bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Methanol/Water Mixed Fuel Compound Injection on Engine Combustion and Emissions
Authors: Xu Changchun , Cho Haengmuk
Published: July 2021

Due to the recent global increase in fuel prices, to reduce emissions from ground transportation and improve urban air quality, it is necessary to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Water, methanol, and a mixture of the two were added at the pre-intercooler position to keep the same charge and cooling of the original rich mixture, reduce BSFC and increase ITE, and promote combustion. The methanol/water mixing volume ratios of different fuel injection strategies were compared to find the best balance between fuel consumption, performance, and emission trends. By simulating the combustion mechanism of methanol, water, and diesel mixed through the Chemkin system, the ignition delay, temperature change, and the generation rate of the hydroxyl group (−OH) in the reaction process were analyzed. Furthermore, the performance and emission of the engine were analyzed in combination with the actual experiment process. This paper studied the application of different concentration ratios of the water–methanol–diesel mixture in engines. Five concentration ratios of water–methanol blending were injected into the engine at different injection ratios at the pre-intercooler position, such as 100% methanol, 90% methanol/10% water, 60% methanol/40% water, 30% methanol/70% water, 100% water was used. With different volume ratios of premixes, the combustion rate and combustion efficiency were affected by droplet extinguishment, flashing, or explosion, resulting in changes in combustion temperature and affecting engine performance and emissions. In this article, the injection carryout at the pre-intercooler position of the intake port indicated thermal efficiency increase and a brake specific fuel consumption rate decrease with the increase of water–methanol concentration, and reduce CO, UHC, and nitrogen oxide emissions. In particular, when 60% methanol and 40% water were added, it was found that the ignition delay was the shortest and the cylinder pressure was the largest, but the heat release rate was indeed the lowest.
An Outlook of Drilling Technologies and Innovations: Present Status and Future Trends
Authors: Teodoriu Catalin , Bello Opeyemi
Published: July 2021

The present article analyzes the technological advancement and innovations related to drilling operations. It covers the review of currently proven and emerging technologies that could mitigate the drilling operational deficiencies and instabilities that could hinder operational performance activities and the economic part of drilling development with great effort to minimize their environmental footprint. Drilling system design and operations are among the major aspects and cost-effective endeavors of the oil and gas industries, which are therefore technology dependent. They are also considered to be among the most expensive operations in the world, as they require huge expenses daily. Drilling success, depending on prevalent conditions, is a function of several general factors. These include the selection of the best technologies and tools, procedural optimization, concrete problem-solving, accurate prediction, and rapid decision-making. Consequently, any sorts of tools or advanced technologies that can improve the time-efficient operational and economic performance of drilling activities are essential and demanded. The paper provides a review of available technologies and developmental innovations based on both company-based and academic research-enabled drilling solutions over the past 5 years in the field of drilling systems and technological design. The paper further highlighted potential technologies that could be tapped in from other industries and could possibly be adopted by pushing the conventional boundaries of drilling operations.
The Application of Similarity Theory and Dimensional Analysis to the Study of Centrifugal-Rotary Chopper of Forage Grain
Authors: Romaniuk Wacław , Savinykh Petr , Borek Kinga , Roman Kamil , Isupov Alexey Y. , Moshonkin Aleksandr , Wałowski Grzegorz , Roman Michał
Published: July 2021

This article presents the device and the principle of operation of forage grain crushers that use the centrifugal force of inertia to supply the working bodies—which occurs as a result of rotation of the rotor with a vertical axis. The results of some tests of machines working on this principle have been characterized. Attention is drawn to the disadvantages of most research works, namely the lack of premises for creating shredders of this class with a wide range of performance. The aim of this work is to establish the relationship between the design and technological parameters for the operation of a centrifugal-rotary shredder using the theory of similarity and a dimensional analysis. Moreover, the experimental data show an empirical relationship when calculating the efficiency for the shredder model considered above. By applying the similarity criteria, dimensionless complexes were obtained, which allow to determine the significance of the parameters selected at the initial stage for the efficiency of the shredder. The novelty of this research is the application of the theory of similarity and the use of dimensional analysis, which allowed for scaling the results of the experimental data and obtaining a centrifugal-rotary shredder with higher efficiency, while maintaining the quality of the obtained product. This technique indicates the energy costs of the grinding process, which can be used to select the ratio of parameters in the shredder that would ensure that a minimum amount of energy is consumed.
Issues and Challenges for HVDC Extruded Cable Systems
Authors: Mazzanti Giovanni
Published: July 2021

The improved features of AC/DC converters, the need to enhance cross-country interconnections, the will to make massive remote renewable energy sources available, and the fear of populations about overhead lines have fostered HVDC cable transmission all over the world, leading in the last two decades to an exponential increase of commissioned HVDC cable projects, particularly of the extruded insulation type. Comprehensive surveys of the issues to be faced by HVDC extruded cable systems appeared in the literature some years ago, but they are not so up-to-date, as HVDC extruded cable technology is developing fast. Therefore, the contribution this paper aims at giving is a systematic, comprehensive and updated summary of the main present and future issues and challenges that HVDC cable systems have to face to further improve their performance and competitiveness, so as to meet the growing quest for clean and available energy worldwide. The topics covered in this review–treated in alphabetical order for the reader’s convenience–are accessories, higher voltage and power, laying environment (submarine and underground cables), modeling, multiterminal HVDC, operation and diagnostics, recyclable insulation, space charge behavior, testing, thermal stability, transient voltages.
Applying Biodiversity Metrics as Surrogates to a Habitat Conservation Plan
Authors: Boykin Kenneth G. , Kepner William G. , McKerrow Alexa J.
Published: July 2021

Unabated urbanization has led to environmental degradation and subsequent biodiversity loss across the globe. As an outcome of unmitigated land use, multi-jurisdictional agencies have developed land use plans that attempt to protect threatened or endangered species across selected areas by which some trade-offs between harm to species and additional conservation approaches are allowed among the partnering organizations. Typical conservation plans can be created to focus on single or multiple species, and although they may protect a species or groups of species, they may not account for biodiversity or its protection across the given area. We applied an approach that clustered deductive habitat models for terrestrial vertebrates into metrics that serve as surrogates for biodiversity and relate to ecosystem services. In order to evaluate this process, we collaborated with the partnering agencies who are creating a Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan in southern California and compared it to the entire Mojave Desert Ecoregion. We focused on total terrestrial vertebrate species richness and taxon groupings representing amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles, and two special status species using the Normalized Index of Biodiversity (NIB). The conservation planning area had a lower NIB and was less species rich than the Mojave Desert Ecoregion, but the Mojave River riparian corridor had a higher NIB and was more species-rich, and while taxon analysis varied across the geographies, this pattern generally held. Additionally, we analyzed desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and desert kit fox (Vulpes macrotis arsipus) as umbrella species and determined that both species are associated with increased NIB and large numbers of species for the conservation area. Our process provided the ability to incorporate value-added surrogate information into a formal land use planning process and used a metric, NIB, which allowed comparison of the various planning areas and geographic units. Although this process has been applied to Apple Valley, CA, and other geographies within the U.S., the approach has practical application for other global biodiversity initiatives.
Integrated Evaluation of Vegetation Drought Stress through Satellite Remote Sensing
Authors: Avetisyan Daniela , Borisova Denitsa , Velizarova Emiliya
Published: July 2021

In the coming decades, Bulgaria is expected to be affected by higher air temperatures and decreased precipitation, which will significantly increase the risk of droughts, forest ecosystem degradation and loss of ecosystem services (ES). Drought in terrestrial ecosystems is characterized by reduced water storage in soil and vegetation, affecting the function of landscapes and the ES they provide. An interdisciplinary assessment is required for an accurate evaluation of drought impact. In this study, we introduce an innovative, experimental methodology, incorporating remote sensing methods and a system approach to evaluate vegetation drought stress in complex systems (landscapes and ecosystems) which are influenced by various factors. The elevation and land cover type are key climate-forming factors which significantly impact the ecosystem’s and vegetation’s response to drought. Their influence cannot be sufficiently gauged by a traditional remote sensing-based drought index. Therefore, based on differences between the spectral reflectance of the individual natural land cover types, in a near-optimal vegetation state and divided by elevation, we assigned coefficients for normalization. The coefficients for normalization by elevation and land cover type were introduced in order to facilitate the comparison of the drought stress effect on the ecosystems throughout a heterogeneous territory. The obtained drought coefficient (DC) shows patterns of temporal, spatial, and interspecific differences on the response of vegetation to drought stress. The accuracy of the methodology is examined by field measurements of spectral reflectance, statistical analysis and validation methods using spectral reflectance profiles.
Forest Biomass Collection from Systematic Mulching on Post-Fire Pine Regeneration with BioBaler WB55: Productivity, Cost and Comparison with a Conventional Treatment
Authors: Tolosana Eduardo , Bados Raquel , Laina Rubén , Bacescu Narcis Mihail , de la Fuente Teresa
Published: July 2021

Post-wildfire regenerated Mediterranean pine stands have a high risk of wildfire recurrence. Preventive clearings are frequently applied in a mix of systematic and selective ways, being a potential biomass source using technologies such as the collector-bundler BioBaler WB55. Our research aimed to compare the BioBaler with a chain mulcher performing systematic mulching of 50% vs. 67% of stand surface over 11.4 ha dominated by Pinus pinaster Ait. regenerated after a severe wildfire. Time studies included the machinery GPS follow-up and the weighing of each produced bale. Environmental aspects were also assessed. A regression curve related BioBaler weight productivity (odt·Workh−1) to pine biovolume (cover (%) average tree height, m). Surface productivity (stand ha·Workh−1) was greater for both technologies when a lower percentage of the total surface was cleared, but less than theoretically predicted. The BioBaler’s economic balance, including the cost of further selective clearing and the income from biomass selling, was costlier than that of the mulcher—in the most representative strata, 475 EUR·ha−1 vs. 350 EUR·ha−1. Under the studied conditions, BioBaler was not economically competitive with the conventional treatment, its main constraint being low collection efficiency (31% of the standing biomass in the cleared surface, 5.33 out of 17.1 fresh tonnes·ha−1).
Chemical and Sensory Profiles of Merlot Wines Produced by Sequential Inoculation of Metschnikowia pulcherrima or Meyerzyma guilliermondii
Authors: Aplin Jesse J. , Paup Victoria D. , Ross Carolyn F. , Edwards Charles G.
Published: July 2021

Inoculation of selected non-Saccharomyces yeasts with Saccharomyces cerevisiae as means to produce Merlot wines with reduced ethanol contents was investigated. Fermentations of grape musts (25.4° Brix, pH 3.50, and 4.23 g/L titratable acidity) were conducted in stainless steel tanks inoculated with Metschnikowia pulcherrima strains P01A016 or NS-MP or Meyerozyma guilliermondii P40D002 with S. cerevisiae Syrah added after three days. After fermentation, wines with Mt. pulcherrima contained 13.8% (P01A016) or 13.9% (NS-MP) v/v ethanol, respectively, amounts which were lower than in wines with S. cerevisiae alone (14.9% v/v). Delayed inoculation of must with S. cerevisiae (day 3) or musts with My. guilliermondii contained elevated concentrations of ethyl acetate (145 and 148 mg/L, respectively), concentrations significantly higher than those with S. cerevisiae inoculated on day 0 or with either strain of Mt. pulcherrima. Descriptive sensory analysis revealed a significant effect due to panelist but not due to Mt. pulcherrima or My. guilliermondii. This research indicates the potential for commercial application of these yeasts towards the production of reduced alcohol wines but without imparting negative sensory attributes.
High Foam Phenotypic Diversity and Variability in Flocculant Gene Observed for Various Yeast Cell Surfaces Present as Industrial Contaminants
Authors: de Figueiredo Catarina M. , Hock Daniella H. , Trichez Débora , Magalhães Maria de Lourdes B. , Lopes Mario L. , de Amorim Henrique V. , Stambuk Boris U.
Published: July 2021

Many contaminant yeast strains that survive inside fuel ethanol industrial vats show detrimental cell surface phenotypes. These harmful effects may include filamentation, invasive growth, flocculation, biofilm formation, and excessive foam production. Previous studies have linked some of these phenotypes to the expression of FLO genes, and the presence of gene length polymorphisms causing the expansion of FLO gene size appears to result in stronger flocculation and biofilm formation phenotypes. We performed here a molecular analysis of FLO1 and FLO11 gene polymorphisms present in contaminant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from Brazilian fuel ethanol distilleries showing vigorous foaming phenotypes during fermentation. The size variability of these genes was correlated with cellular hydrophobicity, flocculation, and highly foaming phenotypes in these yeast strains. Our results also showed that deleting the primary activator of FLO genes (the FLO8 gene) from the genome of a contaminant and highly foaming industrial strain avoids complex foam formation, flocculation, invasive growth, and biofilm production by the engineered (flo8∆::BleR/flo8Δ::kanMX) yeast strain. Thus, the characterization of highly foaming yeasts and the influence of FLO8 in this phenotype open new perspectives for yeast strain engineering and optimization in the sugarcane fuel-ethanol industry.
Manuka Honey with Varying Levels of Active Manuka Factor (AMF) Ratings as an Anaerobic Fermentation Substrate for Limosilactobacillus reuteri DPC16
Authors: Mohan Anand , Gutierrez-Maddox Noemi , Meng Tong , He Ning , Gao Yihuai , Shu Quan , Quek Siew Young
Published: July 2021

Manuka honey is known for its strong antibacterial effect against pathogens but can promote probiotic growth in certain conditions. In a two-factor ANOVA study, AMFTM Manuka honey (Active Manuka Factor: 05+, 10+, 15+ and 20+) was utilised as a substrate for probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri DPC16 in an anaerobic batch fermenter for 36 h. The biomass growth in MRS broth was noticeably higher with AMF Manuka honey than invert syrup and control samples without any additional sweetener source. The pH value was significantly lowered below 4.0 only in the AMF samples with the formation of lactic acid as the major metabolite. Other beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), such as acetic, succinic, and propionic acids, produced during the fermentation, along with the honey saccharides, were quantified by two-dimensional (2-D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A significantly (p < 0.05) high biomass in AMF 20+ sample after 36 h, can partly be attributed to the high total sugar and oligosaccharide content in the honey. Importantly, however, no statistically significant difference was observed in the recorded major fermentation outcomes for the different AMF levels. The results, nevertheless, indicate the potential prebiotic efficacy of Manuka honey as a fermentation substrate for the lactobacilli probiotic strain.
Conversion of a Thiol Precursor into Aroma Compound 4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone Using Microbial Cell Extracts
Authors: Li Hao-Kai , Chang Chi-Fon , Lin Hsuan-Ju , Lin Jung-Lee , Lee Yu-Ting , Wu Yu-Hsuan , Liu Chiao-Yen , Lin Tze-Chia , Hsu Pang-Hung , Lin Hong-Ting Victor
Published: July 2021

4-Mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone (4MMP), a high-impact aroma compound with the box tree and black currant flavors was first identified in wines and could be released by microbial cysteine-S-conjugate β-lyases from its precursors. In this study, various yeasts and bacteria encoding β-lyases were selected to examine their β-lyase activities. A thiol precursor of 4MMP, cysteine-conjugate of 4MMP (cys-4MMP), was synthesized with a purity of >95% in a relatively environmentally friendly approach, and its chemical structure was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The β-lyase activities of the crude cell extract from the bacteria and yeast strains for different substrates were examined using a colorimetric method. Shewanella putrefaciens cell extract exhibited the highest β-lyase activity for all tested substrates. Additionally, the optimum pH and temperature for their β-lyase activities were determined. To monitor the conversion efficiency of precursor cys-4MMP to 4MMP, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used. Our data indicate that selected bacteria and yeasts could convert cys-4MMP into 4MMP, and S. putrefaciens exhibited the best conversion yield. This study demonstrated the potential use of microbial cell extracts to produce sulfur-containing aroma compounds such as 4MMP.
Improving Human Ground Control Performance in Unmanned Aerial Systems
Authors: Gregorio Marianna Di , Romano Marco , Sebillo Monica , Vitiello Giuliana , Vozella Angela
Published: July 2021

The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems, commonly called drones, is growing enormously today. Applications that can benefit from the use of fleets of drones and a related human–machine interface are emerging to ensure better performance and reliability. In particular, a fleet of drones can become a valuable tool for monitoring a wide area and transmitting relevant information to the ground control station. We present a human–machine interface for a Ground Control Station used to remotely operate a fleet of drones, in a collaborative setting, by a team of multiple operators. In such a collaborative setting, a major interface design challenge has been to maximize the Team Situation Awareness, shifting the focus from the individual operator to the entire group decision-makers. We were especially interested in testing the hypothesis that shared displays may improve the team situation awareness and hence the overall performance. The experimental study we present shows that there is no difference in performance between shared and non-shared displays. However, in trials when unexpected events occurred, teams using shared displays-maintained good performance whereas in teams using non-shared displays performance reduced. In particular, in case of unexpected situations, operators are able to safely bring more drones home, maintaining a higher level of team situational awareness.
Towards Understanding Fire Causes in Informal Settlements Based on Inhabitant Risk Perception
Authors: Flores Quiroz Natalia , Walls Richard , Cicione Antonio
Published: July 2021

Informal settlements (ISs) are a high-risk environment in which fires are often seen. In 2019 alone, 5544 IS fires were reported in South Africa. One of the main problems, when investigating an IS fire, is determining the fire cause. In the last 15 years, approximately 40% of the fire causes were classified as ‘undetermined’ in South Africa. Furthermore, the cases where the fire causes have been determined, do not provide the necessary information to comprehend why the fire started. This paper seeks to gain better insight with respect to fire causes by analysing the fire risk perception of IS inhabitants. To this end, a survey that was conducted in 2017, consisting of data from 2178 IS households, that were affected by a large-scale fire, was analysed. The survey consisted of questions relating to the fire risk perception with regards to the settlement in general, to the inhabitants’ own household, and about measures that could reduce fire risk. The analysis suggests that (a) the survey’s risk target had a strong influence on risk perception, (b) the inhabitants’ fire risk perception of their settlement is similar to that of firefighters in previous research, (c) the risk mitigation demands are more focused on decreasing the consequences of the fire than on the occurrence of a fire event, (d) the national fire statistics are not capturing the causes of real fire incidents, and (e) improvements to the documentation process after a fire event could provide critical information for the implementation of prevention measures.
Nonstationary Responses of Demersal Fishes to Environmental Variations in Temperate Waters of the Northwestern North Pacific under a Changing Climate
Authors: He Qingsong , Ma Shuyang , Xing Qinwang , Zhang Wenchao , Yu Haiqing , Ye Zhenjiang
Published: July 2021

Although nonstationarity in marine ecosystems has attracted great attention, the nonstationary responses of demersal fishes to environmental variations induced by the changing climate are still not well understood. Here, we collected 21 time series of demersal fishes from 1956 to 2015 to investigate the climate-induced nonstationary responses in temperate waters of the northwestern North Pacific (NWP). We showed that these demersal fishes experienced state shifts in approximately 1986/87, accompanied by abrupt warming over this region. Moreover, the relationships between demersal fishes and sea surface temperature (SST) were found to change between the two identified eras (i.e., a weak relationship before 1986 and a strong negative relationship after 1986), which may be primarily caused by the alternating dominance of the East Asian winter monsoon and mega-ENSO on SST in temperate waters of the NWP. The identified climate-induced nonstationary responses of demersal fishes to SST variability in this study may provide implications for understanding climate-induced biological dynamics, predicting demersal fish fluctuations, coping with potential ecological risks, and the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the future climate. Note that the impact of fishing on the demersal fishes in temperate waters of the NWP was not assessed in this study due to the lack of fishing effort data and therefore the conclusions of our research should be approached with caution.
Growth, Chemical Composition, Histology and Antioxidant Genes of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Fed Whole or Pre-Processed Nannochloropsis oceanica and Tetraselmis sp.
Authors: Sørensen Solveig Lysfjord , Ghirmay Ateshm , Gong Yangyang , Dahle Dalia , Vasanth Ghana , Sørensen Mette , Kiron Viswanath
Published: July 2021

New sustainable feed ingredients are a necessity for the salmon aquaculture industry. In this study, we examined the effect of pre-extrusion processing of two microalgae, Nannochloropsis oceanica and Tetraselmis sp., on the growth, fatty acid content in the flesh and health of Atlantic salmon. The fish were fed one of the following five diets for nine weeks: (1) CO: a fish meal-based control (basal) diet, (2) NU: a Nannochloropsis diet, (3) NE: a pre-extruded Nannochloropsis diet, (4) TU: a Tetraselmis diet, and (5) TE: a pre-extruded Tetraselmis diet. The algae-incorporated diets contained 30% of the respective microalgae. Our results showed that the best growth performance was achieved by the CO diet, followed by the NE diets. Feeding of unprocessed Nannochloropsis and Tetraselmis resulted in a significant reduction in enterocyte vacuolization compared to the CO feeding. A significant effect of processing was noted in the fillet fatty acid content, the intestine and liver structure and the expression of selected genes in the liver. The expression of antioxidant genes in both the liver and intestine, and the accumulation of different fatty acids in the fillet and liver of the extruded algae-fed groups, warrants further investigation. In conclusion, based on the short-term study, 30% inclusion of the microalgae Nannochloropsis oceanica and Tetraselmis sp. can be considered in Atlantic salmon feeds.
Integrating Literature, Biodiversity Databases, and Citizen-Science to Reconstruct the Checklist of Chondrichthyans in Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Giovos Ioannis , Serena Fabrizio , Katsada Dimitra , Anastasiadis Athanasios , Barash Adi , Charilaou Charis , Hall-Spencer Jason M. , Crocetta Fabio , Kaminas Alexander , Kletou Demetris , Maximiadi Mary , Minasidis Vasileios , Moutopoulos Dimitrios K. , Naasan Aga-Spyridopoulou Roxani , Thasitis Ioannis , Kleitou Periklis
Published: July 2021

Chondrichthyans are apex predators influencing the trophic web through a top-down process thus their depletion will affect the remaining biota. Notwithstanding that, research on chondrichthyans is sparse or data-limited in several biogeographic areas worldwide, including the Levantine Sea. We revise and update the knowledge of chondrichthyans in Cyprus based on a bibliographic review that gains information retrieved from peer-reviewed and grey literature, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (135 records of at least 18 species) and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (65 records of at least14 species), and the citizen science project Mediterranean Elasmobranchs Citizen Observations (117 records per 23 species). Our updated checklist reports 60 species that account for about 70% of the Mediterranean chondrichthyan biota. The list includes 15 more species than the previous checklist and our study reports three new species for Cyprus waters, namely the blackmouth catshark Dalatias licha, the round fantail stingray Taeniurops grabatus, and the sawback angelshark Squatina aculeata. Our research highlights the need for conservation measures and more studies regarding the highly threatened blackchin guitarfish Glaucostegus cemiculus and the devil ray Mobula mobular, and stresses the importance for training a new generation of observers to strengthen the knowledge and conservation of elasmobranchs in the region.
Stochastic Galerkin Reduced Basis Methods for Parametrized Linear Convection–Diffusion–Reaction Equations
Authors: Ullmann Sebastian , Müller Christopher , Lang Jens
Published: July 2021

We consider the estimation of parameter-dependent statistics of functional outputs of steady-state convection–diffusion–reaction equations with parametrized random and deterministic inputs in the framework of linear elliptic partial differential equations. For a given value of the deterministic parameter, a stochastic Galerkin finite element (SGFE) method can estimate the statistical moments of interest of a linear output at the cost of solving a single, large, block-structured linear system of equations. We propose a stochastic Galerkin reduced basis (SGRB) method as a means to lower the computational burden when statistical outputs are required for a large number of deterministic parameter queries. Our working assumption is that we have access to the computational resources necessary to set up such a reduced-order model for a spatial-stochastic weak formulation of the parameter-dependent model equations. In this scenario, the complexity of evaluating the SGRB model for a new value of the deterministic parameter only depends on the reduced dimension. To derive an SGRB model, we project the spatial-stochastic weak solution of a parameter-dependent SGFE model onto a reduced basis generated by a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of snapshots of SGFE solutions at representative values of the parameter. We propose residual-corrected estimates of the parameter-dependent expectation and variance of linear functional outputs and provide respective computable error bounds. We test the SGRB method numerically for a convection–diffusion–reaction problem, choosing the convective velocity as a deterministic parameter and the parametrized reactivity or diffusivity field as a random input. Compared to a standard reduced basis model embedded in a Monte Carlo sampling procedure, the SGRB model requires a similar number of reduced basis functions to meet a given tolerance requirement. However, only a single run of the SGRB model suffices to estimate a statistical output for a new deterministic parameter value, while the standard reduced basis model must be solved for each Monte Carlo sample.
Sensory Relevance of Strecker Aldehydes in Wines. Preliminary Studies of Its Removal with Different Type of Resins
Authors: Marrufo-Curtido Almudena , de-la-Fuente-Blanco Arancha , Sáenz-Navajas María-Pilar , Ferreira Vicente , Bueno Mónica , Escudero Ana
Published: July 2021

The orthonasal quality of two synthetic contexts of wine (young wine and oaked wine) spiked with six different levels of the Strecker aldehydes (isobutyraldehyde, 2-methylbutanal, 3-methylbutanal, methional and phenylacetaldehyde) was evaluated by a panel of wine experts. The aldehyde levels simulated the concentrations present in wines protected from oxidation during production and storage and after severe oxidation. Significant quality detriments were observed at concentrations of 13 µg/L of methional, 49 µg/L of phenylacetaldehyde, 17 µg/L of isobutyraldehyde, 12 µg/L of 2-methylbutanal and 24 µg/L of 3-methylbutanal. The presence of these levels of aldehyde concentrations induced the reduction of fruitiness in young wines and of woody notes in oaked wines as well as the appearance of the typical attributes that define wine oxidation. More than 75% of recently opened commercial wines contain total levels of Strecker aldehydes higher than those, however their effect is not always noticeable as they are forming inodorous adducts with SO2. Nevertheless, this content is a potential risk for the shelf life of the wine, as once SO2 is depleted, these aldehydes could release back into their odour-active forms. Thus, in order to reduce the presence of Strecker aldehydes, eight different resins were studied (two scavengers, four mixed-mode anion exchange and two pure anion exchange) in white wine at two levels of SO2. After 24-h contact, the mixed mode Strata X-A resin was able to significantly reduce aldehydes’ percentages: between 11% for isobutyraldehyde and 86% for phenylacetaldehyde. On the other hand, wine colour was affected and therefore the applicability of the treatment should be further studied. However, this work can be considered a starting point to solve the technological challenge involved in the elimination of aldehydes from wine.
Study on the Lamb Meat Consumer Behavior in Brazil
Authors: Battagin Heloísa Valarine , Panea Begoña , Trindade Marco Antonio
Published: July 2021

In Brazil, the sheep market, including lamb meat consumption, is regionalized, and the consumption of lamb meat is higher in production areas; yet, consumption of lamb still remains below that of other meat livestock. The aim of this study was to identify the profile of Brazilian lamb meat consumers in order to understand their behavior in relation to food in general and on the consumption of this species. Therefore, a survey on consumer habits and preferences regarding food buying and consumption habits, their preferences in relation to the quality attributes of lamb meat, and sociodemographic characterization was performed. Data collected were analyzed by nonlinear canonic relationship analysis and categorical principal component analysis, followed by multiple factor analysis. Three consumer profiles were identified: traditional, interested, and disinterested, and a fourth group was considered independent but could not be described. Among lamb meat consumers, men with higher income seemed to be more frequent consumers than the others, and the intrinsic characteristics of meat quality, especially color and freshness, were the most important at the time of purchase. Thus, the results could be important to the industry in order to guide marketing strategies to certain niche markets.
Electrochemical Immunosensor for the Simultaneous Determination of Two Main Peanut Allergenic Proteins (Ara h 1 and Ara h 6) in Food Matrices
Authors: Freitas Maria , Neves Marta M. P. S. , Nouws Henri P. A. , Delerue-Matos Cristina
Published: July 2021

Efficiently detecting peanut traces in food products can prevent severe allergic reactions and serious health implications. This work presents the development of an electrochemical dual immunosensor for the simultaneous analysis of two major peanut allergens, Ara h 1 and Ara h 6, in food matrices. A sandwich immunoassay was performed on a dual working screen-printed carbon electrode using monoclonal antibodies. The antibody–antigen interaction was detected by linear sweep voltammetry through the oxidation of enzymatically deposited silver, which was formed by using detection antibodies labeled with alkaline phosphatase and a 3-indoxyl phosphate/silver nitrate mixture as the enzymatic substrate. The assay time was 2 h 20 min, with a hands-on time of 30 min, and precise results and low limits of detection were obtained (Ara h 1: 5.2 ng·mL−1; Ara h 6: 0.017 ng·mL−1). The selectivity of the method was confirmed through the analysis of other food allergens and ingredients (e.g., hazelnut, soybean and lupin). The dual sensor was successfully applied to the analysis of several food products and was able to quantify the presence of peanuts down to 0.05% (w/w). The accuracy of the results was confirmed through recovery studies and by comparison with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Tracking food allergens is of utmost importance and can be performed using the present biosensor in a suitable and practical way.
Probiotics and Prebiotics as a Strategy for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, a Narrative Review
Authors: Castillo Valentina , Figueroa Fernanda , González-Pizarro Karoll , Jopia Paz , Ibacache-Quiroga Claudia
Published: July 2021

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic non-communicable disease, with a prevalence of 25% worldwide. This pathology is a multifactorial illness, and is associated with different risks factors, including hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Beside these predisposing features, NAFLD has been related to changes in the microbiota, which favor the disease progression. In this context, the modulation of the gut microbiota has emerged as a new therapeutic target for the prophylaxis and treatment of NAFLD. This review describes the changes in the gut microbiota associated with NAFLD and the effect of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on the gut microbiota, liver damage, anthropometric parameters, blood lipids, inflammation markers and insulin resistance in these patients.
Comparative Study of Physicochemical Properties and Starch Granule Structure in Seven Ginkgo Kernel Flours
Authors: Lu Yan , Hao Weizhuo , Zhang Xiaomin , Zhao Yue , Xu Yang , Luo Jixun , Liu Qing , Liu Qiaoquan , Wang Li , Zhang Changquan
Published: July 2021

Ginkgo biloba L. is an important economic tree species in China, and its kernels have been used as a popular food in Asian countries. Herein, the morphology, basic chemical components, starch granule structures, and physicochemical properties of kernel flours from seven ginkgo cultivars were investigated, and their relationships were analyzed. The kernels were oval or spherical in shape, with variable sizes. The starch granules exhibited both regular and irregular Maltese cross patterns. Amylose was mainly distributed in amorphous growth rings. A spatial variation in the 865/942 cm−1 ratio was observed within individual starch granules. Variations in total starch content, apparent amylose content (AAC), crude protein content (CPC), total amino acid content (TAAC), starch fine structure, and thermal and pasting properties were observed among the seven kernel flours. Pearson correlation coefficients and principle component analyses showed that the thermal properties were affected by kernel CPC, TAAC, AAC, and starch fine structure, while the pasting properties were affected by AAC and starch fine structure. Furthermore, experiments showed that the seed protein structure and α-amylase activity affected the pasting properties of ginkgo kernel flours.
Modelling the Effect of Salt Concentration on the Fate of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Costa Rican Fresh Cheeses
Authors: Posada-Izquierdo Guiomar D. , Mazón-Villegas Beatriz , Redondo-Solano Mauricio , Huete-Soto Alejandra , Víquez-Barrantes Diana , Valero Antonio , Fallas-Jiménez Paula , García-Gimeno Rosa María
Published: July 2021

“Turrialba cheese” is a Costa Rican fresh cheese highly appreciated due to its sensory characteristics and artisanal production. As a ready-to-eat dairy product, its formulation could support Listeria monocytogenes growth. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 14.06% of the samples and the pathogen was able to grow under all tested conditions. Due to the increasing demand for low-salt products, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of salt concentration on the growth of pathogen isolates obtained from local cheese. Products from retail outlets in Costa Rica were analyzed for L. monocytogenes. These isolates were used to determine growth at 4 °C for different salt concentration (0.5–5.2%). Kinetic curves were built and primary and secondary models developed. Finally, a validation study was performed using literature data. The R2 and Standard Error of fit of primary models were ranked from 0.964–0.993, and 0.197–0.443, respectively. An inverse relationship was observed between growth rate and salt concentration. A secondary model was obtained, with R2 = 0.962. The model was validated, and all values were Bf > 1, thus providing fail-safe estimations. These data were added to the free and easy-to-use predictive microbiology software “microHibro” which is used by food producers and regulators to assist in decision-making.
Microbial Regulation of Deterioration and Preservation of Salted Kelp under Different Temperature and Salinity Conditions
Authors: Wei Wei , Zhang Xin , Hou Zhaozhi , Hu Xinyu , Wang Yuan , Wang Caizheng , Yang Shujing , Cui Henglin , Zhu Lin
Published: July 2021

High salinity is an effective measure to preserve kelp, but salted kelp can still deteriorate after long-term preservation. In order to clarify the key conditions and microbial behavior of salted kelp preservation, 10% (S10), 20% (S20), and 30% (S30) salt concentrations were evaluated at 25 °C (T25) and 4 °C (T4). After 30 days storage, these salted kelps showed different states including rot (T25S10), softening (T25S20), and undamaged (other samples). By detecting polysaccharide lyase activity and performing high-throughput sequencing of the prokaryotic 16S rRNA sequence and metagenome, we found that deteriorated kelps (T25S10 and T25S20) had significantly higher alginate lyase activity and bacterial relative abundance than other undamaged samples. Dyella, Saccharophagus, Halomonas, Aromatoleum, Ulvibacter, Rhodopirellula, and Microbulbifer were annotated with genes encoding endonuclease-type alginate lyases, while Bacillus and Thiobacillus were annotated as the exonuclease type. Additionally, no alginate lyase activity was detected in undamaged kelps, whose dominant microorganisms were halophilic archaea without alginate lyase-encoding genes. These results indicated that room-temperature storage may promote salted kelp deterioration due to the secretion of bacterial alginate lyase, while ultra-high-salinity and low-temperature storage can inhibit bacterial alginate lyase and promote the growth of halophilic archaea without alginate lyase, thus achieving the preservation of salted kelp.
Crispness, the Key for the Palatability of “Kakinotane”: A Sensory Study with Onomatopoeic Words
Authors: Saita Atsuhiro , Yamamoto Kosuke , Raevskiy Alexander , Takei Ryo , Washio Hideaki , Shioiri Satoshi , Sakai Nobuyuki
Published: July 2021

Crispness is among the most important food textures that contribute significantly to palatability. This study investigated the association between the perceived crispness and palatability of five types of Japanese rice crackers known as “kakinotane.” Two experiments were conducted using the temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) and temporal drivers of liking (TDL) methods. As descriptors for the TDS evaluation, we used 10 Japanese onomatopoeias to indicate various attributes of crispness. We also measured the mastication sounds and electromyography (EMG) activity during mastication. Principal component analysis data revealed that principal component 1, representing moisture characteristics, contributed more than 60% in both experiments. The palatability of the stimulus, which was described as having a very soft, moist, and sticky texture, BETA-BETA, was significantly lower than the others. However, there was no significant relationship between the amplitude of mastication sound or EMG activity and palatability. We demonstrated that naïve university students can discriminate the fine nuances of the crispness of “kakinotane” using the TDS and TDL methods. Our findings also suggested that the onomatopoeias used as descriptors in the TDS method had a greater influence on describing the nuances of food texture than the physiological data.
Brewing with Starchy Adjuncts: Its Influence on the Sensory and Nutritional Properties of Beer
Authors: Cadenas Raquel , Caballero Isabel , Nimubona Dieudonné , Blanco Carlos A.
Published: July 2021

In brewing, the use of cereals (wheat, barley, maize, rice, sorghum, oats, rye or millet), pseudo-cereals (buckwheat, quinoa or amaranth) and tubers (sweet potato), as starch adjuncts, is being promoted for the production of a variety of high-quality beers, from sensory and nutritional points of view. The sensory properties of the obtained beer depend on the characteristics of each adjunct but also on the forms in which the adjunct is added: whole cereal, grits, malted, extruded grains, torrefied and syrup. Among these common forms, the extruded grains (maize or rice) produce a higher content of aroma compounds in beer. From a nutritional point of view, the use of non-conventional starch adjuncts, such as black rice, buckwheat or sweet potato, leads to an increase in the polyphenol content of the beer, and thus, its antioxidant capacity. Cereals such as maize, rice, sorghum or millet are the most promising for the production of gluten-free beers. A close relationship can be developed between the use of adjuncts in the beer industry and the use of commercial enzymes. Advances made by biotechnology to design new enzymes with different functionalities could be associated to a future increase in adjunct usage in brewing.
Maternal Phylogenetic Relationships and Genetic Variation among Rare, Phenotypically Similar Donkey Breeds
Authors: Mazzatenta Andrea , Vignoli Massimo , Caputo Maurizio , Vignola Giorgio , Tamburro Roberto , De Sanctis Francesco , Roig Jordi Mirò , Bucci Roberta , Robbe Domenico , Carluccio Augusto
Published: July 2021

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop of endangered and critically endangered breeds has been studied to identify maternal lineages, characterize genetic inheritance, reconstruct phylogenetic relations among breeds, and develop biodiversity conservation and breeding programs. The aim of the study was to determine the variability remaining and the phylogenetic relationship of Martina Franca (MF, with total population of 160 females and 36 males), Ragusano (RG, 344 females and 30 males), Pantesco (PT, 47 females and 15 males), and Catalonian (CT) donkeys by collecting genetic data from maternal lineages. Genetic material was collected from saliva, and a 350 bp fragment of D-loop mtDNA was amplified and sequenced. Sequences were aligned and evaluated using standard bioinformatics software. A total of 56 haplotypes including 33 polymorphic sites were found in 77 samples (27 MF, 22 RG, 8 PT, 19 CT, 1 crossbred). The breed nucleotide diversity value (π) for all the breeds was 0.128 (MF: 0.162, RG: 0.132, PT: 0.025, CT: 0.038). Principal components analysis grouped most of the haplogroups into two different clusters, I (including all haplotypes from PT and CT, together with haplotypes from MF and RG) and II (including haplotypes from MF and RG only). In conclusion, we found that the primeval haplotypes, haplogroup variability, and a large number of maternal lineages were preserved in MF and RG; thus, these breeds play putative pivotal roles in the phyletic relationships of donkey breeds. Maternal inheritance is indispensable genetic information required to evaluate inheritance, variability, and breeding programs.
Genetic Dissection of Growth and Eco-Physiological Traits Associated with Altitudinal Adaptation in Sakhalin Fir (Abies sachalinensis) Based on QTL Mapping
Authors: Goto Susumu , Mori Hideki , Uchiyama Kentaro , Ishizuka Wataru , Taneda Haruhiko , Kono Masaru , Kajiya-Kanegae Hiromi , Iwata Hiroyoshi
Published: July 2021

(1) Background: The genetic basis of local adaptation in conifers remains poorly understood because of limited research evidence and the lack of suitable genetic materials. Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis) is an ideal organism for elucidating the genetic basis of local adaptation because its altitudinal adaptation has been demonstrated, and suitable materials for its linkage mapping are available. (2) Method: We constructed P336 and P236 linkage maps based on 486 and 516 single nucleotide polymorphisms, respectively, that were derived from double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequences. We measured the growth and eco-physiological traits associated with morphology, phenology, and photosynthesis, which are considered important drivers of altitudinal adaptation. (3) Results: The quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for growth traits, phenology, needle morphology, and photosynthetic traits were subsequently detected. Similar to previous studies on conifers, most traits were controlled by multiple QTLs with small or moderate effects. Notably, we detected that one QTL for the crown area might be a type-A response regulator, a nuclear protein responsible for the cytokinin-induced shoot elongation. (4) Conclusion: The QTLs detected in this study include potentially important genomic regions linked to altitudinal adaptation in Sakhalin fir.