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Appl. Sci., Volume 10, Issue 22 (November-2 2020) – 362 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Silanes with low surface energy can impart overall hydrophobic properties to a material, effectively preventing the loss of heat preservation, heat insulation, and other properties of foamed materials caused by wet and rainy weather. In our research, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and triethoxy-1H,1H,2H,2H-tridecylfluoro-n-octylsilane (FAS) were pre-cohydrolyzed to prepare the overall super-hydrophobic magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) foamed material. While the other engineering properties of the material were retained, the water-resistance of the material was increased, giving it potential application value in applications such as thermal insulation wallboard. View this paper
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14 pages, 8136 KiB  
Article
Design of the Cryogenic Bypass Line for the SIS100 Synchrotron
by Artur Iluk, Kazimierz Malcher, Wiktor Słomski, Maciej Chorowski, Jarosław Poliński, Thomas Eisel, Branislav Streicher and Peter Spiller
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8311; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228311 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2281
Abstract
This paper presents the selected aspects of a superconducting cryogenic bypass line (BPL) design, a part of the international Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) SIS100 cryogenic system, currently under construction in Darmstadt, Germany. Design, manufacturing, and installation of the superconducting cryogenic [...] Read more.
This paper presents the selected aspects of a superconducting cryogenic bypass line (BPL) design, a part of the international Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) SIS100 cryogenic system, currently under construction in Darmstadt, Germany. Design, manufacturing, and installation of the superconducting cryogenic bypass line is a part of a Polish in-kind contribution to the FAIR project, realized by the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. The BPL is dedicated to transferring liquid helium and AC electric current between SIS100 arc sections and superconducting quadrupole magnets located in warm straight sections of the synchrotron. A main innovative feature of the cryogenic bypass line is transferring the electric current and liquid helium in one vacuum vessel, while in other similar projects, namely, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN (CH) or the Tevatron at FermiLab (USA), those functions are separated. The coexistence of superconducting busbars and liquid helium process pipes in one limited space, as well as numerous additional functional and technical requirements, was a source of the serious design and production challenges described in the paper, including two designs of the internal suspension system based on steel rods and aramid cables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Superconductor Technologies and Their Applications)
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23 pages, 9271 KiB  
Article
Improving the Fuel Economy and Battery Lifespan in Fuel Cell/Renewable Hybrid Power Systems Using the Power-Following Control of the Fueling Regulators
by Nicu Bizon, Mihai Oproescu, Phatiphat Thounthong, Mihai Varlam, Elena Carcadea, Mihai Culcer, Mariana Iliescu, Maria Simona Raboaca and Ioan Sorin Sorlei
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8310; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228310 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1888
Abstract
In this study, the performance and safe operation of the fuel cell (FC) system and battery-based energy storage system (ESS) included in an FC/ESS/renewable hybrid power system (HPS) is fully analyzed under dynamic load and variable power from renewable sources. Power-following control (PFC) [...] Read more.
In this study, the performance and safe operation of the fuel cell (FC) system and battery-based energy storage system (ESS) included in an FC/ESS/renewable hybrid power system (HPS) is fully analyzed under dynamic load and variable power from renewable sources. Power-following control (PFC) is used for either the air regulator or the fuel regulator of the FC system, or it is switched to the inputs of the air and hydrogen regulators based on a threshold of load demand; these strategies are referred to as air-PFC, fuel-PFC, and air/fuel-PFC, respectively. The performance and safe operation of the FC system and battery-based ESS under these strategies is compared to the static feed-forward (sFF) control used by most commercial strategies implemented in FC systems, FC/renewable HPSs, and FC vehicles. This study highlights the benefits of using a PFC-based strategy to establish FC-system fueling flows, in addition to an optimal control of the boost power converter to maximize fuel economy. For example, the fuel economy for a 6 kW FC system using the air/fuel-PFC strategy compared to the strategies air-PFC, fuel-PFC, and the sFF benchmark is 6.60%, 7.53%, and 12.60% of the total hydrogen consumed by these strategies under a load profile of up and down the stairs using 1 kW/2 s per step. For an FC/ESS/renewable system, the fuel economy of an air/fuel-PFC strategy compared to same strategies is 7.28%, 8.23%, and 13.43%, which is better by about 0.7% because an FC system operates at lower power due to the renewable energy available in this case study. Full article
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14 pages, 4813 KiB  
Article
Investigation on the Chemical and Thermal Behavior of Recycling Agglomerates from EAF by-Products
by Thomas Willms, Thomas Echterhof, Stefan Steinlechner, Matti Aula, Ahmed Abdelrahim, Timo Fabritius, Davide Mombelli, Carlo Mapelli and Stefan Preiss
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8309; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228309 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2045
Abstract
In addition to the blast furnace converter route, electric steel production in the electric arc furnace (EAF) is one of the two main production routes for crude steel. In 2019, the global share of crude steel produced via the electric steel route was [...] Read more.
In addition to the blast furnace converter route, electric steel production in the electric arc furnace (EAF) is one of the two main production routes for crude steel. In 2019, the global share of crude steel produced via the electric steel route was 28%, which in numbers is 517 million metric tons of crude steel. The production and processing of steel leads to the output of a variety of by-products, such as dusts, fines, sludges and scales. At the moment, 10–67% of these by-products are landfilled and not recycled. These by-products contain metal oxides and minerals including iron oxide, zinc oxide, magnesia or alumina. Apart from the wasted valuable materials, the restriction of landfill space and stricter environmental laws are additional motivations to avoid landfill. The aim of the Fines2EAF project, funded by the European Research Fund for Coal and Steel, is to develop a low-cost and flexible solution for the recycling of fines, dusts, slags and scales from electric steel production. During this project, an easy, on-site solution for the agglomeration of fine by-products from steel production has to be developed from lab scale to pilot production for industrial tests in steel plants. The solution is based on the stamp press as the central element of the agglomeration process. The stamp press provides the benefit of being easily adapted to different raw materials and different pressing parameters, such as pressing-force and -speed, or mold geometry. Further benefits are that the stamp press process requires less binding material than the pelletizing process, and that no drying process is required as is the case with the pelletizing process. Before advancing the agglomeration of by-products via stamp press to an industrial scale, different material recipes are produced in lab-scale experiments and the finished agglomerates are tested for their use as secondary raw materials in the EAF. Therefore, the tests focus on the chemical and thermal behavior of the agglomerates. Chemical behavior, volatilization and reduction behavior of the agglomerates were investigated by differential thermogravimetric analysis combined with mass spectroscopy (TGA-MS). In addition, two melts with different agglomerates are carried out in a technical-scale electric arc furnace to increase the sample size. Full article
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13 pages, 1583 KiB  
Article
Effect of Surface Treatment and Storage Time on Immediate Repair Bond Strength Durability of Methacrylate- and Ormocer-Based Bulk Fill Resin Composites
by Farid S. El-Askary, Sara A. Botros and Mutlu Özcan
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8308; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228308 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2331
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of surface treatment and storage time on immediate repair bond durability of methacrylate- and ormocer-based bulk fill composites. In total, 265 discs were divided into 32 groups (n = 8/group) according to: (1) [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of surface treatment and storage time on immediate repair bond durability of methacrylate- and ormocer-based bulk fill composites. In total, 265 discs were divided into 32 groups (n = 8/group) according to: (1) Material: X-tra fil and Admira Fusion X-tra; (2) Surface treatment: oxygen inhibition; matrix; Futurabond M+; Silane/Futurabond M+; Admira Bond; Silane/Admira Bond; ceramic repair system; and Silane/Cimara bond; and (3) Storage time: 24 h and 6 months. Each disc received three micro-cylinders from the same material. Specimens were subjected to micro-shear bond strength testing either at 24 h or 6 months. Data were analyzed using ANOVA/Tukey’s test/Student t-test (p = 0.05). All experimental factors had significant effect on bond strength (p < 0.0001). Drop in bond strength was noticed in both materials after six months (p < 0.05), except for Admira Fusion X-tra treated with silane/cimara adhesive (p = 0.860). Both materials showed insignificant values with Admira bond either at 24 h or 6 months (p = 0.275 and p = 0.060, respectively). For other treatments, X-tra fil showed significantly higher values at 24 h and 6 months (p < 0.05). Ceramic repair system can be used to immediately repair both methacrylate- and ormocer-based composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments and Applications of Dental Materials)
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21 pages, 4541 KiB  
Article
High-Durability Concrete Using Eco-Friendly Slag-Pozzolanic Cements and Recycled Aggregate
by Klaus Voit, Oliver Zeman, Ivan Janotka, Renata Adamcova and Konrad Bergmeister
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8307; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228307 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2785
Abstract
Clinker production is very energy-intensive and responsible for releasing climate-relevant carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, and the exploitation of aggregate for concrete results in a reduction in natural resources. This contrasts with infrastructure development, surging urbanization, and the demand for [...] Read more.
Clinker production is very energy-intensive and responsible for releasing climate-relevant carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, and the exploitation of aggregate for concrete results in a reduction in natural resources. This contrasts with infrastructure development, surging urbanization, and the demand for construction materials with increasing requirements in terms of durability and strength. A possible answer to this is eco-efficient, high-performance concrete. This article illustrates basic material investigations to both, using eco-friendly cement and recycled aggregate from tunneling to produce structural concrete and inner shell concrete, showing high impermeability and durability. By replacing energy- and CO2-intensive cement types by slag-pozzolanic cement (CEM V) and using recycled aggregate, a significant contribution to environmental sustainability can be provided while still meeting the material requirements to achieve a service lifetime for the tunnel structure of up to 200 years. Results of this research show that alternative cements (CEM V), as well as processed tunnel spoil, indicate good applicability in terms of their properties. Despite the substitution of conventional clinker and conventional aggregate, the concrete shows good workability and promising durability in conjunction with adequate concrete strengths. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Performance Eco-Efficient Concrete)
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14 pages, 338 KiB  
Article
A Bio-Inspired Model of Picture Array Generating P System with Restricted Insertion Rules
by Gexiang Zhang, G. Samdanielthompson, N. Gnanamalar David, Atulya K. Nagar and K.G. Subramanian
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8306; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228306 - 23 Nov 2020
Viewed by 1785
Abstract
In the bio-inspired area of membrane computing, a novel computing model with a generic name of P system was introduced around the year 2000. Among its several variants, string or array language generating P systems involving rewriting rules have been considered. A new [...] Read more.
In the bio-inspired area of membrane computing, a novel computing model with a generic name of P system was introduced around the year 2000. Among its several variants, string or array language generating P systems involving rewriting rules have been considered. A new picture array model of array generating P system with a restricted type of picture insertion rules and picture array objects in its regions, is introduced here. The generative power of such a system is investigated by comparing with the generative power of certain related picture array grammar models introduced and studied in two-dimensional picture language theory. It is shown that this new model of array P system can generate picture array languages which cannot be generated by many other array grammar models. The theoretical model developed is for handling the application problem of generation of patterns encoded as picture arrays over a finite set of symbols. As an application, certain floor-design patterns are generated using such an array P system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Bio-inspired Computation and Applications)
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26 pages, 5344 KiB  
Review
Acoustic Scattering Models from Rough Surfaces: A Brief Review and Recent Advances
by Michel Darmon, Vincent Dorval and François Baqué
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8305; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228305 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3741
Abstract
This paper proposes a brief review of acoustic wave scattering models from rough surfaces. This review is intended to provide an up-to-date survey of the analytical approximate or semi-analytical methods that are encountered in acoustic scattering from random rough surfaces. Thus, this review [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a brief review of acoustic wave scattering models from rough surfaces. This review is intended to provide an up-to-date survey of the analytical approximate or semi-analytical methods that are encountered in acoustic scattering from random rough surfaces. Thus, this review focuses only on the scattering of acoustic waves and does not deal with the transmission through a rough interface of waves within a solid material. The main used approximations are classified here into two types: the two historical approximations (Kirchhoff approximation and the perturbation theory) and some sound propagation models more suitable for grazing observation angles on rough surfaces, such as the small slope approximation, the integral equation method and the parabolic equation. The use of the existing approximations in the scientific literature and their validity are highlighted. Rough surfaces with Gaussian height distribution are usually considered in the models hypotheses. Rather few comparisons between models and measurements have been found in the literature. Some new criteria have been recently determined for the validity of the Kirchhoff approximation, which is one of the most used models, owing to its implementation simplicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications on Ultrasonic Wave)
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21 pages, 10367 KiB  
Article
Aerodynamic Simulation of Helicopter Based on Polyhedron Nested Grid Technology
by Chenglong Zhou and Ming Chen
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8304; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228304 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1980
Abstract
In this paper, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation method based on the polyhedral nested grid is developed. By comparing the simulation and test results of the hovering flow field of the Caradonna–Tung rotor, the forward flight flow field of the AH-1G rotor, [...] Read more.
In this paper, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation method based on the polyhedral nested grid is developed. By comparing the simulation and test results of the hovering flow field of the Caradonna–Tung rotor, the forward flight flow field of the AH-1G rotor, the interference flow field of the Robin rotor/fuselage, and the hovering and forward flight flow field of a coaxial rotor, it is proven that the method proposed in this paper can achieve high calculation accuracy under various working conditions. The dual time-stepping method is used for the transient simulation, and the Spalart–Allmaras (S-A) turbulence model, which is widely used in aviation, is adopted in the simulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamic Aeroelasticity and Aeroacoustics of Rotorcraft)
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13 pages, 14919 KiB  
Article
An Innovative Bioceramic Bone Graft Substitute for Bone Defect Treatment: In Vivo Evaluation of Bone Healing
by Syamsiah Syam, Yung-Chieh Cho, Chung-Ming Liu, Mao-Suan Huang, Wen-Chien Lan, Bai-Hung Huang, Takaaki Ueno, Chi-Hsun Tsai, Takashi Saito, May-Show Chen and Keng-Liang Ou
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8303; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228303 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2345
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze characteristics of an innovative α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (α-CSH) bioceramic and bone healing and regeneration characteristics following its implantation on artificially created defects of rat models and human jaw defects. The α-CSH bioceramic was characterized using field emission scanning [...] Read more.
This study aimed to analyze characteristics of an innovative α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (α-CSH) bioceramic and bone healing and regeneration characteristics following its implantation on artificially created defects of rat models and human jaw defects. The α-CSH bioceramic was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and thermal-imaging instruments. The material was implanted on artificially created defects in a rat’s right hind leg bone and observed histologically after three days and seven weeks. The material was also implanted in patients with bone defects in the posterior maxillary, then observed immediately and six months post-treatment by panoramic and computed tomography image. The FE-SEM confirm this material is a uniform-shaped short column crystal, while the EDS measurement reveals calcium as the most component in this material. Thermal observation shows temperature change during the setting time is less than 2 °C, and the maximum temperature reached is 31 °C. In the histological analysis, α-CSH bioceramic shows new trabecular bone formation and absorbed material at seven weeks post-treatment. Moreover, panoramic and computed tomography image shows intact bone six months post-treatment. Therefore, this study suggests that the innovative α-CSH bioceramic can be useful in bone defect treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of the Biocomposite Materials on Bone Reconstruction)
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2 pages, 167 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue “Design and Optimization of Production Lines”
by Paolo Renna and Michele Ambrico
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8302; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228302 - 23 Nov 2020
Viewed by 1166
Abstract
The classical models for designing production lines follow the objective of balancing the line so as to improve the throughput [...] Full article
21 pages, 8478 KiB  
Article
Numerical Analysis of a Single-Stage Fast Linear Transformer Driver Using Field-Circuit Coupled Time-Domain Finite Integration Theory
by Hao Qiu, Shuhong Wang, Naming Zhang, Fengju Sun, Zhiguo Wang, Xiaofeng Jiang, Hongyu Jiang, Xu He and Shuya Ning
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8301; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228301 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2478
Abstract
The focus of this paper is numerical analysis on the performance of a newly designed mega-ampere (MA) class single-stage fast linear transformer driver (FLTD) with 24 separate columns in the China Z-pinch driver CZ34. However, the internal structure and media distribution of the [...] Read more.
The focus of this paper is numerical analysis on the performance of a newly designed mega-ampere (MA) class single-stage fast linear transformer driver (FLTD) with 24 separate columns in the China Z-pinch driver CZ34. However, the internal structure and media distribution of the FLTD induction cavity is very complicated and the short rise time of the bricks’ discharge current will make spatial discretization much denser, resulting in a dramatic increase in the computational complexity of a 3-D model. In this paper, the electromagnetic (EM) characteristics of the single-stage FLTD with 24-separate columns are investigated based on the time-domain finite integration theory (TD-FIT). The discharge currents of brick capacitors in the circuit model are coupled to the field model as excitations. The grid size of the key components in FLTD cavity are refined by nonuniform grids. To further reduce the number of degrees of freedom (DoFs), the surface impedance boundary condition (SIBC) is used to model good conductors. Measurements and simulation results demonstrate that TD-FIT is effective and accurate in analyzing the EM transients of FLTD. Equivalent inductance of the discharging brick will increase by ~35 nH due to the mutual flux linkage among neighboring bricks when all the 23-bricks are triggered synchronously. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering)
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20 pages, 3758 KiB  
Article
Modeling and Simulation of a Flexible Manufacturing System—A Basic Component of Industry 4.0
by Adriana Florescu and Sorin Adrian Barabas
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8300; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228300 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 53 | Viewed by 8552
Abstract
The field of Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) has seen in recent years a dynamic development trend and can now be considered an integral part of intelligent manufacturing systems and a basis for digital manufacturing. Developing the factory of the future in an increasingly [...] Read more.
The field of Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) has seen in recent years a dynamic development trend and can now be considered an integral part of intelligent manufacturing systems and a basis for digital manufacturing. Developing the factory of the future in an increasingly competitive industrial environment involves the study and analysis of some FMS key elements and managerial, technical, and innovative efforts. Using a new approach, thus paper presents a material flow design methodology for flexible manufacturing systems in order to establish the optimal architecture of the analyzed system. The research offers a solution for modeling and optimizing material flows in advanced manufacturing systems. By using a dedicated analysis and simulation software, the structure of the system can be established and specific technical and economic parameters can be determined for each processing and transport capacity. Different processing scenarios will be evaluated through virtual modeling and simulations in order to increase the performance and efficiency of the system. Thus, an interactive tool useful in the design and management of flexible manufacturing lines will be developed for companies operating in the industrial sector. The application of this paper is mainly in the field of development of intelligent manufacturing systems, where the control system will make and use simulations in order to analyze current parameters and to predict the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and Their Applications)
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15 pages, 1725 KiB  
Article
Factors of the Technology Acceptance Model for Construction IT
by Eun Soo Park and Min Seo Park
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8299; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228299 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 16412
Abstract
The use of information technology is spreading in the construction field. However, the use of information technology in the construction field does not conform to the requirements and characteristics of users who use information technology. This fact is blindly accepted by the government [...] Read more.
The use of information technology is spreading in the construction field. However, the use of information technology in the construction field does not conform to the requirements and characteristics of users who use information technology. This fact is blindly accepted by the government and client demands, which is an impediment to the dissemination of information technology in the construction field. To improve the use of information technology in the construction field, this study analyzes the factors of acceptance of information technology according to the characteristics of users who use information technology in the construction field based on Davis’ technology acceptance model. As a result of the analysis, we found that if users consider IT in the construction industry easy to use, spontaneous attitude and behavioral intention are to be expected. Moreover, acceptance type, educational satisfaction, usage enjoyment, and usage experience are the factors that impact perceived usefulness, and educational satisfaction and usage enjoyment impact perceived ease of use as well. This study aims to derive factors that maximize the approachability and usefulness of users through the use of a technology acceptance model in construction prior to the application of new information technology in the construction field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Social Computing and Its Applications)
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28 pages, 3293 KiB  
Review
Deep-Learning-Based Computer-Aided Systems for Breast Cancer Imaging: A Critical Review
by Yuliana Jiménez-Gaona, María José Rodríguez-Álvarez and Vasudevan Lakshminarayanan
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8298; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228298 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 8555
Abstract
This paper provides a critical review of the literature on deep learning applications in breast tumor diagnosis using ultrasound and mammography images. It also summarizes recent advances in computer-aided diagnosis/detection (CAD) systems, which make use of new deep learning methods to automatically recognize [...] Read more.
This paper provides a critical review of the literature on deep learning applications in breast tumor diagnosis using ultrasound and mammography images. It also summarizes recent advances in computer-aided diagnosis/detection (CAD) systems, which make use of new deep learning methods to automatically recognize breast images and improve the accuracy of diagnoses made by radiologists. This review is based upon published literature in the past decade (January 2010–January 2020), where we obtained around 250 research articles, and after an eligibility process, 59 articles were presented in more detail. The main findings in the classification process revealed that new DL-CAD methods are useful and effective screening tools for breast cancer, thus reducing the need for manual feature extraction. The breast tumor research community can utilize this survey as a basis for their current and future studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medical Digital Image: Technologies and Applications)
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17 pages, 8461 KiB  
Article
Inhibitory Potential of Mangiferin on Glucansucrase Producing Streptococcus mutans Biofilm in Dental Plaque
by Promise M. Emeka, Lorina I. Badger-Emeka, Hairul-Islam M. Ibrahim, Krishnaraj Thirugnanasambantham and Jamal Hussen
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8297; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228297 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2728
Abstract
Glucansucrase secreted by Streptococcus mutans and composed of virulence genes alters oral microbiota, creating adherent environment for structural bacteria colony forming dental biofilm. The present investigation studied the inhibitory and binding potentials of mangiferin against S. mutans and its enzyme glucansucrase implicated in [...] Read more.
Glucansucrase secreted by Streptococcus mutans and composed of virulence genes alters oral microbiota, creating adherent environment for structural bacteria colony forming dental biofilm. The present investigation studied the inhibitory and binding potentials of mangiferin against S. mutans and its enzyme glucansucrase implicated in biofilm formation. Antibacterial activity against planktonic S. mutans was carried out. Using reverse transcription PCR, the expression of crucial virulence genes, gtfB, gtfC, gtfD, gbpB, and comDE were determined. The effect of mangiferin on teeth surfaces biofilm was ascertained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Docking analysis of S. mutans glucansucrase and mangiferin revealed the binding energy of −7.35 and ten hydrogen interactions. Antibacterial study revealed that mangiferin was not lethal to planktonic S. mutans, but a concentration-dependent inhibition of glucansucrase activity was observed. The inhibitory effect of water-insoluble glucan synthesis was apparently more marked relative to water-soluble glucan synthesis attenuation. Mangiferin significantly downregulated the expression of the virulence genes, indicating a mechanism involving glucanotranferases, specifically inhibiting colony formation by attenuating bacterial adherence. SEM images revealed that S. mutans biofilm density was scanty in mangiferin treated teeth compared to non-treated control teeth. Our data therefore suggest that mangiferin inhibited S. mutans biofilms formation by attenuating glucansucrase activities without affecting bacteria growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Biomaterials in Oral Surgery and Personalized Dentistry)
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24 pages, 5985 KiB  
Article
On an SEIR Epidemic Model with Vaccination of Newborns and Periodic Impulsive Vaccination with Eventual On-Line Adapted Vaccination Strategies to the Varying Levels of the Susceptible Subpopulation
by Malen Etxeberria-Etxaniz, Santiago Alonso-Quesada and Manuel De la Sen
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8296; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228296 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3710
Abstract
This paper investigates a susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) epidemic model with demography under two vaccination effort strategies. Firstly, the model is investigated under vaccination of newborns, which is fact in a direct action on the recruitment level of the model. Secondly, it is investigated under [...] Read more.
This paper investigates a susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) epidemic model with demography under two vaccination effort strategies. Firstly, the model is investigated under vaccination of newborns, which is fact in a direct action on the recruitment level of the model. Secondly, it is investigated under a periodic impulsive vaccination on the susceptible in the sense that the vaccination impulses are concentrated in practice in very short time intervals around a set of impulsive time instants subject to constant inter-vaccination periods. Both strategies can be adapted, if desired, to the time-varying levels of susceptible in the sense that the control efforts be increased as those susceptible levels increase. The model is discussed in terms of suitable properties like the positivity of the solutions, the existence and allocation of equilibrium points, and stability concerns related to the values of the basic reproduction number. It is proven that the basic reproduction number lies below unity, so that the disease-free equilibrium point is asymptotically stable for larger values of the disease transmission rates under vaccination controls compared to the case of absence of vaccination. It is also proven that the endemic equilibrium point is not reachable if the disease-free one is stable and that the disease-free equilibrium point is unstable if the reproduction number exceeds unity while the endemic equilibrium point is stable. Several numerical results are investigated for both vaccination rules with the option of adapting through ime the corresponding efforts to the levels of susceptibility. Such simulation examples are performed under parameterizations related to the current SARS-COVID 19 pandemic. Full article
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16 pages, 4490 KiB  
Article
Polarization Radiometric Calibration in Laboratory for a Channeled Spectropolarimeter
by Wenhe Xing, Xueping Ju, Jian Bo, Changxiang Yan, Bin Yang, Shuyan Xu and Junqiang Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8295; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228295 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1533
Abstract
The process of radiometric calibration would be coupled with the polarization properties of an optical system for spectropolarimetry, which would have significant influences on reconstructed Stokes parameters. In this paper, we propose a novel polarization radiometric calibration model that decouples the radiometric calibration [...] Read more.
The process of radiometric calibration would be coupled with the polarization properties of an optical system for spectropolarimetry, which would have significant influences on reconstructed Stokes parameters. In this paper, we propose a novel polarization radiometric calibration model that decouples the radiometric calibration coefficient and polarization properties of an optical system. The alignment errors of the polarization module and the variation of the retardations at different fields of view are considered and calibrated independently. According to these calibration results, the input Stokes parameters at different fields of view can be reconstructed accurately through the proposed model. Simulations are performed for the presented calibration and reconstruction methods, which indicate that the measurement accuracy of polarization information is improved compared with the traditional undecoupled calibration method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Aerospace Science and Engineering)
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16 pages, 11659 KiB  
Article
Effect of Particle Size on Mechanical Property of Bio-Treated Sand Foundation
by Defeng Yang, Guobin Xu and Yu Duan
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8294; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228294 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1997
Abstract
In the field of geotechnical engineering, microbially induced calcium precipitation technology is feasible and sustainable alternative to improve the engineering characteristics of sand foundation under different geological conditions for a long time. However, it is unclear how the effects of different sand particle [...] Read more.
In the field of geotechnical engineering, microbially induced calcium precipitation technology is feasible and sustainable alternative to improve the engineering characteristics of sand foundation under different geological conditions for a long time. However, it is unclear how the effects of different sand particle sizes on the engineering characteristics of bio-treated sand column. The method of intermittent injection in batches was used to develop a series of bio-treated sand columns. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the bio-treated column improved by increasing the particle size. Low concentration of bacterial suspension and cementation reagent leads to the increase of calcium carbonate and unconfined compressive strength. Additionally, the total injection times increased, thus risking time cost. Furthermore, the increase of sand particle size was beneficial to the uniformity of the spatial distribution of calcium carbonate in the bio-treated column. The coefficient of variation was reduced by up to 52.0%. Scanning electron microscopy results confirmed that the size and uniformity of calcite crystals on the surface of sand particles were related to the concentration of cementation solution. Full article
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20 pages, 4776 KiB  
Article
A MBSE Application to Controllers of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Based on Model-Driven Architecture Concepts
by Ngo Van Hien, Ngo Van He, Van-Thuan Truong and Ngoc-Tam Bui
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8293; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228293 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3343
Abstract
In this paper, a hybrid realization model is proposed for the controllers of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). This model is based on the model-based systems engineering (MBSE) methodology, in combination with the model-driven architecture (MDA), the real-time unified modeling language (UML)/systems modeling language [...] Read more.
In this paper, a hybrid realization model is proposed for the controllers of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). This model is based on the model-based systems engineering (MBSE) methodology, in combination with the model-driven architecture (MDA), the real-time unified modeling language (UML)/systems modeling language (SysML), the extended/unscented Kalman filter (EKF/UKF) algorithms, and hybrid automata, and it can be reused for designing controllers of various AUV types. The dynamic model and control structure of AUVs were combined with the specialization of MDA concepts as follows. The computation-independent model (CIM) was specified by the use-case model combined with the EKF/UKF algorithms and hybrid automata to intensively gather the control requirements. Then, the platform-independent model (PIM) was specialized using the real-time UML/SysML to design the capsule collaboration of control and its connections. The detailed PIM was subsequently converted into the platform-specific model (PSM) using open-source platforms to promptly realize the AUV controller. On the basis of the proposed hybrid model, a planar trajectory-tracking controller, which allows a miniature torpedo-shaped AUV to autonomously track the desired planar trajectory, was implemented and evaluated, and shown to have good feasibility. Full article
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24 pages, 2738 KiB  
Article
Numerical Test of Several Controllers for Underactuated Underwater Vehicles
by Przemyslaw Herman
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8292; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228292 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1494
Abstract
This work is devoted to preliminary numerical tests of selected control strategies of underwater vehicles in the absence of a force applied to the side. The aim was to test the effectiveness of control algorithms for underwater vehicle models considered to be underactuated. [...] Read more.
This work is devoted to preliminary numerical tests of selected control strategies of underwater vehicles in the absence of a force applied to the side. The aim was to test the effectiveness of control algorithms for underwater vehicle models considered to be underactuated. Initially, the testing algorithm is used to obtain some information about the dynamics model. Several well-known control schemes for two underwater vehicles for two desired trajectories were selected and tested. The simulations made for the planar 3-DOF model of two underwater vehicles show the performance that can be achieved with each control algorithm according to the assumptions made. Full article
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27 pages, 3326 KiB  
Article
Elliptic Curve Signcryption-Based Mutual Authentication Protocol for Smart Cards
by Anuj Kumar Singh, Arun Solanki, Anand Nayyar and Basit Qureshi
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8291; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228291 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2987
Abstract
In the modern computing environment, smart cards are being used extensively, which are intended to authenticate a user with the system or server. Owing to the constrictions of computational resources, smart card-based systems require an effective design and efficient security scheme. In this [...] Read more.
In the modern computing environment, smart cards are being used extensively, which are intended to authenticate a user with the system or server. Owing to the constrictions of computational resources, smart card-based systems require an effective design and efficient security scheme. In this paper, a smart card authentication protocol based on the concept of elliptic curve signcryption has been proposed and developed, which provides security attributes, including confidentiality of messages, non-repudiation, the integrity of messages, mutual authentication, anonymity, availability, and forward security. Moreover, the analysis of security functionalities shows that the protocol developed and explained in this paper is secure from password guessing attacks, user and server impersonation, replay attacks, de-synchronization attacks, insider attacks, known key attacks, and man-in-the-middle attacks. The results have demonstrated that the proposed smart card security protocol reduces the computational overhead on a smart card by 33.3% and the communication cost of a smart card by 34.5%, in comparison to the existing efficient protocols. It can, thus, be inferred from the results that using elliptic curve signcryption in the authentication mechanism reduces the computational cost and communication overhead by a significant amount. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)
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15 pages, 2156 KiB  
Article
High-Yielding Lovastatin Producer Aspergillus terreus Shows Increased Resistance to Inhibitors of Polyamine Biosynthesis
by Alexander A. Zhgun, Gulgina K. Nuraeva and Ivan A. Volkov
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8290; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228290 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2491
Abstract
The biosynthesis of pharmaceutically significant secondary metabolites in filamentous fungi is a multistep process that depends on a wide range of various factors, one of which is the intracellular content of polyamines. We have previously shown that in Aspergillus terreus lovastatin high-yielding strain [...] Read more.
The biosynthesis of pharmaceutically significant secondary metabolites in filamentous fungi is a multistep process that depends on a wide range of various factors, one of which is the intracellular content of polyamines. We have previously shown that in Aspergillus terreus lovastatin high-yielding strain (HY) exogenous introduction of polyamines during fermentation can lead to an increase in the production of lovastatin by 20–45%. However, the molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon have not been elucidated. In this regard, we carried out an inhibitory analysis at the key stage of polyamine biosynthesis, the conversion of L-ornithine to putrescine by the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). A. terreus HY strain showed upregulation of genes for biosynthesis of polyamines, 3–10-fold, and increased resistance compared to the original wild-type strain upon inhibition of ODC on synthetic medium with 5 mM α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), by 20–25%, and 5 mM 1-aminooxy-3-aminopropane (APA), by 40–45%. The data obtained indicate changes in the metabolism of polyamines in A. terreus HY strain. The observed phenomenon may have a universal character among fungal producers of secondary metabolites improved by classical methods, since previously the increased resistance to ODC inhibitors was also shown for Acremonium chrysogenum, a high-yielding producer of cephalosporin C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering)
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16 pages, 12018 KiB  
Article
Microgravity-Induced Cell-to-Cell Junctional Contacts Are Counteracted by Antioxidant Compounds in TCam-2 Seminoma Cells
by Angela Catizone, Caterina Morabito, Marcella Cammarota, Chiara Schiraldi, Katia Corano Scheri, Francesca Ferranti, Maria A. Mariggiò and Giulia Ricci
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8289; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228289 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2078
Abstract
The direct impact of microgravity exposure on male germ cells, as well as on their malignant counterparts, has not been largely studied. In previous works, we reported our findings on a cell line derived from a human seminoma lesion (TCam-2 cell line) showing [...] Read more.
The direct impact of microgravity exposure on male germ cells, as well as on their malignant counterparts, has not been largely studied. In previous works, we reported our findings on a cell line derived from a human seminoma lesion (TCam-2 cell line) showing that acute exposure to simulated microgravity altered microtubule orientation, induced autophagy, and modified cell metabolism stimulating ROS production. Moreover, we demonstrated that the antioxidant administration prevented both TCam-2 microgravity-induced microtubule disorientation and autophagy induction. Herein, expanding previous investigations, we report that simulated microgravity exposure for 24 h induced the appearance, at an ultrastructural level, of cell-to-cell junctional contacts that were not detectable in cells grown at 1 g. In line with this result, pan-cadherin immunofluorescence analyzed by confocal microscopy, revealed the clustering of this marker at the plasma membrane level on microgravity exposed TCam-2 cells. The upregulation of cadherin was confirmed by Western blot analyses. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the microgravity-induced ROS increase was responsible for the distribution of cadherin nearby the plasma membrane, together with beta-catenin since the administration of antioxidants prevented this microgravity-dependent phenomenon. These results shed new light on the microgravity-induced modifications of the cell adhesive behavior and highlight the role of ROS as microgravity activated signal molecules. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Space Biology: Cell Behavior in Microgravity)
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14 pages, 2950 KiB  
Article
Sequence-to-Sequence Video Prediction by Learning Hierarchical Representations
by Kun Fan, Chungin Joung and Seungjun Baek
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8288; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228288 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2835
Abstract
Video prediction which maps a sequence of past video frames into realistic future video frames is a challenging task because it is difficult to generate realistic frames and model the coherent relationship between consecutive video frames. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical [...] Read more.
Video prediction which maps a sequence of past video frames into realistic future video frames is a challenging task because it is difficult to generate realistic frames and model the coherent relationship between consecutive video frames. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical sequence-to-sequence prediction approach to address this challenge. We present an end-to-end trainable architecture in which the frame generator automatically encodes input frames into different levels of latent Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) features, and then recursively generates future frames conditioned on the estimated hierarchical CNN features and previous prediction. Our design is intended to automatically learn hierarchical representations of video and their temporal dynamics. Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory (ConvLSTM) is used in combination with skip connections so as to separately capture the sequential structures of multiple levels of hierarchy of features. We adopt Scheduled Sampling for training our recurrent network in order to facilitate convergence and to produce high-quality sequence predictions. We evaluate our method on the Bouncing Balls, Moving MNIST, and KTH human action dataset, and report favorable results as compared to existing methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)
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17 pages, 1685 KiB  
Article
An openBIM Approach to IoT Integration with Incomplete As-Built Data
by Nicola Moretti, Xiang Xie, Jorge Merino, Justas Brazauskas and Ajith Kumar Parlikad
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8287; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228287 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 5723
Abstract
Digital Twins (DT) are powerful tools to support asset managers in the operation and maintenance of cognitive buildings. Building Information Models (BIM) are critical for Asset Management (AM), especially when used in conjunction with Internet of Things (IoT) and other asset data collected [...] Read more.
Digital Twins (DT) are powerful tools to support asset managers in the operation and maintenance of cognitive buildings. Building Information Models (BIM) are critical for Asset Management (AM), especially when used in conjunction with Internet of Things (IoT) and other asset data collected throughout a building’s lifecycle. However, information contained within BIM models is usually outdated, inaccurate, and incomplete as a result of unclear geometric and semantic data modelling procedures during the building life cycle. The aim of this paper is to develop an openBIM methodology to support dynamic AM applications with limited as-built information availability. The workflow is based on the use of the IfcSharedFacilitiesElements schema for processing the geometric and semantic information of both existing and newly created Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) objects, supporting real-time data integration. The methodology is validated using the West Cambridge DT Research Facility data, demonstrating good potential in supporting an asset anomaly detection application. The proposed workflow increases the automation of the digital AM processes, thanks to the adoption of BIM-IoT integration tools and methods within the context of the development of a building DT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Buildings)
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12 pages, 2123 KiB  
Article
Strain Rate Dependent Behavior of Vinyl Nitrile Helmet Foam in Compression and Combined Compression and Shear
by Nicolas Bailly, Yvan Petit, Jean-Michel Desrosier, Olivier Laperriere, Simon Langlois and Eric Wagnac
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8286; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228286 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2749
Abstract
Vinyl nitrile foams are polymeric closed-cell foam commonly used for energy absorption in helmets. However, their impact behavior has never been described in isolation. This study aims to characterize the strain rate dependent behavior of three VN foams in compression and combined compression [...] Read more.
Vinyl nitrile foams are polymeric closed-cell foam commonly used for energy absorption in helmets. However, their impact behavior has never been described in isolation. This study aims to characterize the strain rate dependent behavior of three VN foams in compression and combined compression and shear. Vinyl nitrile samples of density 97.5, 125, and 183 kg/m3 were submitted to quasi-static compression (0.01 s−1) and impacts in compression and combined compression and shear (loading direction of 45°). For impacts, a drop test rig was used, and a method was developed to account for strain rate variation during impactor deceleration. Young’s modulus and stress at plateau were correlated with foam density in both compression and combined loading. Vinyl nitrile foams were strain rate dependent: The absorbed energy at the onset of densification was two to four times higher at 100 s−1 than at 0.01 s−1. In combined loading, the compressive stress at yield was reduced by 43% at a high strain rate. Compared to expanded polypropylene, vinyl nitrile foams transmitted less stress at the onset of densification for equivalent absorbed energy and presented a larger ratio between the compression and shear stresses in combined loading (0.37 at yield). This larger ratio between the compression and shear stresses might explain why vinyl nitrile helmet liners are thought to be better at reducing head rotational acceleration than expanded polypropylene helmet liners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Sports Equipment and Materials)
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14 pages, 7354 KiB  
Article
Deep Learning-Based Pixel-Wise Lesion Segmentation on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Images
by Francesco Martino, Domenico D. Bloisi, Andrea Pennisi, Mulham Fawakherji, Gennaro Ilardi, Daniela Russo, Daniele Nardi, Stefania Staibano and Francesco Merolla
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8285; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228285 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4952
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common oral cancer. In this paper, we present a performance analysis of four different deep learning-based pixel-wise methods for lesion segmentation on oral carcinoma images. Two diverse image datasets, one for training and another one for [...] Read more.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common oral cancer. In this paper, we present a performance analysis of four different deep learning-based pixel-wise methods for lesion segmentation on oral carcinoma images. Two diverse image datasets, one for training and another one for testing, are used to generate and evaluate the models used for segmenting the images, thus allowing to assess the generalization capability of the considered deep network architectures. An important contribution of this work is the creation of the Oral Cancer Annotated (ORCA) dataset, containing ground-truth data derived from the well-known Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Machine Learning/Deep Learning in Medical Image Processing)
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12 pages, 1684 KiB  
Article
Anaerobic Digestion of Steam-Exploded Wheat Straw and Co-Digestion Strategies for Enhanced Biogas Production
by Fokion Kaldis, Denise Cysneiros, James Day, Kimon-Andreas G. Karatzas and Afroditi Chatzifragkou
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8284; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228284 - 22 Nov 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2930
Abstract
Wheat straw (WS) is considered a favourable substrate for biogas production. However, due to its rigid structure and high carbon to nitrogen (C/N ratio), its biodegradability during anaerobic digestion (AD) is usually low. In the present study, the effect of steam explosion pre-treatment [...] Read more.
Wheat straw (WS) is considered a favourable substrate for biogas production. However, due to its rigid structure and high carbon to nitrogen (C/N ratio), its biodegradability during anaerobic digestion (AD) is usually low. In the present study, the effect of steam explosion pre-treatment on WS, combined with C/N adjustment with inorganic nitrogen, on biogas production was evaluated. Additionally, co-digestion of WS with protein-rich agri-industrial by-products (dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) and rapeseed meal (RM)) was assessed. Steam explosion enhanced biogas production from WS, whereas the addition of NH4Cl was beneficial (p < 0.05) for the digestion of steam-exploded wheat straw (SE). Furthermore, mono-digestion of the four different substrates seemed to be efficient in both inoculum to substrate ratios (I/S) tested (3.5 and 1.75 (w/w)). Finally, during co-digestion of WS and SE with DDGS and RM, an increase in the cumulative methane production was noted when higher amounts of DDGS and RM were co-digested. This study demonstrated that DDGS and RM can be used as an AD supplement to stimulate gas production and improve wheat straw biodegradability, while their addition at 10% on an AD system operating with WS can enhance gas yields at levels similar to those achieved by steam-exploded straw. Full article
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16 pages, 17170 KiB  
Article
Extended Use for the Frequency Response Analysis: Switching Impulse Voltage Based Preliminary Diagnosis of Potential Sources of Partial Discharges in Transformer
by Kamalaselvan Arunachalam, Balasubramanian Madanmohan, Rajesh Rajamani, Natarajan Prabaharan, Hassan Haes Alhelou and Pierluigi Siano
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8283; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228283 - 22 Nov 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2275
Abstract
The Frequency Response Analysis approach (FRA) is useful in the fault diagnosis of transformers. However, its usefulness in diagnosing any potential sources of Partial Discharge (PD) in transformers has not been thoroughly investigated so far. In this work, the use of Impulse voltage-based [...] Read more.
The Frequency Response Analysis approach (FRA) is useful in the fault diagnosis of transformers. However, its usefulness in diagnosing any potential sources of Partial Discharge (PD) in transformers has not been thoroughly investigated so far. In this work, the use of Impulse voltage-based FRA (IFRA) in diagnosing inter-turn shorts and potential sources of PD were investigated on a 315 kVA, 11 kV/433 V transformer. Inter-turn shorts and PD sources were emulated and the usefulness of IFRA in their diagnosis was investigated while using switching impulse voltage at different magnitude levels as the test signals. For emulating the inter-turn shorts and the PDs, special tappings were provided on one of the 11 kV windings through the low capacitance bushings. Low voltage impulse was successful in diagnosing the inter-turn shorts, but unsuccessful in identifying the sources of PDs. During the test condition, the test voltage was adjusted with the presence of artificially created PD sources. The frequency response of the transformer before and after the inception of PD was observed and analyzed in this article. The FRA results demonstrated that the switching impulse voltage based IFRA approach at moderate voltages could be useful in diagnosing the presence of the potential sources of PDs. Full article
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15 pages, 3287 KiB  
Article
Ozone Treatment as a Process of Quality Improvement Method of Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum L.) Petioles during Storage
by Miłosz Zardzewiały, Natalia Matlok, Tomasz Piechowiak, Józef Gorzelany and Maciej Balawejder
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8282; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228282 - 22 Nov 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2327
Abstract
The aim of the study was to identify the effects of ozone treatment reflected by the microbial, mechanical properties and selected chemical parameters during the storage of rhubarb petioles. For this purpose, after they were harvested, rhubarb petioles were treated with gaseous ozone [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to identify the effects of ozone treatment reflected by the microbial, mechanical properties and selected chemical parameters during the storage of rhubarb petioles. For this purpose, after they were harvested, rhubarb petioles were treated with gaseous ozone at concentrations of 10 and 100 ppm, for the duration of 5, 15 and 30 min. Subsequently, the plant material was stored at room temperature for 14 days. After this time, the raw material was subjected to a number of chemical and mechanical tests. It was shown that the rhubarb petioles treated with ozone at a rate of 100 ppm for 30 min were characterized by the lowest loss of water content. It was also found that, compared to the control, most samples subjected to ozone treatment presented better mechanical properties, as well as higher oxidative potential and contents of polyphenols and vitamin C. Based on these findings, it was determined that ozone treatment largely increases storage stability of rhubarb. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Science and Technology)
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