Search Results (14)

The spacer is an important component of a transmission line and can effectively prevent wires from whipping each other and inhibit vibration. Given the complex installation conditions of multi-split lines, the installation of spacers is mainly achieved through manual work, which has the disadvantage of heavy labor intensity and a high risk factor. The robots that install two-split and four-split spacer bars cannot be applied to the complex operating conditions of six-split transmission lines. In order to improve the installation efficiency of spacers and reduce operating costs and risks, a new type of spacer-installing robot was researched based on the six-split transmission lines in this paper. Through the theoretical analysis of the wire’s arc sag, the moving device of the robot was designed. In order to improve the operating efficiency of the robot, the storage and feeding device of the six spacers was designed. A planar arm with the ability to assemble the spacer was designed. The overall design of the robot was completed by integrating the design of each unit. Through the experimental test, the results indicated that the robot was capable of installing six spacers at once, the maximum moving slope was 15 degrees, and the error rate in the spacer installation was 2.33%, which matched the manual installation of the spacers. The robot provided new ideas for the design of new transmission line engineering equipment and expanded the scope of the application of robots in the power industry. Full article

This study aims to explore the feasibility of using pea protein isolate (PPI)/sodium alginate (SA) complex as a sugar substitute to develop low sugar plant fat cream. Firstly, this study analyzed the influence of SA on the structure and physicochemical properties of PPI and evaluated the types of interaction forces between PPI and SA. The addition of SA effectively induces the unfolding and structural rearrangement of PPI, causing structural changes and subunit dissociation of PPI, resulting in the exposure of internal-SH groups. In addition, the addition of SA increased the content of β-folding in PPI, making the structure of PPI more flexible and reducing interfacial tension. The ITC results indicate that the binding between PPI and SA exhibits characteristics of rapid binding and slow dissociation, which is spontaneous and accompanied by heat release. Next, the effect of PPI/SA ratio on the whipping performance and quality of low sugar plant fat creams was studied by using PPI/SA complex instead of 20% sugar in the cream. When using a PPI/SA complex with a mass ratio of 1:0.3 instead of sugar, the stirring performance, texture, and stability of plant fat cream reach their optimum. Finally, the relevant analysis results indicate that the flexibility and interface characteristics of PPI are key factors affecting the quality of cream. This study can provide theoretical support for finding suitable sugar substitute products and developing low sugar plant fat cream. Full article

Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum represents the most destructive disease in the sugarcane industry, causing host hormone disruption and producing a black whip-like sorus in the apex of the stalk. In this study, the gibberellin metabolic pathway was found to respond to S. scitamineum infection, and the contents of bioactive gibberellins were significantly reduced in the leaves of diseased plants. The gibberellin receptor gene ScGID1 was identified and significantly downregulated. ScGID1 localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm and had the highest expression level in the leaves. Eight proteins that interact with ScGID1 were screened out using a yeast two-hybrid assay. Novel DELLA proteins named ScGAI1a and ScGA20ox2, key enzymes in GA biosynthesis, were both found to interact with ScGID1 in a gibberellin-independent manner. Transcription factor trapping with a yeast one-hybrid system identified 50 proteins that interacted with the promoter of ScGID1, among which ScS1FA and ScPLATZ inhibited ScGID1 transcription, while ScGDSL promoted transcription. Overexpression of ScGID1 in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants could increase plant height and promote flowering. These results not only contribute to improving our understanding of the metabolic regulatory network of sugarcane gibberellin but also expand our knowledge of the interaction between sugarcane and pathogens. Full article

Badminton, a dynamic racquet sport demanding agility and power, features the overhead forehand smash as a pivotal offensive shot. Utilizing 3D motion analysis, this research delves into the intricate biomechanical facets underpinning this pivotal shot, with a dual focus on both novice and proficient players. Through a comparative analysis of these two player cohorts, the investigation aims to elucidate the fundamental factors influencing the quality of the forehand smash. Our findings reveal that skilled players exhibit significant improvements in smash quality, including a 60.2% increase in shuttlecock speed, reduced clearance height, and flight angle at release. These enhancements are associated with specific determinants, such as consistent positioning, racket angle at impact, and range of motion (ROM) in various joints. More crucially, full-body tension-arc formation and a four-segment whip-like smash contribute to these improvements. Unique to the whip-like smash is the rapid trunk and shoulder rotations in early whip-like control inducing passive elbow flexion and wrist over-extension, enhancing the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) effect of muscles for a more powerful smash. Emphasizing this uniqueness and the determinants simplify smash learning, potentially boosting training effectiveness. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of badminton’s biomechanics and offers practical implications for coaches and players to enhance their forehand smashes, especially among beginners. Full article

Mulberry powder was created from the extract using a foam-mat drying process. The studies aimed to evaluate the effects of egg albumin, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), digestion-resistant maltodextrin (DRM) contents, and whipping time (5 to 15 min) on the foam properties. The impact of different drying temperatures (60 to 75 °C) on the quality of the finished mulberry powder was also noted. The best foam expansion/stability value was determined using multiple regression models as a function of egg albumin, CMC, DRM, and whipping time. The results indicated that the main influencing factors for the foam properties were whipping time followed by egg albumin, CMC, and DRM. Optimum values of foam expansion and stability were achieved at 467.9% and 97.02%, respectively. The foam had a porous structure and good stability for subsequent drying, with optimal contents of egg albumin, CMC, and DRM used at 7.6%, 0.4%, and 2%, respectively, along with a whipping time of 14.5 min. The established models had a high coefficient of determination (R² > 0.9) and a high correlation between the predicted and observed values. Therefore, the model could be adjusted to determine the characteristics of the foam suitable for subsequent drying. The optimal values were then also verified. Minimal fluctuations (1.78–2.98%) between the experimental data and the optimal value were found. The drying temperature also significantly affected the quality of the mulberry powder. The foam was dried at 65 °C for 4 h to produce apowder with a beautiful light color (L* = 62.65), a characteristic purple-red color of mulberry (a* = 5.97). The moisture, water activity, and anthocyanin content of the finished mulberry powder were 4.57%, 0.3, and 5.4 mg/g, respectively. Full article

The vibration produced by blasting excavation in urban underground engineering has a significant influence on the surrounding environment, and the strength of vibration intensity involves many influencing factors. In order to predict the space-time effects of blasting vibration more accurately, an automatic intelligent monitoring system is constructed based on the rough set fuzzy neural network blasting vibration characteristic parameter prediction model and the network blasting vibrator (TC-6850). By setting up the regional monitoring network of monitoring points, the obtained monitoring data are analyzed. An artificial intelligence model is used to predict the influence of stratum condition, excavation hole, and high-rise building on blasting vibration velocity and frequency propagation. The results show that the artificial intelligence prediction model based on a rough set fuzzy neural network can accurately reflect the formation attenuation effect, hollow effect, and building amplification effect of blasting vibration by effectively fuzzing and standardizing the influencing factors. The propagation of blasting vibration in a soil–rock composite stratum is closely related to the surrounding rock conditions with a noticeable elastic modulus effect. The hollow effect is regional, which has a significant influence on the surrounding ground and buildings. Besides, the blasting vibration of the excavated area is stronger than that of the unexcavated area. The propagation of blasting vibration on high-rise buildings was complicated, of which the peak vibration velocity is maximum at the lower level of the building and decreased with the rise of the floor gradually. The whip sheath effect appears at the top floor, which is related to the blasting vibration frequency and the building’s natural vibration frequency. Full article

Whip smut of sugarcane is the most serious and widely spread disease of sugarcane and causes a significant reduction in cane quantity and quality. The severity of this disease often depends on the pathogen races, environmental conditions, cultivar genotype and the interaction among these three factors. Under optimum climatic conditions, this disease has the potential to cause total crop failure. Resistance screening is an ongoing process due to the variability among smut pathogen isolates. Multiple races and mutation ability of smut pathogen makes the breeding task more complex. A number of studies on various aspects of the disease epidemiology and management have been published. Due to many overlapping characteristics within the species complex, there is a dearth of information on early detection and strategies to control the smut pathogen. Furthermore, there is a need to coordinate these findings to expedite its research and control. In this paper, we summarize the disease etiology, especially disease impact on the qualitative and quantitative parameters of sugarcane. We also gathered research progress on molecular-based detection and available information on genetic variability in S.scitamineum. The research on the set of management options needed to effectively cope with the disease are reviewed herein. The present review is expected to be helpful for the further investigation on smut resistance in sugarcane. Full article

In digital transformation and development, supply chain integration has become a key strategy to improve supply chain synergy efficiency and enhance enterprise competitiveness. Based on the survey data of 185 manufacturing enterprises in Tianjin, the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fs QCA) method is used to explore the synergistic mechanism of government policy, supply chain partnership, information sharing, risk avoidance, and intelligence degree on supply chain integration and the interaction among them. The results show that: (1) a single factor does not constitute a necessary condition for promoting supply chain integration, but the formation and development of supply chain partnership plays a universal role in promoting supply chain integration; (2) the “multiple concurrent” of five factors constitute the diversified configuration of a driving supply chain integration path, that is, the driving supply chain integration path has the characteristic of “all roads lead to the same destination”; (3) there is a “sharing” type, a “cooperative” type, and a “cooperative-sharing” type three equivalent path, whereby the formation of supply chain partnership can enhance the trust between manufacturing enterprises and suppliers and customers, increase the transaction frequency of upstream and downstream enterprises, and improve the cooperation efficiency. The utility model can effectively reduce the “long whip” problem caused by the information asymmetry, and improve the operational efficiency and stability of the whole supply chain. The purpose of this study is to inspire manufacturing enterprises in the context of digital supply chain integration to improve the collaborative efficiency of the supply chain. Full article

The jumping side volley has created breathtaking moments and cherished memories for soccer fans. Regrettably, scientific studies on the skill cannot be found in the literature. Relying on the talent of athletes to improvise on the fly can hardly be considered a viable learning method. This study targeted to fill this gap by quantifying the factors of the jumping side volley and to contribute to the development of a coaching method for it. Using 3D motion capture (12 cameras, 200 Hz) and full-body biomechanical modeling, our study aimed to identify elements that govern the entrainment of skill execution. Given the rarity of players who have acquired this skill and the low success rate of the kick (even in professional games), we were able to achieve and review 23 successful trials from five college-level subjects and quantify them for the study. The results unveiled the following key elements: (1) the control of trunk rotation during jumping, (2) the angle between thighs upon take-off, (3) the whip-like control of the kicking leg while airborne, (4) timing between ball motion and limb coordination, and (5) damping mechanism during falling. An accurate kick can normally be achieved through repetitive training. This underlines the need for athletes to master a safe landing technique that minimizes risk of injury during practice. Therefore, training should begin with learning a safe falling technique. Full article

In this study, as a preliminary attempt to reveal the whipping response of large container ships in actual seaways, the stress monitoring data of an 8600 TEU large container ship were analyzed. The measurement lasted approximately five years, and using a large amount of data, we investigated how the sea state and operational conditions affected the whipping response. In addition, the midship longitudinal stresses were decomposed into hull girder vertical bending, horizontal bending, and torsional and axial components. Thereafter, we found that the whipping magnitude on the torsional and horizontal bending components is much smaller than that on the vertical bending component. Future research would include the analysis of a larger amount of data, analysis of other sensor data, and effects of various patterns of vibrational response on the ultimate strength and fatigue strength. The obtained results will benefit the future design and operation of large container ships for safer navigation. Full article

The world record of the hammer throw has not been broken since 1986. This stagnation is multifactorial. One dominant factor could be the lack of evidence-based scientific/biofeedback training. This study aims to identify key parameters influencing throw quality and structure a new digital method for biofeedback training. Wire-tension measurement and 3D motion capture technology (VICON 12-camera system) were applied in quantifying and comparing throws of a national-level and a college-level athlete. Our results reveal that multi-joint coordination influences heavily on wire-tension generation. Four phases, i.e., initiation, transition, turns, and throw, play various roles in evaluating the quality of a throw. Among them, the transition, the third turn, and the throw display explosive/rapid increases of tension. For improving the effectiveness of the skill, the whip-like control and proper SSC (stretch-shortening cycle) of muscle groups involved should be established through years of training. Furthermore, our study unveils that quick and complex full-body control could be quantified and characterized by four key parameters: wire-tension, hand- and hip-height, and trunk tilt. Hence, a wearable digital device with tension and three Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors would have great potential in realizing real-time biomechanical feedback training in practice for evaluating and improving the efficiency of various training programs. Full article

In melt blowing, microfibrous nonwoven material is manufactured by using high-speed air to attenuate polymer melt. The melt-blown air jet determines the process of polymer attenuation and fiber formation. In this work, the importance of lateral velocity on the fiber was first theoretical verified. The lateral diffused characteristic of the air flow field in slot-die melt blowing was researched by measuring the velocity direction using a dual-wire probe hot-wire anemometer. Meanwhile, the fiber path was captured by high-speed photography. Results showed that there existed a critical boundary of the lateral diffusion, however, air jets in the x–z plane are a completely diffused field. This work indicates that the lateral velocity in the y–z plane is one of the crucial factors for initiating fiber whipping and fiber distribution. Full article

Transport-related problem behaviors (TRPBs) are common in horses and can cause injury to both the horses and their handlers. This study aimed to identify possible risk factors for TRPBs to inform approaches to mitigate TRPBs incidence and enhance horse welfare. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted to explore the prevalence of TRPBs and their association with human-, training- and transport management-related factors in New Zealand. The survey generated 1124 valid responses that were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and logistic regression analyses. Having at least one horse with TRPB was reported by 249/1124 (22.2%) respondents during the two previous years. Of these, 21/249 (8.4%) occurred during pre-loading, 78/249 (31.3%) during loading, 132/249 (53.0%) while travelling, and 18/249 (7.3%) during unloading. Our findings indicate that the use of negative reinforcement and positive punishment as training methods, using a whip or food for loading, and travelling in a straight load trailer/float while offering food were associated with a higher likelihood of TRPBs. Cross-sectional studies cannot determine causality and findings should be interpreted with caution, and evaluated in further experimental studies. The authors suggest that education on appropriate training methods for transport, and vehicle selection may mitigate the risk for TRPBs in horses. Full article

The bacterial flagellum is a complex apparatus assembled of more than 20 different proteins. The flagellar basal body traverses the cell wall, whereas the curved hook connects the basal body to the whip-like flagellar filament that protrudes several µm from the bacterial cell. The flagellum has traditionally been regarded only as a motility organelle, but more recently it has become evident that flagella have a number of other biological functions. The major subunit, flagellin or FliC, of the flagellum plays a well-documented role in innate immunity and as a dominant antigen of the adaptive immune response. Importantly, flagella have also been reported to function as adhesins. Whole flagella have been indicated as significant in bacterial adhesion to and invasion into host cells. In various pathogens, e.g., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Clostridium difficile, flagellin and/or the distally located flagellar cap protein have been reported to function as adhesins. Recently, FliC of Shiga-toxigenic E. coli was shown to be involved in cellular invasion via lipid rafts. Here, we examine the latest or most important findings regarding flagellar adhesive and invasive properties, especially focusing on the flagellum as a potential virulence factor. Full article