{"title":"Effect of Ozonized Water against Pathogenic Bacteria and Filamentous Fungi on Stainless Steel","authors":"Elettra Berni, Chiara Moroni, Massimo Cigarini, Demetrio Brindani, Claudia Catelani Cardoso, Davide Imperiale","doi":"10.3390/app14188392","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188392","url":null,"abstract":"Ozone is a molecule that has gained increasing interest in recent years by food industries for sanitization of food-grade surfaces. Compared to chemical sanitizers such as chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, or peracetic acid, ozone shows undeniable advantages, such as the absence of by-products that should affect human health or the possibility of generating it when needed. Therefore, the aim of this paper was the assessment of the resistance to ozonized water of two pathogenic bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella) and of three airborne food-spoiling fungi (Aspergillus brasiliensis, Hyphopichia burtonii, and Penicillium nordicum) inoculated on stainless steel tiles and treated in static conditions with 1 to 6 mg L−1 (pathogens) or 8.5 mg L−1 (filamentous fungi). Ozonized water gave different results based on the tested microorganisms: pathogenic bacteria proved markedly more sensible to ozone than filamentous fungi, even if great differences were observed at inter- and intra-specific levels for both categories of microorganisms. Nevertheless, the non-linear inactivation kinetics of the studied strains made the calculation of a punctual F-value difficult, so in industrial practice, adequate tailoring of the treatments to be applied, based on the registered extrinsic factors and the industrial bio-burden, would be appropriate.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Innovative Technique for the Strengthening of RC Columns and Their Connections with Beams Using C-FRP ROPES","authors":"Chris Karayannis, Emmanuil Golias","doi":"10.3390/app14188395","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188395","url":null,"abstract":"The application of the innovative C-FRP ropes for the strengthening of reinforced concrete columns is experimentally examined. Two real-scale specimens with the same geometrical characteristics and the same steel reinforcements were constructed for the needs of this investigation. The primary objective of the study is to investigate the efficacy of the use of C-FRP ropes as externally mounted reinforcement for the strengthening of deficient external columns. In this direction, (a) C-FRP ropes are applied as longitudinal reinforcement of the column for the increase in the flexural strength, (b) C-FRP ropes are applied as external confining stirrups in the critical end parts of the column for the improvement of the concrete strength and the development of local element ductility, and finally (c) C-FRP ropes are applied as external stirrups in the form of diagonal X-shaped reinforcement for the increase in the capacity of the part of the column connected with the beam (joint panel). Both specimens are tested under the same cyclic loading procedure that comprises seven steps and each step includes three full loading cycles. The maximum loads of the strengthened specimen at the three loading cycles of the seventh step were 40%, 72% and 87% higher than the corresponding ones of the unstrengthened specimen. On the other hand, the measured shear deformations of the joint panel of the pilot (unstrengthened) specimen at the sixth and the seventh steps were 43% and 44% higher than the corresponding ones of the strengthened specimen. In general, it is concluded that the strengthened column exhibited improved hysteretic response and the whole behavior was apparently improved compared to the pilot specimen without strengthening in terms of maximum loads per loading step, dissipated energy, and shear deformations of the joint panel. In particular, it is stressed that the measured shear deformations of the joint panel and strain gauge measurements have substantiated that the column and the connection panel of the strengthened specimen remain almost intact, whereas damage and eventually failure have been located in the column and the joint panel of the pilot specimen. Additionally, it is emphasized that the C-FRP ropes can easily be applied in structures with complex configuration without any geometrical restraints.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jumamurod Farhod Ugli Aralov , Oybek Mirzaevich Narzulloev , Matteo Coffin, Philippe Gentet, Leehwan Hwang, Seunghyun Lee
{"title":"Digital 3D Hologram Generation Using Spatial and Elevation Information","authors":"Jumamurod Farhod Ugli Aralov , Oybek Mirzaevich Narzulloev , Matteo Coffin, Philippe Gentet, Leehwan Hwang, Seunghyun Lee","doi":"10.3390/app14188404","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188404","url":null,"abstract":"The evolution of cartography poses challenges in representing three-dimensional terrain accurately on traditional two-dimensional maps. Providing an accurate 3D view of the area, coupled with essential geographic information, is vital for rapid and accurate decision-making in emergency management and response. Holography offers a promising solution by providing immersive three-dimensional visualizations. The field of hologram mapping, although novel, is still developing. Given its nascent stage, several limitations are evident. This study addresses one such limitation—inaccuracies in distance measurement—by presenting a hologram map that integrates two-dimensional and three-dimensional information. Accurate distance information on maps is critical for operational success. We aimed to improve hologram maps by integrating contour lines. Our approach allows users to measure distances from near-perpendicular angles while viewing 3D features from other perspectives. We review current advancements in hologram mapping, highlight existing limitations, and introduce our innovative solution designed to enhance both accuracy and usability. Our experiment resulted in a hologram map that accurately depicts a 3D environment, integrates contour lines, and allows for distance and slope angle measurements. The hologram map fills the research gap by providing accurate 3D visualization and distance measurement, signifying a major advancement in hologram mapping.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ifeoma Chukwunonso Onyemelukwe, José Antonio Vasconcelos Ferreira, Ana Luísa Ramos, Inês Direito
{"title":"HumanEnerg Hotspot: Conceptual Design of an Agile Toolkit for Human Energy Reinforcement in Industry 5.0","authors":"Ifeoma Chukwunonso Onyemelukwe, José Antonio Vasconcelos Ferreira, Ana Luísa Ramos, Inês Direito","doi":"10.3390/app14188371","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188371","url":null,"abstract":"This paper presents the conceptual design of the HumanEnerg Hotspot, an agile toolkit aimed at addressing the human energy crisis in the context of Industry 5.0. The toolkit has been developed using a blend of Design Science Research (DSR) and Human-Centered Design (HCD) methodologies, enabling a comprehensive human-centered problem identification and solution-seeking approach. The toolkit includes a variety of strategies, techniques, frameworks, and resource recommendations for industry use and has been designed to be easily adaptable for use in diverse industry settings. The toolkit is intended to support the European Union’s goal for industry to influence society through a human-centric approach to Industry 5.0 by prioritizing human energy reinforcement and creating a more resilient and productive workforce. The toolkit provides a valuable resource for employees and managers alike and offers a promising solution for addressing the human energy crisis in the era of Industry 5.0.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evolution of Permeability and Sensitivity Analysis of Gas-Bearing Coal under Cyclic Dynamic Loading","authors":"Zhongzhong Liu, Yuxuan Liu, Zonghao Wang, Wentao Huang","doi":"10.3390/app14188373","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188373","url":null,"abstract":"It is imperative to conduct experimental studies on the seepage behavior of gas-bearing coal under cyclic dynamic loading conditions. This paper focuses on the evolution of coal permeability under the combined effects of dynamic loading, static loading, and gas adsorption. The principal conclusions are as follows: (1) As the frequency and amplitude of dynamic loading increase, the development of pore and fissure structures within the coal body becomes increasingly pronounced during dynamic loading cycles, resulting in a gradual rise in permeability. Notably, as the coal approaches its yielding stage, the permeability can increase by up to 47%. (2) The permeability curve is divided into four regions: the compaction reduction zone, the oscillation zone, the gradual recovery zone, and the abrupt failure increase zone. Ultimately, in the failure phase, the permeability surges dramatically, potentially reaching four to five times the initial permeability. (3) When the static loading stage and dynamic load are constant, the rate of change in coal permeability decreases with increasing adsorption amounts. When the adsorption amount is constant, the rate of change in permeability of the coal under dynamic loading increases with the increase in the static loading stress stage, with the maximum increase reaching 75.2%. It can be concluded from the rate of change in permeability and the dynamic loading sensitivity coefficient that the permeability of coal is highly sensitive to cyclic dynamic loading, with increased sensitivity associated with larger static loading stages and decreased sensitivity with greater adsorption amounts.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Characterization of Seismic Dynamic Response of Uranium Tailings Dams Based on Discrete Element Method","authors":"Ming Lan, Hongyu Huang, Yan He","doi":"10.3390/app14188389","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188389","url":null,"abstract":"Tailings dams play a critical role in ensuring the safety of mining operations. However, earthquakes can cause breaches in these dams, resulting in significant casualties and property damage. This study investigates the dynamic response characteristics of uranium tailings dams subjected to seismic loading, employing the discrete element method. It specifically analyzes how seismic wave amplitude, frequency, and the friction angle of tailings sand affect the dams’ dynamic response. The results reveal that the peak ground acceleration ratio (PGAR) exhibits an increasing–decreasing–increasing pattern with elevation. When the friction angle of the tailings sand exceeds 35°, the overall stability of the dam improves. Conversely, a friction angle below 25° significantly increases the risk of dam failure. Additionally, the dam shows a reduced dynamic response to seismic waves with frequencies exceeding 15 Hz. At lower frequencies, deformation and damage are primarily concentrated on the slope face, while at higher frequencies, damage is predominantly located at the bottom of the model. These findings provide a theoretical foundation and reference for the safe operation of tailings dams, highlighting their practical significance.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Identifying Key Factors for Securing a Champions League Position in French Ligue 1 Using Explainable Machine Learning Techniques","authors":"Spyridon Plakias, Christos Kokkotis, Michalis Mitrotasios, Vasileios Armatas, Themistoklis Tsatalas, Giannis Giakas","doi":"10.3390/app14188375","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188375","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Performance analysis is essential for coaches and a topic of extensive research. The advancement of technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques has revolutionized sports analytics. Aim: The primary aim of this article is to present a robust, explainable machine learning (ML) model that identifies the key factors that contribute to securing one of the top three positions in the standings of the French Ligue 1, ensuring participation in the UEFA Champions League for the following season. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed data from all 380 matches of the 2022–23 French Ligue 1 season. The data were obtained from the publicly-accessed website “whoscored” and included 34 performance indicators. This study employed Sequential Forward Feature Selection (SFFS) and various ML algorithms, including XGBoost, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Logistic Regression (LR), to create a robust, explainable model. The SHAP (SHapley Additive Explanations) model was used to enhance model interpretability. Results: The K-means Cluster Analysis categorized teams into groups (TOP TEAMS, 3 teams/REST TEAMS, 17 teams), and the ML models provided significant insights into the factors influencing league standings. The LR classifier was the best-performing classifier, achieving an accuracy of 75.13%, a recall of 76.32%, an F1-score of 48.03%, and a precision of 35.17%. “SHORT PASSES” and “THROUGH BALLS” were features found to positively influence the model’s predictions, while “TACKLES ATTEMPTED” and “LONG BALLS” had a negative impact. Conclusions: Our model provided satisfactory predictive accuracy and clear interpretability of results, which gave useful information to stakeholders. Specifically, our model suggests adopting a strategy during the ball possession phase that relies on short passes (avoiding long ones) and aiming to enter the attacking third and the opponent’s penalty area with through balls.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ioannis A. Kartsonakis, Artemis Kontiza, Irene A. Kanellopoulou
{"title":"Advanced Micro/Nanocapsules for Self-Healing Coatings","authors":"Ioannis A. Kartsonakis, Artemis Kontiza, Irene A. Kanellopoulou","doi":"10.3390/app14188396","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188396","url":null,"abstract":"The concept of intelligence has many applications, such as in coatings and cyber security. Smart coatings have the ability to sense and/or respond to external stimuli and generally interact with their environment. Self-healing coatings represent a significant advance in improving material durability and performance using microcapsules and nanocontainers loaded with self-healing agents, catalysts, corrosion inhibitors, and water-repellents. These smart coatings can repair damage on their own and restore mechanical properties without external intervention and are inspired by biological systems. Properties that are affected by either momentary or continuous external stimuli in smart coatings include corrosion, fouling, fungal, self-healing, piezoelectric, and microbiological properties. These coating properties can be obtained via combinations of either organic or inorganic polymer phases, additives, and pigments. In this article, a review of the advancements in micro/nanocapsules for self-healing coatings is reported from the aspect of extrinsic self-healing ability. The concept of extrinsic self-healing coatings is based on the use of capsules or multichannel vascular systems loaded with healing agents/inhibitors. The result is that self-healing coatings exhibit improved properties compared to traditional coatings. Self-healing anticorrosive coating not only enhances passive barrier function but also realizes active defense. As a result, there is a significant improvement in the service life and overall performance of the coating. Future research should be devoted to refining self-healing mechanisms and developing cost-effective solutions for a wide range of industrial applications.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"RPKI Defense Capability Simulation Method Based on Container Virtualization","authors":"Bo Yu, Xingyuan Liu, Xiaofeng Wang","doi":"10.3390/app14188408","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188408","url":null,"abstract":"As the main inter-domain routing protocol in today’s internet, the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) faces serious security risks during actual usage. Research on BGP malicious attack methods requires a realistic network environment, and evaluation methods based on physical networks often suffer from high costs and insufficient flexibility. Thus, we propose an efficient BGP simulated network deployment system based on a virtualization technology called the SOD–BGP. This system, combining cloud computing and virtualization technologies, creates a scalable, highly flexible basic network environment that allows for the automated simulation and evaluation of actual BGP prefix hijacking attack scenarios. A Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) simulation suite is introduced into the system, emulating a certificate issuance system, certificate storage, and a certificate synchronization verification mechanism, thus aligning the simulation environment with real-world usage scenarios. Finally, we propose a data collection and performance evaluation technique to evaluate BGP networks deploying RPKI under different attack scenarios and to explore the effectiveness of RPKI defense mechanisms at various deployment rates. A comparative analysis with other simulation techniques demonstrates that our approach achieves a balanced performance in terms of deployment speed, complexity, and RPKI integrity, providing a solid simulation technology foundation for large-scale BGP security defense strategies.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Parbat Raj Thani, Joel B. Johnson, Surya Bhattarai, Tieneke Trotter, Kerry Walsh, Daniel Broszczak, Mani Naiker
{"title":"Optimizing Nigella Oil Extraction Temperature for Sustainable Production","authors":"Parbat Raj Thani, Joel B. Johnson, Surya Bhattarai, Tieneke Trotter, Kerry Walsh, Daniel Broszczak, Mani Naiker","doi":"10.3390/app14188377","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188377","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding the extraction process of Nigella oil is crucial due to its significant impact on yield, quality, and therapeutic effectiveness. This study explored the effects of various screw press temperatures (40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C, and 80 °C) on the quantity and quality of Nigella oil to optimize conditions that maximize yield while maintaining its nutritional and therapeutic attributes. Our findings indicate a linear increase in oil yield as screw press temperatures rose from 40 °C to 80 °C. There were no significant differences observed in total phenolic content (TPC), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), or the composition and ratio of fatty acids across oils extracted at different temperatures. However, the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was highest in oils extracted at 60 °C, while the thymoquinone (TQ) content peaked between 40 °C and 60 °C. These results underscore the importance of optimizing screw press temperatures to strike a balance between maximizing oil yield and preserving its valuable therapeutic and nutritional properties","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}