bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Enterprise R&D Investment and Government Subsidies on Technological Progress: Evidence from China’s PV Industry
Authors: Cai Xiang , Li Jing , Wu Jun , Zhang Haijing , Chen Ping , Huang Xin
Published: June 2022

China has become the major stakeholder in global photovoltaic (PV) technology. However, the existing mechanistic interpretation of “what promotes the technological progress of the Chinese PV industry” is controversial. This paper takes China’s A-share listed PV enterprises from 1999 to 2019 as the research sample and uses a panel fixed-effect regression model to empirically test the impact of research and development (R&D) investment and government subsidies on the technological progress of PV enterprises. The results show that there is an “N”-shaped nexus between R&D investment and technological progress, and most PV enterprises are in the climbing stage of the N-shaped curve. With the development of the PV industry, the nexus will undergo a transformation from inverted U-shaped to N-shaped, indicating that R&D investment is a key driver of PV technological progress. Yet, government subsidies are a “double-edged sword”. They have a significant positive direct effect on PV technological progress but also a negative moderating effect. Tax returns play a positive incentivizing role, while financial subsidies play a negative moderating role. This study provides a policy basis for the timely reduction of financial subsidies and increased R&D investment to promote technological progress in China’s PV industry.
Study on the Imbibition Damage Mechanisms of Fracturing Fluid for the Whole Fracturing Process in a Tight Sandstone Gas Reservoir
Authors: Xu Dongjin , Chen Shihai , Chen Jinfeng , Xue Jinshan , Yang Huan
Published: June 2022

Tight sandstone gas is a significant unconventional natural gas resource, and has been exploited economically mostly through the application of hydraulic fracturing technology in recent decades. However, formation damage occurs when fracturing fluid percolates into the pores inside sandstones through imbibition driven by capillary pressure during fracturing operations. In this work, the formation damage resulting from the whole operation process composed of fracturing, well shut-in and flowback, and the degree of damage at different moments were investigated through core flow experiments and the low-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique. The results show that imbibition damage occurs starting from the contact surface between the formation and the fracturing fluid, which penetrates into an increasingly deep position with time down to a certain depth. The T2 spectra of NMR at different moments indicates that fracturing fluid initially enters the small pores, followed by the large pores due to the larger capillary pressure in the former. Thus, the sandstone cores with low permeability incur a higher degree of damage due to their stronger capability of retaining fracturing fluid compared to high-permeability cores. The front position of the fracturing fluid imbibition at different moments, along with the degree of damage, were characterized through the one-dimensional encoding processing of the NMR signal. These results underlie the effective strategy to relieve formation damage resulting from imbibition during hydraulic fracturing operations.
The Impact of Agricultural Production Efficiency on Agricultural Carbon Emissions in China
Authors: Zhu Yong , Huo Congjia
Published: June 2022

With the rapid development of China’s economy, China has become the world’s largest carbon emitter. China not only has an obvious growth rate of industrial carbon emissions but also the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions is hovering at a high level. The development of China’s agricultural economy has largely come at the expense of high emissions. Currently, under the background of global warming and difficulty in controlling greenhouse gas emissions, the development of low-carbon agriculture is an important way to realize the harmonious development of the ecological environment and economic growth and to promote the sustainable development of agriculture. The agricultural production efficiency is the main factor affecting the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions. Based on provincial panel data of China from 2010 to 2019, this paper establishes an indicator system and uses the super-efficiency SBM model to measure agricultural production efficiency. The regional agricultural carbon emissions were estimated using carbon-emission-related agricultural production activities. In order to study the nonlinear relationship between agricultural production efficiency and agricultural carbon emission intensity in the narrow sense, this paper uses a threshold regression model with agricultural carbon emissions as the threshold variable. Based on the analysis of China’s agricultural production efficiency and agricultural carbon emissions from 2010 to 2019, an empirical test is conducted through a threshold regression model. The results show an “inverted U-shaped” relationship between agricultural production efficiency and agricultural carbon emission intensity. In areas with high agricultural production efficiency, the improvement of production efficiency can suppress the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions; in areas with low agricultural production efficiency, the improvement of production efficiency increases the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions. Finally, based on the research conclusions, this paper provides feasible suggestions and countermeasures for China’s agricultural carbon emission reduction and improvement of agricultural production efficiency.
The Impact of Environmental Taxes on the Level of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Poland and Sweden
Authors: Rybak Aurelia , Joostberens Jarosław , Manowska Anna , Pielot Joachim
Published: June 2022

The research presented in the article was aimed at verifying the effectiveness of environmental taxes in reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions. For this purpose, data provided by Eurostat in the environmental taxes category were used. They were treated as explanatory variables. Data were entered into the ARMAX models built by the authors. The dependent variable was the emission of two greenhouse gases covered by the research, namely carbon dioxide and methane. The research was carried out in Poland, for which the results obtained for Sweden were used as the benchmark. The built models made it possible to verify the relationship between environmental taxes in the categories of energy, transport, pollution, resources, and the level of CO2 and CH4 emissions. The nature of the explanatory variable was also examined. Environmental taxes can fulfill a fiscal, incentive, and redistributive function. The conducted research shows that these taxes, in fact, fulfill mainly a fiscal function, while redistributive and incentive functions are insufficient. It was also observed that the direction and strength of the impact of taxes differ depending on the greenhouse gas.
Microalgae as an Effective Recovery Agent for Vanadium in Aquatic Environment
Authors: Kim Hee Su , Kim Minsik , Park Won-Kun , Yang Won-Geun , Nayak Manoranjan , Shin Hyeon Ho , Cho Kichul , Kim Daekyung , Oda Tatsuya
Published: June 2022

Given that vanadium is a valuable material, the implementation of vanadium recycling processes is thus necessary to enhance the element’s value chain as well as minimize its undesirable environmental consequences. Among various remediation methods available, a biological method based on microalgal adsorption is known to be eco-friendly and calls for further investigations. Herein, we evaluated V2O5 adsorption efficiencies of four different microalgal strains: Nannochloropsis oculata, Heterocapsa circularisquama, Chattonella marina, and Chattonella antiqua. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) data indicated that vanadium concentration in the culture medium of Nannochloropsis oculata was reduced from 4.61 ± 0.11 mg L−1 to 1.85 ± 0.21 mg L−1 after being exposed to V2O5 solution for 24 h, whereas the supernatants of the other three strains displayed no change in vanadium ion concentration. Therefore, our results indicated a strong potential of Nannochloropsis oculata for recycling vanadium with approximately 59.9% of vanadium ion removal efficiency. Furthermore, morphological observation of Nannochloropsis oculata using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the cells were able to maintain their intact morphology even under the presence of high concentrations of heavy metals. Due to the high adsorption efficiency and robustness of Nannochloropsis oculata, the results collectively support it as a potential strain for V2O5 recovery.
Inkjet 3D Printed MEMS Electromagnetic Multi-Frequency Energy Harvester
Authors: Kawa Bartosz , Lee Chengkuo , Walczak Rafał
Published: June 2022

Multi-frequency operation is an interesting and desired feature of electromagnetic energy harvesters. This work presents results of investigations on an inkjet 3D-printed miniature multi-frequency electromagnetic energy harvester. Vibrating microstructures utilizing springs with constant thickness (300 μm) and widths from 220 to 500 μm were designed, fabricated, and characterized as parts of the miniature energy harvester. Resonant frequencies of the microstructures were measured, and electrical parameters of the harvester were determined. The harvesters operated in the 85–185 Hz frequency range with 32 µW maximal output power. Thanks to flexibility in designing and fabrication by 3D printing, it was possible to develop an energy harvester with at least two operating frequencies within a single harvester structure in many possible two-frequency configurations.
Harnessing Task Usage Prediction and Latency Sensitivity for Scheduling Workloads in Wind-Powered Data Centers
Authors: Osnes Idun , Yazidi Anis , Jacobsen Hans-Arno , Eliassen Frank , Sartori Sabrina
Published: June 2022

The growing number of data centers consumes a vast amount of energy for processing. There is a desire to reduce the environmental footprint of the IT industry, and one way to achieve this is to use renewable energy sources. A challenge with using renewable resources is that the energy output is irregular as a consequence of the intermittent nature of this form of energy. In this paper, we propose a simple and yet efficient latency-aware workload scheduler that creates an energy-agile workload, by deferring tasks with low latency sensitivity to periods with excess renewable energy. The scheduler also increases the overall efficiency of the data center, by packing the workload into as few servers as possible, using neural-network-based predictions of resource usage on an individual task basis to avoid unnecessarily provisioning an excess number of servers. The scheduler was tested on a subset of real-world workload traces, and real-world wind-power generation data, simulating a small-scale data center co-located with a wind turbine. Extensive experimental results show that the devised scheduler reduced the number of servers doing work in periods of low wind-power production up to 93% of the time, by postponing tasks with a low latency sensitivity to a later interval.
Numerical Simulation of the Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics of Sweeping and Direct Jets on a Flat Plate with Film Holes
Authors: Kong Xiangcan , Zhang Yanfeng , Li Guoqing , Lu Xingen , Zhu Junqiang , Xu Jinliang
Published: June 2022

The internal heat transfer performance and flow structures of a sweeping jet and film composite cooling on a flat plate were numerically studied. Sweeping jet and film composite cooling consists of a fluidic oscillator and 20 cylindrical film holes; the direct jet is formed by removing the feedback from the fluidic oscillator, which is different from the traditional cylindrical nozzle. Four different mass flow rates of coolant were considered, and the inclination angle of the film hole was 30°. The Conjugate Heat Transfer method (CHT) and Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equation (URANS) were employed. The results indicated that the flow resistance coefficients of the sweeping jet were larger than those of the direct jet, and the Nusselt number monotonously increased with the increase in the mass flow rate. Compared to the direct jet, the sweeping jet had a more spatially uniform heat removal rate, and the area-averaged Nusselt number was slightly lower. Therefore, the sweeping jet and film composite cooling caused the distribution of the flat plate heat transfer to be more uniform. It is worth noting that the novel direct jet nozzle in the present work had considerable area-averaged impingement cooling effectiveness.
Backward Step-Up Control Strategy for Bidirectional LLC Resonant Converter
Authors: Niu Jingkai , Wu Xuezhi , Wang Yue , Jing Long , Zhang Weige , Tong Yibin
Published: June 2022

An LLC resonant converter has the advantages of simple structure and soft switching. It can enable bidirectional power transmission, but it is difficult to realize a normalized gain greater than one under backward mode (backward step-up mode). Cascaded dc/dc converters or topological changes can solve this problem, but additional switches and components are required and losses are added. Without changing the LLC resonant converter’s basic topology, this paper proposes a variable duty-cycle control strategy of primary side switches for backward step-up mode. Using variable duty-cycle control, the LC resonant tank can be charged, and then the backward step-up mode can be realized. Soft switching characteristics of some primary side switches and all secondary side switches are guaranteed. In this study, the working principle of an LLC resonant converter under bidirectional control strategy was analyzed, and the backward step-up control was analyzed in detail. The voltage gain and the boundary of continuous conduction mode (CCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) were derived. A synchronous rectification method related to the backward step-up control is proposed. The control strategy was verified by experiments.
Combined Economic Emission Dispatch with and without Consideration of PV and Wind Energy by Using Various Optimization Techniques: A Review
Authors: Marouani Ismail , Guesmi Tawfik , Hadj Abdallah Hsan , Alshammari Badr M. , Alqunun Khalid , Alshammari Ahmed S. , Rahmani Salem
Published: June 2022

Combined economic emission dispatch (CEED) problems are among the most crucial problems in electrical power systems. The purpose of the CEED is to plan the outputs of all production units available in the electrical power system in such a way that the cost of fuel and polluted emissions are minimized while respecting the equality and inequality constraints of the system and efficiently responding to the power load required. The rapid depletion of these sources causes limitation and increases the price of fuel. It is therefore very important that scientific research in the last few decades has been oriented toward the integration of renewable energy systems (RES) such as wind and PV as an alternative source. Furthermore, the CEED problem including RES is the most important problem with regard to electrical power field optimization. In this study, a classification of optimization techniques that are widely used, such as traditional methods, non-conventional methods, and hybrid methods, is summarized. Many optimization methods have been presented and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages for solving this complex CEED problem, including renewable energy. A review of different optimization techniques for solving this CEED problem is explored in this present paper. This review will encourage researchers in the future to gain knowledge of the best approaches applicable to solve CEED problems for practical electrical systems.
Three Technical Challenges Faced by Power Systems in Transition
Authors: Xu Zheng
Published: June 2022

In the 21st century, the worldwide concern about global warming has forced energy to transform in the direction of low-carbon and non-carbon. The utilization of renewable energy is developing rapidly, which makes the non-synchronous generator sources become the main part of the newly added power sources. Based on the fundamentals of AC power grid operation, this paper describes three technical challenges faced by the power system in transition: the inadequacy of the classic synchronization stability concept in representing the new synchronization connotation of AC power systems with large proportion of non-synchronous generator sources; the inapplicability of the electromechanical transient analysis method in analyzing the generalized synchronization stability; and the wideband resonance instability caused by negative resistance of power electronic equipment. The decisive factors for maintaining the generalized synchronization stability, the countermeasure to solve the inapplicability of the electromechanical transient analysis method and a systematic approach to tackle the broadband resonance instability are proposed in the paper.
The Role of Genetics, Epigenetics, and the Environment in ASD: A Mini Review
Authors: Khogeer Asim A. , AboMansour Iman S. , Mohammed Dia A.
Published: June 2022

According to recent findings, variances in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk factors might be determined by several factors, including molecular genetic variants. Accumulated evidence has also revealed the important role of biological and chemical pathways in ASD aetiology. In this paper, we assess several reviews with regard to their quality of evidence and provide a brief outline of the presumed mechanisms of the genetic, epigenetic, and environmental risk factors of ASD. We also review some of the critical literature, which supports the basis of each factor in the underlying and specific risk patterns of ASD. Finally, we consider some of the implications of recent research regarding potential molecular targets for future investigations.
Distribution Pattern of Woody Plants in a Mountain Forest Ecosystem Influenced by Topography and Monsoons
Authors: Zhou Xiayan , Wang Zhao , Liu Wenxin , Fu Qianjin , Shao Yizhen , Liu Fengqin , Ye Yongzhong , Chen Yun , Yuan Zhiliang
Published: June 2022

Many areas are affected by the monsoon because of different sea and land positions. At the same time, the blocking effect of a mountain range forms different habitats on both sides of the mountain range. However, the distribution mechanism of woody plants is unclear in mountain forest ecosystems influenced by topography and monsoons. In this study, 10 plots, each with an area of 1 hm2 (100 m × 100 m), were randomly established on the south and north aspects of a mountain forest. We examined community structure differences and distribution preferences of woody plants on both sides of the mountain. Our findings were as follows: (1) The characteristics of woody plant assemblages differed among various aspects. (2) Network analysis showed that specialization index was 0.186 and modularity index was 0.235, and the torus translation test showed that a total of 45 species were detected to be associated with at least one of the habitats (45/106, 42.45%). (3) The community stability of the south aspect was higher than that of the north aspect. Our findings suggest that the distribution of woody plants among different aspects was specialized and not random in alpine forest ecosystems. This study contributes to a clear understanding of the distribution mechanism of woody plants in mountain forest ecosystems influenced by topography and monsoons.
Psychophysiological Impacts of Traffic Sounds in Urban Green Spaces
Authors: Yu Boya , Bai Jie , Wen Linjie , Chai Yuying
Published: June 2022

The goal of this study is to investigate the psychophysiological effects of traffic sounds in urban green spaces. In a laboratory experiment, psychological and physiological responses to four traffic sounds were measured, including road, conventional train, high-speed train, and tram. The findings demonstrated that traffic sounds had significant detrimental psychological and physiological effects. In terms of psychological responses, the peak sound level outperformed the equivalent sound level in determining the psychological impact of traffic sounds. The physiological effects of traffic sounds were shown to be significantly influenced by sound type and sound level. The physiological response to the high-speed train sound differed significantly from the other three traffic sounds. The physiological effects of road traffic sounds were found to be unrelated to the sound level. On the contrary, as for the railway sounds, the change in sound level was observed to have a significant impact on the participants’ physiological indicators.
Auxiliary Seed Treatment Is Necessary to Increase Recruitment of a Critically Endangered Species, Abies beshanzuensis (Pinaceae)
Authors: Hu Rui , Liu Yajing , Zhang Jiaxin , Xing Hua , Jiang Sha , Liu Yu
Published: June 2022

Disordered germination is widely observed in plant species with extremely small populations (PSESPs) in China. Abies beshanzuensis M. H. Wu, a PSESP (with only three extant adults in Zhejiang Province, China) that also has poor seed germination in the field, belongs to the Pinaceae family. Pinaceae generally tend toward symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi to alleviate climate change-induced stresses. Therefore, exploring how to improve seed germination of A. beshanzuensis and whether it is an ECM species will contribute to increasing recruitment for conducting further conservation research. In this study, four temperature regimes (10/15 °C, 15/20 °C, 20/25 °C, and 25/30 °C) were selected to explore the response of seed germination to rising temperature. Based on the microscopic features of fine roots, together with molecular techniques, the mycorrhizal type of this species was identified. The seed germination of A. beshanzuensis was increased from 1–2% to around 4.5% by 14-day cold stratification and under 20/25 °C fluctuating temperature conditions. Our findings indicated that A. beshanzuensis may be endangered as a result of insufficient seedling recruitment due to poor germination under the current climate. A. beshanzuensis was confirmed as an ECM fungi-associated tree species. This study highlights the necessity of incorporating auxiliary seed treatment into population recovery programs of A. beshanzuensis, thereby better conserving the species under ongoing environmental changes.
Improved Hydrogen Peroxide Stress Resistance of Zymomonas mobilis NADH Dehydrogenase (ndh) and Alcohol Dehydrogenase (adhB) Mutants
Authors: Kovtuna Kristiana , Strazdina Inese , Bikerniece Mara , Galinina Nina , Rutkis Reinis , Martynova Jekaterina , Kalnenieks Uldis
Published: June 2022

Unintended shifts in stress resistance of microbial strains with engineered central metabolism may impact their growth and production performance under oxidative, lignocellulosic, solvent, and other stress conditions, and as such, must be taken into account in bioprocess design. In the present work, we studied oxidative stress resistance in mutant strains of the facultatively anaerobic, ethanologenic bacterium Zymomonas mobilis with modified respiratory (inactivated NADH dehydrogenase Ndh, by disruption of ndh) and ethanologenic (inactivated iron-containing alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzyme ADH II, by disruption of adhB) catabolism, using exogenously added H2O2 in the concentration range of 2–6 mM as the oxidative stressor. Both mutations improved H2O2 resistance and enhanced catalase activity by a factor of 2–5, while the overexpression of Ndh had an opposite effect. Strains with a catalase-negative background were unable to grow already at 1 mM hydrogen peroxide, and their H2O2 resistance did not depend on AdhB or Ndh expression levels. Hence, the improved resistance of the ndh and adhB mutants to H2O2 resulted from their elevated catalase activity. The interrelation between these mutations, the catabolic redox balance, catalase activity, and oxidative stress defense in Z. mobilis is discussed.
Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Red and White Wines Produced from Autochthonous Croatian Varieties: Effect of Moderate Consumption on Human Health
Authors: Radeka Sanja , Rossi Sara , Bestulić Ena , Budić-Leto Irena , Kovačević Ganić Karin , Horvat Ivana , Lukić Igor , Orbanić Fumica , Zaninović Jurjević Teodora , Dvornik Štefica
Published: June 2022

Moderate wine consumption is often associated with healthy lifestyle habits. The role of wine as a healthy drink is mainly due to its bioactive compounds, which differ according to various viticultural and enological factors. The aim of the present study was to observe the differences in bioactive compounds of white and red autochthonous Croatian wines, differing in terms of the grape variety and production technology. Our further aim was to explore the effect of their moderate consumption (200 mL per day) over the course of six weeks on some aspects of health in sixty-six healthy individuals. Participants were divided into eight groups depending on the wines consumed, while one group formed a non-consuming control group. Medical examination and laboratory tests were performed before the start and at the end of the consumption period. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL concentrations decreased. Additionally, an increase in HDL concentrations, and serotonin and dopamine levels, was observed. ALT, ALP, and GGT levels did not significantly increase in consumer groups, although alcohol concentration was relatively high in all the wines. Such results support the beneficial effects of wine-derived bioactive compounds on some health aspects resulting from moderate white and red wine consumption.
Application of an Eco-Friendly Antifungal Active Package to Extend the Shelf Life of Fresh Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L. cv. ‘Kweli’)
Authors: Vieira Tiago M. , Alves Vítor D. , Moldão Martins Margarida
Published: June 2022

The main objective of this study was to extend the shelf life of fresh red raspberry (Rubus idaeus. L. cv. ‘Kweli’) by using active film-pads inside commercial compostable packages. The pads were produced with chitosan (Ch) with the incorporation of green tea (GTE) and rosemary (RSME) ethanolic extracts as natural antifungal agents. Pads were placed on the bottom of commercial fruit trays underneath the fruits, and the trays were heat-sealed with a polyacid lactic (PLA) film. Preservation studies were carried out over 14 days of storage at refrigeration temperature (4 °C). Raspberry samples were periodically analyzed throughout storage, in terms of quality attributes (fungal decay, weight loss, firmness, surface color, pH, total soluble solids), total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Gas composition inside the packages was also analyzed over time. From the packaging systems tested, the ones with active film-pads Ch + GTE and Ch + RSME were highly effective in reducing fungal growth and decay of raspberry during storage, showing only around 13% and 5% of spoiled fruits after 14 days, respectively, in contrast with the packages without pads (around 80% of spoiled fruits detected). In addition, fruits preserved using packages with Ch + RSME active film-pads showed lower mass loss (5.6%), decreased firmness (3.7%) and reduced antioxidant activity (around 9% and 15% for DPPH and FRAP methods, respectively). This sustainable packaging presents a potential strategy for the preservation of raspberries and other highly perishable small fruits.
Extraction and Evaluation of Bioactive Compounds from Date (Phoenix dactylifera) Seed Using Supercritical and Subcritical CO2 Techniques
Authors: Ghafoor Kashif , Sarker Md. Zaidul Islam , Al-Juhaimi Fahad Y. , Babiker Elfadil E. , Alkaltham Mohammed S. , Almubarak Abdullah K.
Published: June 2022

Date (Phoenix dactylifera) seed is a potential source of natural antioxidants, and the use of innovative green and low temperature antioxidant recovery techniques (using CO2 as solvent) such as supercritical fluid (SFE) and subcritical (SubCO2) extractions can improve their yields and quality in the extracts. SFE, SubCO2 and Soxhlet techniques were employed to enrich antioxidants in extracts from Sukari (SKSE), Ambara (AMSE), Majdool (MJSE) and Sagai (SGSE) date seeds. Extract yields were evaluated and modelled for SFE extract using response surface methodology. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) phenolics (143.48–274.98 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoids (78.35–141.78 mg QE/100 g), anthocyanins (0.39–1.00 mg/100 g), and carotenoid (1.42–1.91 mg BCE/100 g) contents were detected in extracts obtained using SFE and SubCO2 methods. The evaluation of in vitro antioxidant properties showed that SFE and SubCO2 seed extracts demonstrated promising antioxidant (13.42–23.83 µg AAE/mL), antiradical (228.76–109.69 µg/mL DPPH IC50), ferric reducing antioxidant power (1.43–2.10 mmol TE/100 g) and ABTS cation scavenging (375.74-717.45 µmol TE/100 g) properties that were significantly higher than Soxhlet extracts. Both SFE and SubCO2 techniques can be effectively utilized as innovative and environmentally friendly alternatives to obtain high quality antioxidant rich extracts from date seed. These extracts may have potential functional and nutraceutical applications.
Effect of Different Cooking Methods on Selenium Content of Fish Commonly Consumed in Thailand
Authors: Singhato Alongkote , Judprasong Kunchit , Sridonpai Piyanut , Laitip Nunnapus , Ornthai Nattikarn , Yafa Charun , Chimkerd Chanika
Published: June 2022

Although fish are good sources of selenium (Se), an essential trace element for the human body, very limited data exist on Se content in commonly consumed fish in Thailand. Consequently, this study investigated selenium content and the effect of cooking among 10 fish species (5 freshwater and 5 marine) most-commonly consumed by the Thai people. The fish were purchased from three representative wholesale markets within or nearby to Bangkok. All fish species were prepared to determine their edible portions (EP) and moisture contents. Total Se in fresh, boiled, and fried fish were analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Triple Quadrupole-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-QQQ-MS). In general, higher levels of Se were found in marine fish (37.1–198.5 µg/100 g EP in fresh fish, 48.0–154.4 µg/100 g EP in boiled fish, and 52.9–262.4 µg/100 g EP in fried fish) compared to freshwater fish (6.9–29.4 µg/100 g EP in fresh fish, 10.1–26.5 µg/100 g EP in boiled fish, and 13.7–43.8 µg/100 g EP in fried fish). While Longtail tuna showed significantly higher Se content than other fish (p < 0.05), boiled Longtail tuna had significantly lower true retention of Se than the other fish (p < 0.05). Most fish species retained a high level of selenium (ranged 64.1–100.0% true retention in boiling and frying). Longtail tuna, Short-bodied mackerel, Indo-pacific Spanish mackerel, Nile tilapia, and red Nile tilapia–cooked by boiling and frying–are recommended for consumption as excellent sources of selenium.
Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Behavior of Bioactive Compounds of Miracle Oilseeds: An Overview
Authors: Morya Sonia , Menaa Farid , Jiménez-López Cecilia , Lourenço-Lopes Catarina , BinMowyna Mona Nasser , Alqahtani Ali
Published: June 2022

India plays an important role in the production of oilseeds, which are mainly cultivated for future extraction of their oil. In addition to the energic and nutritional contribution of these seeds, oilseeds are rich sources of bioactive compounds (e.g., phenolic compounds, proteins, minerals). A regular and moderate dietary supplementation of oilseeds promotes health, prevents the appearance of certain diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancers) and delays the aging process. Due to their relevant content in nutraceutical molecules, oilseeds and some of their associated processing wastes have raised interest in food and pharmaceutical industries searching for innovative products whose application provides health benefits to consumers. Furthermore, a circular economy approach could be considered regarding the re-use of oilseeds’ processing waste. The present article highlights the different oilseed types, the oilseeds-derived bioactive compounds as well as the health benefits associated with their consumption. In addition, the different types of extractive techniques that can be used to obtain vegetable oils rich from oilseeds, such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), are reported. We conclude that the development and improvement of oilseed markets and their byproducts could offer even more health benefits in the future, when added to other foods.
Storage Stability and Flavor Change of Marinated Pork
Authors: Zhang Yin , Li Hui , Zhang Yingjie , Wang Linguo , Zhang Pengcheng , Jia Jianlin , Peng Haichuan , Qian Qin , Zhang Jiaming , Pan Zhongli , Liu Dayu , Zhao Liming
Published: June 2022

To evaluate the storage stability and flavor changes of marinated pork treated with chili and pepper essential oils, the contents of total sulfhydryl, malondialdehyde, total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN), Ca2+ATPase activity, and total viable counts of marinated pork were determined. Further, the non-volatile (umami, numb, and spicy) and volatile flavor compounds of marinated pork were analyzed. Based on the results, the chili and pepper essential oils had limited effects on the storage stability of marinated pork. However, these essential oils could inhibit the oxidation of lipids and proteins and reduce the number of microorganisms and TVBN in marinated pork within 6 days. The non-volatile flavors of the marinated pork decreased as the refrigeration time increased. It was concluded that the decomposition of umami-enhancing nucleotides (GMP, IMP, XMP), the number of flavor substances (hydroxyl-α-sanshool, hydroxyl-β-sanshool), and spicy (capsaicin) tasting compounds caused the decrease in non-volatile flavors.
Dietary Fructooligosaccharides Effectively Facilitate the Production of High-Quality Eggs via Improving the Physiological Status of Laying Hens
Authors: Obianwuna Uchechukwu Edna , Chang Xin-Yu , Wang Jing , Zhang Hai-Jun , Qi Guang-Hai , Qiu Kai , Wu Shu-Geng
Published: June 2022

The focus of this study was to investigate the influence of prebiotics, such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS), on laying performance, egg quality, apparent fecal amino acid digestibility, jejunal morphology, hematological indices, immunological response, and antioxidant capacity in laying hens. A total of 216 healthy Hy-Line Brown laying hens aged 30 weeks were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: basal diet, basal diet supplemented with 0.3 percent FOS, or 0.6 percent FOS. For 84 days, each treatment was fed the corresponding experimental diet. According to the findings, dietary supplementation with FOS enhanced laying performance and egg mass while lowering mortality rate. Albumen height, thick albumen content, Haugh unit, and eggshell thickness were also improved by the prebiotics. Prebiotics also boosted antioxidant status by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, improved morphological development of the jejunum as demonstrated by significant increases in villi height, villi width, ratio of villi height to crypt depth, and reduced crypt depth. The prebiotics group showed a considerable increase in immunoglobulin M, G, and A (IgM, IgG, and IgA) levels, as well as a similar effect on complement proteins (C3). Furthermore, the apparent fecal amino acid digestibility of most essential amino acids was significantly enhanced. Conclusively, fructooligosaccharides at inclusion level of 0.6% efficiently enhanced laying performance and production of high-quality eggs while positively modulating amino acid digestibility, jejunal morphology, antioxidant status, and immune functions of the laying hens.
A Novel Modeling Method of Micro-Topography for Grinding Surface Based on Ubiquitiform Theory
Authors: Liu Yue , An Qi , Huang Min , Shang Deyong , Bai Long
Published: June 2022

In order to simulate the grinding surface more accurately, a novel modeling method is proposed based on the ubiquitiform theory. Combined with the power spectral density (PSD) analysis of the measured surface, the anisotropic characteristics of the grinding surface are verified. Based on the isotropic fractal Weierstrass–Mandbrot (W-M) function, the expression of the anisotropic fractal surface is derived. Then, the lower bound of scale invariance δmin is introduced into the anisotropic fractal, and an anisotropic W-M function with ubiquitiformal properties is constructed. After that, the influence law of the δmin on the roughness parameters is discussed, and the δmin for modeling the grinding surface is determined to be 10−8 m. When δmin = 10−8 m, the maximum relative errors of Sa, Sq, Ssk, and Sku of the four surfaces are 5.98%, 6.06%, 5.77%, and 4.53%, respectively. In addition, the relative errors of roughness parameters under the fractal method and the ubiquitiformal method are compared. The comparison results show that the relative errors of Sa, Sq, Ssk, and Sku under the ubiquitiformal modeling method are 5.36%, 6.06%, 5.84%, and 4.53%, while the maximum relative errors under the fractal modeling method are 23.21%, 7.03%, 83.10%, and 7.25%. The comparison results verified the accuracy of the modeling method in this paper.
A Ten-Year Study on Alkali Content of Coal Fly Ash
Authors: Sanjuán Miguel Ángel , Argiz Cristina
Published: June 2022

After years of decline, coal consumption has risen significantly in the last year (2021), driven mainly by the ever-increasing demand in fast-growing Asian countries and fostered by rising gas prices in Europe and the United States. Coal is both the largest electricity production source and the largest source of carbon dioxide emission. Coal-fired plants produce electricity by generating steam by burning coal in a boiler, but also large amounts of coal fly ash. Coal fly ash contains essential constituents for cement production, such as Ca, Si, Al, and Fe. Application of coal-fired ash to produce clinker at high doses may reduce the limestone content in the raw mix. Furthermore, coal fly ash is one of the industrial source materials utilized in the development of low-carbon cements and concretes on account of its chemical characteristics. The monitoring methodology is based fundamentally on the analysis of a set of variables (Na2Oe, Na2O, K2O, free CaO, and reactive silica content and fineness) over time. Weak relations between Na2O and K2O, and Na2Oe, and reactive silica content were found. This applied research has been done to verify previously done research. The scope of this paper is to assess the alkaline content of coal fly ash over a period of 10 years. The Na2O-equivalent of coal fly ash ranged from 0.35% to 2.53%, with an average value of 0.79%. These values should be taken into account producing concretes made with potentially reactive aggregates in order to mitigate the alkali–silica reaction (ASR).
Imidazolium Ionic Liquids as Designer Solvents Confined in Silica Nanopores
Authors: Putz Ana-Maria , Len Adél , Trif László , Horváth Zsolt Endre , Almásy László
Published: June 2022

Composite silica xerogels were prepared via acid catalysed sol–gel route using tetraethoxysilan (TEOS) as silica precursor, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM][BF4] or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIM][Cl] ionic liquids, used simultaneously as co-solvents, catalysts and pore templates, at various IL-to-silica ratios. Morphology of the xerogels prepared using the different IL templating agents were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen sorption and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). The thermal behavior of the composites was analyzed by thermal gravimetry, whereas the compositions were checked by infrared spectroscopy and EDX. The differences in the morphology and thermal behavior of the composites due to the different IL additives were revealed.
Polycarboxybetaine-Based Hydrogels for the Capture and Release of Circulating Tumor Cells
Authors: Chien Hsiu-Wen , Wu Jen-Chia , Chang Ying-Chih , Tsai Wei-Bor
Published: June 2022

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are indicators for the detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of cancers and offer biological information for the development of personalized medicine. Techniques for the specific capture and non-destructive release of CTCs from millions of blood cells remain highly desirable. Here, we present a CTC capture-and-release system using a disulfide-containing poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (pCB) hydrogel. The non-fouling characteristic of pCB prevents unwanted, nonspecific cell binding, while the carboxyl functionality of pCB is used for the conjugation of anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (anti-EpCAM) antibodies for the capture of CTCs. The results demonstrated that the anti-EpCAM-conjugated pCB hydrogel captured HCT116 cells from blood, and the capture ratio reached 45%. Furthermore, the captured HCT116 cells were released within 30 min from the dissolution of the pCB hydrogel by adding cysteine, which breaks the disulfide bonds of the crosslinkers. The cells released were viable and able to grow. Our system has potential in the development of a device for CTC diagnosis.
Chitosan: Sources, Processing and Modification Techniques
Authors: Pellis Alessandro , Guebitz Georg M. , Nyanhongo Gibson Stephen
Published: June 2022

Chitosan, a copolymer of glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine, is derived from chitin. Chitin is found in cell walls of crustaceans, fungi, insects and in some algae, microorganisms, and some invertebrate animals. Chitosan is emerging as a very important raw material for the synthesis of a wide range of products used for food, medical, pharmaceutical, health care, agriculture, industry, and environmental pollution protection. This review, in line with the focus of this special issue, provides the reader with (1) an overview on different sources of chitin, (2) advances in techniques used to extract chitin and converting it into chitosan, (3) the importance of the inherent characteristics of the chitosan from different sources that makes them suitable for specific applications and, finally, (4) briefly summarizes ways of tailoring chitosan for specific applications. The review also presents the influence of the degree of acetylation (DA) and degree of deacetylation (DDA), molecular weight (Mw) on the physicochemical and biological properties of chitosan, acid-base behavior, biodegradability, solubility, reactivity, among many other properties that determine processability and suitability for specific applications. This is intended to help guide researchers select the right chitosan raw material for their specific applications.
Screening of Differentially Expressed Genes and miRNAs in Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland of Sheep under Different Photoperiods
Authors: Liu Qingqing , Di Ran , Ren Chunhuan , He Xiaoyun , Wang Xiangyu , Xia Qing , Chu Mingxing , Zhang Zijun
Published: June 2022

The reproduction of sheep is affected by many factors such as light, nutrition and genetics. The Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is an important pathway for sheep reproduction, and changes in HPG axis-related gene expression can affect sheep reproduction. In this study, a model of bilateral ovarian removal and estrogen supplementation (OVX + E2) was applied to screen differentially expressed genes and miRNAs under different photoperiods using whole transcriptome sequencing and reveal the regulatory effects of the photoperiod on the upstream tissues of the HPG axis in sheep. Whole transcriptome sequencing was performed in ewe hypothalamus (HYP) and distal pituitary (PD) tissues under short photoperiod 21st day (SP21) and long photoperiod 21st day (LP21). Compared to the short photoperiod, a total of 1813 differential genes (up-regulation 966 and down-regulation 847) and 145 differential miRNAs (up-regulation 73 and down-regulation 72) were identified in the hypothalamus of long photoperiod group. Similarly, 2492 differential genes (up-regulation 1829 and down-regulation 663) and 59 differential miRNAs (up-regulation 49 and down-regulation 10) were identified in the pituitary of long photoperiod group. Subsequently, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the differential genes and target genes of differential miRNA were enriched in GnRH, Wnt, ErbB and circadian rhythm pathways associated with reproduction. Combined with sequence complementation and gene expression correlation analysis, several miRNA-mRNA target combinations (e.g., LHB regulated by novel-414) were obtained. Taken together, these results will help to understand the regulatory effect of the photoperiod on the upstream tissues of HPG in sheep.
Exploring the Potential of Symmetric Exon Deletion to Treat Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy by Removing Frameshift Mutations in TTN
Authors: Rodriguez-Polo Ignacio , Behr Rüdiger
Published: June 2022

Non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most frequent pathologies requiring cardiac transplants. Even though the etiology of this disease is complex, frameshift mutations in the giant sarcomeric protein Titin could explain up to 25% of the familial and 18% of the sporadic cases of DCM. Many studies have shown the potential of genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 to correct truncating mutations in sarcomeric proteins and have established the grounds for myoediting. However, these therapies are still in an immature state, with only few studies showing an efficient treatment of cardiac diseases. This publication hypothesizes that the Titin (TTN)-specific gene structure allows the application of myoediting approaches in a broad range of locations to reframe TTNtvvariants and to treat DCM patients. Additionally, to pave the way for the generation of efficient myoediting approaches for DCM, we screened and selected promising target locations in TTN. We conceptually explored the deletion of symmetric exons as a therapeutic approach to restore TTN’s reading frame in cases of frameshift mutations. We identified a set of 94 potential candidate exons of TTN that we consider particularly suitable for this therapeutic deletion. With this study, we aim to contribute to the development of new therapies to efficiently treat titinopathies and other diseases caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins with modular structures, e.g., Obscurin.
Integrated Analysis of a Ferroptosis-Related LncRNA Signature for Evaluating the Prognosis of Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Xu Shaohua , Zhou Yanjie , Luo Junyun , Chen Su , Xie Jiahui , Liu Hui , Wang Yirong , Li Zhaoyong
Published: June 2022

LncRNAs have been well known for their multiple functions in the tumorigenesis, development, and relapse of colorectal cancer (CRC). Accumulating studies demonstrated that the expression of lncRNAs can be regulated by ferroptosis, a biological process that has been revealed to suppress CRC progression. However, the functions and clinical implications of ferroptosis-associated lncRNAs in CRC remain largely unknown. We, herein, aim to construct a prognostic signature with ferroptosis-related lncRNAs for the prognostic estimation of CRC patients. Firstly, we identified the lncRNAs related to ferroptosis based on the RNA-Seq data of CRC from the TCGA database. The univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were then performed to establish a prognostic signature composed of eight ferroptosis-related lncRNAs (AL161729.4, AC010973.2, CCDC144NL-AS1, AC009549.1, LINC01857, AP003555.1, AC099850.3, and AC008494.3). Furthermore, we divided the CRC patients into high- and low-risk groups based on the signature and found the overall survival (OS) of patients in the high-risk group was significantly shorter than that in the low-risk group (p = 3.31 × 10−11). Moreover, the patients in the high-risk groups had shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p = 6.5 × 10−3) and disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 4.27 × 10−4), as well as higher tumor recurrence rate. Additionally, we found that the oncogenic pathways were enriched in the high-risk group, whereas the ferroptosis pathway that probably repressed CRC development was enriched in the low-risk group. In summary, our signature may provide a theoretical foundation for not only accurate judgment for prognosis but also evaluation for recurrence and metastasis in CRC patients.