bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Paramedics’ Competence and Training in End-of-Life Care: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alanazy Ahmed , Alsahli Fatimah Khalifah , Alhassan Zahra Essam , Alabdrabulridha Zahra Hassan , Aljomaan Moneerah Khalifah , Alruwaili Abdullah
Published: February 2025

Background: End-of-life (EOL) care is an integral part of paramedic services, requiring not only medical expertise but also communication skills and emotional support. With the evolving role of paramedics in providing palliative care, understanding their attitudes toward EOL care and the impact of specialized training becomes crucial. Aim: This study aims to assess the attitudes of Saudi Arabian paramedics toward EOL care and evaluate the influence of prior EOL care training on these attitudes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among paramedics in Saudi Arabia using convenience and snowball sampling. Data were collected via an online survey distributed through emails and social networks, encompassing demographic information and attitudes toward EOL care. The survey was structured into two parts, with the second part developed from the relevant literature. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 18, employing chi-squared and Fischer exact tests for comparison. Results: The study involved 1049 paramedics, with the majority being aged 26–35 years (54.43%) and predominantly male (65.59%). About half of the participants (50.43%) had previously participated in EOL care courses. Paramedics who received EOL training demonstrated significantly more positive attitudes toward the role of EOL care in their jobs (98.49% versus 32.12%, p < 0.001) and were more comfortable discussing death with patients (51.42% versus 29.23%, p < 0.001). A significant majority viewed caring for a dying patient as a worthwhile experience (95.42%), and 95.33% agreed on the importance of involving the patient’s family in care. Conclusions: The findings highlight the positive impact of EOL care training on paramedics’ attitudes toward palliative care. Specialized training enhances paramedics’ comfort in discussing death and their perceptions of the role of EOL care, underscoring the need for integrating comprehensive palliative care education into paramedic training programs. Future research should focus on developing standardized EOL care courses to further explore their impact on paramedics’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
Optimized Green Unrelated Parallel Machine Scheduling Problem Subject to Preventive Maintenance
Authors: Almasarwah Najat
Published: February 2025

Manufacturing areas typically conduct machine maintenance to prevent early failures and to ensure a safe working environment and efficient production. In this study, the green unrelated parallel machine scheduling problem (GUPMSP) is studied. Besides preventive maintenance, machine availability and non-preemption are considered. A globally optimal solution (mathematical model) and local optimal solution (a modified Moore heuristic algorithm) are used to optimize the number of products returned early in the GUPMSP. Three datasets, namely, a most favorable case, an average case, and a least favorable case, are created to test the performance of the two solutions’ approaches. The results demonstrate the ability of the mathematical model to dominate the results of the modified Moore’s algorithm in the tested datasets. However, optimizing the number of products returned early in the UPMSP with preventive maintenance reduces costs as a step to support the concept of sustainability and enhance efficiency.
Adaptive Federated Kalman Filtering with Dimensional Isolation for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Navigation in Degraded Industrial Environments
Authors: Zhan Quanxi , Shen Runjie , Mao Yedong , Shu Yihang , Shen Lu , Yang Linchuan , Zhang Junrui , Sun Chenyang , Guo Fenghe , Lu Yan
Published: February 2025

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation systems face significant challenges in complex environments, such as sensor degradation and signal loss. This study proposes the NSDDI-AFF (Normalized Single-Dimensional Degradation Isolation with Adaptive Federated Filtering) method to address these issues. By integrating adaptive thresholding, degradation isolation, and multi-sensor fusion, the method dynamically identifies degraded channels and ensures robust state estimation. Evaluated in a semi-enclosed coal yard and in a hydropower pipeline, NSDDI-AFF reduced positional errors by 97.5% and 95.7% compared to LIO-SAM and Fast-LIO2, achieving a position RMSE of 0.05 m and orientation RMSE of 0.5°. The method detected degradation early (120 s) and maintained mapping accuracy with geometric errors below 0.5%. These results demonstrate that NSDDI-AFF significantly enhances UAV positioning accuracy, fault tolerance, and mapping reliability, making it a robust solution for challenging industrial applications.
Importance of Pedagogical Practice in Teaching Satisfaction
Authors: Villalobos Iturriaga Inelia Caterina , Acosta García Katherine , Castro Ceacero Diego , Contreras Hernández Paola , González Sanzana Álvaro
Published: February 2025

The motivation shown by teachers in the early stages of their professional development affects their future professional competence and adaptability to an occupational setting. This study explores the motivational variables that affect satisfaction with choosing a degree in pedagogy in Chile by comparing teachers in training with in-service teachers. A quantitative non-experimental and correlational–explanatory design was used, surveying 758 participants (328 teachers in training and 430 in-service teachers) using the FIT-Choice questionnaire. Results reveal that intrinsic motivations, such as the desire to work with children, teenagers, and previous teaching experiences, have a strong positive correlation with satisfaction in both groups. This reveals the importance of encouraging and strengthening practical experience in initial teacher training. Furthermore, the differences in the value of job security and social contribution reflect the evolution of motivation from initial teacher training up to professional practice.
Italian Validation and Psychometric Properties of the New Work Values Scale
Authors: Cicero Lavinia , Catania Carlotta , Russo Adriano , Zammitti Andrea , Russo Angela , Santisi Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

The construction of a fulfilling career and the people management processes within organizations, like the selection of personnel, require a multidisciplinary approach that takes into account psychological, social, and cultural factors. Various concepts have been suggested to explain work motivations and organizational outcomes, including work values. Work values can encompass individual preferences, as well as moral standards and social norms. This broad definition has led to a variety of work value measurement instruments. One brief and cutting-edge measure that integrates different approaches is the New Work Values Scale (NWVS). The aim of this study was to validate the Italian form of this measure (NWVS-I). A sample of 397 Italian adults from 19 to 66 years of age (M = 30.78, SD = 13.38) participated in the study and completed both the New Work Values Scale—Italian form (NWVS-I) and the Portraits Value Questionnaire (PVQ). First, we evaluated the structure of the New Work Values Scale—Italian form (NWVS-I) through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), followed by a concurrent validity analysis correlating the dimensions of the New Work Values Scale—Italian form (NWVS-I) with those assessed by the Portraits Value Questionnaire (PVQ). We also tested gender invariance. The results confirmed the factor structure of the scale and its validity in the Italian context. The New Work Values Scale—Italian form (NWVS-I) is a useful measure in understanding the work values of individuals in the Italian context. This measure can be used for a wide range of applications, contributing to promoting greater awareness of one’s values and facilitating career choices, personnel selection, and people management aligned with a vision of sustainable organizational development.
The Numerical Assessment of RF Human Exposure to Microwave Ovens with Contact-Type Doors
Authors: Tian Rui , Wei Ju-Chuan , Lu Mai
Published: February 2025

In complex electromagnetic environments, cardiac pacemakers may be interfered with easily. Microwave ovens, as common household appliances, may display electromagnetic leakage, which may pose risks to pacemaker wearers. This work evaluates the electromagnetic exposure of pacemaker wearers under various conditions. One involves different distances from the microwave oven to the human body, and the other involves a distinct oven door gap. This work uses COMSOL Multiphysics to establish a human thoracic cavity model with a heart and unipolar pacemaker, as well as a model of a microwave oven with contact-type doors. The results show that the specific absorption rate (SAR10g) and temperature increase in the thoracic cavity and heart tissue are inversely proportional to the distance from the microwave source. They are directly proportional to the oven door gap size. The induced electric field intensity, the temperature increase, and the induced voltage in the pacemaker show the same trend. When the human body is closest to the microwave oven with the largest door gap (D = 100 mm, d = 0.3 mm), the SAR10g and temperature increase of the thoracic cavity and heart tissue reach their maximum values, which are significantly below the safety standards recommended by ICNIRP. Similarly, the maximum value of the temperature increase and the induced electric field intensity in the pacemaker are below the safety standard recommended by ISO 14708-3 (+2 °C) and IEC 60601-1-2 (28 V/m). The maximum induced voltage at the pacemaker electrode is 5.322 mV, which exceeds the sensing sensitivity setting recommended by ISO 14117 (2 mV) for unipolar pacemakers. These findings demonstrate that microwave ovens with contact-type doors electromagnetic radiation do not threaten human health under normal usage conditions. However, the maximum value of the induced voltage exceeds the sensing sensitivity of some unipolar pacemakers, which may affect the operation of the unipolar pacemaker. This phenomenon requires attention from clinicians and patients. We still recommend that pacemaker wearers keep a distance from microwave ovens when using them.
Radar-Based Human Activity Recognition: A Study on Cross-Environment Robustness
Authors: El Hail Reda , Mehrjouseresht Pouya , Schreurs Dominique M. M.-P. , Karsmakers Peter
Published: February 2025

Indoor radar-based human activity recognition (HAR) using machine learning has shown promising results. However, deploying an HAR model in unseen environments remains challenging due to a potential mismatch between training and operational conditions. Such mismatch can be reduced by acquiring annotated training data in more diverse situations. However, since this is time intensive, this paper explores the application of data augmentation and unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) to enhance the robustness of HAR models, even when they are trained using a very limited amount of annotated data. In the initial analysis, a baseline HAR model was evaluated using a validation set (a) from the same environment as the training data and (b) from a different environment. The results showed a 29.6% decrease in the F1-score when tested on data from the different environment. Implementing data augmentation techniques—specifically, time–frequency warping—reduced this performance gap to 17.8%. Further improvements were achieved by applying an unsupervised domain adaptation strategy, which brought the performance gap drop down to 13.2%. Furthermore, an ablation study examining various augmentation methods and synthetic sample quantities demonstrates the superior performance of our proposed augmentation approach. The paper concludes with a discussion on how environmental variations, such as changes in aspect angle, occlusion and layout, can affect the time-Doppler radar representation and, consequently, HAR performance.
Optimal Vehicle-to-Grid Charge Scheduling for Electric Vehicles Based on Dynamic Programming
Authors: Lee Heeyun , Kim Hyunjoong , Kim Hyewon , Kim Hyunsup
Published: February 2025

Recently, as the market share of electric vehicles (EVs) has increased, how to handle the increased electricity demand for EV charging in the power grid and how to use EV batteries from a grid-operating aspect have become more important. Also, from the perspective of individual EVs, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies that reduce the cost for each vehicle’s charging in conjunction with the power grid are significant. In this paper, the V2G control problem at the individual vehicle level is studied using a Dynamic Programming (DP) algorithm that considers EVs’ charging efficiency. The DP algorithm is developed to generate an optimized charging/discharging power profile that minimizes electricity costs, while satisfying the constraints of the initial and final battery states of charge, for given a time-of-use electricity price. To show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, simulation is conducted for three different charging scenarios (unidirectional charging, bidirectional charging, and unidirectional charging with cost variations based on electricity usage), and the results showed that DP can achieve significant cost savings of about 30% compared to the normal charging method. Also, the result of DP is compared with that of Linear Programming, demonstrating that DP outperforms Linear Programming in cost savings for the V2G control problem.
Grid-Connected Key Technical Indicators and Evaluation Methods for Multi-Type Synchronous Control Equipment
Authors: Wu Shengjun , Wang Dajiang , Li Zheng , Li Wenbo , Xu Ke
Published: February 2025

Large photovoltaic stations, wind farms and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems are being integrated into the grid, which is causing the stability of frequency and voltage of new power systems to decline, thereby imposing high requirements on the evaluation of power grid strength in regional grids. Taking into account the indicators of stability margin of frequency and voltage, this paper builds a key technical indicator system for the system of multi-type synchronous control equipment connected to the grid, including the equivalent inertia enhancement factor, steady-state frequency deviation reduction factor, voltage stiffness and steady-state voltage deviation. Considering that the objective weighting and subjective weighting can, respectively, be achieved by the independent information entropy weighing method (IIEWM), the analytic hierarchy process method (AHPM) and the integrating principal component analysis method (PCAM), an improved layered integration weight allocation method based on IIEWM-AHPM-PCAM is proposed. Meanwhile, a multi-objective comprehensive evaluation model for power grid strength is established, and a power grid strength evaluation method is proposed to accurately evaluate the support strength of frequency and voltage of grid-connected systems including multi-type synchronous control equipment. Finally, a modified model of IEEE-39 node systems is constructed using Matlab to verify the reliability of the proposed method. The results showed that, compared to IIEWM and AHPW, a better ability to reflect the degree of data independence and volatility is possessed by the proposed method.
Remaining Useful Life Prediction for Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on Hybrid Ensembles Allied with Data-Driven Approach
Authors: Zhao Shuai , Sun Daming , Liu Yan , Liang Yuqi
Published: February 2025

Capacity fade in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) poses challenges for various industries. Predicting and preventing this fade is crucial, and hybrid methods for estimating remaining useful life (RUL) have become prevalent and achieved significant advancements. In this paper, we introduce a hybrid voting ensemble that combines Gradient Boosting, Random Forest, and K-Nearest Neighbors to forecast the fading capacity trend and knee point. We conducted extensive experiments using the CALCE CS2 datasets. The results indicate that our proposed approach outperforms single deep learning methods for RUL prediction and accurately identifies the knee point. Beyond prediction, this innovative method can potentially be integrated into real-world applications for broader use.
Stability Analysis and Mitigation of Thermo-Hydraulic Oscillations in Multi-Supplier District Heating Systems
Authors: Friedrich Pascal , Kuroptev Kirill , Huynh Thanh , Niessen Stefan
Published: February 2025

In fourth-generation district heating systems (DHSs), the supply temperature of modern heat sources such as heat pumps and waste heat can potentially be reduced by mixing in hot water from combustion-based producers, thereby increasing efficiency and facilitating integration into networks with unrenovated buildings. However, this approach introduces the risk of thermo-hydraulic oscillations driven by mixing dynamics, transport delays, and mass flow adjustments by consumers. These oscillations can increase wear and cost and may potentially lead to system failure. This study addresses the asymptotic stability of multi-supplier DHSs by combining theoretical analysis and practical validation. Through linearization and Laplace transformation, we derive the transfer function of a system with two suppliers. Using pole-zero analysis, we show that transport delay can cause instability. We identify a new control law, demonstrating that persisting oscillations depend on network temperatures and low thermal inertia and enabling stabilization through careful temperature selection, thorough choice of the slack supplier, or installation of buffer tanks. We validate our findings using dynamic simulations of a nonlinear delayed system in Modelica, highlighting the applicability of such systems to real-world DHSs. These results provide actionable insights for designing robust DHSs and mitigating challenges in multi-supplier configurations by relying on thoughtful system design rather than complex control strategies.
A Novel Method for Online Diagnosis of the Aging State of High-Voltage (HV) Cables Based on Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Yuli , Ouyang Benhong , Wang Ge , Wang Anzhe , Yuan Jianjun
Published: February 2025

In order to facilitate online monitoring of the aging state of high-voltage (HV) cables, a novel method based on impedance spectroscopy has been proposed. Firstly, the method uses the Debye model to restore the dielectric response of the insulating material of the mechanism. Secondly, based on the transmission line equation, a calculation model for the impedance spectroscopy of HV cables was established. Then, the characteristics of impedance spectroscopy under different overall aging and local deterioration states were analyzed. Further, simulation analysis of the influence of factors such as load factor, length, metal resistivity, and geometric parameters on impedance spectroscopy was carried out. Finally, diagnostic criteria were proposed, which are divided into two major categories: known cable parameters and unknown cable parameters. If the geometric parameters are known, the aging state can be determined using the resonance peak values and the resonance peak frequencies. If the geometric parameters are unknown, it is necessary to test impedance spectroscopy using the healthy condition of the cable as the baseline curve. By comparing the impedance spectroscopy of the cable during tests with the baseline curve, the aging development trend of the cable can also be determined.
A Wind Speed Prediction Method Based on Signal Decomposition Technology Deep Learning Model
Authors: Du Jie , Chen Shuaizhi , Pan Linlin , Liu Yubao
Published: February 2025

Accurate and reliable wind speed prediction plays a significant role in ensuring the reasonable scheduling of wind power resources. However, wind speed sequences often exhibit complex characteristics such as instability and volatility, which create substantial challenges for prediction. In order to cope with these challenges, a multi-step wind speed prediction method based on secondary decomposition (SD) techniques and deep learning prediction models is proposed in this paper. First, the original signal was decomposed into multiple sequences by using two signal decomposition techniques, multi-scale wavelet power spectrum analysis (MWPSA) and variational mode decomposition (VMD). Second, a model was constructed by combining convolutional neural networks (CNNs), bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) networks, and attention mechanism to perform multi-step wind speed predicting for each sequence, and the model parameters were optimized by the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Ultimately, the results from all sequences were combined to generate the final wind speed prediction. The predictive performance of the proposed method was evaluated using real wind speed data collected from a wind farm in China. Experimental results show that the proposed method significantly outperforms other comparison models in multi-step wind speed prediction, which highlights its accuracy and reliability.
Polyploid Advantage? Comparing Salt Stress Responses of Di- and Tetraploid Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. Seedlings
Authors: Diallo Adja Madjiguene , Kjær Erik Dahl , Nielsen Lene Rostgaard , Ræbild Anders
Published: February 2025

Polyploidy is often associated with the ability to grow under harsh conditions. The objective of this study was to test whether genome doubling in Acacia senegal confers superiority for growth under saline conditions. For this purpose, we assessed the cytotype distribution across ten natural stands in Senegal, representing different soil salinities. We further compared the growth of diploid and tetraploid A. senegal seedlings in a shared-pot greenhouse experiment, in which seedling pairs (diploids and polyploids) were irrigated with and without added NaCl. We found polyploids in six stands, and the proportion of polyploids in these stands was significantly and positively correlated with their level of soil salinity. Under experimental conditions, we found that the growth rate of diploid and tetraploid seedlings was equally depressed by salt stress, but the mortality rate for tetraploids was lower than that for diploids (34% versus 54%). In addition, the root-top ratio was higher in tetraploids compared to diploids, which may influence fitness under harsh conditions. Overall, this study provides support for polyploid superiority in A. senegal growing in saline soils. The findings of this study may have practical implications for the reforestation of saline soils with polyploid A. senegal, and we recommend further studies to elucidate their potential.
The Impact of Forest Rents on Ecological Footprints in China: The Moderating Role of Government Effectiveness
Authors: Zhu Zheng-Guo , Zhang Yifeng , Obuobi Bright
Published: February 2025

Forests serve as the lungs of our planet, yet their mismanagement causes environmental problems and threatens global sustainability. Global forest footprints continue to increase, requiring studies to investigate and provide solutions. This study aims to establish how forest rents and government effectiveness shape forest footprints in China. Specifically, it assesses the impact of forest rents (FRs), fossil fuel consumption (FFC), foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth (GDP), population (POP), and ecological footprints (EFFs) while considering the moderating role of government effectiveness (GEFF). This study used quantile regression, ordinary least squares, and Granger causality tests for a comparative analysis. This study found that forest rents significantly increase ecological footprints, but the impact diminishes at higher quantities, an indication that environmental policies can mitigate their adverse effects. Moreover, GEFF plays a crucial role in reducing EFFs across all quantiles, signifying the relevance of effective governance in achieving sustainability. Again, while FFC and FDI contribute to environmental sustainability, economic growth exacerbates ecological degradation, particularly at higher quantiles. The Granger causality test further indicates that forest rents and government effectiveness drive ecological changes, while population growth exerts a bidirectional influence on sustainability. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers and emphasize the need for robust governance, sustainable forest management, and eco-friendly economic strategies.
Identification of bHLH Family Genes in Rhododendron hainanense Merr. and Verification of Their Role in Heat Tolerance
Authors: Cao Zidan , Wang Enbo , Zhai Minghui , Li Yufei , Li Yifan , Shi Jiaxuan , Feng Xueping , Wang Jian , Song Xiqiang , Shi Youhai , Zhao Ying
Published: February 2025

Rhododendron hainanense Merr. is a tropical flowering shrub with high ornamental and medicinal value, but high temperatures are a limiting factor for its landscape application. The bHLH transcription factor family regulates plant growth and development and is crucial for responses to various stresses; however, its mechanism for regulating high-temperature stress remains unclear. This study conducted a whole-genome analysis of R. hainanense, identifying 117 RhbHLH members with complete domains, unevenly distributed across 12 chromosomes. Using Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. as a reference, the 117 RhbHLH genes were systematically categorized into 21 subfamilies. Conserved sequence analysis showed that motifs 1 and 2 form the characteristic bHLH domain, while motifs 3–6 exhibit significant conservation. Analysis of gene duplication events indicated that R. hainanense has eight pairs of segmental duplications, suggesting their role in potential adaptive evolution. Transcriptomic studies revealed that genes such as RhbHLH107 and RhbHLH49 were highly expressed in response to high temperatures, suggesting their involvement in regulating heat stress. Furthermore, the RhbHLH gene showed a strong correlation with common metabolites like flavonoids and jasmonic acid under high temperatures, indicating that these genes may participate in regulating jasmonic acid and flavonoids to mediate plant stress responses. This study lays the foundation for further research on the role of the bHLH gene family in plant heat tolerance and provides a basis for future applications in breeding and horticulture.
Effects of Fertilization on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Enzyme Activities of Zanthoxylum planispinum var. Dingtanensis Plantation
Authors: Fu Yurong , Yu Yanghua , Yang Shunsong , Yang Guangguang , Huang Hui , Yang Yun , Du Mingfeng
Published: February 2025

Zanthoxylum planispinum var. Dingtanensis (hereafter Z. planispinum) has excellent characteristics, including Ca and drought tolerance. It can flourish in stony soils, and it is used as a pioneer plant in karst rocky desertification control. However, soil degradation, coupled with the removal of nutrients absorbed from the soil by Z. planispinum’s fruit harvesting, exacerbates nutrient deficiency. The effects of fertilization on soil nutrient utilization and microbial limiting factors remain unclear. Here, we established a long-term (3 year) field experiment of no fertilization (CK), organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer + sprinkler irrigation (T1), chemical fertilizer + sprinkler irrigation (T2), chemical fertilizer treatment (T3), and leguminous (soybean) + chemical fertilizer + sprinkler irrigation (T4). Our findings indicate that fertilization significantly improved the nutrient uptake efficiency of Z. planispinum, and it also enhanced urease activity compared with CK. T1 increased soil respiration and improved water transport, and the soil nutrient content retained in T1 was relatively high. It delayed the mineralization rate of organic matter, promoted nutrient balance, and enhanced enzyme activity related to the carbon and nitrogen cycle. T4 caused soil acidification, reducing the activity of peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). The soil microbial community in the Z. planispinum plantation was limited by carbon and phosphorus, and T1 mitigated this limitation. This study indicated that soil nutrient content regulated enzymatic activity by influencing microbial resource limitation, with organic carbon being the dominant factor. Overall, we recommend T1 as the optimal fertilization strategy for Z. planispinum plantations.
Regional Forest Carbon Stock Estimation Based on Multi-Source Data and Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Zheng Mingwei , Wen Qingqing , Xu Fengya , Wu Dasheng
Published: February 2025

Accurately assessing forest carbon stock (FCS) is essential for analyzing its spatial distribution and gauging the capacity of forests to sequester carbon. This research introduces a novel approach for estimating FCS by integrating multiple data sources, such as Sentinel-1 (S1) radar imagery, optical images from Sentinel-2 (S2) and Landsat 8 (L8), digital elevation modeling (DEM), and inventory data used in forest management and planning (FMP). Additionally, the estimation of FCS incorporates four key ecological features, including forest composition, primary tree species, humus thickness, and slope direction, to improve the accuracy of the estimation. Subsequently, insignificant features were eliminated using Lasso and recursive feature elimination (RFE) feature selection techniques. Three machine learning (ML) models were employed to estimate FCS: XGBoost, random forest (RF), and LightGBM. The results show that the inclusion of ecological information features improves the performance of the models. Among the models, LightGBM achieved superior performance (R2 = 0.78, mean squared error (MSE) = 0.85, root mean squared error (RMSE) = 0.92, mean absolute error (MAE) = 0.58, relative RMSE (rRMSE) = 41.37%, and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) = 30.72%), outperforming RF (R2 = 0.76, MSE = 0.93, RMSE = 0.97, MAE = 0.60, rRMSE = 43.42%, and MAPE = 30.85%) and XGBoost (R2 = 0.77, MSE = 0.90, RMSE = 0.95, MAE = 0.61, rRMSE = 42.66%, and MAPE = 34.61%).
Fermented Corn Straw Increases Cellulase Activity, Improves Rumen Fermentation, and Increases Nutrient Digestibility in Yichang White Goats
Authors: Jia Xuying , Dun Yaohao , Zhang Min , Mei Yuxia , Li Yingjun , Liang Yunxiang
Published: February 2025

Corn, as a raw material supplying energy, plays an important role in animal husbandry. But in recent years, problems related to insufficient energy supply from corn have attracted increasing attention. Therefore, it is highly important to develop new energy-supplying materials to replace corn in animal diets. To study the feasibility of replacing corn with fermented corn straw in ruminants, 16 Yichang white goats were divided into two groups: those kept on a grain-based diet with dry corn straw (DS) and those fed a grain-based diet with fermented corn straw (FS). Corn in the FS group was replaced with fermented corn straw at a ratio of 1.3:1. By increasing the surface area (p = 0.035) and width (p = 0.024) of the rumen epithelial papillae of Yichang white goats, the absolute enzyme activity of carboxymethyl cellulase and the relative enzyme activity of microcrystalline cellulase in the rumen contents increased with fermented corn straw, and the rumen digestibility of cellulose and the whole intestinal apparent digestibility of CP, CF, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose increased. The timely removal of excess calcium through feces and urine prevented liver and kidney damage, improved the heart index and liver index, and sustained goat health. Due to an increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as f-Lachnospiraceae and c_Bacilli in the rumen fluid and colon contents, the abundance of potentially harmful bacteria such as s_Turicibacter decreased. Through the rumen pentose phosphate pathway, carbon metabolism, the AMPK signaling pathway, pathways of neurodegeneration, multiple diseases pathways, vitamin b6 metabolism in the colon, the biosynthesis of nucleotide sugars, and the cysteine and methionine metabolism pathways, rumen fermentation and metabolism are regulated in the goat body, promoting animal health. In this study, we systematically evaluated the effects of replacing corn with fermented corn straw on the carcass index, organ index, calcium and phosphorus contents in tissues, serum biochemical parameters, nutrient digestibility, rumen epithelium and intestinal development, rumen fermentation, and microbial enzyme activity of the rumen contents of Yichang white goats. By combining these approaches with microbial 16S amplicon analysis of rumen fluid and colon contents, along with nontargeted metabolome analysis, we demonstrated the feasibility of substituting corn with fermented corn straw in ruminant feed, providing a new approach for the substitution of energy-supplying feed materials.
Experimental and Numerical Studies of Window Shutters Under Bushfire Radiant Heat Exposure
Authors: Perinpalingam Birunthan , Ariyanayagam Anthony , Mahendran Mahen
Published: February 2025

The growing intensity and frequency of bushfires across the globe pose serious threats to building safety when it comes to the vulnerability of glass windows. During bushfires, extreme heat can cause significant damage to these windows, creating openings that allow embers, radiant heat, and flames to enter buildings. This study investigated the effectiveness of various construction materials, including thin steel sheets, glass fibre blankets, aluminium foil layers, and intumescent layers on glass fibre blankets, as bushfire-resistant shutters for protecting windows in bushfire-prone areas. The shutters were tested under two scenarios of radiant heat exposure: rapid and prolonged exposures of 11 and 47 min, respectively. Heat transfer models of the tested shutters were developed and validated using fire test results, and then comparisons of the performance of materials were made through parametric studies for bushfire radiant heat exposure. The results show that a 0.4 mm glass fibre blanket with aluminium foil performed best, with very low glass temperatures and ambient heat fluxes due to the reflective properties of the foil. Similarly, a thin steel sheet (1.2 mm) also effectively maintained low glass temperatures and ambient heat fluxes. Additionally, graphite-based intumescent coating on a glass fibre blanket reduced the ambient heat flux. These results highlight the importance of bushfire-resistant shutters and provide valuable insights for improving their design and performance.
Integrated Analysis of Transcriptomics and Proteomics Provides Insights into the Accumulation Mechanism of Ascorbic Acid in Rosa roxburghii Tratt
Authors: Li Pei , Mu Bo , Liu Jing , Wu Wenqing , He Can , Tan Boxi , Tang Shijing , Yu Lu
Published: February 2025

Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RRT) is widely cultivated in Guizhou Province, China. In recent years, RRT has emerged as one of the most promising new fruit crops in China, primarily because of its remarkably high levels of ascorbic acid (AsA). In this research, we assessed the AsA levels in RRT across various growth phases. The findings demonstrate that the AsA concentration in RRT fruits progressively increased in a linear fashion throughout development, peaking at 2274.60 mg/(100 g FW) when the fruit reached maturity (84 DAA). Furthermore, we conducted an integrated analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic data for the first time to investigate the mechanisms responsible for AsA accumulation in RRT. Our results show that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were primarily associated with the ascorbate and aldarate metabolism pathway, suggesting that this pathway plays a crucial role in regulating AsA accumulation in RRT. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism underlying AsA accumulation in RRT and provides a robust scientific foundation for subsequent research on AsA accumulation in RRT.
Effects of Aqua-Glycerol Uptake Facilitator Protein GlpF on Spore Germination of Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Cui Tianlin , Zhang Zequn , Mu Kangyi , Shi Yicong , Chen Fang , Dong Li , Hu Xiaosong
Published: February 2025

Killing spores is an important challenge for the development of the food industry. After germination, the resistance of spores disappears and they are more easily killed, which is currently the main strategy for their destruction. Therefore, study of the mechanism of spore germination is of great significance for improving methods of spore inactivation. Previous studies have shown that the hydration of the spore core region, accompanied by the disappearance of bacterial spore resistance, is a key step in the germination pathway of bacterial spores. However, the specific mechanism of this process has been studied very little. In this study, Bacillus subtilis PY79 was used as a model strain, and its single water glycerol channel protein (GlpF) was regarded as a starting point to explore the mechanism of water transport during spore germination. First, we constructed glpF mutants and overexpression strains and discovered that the deletion of glpF did not affect the growth of bacterial vegetative cells and spores. Further germination experiments on the spores of the glpF-deficient strain through detecting calcium dipicolinate and absorbance of spores showed that the germination rate of the mutant strain spores increased, while increasing the water activity did not affect the results caused by glpF deletion. Meanwhile, overexpressed glpF affected the permeability of the spore coat. Finally, when treating spores with ultra-high pressure, the spores lacking glpF were more likely to be inactivated. The above results have suggested that the glpF gene plays an important role in spore germination.
Influence of Pleurotus eryngii Protein on Myofibrillar Protein Gelation and Application in Chicken Mince Products
Authors: Zhao Li , Yan Weiwei , Wang Zheming , Wu Jiaman , Li Liang , Yun Shaojun , Zhao Wenfei , Feng Cuiping
Published: February 2025

Pleurotus eryngii is rich in essential proteins, and is recognized for its medicinal and nutritional attributes. This study investigated the effects of P. eryngii protein (PEP) incorporation (0–7%) on the gel characteristics of chicken myofibrillar protein (MP) to develop a chicken mince product, providing theoretical supports for the development of functional restructured meat products. PEP incorporation improved the rheological and textual properties of the composite gels, enhancing hydrophobic interaction and disulfide bond formation, and thereby strengthening the gel characteristics. The optimal chicken mince quality was achieved with the incorporation of 3% P. eryngii powder. These findings highlight that PEP contributes to the MP gel functionality by modifying the gel structure and strengthening the molecular bonds, laying a foundation for applying PEP in food processing.
The Combination of Shaking and Yellow-Light Withering Promote the Volatile Aroma Components and the Aroma Quality of Black Tea
Authors: Ai Zeyi , Hu Shuangming , Ji Lingfei , Mu Bing , Yang Yiyang
Published: February 2025

The application of shaking during the withering process has been shown to significantly enhance the floral aroma of black tea. However, prior to this study, there was limited research on the effects of shaking combined with other withering treatments on the aroma components of black tea. In this study, the aroma attributes of black teas processed with shaking combinations of yellow-light or high-temperature withering (YLS, HTS, and HYS) were evaluated through sensory evaluation, and the volatile composition and identification of key aroma compounds in black teas and in-process withered tea leaves were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results indicated that black teas subjected to different shaking combinations exhibited a distinct floral aroma with higher volatile compound content, with the YLS treatment showing the most significant aroma improvement. Eight volatile compounds with relative odor activity values (rOAV) > 1 were identified from 53 differential volatile compounds in black tea under different shaking combinations as the most important contributors to aroma quality. Linalool, trans-β-Ionone, α-cedrene, and nonanal were identified as key floral volatiles with high rOAVs. Their concentrations in YLS were notably higher compared to those in S, both in withered tea leaves (with the exception of trans-β-Ionone) and in the final dry black teas, suggesting that there may be a synergistic effect between the yellow-light withering and the shaking process in enhancing these key floral compounds. Overall, this study found that shaking combined with yellow-light withering can improve the aroma composition and quality of black tea, providing a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the production and optimization of high-aroma black tea.
Effect of Wet Fractionation Conditions and Pulsed Electric Field on Arabinoxylan and Protein Recovery from Maize
Authors: Sukop Ulrich , Hoefler Katharina , Bender Denisse , D’Amico Stefano , Jekle Mario , Schoenlechner Regine , Domig Konrad J.
Published: February 2025

Maize wet fractionation by-products are primarily used as feed but offer potential for food applications. Arabinoxylans (AXs) and proteins are particularly valuable due to their network-forming properties, which depend on their molecular structure. This study assessed the effect of the steeping conditions (acid type and pH variation) combined with a pulsed electric field (PEF) as a strategy for recovering these polymers, while also evaluating their effect on the recovery yield, fraction composition, and key AX characteristics. The physical properties were studied in selected fractions to investigate the process-induced structural changes. Lactic acid and hydrochloric acid (pH 2.5) were most effective in enhancing AX and protein recovery in fiber-rich (FF) and protein-rich (PF) fractions, respectively, while acetic acid exhibited the lowest efficiency. However, bound polyphenols were best retained in the FF when lactic acid was used, indicating the lowest structural damage to AXs, compared to other acids and using a higher pH. Additional PEF pre-treatment significantly enhanced the release of proteins, dietary fiber, and fat from the FF while inducing physical modifications to the fractions (PF: higher protein unfolding, FF: improved water-binding, pasting when using PEF). These findings highlight the potential of optimizing the processing conditions to adjust the recovery of proteins and AXs from maize, while minimally affecting their functionality.
A Broad-Spectrum Monoclonal Antibody-Based Heterologous ic-ELISA for the Detection of Multiple Pyrethroids in Water, Milk, Celery, and Leek
Authors: Hou Sulin , Zhang Dandan , Xu Zhenyu , Shen Yun , Wang Yulian
Published: February 2025

Pyrethroids are one of the most commonly used insecticides worldwide in agriculture, public health, and household products. To monitor the presence of pyrethroids in the environment and in food, a broad-spectrum monoclonal antibody (mAb), CL/CN-1D2, was prepared. This mAb demonstrates a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) for different pyrethroids: cypermethrin (129.1 µg/L), β-cypermethrin (199.6 µg/L), cyfluthrin (215.5 µg/L), fenpropathrin (220.3 µg/L), λ-cyhalothrin (226.9 µg/L), β-cyfluthrin (241.7 µg/L), deltamethrin (591.2 µg/L), and fenvalerate (763.1 µg/L). Using the mAb CL/CN-1D2, a highly sensitive heterologous indirect competitive ELISA (ic-ELISA) was developed for the rapid detection of these pyrethroids. The limit of detection (LOD) for the eight pyrethroids in water, milk, celery, and leek matrices ranged from 24.4 to 152.2 μg/kg. The recoveries ranged from 65.1% to 112.4%, with a coefficient of variation (CV) below 15%. A robust correlation (R2 = 0.9945) between the ic-ELISA and GC indicated that the ic-ELISA is a reliable tool for the rapid and cost-effective screening of pyrethroids residues.
Effects of Different Shaping Methods and Loading on Fruit Quality and Volatile Compounds in ‘Beibinghong’ Grapes
Authors: Liu Yingxue , Cao Weiyu , Zhang Baoxiang , Qin Hongyan , Wang Yanli , Yang Yiming , Xu Peilei , Wang Yue , Fan Shutian , Li Changyu , Li Jiaqi , Lu Wenpeng
Published: February 2025

The effects of different shaping methods and loading treatments on the photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, fruit yield and quality, and volatile compound composition of the ‘Beibinghong’ grape were studied. In the experiment, 6-year-old ‘Beibinghong’ grapes were selected as the material, and two kinds of shaping methods were adopted: the double main vine upright tree (control) and the inclined horizontal dragon tree. The inclined horizontal dragon tree was treated with different loads. The volatile components in grapes were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The changes in quality and volatile components of ‘Beibinghong’ grape under different treatments were analyzed by multivariate statistics. The results showed that the inclined horizontal dragon tree significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content of leaves, and increased the soluble sugar content and sugar–acid ratio of fruits. The quality of grapes was better than that of the upright tree with double main vine. The results of loading showed that the plants with nine fruit branches had higher net photosynthetic rate and yield, and the best performance in reducing sugar content, titrable acid content and sugar–acid ratio, which was the most suitable loading treatment. The results of metabolomics study showed that 291 volatile metabolites were identified, of which 25 were considered to be the key differential metabolites affecting the flavor of ‘Beibing red’ fruit under different treatments. Further analysis showed that the inclined horizontal draconite tree was superior to the double main draconite tree in improving fruit quality and accumulation of volatile compounds in fruit. This study revealed the regulation mechanism of different shaping methods and loading loads on the growth and fruit quality of ‘Beibinghong’ grapes, which provided theoretical support for optimizing the viticulture management of ‘Beibinghong’ and improving the fruit quality and market competitiveness.
Control of Listeria monocytogenes on Frankfurters by Surface Treatment with Olive Mill Wastewater Polyphenolic Extract
Authors: Roila Rossana , Valiani Andrea , Servili Maurizio , Ranucci David , Galarini Roberta , Ortenzi Roberta , Primavilla Sara , Branciari Raffaella
Published: February 2025

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a frequent post-process contaminant in meat products. This study aimed to investigate the antilisterial effectiveness of post-process antimicrobial treatments employing olive mill wastewater polyphenolic extract (PE) in commercially manufactured frankfurters. Frankfurters were inoculated on the surface with a three-strain LM mixture (~102 CFU/g), treated on the surface with PE in a 2-fold series of concentrations (PM, 2PM, 4PM) and a control group (CTR) of PE-untreated samples. Then, the frankfurters were vacuum-packed and stored at 4 °C for 28 days. Samples were examined on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 for LM count, in silico growth modeling, and impacts on pH, water activity (aw), and sensory characteristics. From T(time) 7, the PE treatment showed a significant effect on LM growth, registering maximum Δ values between CTR and 4PM of 3.19, 4.86, 4.59, 4.39 at T7, T14, T21, T28, respectively. Minimum effect was attributable to PM treatment with Δ values (CTR versus PM) of 2.07, 2.52, 1.14, 0.65 at T7, T14, T21, T28, respectively. No significant changes occurred in pH (average 6 at T0 and 5.9 at T28), aw (average 0.978 at T0 and 0.968 at T28), nor in sensory profile (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that PE is an effective natural antimicrobial, offering a promising approach to enhancing food safety and extending shelf life in meat products.