydride reactor system. We use Taguchi method as an optimization technique for the design parameters. The model performance was simulated with an objective of attaining the least time of absorption. The optimization involved seven control factors in an array of L 18 (2136). We observed that the number of cooling tubes, the fin length, and the number of fins are the most critical parameters for optimizing absorption time. A three‐dimensional numerical model has been developed using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.2a to predict the optimized design's hydriding performance. The absorption characteristics were studied based on the variation of pressure and heat transfer fluid temperature. At a supply pressure of 20 bars and a cooling fluid temperature of 20°C in a 50 kg system with 8 bifurcating finned cooling tubes, a hydrogen storage capacity of 1.21 wt% was achieved in 700 seconds. This paper highlights an optimized design's efficiency and operating parameter's influence to garner the best performance for rapid hydrogen charging.
Low‐complexity receivers for massive MIMO‐GFDM communications
Authors: Wang Hsuan‐Fu , Ueng Fang‐Biau , Shen Ye‐Shun , Lin Kai‐Xiang 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)‐based modulation scheme is widely utilized in asymmetric digital subscriber lines (ADSL), wireless local area networks (WLAN), and the fourth generation (4G) of mobile communication systems due to its ability to cope with severe channel conditions without complex equalization processes. However, the drawbacks of OFDM such as: requirement of a high peak to average power ratio (PAPR) radio frequency (RF) power amplifier, sensitive to carrier frequency offset, high out‐of‐band (OOB) emissions cause the OFDM is not applicable for the fifth generation (5G) mobile communication application scenarios such as machine‐type communications (MTC), Internet of things (IoT), and cognitive radio (CR). Generalized Frequency Division Multiplexing (GFDM) modulation scheme has regarded as one of the promising candidates for 5G waveforms due to its properties, such as low latency, low OOB emission, robust against carrier frequency offset (CFO), and time offset (TO). The GFDM is also combined with massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) technology that equipping each base station (BS) with an array of many active antennas, which are used to spatially multiplex many user equipment (UE) to improve spectrum efficiency (SE). However, as the modulation order and the number of antennas increases, the complexity of the maximum likelihood (ML) detector and the minimum‐mean‐square‐error (MMSE) detector causes an impediment for real‐world applications. This paper proposes a low‐complexity detector configuration which utilizes quadratic programming principle. The simulations show that the computation complexity of the proposed detector is lower than the ML detector and the bit‐error‐rate performance of the proposed detector is better than that of the MMSE detector.
Production of persimmon and mandarin peel pastes and their uses in food
Authors: Tsurunaga Yoko , Takahashi Taido , Nagata Yoshiaki 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFruit peels are often produced as a byproduct of processing and are usually disposed of as industrial waste. We conducted a study on the effective use of peels for the food industry using persimmons and mandarins as models. The production of persimmon and mandarin peel pastes, their flavor components, color, polyphenol contents, physical properties, and uses in foods (jam, cookies, and madeleines) were studied. The effects of heat treatment for sterilization, to effectively use persimmon and mandarin peels, were also investigated. The amount of water added to produce the optimum persimmon and mandarin peel pastes was 0.5× and 2.0× the weight of the respective peel samples. The main flavor components, as per GC‐MS spectra of persimmon and mandarin peel pastes, were 4 and 1, respectively. The Folin assay showed the polyphenol contents of persimmon and mandarin pastes as 33.9 mg and 236.3 mg of catechin equivalent per 100 g of fresh fruit, respectively. The persimmon paste specifically improved the physical properties of cookies, whereas the mandarin paste was well suited to all the processed food forms. Heat treatment for sterilization decreased cohesiveness but increased breaking strength and adhesiveness in persimmon and mandarin pastes.
Comparison of geological models for the simulation of CO2 migration: a case study in Ordos, China
Authors: Wang Siwen , Wang Yibo , Zheng Yikang , Chang Xu , Li Jun , Zeng Rongshu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAt the deep saline‐aquifer level, geological storage of CO2 is considered to be one of the most effective geological methods for reducing greenhouse gas concentrations and emissions. The objective of this study is to compare the performance of different geological models in simulating CO2 storage as part of the Ordos Shenhua project, which is the first and the largest demonstration project in China. The project has injected 300 000 t of CO2 into low‐permeability saline aquifers at a depth of 1600 m. The injection procedure began in May 2011 and ended in April 2015. We studied the impact of different models on the predicted gas saturation distribution of the CO2 plume 50 years after well shutoff, using the CO2STORE module in the Eclipse E300 simulator. In our simulation comparisons, four 3D geological models are established, including the flat constant model, flat sequential Gaussian model, seismic constant model, and seismic sequential Gaussian model. The seismic sequential Gaussian model is the most precise model, which is established through the sequential Gaussian co‐simulation method under the constraints of the seismic profile. Actual monitoring data were applied for historical pressure fitting in the four different geological models. Through the comparison of the four models, it can be concluded that the seismic sequential Gaussian model simulated CO2 migration more effectively. The results of this project can provide support for safety assessments in the later stages of deep monitoring programs. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isotopic fractionation induced by a surface effect influences the estimation of the hydrological process of topsoil
Authors: Chen Guo , Li Xiaozhen , Qin Wenyi , Lei Ningfei , Sun Luan Zi , Cao Longxi , Tang Xiaolu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIsotopic heterogeneity in soil water has hindered the application of isotope compositions (δ18O and δ2H) in soil water dynamics. This heterogeneity has been suggested to be caused by soil properties such as organic matter (OM) and clay content. However, this is yet to be verified in field soil. We sampled the organic layer (O‐horizon soil) with highly decomposed organic material and the A‐horizon soil in western Sichuan, China, and equilibrated these samples with vapour created by unconfined labelling water. The relationship between soil properties and isotopic fractionation (εT/U) between unconfined water and the total soil water was used to determine the line‐conditioned excess (lc‐excess) and source rain of A‐horizon field soil by removing the influence of confined water. Equilibration experiments demonstrated a significant isotopic difference between the εT/U levels in the A‐horizon and O‐horizon soils, indicating that OM plays an important role in isotopic fractionation. In field samples, the lc‐excess of the unconfined A‐horizon water was, on an average, 2.5‰ higher than that of bulk soil water. The average offsets between the annual rain and the estimated source rain of soil water decreased by 5.0 and 0.5‰ for hydrogen and oxygen after removing the influence of confined water. Isotopic heterogeneity should not be ignored while examining the evaporation of soil water, soil source rain, and hence the recent ‘two water worlds’ hypothesis, which is especially true for cases in which the soils contain high levels of OM.
The role of corporate governance in attracting foreign investment: An empirical investigation of Saudi‐listed firms in light of vision 2030
Authors: Alregab Hend 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFollowing the introduction of the Saudi Vision 2030, diverse developments have been considered concerning corporate governance as an effort to open Saudi Arabia's economy to the world. Identifying the significance of attracting foreign investment is considered an approach to accomplish one of the vision's targets. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of improved corporate governance policies on the magnitude of foreign investment. Regression analysis was employed using the data of 153 listed companies in the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) from 2015 to 2019 to examine the effect of three corporate governance indicators on foreign investment. Specifically, ownership structure was represented by institutional ownership, ownership concentration and managerial ownership. Board composition was identified by board size and independence. Executive pay was measured by the total top executive pay and the presence of long‐term incentive plans (LTIPs). Findings indicated that foreign investment is positively associated with ownership concentration, board independence and the presence of LTIPs in compensation packages. A negative and significant association was found with institutional ownership and managerial ownership.
Nexus between non‐performing loans and economic growth in emerging countries: Evidence from Turkey with wavelet coherence approach
Authors: Kartal Mustafa Tevfik , Kirikkaleli Derviş , Ayhan Fatih 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe study aims to capture the co‐movement between non‐performing loans (NPLs) and economic growth (EG) in Turkey using the quarterly data from 2005/Q1 to 2019/Q4 and applying the wavelet coherence approach, which allows the study to explore both the long‐run and short‐run causal linkages between NPLs and EG in Turkey. The findings reveal that (a) there is a significant vulnerability in NPLs and EG over the selected period at different frequency levels; (b) EG in Turkey has a strong power for explaining NPLs in the long‐run; (c) EG causes NPLs in Turkey in the short‐term between 2007 and 2010, which implies that the credit growth in the period with the increasing NPLs supports EG of Turkey. The outcomes of the tests underline the importance of EG for predicting NPLs in Turkey.
Dynamic causality between PPI and CPI in China: A rolling window bootstrap approach
Authors: Sun Jing , Xu Jinhui , Cheng Xin , Miao Jichao , Mu Hairong 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe relationship between PPI and CPI is one of the hotspots in the study of macroeconomics. Taking China as an example, the paper tests dynamic causality between PPI and CPI during the period of 2000:M1‐2019:M12. In view of structural mutations in time series variables, the bootstrap rolling‐window causality test is applied to restudy the dynamic causal relationship. As a result, it exists bidirectional transmission mechanism between CPI and PPI, both positive transmission of PPI to CPI and reverse transmission of CPI to PPI. In addition to putting more emphasis on transmission mechanism and causality between PPI and CPI, formulation of macroeconomic policy needs to focus on the correlation between PPI and CPI, and then the government can implement more targeted measures, such as strengthening the comprehensive application of monetary policy and fiscal policy, further deepening the supply‐side reform, optimizing the industrial structure to strengthen internal relationship between CPI and PPI.
Evaluation of guidelines on the use of vaginal mesh implants for pelvic organ prolapse using the AGREE II instrument
Authors: Tsiapakidou Sofia , Campani Nygaard Christiana , Pape Janna , de Mattos Lourenço Thais R. , Falconi Gabriele , Betschart Cornelia , Doumouchtsis Stergios K. ,   CHORUS: An International Collaboration for Harmonising Outcomes, Research, and Standards in Urogynaecology and Women's Health (https://i‐chorus.org/)
Published: January 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the content and quality of national and international guidelines on vaginal mesh procedures for pelvic organ prolapse (POP).MethodsWe searched PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect from inception to March 2020 and organizations’ websites. The quality of the guidelines was assessed independently by six appraisers using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument.ResultsFive guidelines were included. Most guidelines recommended individualized treatments, clinical observation, and conservative treatment for asymptomatic women discouraging the use of mesh. Vaginal pessary and pelvic floor muscle training are unanimously considered effective treatments. Only two guidelines recommended weight loss. Each guideline recommended patient counseling supported by data on success rates and complications. Most guidelines highlighted the importance of a specialist experienced surgeon, multidisciplinary teams, and national/international registries. All guidelines highlighted potential benefits of the use of mesh and reported possible complications.The overall quality rating ranged between 4.2 and 6.3, suggestive of moderate to high quality. The highest mean score (92.5%) pertained to “Scope and Purpose” and “Clarity of Presentation”, and the lowest to “Editorial Independence” (18%). Three out of five guidelines were “strongly recommended” by the appraisers.ConclusionAlthough most guidelines were of moderate to high quality, methodological applicability, stakeholder involvement, and editorial independence were domains with low scores.
Exploring a possibility of using Raman spectroscopy for detection of Lyme disease
Authors: Farber Charles , Morey Rohini , Krimmer Mark , Kurouski Dmitry , Rogovskyy Artem S. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLyme disease (LD), one of the most prevalent tick‐borne diseases in the United States (US), is caused by Borreliella burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bb). To date, in the US, LD diagnostics is primarily based on validated two‐tiered serological testing, which overall exhibits low sensitivity among other drawbacks. In the present study, a potential of Raman spectroscopy (RS) to detect Bb infection in mice has been explored. For that, C3H mice were infected with wild‐type Bb strains, 297, B31, or B31‐derived mutant, ∆vlsE. Blood samples taken prior to and post Bb infection were subjected to RS. The data demonstrated that RS did not directly detect Bb spirochetes in blood, but rather sensed biochemical changes associated with Bb infection. Despite Bb infection‐associated blood changes detectable by RS were very limited, the partial least square discriminant analysis showed that the average true positive rates were 86% for 297 and 89% for B31 and ∆vlsE.
Recent developments on magnetic molecular imprinted polymers (MMIPs) for sensing, capturing, and monitoring pharmaceutical and agricultural pollutants
Authors: Aylaz Gulgun , Kuhn Joel , Lau Elizabeth CHT , Yeung Chi‐Chung , Roy Vellaisamy AL , Duman Memed , Yiu Humphrey HP 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAmong the many classes of pollutants, bioactive contaminants including pesticides, herbicides, and other pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) are causing significant concern. These chemicals have been linked directly to contamination of freshwater and food sources, threatening water and food security. Contamination from antibiotics, one class of PhACs, is also considered to link strongly to the global problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Pollution from these contaminants has hit developing countries harder as a consequence of less stringent legislation on waste discharge from agricultural industries. Current sampling and monitoring methods [e.g. liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS)] are expensive, time‐consuming, immobile and require skilled users. Recent development of devices fitted with molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been found to be particularly attractive owing to their low cost, stability, high selectivity and mobility. MIPs also can be used to extract these organic pollutants at low concentrations. The latest development of magnetic MIPs (MMIPs) further facilitates the separation and recovery of these absorbents by using an external magnetic field after the target molecules have been bound, thus avoiding laborious centrifugation and filtration for separation and recovery. The purpose of this perspective is to summarize the recent development of MMIPs in the past ten years. We will focus on their applications in food industries and the agricultural sector. Several potential developments in combined analytical techniques using MMIPs also will be discussed. As pollution to our environment is now a focal point in human life, new analytical techniques based on MMIPs will be of great interest to the science communities. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Techno‐economic analysis of the valorization of brewers spent grains: production of xylitol and xylo‐oligosaccharides
Authors: Swart Lukas J , Petersen Abdul M , Bedzo Oscar KK , Görgens Johann F 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDBrewers spent grains (BSG) represents ≤85% of a brewery's solid waste and common disposal to landfill is increasingly more difficult. Yet BSG is a food‐grade by‐product with potential economic valorization that can significantly improve resource efficiency and reduction in carbon emissions. This study investigated valorization of BSG through the application of novel high solids hydrothermal processing technology in a small‐scale biorefinery, annexed to a brewery. It focused on three scenarios for the production of: (A) the sugar replacement xylitol; (B) prebiotic xylo‐oligosaccharide (XOS); and (C) co‐production of xylitol and XOS. Economic assessment was conducted by comparing the capital and operating expenditure from process simulations created in Aspen Plus®. The process models developed were supplemented with experimental data to improve accuracy.RESULTSInternal rate of return (IRR) values obtained were greater than the hurdle rate of 9.7% for all scenarios when considering a conservative market price for xylitol and XOS as US$4500 t–1, yet dedicated production of XOS was economically more favourable with a minimum required selling price (MRSP) of US$2509 t–1 compared to US$4153 t–1 for xylitol. Additionally, the scenario for co‐production of xylitol and XOS achieved the lowest MRSP of US$2182 t–1. By‐products significantly contributed to 32.7%, 14.2% and 27.5% of the revenue generated in scenarios A, B and C, respectively.CONCLUSIONThese results provide a good platform from which to develop the cost‐effective commercial production of XOS and xylitol from BSG. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
The natural history of glycogen storage disease type Ib in England: A multisite survey
Authors: Halligan Rebecca , White Fiona J. , Schwahn Bernd , Stepien Karolina M. , Kamarus Jaman Nazreen , McSweeney Mel , Kitchen Steve , Gribben Joanna , Dawson Charlotte , Lewis Katherine , Cregeen David , Mundy Helen , Santra Saikat 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGlycogen storage disease type Ib (GSDIb) is characterized by hepatomegaly and fasting hypoglycaemia as well as neutropaenia and recurrent infections. We conducted a retrospective observational study on a cohort of patients with GSDIb across England. A total of 35 patients, with a median age of 9.1 years (range 1‐39 years), were included in the study. We examined the genotype and phenotype of all patients and reported 14 novel alleles. The phenotype of GSDIb in England involves a short fasting tolerance that extends into adulthood and a high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Growth is difficult to manage and neutropaenia and recurrent infections persist throughout life. Liver transplantation was performed in nine patients, which normalized fasting tolerance but did not correct neutropaenia. This is the first natural history study on the cohort of GSDIb patients in England.
Terahertz compressive imaging: understanding and improvement by a better strategy for data selection
Authors: Xing Chungui , Qi Feng , Liu Zhaoyang , Wang Yelong , Guo Shuxu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCompressive sensing (CS) is a novel sampling modality, which indicates the signals can be sampled at a rate much below the Nyquist sampling rate. CS has increasing interest recently due to high demand of rapid, efficient, and in‐expensive signal processing applications in the μmWave and mmWave frequencies, such as communication and imaging. There have been a lot of theoretical studies on this topic, but there is a lack of systematic experimental analysis of the implementation method itself. In this paper, we have investigated the influencing factors of terahertz compressive sensing based on experimental results, including illumination and the size of the pixel. Besides, to differentiate from current approaches, which generally make full use of the data, we propose to sort the data first and select a part of them based on amplitude, which might deliver a better image by prompting the mathematical calculations compulsively. We believe that such considerations given above would help to make a better system design and improve the performance of compressive imaging, and these results will also be helpful in the application of terahertz communication.
On weakly informative prior distributions for the heterogeneity parameter in Bayesian random‐effects meta‐analysis
Authors: Röver Christian , Bender Ralf , Dias Sofia , Schmid Christopher H. , Schmidli Heinz , Sturtz Sibylle , Weber Sebastian , Friede Tim 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe normal‐normal hierarchical model (NNHM) constitutes a simple and widely used framework for meta‐analysis. In the common case of only few studies contributing to the meta‐analysis, standard approaches to inference tend to perform poorly, and Bayesian meta‐analysis has been suggested as a potential solution. The Bayesian approach, however, requires the sensible specification of prior distributions. While noninformative priors are commonly used for the overall mean effect, the use ofweakly informativepriors has been suggested for the heterogeneity parameter, in particular in the setting of (very) few studies. To date, however, a consensus on how to generally specify a weakly informative heterogeneity prior is lacking. Here we investigate the problem more closely and provide some guidance on prior specification.