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Found 6341 publications
Time of application and cultivar influence on the effectiveness of microalgae biomass upon winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Publication Name: Cereal Research Communications
Publication Date: 2024-09-01
Volume: 52
Issue: 3
Page Range: 1153-1161
Description:
The capability of microalgae had been studied for a long time; however, some basics of using microalgae as a biostimulant are still in question. In the present work, experiments were conducted to reply to questions such as (a) how does the application time affect the effects of microalgae treatments and (b) does variety or genetic variation cause differences in the effect of microalgae biomass application on the plants? The different times of application had different weightage on different parameters; however, when applied at the early reproductive stage the yield as well as the nitrogen % in grain was significantly affected. As per the comparison, the result suggested that varietal differences had negligible differences in biological yield, hexose content, and total phenol content. Furthermore, microalgae biomass treatment irrespective of the strain species or genus influences the biological photosynthate accumulation and nitrogen uptake or in short, the efficiency of uptake. Finally, the metabolomic analyses suggested the influence of the microalgae strains on the biochemical composition of the plants.
Open Access: Yes
Contribution of ankle motion pattern during landing to reduce the knee-related injury risk
Publication Name: Computers in Biology and Medicine
Publication Date: 2024-09-01
Volume: 180
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background: Single-leg landing (SL) is an essential technique in sports such as basketball, soccer, and volleyball, which is often associated with a high risk of knee-related injury. The ankle motion pattern plays a crucial role in absorbing the load shocks during SL, but the effect on the knee joint is not yet clear. This work aims to explore the effects of different ankle plantarflexion angles during SL on the risk of knee-related injury. Methods: Thirty healthy male subjects were recruited to perform SL biomechanics tests, and one standard subject was selected to develop the finite element model of foot-ankle-knee integration. The joint impact force was used to evaluate the impact loads on the knee at various landing angles. The internal load forces (musculoskeletal modeling) and stress (finite element analysis) around the knee joint were simulated and calculated to evaluate the risk of knee-related injury during SL. To more realistically revert and simulate the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury mechanics, we developed a knee musculoskeletal model that reverts the ACL ligament to a nonlinear short-term viscoelastic mechanical mechanism (strain rate-dependent) generated by the dense connective tissue as a function of strain. Results: As the ankle plantarflexion angle increased during landing, both the peak knee vertical impact force (p = 0.001) and ACL force (p = 0.001) decreased significantly. The maximum von Mises stress of ACL, meniscus, and femoral cartilage decreased as the ankle plantarflexion angle increased. The overall range of variation in ACL stress was small and was mainly distributed in the femoral and tibial attachment regions, as well as in the mid-lateral region. Conclusion: The current findings revealed that the use of larger ankle plantarflexion angles during landing may be an effective solution to reduce knee impact load and the risk of rupture of the medial femoral attachment area in the ACL. The findings of this study have the potential to offer novel perspectives in the optimized application of landing strategies, thus giving crucial theoretical backing for decreasing the risk of knee-related injury.
Open Access: Yes
Analyzing Energy Efficiency and Battery Supervision in Electric Bus Integration for Improved Urban Transport Sustainability
Publication Name: Sustainability Switzerland
Publication Date: 2024-09-01
Volume: 16
Issue: 18
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Addressing the critical challenge of reducing local emissions through the electrification of urban public transport, this research specifically focuses on integrating electric buses. The primary objectives are to evaluate energy efficiency and ensure battery cell supervision. Introducing electric buses plays a significant role in reducing emissions, contributing to more sustainable urban transport systems. However, this transition introduces a set of new challenges, including the complexities of electric charging logistics, the establishment of new consumption standards, and the intricate relationships between distance traveled, ambient temperature, passenger load, and battery health. Methodologically, this study collects and examines factors impacting energy consumption, including external temperatures, bus conditions, road conditions, and driver behavior. By analyzing these variables, a baseline for actual consumption can be established, allowing for the calculation of an energy balance to identify energy inefficiencies. This enables the optimization of route planning, the strategic selection of stops, and the efficient scheduling of charging times, along with ensuring the proper scaling of the bus battery system. This study found that energy consumption peaked at 116.73 kWh/100 km in the lowest temperature range of −5 °C to 0 °C. Consumption decreased significantly with rising temperatures, dropping by 25 kWh between 5 °C and 10 °C and by an additional 10 kWh between 10 °C and 15 °C. Beyond 20 °C, variations were more influenced by route and driving style than by temperature. Route and driver variability significantly influenced energy consumption, with up to threefold differences across routes due to factors such as road type and traffic volume. Additionally, there was a 31.85% difference between the most and least efficient drivers, highlighting the critical impact of driving style. Furthermore, this study explores the assessment of battery systems through cell-level diagnostics to detect potential faults. Considering that buses are equipped with significantly more batteries than typical electric vehicles, detecting and localizing faults at the cell level is crucial to avoid the substantial costs and environmental impact associated with replacing large battery systems. Utilizing the results of this research and the applied examination methods, it is possible to enhance energy efficiency and extend battery life, thereby contributing to the development of more sustainable and cost-effective urban transport solutions.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/su16188182
Oil Sorption Properties of Centrifugally Spun Polyisobutylene-Based Thermoplastic Elastomer Microfibers
Publication Name: Polymers
Publication Date: 2024-09-01
Volume: 16
Issue: 18
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Fiber-based sorbent materials are an essential part of containing oil spills, thus preventing ecological damage. Poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) thermoplastic elastomer fibers were successfully produced by centrifugal spinning. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the fibers were bead free and smooth-surfaced, with an average fiber diameter of 5.9 ± 2.3 μm. Contact angle measurements proved the highly hydrophobic (water contact angle of 126.8 ± 6.4°) and highly oleophilic nature of the fiber mat. The sorption and retention capacities of the fiber mat were tested for various oils and benchmarked against polypropylene as the industry standard and polystyrene, which is widely used in the literature. The oil uptake of the fiber mat showed a strong correlation with the viscosity of the oil, resulting in sorption capacities of 10.1 ± 0.8 g/g for sunflower oil, 19.9 ± 2.1 g/g for motor oil, and 23.8 ± 1.8 g/g for gear oil. Oil–water separation tests were also conducted, resulting in ~100% oil removal. The thermoplastic elastomer fiber mat outperformed the industry standard; however, the polystyrene fiber mat demonstrated the best oil sorption performance.
Open Access: Yes
2022 Düzce, Türkiye earthquake: advances in the past 2 decades, lessons learned, and future projections
Publication Name: Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering
Publication Date: 2024-09-01
Volume: 22
Issue: 11
Page Range: 5835-5862
Description:
In the year 1999, two devastating earthquakes (Mw 7.4 Kocaeli earthquake in August and Mw 7.2 Düzce earthquake in November) occurred in Northwest Türkiye. These two earthquakes led to a very large number of casualties and building collapses. When the 1999 earthquakes occurred, most of the structures in the earthquake-impacted region were not designed according to modern seismic design codes. During the 25 years following those earthquakes, there have been significant advances in building construction in the light of earthquake engineering, including adequate seismic codes, new regulations, and effective code enforcement in the earthquake impacted region. These advances have been reflected in the construction of new structures in the region and the retrofitting of existing ones. As a result, 70–80% of the current building stock in Düzce was designed, constructed, or retrofitted after the 1999 earthquakes. Almost 23 years later, in 2022, an Mw 6.1 earthquake occurred in Düzce, with ground shaking close to the seismic design code life safety performance level. The 2022 earthquake provided a great opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness and consequences of the advances in earthquake engineering and the relevant policy-making and regulations. This paper provides a comparative overview of the 1999 and 2022 earthquakes that struck the city of Düzce in terms of hazard, vulnerability, and consequences. Furthermore, other key lessons learned from the 2022 Düzce earthquake are documented based on field reconnaissance and numerical simulations. The lessons learned are expected to provide useful guidance for the reconstruction efforts after the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Türkiye earthquake sequence or in similar efforts in other parts of the world.
Open Access: Yes
Advanced Numerical Simulation of Scour around Bridge Piers: Effects of Pier Geometry and Debris on Scour Depth
Publication Name: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Publication Date: 2024-09-01
Volume: 12
Issue: 9
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Investigating different pier shapes and debris Finteractions in scour patterns is vital for understanding the risks to bridge stability. This study investigates the impact of different shapes of pier and debris interactions on scour patterns using numerical simulations with flow-3D and controlled laboratory experiments. The model setup is rigorously calibrated against a physical flume experiment, incorporating a steady-state flow as the initial condition for sediment transport simulations. The Fractional Area/Volume Obstacle Representation (FAVOR) technique and the renormalized group (RNG) turbulence model enhance the simulation’s precision. The numerical results indicate that pier geometry is a critical factor influencing the scour depth. Among the tested shapes, square piers exhibit the most severe scour, with depths reaching 5.8 cm, while lenticular piers show the least scour, with a maximum depth of 2.5 cm. The study also highlights the role of horseshoe, wake, and shear layer vortices in determining scour locations, with varying impacts across different pier shapes. The Q-criterion study identified debris-induced vortex generation and intensification. The debris amount, thickness, and pier diameter (T/Y) significantly affect the scouring patterns. When dealing with high wedge (HW) debris, square piers have the largest scour depth at T/Y = 0.25, while lenticular piers exhibit a lower scour. When debris is present, the scour depth rises at T/Y = 0.5. Depending on the form of the debris, a significant fluctuation of up to 5 cm was reported. There are difficulties in precisely estimating the scour depth under complicated circumstances because of the disparity between numerical simulations and actual data, which varies from 6% for square piers with a debris relative thickness T/Y = 0.25 to 32% for cylindrical piers with T/Y = 0.5. The study demonstrates that while flow-3D simulations align reasonably well with the experimental data under a low debris impact, discrepancies increase with more complex debris interactions and higher submersion depths, particularly for cylindrical piers. The novelty of this work lies in its comprehensive approach to evaluating the effects of different pier shapes and debris interactions on scour patterns, offering new insights into the effectiveness of flow-3D simulations in predicting the scour patterns under varying conditions.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/jmse12091637
Numerical Investigation of the Axial Load Capacity of Cold-Formed Steel Channel Sections: Effects of Eccentricity, Section Thickness, and Column Length
Publication Name: Infrastructures
Publication Date: 2024-09-01
Volume: 9
Issue: 9
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Cold-formed steel channel (CFSC) sections have gained widespread adoption in building construction due to their advantageous properties, including superior energy efficiency, expedited construction timelines, environmental sustainability, material efficiency, and ease of transportation. This study presents a numerical investigation into the axial compressive behavior of CFSC section columns. A rigorously developed finite element model for CFSC sections was validated against existing experimental data from the literature. Upon validation, the model was employed for an extensive parametric analysis encompassing a dataset of 208 CFSC members. Furthermore, the efficacy of the design methodologies outlined in the AISI Specification and AS/NZS Standard were evaluated by comparing the axial load capacities obtained from the numerically generated data with the results of four previously conducted experimental tests. The findings reveal that the codified design equations, based on nominal compressive resistances determined using the current direct strength method, exhibit a conservative bias. On average, these equations underestimate the actual load capacities of CFSC section columns by approximately 11.5%. Additionally, this investigation explores the influence of eccentricity, cross-sectional dimensions, and the point-of-load application on the axial load capacity of CFSC columns. The results demonstrate that a decrease in section thickness, an increase in column length, and a higher degree of eccentricity significantly reduce the axial capacity of CFSC columns.
Open Access: Yes
Economic Costs of Work Stoppages Caused by the COVID-19 Outbreak
Publication Name: Journal of the Knowledge Economy
Publication Date: 2024-09-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 3
Page Range: 12026-12052
Description:
This study explores the economic costs of work stoppages resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. It utilizes a global multiregional dynamic computable general equilibrium model and finds that the higher the proportion of labor compensation in the initial factor distribution, the greater the economic damage. Macroeconomic loss was characterized by a monotonically increasing function, with developed countries potentially incurring greater losses than developing countries. The COVID-19 pandemic had significant negative impacts on the global labor market, with a decline in labor productivity; the cumulative global economic loss in 2020–2022 surpassed $10.4 trillion, of which the EU, the USA, and China contributed 30.44%, 18.74%, and 15.44%, respectively. Countries’ anti-epidemic responses showed great heterogeneity, with South Korea and China’s actions showing the dual advantages of protecting the economy and lives, whereas the EU failed to protect either lives or the economy. This article argues that it was necessary to adopt strict quarantine measures to control the spread of the virus in the early stages of the epidemic, but with a drop in the case fatality rate and the introduction of vaccinations, strict control measures had to be removed to protect the economy.
Open Access: Yes
Chatbot as a Corporate Communication Tool: Best Practice of a Hungarian HR Services Company
Publication Name: Journal of Ecohumanism
Publication Date: 2024-08-31
Volume: 3
Issue: 6
Page Range: 849-858
Description:
The advent of cutting-edge technologies has changed the way humans communicate. Corporate communication also has to face the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities stemming from the evolution of infocommunication technologies. The paper aims to present the best practice of a Hungarian certified company providing full HR services regarding the use of a chatbot software application as a corporate communication tool. The company applies its award-winning chatbot to communicate with its temporary workforce in five different languages. The paper is a single-case study based on secondary and primary research. The empirical research is carried out by means of an in-depth interview with the examined company’s representative to get details about the successful application of the chatbot software. The results reveal that the company was able to successfully integrate a rule-based chatbot into its corporate communications. The use of the chatbot has brought a number of benefits, e.g. time-and cost-effectiveness, satisfaction from both the temporary workforce and the internal staff. The paper concludes that even the most basic type of chatbot software can be applied effectively if the users are informed and well-prepared in advance, meanwhile the knowledge base of the chatbot software is appropriately determined and constantly updated.
Open Access: Yes
