This study explored the attitudes of health and safety engineering students towards hydrogen as a renewable energy source in Algeria. The results indicated a generally moderate attitude with strong support for replacing fossil fuels with new energy technologies. Significant differences were observed between students from the University of Batna and the University of Oran, with Batna students showing more favorable views. No significant differences were found based on gender or academic level. These findings offer valuable insights into future professional perceptions and highlight the importance of tailored educational programs to promote hydrogen energy acceptance. Recommendations for curriculum development and further research to support the advancement of renewable energy in Algeria are discussed.
This paper provides an insightful comparative analysis of laminated composite plates, focusing on two main stacking sequence groups: the traditional QUAD and the more recent DOUBLE-DOUBLE (DD) proposed by Professor Stephen Tsai. The investigation thoroughly explores the extensional, coupling, and bending stiffness matrices of each group, analyzing their implications for the bending behavior of laminated composite plates according to Kirchhoff's Laminate Theory under cylindrical bending conditions. The study highlights that, under this theory, increasing the repetitions of the 4-layer sub-laminates [±?/±?] leads to a much greater increase in bending than in coupling stiffness, and simultaneously promotes a decrease in extension-bending (A16, A26) and bending-torsion (D16, D26) components. The finite element simulations indicate that, as the number of repetitions increases from two to eight, the reduction in out-of-plane displacement exceeds that of the corresponding QUAD configuration, making the DD configuration a promising option. Moreover, the choice of angles significantly influences the overall bending behavior, particularly affecting three key components of the bending stiffness matrix: D11, D16, and D26. Among the configurations examined, the [± 0/± 50]8 configuration emerges as the optimal DD configuration for bending applications. This specific angle combination for the [± 0/± 50] sub-laminate yields high values of D11 and near-zero values for D16 and D26, enhancing bending stiffness while minimizing coupling twist-bending. In conclusion, the findings suggest that DD configurations offer a valuable option for applications involving thick composite bending.
Today, due to increasing technology and population density, the number of skyscraper constructions and residences is increasing rapidly. Tower cranes help in the rapid construction of constructions in terms of the ease of service of the machinery and equipment they provide during the construction. Accidents occurring in the construction sector in Turkey and around the world show that 30% of them take place in this type of construction. For this reason, analyzing the risky situations created by tower cranes regarding their positive aspects is very important in preventing and controlling serious and catastrophic accidents. In the study, the risks that may occur in tower crane environments were determined from accident records, obtained accident analyses, risk analysis reports, and literature studies. The motivation of the study is to analyze and manage the risks associated with tower cranes to prevent serious accidents in rapidly growing high-rise construction. The identified risk sources were evaluated with event tree analysis and scenarios. Lack of maintenance and checks, incorrect installation and assembly, and electric initiating events are analyzed in detail. As a result of the analysis, the probability of a catastrophic event was found to be 2.1% for the Lack of maintenance and checks starting event, 0.8% for the incorrect installation and assembly starting event, and 0.4% for the electric starting event. If serious events are taken into account, the probability increases to %33.04. Therefore, after risk analysis is done, it should be managed well and significant risks should be prevented from increasing by using the Plan-Do-Control-Act (PDCA) standard.
This study investigates the potential of starch-based coatings derived from 'Tommy Atkins' mango seed kernels, integrated with glycerol and sorbitol as plasticizers, as a sustainable solution for the post-harvest preservation of mangoes (Mangifera indica L.). Utilizing agro-industrial by-products, the research offers an innovative and biodegradable alternative to synthetic coatings, addressing critical environmental and economic challenges. Six filmogenic solutions with varying starch concentrations (1%, 2%, and 3%) were applied to mangoes, which were stored at 13°C for 30 days. Evaluations were conducted every five days, analyzing mass loss, firmness, browning, soluble solids content, pH, and titratable acidity. The results showed that coatings with higher starch concentrations (2% and 3%) significantly reduced mass loss, preserved fruit firmness, and delayed skin browning compared to uncoated control samples. These coatings also maintained internal fruit quality, ensuring stable pH levels and controlled increases in soluble solids content. By extending the shelf life of mangoes and reducing post-harvest losses, the study highlights the efficacy of starch-based coatings in preserving fruit quality during storage. Beyond technical performance, this approach promotes circular economy practices by valorizing mango processing residues and reducing environmental impact. It offers an accessible, cost-effective solution for small-scale producers, particularly in regions with abundant mango cultivation and processing. The research emphasizes the role of starch-based coatings as a promising avenue in sustainable post-harvest technologies, with the potential to enhance economic opportunities and reduce waste in the agro-industrial sector.
This study presents the scale-up of the discoloration process of the dye Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) by the white-rot fungus Ganoderma lucidum. Experiments were initially conducted in a 2-L lab-scale bioreactor and subsequently scaled up to a 45-L packed-bed bioreactor operated in batch mode under nonsterile conditions. The dye solution (150 mg L-1) was recirculated through the packed bed, which supported the growth of G. lucidum on an inert and biodegradable carrier — peach palm waste. Discoloration, enzyme activity, pH, and microbial community composition were analyzed. In the lab-scale system, discoloration reached 80%, with laccase activity measured at 847.2 IU mL-1. Upon scale-up, discoloration reached 91%, with laccase identified as the main factor contributing to biodecoloration. The bacterial community was initially dominated by the phylum Proteobacteria (93.4%), followed by an increase in Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Among eukaryotes, Opisthokonta represented over 96% of the community. These results suggest that G. lucidum is a promising agent for the industrial-scale biodegradation of RBBR dye.
Nail Laminated Timber (NLT) stands out in the construction industry due to its structural characteristics, environmental benefits, and ease of fabrication. It is an engineered wood panel composed of lamellae arranged side by side and joined using nails, which can be either metallic or wooden, without the use of adhesives. This panel can be manufactured using any wood species. The use of NLT, already well - established in North America, offers a sustainable alternative, as the utilization of timber from plantation forests reduces environmental impact compared to traditional construction materials. However, its broader application in Brazil requires specific standardization and national studies to evaluate its mechanical properties. This study presents a literature review on the subject, along with the results of experimental tests, including direct shear tests conducted on specimens and bending tests performed on beams and NLT panels. Numerical simulations are also included, highlighting and analyzing the areas subjected to the highest stress demands. Results indicated that NLT shows great potential for use in construction, offering good strength and stiffness properties. However, visual grading of the lamellae is essential, as the natural defects in the wood can compromise the structural integrity of the element under bending.
Affective scales play a crucial role in determining product quality by accurately measuring consumers’ sensory and attitudinal responses. This study aimed to assess consumer behavior towards strawberries using various affective scales and measures. A total of 715 consumers evaluated 30 strawberry samples using different affective measures. Linear 9 cm scales gauged fondness and expectations, while ideal scales determined sweetness, juiciness, and acidity preferences. Results showed these attributes directly influenced consumer acceptance, satisfaction, and purchase intent. Optimal indices for sweetness, juiciness, and acidity were 5.08, 5.58, and 4.90, respectively. These findings allow for a comprehensive understanding of consumer perceptions and strawberry quality. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of utilizing diverse affective scales in product evaluation, offering insights for potential product development.
In this study, we will define the concept of -lacunary statistical convergence in topological groups with the help of an unbounded modulus function. In addition, we will examine some inclusion theorems for different unbounded modulus functions in topological groups.
The incorporation of legume flours in cereal-based products, such as pasta, is gaining the attention of food technologists and industries. This trend is also gaining popularity among consumers due to legumes’ exceptional nutritional profiles. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of durum wheat semolina enrichment using chickpea and lentil flours on the physicochemical, enzymatic, rheological and sensorial characteristics of produced pasta, with substitution ratios ranging from 5% to 30%. The obtained results showed that pasta prepared with mixed flours had reduced water content of about 9.17 ± 0.01% and 7.2 ± 0.06%, respectively at a 30% replacement rate with lentil and chickpea flours. Moreover, the highest dose of lentil increased protein content of the mixture to reach 15.09 ± 0.4%. As chickpea and lentil flours are gluten free, incorporating them into recipes reduced the overall gluten content. The replacement with chickpea flour reduced the firmness of produced pasta compared to semolina-based pasta. Also, pasta produced with low legume dose recipes showed a better cooking quality profile, with limited cooking losses, low water absorption, and good firmness. Analyses performed on enriched samples showed that the most appropriate doses of legume flours for pasta production in terms of technological, rheological and sensorial properties were 15% and 10%, respectively for chickpea and lentil flours.
Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) has been proposed as a sterilization technique and utilized as a breeding method to enhance the activity of enzymes produced by microorganisms by treating their vegetative cells. This study explores whether this breeding method could be applicable to bacterial spores. Spores of Bacillus subtilis were treated with SC-CO2 in the presence of additives such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Various concentrations of these additives were employed to screen for strains exhibiting increased starch-digesting enzyme activity. The resulting strains, D2-5 and H2-1, demonstrated improved starch-digesting enzyme activities after SC-CO2 treatment with 2% DMSO or 0.6% H2O2, respectively, which were 74.7% and 67.3% higher than the wild-type strain. Eight successive subcultures of these two strains indicated their hereditary stability. The findings demonstrated that SC-CO2, in combination with specific additives, could effectively increase the activity of enzymes produced by microorganisms when their spores were treated.
Pig farming represents a rapidly expanding segment of Brazil’s agricultural sector, concomitant with the generation of substantial volumes of wastewater, the effective management of which demands strategic solutions. Anaerobic digestion has been identified as a promising solution for the preliminary treatment of these effluents, concurrently yielding methane-rich biogas, which possesses the capability to generate thermal or electrical energy. This study evaluates a new anaerobic treatment method, through the co-digestion of swine wastewater (SWW) and bedding material (BM) on a real scale, changing the production of bioenergy. The experiment was divided into four phases: Phase 1, monitoring the biodigester operating solely with swine wastewater (SWW); Phase 2, application of SWW + 2 tonnes of BM (SWW+2 T); Phase 3, SWW + 6 tonnes of BM (SWW + 6 T); and Phase 4, SWW + 10 tonnes of BM (SWW+10 T). Loads of 320 ( ± 2.3) to 805 ( ± 18) kg COD d?¹ in the summer and from 310 ( ± 1.5) to 780 ( ± 13) kg COD d?¹ in the winter were applied. The concentrations of methane and CO? were measured by gas chromatography. Biogas productions three times higher were recorded when 12 tons of BM were applied, which, when converted into bioenergy potential, resulted in the generation of 635 kWh per day of bioenergy in the summer and 270 kWh per day in the winter. Methane yield was highest in the summer with the application of 12 tons of BM (0.34 m3 KgCODRem?1). Volatile solids and COD removals ranged between 60-70% and 61-84%, respectively. The findings highlight that the use of deep bedding alongside SWW contributes significantly to biogas production, and co-digestion is recommended to enhance electricity generation on farms, with the added benefit of treating two waste types in a single reactor.
Health-conscious consumers are interested in products with an increased functional property and differentiated sensory characteristics. Processing native fruits offers promising perspectives for incoming aggregation, as well as providing foods with high nutritional value. This study evaluated the nutritional quality, physicochemical, and functional properties of gluten-free araçá cereal bars. Three different cereal bars formulations were prepared, containing araçá pulp and increasing proportions of osmotically dehydrated araçá (13; 20 and 27 g 100 g?¹). The proximate composition, physicochemical evaluation, bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid, total phenolics, tannins, and antioxidant activity), overall appearance and microbiological analyses were evaluated. In general, the gluten-free araçá cereal bars were presented as rich in fiber and protein source complementary nutritional information. The osmotically dehydrated araçá showed a decrease in the bioactive compound, with a greater loss of ascorbic acid. The cereal bar with highest proportion of araçá (T3 - 27 g 100 g?¹), exhibited higher concentrations of total phenolic compounds, total tannins, and antioxidant activity, with hydroacetonic solvent presenting greater extraction efficiency. The analysis of overall appearance of the bars corresponded to ‘moderately liked’. In the microbiological evaluation, the products met the legislative standards and were found to be suitable for consumption. The gluten-free cereal bar, with highest proportion of araçá (27 g 100 g?¹), presented good overall appearance, confirming the potential of this Cerrado fruit for use in functional foods, with improved nutritional value, acceptance, besides enabling local socio-economic development.
This study presents a short-term forecast of the financial expenses of a Federal Institution of Higher Education (HEI) within the context of budgetary challenges in Brazil, especially in the field of public education. Based on time series data of HEI expenditures, the SARIMA model is employed to forecast the financial needs for the upcoming fiscal months. The results demonstrate the potential of more accurate forecasts to optimize the efficiency of public spending in Brazil’s educational system, as well as to support operational planning, including workforce allocation. One limitation of this study is that future research could explore some additional variables or techniques to increase the accuracy and robustness of the forecasts. Nevertheless, the findings have the potential to significantly contribute to the improvement of financial planning and resource management in HEIs, promoting a more effective allocation of resources to meet the needs of the local academic community and, consequently, increasing the efficiency of public spending in Brazil. Enhancing financial forecasting in HEIs can make it possible to achieve efficient resource allocation and greater transparency and accountability in public spending. By employing the SARIMA model for short-term financial forecasting, this study offers an innovative solution to improve financial requirements. This approach stands out by providing a data-driven method linked to the unique context of HEIs in Brazil, offering insights for improving operational efficiency.
In the post-COVID-19 era, balancing public health and maintaining teenagers´ education is critical. Hence, schools have started implementing in-person and distance learning classes simultaneously to avoid large-scale gatherings. Traditionally, many Taiwanese elementary schools prefer employing the randomization method in arranging students in classes to promote fairness. However, the randomization method does not provide an avenue for differentiated learning that takes into account students´ academic performance levels to improve their overall learning. Primary education is an important stage in fulfilling students´ needs in the first few years to ensure their development. Thus, teachers should pay more attention to students who have low academic performance. Therefore, this paper uses the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method to effectively evaluate students´ overall academic performance, which is also used as the benchmark for student arrangement. In particular, pupils´ midterm test scores at a Taiwanese public elementary school (N = 25) were adopted as an empirical case. Results indicated that the AHP method reduced the respective internal academic performance gaps in in-person classes (Nï¼12, Mï¼80.33, SDï¼6.52) and distance learning classes (Nï¼13, Mï¼93.38, SDï¼2.03). Furthermore, the academic performances of the two types of classes had significant differences (tï¼6.58, p＜0.001). The AHP method effectively selects students with similar academic performance levels into the same learning group, reducing the troubles of students´ with different learning levels within the class and improving their overall learning performance. Moreover, the evaluated results of the subjects´ relative importance are expected to meet future education trends.
Belém, the capital of the state of Pará and the host city of COP30 (30th United Nations Climate Change Conference), located in the Brazilian Amazon, faces a risk to its potable water source due to pollution. Thus, the study aims to model the dispersion of pollutants, in this case, phosphorus, within the Utinga source, which is formed by the artificial lakes Ígua Preta and Bolonha. The Saint-Venant equations were solved via a hydrodynamic model formulated with the finite element method. Pollutant dispersion simulation followed the SUPG/θ numerical method for spatial and temporal discretization, respectively, of the advection-diffusion-reaction equation in two dimensions. The results indicate that, due to the low flow dynamics of the lakes, the highest phosphorus concentration is found near the entry of Lake Ígua Preta. This is a result of the waters from the Guamá River, which receive a significant portion of the city of Belém's sewage, only 2.38% of which is treated. A good legacy of COP30 would be a sewage collection and treatment system for Belém, which would minimize the pollution of the waters of the Guamá River and, consequently, the waters of the Utinga source benefiting the region's population.
This study aimed to design a linear feedback control approach for a parametrically excited energy harvesting system utilizing a piezoelectric material as the transduction element. The purpose was to significantly increase the amount of energy produced compared to that produced by the original system. To do so, firstly, it is necessary to analyze the stability of the system and perform a global sensitivity analysis to determine the physical parameters of the system that most contribute to energy production. The sensitivity analysis is done by calculating the Sobol indices, which are statistical indices that measure the relative contribution of each input variable (in this case, the physical parameters of the system) to the contribution of all input variables. In the stability analysis, the state transition matrix approximation techniques created by Sinha and Butcher and the results of the Floquet Theory for periodic systems were used. Stability analysis and global sensitivity analysis are methodologically complementary techniques for a better understanding of the dynamics of a system. In the case of this work, they are applied to an energy-harvesting system based on mechanical vibrations, providing important information to design a more efficient controller. The control technique used was proposed by Sinha and Butcher (1997), and is known as Linear Feedback Controller Design via the Lyapunov-Floquet Transform.
This study evaluated the suitability of a potential site for quarrying. Geoscientific data are needed to assess the potential of a site for quarrying. These geoscientific data are geological, geophysical, and drilling data. Diamond core drilling boreholes are drilled at 23 - 35 m depths in the study area. According to the diamond core drilling results, the site was not considered suitable for quarrying due to the very low core recovery of the basalts. For this reason, geophysical measurements were carried out to compare the relationship between core recoveries and resistivity values of the boreholes drilled in the study area. Resistivity measurements were made with the vertical electrical sounding (VES) methodat the exact coordinates of 5 boreholes in the study area, which have different characteristics according to the core recovery data. Resistivity measurements showed very low resistivity values, which may belong to altered basalts instead of strength basalt-type rocks. The results obtained were also checked with gravity and magnetic maps. The results of drilling and geophysical investigations were found to be entirely compatible. Thus, while the suitability of the drilling results in the study area was confirmed, it was also concluded that the suitability of a potential site for quarrying could be reliably evaluated with resistivity measurements, gravity, and magnetic data. This study demonstrates that geophysical methods (especially resistivity) can be fast, reliable, and cost-effective methods for quarry site research.
Grape pekmez (molasses) is one of the most traditional food products consumed in Azerbaijan, Türkiye and the Middle East, especially in regions where viticulture is widespread. The present study compared the levels of total phenolics (TPC), flavonoid contents (TFC), antioxidant activities, and 5-hydroxymethyl furaldehyde (HMF) contents in grape pekmez samples, both commercially produced (n = 5) and homemade (n = 19). Although TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity were similar in both types of pekmez, homemade samples had notably higher HMF content (242.24 mg L-1) compared to the legal limits of 75mg L-1 in Turkish Food Codex and 40 mg kg-1 in non-heat treated honey as per Codex Alimentarius. Commercial samples had a significantly lower average HMF content (26.24 mg L-1) compared to homemade pekmez because, in industrial production, water evaporation is carried out under vacuum, unlike homemade pekmez, which is prepared under uncontrolled atmospheric pressure. Additionally, approximately 74% of the homemade samples had total soluble solid contents (°Brix) below the codex minimum requirement of 68%. In commercial production, water evaporation is usually carried out at about 60°C under vacuum, whereas in homemade production, it occurs at around 100°C under atmospheric pressure. Homemade samples exhibited an HMF content nearly ten times higher than commercial samples (p < 0.05). Pearson’s correlation test indicated a positive and significant correlation between TPC and DPPH values (R = 0.738, p < 0.01). Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that commercial pekmez production is more effective in preserving grape antioxidative components and minimizing HMF content compared to homemade production. In summary, producing grape pekmez under vacuum conditions ensures better quality by lowering HMF levels and adhering to regulatory standards.
Klebsiella variicola is a Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex. It is frequently isolated from many plants, where it is involved in nitrogen fixation and growth. However, it has also been described as associated with disease in humans and animals. Escherichia coli and K. pneumoniae are related members of the Enterobacteriaceae family that metabolize maltose and maltodextrins. However, only isolates of the K. pneumoniae species complex metabolize starch. In E. coli, four enzymes metabolize maltodextrins, including a periplasmic ?-amylase (MalS), a cytoplasmatic amylomaltase (MalQ), a maltodextrin phosphorylase (MalP), and a maltodextrin glucosidase (MalZ). Considering the medical and agricultural importance of K. variicola and to better understand its role in maltodextrin degradation, the malZ gene was cloned from an isolate of this species, and the coded protein was recombinantly expressed and characterized. The K. variicola MalZ protein sequence was 79% identical to the E. coli MalZ and is the fifth enzyme and second maltodextrin glucosidase characterized from the GH13_21 CAZy subfamily. Its modeled monomeric structure shows ?-stranded amino- and carboxy-terminal domains and a catalytic domain with a (?/?)8-barrel. The 70 kDa expressed enzyme could promote glucose release from maltoheptaose and other maltodextrins. The enzyme’s optimum temperature was 30°C. The KM and Vmax for maltoheptaose were 32.7 mM and 2.58 ?mol/min of glucose released, respectively. Considering the characteristics of degrading maltodextrins, the release of glucose from this substrate, and the high profit of recombinant expression, the enzyme expressed in this work could be used in the industrial degradation of starch as a saccharifying enzyme.
Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is an advanced technique used for precise measurement of deformations, displacements, and strains on material surfaces through the analysis of digital images taken before and after loading. This paper introduces an alternative approach to DIC that integrates the Windowed Harmonic Weighted Correlation (WHWC) model, designed to improve accuracy and stability in the analysis of spectral images within the visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectrum. The WHWC model incorporates harmonic weighting and sinusoidal factors to enhance sensitivity to local changes, reduce the influence of noise, and maintain robustness across wavelengths ranging from 446 nm to 765 nm, covering both visible and NIR regions. Through experimental comparison with the Normalized Cross-Correlation (NCC) method, the WHWC model demonstrates significant improvements in stability and precision, achieving a correlation accuracy increase of 23% to 31%. The model was rigorously tested on a dataset of 600 spectral images, with results presented mathematically, visually, and descriptively, underscoring WHWC’s capability for precise material analysis and reliable detection of subtle variations. These qualities position WHWC as a valuable tool in fields such as material science and biomedical imaging, where consistent, high-accuracy measurements are critical for structural analysis, environmental monitoring, and diagnostic imaging.
