bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brain Tumor at Diagnosis: From Cognition and Behavior to Quality of Life
Authors: Chieffo Daniela Pia Rosaria , Lino Federica , Ferrarese Daniele , Belella Daniela , Della Pepa Giuseppe Maria , Doglietto Francesco
Published: February 2023

Background: The present narrative review aims to discuss cognitive–emotional–behavioral symptoms in adults with brain tumors at the time of diagnosis. Methods: The PubMed database was searched considering glioma, pituitary adenoma, and meningioma in adulthood as pathologies, together with cognitive, neuropsychological, or behavioral aspects. Results: Although a significant number of studies describe cognitive impairment after surgery or treatment in adults with brain tumors, only few focus on cognitive–emotional–behavioral symptoms at diagnosis. Furthermore, the importance of an effective communication and its impact on patients’ quality of life and compliance with treatment are seldom discussed. Conclusions: Adults with brain tumors have needs in terms of cognitive–emotional–behavioral features that are detectable at the time of diagnosis; more research is needed to identify effective communication protocols in order to allow a higher perceived quality of life in these patients.
Overlap of Suspicious and Non-Suspicious Features in the Ultrasound Evaluations of Leiomyosarcoma: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Arezzo Francesca , Cormio Gennaro , Putino Carmela , Di Lillo Nicola , Silvestris Erica , Kardhashi Anila , Cazzolla Ambrogio , Lombardi Claudio , Mongelli Michele , Cazzato Gerardo , Loizzi Vera
Published: February 2023

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare type of mesenchymal tumor. Suspecting LMS before surgery is crucial for proper patient management. Ultrasound is the primary method for assessing myometrial lesions. The overlapping of clinical, laboratory, as well as ultrasound features between fibroids and LMS makes differential diagnosis difficult. We report our single-center experience in ultrasound imaging assessment of LMS patients, highlighting that misleading findings such as shadowing and absent or minimal vascularization may also occur in LMS. To avoid mistakes, a comprehensive evaluation of potentially overlapping ultrasound features is necessary in preoperative ultrasound evaluations of all myometrial tumors.
An Infusion Containers Detection Method Based on YOLOv4 with Enhanced Image Feature Fusion
Authors: Ju Lei , Zou Xueyu , Zhang Xinjun , Xiong Xifa , Liu Xuxun , Zhou Luoyu
Published: February 2023

The detection of infusion containers is highly conducive to reducing the workload of medical staff. However, when applied in complex environments, the current detection solutions cannot satisfy the high demands for clinical requirements. In this paper, we address this problem by proposing a novel method for the detection of infusion containers that is based on the conventional method, You Only Look Once version 4 (YOLOv4). First, the coordinate attention module is added after the backbone to improve the perception of direction and location information by the network. Then, we build the cross stage partial–spatial pyramid pooling (CSP-SPP) module to replace the spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) module, which allows the input information features to be reused. In addition, the adaptively spatial feature fusion (ASFF) module is added after the original feature fusion module, path aggregation network (PANet), to facilitate the fusion of feature maps at different scales for more complete feature information. Finally, EIoU is used as a loss function to solve the anchor frame aspect ratio problem, and this improvement allows for more stable and accurate information of the anchor aspect when calculating losses. The experimental results demonstrate the advantages of our method in terms of recall, timeliness, and mean average precision (mAP).
A Fault Feature Extraction Method Based on Improved VMD Multi-Scale Dispersion Entropy and TVD-CYCBD
Authors: Yang Jingzong , Zhou Chengjiang , Li Xuefeng , Pan Anning , Yang Tianqing
Published: February 2023

In modern industry, due to the poor working environment and the complex working conditions of mechanical equipment, the characteristics of the impact signals caused by faults are often submerged in strong background signals and noises. Therefore, it is difficult to effectivelyextract the fault features. In this paper, a fault feature extraction method based on improved VMD multi-scale dispersion entropy and TVD-CYCBD is proposed. First, the marine predator algorithm (MPA) is used to optimize the modal components and penalty factors in VMD. Second, the optimized VMD is used to model and decompose the fault signal, and then the optimal signal components are filtered according to the combined weight index criteria. Third, TVD is used to denoise the optimal signal components. Finally, CYCBD filters the de-noised signal and then envelope demodulation analysis is carried out. Through the simulation signal experiment and the actual fault signal experiment, the results verified that multiple frequency doubling peaks can be seen from the envelope spectrum, and there is little interference near the peak, which shows the good performance of the method.
Study on the Swelling Characteristics of the Offshore Natural Gas Hydrate Reservoir
Authors: Yan Kefeng , Zhao Jianyu , Li Xiaosen , Feng Jingchun , Xia Zhiming , Ruan Xuke
Published: February 2023

The swelling characteristics of porous media in the offshore natural gas hydrate reservoir have an important effect on the stability of the reservoir. In this work, the physical property and the swelling of porous media in the offshore natural gas hydrate reservoir were measured. The results show that the swelling characteristics of the offshore natural gas hydrate reservoir are influenced by the coupling of the montmorillonite content and the salt ion concentration. The swelling rate of porous media is directly proportionate to water content and the initial porosity, and inversely proportionate to salinity. Compared with water content and salinity, the initial porosity has much obvious influence on the swelling, which the swelling strain of porous media with the initial porosity of 30% is three times more than that of montmorillonite with the initial porosity of 60%. Salt ions mainly affect the swelling of water bound by porous media. Then, the influence mechanism of the swelling characteristics of porous media on the structural characteristics of reservoir was tentatively explored. It can provide a basic date and scientific basis for furthering the mechanical characteristics of the reservoir in the hydrate exploitation in the offshore gas hydrate reservoir.
Is There a Union Wage Premium in Germany and Which Workers Benefit Most?
Authors: Bonaccolto-Töpfer Marina , Schnabel Claus
Published: February 2023

Using representative data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), this paper finds a statistically significant union wage premium in Germany of almost three percent, which is not simply a collective bargaining premium. Given that the union membership fee is typically about one percent of workers’ gross wages, this finding suggests that it pays off to be a union member. Our results show that the wage premium differs substantially between various occupations and educational groups, but not between men and women. We do not find that union wage premia are higher for those occupations and workers which constitute the core of union membership. Rather, unions seem to care about disadvantaged workers and pursue a wider social agenda.
Computational Thinking in Preschool Age: A Case Study in Greece
Authors: Kourti Zoi , Michalakopoulos Christos-Apostolos , Bagos Pantelis G. , Paraskevopoulou-Kollia Efrosyni-Alkisti
Published: February 2023

This study aims to investigate Computational Thinking (CT) in preschool age children. We tried to assess the ability of developing CT skills in kindergarten, as well as to illustrate parents’ and preschool teachers’ directly involved aspects on CT. More specifically, we investigated the readiness of preschool children to engage in activities that develop CT by using Scratch Jr. Moreover, via individual interviews, the research sheds some light on preschool children’s parents’ perceptions on personal computers use, digital media, CT and programming. Finally, we investigated the views and perceptions of preschool teachers through an electronic questionnaire about CT and its entry in kindergarten. The kindergarteners’ interactive stories were evaluated with the use of a rubric which indicates the extremely high percentage of readiness to deal with CT and programming activities in kindergarten. The analysis of the parents’ interviews shows their distrust on readiness regarding children’s engagement in CT. Finally, the majority of preschool teachers uses personal computers in kindergarten to a different degree depending on their age, experience and training to develop a variety of learning areas. Regarding CT, kindergarten teachers’ aspects appear to be swayed from positive to neutral considering its introduction in the kindergarten classroom.
Forest Fire Identification in UAV Imagery Using X-MobileNet
Authors: Namburu Anupama , Selvaraj Prabha , Mohan Senthilkumar , Ragavanantham Sumathi , Eldin Elsayed Tag
Published: February 2023

Forest fires are caused naturally by lightning, high atmospheric temperatures, and dryness. Forest fires have ramifications for both climatic conditions and anthropogenic ecosystems. According to various research studies, there has been a noticeable increase in the frequency of forest fires in India. Between 1 January and 31 March 2022, the country had 136,604 fire points. They activated an alerting system that indicates the location of a forest fire detected using MODIS sensor data from NASA Aqua and Terra satellite images. However, the satellite passes the country only twice and sends the information to the state forest departments. The early detection of forest fires is crucial, as once they reach a certain level, it is hard to control them. Compared with the satellite monitoring and detection of fire incidents, video-based fire detection on the ground identifies the fire at a faster rate. Hence, an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a GPS and a high-resolution camera can acquire quality images referencing the fire location. Further, deep learning frameworks can be applied to efficiently classify forest fires. In this paper, a cheaper UAV with extended MobileNet deep learning capability is proposed to classify forest fires (97.26%) and share the detection of forest fires and the GPS location with the state forest departments for timely action.
Diabetic Retinopathy Detection: A Blockchain and African Vulture Optimization Algorithm-Based Deep Learning Framework
Authors: Uppamma Posham , Bhattacharya Sweta
Published: February 2023

Blockchain technology has gained immense momentum in the present era of information and digitalization and is likely to gain extreme popularity among the next generation, with diversified applications that spread far beyond cryptocurrencies and bitcoin. The application of blockchain technology is prominently observed in various spheres of social life, such as government administration, industries, healthcare, finance, and various other domains. In healthcare, the role of blockchain technology can be visualized in data-sharing, allowing users to choose specific data and control data access based on user type, which are extremely important for the maintenance of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Machine learning and blockchain are two distinct technical fields: machine learning deals with data analysis and prediction, whereas blockchain emphasizes maintaining data security. The amalgamation of these two concepts can achieve prediction results from authentic datasets without compromising integrity. Such predictions have the additional advantage of enhanced trust in comparison to the application of machine learning algorithms alone. In this paper, we focused on data pertinent to diabetic retinopathy disease and its prediction. Diabetic retinopathy is a chronic disease caused by diabetes and leads to complete blindness. The disease requires early diagnosis to reduce the chances of vision loss. The dataset used is a publicly available dataset collected from the IEEE data port. The data were pre-processed using the median filtering technique and lesion segmentation was performed on the image data. These data were further subjected to the Taylor African Vulture Optimization (AVO) algorithm for hyper-parameter tuning, and then the most significant features were fed into the SqueezeNet classifier, which predicted the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) disease. The final output was saved in the blockchain architecture, which was accessed by the EHR manager, ensuring authorized access to the prediction results and related patient information. The results of the classifier were compared with those of earlier research, which demonstrated that the proposed model is superior to other models when measured by the following metrics: accuracy (94.2%), sensitivity (94.8%), and specificity (93.4%).
Distinctive Measurement Scheme for Security and Privacy in Internet of Things Applications Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Alhalabi Wadee , Al-Rasheed Amal , Manoharan Hariprasath , Alabdulkareem Eatedal , Alduailij Mai , Alduailij Mona , Selvarajan Shitharth
Published: February 2023

More significant data are available thanks to the present Internet of Things (IoT) application trend, which can be accessed in the future using some platforms for data storage. An external storage space is required for practical purposes whenever a data storage platform is created. However, in the IoT, certain cutting-edge storage methods have been developed that compromise the security and privacy of data transfer processes. As a result, the suggested solution creates a standard mode of security operations for storing the data with little noise. One of the most distinctive findings in the suggested methodology is the incorporation of machine learning algorithms in the formulation of analytical representations. The aforementioned integration method ensures high-level quantitative measurements of data security and privacy. Due to the transmission of large amounts of data, users are now able to assess the reliability of data transfer channels and the duration of queuing times, where each user can separate the specific data that has to be transferred. The created system is put to the test in real time using the proper metrics, and it is found that machine learning techniques improve security more effectively. Additionally, for 98 percent of the scenarios defined, the accuracy for data security and privacy is maximized, and the predicted model outperforms the current method in all of them.
Memory-Tree Based Design of Optical Character Recognition in FPGA
Authors: Yu Ke , Kim Minguk , Choi Jun Rim
Published: February 2023

As one of the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Optical Character Recognition (OCR) systems have wide application in both industrial production and daily life. Conventional OCR systems are commonly designed and implement data computation on the basis of microprocessors; the performance of the processor relates to the effect of the computation. However, due to the “Memory-wall” problem and Von Neumann bottlenecks, the drawbacks of traditional processor-based computing for OCR systems are gradually becoming apparent. In this paper, an approach based on the Memory-Centric Computing and “Memory-Tree” algorithm has been proposed to perform hardware optimization of traditional OCR systems. The proposed algorithm was first designed in software implementation using C/C++ and OpenCV to verify the feasibility of the idea and then the RTL conversion of the algorithm was done using the Xilinx Vitis High Level Synthesis (HLS) tool to implement the hardware. This work chose Xilinx Alveo U50 FPGA Accelerator to complete the hardware design, which can be connected to the x86 CPU in the PC by PCIe to form heterogeneous computing. The results of the hardware implementation show that the system this work designed can recognize characters of English capital letters and numbers within 34.24 us. The power of FPGA is 18.59 W, which saves 77.87% of energy consumption compared to the 84 W of the processor in PC.
Advanced Control Algorithm for Three-Phase Shunt Active Power Filter Using Sliding DFT
Authors: Sozanski Krzysztof , Szczesniak Pawel
Published: February 2023

This paper describes n digital control algorithm for a three-phase shunt active power filter (APF) using switching–sliding discrete Fourier transform (SSDFT). Traditionally, APF control algorithms use first harmonic detector circuits, which can be implemented using the SDFT algorithm. The classical SDFT algorithm is characterized by long-term stability issues, resulting from numerical errors. Many complex modifications to improve the stability of the SDFT algorithm have been proposed in the scientific literature. This article proposes a solution to the SDFT stability problem using the basic structure of the algorithm. The authors propose the use of the switching SDFT algorithm, where two original SDFT algorithms are implemented in parallel. Both algorithms are turned on alternately after a set period of time and reset to zero in order to reset numerical errors causing their unstable operation. Compared to the classical three-phase SDFT algorithm, the three-phase SSDFT requires only about 25% more arithmetic operations. The proposed approach has been validated using experimental tests and dramatically reduces the numerical errors. The control algorithm has been implemented using the TMS320F28379D microcontroller. The sampling method using only the internal A/D converter of a microcontroller is also presented. The article includes the experimental test results of the complete APF.
Modeling a Hybrid Power System with Intermediate Energy Storage
Authors: Lysenko Olga , Kuznietsov Mykola , Hutsol Taras , Mudryk Krzysztof , Herbut Piotr , Vieira Frederico Márcio Corrêa , Mykhailova Lyudmyla , Sorokin Dmytro , Shevtsova Alona
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this work is to develop a model for balancing the processes of the generation and consumption of electricity, taking into account the random nature of these processes. The subject of the study is hybrid power systems that use traditional and renewable energy sources and have the properties of a local network. Such systems are sensitive to variable generation modes, and the presence of rapid changes in power requires short time intervals. The presence of wind and solar power plants makes it difficult to ensure a balance of power, which increases the need for intermediate energy storage. The research method is a mathematical modeling of random processes of energy consumption and generation, which allows for the analysis of the current power balancing and the obtaining of the integrated characteristics of the state of energy storage and reuse. The unique goal of the study is to take into account the power gradients and the state of charge of the batteries. The results of the study allow for the comparison of the different configurations of the power system in terms of balance, storage needs, and energy loss. It has been shown that the increase in battery capacity and speed limitations are nonlinearly related to the possibilities of energy conservation and the probability of the incomplete use of the capabilities of the energy storage system.
The Electrical Behaviour of Railway Pantograph Arcs
Authors: Mariscotti Andrea
Published: February 2023

Electric arcing is an unavoidable consequence of the current collection process by sliding contact in railways and metros, and in general in many electrified transportation systems (ETSs). The most relevant consequences in an electrical perspective are: the occurrence of transients triggering resonant behaviour and transient responses, reduction of the energy efficiency of the system, conducted and radiated disturbance, in particular for the new radio systems widely employed for signalling and communication. The involved parameters are many (type of materials, current intensity, DC and AC supply, relative speed, temperature), as well as the studied characteristics (arc instability and lifetime, dynamic behaviour, electrical system response, radiation efficiency and coupling to external radio systems). This work reports the state of the art in arc modelling, arcing experimental characterisation, interaction with the supply system, radiated emissions and disturbance to radio systems, providing a complete description of phenomena and of reference data, critically discussing similarity and differences between sources. Proposed arc models are many with different assumptions and simplifications for various applications, so that a critical review and discussion are a necessity, considering the many different approaches and not-so-obvious applicability. The comparison with experimental results highlights unavoidable discrepancies, also because of intrinsic arc variability and for the many involved parameters and operating conditions. The impact of the arc as embedded in the railway system is then considered, speaking of conducted and radiated phenomena, including interference to radio communication systems and arc detection. The most prominent effect for conducted emissions is the excitation of system resonances, including the LC filters onboard rolling stock and substations in DC railways, with consequences for disturbance and energy efficiency, and this is discussed in detail. Conversely, for high frequency emissions, the attenuation along the line circuit is significant and the effective distance of propagation is limited; nevertheless radiated electromagnetic field emissions are a relevant source of disturbance for radio systems within the ETS premises and outside (e.g., at airports). The published approaches to quantify performance reduction are discussed with emphasis on experimental methods.
Enhancing the Filtering Capability and the Dynamic Performance of a Third-Order Phase-Locked Loop under Distorted Grid Conditions
Authors: Smadi Issam , Kreashan Hanady , Atawi Ibrahem
Published: February 2023

This work proposes a structural enhancement and a new technique to design the loop filter (LF) of a third-order phase-locked loop (PLL) to enhance the PLL dynamic performance under abnormal grid conditions. The proposed PLL combines a moving average filter (MAF) and an arbitrarily delayed signal cancelation (ADSC) for structural enhancement to achieve DC-offset rejection and harmonics elimination. The window length of the MAF is selected to be one-sixth of the fundamental grid period to remove non-triple odd harmonics and speed up the PLL dynamic response. The triple harmonics are eliminated, adopting the line-to-line voltage concept, while the ADSC operator rejects the DC offset. The LF design is based on a modified third-order polynomial tuned using stochastic optimization to minimize the settling time of the frequency deviation, offering better dynamic performance over the symmetrical optimum method (SOM) and achieving synchronization within one grid cycle. The PLL mathematical model, small-signal model, and LF design based on the modified polynomial are discussed. Finally, the proposed PLL performance is verified numerically and experimentally with comparisons with other PLLs to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed work.
Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Okamoto Masami
Published: February 2023

In the last 20 years, there has been a strong emphasis on the development of polymer nanocomposites, where at least one of the dimensions of the filler material is of the order of a nanometer. Polymer nanocomposites are fundamentally different from traditional filled polymers because of the immense internal interfacial area and the nanoscopic nature of the nanomaterials. The new multifunctional properties derived from the nano-structure of nanocomposites provide an opportunity to circumvent the traditional properties associated with traditional composites. Numerous examples can be found in the literature that show significant improvements in multifunctional properties of the nanocomposites and this new class materials now being introduced in structural applications, such as gas barrier film, flame retardant product, and other load-bearing applications. This review offers a comprehensive review on the basic concept, technology and application for polymer nanocomposites.
Biological Deterioration and Natural Durability of Wood in Europe
Authors: Martín Juan A. , López Rosana
Published: February 2023

In recent years, the use of wood has gained social interest, leading to a global increase in its demand. Yet, this demand is often covered by the production of woods of low natural durability against biological deterioration. The main biological agents with the potential to attack the structural integrity of wood are wood-decay fungi, saproxylic beetles, termites, and marine molluscs and crustaceans. In most circumstances, fungi are the main wood-deteriorating agents. To attack the cell wall, wood-decay fungi combine a complex enzymatic mechanism with non-enzymatic mechanisms based on low-molecular-weight compounds. In some cases, the larvae of saproxylic beetles can also digest cell wood components, causing serious deterioration to wooden structures. The impact of subterranean termites in Europe is concentrated in the Southern countries, causing important economic losses. However, alien invasive species of voracious subterranean termites are expanding their presence in Europe. Wooden elements in permanent contact with marine water can be readily deteriorated by mollusc and crustacean borers, for which current preservatives lack efficacy. The natural durability of wood is defined as the inherent resistance of wood to catastrophic action by wood-destroying organisms. Besides exposure to the climate, product design and use conditions, the natural durability of wood is key to the prediction of the service life of wooden products, which can be shortened due to the impact of global change. The major wood properties involved in natural durability are related to the composition of lignin in the cell wall, the anatomy of the xylem, nutrient availability, the amount and composition of heartwood extractives, and the presence of moisture-regulating components since wood moisture content influences the establishment of wood-degrading organisms.
Design of Game-Based Virtual Forests for Psychological Stress Therapy
Authors: Mohamad Yahaya Nur Ain , Awang Rambli Dayang Rohaya , Sulaiman Suziah , Merienne Frederic , Alyan Emad
Published: February 2023

Numerous studies have reported the beneficial effects of natural environments on human health and wellbeing. Virtual games may offer a practical approach to experience the illusion of being in a natural setting for those with limited access to nature. This study presents an evaluation of a nature-based virtual environment application to modulate the participant’s affective and psychological state. We developed a game-based virtual therapy using the Unity 3D game engine by implementing forest therapy activities and designing the forest environment like a real-life forest. Eight healthy adults participated in this study and were observed remotely. The participants’ mood states before and after the game were evaluated using the Profile of Mood States (POMS). In addition, the satisfaction and usability of the game-based virtual forest were assessed using the Game-User Experience Satisfaction Scale and System Usability Scale, respectively. The results revealed that participants experienced significantly improved moods (p < 0.05) and decreased stress levels (p < 0.05) after playing the game. Moreover, the results indicated multiple positive correlations between the game experience and immersion subscales, revealing that audio and visual aesthetics offered an environment for users to feel more immersed. The study suggests using virtual forest games to promote positive mood and mental health.
Significance of Cross-Correlated QoS Configurations for Validating the Subjective and Objective QoE of Cloud Gaming Applications
Authors: Ahmad Nafi , Wahab Abdul , Schormans John , Arnab Ali Adib
Published: February 2023

In this paper, utilising real-internet traffic data, we modified a popular network emulator to better imitate real network traffic and studied its subjective and objective implications on QoE for cloud-gaming apps. Subjective QoE evaluation was then used to compare cross-correlated QoS metric with the default non-correlated emulator setup. Human test subjects showed different correlated versus non-correlated QoS parameters affects regarding cloud gaming QoE. Game-QoE is influenced more by network degradation than video QoE. To validate our subjective QoE study, we analysed the experiment’s video objectively. We tested how well Full-Reference VQA measures subjective QoE. The correlation between FR QoE and subjective MOS was greater in non-correlated QoS than in correlated QoS conditions. We also found that correlated scenarios had more stuttering events compared to non-correlated scenarios, resulting in lower game QoE.
Solid-State Fermentation of Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles Improves Digestibility for European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Juveniles
Authors: Filipe Diogo , Dias Mário , Magalhães Rui , Fernandes Helena , Salgado José , Belo Isabel , Oliva-Teles Aires , Peres Helena
Published: February 2023

Aquaculture requires new, economical, and eco-friendly protein sources to replace traditional fisheries and plant ingredients. Using agriculture by-products as protein sources would reduce land-based feed production pressure and waste production, promoting a circular economy and sustainable aquaculture. Distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is the main by-product of bioethanol production. Corn DDGS has a high protein level, but its high fiber content limits its use as a feed ingredient, particularly for carnivorous fish. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) uses lignocellulosic-rich substrates, such as DDGS, for microbial growth in the near absence of water, promoting enzyme production that degrades the lignocellulosic matrix, increasing free reducing sugars, protein, and antioxidant levels of the substrate. In the present work, the SSF of corn DDGS with Aspergillus carbonarius, A. ibericus, and A. uvarum was tested. Then, the digestibility of the most promising fermented DDGS (in terms of upgraded nutritional composition) was tested by including it in a reference diet (70% of a reference diet; 48% crude protein; 15% crude lipids) for European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles (171 g averaged weight; trial duration of 52 days). Among the fungi tested, Aspergillus ibericus led a generally higher upgrading of the DDGS nutritional composition, leading to a high amount of protein (from 42.7 to 49.7 g N/kg DM), phenolic compounds (1.49 to 4.86 mg/g caffeic acid equivalents), free sugars (9.5 to 31.9 mg/g), and enzyme production (45 U/g and 68 U/g of cellulase and xylanase, respectively), and a high reduction in acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber content (up to 29 and 43%, respectively). Compared to the unfermented DDGS, fermented DDGS presented increased protein, lipids, starch, and energy digestibility, while phosphorous digestibility was similar. Compared to the reference diet, dietary inclusion of unfermented or fermented DDGS increased trypsin and chymotrypsin activities. The activity of digestive enzymes was not affected by the inclusion of fermented DDGS, except for amylase activity, which was lower with the fermented DDGS than with the unfermented DDGS diet. In conclusion, SSF of DDGS enhanced its nutritional value, increasing DDGS digestibility when included in diets for European seabass juveniles.
A Meshless Algorithm for Modeling the Gas-Dynamic Interaction between High-Inertia Particles and a Shock Layer
Authors: Sposobin Andrey , Reviznikov Dmitry
Published: February 2023

This paper is devoted to numerical modeling of a supersonic flow around a blunt body by a viscous gas with an admixture of relatively large high-inertia particles that, after reflection from the surface, may go beyond the shock layer and change the flow structure dramatically. To calculate the gas-dynamic interaction of moving particles with the shock layer, it is important to take into account the large difference in scales of the flow around the particles and around the body. To make the computations effective, we use a meshless method to solve non-stationary Navier–Stokes equations. The algorithm is based on the approximation of partial derivatives by the least squares method on a set of nodes distributed in the calculation area. Each moving particle is surrounded by a cloud of calculation nodes belonging to its domain and moving with it in space. The algorithm has been tested on the problem of the motion of a single particle and a pair of particles in a supersonic flow around a sphere.
Potential Application of High Hydrostatic Pressure on the Production of Hydrolyzed Proteins with Antioxidant and Antihypertensive Properties and Low Allergenicity: A Review
Authors: Landim Ana Paula Miguel , Tiburski Julia Hauck , Mellinger Caroline Grassi , Juliano Pablo , Rosenthal Amauri
Published: February 2023

The high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) process has been studied for several applications in food technology and has been commercially implemented in several countries, mainly for non-thermal pasteurization and shelf-life extension of food products. HHP processing has been demonstrated to accelerate proteolytic hydrolysis at a specific combination of pressure and pressure-holding time for a given protein source and enzyme. The enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins is a well-known alternative to producing biologically active peptides, with antioxidant and antihypertensive capacity, from different food protein sources. However, some of these protein sources contain allergenic epitopes which are often not degraded by traditional hydrolysis. Moreover, the peptide profile and related biological activity of a hydrolysate depend on the protein source, the enzymes used, the parameters of the proteolysis process (pH, temperature, time of hydrolysis), and the use of other technologies such as HHP. The present review aims to provide an update on the use of HHP for improving enzymatic hydrolysis, with a particular focus on studies which evaluated hydrolysate antihypertensive and antioxidant capacity, as well as residual allergenicity. Overall, HHP has been shown to improve the biological properties of hydrolysates. While protein allergenicity can be reduced with traditional hydrolysis, HHP can further reduce the allergenicity. Compared with traditional hydrolysis methods, HHP-assisted protein hydrolysis offers a greater opportunity to add value to protein-rich products through conversion into high-end hydrolysate products with enhanced nutritional and functional properties.
Bioactive Compounds from Leaf Vegetables as Preservatives
Authors: Pateiro Mirian , Domínguez Rubén , Munekata Paulo E. S. , Nieto Gema , Bangar Sneh Punia , Dhama Kuldeep , Lorenzo José M.
Published: February 2023

Trends toward a healthier diet are increasing attention to clean-label products. This has led to the search for new ingredients that avoid the use of chemical additives. Food industries are responding to these demands by incorporating natural preservatives into their products, which consumers perceive as healthy. Leafy vegetables would fit this strategy since they are common components of the diet and are associated with beneficial health effects. The objective of this chapter is to offer an overview of the large number of bioactive compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, glucosinolates, and sulfur compounds) present in these plants, which would be responsible for their activity as potential preservatives. Its incorporation into food would improve the quality and extend the shelf life by reducing oxidative processes and inhibiting or retarding the microbial growth that occurs during processing and storage without reducing the organoleptic characteristics of the product.
Development and Characterization of Functional Cookies Enriched with Chestnut Shells Extract as Source of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds
Authors: Pinto Diana , Moreira Manuela M. , Vieira Elsa F. , Švarc-Gajić Jaroslava , Vallverdú-Queralt Anna , Brezo-Borjan Tanja , Delerue-Matos Cristina , Rodrigues Francisca
Published: February 2023

Chestnut (Castanea sativa) shells (CSs), an undervalued agro-industrial biowaste, have arisen as a source of bioactive compounds with promising health-promoting effects. This study attempted, for the first time, to develop a functional food, namely cookies, using a CS extract obtained by an eco-friendly technology (subcritical water extraction). The cookies were characterized regarding their nutritional composition, total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC, respectively), antioxidant/antiradical activities, phenolic profile, and sensory evaluation. The results demonstrated that the CS-extract-enriched cookies were mainly composed of carbohydrates (53.92% on dry weight (dw)), fat (32.62% dw), and fiber (5.15% dw). The phenolic profile outlined by HPLC-PDA revealed the presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and hydrolysable tannins, attesting to the high TPC and TFC. The in vitro antioxidant/antiradical effects proved the bioactivity of the functional cookies, while the sensory evaluation unveiled excellent scores on all attributes (≥6.25). The heatmap diagram corroborated strong correlations between the TPC and antioxidant/antiradical properties, predicting that the appreciated sensory attributes were closely correlated with high carbohydrates and phenolic compounds. This study encourages the sustainable recovery of antioxidants from CSs and their further employment as an active nutraceutical ingredient in functional cookies.
Dietary Guanidine Acetic Acid Addition Improved Carcass Quality with Less Back-Fat Thickness and Remarkably Increased Meat Protein Deposition in Rapid-Growing Lambs Fed Different Forage Types
Authors: Li Wen-Juan , Jiang Yao-Wen , Cui Zhao-Yang , Wu Qi-Chao , Zhang Fan , Chen He-Wei , Wang Yan-Lu , Wang Wei-Kang , Lv Liang-Kang , Xiong Feng-Liang , Liu Ying-Yi , Aisikaer Ailiyasi , Li Sheng-Li , Bo Yu-Kun , Yang Hong-Jian
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate whether guanidine acetic acid (GAA) yields a response in rapid-growing lambs depending on forage type. In this study, seventy-two small-tailed Han lambs (initial body weights = 12 ± 1.6 kg) were used in a 120-d feeding experiment after a 7-d adaptation period. A 2 × 3 factorial experimental feeding design was applied to the lambs, which were fed a total mixed ration with two forage types (OH: oaten hay; OHWS: oaten hay plus wheat silage) and three forms of additional GAA (GAA: 0 g/kg; UGAA: Uncoated GAA, 1 g/kg; CGAA: Coated GAA, 1 g/kg). The OH diet had a greater dry matter intake, average daily gain, and hot carcass weight than the OHWS diet. The GAA supplementation increased the final body weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, and ribeye area in the longissimus lumborum. Meanwhile, it decreased backfat thickness and serum triglycerides. Dietary GAA decreased the acidity of the meat and elevated the water-holding capacity in mutton. In addition, the crude protein content in mutton increased with GAA addition. Dietary GAA (UGAA or CGAA) might be an effective additive in lamb fed by different forage types, as it has potential to improve growth performance and meat quality.
Bacteriobiota and Chemical Changes during the Ripening of Traditional Fermented “Pirot ‘Ironed’ Sausage”
Authors: Bogdanović Svetlana , Stanković Slaviša , Berić Tanja , Tomasevic Igor , Heinz Volker , Terjung Nino , Dimkić Ivica
Published: February 2023

“Pirot ‘ironed’ sausage“ (Pis) is a traditional, fermented sausage, made from different types of meat (beef and chevon), without additives or starter cultures. The physical–chemical properties (pH, water activity, fats, moisture, and protein contents) were examined in the initial meat batter stuffing and during ripening. Total bacterial diversity was examined at different time points using both culturable (traditional) and non-culturable (NGS sequencing) approaches. During the ripening, a decrease in pH value, aw, and moisture content was observed, as well as an increase in protein and fat content. At least a two-fold significant decrease was noted for colorimetric values during the ripening period. The dominance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes was observed in the non-culturable approach in all studied samples. During the ripening process, an increase in Firmicutes (from 33.5% to 63.5%) with a decrease in Proteobacteria (from 65.4% to 22.3%) was observed. The bacterial genera that were dominant throughout the ripening process were Lactobacillus, Photobacterium, Leuconostoc, Weissella, and Lactococcus, while Carnobacterium, Brochothrix, and Acinetobacter were found also, but in negligible abundance. Among the culturable bacteria, Latilactobacillus sakei (Lactobacillus sakei) and Leuconostoc mesenteoides were present in all stages of ripening.
On Fuzzy Spiral-like Functions Associated with the Family of Linear Operators
Authors: Azzam Abdel , Shah Shujaat , Cătaș Adriana , Cotîrlă Luminiţa-Ioana
Published: February 2023

At the present time, the study of various classical properties of the geometric function theory using the concept of a fuzzy subset remains limited. In this article, our main aim is to introduce the subclasses of spiral-like functions of complex order in terms of the fuzzy notion and we generalize these subclasses by applying a family of linear operators. The relationships between the newly defined subclasses are examined. In addition, we show that these subclasses are preserved under the well-known Bernardi integral operator.
Almost Periodic Solutions of Abstract Impulsive Volterra Integro-Differential Inclusions
Authors: Du Wei-Shih , Kostić Marko , Velinov Daniel
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we introduce and systematically analyze the classes of (pre-)(B,ρ,(tk))-piecewise continuous almost periodic functions and (pre-)(B,ρ,(tk))-piecewise continuous uniformly recurrent functions with values in complex Banach spaces. We weaken substantially, or remove completely, the assumption that the sequence (tk) of possible first kind discontinuities of the function under consideration is a Wexler sequence (in order to achieve these aims, we use certain results about Stepanov almost periodic type functions). We provide many applications in the analysis of the existence and uniqueness of almost periodic type solutions for various classes of the abstract impulsive Volterra integro-differential inclusions.
Crystallization of SAPO-11 Molecular Sieves Prepared from Silicoaluminophosphate Gels Using Boehmites with Different Properties
Authors: Agliullin Marat R. , Cherepanova Svetlana V. , Fayzullina Zulfiya R. , Serebrennikov Dmitry V. , Khalilov Leonard M. , Prosochkina Tatyana R. , Kutepov Boris I.
Published: February 2023

In this article, we report the results of research the formation of silicoaluminophosphate gels under changing gel aging conditions and the influence of an aluminum source (boehmite), characterized by different properties. The samples of initial gels were characterized by XRF, X-ray diffraction, MAS NMR 27Al and 31P, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Products of crystallization were characterized by XRF, X-ray diffraction, MAS NMR 27Al and 31P, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2-physical adsorption, and IR spectroscopy with pyridine adsorption. It has been established that the chemical and phase composition of aging gels and the products of further crystallization is conditioned by the size of the crystals and the porous structure of boehmite. Methods of management the morphology and secondary porous structure of SAPO-11, including the hierarchical porous structure, are proposed based on the use of boehmits characterized by different properties and changing the aging conditions of the initial gels. SAPO—based catalyst with a hierarchical porous structure showed excellent catalytic performance in dimerization of α-methylstyrene with a high degree of conversion and selectivity for linear isomers.
Physicochemical and Bioactivity Characteristics of Doxycycline Hyclate-Loaded Solvent Removal-Induced Ibuprofen-Based In Situ Forming Gel
Authors: Puyathorn Napaphol , Senarat Setthapong , Lertsuphotvanit Nutdanai , Phaechamud Thawatchai
Published: February 2023

Modulation with the suppression of infection and inflammation is essential to the successful treatment of periodontitis. An aqueous insoluble hydrophobic anti-inflammatory compound, i.e., ibuprofen (IBU), was investigated in this study as the matrix-forming agent of a doxycycline hyclate (DH)-loaded solvent removal-induced in situ forming gel (ISG) using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) as the solvents. Their physicochemical properties, including pH, density, viscosity, surface tension, contact angle, water tolerance, injectability, mechanical properties, gel formation, and drug release, were determined. Their antimicrobial activities were tested using agar cup diffusion, and their anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using thermal inhibition of protein denaturation of egg albumin. Increasing the IBU content decreased the density, pH, surface tension, and contact angle but increased the viscosity, force and work of injection, and gel formation of IBU-based ISG solution. Although their water tolerance values decreased with the increase in IBU content, the addition of DH and the use of NMP led to high water tolerance. The characterization of the dried gel remnants of ISGs presented no change in IBU crystallinity and thermal properties and confirmed no chemical interaction among the components of ISGs. The obtained transformed IBU matrix prolonged the release of DH and IBU from ISGs over 7 days from its tortuously packed IBU matrix with small pores, and conformed well with Fickian diffusion mechanism. The developed DH-loaded solvent removal-induced IBU-based ISGs exhibited efficient antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. IBU in formulation promoted the antimicrobial activity of ISGs, whereas DH and NMP promoted the anti-inflammatory activity of ISGs. Consequently, the DH-loaded solvent removal-induced IBU-based ISGs proposed in this study show great potential as an effective bioactive drug delivery system for periodontitis treatment by localized periodontal pocket injection.