bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting and Managing EV Charging Demand on Electrical Grids: A Simulation-Based Approach
Authors: Jaruwatanachai Pramote , Sukamongkol Yod , Samanchuen Taweesak
Published: April 2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular, and it is important for utilities to understand their charging characteristics to accurately estimate the demand on the electrical grid. In this work, we developed simulation models for different EV charging scenarios in the home sector. We used them to predict maximum demand based on the increasing penetration of EV consumers. We comprehensively reviewed the literature on EV charging technologies, battery capacity, charging situations, and the impact of EV loads. Our results suggest a method for visualizing the impact of EV charging loads by considering factors such as state of charge, arrival time, charging duration, rate of charge, maximum charging power, and involvement rate. This method can be used to model load profiles and determine the number of chargers needed to meet EV user demand. We also explored the use of a time-of-use (TOU) tariff as a demand response strategy, which encourages EV owners to charge their vehicles off-peak in order to avoid higher demand charges. Our simulation results show the effects of various charging conditions on load profiles and indicate that the current TOU price strategy can accommodate a 20% growth in EV consumers, while the alternative TOU price strategy can handle up to a 30% penetration level.
Supercritical Water Gasification of Coconut Shell Impregnated with a Nickel Nanocatalyst: Box–Behnken Design and Process Evaluation
Authors: Marcelino Marcela M. , Leeke Gary A. , Jiang Guozhan , Onwudili Jude A. , Alves Carine T. , Santana Delano M. de , Torres Felipe A. , Torres Ednildo A. , Vieira de Melo Silvio A. B.
Published: April 2023

The energy conversion of nickel-impregnated coconut shells using supercritical water has not yet been explored. The impregnation process was conducted at room temperature and a pH of 5.80 for 72 h. Characterization of the prepared sample confirmed the presence of nickel nanoparticles with an average size of 7.15 nm. The gasification of control and impregnated samples was performed at 400–500 °C, biomass loading from 20 to 30 wt% and residence time from 20 to 60 min. The response surface methodology (RSM) approach, with a Box–Behnken method, was used to design the experiments. The optimization model showed that the non-catalytic process at 500 °C, 60 min and 20 wt% of biomass loading could promote an H2 yield of 8.8 mol% and gasification efficiency of 47.6%. The gasification of nickel-impregnated coconut shells showed significantly higher gasification efficiency (58.6%) and hydrogen yield (17.2 mol%) with greater carbon and hydrogen efficiencies (109.4 and 116.9%) when compared to the non-catalytic process. The presence of nickel particles in the biomass matrix as nanocatalysts promoted higher hydrogen production and supercritical water gasification efficiency.
Techno-Economic Potential of Urban Photovoltaics: Comparison of Net Billing and Net Metering in a Mediterranean Municipality
Authors: Fuster-Palop Enrique , Prades-Gil Carlos , Masip Ximo , Viana-Fons J. D. , Payá Jorge
Published: April 2023

Solar photovoltaic self-consumption is an attractive approach to increase autarky and reduce emissions in the building sector. However, a successful deployment in urban rooftops requires both accurate and low-computational-cost methods to estimate the self-consumption potential and economic feasibility, which is especially scarce in the literature on net billing schemes. In the first part of this study, a bottom-up GIS-based techno-economic model has helped compare the self-consumption potential with net metering and net billing in a Mediterranean municipality of Spain, with 3734 buildings in total. The capacity was optimized according to load profiles obtained from aggregated real measurements. Multiple load profile scenarios were assessed, revealing that the potential self-sufficiency of the municipality ranges between 21.9% and 42.5%. In the second part of the study, simplified regression-based models were developed to estimate the self-sufficiency, self-consumption, economic payback and internal rate of return at a building scale, providing nRMSE values of 3.9%, 3.1%, 10.0% and 1.5%, respectively. One of the predictors with a high correlation in the regressions is a novel coefficient that measures the alignment between the load and the hours with higher irradiance. The developed correlations can be employed for any other economic or demand scenario.
Best Practice Data Sharing Guidelines for Wind Turbine Fault Detection Model Evaluation
Authors: Barber Sarah , Izagirre Unai , Serradilla Oscar , Olaizola Jon , Zugasti Ekhi , Aizpurua Jose Ignacio , Milani Ali Eftekhari , Sehnke Frank , Sakagami Yoshiaki , Henderson Charles
Published: April 2023

In this paper, a set of best practice data sharing guidelines for wind turbine fault detection model evaluation is developed, which can help practitioners overcome the main challenges of digitalisation. Digitalisation is one of the key drivers for reducing costs and risks over the whole wind energy project life cycle. One of the largest challenges in successfully implementing digitalisation is the lack of data sharing and collaboration between organisations in the sector. In order to overcome this challenge, a new collaboration framework called WeDoWind was developed in recent work. The main innovation of this framework is the way it creates tangible incentives to motivate and empower different types of people from all over the world to share data and knowledge in practice. In this present paper, the challenges related to comparing and evaluating different SCADA-data-based wind turbine fault detection models are investigated by carrying out a new case study, the “WinJi Gearbox Fault Detection Challenge”, based on the WeDoWind framework. A total of six new solutions were submitted to the challenge, and a comparison and evaluation of the results show that, in general, some of the approaches (Particle Swarm Optimisation algorithm for constructing health indicators, performance monitoring using Deep Neural Networks, Combined Ward Hierarchical Clustering and Novelty Detection with Local Outlier Factor and Time-to-failure prediction using Random Forest Regression) appear to exhibit high potential to reach the goals of the Challenge. However, there are a number of concrete things that would have to have been done by the Challenge providers and the Challenge moderators in order to ensure success. This includes enabling access to more details of the different failure types, access to multiple data sets from more wind turbines experiencing gearbox failure, provision of a model or rule relating fault detection times or a remaining useful lifetime to the estimated costs for repairs, replacements and inspections, provision of a clear strategy for training and test periods in advance, as well as provision of a pre-defined template or requirements for the results. These learning outcomes are used directly to define a set of best practice data sharing guidelines for wind turbine fault detection model evaluation. The guidelines can be used by researchers in the sector in order to improve model evaluation and data sharing in the future.
Hydrodynamic Effect of Highly Skewed Horizontal-Axis Tidal Turbine (HATT) Rotors
Authors: Xu Yiyi , Foong Juin Ming , Liu Pengfei
Published: April 2023

While hydro turbines generate over 40% of the world’s total renewable energy, these traditional turbines present a great environmental concern due to the potential of their sharp blades to damage aquatic lives and ecology, along with their harmful noise and vibration during operation. One effective solution to these environmental issues is to substantially increase the skew of these blades, which would result in a much safer blade operation for aquatic animals (such as fish, etc.) and a substantial reduction in noise and vibration. Adding skew to turbine rotors is known to reduce cavitation and noise, and hence, to mitigate the environmental impact on underwater fauna and flora. However, adding skew will compromise the power performance of the turbines. This study aimed to identify the effect of rotor skew on the hydrodynamic power performance of a series of horizontal-axis turbine rotors that were manufactured using 3D printing technology and tested in a towing tank. The diameter of the turbine rotor model was 0.3 m and the skewed angle contained positive and negative angles of 45, 60 and 90 degrees along with a non-skewed rotor. This study was conducted to analyze the hydrodynamics of a turbine rotor with different skew angles and a 0-degree skewed rotor. Various tip speed ratios, ranging from 2.3 to 4.3, were set in accordance with the RPM and the carriage speed. Gain and filter were applied to boost the signal, and post-calibration was conducted. The results show that (1) the non-skewed rotor had the highest power coefficient; (2) the rotor with a skew angle of 45 degrees had the lowest power loss, at 6.97%, compared with the zero-skew rotor blades; (3) while the larger the skew, the more loss in power production efficiency, the rotor with a negative 90-degree skewed angle had the largest power loss, 31.42%. It was then concluded that, based on the results and analysis, (1) to achieve the greatest reduction in noise and vibration, the rotor with a skew angle of 90 degrees would be the best choice, and (2) to mitigate noise/vibration and efficiency due to skew, the rotor with a skewed angle of 45 degrees would be the best design choice.
Decarbonization Measures: A Real Effect or Just a Declaration? An Assessment of Oil and Gas Companies’ Progress towards Carbon Neutrality
Authors: Cherepovitsyna Alina , Sheveleva Nadezhda , Riadinskaia Arina , Danilin Konstantin
Published: April 2023

Efforts to control climate change with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 have had the most significant impact on businesses operating in the energy sector, which produce large amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In light of such policies, oil and gas companies have set goals aimed at reducing GHG emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, but the issue remains open as to how such activities and progress towards these goals can be evaluated. This study attempts to assess the activities and progress of oil and gas companies towards carbon neutrality, with a focus on quantitative evaluation of goal achievement. First, an algorithm was developed for selecting global oil and gas companies for the analysis that reported their activities in 2022. Using this algorithm, a list of companies was compiled and their goals with regard to carbon neutrality were analyzed. Second, an assessment of how information is presented in corporate reports and which activities aimed at achieving carbon neutrality are reflected there was performed using the proposed checklist. Third, a method for evaluating the progress of oil and gas companies towards intermediate goals in the area of carbon neutrality was developed and tested. The method is based on assessing and comparing trends for oil and gas companies aiming to achieve intermediate goals in reducing carbon intensity. As a result, companies were classified into three categories: (1) those showing carbon neutrality achievement rates exceeding the expected average annual rates, (2) those with fixed carbon neutrality achievement rates below the expected average annual rates, and (3) those demonstrating no movement towards intermediate goals or a negative trend. The main methods used in this study included content analysis, checklist development, decomposition, critical and comparative analysis, and simple statistical methods.
Generator Fault Diagnosis with Bit-Coding Support Vector Regression Algorithm
Authors: Lin Whei-Min
Published: April 2023

Generator fault diagnosis has a great impact on power networks. With the coupling effects, some uncertain factors, and all the complexities of generator design, fault diagnosis is difficult using any theoretical analysis or mathematical model. This paper proposes a bit-coding support vector regression (BSVR) algorithm for turbine generator fault diagnosis (GFD) based on a support vector machine (SVM) capable of processing multiple classification problems of fault diagnosis. The BSVR can simplify the design architecture and reduce the processing time for detection, where m classifier is needed for m class problems compared to the [m(m − 1)]/2 size of the original multi-class SVM. Compared with conventional methods, numerical test results showed a high accuracy, good robustness, and a faster processing performance.
Physics-Based Prediction for the Consumption and Emissions of Passenger Vehicles and Light Trucks up to 2050
Authors: Dollinger Manfred , Fischerauer Gerhard
Published: April 2023

The increasing market share of electric vehicles and the politically intended phase-out of the internal combustion engine require reliable and realistic predictions for future consumption and greenhouse gas emissions as a function of technological solutions. This also includes the consumption- and emission-intensive transport of goods. We consider both passenger vehicles and commercial vehicle traffic in our study and have investigated whether there are drive alternatives to the battery electric vehicle that enable uninterrupted trips with a long range, especially for regional delivery services and internationally active freight forwarders. To this end, we have analysed three system architectures and their expected technological progress until 2050: battery electric vehicles (BEV), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV) running on compressed natural gas (CNG). The latter case serves as a best-practice reference from a combustion technology perspective. The analysis is based on a validated and proven physical model and predicts that the BEV2050 will consume 3.5 times less energy and emit 15 times fewer greenhouse gases than the ICEV-CNG2020, whereas the FCEV2050 will consume 2.5 times less energy and emit 6.5 times fewer greenhouse gases than the ICEV-CNG2020 on the road (hilly terrain, transition season, and WLTP triple-mixed drive cycle). The advantages of the BEV result from the shorter drive train with lower total losses. Our results thus confirm the expected role of the BEV as the dominant drive technology in the future, and light vehicles with low-to-medium-range requirements will especially benefit from it. On the other hand, since the greenhouse gas emissions of the FCEV2050 are lower by a factor of 6.5 than those of the ICEV-CNG2020, it is reasonable to conclude that the FCEV can play a significant role in transport until 2050 when long distances have to be covered. Our model-based approach also allows us to determine the energy fractions of the acting physical forces and thus calculate the consumption shares: electric drive recuperation increases BEV and FCEV range by about 15% in 2020 and will increase it by about 20% in 2050, depending on drive technology and vehicle type. Air and rolling resistance contribute 20% each to the total consumption. The consumption of the accessories of modern vehicles with a share of about 10% of the total consumption cannot be neglected.
Simulation Study of Hydrodynamic Conditions in Reaction Cell for Cement Biomineralization Using Factorial Design and Computational Fluid Dynamics: Prospects for Increased Useful Life of Concrete Structures and Energetic/Environmental Benefits
Authors: Roque Bruno Augusto Cabral , Brasileiro Pedro Pinto Ferreira , Brandão Yana Batista , de Lima Filho Hilario Jorge Bezerra , Converti Attilio , Aliakbarian Bahar , Benachour Mohand , Sarubbo Leonie Asfora
Published: April 2023

Studies have reported the incorporation of microorganisms into cement to promote the formation of calcium carbonate in cracks of concrete, a process known as biomineralization. The paper aims to improve the process of the cascade system for biomineralization in cement by identifying the best hydrodynamic conditions in a reaction cell in order to increase the useful life of concrete structures and, therefore, bring energy and environmental benefits. Two central composite rotatable designs were used to establish the positioning of the air inlet and outlet in the lateral or upper region of the geometry of the reaction cell. The geometries of the reaction cell were constructed in SOLIDWORKS®, and computational fluid dynamics was performed using the Flow Simulation tool of the same software. The results were submitted to statistical analysis. The best combination of meshes for the simulation was global mesh 4 and local mesh 5. The statistical analysis applied to gas velocity and pressure revealed that air flow rate was the factor with the greatest sensitivity, with R2 values up to 99.9%. The geometry with the air outlet and inlet in the lateral region was considered to be the best option.
Cellulases: From Lignocellulosic Biomass to Improved Production
Authors: Ilić Nevena , Milić Marija , Beluhan Sunčica , Dimitrijević-Branković Suzana
Published: April 2023

Cellulases are enzymes that are attracting worldwide attention because of their ability to degrade cellulose in the lignocellulosic biomass and transform it into highly demanded bioethanol. The enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose by cellulases into fermentable sugars is a crucial step in biofuel production, given the complex structure of lignocellulose. Due to cellulases’ unique ability to hydrolyze the very recaltricant nature of lignocellulosic biomass, the cellulase market demand is rapidly growing. Although cellulases have been used in industrial applications for decades, constant effort is being made in the field of enzyme innovation to develop cellulase mixtures/cocktails with improved performance. Given that the main producers of cellulases are of microbial origin, there is a constant need to isolate new microorganisms as potential producers of enzymes important for biofuel production. This review provides insight into current research on improving microbial cellulase production as well as the outlook for the cellulase market with commercial cellulase preparation involved in industrial bioethanol production.
Actualization and Adoption of Renewable Energy Usage in Remote Communities in Canada by 2050: A Review
Authors: Agu Obiora S. , Tabil Lope G. , Mupondwa Edmund
Published: April 2023

Remote community initiatives for renewable energy are rapidly emerging across Canada but with varying numbers, success rates, and strategies. To meet low-carbon transition goals, the need to coordinate technology deployment and long-term policy to guide the adoption is critical. Renewable resources such as wind, solar, hydro, and biomass can provide energy at a subsidized cost, create sustainable infrastructure, and provide new economic viability in social value integration. The renewable energy transition is crucial to Canada in sustaining remote and indigenous communities by providing local, clean, and low-carbon-emission energy for heat, power, and possibly transportation. This paper identified 635 renewable resources projects deployed to improve and increase electricity supply. To an extent, balancing demand within the remote and indigenous communities of Canada and highlighting sustainable renewable energy development through ownership participation within the communities is achievable before 2050 and beyond through energy efficiency and the social value of energy. The article identifies clean energy targets as mandated by the different provinces in Canada to reach net-zero GHG emissions.
Implementation of Cloud Point Extraction Using Surfactants in the Recovery of Polyphenols from Apricot Cannery Waste
Authors: Giovanoudis Ioannis , Athanasiadis Vassilis , Chatzimitakos Theodoros , Kalompatsios Dimitrios , Bozinou Eleni , Gortzi Olga , Nanos George D. , Lalas Stavros I.
Published: April 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using Cloud Point Extraction (CPE) to isolate natural antioxidants (polyphenols) from apricot cannery waste (ACW). Four different food-grade surfactants (Genapol X-080, PEG 8000, Tween 80, and Lecithin) were tested at varying concentrations to evaluate the effectiveness of the technique. It was observed that low concentrations of surfactants in one-step CPE resulted in less than 65% polyphenol recovery, which necessitated further extraction steps. However, high concentrations of surfactants were found to significantly improve polyphenol extraction from ACW for all surfactants tested. Among the four surfactants, PEG 8000 was found to be the most effective in most circumstances; specifically, adding only 2% of the surfactant per step in a two-step CPE was enough to effectively extract polyphenols with recovery rates better than 99%. When 10% w/v of PEG 8000 was used, recoveries greater than 92% were obtained. Since PEG 8000 is a reagent with low toxicity and the CPE method is simple, rapid, cheap, sensitive, and selective, the extracted organic compounds from ACW can be used as natural antioxidants in food technology. This has important implications for the development of natural and sustainable food additives.
Generalized Linear Models for Describing Tree Gaps in Forest Management Areas in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Zeferino Suzana Ligoski , Gama Natally Celestino , Souza Deivison Venicio , de Souza Alex Soares , Ruz Emil José Hernández , da Silva Sandra Dezuite Balieiro
Published: April 2023

Gap size is one of the main variables used to quantify the environmental consequences of forest management that can help in quantifying and monitoring changes in clearing areas. This study aimed to characterize gaps from harvested individuals, quantify the resulting forest damage, and adjust equations to describe gaps after tree cutting. Our research was conducted in three phytophysiognomies of the eastern Pará Amazon. We performed descriptive analyses using data on gap size and damage to the remaining individuals in each phytophysiognomy. We then applied predictive modeling to estimate clearing size using a generalized linear model. Modeling parameters included Gaussian, gamma, and inverse Gaussian families, with linking and transforming functions of the analyzed variables. Among the three phytophysiognomies, the largest clearings were observed in open ombrophilous forests with lianas (27,650 to 548,460 m2), with 56 large gaps, 148 medium, and 113 small. The model with three linear predictors (diameter, height, and phytophysiognomy), inverse Gaussian distribution, and logarithmic link function showed the best fit. There were notable differences in clearing size across phytophysiognomies, suggesting that the phytophysiognomy should be considered when planning measures to mitigate the impacts of forest management.
A Fire Evacuation and Control System in Smart Buildings Based on the Internet of Things and a Hybrid Intelligent Algorithm
Authors: Mohammadiounotikandi Ali , Fakhruldeen Hassan Falah , Meqdad Maytham N. , Ibrahim Banar Fareed , Jafari Navimipour Nima , Unal Mehmet
Published: April 2023

Concerns about fire risk reduction and rescue tactics have been raised in light of recent incidents involving flammable cladding systems and fast fire spread in high-rise buildings worldwide. Thus, governments, engineers, and building designers should prioritize fire safety. During a fire event, an emergency evacuation system is indispensable in large buildings, which guides evacuees to exit gates as fast as possible by dynamic and safe routes. Evacuation plans should evaluate whether paths inside the structures are appropriate for evacuations, considering the building’s electric power, electric controls, energy usage, and fire/smoke protection. On the other hand, the Internet of Things (IoT) is emerging as a catalyst for creating and optimizing the supply and consumption of intelligent services to achieve an efficient system. Smart buildings use IoT sensors for monitoring indoor environmental parameters, such as temperature, humidity, luminosity, and air quality. This research proposes a new way for a smart building fire evacuation and control system based on the IoT to direct individuals along an evacuation route during fire incidents efficiently. This research utilizes a hybrid nature-inspired optimization approach, Emperor Penguin Colony, and Particle Swarm Optimization (EPC-PSO). The EPC algorithm is regulated by the penguins’ body heat radiation and spiral-like movement inside their colony. The behavior of emperor penguins improves the PSO algorithm for sooner convergences. The method also uses a particle idea of PSO to update the penguins’ positions. Experimental results showed that the proposed method was executed accurately and effectively by cost, energy consumption, and execution time-related challenges to ensure minimum life and resource causalities. The method has decreased the execution time and cost by 10.41% and 25% compared to other algorithms. Moreover, to achieve a sustainable system, the proposed method has decreased energy consumption by 11.90% compared to other algorithms.
Slight Temperature Deviation during a 56-Day Storage Period Does Not Affect the Microbiota of Fresh Vacuum-Packed Pork Loins
Authors: Braley Charlotte , Gaucher Marie-Lou , Fravalo Philippe , Shedleur-Bourguignon Fanie , Longpré Jessie , Thibodeau Alexandre
Published: April 2023

It is profitable to export fresh meat overseas, where it is often regarded as a premium commodity. Meeting this demand for fresh meat, however, necessitates long export times, during which uncontrolled temperature increases can affect the microbiological quality of the meat and thereby, reduce shelf life or compromise food safety. To study the impact of temperature deviations on microbial community composition and diversity, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing for Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. detection to describe the surface microbiota of eight batches of vacuum-packed loins stored at −1.5 °C (control) for 56 days and subjected to a 2 °C or 10 °C temperature deviation for a few hours (mimicking problems regularly encountered in the industry) at day 15 or 29. The presence of pathogens was negligible. The applied temperature deviations were not associated with different microbiota. Sequencing analysis showed the presence of Yersinia, an unexpected pathogen, and relative abundance increased in the groups subjected to temperature deviations. Over time, Lactobacillales_unclassified genus became the main constituent of the microbiota of vacuum-packed pork loins. Although the microbiota of the eight batches appeared similar at the beginning of storage, differences were revealed after 56 days, suggesting unequal aging of the microbiota.
Impact of Processing Methods on the In Vitro Protein Digestibility and DIAAS of Various Foods Produced by Millet, Highland Barley and Buckwheat
Authors: Fu Lulu , Gao Song , Li Bo
Published: April 2023

Cereals are rich sources of dietary protein, whose nutritional assessments are often performed on raw grains or protein isolates. However, processing and gastrointestinal digestion may affect amino acid (AA) compositions, then change the protein quality. In this study, we determined the digestibility and AA compositions of various foods produced by whole grains (PG) or flour (PF) from three cereals (millet, highland barley and buckwheat) and analyzed the impact of processing methods on the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS) using the INFOGEST protocol. The in vitro protein digestibility of cereal-based foods was lower than raw grains, and PF showed a better digestion property than PG. The intestinal digestibility of individual AA within a food varied widely, and the digestibility of Cys and Ile was the lowest among all AAs. The DIAAS values of PG were lower than those of PF in each kind of cereal, and PF of buckwheat had the highest DIAAS value, followed by highland barley. The first limiting AA was still Lys for millet and highland barley compared to the raw grains; however, for buckwheat it was Leu. This study provided nutritional information on cereal products and helped to guide the collocation of different foods in diets.
Industrial Multiple-Effect Fractional Condensation under Vacuum for the Recovery of Hop Terpene Fractions in Water
Authors: Lamberti Lorenzo , Boffa Luisa , Grillo Giorgio , Concari Stefano , Cavani Francesca , Cravotto Giancarlo
Published: April 2023

The inflorescences of Humulus lupulus L. are the most valuable ingredient in the brewing industry. Only female cones are used as their bitterness and aroma, much associated with beer, are granted by the production of resins and essential oils, respectively. The traditional brewing process for the extraction of the organic volatiles in hops is called dry hopping. It consists of extended maceration at low temperature after the fermentation phase. New extraction technologies can improve extraction rates and product quality while saving time and money. This article proves that multiple-effect fractional condensation under a vacuum is suitable for flavouring applications and especially for performing dry hopping without contamination risks and reductions in hop amounts. This technique leads to the recovery of aqueous aromatic fractions that are very rich in hop sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes. These suspensions are extremely stable when stored at 5–8 °C and avoid degradation even after several months. This feature is crucial for the marketing of non-alcoholic beverages, where the dilution of essential oils is otherwise problematic.
Pro- and Antioxidant Effect of Food Items and Matrices during Simulated In Vitro Digestion
Authors: Vahid Farhad , Wagener Lisi , Leners Bernadette , Bohn Torsten
Published: April 2023

The digestive tract can be considered a bioreactor. High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during digestion may predispose for local and/or systemic oxidative stress and inflammation, e.g., inflammatory bowel diseases. Food items rich in antioxidants may prevent such aggravation. This investigation analyzed pro-and antioxidant patterns of food matrices/items following in vitro digestion. Gastrointestinal digestion reflecting typically consumed quantities was performed on nine food items (orange and tomato juice, soda, coffee, white chocolate, sausage, vitamin C and E, and curcumin) and their combinations (n = 24), using the INFOGEST model. Antioxidant potential was measured by FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS, and pro-oxidant aspects by MDA (malondialdehyde) and peroxide formation. An anti-pro-oxidant score was developed, combining the five assays. Liquid food items showed moderately high antioxidant values, except for coffee and orange juice, which exhibited a high antioxidant potential. Solid matrices, e.g., white chocolate and sausage, showed both high pro-oxidant (up to 22 mg/L MDA) and high antioxidant potential (up to 336 mg/L vitamin C equivalents) at the same time. Individual vitamins (C and E) at physiological levels (achievable from food items) showed a moderate antioxidant potential (<220 mg/L vitamin C equivalents). Overall, both antioxidant and pro-oxidant assays correlated well, with correlation coefficients of up to 0.894. The effects of food combinations were generally additive, i.e., non-synergistic, except for combinations with sausage, where strong quenching effects for MDA were observed, e.g., with orange juice. In conclusion, as especially highlighted by complex matrices demonstrating both pro- and antioxidant potential, only measuring one aspect would result in physiological misinterpretations. Therefore, it is imperative to employ a combination of assays to evaluate both pro- and antioxidant properties of food digesta to ensure physiological relevance.
Sex Does Not Affect the Colour, Shear Stress, and Lipid Oxidation of Pork Meat, but Feed-Added Plant-Derived Extracts, Storage Time and Packaging Type Do
Authors: Panea Begoña , Ripoll Guillermo
Published: April 2023

Essential plant oils added to products, packaging or animal feed are used as a method of preserving food quality because they extend the shelf-life of meat due their antioxidant and/or antimicrobial capacity. This action can be achieved with the correct packaging that preserves the meat’s quality and safety. This study investigates the effects of plant-derived extracts (PDE) on the meat quality and shelf-life of pork packaged in vacuum or modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Thirty-six barrows and thirty-six gilts were allocated into three experimental groups: the control, garlic extract (1 kg/ton of feed) and oregano–rosemary oil (2 kg/ton of feed) with the same base-diet. Two packaging were used: vacuum and a commercial MAP (70% O2, 30% CO2). The meat fat content, pH, colour, TBARS values and Warner–Bratzler shear stress were investigated. The sex of the animals did not affect any of the studied variables, whereas PDE affected some of the colour variables and the shear stress; both the packaging type and the storage time affected the colour variables, lipid oxidation and shear stress. Vacuum-packed meat was more stable in terms of colour, lipid oxidation and shear stress than MAP-packed meat.
Nutritional and Feeding Adaptability of Clanis bilineata tsingtauica Larvae to Different Cultivars of Soybean, (Glycine max)
Authors: Qian Lei , Chen Bo-Jian , Gui Fu-Rong , Qin Yi , Deng Pan , Liao Huai-Jian
Published: April 2023

The larvae of Clanis bilineata tsingtauica, a special species of Chinese edible insect, are of great nutritional, medicinal and economic value to humans. This study aimed to clarify the effect of different soybean varieties (Guandou-3 (G3), Ruidou-1 (R1), September cold (SC)) on the nutritional quality and feeding selection behavior of C. bilineata tsingtauica larvae. The results showed that soybean isoleucine (Ile) and phenylalanine (Phe) were positively correlated with larval host selection (HS) and protein content. The order of soybean plants selected by C. bilineata tsingtauica larvae was R1 > SC > G3, and they selected R1 significantly higher than SC and G3 by 50.55% and 109.01%, respectively. The protein content of the larvae fed on R1 was also the highest among the three cultivars. In addition, a total of 17 volatiles belonging to 5 classes were detected from soybeans: aldehydes, esters, alcohols, ketones, and heterocyclic compounds. Pearson’s analysis showed that soybean methyl salicylate was positively correlated with larval HS and their protein content, and soybean 3-octenol was negatively correlated with larval HS and their palmitic acid content. In conclusion, C. bilineata tsingtauica larvae are more adapted to R1 than to the other two soybean species. This study provides a theoretical basis for the production of more protein-rich C. bilineata tsingtauica in the food industry.
Enhancing Hot Air Drying Efficiency through Electrostatic Field–Ultrasonic Coupling Pretreatment
Authors: Yang Ri-Fu , Peng Ying-Ying , Wang Yu-Rong
Published: April 2023

The drying of compact and biologically active materials presents significant challenges. In this study, we propose using electrostatic field–ultrasonic coupling pretreatment to enhance the drying efficiency of ginkgo fruits. We designed and constructed an experimental device to investigate the effects of ultrasonic power, pretreatment time, hot air drying temperature, and electrostatic field voltage on the moisture content of the fruits. We used the response surface methodology to identify optimal process conditions and further explored the kinetic model for the moisture content of the fruits under the pretreatment. The results showed that the optimal process parameters for electrostatic–ultrasound pretreatment and the drying of ginkgo fruits were: an electrostatic field voltage of 11.252 kV, an ultrasound power of 590.074 W, a pretreatment time of 32.799 min, and a hot air drying temperature of 85 °C. Under the optimized process conditions, the correlation between the moisture content of ginkgo fruits and the two-term drying kinetics model was the highest. After electrostatic–ultrasound coupling pretreatment, the drying rate of ginkgo fruits was significantly improved during hot air drying.
Novel Property Cytotoxicity and Mechanism of Food Preservative Brevilaterins against Human Gastric Cancer Cells
Authors: Chen Zhou , Hong Dan , Li Siting , Jia Yingmin
Published: April 2023

Brevilaterins, antimicrobial peptides produced by Brevibacillus laterosporus, are regarded as excellent food preservatives and are popular as antimicrobial applications. Recent research has uncovered their potent cytotoxic effects against diverse cancer cells, thereby underscoring the pressing need for more extensive and intensive investigations into this use. In this study, we explored their novel function in inducing cytotoxicity to cancer cells and systematically investigated the mechanism of action of Brevilaterin B/C (BB/BC) in vivo. Proliferation, membrane permeability, and apoptotic rate were evaluated using CCK-8 assay, LDH assay, and Annexin V-FITC/PI kits. ROS levels and mitochondrial membrane potential were detected using the fluorescent probe DCFH-DA and JC-1. Our results demonstrated that both BB and BC at concentrations of 4–6 µg/mL significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells BGC-823. Treatment with 4 µg/mL of BB/BC rapidly increased LDH levels in the supernatant of BGC-823 cells, leading to further investigation of the mechanism of apoptosis. We found that the apoptotic rate of BGC-823 cells significantly increased upon treatment with BB/BC, demonstrating their potent induction of apoptosis. BB/BC-induced ROS production in BGC-823 cells impaired their growth and induced apoptosis, indicating a close association between apoptosis and ROS elevation. Additionally, JC-1 aggregates rapidly accumulated after treatment with 4 µg/mL of BB/BC, suggesting changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and early apoptosis. Taken together, our findings revealed that BB and BC exhibit significant anticancer effects against gastric cancer cells, highlighting the promising potential of Brevilaterins as anticancer agents.
Pitch Angle Control of an Airplane Using Fractional Order Direct Model Reference Adaptive Controllers
Authors: Ceballos Benavides Gustavo E. , Duarte-Mermoud Manuel A. , Orchard Marcos E. , Travieso-Torres Juan Carlos
Published: April 2023

This paper deals with the longitudinal movement control of an airplane (pitch angle) using fractional order adaptive controllers (FOACs). It shows the improvements achieved in the plane’s behavior, in terms of the minimization of a given performance index. At the same time, less control effort is needed to accomplish the control objectives compared with the classic integer order adaptive controllers (IOACs). In this study, fractional order direct model reference adaptive control (FO-DMRAC) is implemented at the simulation level, and exhibits a better performance compared with the classic integer order (IO) version of the DMRAC (IO-DMRAC). It is also shown that the proposed control strategy for FO-DMRAC reduces the resultant system control structure down to a relative degree 2 system, for which the control implementation is simpler and avoids oscillations during the transient period. Moreover, it is interesting to note that this is the first time that an FOAC with fractional adaptive laws is applied to the longitudinal control of an airplane. A suitable model for the longitudinal movement of the airplane related to the pitch angle θ as the output variable with the lifter angle (δe) as the control variable, is first analyzed and discussed to obtain a reliable mathematical model of the plane. All of the other input variables acting on the plane are considered as perturbations. For certain operating conditions defined by the flight conditions, an FO-DMRAC is designed, simulated, and analyzed. Furthermore, a comparison with the implementation of the classical adaptive general direct control (relative degree ≥ 2) is presented. The boundedness and convergence of all of the signals are theoretically proven based on the new Lemma 3, assuring the boundedness of all internal signals ω(t).
Weather Lore (Pranostika) as Czech Folk Traditions
Authors: Honzíková Jarmila , Krotký Jan , Moc Pavel , Fadrhonc Jan
Published: April 2023

Every nation has its unique intangible culture that is passed down from generation to generation thanks to what is still alive. Czechia has a rich intangible cultural heritage, e.g., Mardi Gras, Verbuňk dance, blueprints, Christmas-themed beaded decorations, puppetry, etc., which are all on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. However, it also has other traditions, ceremonies, legends, folk tales, and weather lore related to weather forecasting in relation to agriculture. The most popular weather lore is related to the feasts of saints, as the feast’s dates have remained unchanged for a very long time in the calendar. The aim of this study is to bring Czech weather lore, which, even today, in the age of numerical models, has a certain meaning, closer to readers. Some weather lore has been forgotten over time, but most of it still remains in Czech folk traditions, which continue to be spread orally or in written form. We wondered whether young people knew weather lore as part of their cultural heritage. The results of a survey based on a sample of 220 respondents, including students at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and future teachers at primary schools, led to the conclusion that weather lore is well-known among the young Czech generation as well.
Portable X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Levantine and Schematic Art Pigments from the River Vero Shelters (Huesca, NE Spain)
Authors: Martín-Ramos Pablo , Cuchí-Oterino José Antonio , Bea-Martínez Manuel
Published: April 2023

The River Vero canyon (Huesca, Spain) contains an exceptional archaeological legacy with more than sixty rock shelters with cave paintings and forms part of the World Heritage ‘Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula’. This study presents the results of the in situ and non-destructive multi-elemental composition analysis of the pigments used in eight of the main shelters through portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pXRF). Specifically, the cave paintings of the rock shelters of Chimiachas, Muriecho, and Arpán (Levantine Art); and Mallata, Barfaluy, Quizans, Lecina Superior, and Forau del Cocho (Schematic Art) were investigated. The red pigments, based on iron minerals, were the most abundant in all the River Vero rock shelters, with Fe contents in the 0.51–3.06% range. The iron contents of the paintings of Mallata B1 and I, Muriecho, and Forau del Cocho were higher than those of Arpán, Barfaluy, Lecina, and Chimiachas rock-shelters; and, in turn, these were higher than those of Quizans, pointing to noticeable differences in the degree of conservation. Black pigments, in the absence of manganese, were associated with bone char or carbon black. Through the phosphorus content, evidence is provided of the use of bone phosphates as a component of the paints, either as a filler or as a binder. Geological studies indicate that the detected gypsum is of external origin, probably associated with gypsum-rich atmospheric dust. The reported pXRF analysis of this large set of paintings may serve as a basis for future characterization studies involving other portable chemical analysis techniques.
Lemon Peel and Juice: Metabolomic Differentiation
Authors: Melgarejo Pablo , Núñez-Gómez Dámaris , Hernández Francisca , Martínez-Font Rafael , Lidón Noguera Vicente , Martínez-Nicolás Juan José , Legua Pilar
Published: April 2023

Lemon is one of the most significant crops globally, with annual production exceeding 20.8 million tons in 2021. Spain leads the production in Europe with over 62% of lemon production (1.17 million tons in 2021). This study evaluated the real impact of cultivation conditions (rootstock and culture medium) on the compositional characteristics of ‘Verna’ lemons (peel and juice) using 1H-MNR metabolomic identification techniques and multivariate analyses. Twenty metabolites were identified in both the peel and juice samples. Arginine, phenylalanine, ethanol, and trigonelline were absent in the peel samples but present in all the juice. On the other hand, the metabolites asparagine, glutamate, formate, and malate were present in the peel samples but absent in the juice. The analysis of the results indicates that the rootstock had a significant impact on the metabolites related to the energy metabolism of the plant, which directly affects the development of fruits and the influence of the culture conditions (rootstock and culture medium) on the plant’s adaptive response and modification of metabolic pathways.
Screening and Identification of Potato StSPS1, a Potential Crucial Gene Regulating Seed Potato Vigor
Authors: Cai Chengcheng , Liu Shifeng , Liu Jie , Wen He , Li Luopin , Wang Qiang , Li Liqin , Wang Xiyao
Published: April 2023

Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), a crucial rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of precursors of sucrose, plays an indispensable role in the regulation of seed potato vigor. Nonetheless, the genes that encode SPS in potato have not undergone complete analysis, and the primary genes responsible for the regulation of seed potato vigor have not been screened and identified. In this study, four StSPS family members were identified by comparing the potato genome database with homologous proteins. Using bioinformatics, the physicochemical properties, subcellular localization, sequence structure, conserved motifs, and phylogenetics of StSPS were analyzed. The expression levels of StSPS in different potato tissues, from dormancy to sprouting in the seed potato tubers, were measured via qRT-PCR. The expression data from the potato genome database and previous transcriptome and proteome studies of dormancy to sprouting were also compared. After combining the analysis of SPS enzyme activity in diverse tuber tissues and the correlation analysis between multiple varieties with different dormancy periods and the expression of StSPS1, the primary gene StSPS1 that might regulate seed potato vigor was identified. This study set a theoretical and experimental groundwork for further verification and clarification of the regulatory function of StSPS1 in alterations in seed potato vigor.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Anthocyanin and Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Red and Yellow Fruits of Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) during Ripening
Authors: Wang Qinghao , Jing Luyang , Xu Yue , Zheng Weiwei , Zhang Wangshu
Published: April 2023

The diversity of fruit color in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) has been attributed to the presence of either anthocyanin or carotenoid. We profiled the anthocyanin and carotenoid metabolites to investigate the different pigments and the underlying regulatory mechanisms of differential expression genes (DEGs) between red and yellow fruits of sweet cherry. We profiled two cultivars, ‘Jiangnanhong’(JNH, red fruits) and ‘Chaoyang’(CY, yellow fruits) to establish their anthocyanin and carotenoid metabolites by LC-MS/MS and transcriptome analysis by RNA-seq to test the difference in gene expression and metabolic substances between the two varieties. Cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside was the most different pigment between two cultivars, the content of which in red fruit was significantly higher than in the yellow one during the whole ripening stage (stage 3 and stage 4). The total carotenoid content in the two color types of fruits was close, but the content in yellow fruit was shown to be more stable after harvest. Based on the transcriptome data, the heatmap of selected structural DEGs showed that all of the anthocyanin genes expressed significantly higher levels in red fruits than that in yellow fruits. Two unigenes encoding chalcone synthase (CHS) and UDP glucose-flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) were expressed 1134.58 and 1151.24 times higher in red than in yellow fruits at stage 4, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that anthocyanin genes in JNH were negatively correlated with those in CY; by contrast, there were some strong correlations observed between the two cultivars in carotenoid genes. Thus, the coloration of sweet cherry was mainly attributed to anthocyanin-related genes.