bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
School Gardens: Initial Training of Future Primary School Teachers and Analysis of Proposals
Authors: Orenes Cárceles José , Ayuso Fernández Gabriel Enrique , Fernández-Díaz Manuel , Egea Fernández José María
Published: April 2022

This paper describes a training proposal for future teachers in the design, management, and use of school gardens as an educational resource. During the 2020/2021 academic year, future teachers in the 4th grade of Primary Education (last year of the University Degree) received theoretical-practical classes to develop teaching-learning activities in the area of Sciences that they implemented in a Primary school. This training proposal and the research activities designed and implemented in the school garden by future teachers were analysed using three criteria: curricular contents covered, competency richness and structure and content. From the training programme implemented, we highlight an increase in the motivation of students towards learning to use this resource; because it is learned “in situ” in the school garden, it is possible to carry out outdoor work, sharing natural resources through cooperative work and improving relationships. Regarding the design of activities proposed by the future teachers, there is a predominance of the use of observation and classification processes and a deficit of other scientific competences, which implies the need for greater specific initial training on school gardens.
A Wideband Low-Power Balun-LNA with Feedback and Current Reuse Technique
Authors: Mauludin Muhammad Fakhri , Lee Dong-Ho , Kim Jusung
Published: April 2022

This paper presents a low-noise amplifier (LNA) with single to differential conversion (Balun) for multi-standard radio applications. The proposed LNA combines a common-gate (CG) stage for wideband input matching and a common-source (CS) stage to cancel the noise and distortion of the CG stage. Using the proposed technique, a low noise figure (NF) is achieved while providing a wideband of operation. Furthermore, a feedback connection from the CS stage to the gate of the CG is employed to boost the transconductance of the CG stage (gmCG), and an additional complementary transistor is applied at the CS stage using current reuse to increase the overall transconductance of the CS stage (gmCS) without increasing the power consumed by the stage. This LNA was designed using TSMC 65 nm technology, and post-layout simulation results show operation across 0.5–5 GHz, a maximum power gain of 20 dB, 4 dB minimum NF, and third-order intercept point (IIP3) of −10 dBm while consuming only 5 mW of power from a 1.2 V supply.
Self-Oxygen Regulator System for COVID-19 Patients Based on Body Weight, Respiration Rate, and Blood Saturation
Authors: Irawati Indrarini Dyah , Hadiyoso Sugondo , Alfaruq Akhmad , Novianti Atik , Rizal Achmad
Published: April 2022

One of the symptoms that appears in patients with COVID-19 is hypoxia or a lack of oxygen in the body’s tissues or cells below the proper level. One of the methods used to treat hypoxia is to provide oxygen to the patient. Another device that is needed in oxygen therapy for the patient is an oxygen regulator. An oxygen regulator is needed to regulate the volume of oxygen released to the patient. Currently, the control of oxygen flow by the regulator is still done manually. Therefore, in this study, an oxygen regulator was designed that has the ability to regulate the volume of oxygen output based on body weight, respiration rate, and blood saturation. Using these three parameters, the volume of oxygen to be released is adjusted according to the patient’s needs. The system consists of a temperature sensor, mlx90614, and an oxygen saturation sensor, Max30102. The data from the two sensors are processed using microcontrollers to control the movement of the stepper motor as a regulator of the oxygen output volume. The test results show that the system can control the oxygen regulator automatically with a delta error of 0.5–1 L/min. This device is expected to be used for COVID-19 patients who are undergoing self-isolation or who are outpatients.
Performance Evaluation of Solar-PV-Based Non-Isolated Switched-Inductor and Switched-Capacitor High-Step-Up Cuk Converter
Authors: Priyadarshi Neeraj , Bhaskar Mahajan Sagar , Azam Farooque , Singh Mayank , Dhaked Dheeraj Kumar , Taha Ibrahim B. M. , Hussien Mohamed G.
Published: April 2022

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is the most promising renewable energy source available on Earth. Three topologies based on a switched-inductor capacitor and non-isolated high-step-up Cuk converter have been proposed for solar PV. These topologies of the Cuk converter have higher boosting ability than conventional Cuk and boost converters and can reduce the voltage stress of the main switch. A small voltage rating and on-state resistance can give higher efficiency of the converter. The voltage boosting ability of all three topologies was compared to each other and with a conventional Cuk converter. The boosting capability of the third converter was 11 times at 0.75 duty cycle with a solar PV source. These converters do not use a coupled inductor and transformer, which leads to less volume, reducing coupling/core saturation loss, and thus the cost of the converter. A solar PV system of 12 volts was used for boosting with these converters for analysis of the feasibility of use with renewables. The three topologies of the switched-inductor and switched-capacitor (SLSC) Cuk converter were designed and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink to evaluate their effectiveness.
Quality Assessment of View Synthesis Based on Visual Saliency and Texture Naturalness
Authors: Tang Lijuan , Sun Kezheng , Huang Shuaifeng , Wang Guangcheng , Jiang Kui
Published: April 2022

Depth-Image-Based-Rendering (DIBR) is one of the core techniques for generating new views in 3D video applications. However, the distortion characteristics of the DIBR synthetic view are different from the 2D image. It is necessary to study the unique distortion characteristics of DIBR views and design effective and efficient algorithms to evaluate the DIBR-synthesized image and guide DIBR algorithms. In this work, the visual saliency and texture natrualness features are extracted to evaluate the quality of the DIBR views. After extracting the feature, we adopt machine learning method for mapping the extracted feature to the quality score of the DIBR views. Experiments constructed on two synthetic view databases IETR and IRCCyN/IVC, and the results show that our proposed algorithm performs better than the compared synthetic view quality evaluation methods.
A Contrastive Evaluation Method for Discretion in Administrative Penalty
Authors: Wang Hui , Xu Haoyu , Zhou Yiyang , Li Xueqing
Published: April 2022

Discretion, namely discretionary power, indicates that administrative agencies could make modifiable decisions under personal judgment when facing situations defined in the law. It plays an essential part in an administrative practice that existing laws and regulations could hardly cover all cases. However, this may also cause the abuse of enforcement power. The rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) and databases has provided a powerful tool to measure discretionary power, such as judging if a given administrative punishment is appropriate, and recommending similar cases for a new law-violation record. In this paper, we develop a multi-task framework to extract contrastive patterns from historical records and recommend unprocessed penalties. There is massive ambiguity in collected records, where the limited samples of specific penalties and a large number of whole records make it hard to distinguish factors in individual administrative enforcement actions. We propose an automatic data-labeling method based on data pattern discovery, clustering, and statistical analysis to replace manual labeling under potential personal prejudice. We estimate the distribution of collected penalty records to distinguish deviated and reasonable ones, then produce contrastive samples, which are fed into different network branches. We build a complete IoT platform and collect three-year administrative penalty records nationwide as an empirical evaluation. Experiments show that our proposed methods can learn reasonable discretion by measuring the objectiveness in samples and combining it with a joint training strategy. The final results of penalty amount forecasting and penalty reasonableness judging tasks reach ready-to-use performance.
Torque Improvement of Six-Phase Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Machine Drive with Fifth-Harmonic Current Injection for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Yun Donghan , Kim Namhun , Hyun Daeil , Baek Jeihoon
Published: April 2022

This paper proposes a method to improve the output torque of a six-phase permanent-magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) within the same current peak limit through a fifth-harmonic injection into each phase current of the stator. Compared to the fifth + seventh-harmonic current-injection method used to improve the output torque of the six-phase PMSM, the control system can be stably controlled, and the controller design complexity decreased. This is because the harmonic component was converted into a direct current (DC) component and controlled by a proportional-integral (PI) controller instead of the fifth + seventh-harmonic injection method, which converts the harmonic component into an alternating current (AC) component and controls it with a resonance controller. The appropriate fifth-harmonic ratio for maximum output torque through fifth-harmonic injection was selected through optimization using values analyzed via fast Fourier transform (FFT) for stator phase harmonic current terms caused by inverter nonlinearity and motor design errors. Therefore, it was possible to optimize the fifth-harmonic ratio to be injected without requiring torque modeling using the physical properties of the motor. The experimental results were obtained under the rated current condition with six-phase PMSM in the laboratory, and the average output torque increase under fifth-harmonic injection was about 5% compared to the method without harmonic injection.
The Experimental Investigation of a New Panel Design for Thermoelectric Power Generation to Maximize Output Power Using Solar Radiation
Authors: Qasim Mohammed A. , Velkin Vladimir I. , Shcheklein Sergey E.
Published: April 2022

It is well established that renewable energy resources for electricity generation are free. In hot areas, solar energy has become one of the major interests of researchers and specialists. This paper aims to experimentally investigate the maximum voltage generation of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) panel. This panel was built from many TEG modules that are connected in series and in parallel. The panel was exposed to high heat due to solar radiation during summer, either directly or through a Fresnel lens. The other side of the TEG panel was cooled using tap water that was passed through aluminum heat exchangers in an active cooling method. It was found that the maximum open-circuit voltage of this TEG panel using a Fresnel lens was 9.35 V. With no lens, it was 11.75 V at 14:00 h local time. The experiments were done during a sunny July period in Iraq.
Research on Oscillation Suppression Methods in Shunt Active Power Filter System
Authors: Hou Rui , Wang Pengfei , Wu Jian , Xu Dianguo
Published: April 2022

The shunt active power filter (SAPF) system oscillation is a massive threat to the security and stability of the power grid. This study classifies SAPF oscillation into two categories according to the difference in mechanisms. The SAPF oscillation in one category is caused by the resonant characteristics of a switching noise filter and is called external loop amplification. The SAPF oscillation in the other category is induced by the presence of a capacitor in the load current for SAPF and is called self-excited oscillation. Unlike previous studies, this study tried to reveal the internal relationship between the two kinds of SAPF oscillation, present a general shunt virtual-damping-based SAPF oscillation suppression strategy covering the previous resonant damping method, and provide the discrete domain stability criterion of the control system. The sampling frequency was at least six times the resonant frequency. The stability region was enlarged with an increase in the sampling frequency and narrowed with a rise in the resonant frequency. As to the harmful self-excited oscillation problem, this study proposes a composite control strategy combining selective harmonic compensation and grid-side current feedback. Moreover, this study considers the more general resistance–inductance–capacitance load situations and analyzes the stability of the SAPF–Thyristor Switched Capacitor (TSC) hybrid compensation system. Simulations and experiments demonstrated that the proposed compound control method can reduce the primary harmonics of the system by more than 90% and has a better oscillation suppression performance than previous suppression methods. In particular, if we selected the TSC series reactance rate following more than 6%, self-excited oscillation could usually be avoided.
Roadmap to Neutrality—What Foundational Questions Need Answering to Determine One’s Ideal Decarbonisation Strategy
Authors: Buettner Stefan M.
Published: April 2022

Considering increasingly ambitious pledges by countries and various forms of pressure from current international constellations, society, investors, and clients further up the supply chain, the question for companies is not so much whether to take decarbonisation action, but what action and by when. However, determining an ideal mix of measures to apply ‘decarbonisation efficiency’ requires more than knowledge of technically feasible measures and how to combine them to achieve the most economic outcome: In this paper, working in a ‘backcasting’ manner, the author describes seven aspects which heavily influence the composition of an ‘ideal mix’ that executive leadership needs to take a (strategic) position on. Contrary to previous studies, these aspects consider underlying motivations and span across (socio-)economic, technical, regulatory, strategic, corporate culture, and environmental factors and further underline the necessity of clarity of definitions. How these decisions influence the determination of the decarbonisation-efficient ideal mix of measures is further explored by providing concrete examples. Insights into the choices taken by German manufacturers regarding several of these aspects stem from about 850 responses to the ‘Energy Efficiency Index of German Industry’. Knowledge of the status quo, and clarity in definitions, objectives, time frames, and scope are key.
Aging Detection of 110 kV XLPE Cable for a CFETR Power Supply System Based on Deep Neural Network
Authors: Chen Hui , Wang Junjia , Hu Hejun , Li Xiaofeng , Huang Yiyun
Published: April 2022

To detect the aging of power cables in the TOKAMAK power supply systems, this paper proposed a deep neural network diagnosis model and algorithm for power cable aging, based on logistic regression according to the characteristics of different high-order harmonics generated by different aging parts of the power cable. The experimental results showed that the model has high diagnostic accuracy, and the average error is only 2.35%. The method proposed in this paper has certain application potential in the CFETR power cable auxiliary monitoring system.
Comprehensive Energy Demand Response Optimization Dispatch Method Based on Carbon Trading
Authors: Guo Wenqiang , Xu Xinyi
Published: April 2022

With the increasingly prominent environmental problems in the world today, the development of an integrated energy system and the introduction of a carbon-trading mechanism have become important means to realize the low carbonization of the energy industry. Based on this, this paper introduces the carbon-trading mechanism into the research on the optimal dispatch of an integrated energy system. The mechanism of integrated energy demand response participating in low-carbon economic dispatch is analyzed. The relationship between carbon emissions and carbon-trading price in carbon-trading mechanism is described. On the basis of considering the commodity attributes of the electricity and gas load and the flexible supply characteristics of the thermal load, an incentive-type comprehensive energy demand response model is established. Finally, aiming at the lowest comprehensive operating cost, a comprehensive energy system model considering the power balance and equipment constraints of the electric–gas–heat system is established, using an improved particle swarm algorithm to solve it. Simulations verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in reducing the carbon emissions and operating costs of integrated energy systems.
Bioethanol Production Efficiency from Sorghum Waste Biomass
Authors: Frankowski Jakub , Wawro Aleksandra , Batog Jolanta , Szambelan Katarzyna , Łacka Agnieszka
Published: April 2022

The problem of global warming is still a major issue, alongside shrinking oil reserves. A great alternative to fossil fuels is offered by biofuels, such as bioethanol from lignocellulosic plants. The sorghum biomass can be effectively used in many industrial directions. It is possible to use every part of this plant; the grain can be used for food production and straw can be used for energy purposes, i.e., for bioethanol. The aim of this study was to analyze the possibilities of bioethanol production from five varieties of sorghum biomass, which is a waste product of seed harvesting. The yields of sorghum cultivars in a three-year vegetation period; the amount of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in the biomass of sorghum; and the amount of ethanol obtained per hectare were evaluated. It was observed that the highest average yield for all cultivars, except GK Emese, was found in the second year of the study. The bioethanol yield per hectare from this biomass was the highest for Sweet Caroline and was 9.48 m3∙ha−1. In addition, significant differences were found in the content of lignin and hemicellulose for the varieties tested in all years of the study and for the content of cellulose in the first and third years. The discussed results were confirmed by detailed statistical analyses, including combined matrices of Pearson correlation coefficients (crp) varieties and cluster analysis. In summary, the usefulness of the biomass of the studied sorghum varieties for the production of bioethanol was demonstrated.
Reservoir Characteristics of Tight Sandstone and Sweet Spot Prediction of Dibei Gas Field in Eastern Kuqa Depression, Northwest China
Authors: Zhao Guangjie , Li Xianqing , Liu Mancang , Dong Caiyuan , Chen Daye , Zhang Jizhen
Published: April 2022

Great progress has been made in the exploration of tight sandstone gas resources in Kuqa depression. Great progress has been made in Dibei structural belt, which proves the previously unproven favorable area for tight sandstone gas. The physical properties, controlling factors, and characteristics of tight sandstone from the Ahe (J1a) Formation in the Dibei gas reservoir are analyzed. The results show that the tight sandstone of the J1a Formation is mainly feldspar lithic sandstone, with low porosity (average 9.1%) and low permeability (average 0.09 mD). Compaction (average compaction rate 61.9%) reduces porosity more than cementation (average cementation rate 14.3%). Secondary dissolution pores (average thin section porosity is 3.4%) dominate. The homogenization temperature has two peaks; the first peak is 85–110 °C, and the other peak is 115–140 °C, indicating that oil and gas experienced two filling stages at 12 Ma and 4.5 Ma, respectively. Eodiagenesis, A substage of mesogenetic diagenesis, and B substage of mesogenetic diagenesis happened in the area. Tight sandstone is developed in the B substage of mesogenetic diagenesis. The main controlling factors of diagenesis are: strong dissolution and structural pore increase; oil and gas charging and overpressure. The reservoir forming mode of the Dibei gas reservoir is: crude oil filling in the Late Neogene (12 Ma); reservoir densification in the late deposition of Kangcun Formation (7 Ma), mature natural gas filling in the early deposition of Kuqa Formation (4.5 Ma), and gas reservoir formed after transformation and adjustment in the deposition period of Quaternary (2 Ma). According to this model, it is predicted that the favorable area of the Dibei gas reservoir is in the southeast of the Yinan 2 well. This study provides guidance for the study of tight sandstone gas in other areas of the Kuqa Depression.
The Performance Analysis of an Integrated CO2 Refrigeration System with Multi-Ejectors Installed in a Supermarket
Authors: Söylemez Engin , Hafner Armin , Schlemminger Christian , Kriezi Ekaterini E. , Khorshidi Vahid
Published: April 2022

The field data from an integrated CO2 refrigeration system installed in a supermarket located north of the capital of Lisbon was analyzed. The goal was to demonstrate the effect and performance of multi-ejectors on a refrigeration system operating in a warm climate. The measurement results for the system with and without activating ejectors were compared. It was observed that the system with a multi-ejector operation had considerable performance superiority. The ejectors improved the cooling capacity of the medium temperature stage of the system by 17.4%. The system with active ejectors had 7.5% less total power consumption compared to the ejector off mode of the same system.
Spectral Element-Based Multi-Physical Modeling Framework for Axisymmetric Wireless Power Transfer Systems
Authors: Bastiaens Koen , Krop Dave C. J. , Lomonova Elena A.
Published: April 2022

This paper concerns a multi-physical modeling framework based on the spectral element method (SEM) for axisymmetric wireless power transfer systems. The modeling framework consists of an electromagnetic and a thermal model. The electromagnetic model allows for eddy currents in source- and non-source regions to be included in the analysis. The SEM is a numerical method, which is particularly advantageous in 2D problems for which the skin-depth is several orders of magnitude smaller compared to the object dimensions and complex geometrical shapes are absent. The SEM applies high-order trial functions to obtain the approximate solution to a boundary-value problem. To that end, the approximation is expressed as an interpolation at a set of nodal points, i.e., the nodal representation. The trial functions are Legendre polynomials, which reduces the complexity of the formulation. Furthermore, numerical integration is performed through Gaussian quadratures. In order to verify the SEM, a benchmark system is modeled using both the SEM and a finite element-based commercial software. The differences in the SEM solutions, i.e., magnetic vector potential and temperature distribution, and the discrepancies in essential post-processing quantities are assessed with respect to the finite element solutions. Additionally, the computational efforts of both methods are evaluated in terms of the sparsity, number of degrees of freedom, and non-zero elements.
MPPT Control of Grid Connected DFIG at Variable Wind Speed
Authors: Bekiroglu Erdal , Yazar Muhammed Duran
Published: April 2022

In this study, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control of a grid-connected doubly fed induction generated (DFIG)-based wind energy conversion system (WECS) at variable wind speed was designed and analyzed. The real wind speed data of the Edremit/Balıkesir region in Turkey was used as the wind speed profile. A N90/2.5 MW wind turbine model of Nordex Company was used in the study. Firstly, a conventional PI controller was applied to both rotor and grid side converters. The rotor-side converter (RSC) controls the power generated from the DFIG, whereas the grid-side converter (GSC) controls the DC bus voltage. An MPPT controller was applied to the RSC to generate reference torque at instant variable wind speeds. Thus, the system’s response time, electromagnetic torque, generated power, and grid-side currents parameters were improved. In the MPPT controller, the reference torque value is produced by using the angular velocity and reference angular velocity values of the DFIG. The proposed system was modeled and simulated in Matlab/Simulink. Generated power, DC bus voltage, response time, electromagnetic torque, and grid side currents results were obtained. The results of the conventional PI controller and the results of the PI controller with MPPT were compared. The results of the proposed control were also compared with the related studies. The results showed that the proposed system is reliable, applicable, and valid for the grid-connected DFIG at variable wind speeds.
Performance Evaluation of a Hybrid Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Biogas-Generator Power System
Authors: Al-Najjar Heyam , Pfeifer Christoph , Al Afif Rafat , El-Khozondar Hala J.
Published: April 2022

In recent decades, works have been published on the Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) to provide available, feasible, and efficient renewable energy systems. Several studies have looked at the efficiency of the systems in terms of sustainability through performance parameters. This study aims at estimating the optimum HRES based on biomass and photovoltaic (PV) using the case study of 94 residential buildings with an electricity demand of 84.5 kWp. The influence of key parameters (global solar irradiation, component efficiencies, fuel consumption, economic convenience) and their impact on the performance and cost of the system is investigated. The optimum system is evaluated by the simulation software HOMER Pro. A single year of hourly data is used to analyze the component performance and the overall system performance. In this work, a mathematical model based on the IEC 61724 standard is used to incorporate numerous performance indicators that are critical for estimating the performance of a hybrid system. Evaluating results comprise of three performance basic indicators, namely, energy efficiency, system sizing, and economic parameters.
A Review of the Impact of Hydrogen Integration in Natural Gas Distribution Networks and Electric Smart Grids
Authors: Vidas Leonardo , Castro Rui , Pires Armando
Published: April 2022

Hydrogen technologies have been rapidly developing in the past few decades, pushed by governments’ road maps for sustainability and supported by a widespread need to decarbonize the global energy sector. Recent scientific progress has led to better performances and higher efficiencies of hydrogen-related technologies, so much so that their future economic viability is now rarely called into question. This article intends to study the integration of hydrogen systems in both gas and electric distribution networks. A preliminary analysis of hydrogen’s physical storage methods is given, considering both the advantages and disadvantages of each one. After examining the preeminent ways of physically storing hydrogen, this paper then contemplates two primary means of using it: integrating it in Power-to-Gas networks and utilizing it in Power-to-Power smart grids. In the former, the primary objective is the total replacement of natural gas with hydrogen through progressive blending procedures, from the transmission pipeline to the domestic burner; in the latter, the set goal is the expansion of the implementation of hydrogen systems—namely storage—in multi-microgrid networks, thus helping to decarbonize the electricity sector and reducing the impact of renewable energy’s intermittence through Demand Side Management strategies. The study concludes that hydrogen is assumed to be an energy vector that is inextricable from the necessary transition to a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable future.
Managing Heterogeneous Datasets for Dynamic Risk Analysis of Large-Scale Infrastructures
Authors: Pacevicius Michael Felix , Ramos Marilia , Roverso Davide , Eriksen Christian Thun , Paltrinieri Nicola
Published: April 2022

Risk assessment and management are some of the major tasks of urban power-grid management. The growing amount of data from, e.g., prediction systems, sensors, and satellites has enabled access to numerous datasets originating from a diversity of heterogeneous data sources. While these advancements are of great importance for more accurate and trustable risk analyses, there is no guidance on selecting the best information available for power-grid risk analysis. This paper addresses this gap on the basis of existing standards in risk assessment. The key contributions of this research are twofold. First, it proposes a method for reinforcing data-related risk analysis steps. The use of this method ensures that risk analysts will methodically identify and assess the available data for informing the risk analysis key parameters. Second, it develops a method (named the three-phases method) based on metrology for selecting the best datasets according to their informative potential. The method, thus, formalizes, in a traceable and reproducible manner, the process for choosing one dataset to inform a parameter in detriment of another, which can lead to more accurate risk analyses. The method is applied to a case study of vegetation-related risk analysis in power grids, a common challenge faced by power-grid operators. The application demonstrates that a dataset originating from an initially less valued data source may be preferred to a dataset originating from a higher-ranked data source, the content of which is outdated or of too low quality. The results confirm that the method enables a dynamic optimization of dataset selection upfront of any risk analysis, supporting the application of dynamic risk analyses in real-case scenarios.
The Role of Local Government in Implementing Renewable Energy Sources in Households (Podkarpacie Case Study)
Authors: Kata Ryszard , Cyran Kazimierz , Dybka Sławomir , Lechwar Małgorzata , Pitera Rafał
Published: April 2022

The implementation of renewable energy in households can contribute to achieving climate goals, improving air quality and improving energy security. At the local level, this goal may be supported by local authorities, but in Poland, as in many countries, the use of renewable energy is not a mandatory task of local government units. The aim of this study is to analyze the role of local government, i.e., municipalities, in the adaptation of RES installations in residents’ households. The source of empirical materials was a survey of households using renewable energy installations, carried out in 2021 in the Podkarpacie region in Southeastern Poland. It has been shown that the inhabitants benefit from the support of municipalities in financing the installations, as well as information and consulting support. Municipalities support renewable energy in the “civic” segment mainly through the implementation of the so-called umbrella projects. They have a positive effect on the adaptation of RES not only in the households of the project participants, but through the imitation effect, also in other households in the immediate vicinity. The municipality effectiveness in this type of activities depends on the efficiency of project implementation and the quality of information on the conditions of participation in the project and the benefits of renewable energy.
Self-Sensing Control of Open-End Winding PMSMs Fed by an Asymmetrical Hybrid Multilevel Inverter
Authors: Foti Salvatore , Testa Antonio , Scelba Giacomo , De Caro Salvatore , Scarcella Giuseppe
Published: April 2022

The paper presents a self-sensing control technique for a special type of multilevel motor drive featuring an Open-end Winding Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor fed on one side by a main multilevel inverter (MLI) and on the other side by an auxiliary two-level inverter (TLI). In order to minimize the power losses, the MLI manages the machine active power operating at a low-switching frequency. The TLI instead acts as an active power filter and operates at a higher switching frequency and a lower DC-Bus voltage than the MLI. The current control task is shared between the two inverters, as a predictive action is exerted by the MLI, while a feedback action is accomplished by the TLI. Common sensorless rotor position estimation techniques cannot be straightforwardly applied on such a system, due to the particular drive structure. Therefore, a specific technique has been carried out, able to ensure satisfactory efficiency and control performance in all the operating speed ranges by optimally exploiting the different features of the two inverters. Simulation and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Investigating the Capability of PD-Type Recognition Based on UHF Signals Recorded with Different Antennas Using Supervised Machine Learning
Authors: Wotzka Daria , Sikorski Wojciech , Szymczak Cyprian
Published: April 2022

The article presents research on the influence of the type of UHF antenna and the type of machine learning algorithm on the effectiveness of classification of partial discharges (PD) occurring in the insulation system of a power transformer. For this purpose, four antennas specially adapted to be installed in the transformer tank (UHF disk sensor, UHF drain valve sensor, planar inverted F-type antenna, Hilbert curve fractal antenna) and a reference log-periodic antenna were used in laboratory tests. During the research, the main types of PD, typical for oil-paper insulation, were generated, i.e., PD in oil, PD in oil wedge, PD in gas bubbles, surface discharges, and creeping sparks. For the registered UHF PD pulses, nine features in the frequency domain and four features in the wavelet domain were extracted. Then, the PD classification process was carried out with the use of selected methods of supervised machine learning. The study investigated the influence of the number and type of feature on the obtained classification results gained with the following machine-learning methods: decision tree, support vector machine, Bayes method, k-nearest neighbor, linear discriminant, and ensemble machine. As a result of the works carried out, it was found that the highest accuracies are gathered for the feature representing peak frequency using a decision tree, reaching values, depending on the type of antenna, from 89.7% to 100%, with an average of 96.8%. In addition, it was found that the MRMR method reduces the number of features from 13 to 1 while maintaining very high effectiveness. The broadband log-periodic antenna ensured the highest average efficiency (100%) in the PD classification. In the case of the tested antennas adapted to work in an energy transformer tank, the highest defect-recognition efficiency is provided by the UHF disk sensor (99.3%), and the lowest (89.7%) is by the UHF drain valve sensor.
Radiation Protection at the Large Hadron Collider: Problematics, Challenges and Advanced Monte Carlo Simulation Techniques
Authors: Infantino Angelo , Björkman Daniel , Elie Lucie , Maietta Maddalena , Tromel Christophe , Vincke Heinz
Published: April 2022

This paper provides an overview of the problems, challenges, and the advanced simulation techniques used to study and plan complex interventions in radiation areas at CERNs Large Hadron Collider and its future upgrade to the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider. The operational radiation protection aspects are supported by state of the art simulations by means of the FLUKA Monte Carlo code and estimates conducted via other tools such as ActiWiz and SESAME, used within the HSE-RP group.
The Dynamics of Single-Cell Nanomotion Behaviour of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a Microfluidic Chip for Rapid Antifungal Susceptibility Testing
Authors: Radonicic Vjera , Yvanoff Charlotte , Villalba Maria Ines , Kasas Sandor , Willaert Ronnie G.
Published: April 2022

The fast emergence of multi-resistant pathogenic yeasts is caused by the extensive—and sometimes unnecessary—use of broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs. To rationalise the use of broad-spectrum antifungals, it is essential to have a rapid and sensitive system to identify the most appropriate drug. Here, we developed a microfluidic chip to apply the recently developed optical nanomotion detection (ONMD) method as a rapid antifungal susceptibility test. The microfluidic chip contains no-flow yeast imaging chambers in which the growth medium can be replaced by an antifungal solution without disturbing the nanomotion of the cells in the imaging chamber. This allows for recording the cellular nanomotion of the same cells at regular time intervals of a few minutes before and throughout the treatment with an antifungal. Hence, the real-time response of individual cells to a killing compound can be quantified. In this way, this killing rate provides a new measure to rapidly assess the susceptibility of a specific antifungal. It also permits the determination of the ratio of antifungal resistant versus sensitive cells in a population.
Pre-Hatching Ontogenetic Changes of Morphological Characters of Small-Spotted Catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula)
Authors: Grunow Bianka , Reismann Theresa , Moritz Timo
Published: April 2022

The small-spotted catshark, Scyliorhinus canicula, provides an optimal model organism to include chondrichthyans in studies comparing morphology or physiology through vertebrate evolution. In particular, for investigations with ontogenetic aspects, there are only a limited number of alternative taxa. Therefore, a detailed staging system is a prerequisite to allowing comparison between different studies. This study supplements information on the latest stages of the established system by Ballard and colleagues in 1993 and complements the respective staging system by including the latest pre-hatching stages. During this phase, some significant ontogenetic shifts happen, e.g., reduction of external gill filament length and complete flattening of rostral angle until Size Class 6, change in the ratio of pre- to post-vent length, and establishment of body pigmentation in Size Classes 7 and 8. All these shifts finally transform the embryo into a hatchling prepared for living outside the eggshell. This study provides a framework allowing comparison of investigations on pre-hatchings of the small-spotted catshark.
Comparative Analysis of Phytochemical Profiles and Antioxidant Activities between Sweet and Sour Wampee (Clausena lansium) Fruits
Authors: Chang Xiaoxiao , Ye Yutong , Pan Jianping , Lin Zhixiong , Qiu Jishui , Peng Cheng , Guo Xinbo , Lu Yusheng
Published: April 2022

As a local medicine and food, wampee fruit, with abundant bioactive compounds, is loved by local residents in Southern China. Titratable acid (TA), total sugar (TS), and total phenolic and flavonoid contents were detected, and phytochemical profiles and cellular antioxidant activities were analyzed by the HPLC and CAA (cellular antioxidant activity) assay in five sweet wampee varieties and five sour wampee varieties. Results showed that the average TS/TA ratio of sweet wampee varieties was 29 times higher than sour wampee varieties, while TA content was 19 times lower than sour wampee varieties. There were much lower levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activities in sweet wampee varieties than those in sour wampee varieties. Eight phytochemicals were detected in sour wampee varieties, including syringin, rutin, benzoic acid, 2-methoxycinnamic acid, kaempferol, hesperetin, nobiletin, and tangeretin, while just four of them were detected in sweet wampee varieties. Syringin was the only one that was detected in all the sour wampee varieties and was not detected in all sweet wampee varieties. Correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations between TA with phenolics, flavonoids, and total and cellular (PBS wash) antioxidant activities, while there were significant negative correlations between TS/TA with phenolic and cellular (no PBS wash) antioxidant activities. This suggested that the content of titratable acid in wampee fruit might have some relationship with the contents of phenolics and flavonoids. Sour wampee varieties should be paid much attention by breeders for their high phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities for cultivating germplasms with high health care efficacy.
Preparation, Morphology and Release of Goose Liver Oil Microcapsules
Authors: Li Chunwei , Fan Xiankang , Sun Yangying , Zhou Changyu , Pan Daodong
Published: April 2022

Goose liver oil (GLO) microcapsules were prepared by konjac glucomannan (KGM) and soybean protein isolate (SPI) for the first time as wall materials. The GLO could be effectively encapsulated, with an encapsulation efficiency of 83.37%, when the ratio of KGM to SPI was 2.9:1, the concentration of the KGM-SPI composite gel layer was 6.28% and the ratio of the GLO to KGM-SPI composite gel layer was 1:6. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction methods showed electrostatic interactions between KGM and SPI molecules and the formation of hydrogen bonds between the GLO and KGM-SPI wall components. The results of scanning electron microscopy showed a smooth spherical surface morphology of the microcapsules with a dense surface and no cracks. The confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that the microcapsules were homogeneous inside and no coalescence occurred. The encapsulated GLO has a significantly higher thermal and oxidative stability compared to free GLO. In the in vitro digestion experiment, 85.2% of the microcapsules could travel through gastric juice, and 75.2% could be released in the intestinal region. These results suggested that microcapsules prepared by KGM-SPI might be used as a carrier for the controlled release of GLO and could microencapsulate various oil-soluble nutrients in food products.
Physicochemical and Sensory Evaluation of Grain-Based Food
Authors: Serventi Luca , Brennan Charles , Mustafa Rana
Published: April 2022

Grain-based food is a staple of the human diet [...]
Foodomics: Current and Future Perspectives in Food Analysis
Authors: Rodríguez-Carrasco Yelko
Published: April 2022

Climate change, an increase in population, and the recent pandemic crisis triggered by SARS-CoV-2 have all contributed to a period of global problems [...]
An Overview of Traditional Uses, Phytochemical Compositions and Biological Activities of Edible Fruits of European and Asian Cornus Species
Authors: Tenuta Maria C. , Deguin Brigitte , Loizzo Monica R. , Cuyamendous Claire , Bonesi Marco , Sicari Vincenzo , Trabalzini Lorenza , Mitaine-Offer Anne-Claire , Xiao Jianbo , Tundis Rosa
Published: April 2022

Cornus species are widely distributed in central and southern Europe, east Africa, southwest Asia, and America. Several species are known for edible fruits, especially Cornus mas and Cornus officinalis. These delicious fruits, characterized by their remarkable nutritional and biological values, are widely used in traditional medicine. In contrast to the other edible Cornus species, C. mas and C. officinalis are the most studied for which little information is available on the main phytochemicals and their biological activities. Fruits are characterised by several classes of secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, anthocyanins, tannins, triterpenoids, and iridoids. The available phytochemical data show that the different classes of metabolites have not been systematically studied. However, these edible species are all worthy of interest because similarities have been found. Thus, this review describes the traditional uses of Cornus species common in Europe and Asia, a detailed classification of the bioactive compounds that characterize the fruits, and their beneficial health effects. Cornus species are a rich source of phytochemicals with nutritional and functional properties that justify the growing interest in these berries, not only for applications in the food industry but also useful for their medicinal properties.
Rennet-Induced Casein Micelle Aggregation Models: A Review
Authors: Salvador Daniel , Acosta Yoseli , Zamora Anna , Castillo Manuel
Published: April 2022

Two phases are generally recognized in the enzymatic coagulation of milk: hydrolysis and aggregation, although nowadays more and more researchers consider the non-enzymatic phase to actually be a stage of gel formation made up of two sub-stages: micellar aggregation and hardening of the three-dimensional network of para-κ-casein. To evaluate this controversy, the main descriptive models have been reviewed. Most of them can only model micellar aggregation, without modeling the hardening stage. Some are not generalizable enough. However, more recent models have been proposed, applicable to a wide range of conditions, which could differentiate both substages. Manufacturing quality enzymatic cheeses in a cost-effective and consistent manner requires effective control of coagulation, which implies studying the non-enzymatic sub-stages of coagulation separately, as numerous studies require specific measurement methods for each of them. Some authors have recently reviewed the micellar aggregation models, but without differentiating it from hardening. Therefore, a review of the proposed models is necessary, as coagulation cannot be controlled without knowing its mechanisms and the stages that constitute it.
Isolation and Purification, Structural Characterization and Antioxidant Activities of a Novel Hetero-Polysaccharide from Steam Exploded Wheat Germ
Authors: Hu Lei , Zhou Xiaodan , Tian Xue , Li Ranran , Sui Wenjie , Liu Rui , Wu Tao , Zhang Min
Published: April 2022

A purified polysaccharide, designated as SE-WGPI, was isolated from wheat germ modified by steam explosion. The primary structure characteristics were determined by HPGPC, GC, periodate oxidation-Smith degradation, methylation analysis, FT-IR, NMR and Congo red test. The results showed that SE-WGPI was a homogeneous hetero-polysaccharide with the average molecular weight of 5.6 × 103 Da. The monosaccharide composition mainly consisted of glucose, arabinose and xylose with a molar ratio of 59.51: 20.71: 19.77. The main backbone of SE-WGPI consisted of →4,6)-α-D-Glcp(1→6)-α-D-Glcp(1→3)-β-D-Xylp(1→5)-α-L-Araf(1→ and the side chain was α-D-Glcp(1→ linked at the C4-position of →4,6)-α-D-Glcp(1→. SE-WGPI likely has a complex netted structure with triple helix conformation and good thermal stability. In addition, SE-WGPI had valid in vitro radical scavenging activities on DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. This study may provide structural information of SE-WGPI for its promising application in the fields of functional foods or medicines.
An Evaluation of Food Safety Performance in Wineries
Authors: López-Santiago Jesús , García Ana Isabel García , Gómez-Villarino María Teresa
Published: April 2022

Wine production has food safety hazards. A Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system makes it possible to identify, evaluate, and control significant food safety hazards throughout the wine production process. The Prerequisites Programs (PPRs) and HACCP performance in Protected Denomination of Origin “Vinos de Madrid” wineries were analyzed. Winery performances were evaluated for every critical control point (CCPs) in each winemaking process stage, including their implementation of PPR and HACCP principles. This study was developed through a survey of 55 questions divided into 11 sections, and it was conducted on a sample of 21 wineries. The results revealed that the CCPs worst performance level are for the control of metals (Cd, Pb, As) in grapes and fungicides or pesticide control in the harvest reception. A total of 91.5% of the wineries had implemented a prerequisites program (PPRs), regardless of their annual wine production. However, there was variability in the type of prerequisite plans, training, level of knowledge of operators, and annual budget allocation. Three out of four wineries had an HACCP, although corrective action procedures and verification procedures had the lowest and the worst HACCP practical implementation. The significant barriers for HACCP performance in wineries are linked with a lack of food safety staff training, low involvement of all staff in food safety tasks, and poor application of CCP chemical and microbiologic control methods.