bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computational Fracture Modeling for Effects of Healed Crack Length and Interfacial Cohesive Properties in Self-Healing Concrete Using XFEM and Cohesive Surface Technique
Authors: Hanna John , Elamin Ahmed
Published: July 2023

Healing patterns are a critical issue that influence the fracture mechanism of self-healing concrete (SHC) structures. Partial healing cracks could happen even during the normal operating conditions of the structure, such as sustainable applied loads or quick crack spreading. In this paper, the effects of two main factors that control healing patterns, the healed crack length and the interfacial cohesive properties between the solidified healing agent and the cracked surfaces on the load carrying capacity and the fracture mechanism of healed SHC samples, are computationally investigated. The proposed computational modeling framework is based on the extended finite element method (XFEM) and cohesive surface (CS) technique to model the fracture and debonding mechanism of 2D healed SHC samples under a uniaxial tensile test. The interfacial cohesive properties and the healed crack length have significant effects on the load carrying capacity, the crack initiation, the propagation, and the debonding potential of the solidified healing agent from the concrete matrix. The higher their values, the higher the load carrying capacity. The solidified healing agent will be debonded from the concrete matrix when the interfacial cohesive properties are less than 25% of the fracture properties of the solidified healing agent.
Brevundimonas aurantiaca M3d10, Isolated from the Olive Fly, Produces Hydroxylated Astaxanthin
Authors: Centini Marisanna , Martinez-Sañudo Isabel , Biagi Marco , Dreassi Elena , Mazzon Luca , Marri Laura
Published: July 2023

In recent years, the exploitation of bacteria for the production of carotenoids has become of great interest as a sustainable alternative to chemical synthesis, which is expensive and technically challenging. This study contributes to the repertoire of carotenogenic bacteria by reporting the isolation of an orange-pigmented bacterium from the gut of adult olive flies. The novel isolate, designated as M3d10, shared 100% identity with Brevundimonas aurantiaca strain CB-R 16S ribosomal RNA, and, through a preliminary characterization, its orange pigment was predicted to be a hydroxylated astaxanthin derivative.
PoPu-Data: A Multilayered, Simultaneously Collected Lying Position Dataset
Authors: Fonseca Luís , Ribeiro Fernando , Metrôlho José , Santos Adriana , Dionisio Rogério , Amini Mohammad Mohammad , Silva Arlindo F. , Heravi Ahmad Reza , Sheikholeslami Davood Fanaei , Fidalgo Filipe , Rodrigues Francisco B. , Santos Osvaldo , Coelho Patrícia , Aemmi Seyyed Sajjad
Published: July 2023

This study presents a dataset containing three layers of data that are useful for body position classification and all uses related to it. The PoPu dataset contains simultaneously collected data from two different sensor sheets—one placed over and one placed under a mattress; furthermore, a segmentation data layer was added where different body parts are identified using the pressure data from the sensors over the mattress. The data included were gathered from 60 healthy volunteers distributed among the different gathered characteristics: namely sex, weight, and height. This dataset can be used for position classification, assessing the viability of sensors placed under a mattress, and in applications regarding bedded or lying people or sleep related disorders.
Prognostic Value of Tpeak–Tend Interval in Early Diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Baskan Serra , Karaca Ozer Pelin , Orta Huseyin , Ozbingol Doruk , Yavuz Mustafa , Ayduk Govdeli Elif , Nisli Kemal , Oztarhan Kazim
Published: July 2023

The most common cause of death in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is cardiomyopathy. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between the Tpeak–Tend (Tp-e) interval and the premature ventricular contraction (PVC) burden and therefore early arrhythmic risk and cardiac involvement in DMD patients. Twenty-five patients with DMD followed by pediatric cardiology were included in the study. Those with a frequency of <1% PVC in the 24 h Holter were assigned to Group 1 (n = 15), and those with >1% were assigned to Group 2 (n = 10). Comparisons were made with healthy controls (n = 27). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was lowest in Group 2 and highest in the control group (p < 0.001). LV end-diastolic diameter was greater in Group 2 than in Group 1 and the control group (p = 0.005). Pro-BNP and troponin levels were higher in Group 1 and Group 2 than in the control group (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Tp-e interval was longer in Group 2 compared to Group 1 and the control group (p < 0.001). The LVEF (OR 0.879, 95% CI 0.812–0.953; p = 0.002) and Tp-e interval (OR 1.181, 95% CI 1.047–1.332; p = 0.007) were independent predictors of PVC/24 h frequency of >1%. A Tp-e interval > 71.65 ms predicts PVC > 1%, with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 90% (AUC = 0.842, 95% CI (0.663–1.000), p = 0.001). Determination of Tp-e prolongation from ECG data may help in the determination of cardiac involvement and early diagnosis of arrhythmic risk in DMD.
Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient Predicts Further Decompensation in Cirrhosis Patients with Acute Esophageal Variceal Bleeding
Authors: Vaishnav Manas , Biswas Sagnik , Anand Abhinav , Pathak Piyush , Swaroop Shekhar , Aggarwal Arnav , Arora Umang , Elhence Anshuman , Gamanagatti Shivanand , Goel Amit , Kumar Ramesh , Shalimar
Published: July 2023

Background: The role of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in predicting further decompensation in cirrhosis patients with acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is not known. We aimed to evaluate the role of HVPG in predicting further decompensation in cirrhosis patients with AVB Methods: In this prospective study, 145 patients with cirrhosis with esophageal or gastric AVB were included. HVPG was measured on the day of the AVB. Decompensating events occurring after 42-days of AVB were considered further decompensation. Results: The median age of the study cohort was 44 years; 88.3% males. The predominant etiology of cirrhosis was alcohol (46.2%). Overall, 40 (27.6%) patients developed further decompensation during median follow-up of 296 days following AVB. Gastro intestinal bleeding n = 27 (18.6%) and new-onset/worsening ascites n = 20 (13.8%) were the most common decompensating events. According to the multivariate model, HVPG was an independent predictor of any further decompensation in esophageal AVB patients but not in gastric variceal bleeding patients. HVPG cut-off of ≥16 mmHg predicted further decompensation in the esophageal AVB. However, HVPG was not an independent predictor of mortality. Conclusion: HVPG measured during an episode of acute variceal hemorrhage from esophageal varices predicts further decompensating events in cirrhosis patients.
Research on the Endurance Optimisation of Multirotor UAVs for High-Altitude Environments
Authors: Qin Tianyi , Zhang Guangyu , Yang Liying , He Yuqing
Published: July 2023

Multirotor UAVs are becoming increasingly important in both civilian and military fields. In the plateau environment, the endurance time of multirotor UAVs is still too short for mission requirements. Thus, the optimisation of the efficiency of the power system is considered to be an effective way to overcome this problem. This paper presents a practical method of power system design to maximise endurance time in a plateau environment. First, the optimal proportion of battery quality is analysed from the perspective of energy consumption of multirotor UAVs. Second, the modelling method of each component of the power system is studied separately. Then, the endurance solution method is given, the multirotor UAV power system is optimised and analysed according to the given design requirements, and the effectiveness and practicability of the method are verified through experiments.
Students’ Experience of Online Learning in a Blended Learning Setting: A Qualitative Evaluation
Authors: Khalaf Mai E. , Abubakr Neamat Hassan , Ziada Hassan
Published: July 2023

Background: This study aimed to evaluate students’ perceptions of their educational experience of online learning in a blended learning dental education. It was also to investigate the online platform in a blended learning setting as an educational mode for future dental education. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to gain insight into the students’ experiences. Fifteen students agreed to participate in three synchronous online focus groups held via WebEx; each group consisted of five students. Results: Thematic analysis was carried out iteratively and inductively, and three themes emerged that interrelated with each other and the research question. Students appreciated the blended learning educational experience, particularly the reduced time and cost of travelling to and from the school and the prospect of combining education with home comforts and commitments. Some students still preferred the face-to-face learning mode, as they believed they could concentrate more than on the online platform. The teachers’ communication skills on the online platform impacted on the students’ views on its suitability and its continuum in future education. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, students perceived online and blended learning as more convenient, particularly in a busy and expanding dental curriculum.
Research and Implementation of Intelligent Control System for Grassland Grazing Robotic Vehicle
Authors: Zhang Hongyuan , Han Mingjuan , Mi Yajie , Xin Jile , Fan Wei , Han Ding
Published: July 2023

In response to the complex animal husbandry environment, wide livestock range, and labor shortage in Inner Mongolia grasslands, this study designed an intelligent control system for robotic vehicles used in natural grazing grassland environments. The control system consists of software and hardware components and motion control algorithms. Based on the application characteristics of different mechanisms of the robotic vehicle, the motion control of the robotic vehicle is decomposed into longitudinal speed control and lateral steering control. The longitudinal speed control adopts the traditional Proportional-Integral-Differential (PID) control method. Since the hardware composition and internal angle calculation method of the steering system are complex and prone to deviations caused by external terrain, a lateral adaptive fuzzy PID controller was constructed with lateral deviation and deviation change rate as input variables and parameters Kp, Ki, and Kd as outputs. The field test results show that when the longitudinal speed was set to 0.5 m/s, the adjustment time was 1.95 s, and the steady-state error was about 0. When the longitudinal speed was the same, the lateral adaptive fuzzy PID controller reduced the rise time by 0.77 s compared to traditional control methods, reduced overshoot and steady-state error by 2%, and quickly recovered to a steady state after being disturbed. The following test results show that the designed intelligent control system can achieve real-time tracking of targets and that the motion controllers can effectively control speed and steering angle. Therefore, the intelligent control system designed in this paper can effectively achieve stable and real-time control of the robotic vehicle.
On the Efficiency of a Lightweight Authentication and Privacy Preservation Scheme for MQTT
Authors: Tian Sijia , Vassilakis Vassilios G.
Published: July 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) deployment in emerging markets has increased dramatically, making security a prominent issue in IoT communication. Several protocols are available for IoT communication; among them, Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) is pervasive in intelligent applications. However, MQTT is designed for resource-constrained IoT devices and, by default, does not have a security scheme, necessitating an additional security scheme to overcome its weaknesses. The security vulnerabilities in MQTT inherently lead to overhead and poor communication performance. Adding a lightweight security framework for MQTT is essential to overcome these problems in a resource-constrained environment. The conventional MQTT security schemes present a single trusted scheme and perform attribute verification and key generation, which tend to be a bottleneck at the server and pave the way for various security attacks. In addition to that, using the same secret key for an extended period and a flawed key revocation system can affect the security of MQTT. To address these issues, we propose an Improved Ciphertext Policy-Attribute-Based Encryption (ICP-ABE) integrated with a lightweight symmetric encryption scheme, PRESENT, to improve the security of MQTT. In this work, the PRESENT algorithm enables the secure sharing of blind keys among clients. We evaluated a previously proposed ICP-ABE scheme from the perspective of energy consumption and communication overhead. Furthermore, we evaluated the efficiency of the scheme using provable security and formal methods. The simulation results showed that the proposed scheme consumes less energy in standard and attack scenarios than the simple PRESENT, Key Schedule Algorithm (KSA)-PRESENT Secure Message Queue Telemetry Transport (SMQTT), and ECC-RSA frameworks, with a topology of 30 nodes. In general, the proposed lightweight security framework for MQTT addresses the vulnerabilities of MQTT and ensures secure communication in a resource-constrained environment, making it a promising solution for IoT applications in emerging markets.
Powder Bed Approach to 3D Printing of Structural Electronic Circuits
Authors: Dembowski Dawid , Słoma Marcin
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study is to research the possibility of producing structural electronics with the powder bed Binder Jetting (BJ) technique. The adaptation of the BJ ZPrinter 450 printer for the deposition of silver nanoparticle inks and the fabrication of conductive paths using commercially available consumables was successfully carried out. The research included testing the influence of different orientations of the printed substrates for the conductive paths and also checking the dependence of the resistance on a number of printed nanoparticle ink layers. First, the measured average resistance value equal to 133.86 Ω was reached after 18 printed nanosilver ink layers. The best results have been obtained for 68 printed layers with an average resistance value of 4.64 Ω. The effect of the heat-treatment time and multiple sintering approaches of the prepared samples was also examined. The dependence of the sintering time on the resistance of the path turned out to be consistent with that encountered in the literature. Single sintering of the path with 33 nanosilver ink layers gave an average resistance value of 21.11 Ω. The same number of layers sintered 3 times during the process after several passes of the printhead gave the lowest resistance value of 1.89 Ω. Strength tests of the samples showed that the BJ is not suitable for the application of strain sensor fabrication. Despite this, the results of the study showed that high-efficiency printed electronics are possible to be fabricated using powder bed techniques, and there is a lot of room for future research.
Microbial Oil Production from Alkali Pre-Treated Giant Reed (Arundo donax L.) by Selected Fungi
Authors: Cianchetta Stefano , Ceotto Enrico , Galletti Stefania
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the microbial oil production by three selected strains, Mortierella isabellina, Cunninghamella echinulata, and Thamnidium elegans, after fermentation of an enzymatic hydrolysate from alkali pre-treated giant reed biomass, in comparison to a semi-synthetic medium, at three increasing nitrogen supplementation levels (0.14, 0.25, and 0.47 g/L). M. isabellina showed the fastest sugar consumption, the highest final cell and oil concentrations (10.9 and 5.6 g/L, respectively), as well as the highest cellular oil content, oil yield/g sugar consumed, and oil productivity (63.4%, 0.19 g/g, and 1 g/L/day, respectively) in the giant reed hydrolysate. The oil yield tended to decrease with an increasing nitrogen content in the cultures. Oleic acid was the most copious fatty acid in the oil for all the fungi. On the contrary, T. elegans exhibited the poorest performances. In particular, M. isabellina showed, respectively, the highest and lowest values of oleic and γ-linolenic acid (52.2 and 3.1%, on average). In comparison, C. echinulata and T. elegans showed much higher γ-linolenic acid content (15.3 and 21.6%, on average). Notably, the C. echinulata cultures showed by far the highest γ-linolenic acid concentration in both substrates (345 and 595 g/L in the giant reed hydrolysate and in the synthetic medium, respectively). Finally, the estimated biodiesel properties of all the oils fell within the limits of the U.S. standards, while the oil of M. isabellina only respected the tighter limits fixed by the E.U. regulations.
Performance Evaluation Method of Day-Ahead Load Prediction Models in a District Heating and Cooling System: A Case Study
Authors: Meng Haiyan , Lu Yakai , Tian Zhe , Jiang Xiangbei , Han Zhongqing , Niu Jide
Published: July 2023

Many researchers are devoted to improving the prediction accuracy of daily load profiles, so as to optimize day-ahead operation strategies to achieve the most efficient operation of district heating and cooling (DHC) systems; however, studies on load prediction and operation strategy optimization are generally isolated, which leaves the following question: what day-head load prediction performance should be paid attention to in the operation optimization of DHC systems? In order to explain this issue, and taking an actual DHC system as a case study, this paper proposes an evaluation method for the prediction of daily cooling load profiles by considering the impact of inaccurate prediction on the operation of a DHC system. The evaluation results show the following: (1) When prediction models for daily load profiles are developed, the prediction accuracy of the daily mean load should be emphasized, and there is no need to painstakingly increase the accuracy of load profile shapes. (2) CV and RMSE are the most suitable deviation measures (compared to others, e.g., MAPE, MAE, etc.) for the evaluation of load prediction models. A prediction model with 27.8% deviation (CV) only causes a 3.74% deviation in operation costs; thus, the prediction performance is enough to meet the engineering requirements for the DHC system in this paper.
Machine-Learning-Based Prediction of HVAC-Driven Load Flexibility in Warehouses
Authors: Dadras Javan Farzad , Campodonico Avendano Italo Aldo , Najafi Behzad , Moazami Amin , Rinaldi Fabio
Published: July 2023

This paper introduces a methodology for predicting a warehouse’s reduced load while offering flexibility. Physics-based energy simulations are first performed to model flexibility events, which involve adjusting cooling setpoints with controlled temperature increases to reduce the cooling load. The warehouse building encompasses office and storage spaces, and three cooling scenarios are implemented, i.e., exclusive storage area cooling, exclusive office area cooling, and cooling in both spaces, to expand the study’s potential applications. Next, the simulation data are utilized for training machine learning (ML)-based pipelines, predicting five subsequent hourly energy consumption values an hour before the setpoint adjustments, providing time to plan participation in demand response programs or prepare for charging electric vehicles. For each scenario, the performance of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and a tree-based ML algorithm are compared. Moreover, an expanding window scheme is utilized, gradually incorporating new data and emulating online learning. The results indicate the superior performance of the tree-based algorithm, with an average error of less than 3.5% across all cases and a maximum hourly error of 7%. The achieved accuracy confirms the method’s reliability even in dynamic scenarios where the integrated load of storage space and offices needs to be predicted.
Study on the Operational Modes Using Both Growing and Resting Cells for Succinic Acid Production from Xylose Kinetic Modelling
Authors: Escanciano Itziar A. , Ripoll Vanessa , Ladero Miguel , Santos Victoria E.
Published: July 2023

Succinic acid (SA) is one of the most prominent C4 biomass-based platform chemicals that can be biologically obtained. This article verifies, for the first time, the possibility of producing succinic acid with fed-batch or repeated batch operations with Actinobacillus succinogenes in a resting state, that is, in the absence of a nitrogen source. In this work it is possible to optimise separately the stages of cell growth and production in the fed-batch or repeated batch modes, minimising the costs associated with the nitrogen source and facilitating the subsequent purification of SA. These experiments were carried out with xylose, the most abundant monosaccharide in hemicelluloses, with the results subsequently being compared to those obtained in equivalent operations carried out with cells in a state of growth. First, a cost-effective synthetic growth medium was proposed and successfully employed for SA production. Biocatalysts’ reutilisation showed that the bioprocess can be carried out successfully in repeated batch and fed-batch modes. The best mode for growing cells is repeated batch, achieving a maximum productivity of 0.77 g‧L−1‧h−1, a selectivity of 53% and a yield of 51% with respect to xylose consumed. In contrast, the fed-batch mode was found to be the most convenient mode with resting cell biocatalyst, reaching a maximum productivity of 0.83 g‧L−1‧h−1, a selectivity of 0.78 g‧g−1 and a yield of 68% with respect to the xylose consumed. In addition, by-product formation is significantly reduced when employing resting cells. An unstructured non-segregated kinetic model was developed for both biocatalysts, capable of simulating cell growth, xylose consumption, SA production and by-product generation, with successful estimation of kinetic parameters supported by statistical criteria.
Biodesulfurization of Consortia Immobilized on Oil Palm Frond Biochar in Biotrickling Filters under Anoxic Conditions
Authors: Sutarut Pajongsuk , Cheirsilp Benjamas , Boonsawang Piyarat
Published: July 2023

Biodesulfurization using biotrickling filters (BTFs) under anoxic conditions is a cost-effective method for biogas clean-up. To improve the performance of BTFs, the microbial consortia from the anaerobic pond of a swine farm (SW), the denitrification pond of a tuna factory (DN), and the UASB of the concentrated latex industry (LW) were immobilized on BTFs. In this study, the efficiency of BTFs immobilized with the microbial consortia for the reduction of H2S gas combined with the reduction of nitrate contained in wastewater was investigated. The results showed that H2S was completely removed at the inlet H2S concentration of 207.8–1476 ppmv with wastewater circulation under anoxic conditions. However, only the DN-BTF achieved H2S removal of 95.2% at an inlet concentration of 2500 ppmv. An increase in the N/S ratio (0.356–2.07 mol/mol) improved the H2S removal of the SW-BTF, LW-BTF, and DN-BTF but not the BTF-C. Moreover, the DN-BTF had the highest nitrate removal rate (71.1%) with an N/S ratio of 2.07 mol/mol. When oxygen was supplied in wastewater at DO = 3.60 ± 0.41 mg/L, sulfate was generated at a higher rate, but nitrite production was lower than at DO~0. After microbial community analysis, Proteobacteria were the main phyla involved in the biodesulfurization process.
Evaluation of the Effect of Incorporating Olive Mill Wastewater on Nutrients, Quality, and Bacterial Flora in Fermented Total Mixed Ration
Authors: Zhao Junliang , Kagami Masanori , Yano Kiminobu , Kawasaki Kiyonori
Published: July 2023

Olive mill wastewater (OMW), a major by-product of the olive oil production industry, is rich in polyphenolic compounds that impart health benefits to several animals. Here, we evaluated the effects of OMW addition on the nutrients, quality, and bacterial composition of fermented total mixed ration (TMR). Different amounts of OMW (0%, 5%, 10%, and 20% in fresh matter) as a substitute for water were mixed with the formulated TMR and fermented for 4 weeks. At the initial stages of fermentation, OMW significantly altered the dry matter, pH, and lactic acid content; however, it had minor effects on most macronutrients, quality parameters, and bacterial flora in the final TMR product. OMW (10%) supplementation improved the polyphenolic compound content in the fermented TMR. However, OMW (10% and 20%) increased lipid levels beyond the recommended level of 3% in cow diets. OMW supplementation did not affect the microbial composition of TMR, except for an increased abundance of Weissella. These findings suggest that supplementation of 5–10% OMW improves the quality parameters of TMR without affecting the nutrient composition of fermented TMR. OMW can be used in cow feed; however, further studies involving feeding trials are needed to validate the effects of OMW on cows.
Synergistic Effects of Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Chicken Manure and Corn Stover in Batch and Continuous Modes
Authors: Yu Xinhui , Wang Yanjie , Yan Lei , Wang Yanhong , Lu Jiaxin , Huang Yubo , Bi Shaojie , Wang Weidong
Published: July 2023

The present study aimed to evaluate the anaerobic co-digestion process of chicken manure and corn stover to identify the key parameters that influence methane production. Results from both batch and semi-continuous tests showed that co-digestion enhanced methane production, with an optimal chicken manure to corn stover ratio of 2:1 under experimental conditions. When this ratio was maintained, methane production increased by 36% in batch tests, resulting in a biochemical methane potential of 333 mL/g VS. In semi-continuous tests, co-digestion at a hydraulic retention time of 30 days resulted in a methane production increase of 39%, corresponding to a methane yield of 318 mL/g VS. The inclusion of chicken manure proved effective in improving buffer capacity by generating ammonium bicarbonate, which facilitated stable operation during the digestion process. The observed improvement in methane production could be ascribed to the C/N ratio and the increased biodegradability of chicken manure. These findings offer valuable insights into optimizing anaerobic co-digestion to achieve higher methane production levels.
Effect of Ultrasound Pretreatment on the Moisture Migration and Quality of Cantharellus cibarius Following Hot Air Drying
Authors: Sun Mianli , Xu Yuan , Ding Yangyue , Gu Ying , Zhuang Yongliang , Fan Xuejing
Published: July 2023

The effect of different ultrasound pretreatment powers (0–500 W) before hot air drying on the moisture migration and quality of Cantharellus cibarius (C. cibarius) was investigated in this study. The results showed that the ultrasound pretreatment accelerated the drying rate. When the ultrasound power was 400 W, the drying time of C. cibarius was reduced by 18.90% compared with the control group. The low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results showed that the ultrasound pretreatment increased the water mobility in C. cibarius. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results revealed that the ultrasound pretreatment promoted the expansion of intercellular pores. In addition, the rehydration capacity and quality characteristics of the ultrasound-pretreated dried C. cibarius were better than those of the control group. Overall, this study concluded that ultrasound pretreatment is a promising pretreatment method for the hot air drying of C. cibarius products to reduce the total drying time significantly and improve the retention rate of the total phenolics and flavonoids of dried C. cibarius.
Glycation Improved the Interfacial Adsorption and Emulsifying Performance of β-Conglycinin to Stabilize the High Internal Phase Emulsions
Authors: Zhang Hongjian , Tian Yan , Pan Siyi , Zheng Lianhe
Published: July 2023

This study investigated the interfacial adsorption and emulsifying performance of glycated β-conglycinin (7S) with D-galactose (Gal) at various times. Results indicated that glycation increased the particle sizes and zeta potentials of glycated 7S by inducing subunit dissociation. Glycation destroyed the tertiary structures and transformed secondary structures from an ordered one to a disordered one, leading to the more flexible structures of glycated 7S compared with untreated 7S. All these results affected the structural unfolding and rearrangement of glycated 7S at the oil/water interface. Therefore, glycated 7S improved interfacial adsorption and formed an interfacial viscoelasticity layer, increasing emulsifying performance to stabilize high internal phase emulsions (HIPE) with self-supportive structures. Furthermore, the solid gel-like network of HIPE stabilized by glycated 7S led to emulsification stability. This result provided new ideas to improve the functional properties of plant proteins by changing the interfacial structure.
Volatile, Microbial, and Sensory Profiles and Consumer Acceptance of Coffee Cascara Kombuchas
Authors: Sales Amanda Luísa , Cunha Sara C. , Morgado Jéssika , Cruz Adriano , Santos Thiago F. , Ferreira Isabel M.P.L.V.O. , Fernandes José O. , Miguel Marco Antonio L. , Farah Adriana
Published: July 2023

Given the substantial world coffee production, tons of coffee fruit cascara rich in bioactive compounds are discarded annually. Using this by-product to produce potentially healthy and acceptable foods is a sustainable practice that aggregates value to coffee production and may help improve people’s lives. This study aimed to elaborate kombuchas from coffee cascara tea, evaluate their microbial profile, and monitor the changes in the volatile profile during fermentation, together with sensory attributes and acceptance by consumers from Rio de Janeiro (n = 113). Arabica coffee cascaras from Brazil and Nicaragua were used to make infusions, to which black tea kombucha, a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY), and sucrose were added. Fermentation of plain black tea kombucha was also monitored for comparison. The volatile profile was analyzed after 0, 3, 6, and 9 days of fermentation via headspace solid phase microextraction GC-MS. A total of 81 compounds were identified considering all beverages, 59 in coffee cascara kombuchas and 59 in the black tea kombucha, with 37 common compounds for both. An increase mainly in acids and esters occurred during fermentation. Despite the similarity to black tea kombucha, some aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and ketones in coffee cascara kombucha were not identified in black tea kombucha. Potential impact compounds in CC were linalool, decanal, nonanal, octanal, dodecanal, ethanol, 2-ethylhexanol, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl acetate, β-damascenone, γ-nonalactone, linalool oxide, phenylethyl alcohol, geranyl acetone, phenylacetaldehyde, isoamyl alcohol, acetic acid, octanoic acid, isovaleric acid, ethyl isobutyrate, ethyl hexanoate, and limonene. The mean acceptance scores for cascara kombuchas varied between 5.7 ± 0.53 and 7.4 ± 0.53 on a nine-point hedonic scale, with coffee cascara from three-day Nicaragua kombucha showing the highest score, associated with sweetness and berry, honey, woody, and herbal aromas and flavors. The present results indicate that coffee cascara is a promising by-product for elaboration of fermented beverages, exhibiting exotic and singular fingerprinting that can be explored for applications in the food industry.
Characteristics and Whole-Genome Analysis of Limosilactobacillus fermentum Phage LFP02
Authors: Lv Ruirui , Gao Xin , Zhang Can , Lian Weiqi , Quan Xingyu , Guo She , Chen Xia
Published: July 2023

Limosilactobacillus fermentum is a bacterium widely used in food production, medicine, and industrial fermentation. However, fermentation could fail due to phage contamination. L. fermentum bacteriophage LFP02 can be induced from L. fermentum IMAU 32579 using mitomycin C. To better understand the characteristics of this phage, its physiological and genomic characteristics were evaluated. The results showed that its optimal multiplicity of infection was 0.01, and the burst size was 148.03 ± 2.65 pfu/infective center. Compared to temperature, pH had a more obvious influence on phage viability, although its adsorption capacity was not affected by the divalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) or chloramphenicol. Its genome size was 43,789 bp and the GC content was 46.06%, including 53 functional proteins. Compared to other L. fermentum phages, phage LFP02 had chromosome deletion, insertion, and inversion, which demonstrated that it was a novel phage. This study could expand the knowledge of the biological characteristics of L. fermentum bacteriophages and provide some theoretical basis for bacteriophage prevention during fermentation.
Profiles of Free and Bound Phenolics and Their Antioxidant Capacity in Rice Bean (Vigna umbellata)
Authors: Jiang Qinzhang , Wang Shengwei , Yang Yuzhe , Luo Jinxin , Yang Ruili , Li Wu
Published: July 2023

Rice bean (Vigna umbellata) is a medicinal and dietary legume rich in polyphenols. In this study, the free and bound phenolics in rice bean were extracted by water, 80% methanol, and acid, base, and composite enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively. The polyphenol profiles of the extracted fractions were analyzed. The outcome demonstrated that base hydrolysis was the most effective way to liberate bound phenolics from rice bean (14.18 mg GAE/g DW), which was 16.68 and 56.72 folds higher than those extracted by acid and enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively. The bound polyphenols released by base hydrolysis contributed to 71.15% of the total phenolic content. A total of 35 individual phenolics was identified, of which isoquercitrin, procyanidin B1, rutin, taxifolin, and catechin were the main monomeric phenolics in the free fraction, while gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, catechin, and phloroglucinol were the main monomeric phenolics in the bound fraction. In comparison to the free phenolics extracted by water and 80% methanol and the bound phenolics extracted using acid and composite enzymatic hydrolysis, the bound phenolics from base hydrolysis had a superior antioxidant capacity. The antioxidant activity of rice bean is primarily attributed to individual phenolics such as catechin, abundant both in free and bound fractions, and also p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, and protocatechuic acid in bound fractions. The bound phenolics of rice bean were first reported and showed large differences with the composition of free phenolics. This work suggests that the bound fraction of rice bean must be taken into account in assessing its potential benefits to health.
Cosmic Ray Processes in Galactic Ecosystems
Authors: Owen Ellis R. , Wu Kinwah , Inoue Yoshiyuki , Yang H.-Y. Karen , Mitchell Alison M. W.
Published: July 2023

Galaxy evolution is an important topic, and our physical understanding must be complete to establish a correct picture. This includes a thorough treatment of feedback. The effects of thermal–mechanical and radiative feedback have been widely considered; however, cosmic rays (CRs) are also powerful energy carriers in galactic ecosystems. Resolving the capability of CRs to operate as a feedback agent is therefore essential to advance our understanding of the processes regulating galaxies. The effects of CRs are yet to be fully understood, and their complex multi-channel feedback mechanisms operating across the hierarchy of galaxy structures pose a significant technical challenge. This review examines the role of CRs in galaxies, from the scale of molecular clouds to the circumgalactic medium. An overview of their interaction processes, their implications for galaxy evolution, and their observable signatures is provided and their capability to modify the thermal and hydrodynamic configuration of galactic ecosystems is discussed. We present recent advancements in our understanding of CR processes and interpretation of their signatures, and highlight where technical challenges and unresolved questions persist. We discuss how these may be addressed with upcoming opportunities.
Patient Safety in Palliative Care at the End of Life from the Perspective of Complex Thinking
Authors: Bittencourt Nair Caroline Cavalcanti de Mendonça , Duarte Sabrina da Costa Machado , Marcon Sonia Silva , Chagas Marléa Crescêncio , Telles Audrei Castro , Sá Eunice Maria Casimiro dos Santos , Silva Marcelle Miranda da
Published: July 2023

Actions for patient safety at the end of life must be aligned with the principles of palliative care, such as promoting comfort and quality of life. Faced with this complex process, health professionals need to seek the central relationships of the concepts of safety and palliative care to the end of life, in line with the wishes and expectations of the person and family members/caregivers, as well as with available resources and the capacity of services but, above all, reinforcing the importance of a non-reductionist care approach, which encompasses the various aspects inherent to humans. Hence, we present a new vision of patient safety in palliative care at the end of life based on the complex thinking of Edgar Morin, scientific evidence, and health policies in the global context. We discuss the deficiencies and disjunctions in thought and practice of palliative care at the end of life and patient safety, as well as the challenges for the conjunction of these complex themes, to finally present potential ways to apply complex thinking in the safe care of the patient at the end of life. The problematization of different aspects for the interposition of knowledge about patient safety in palliative care at the end of life portrays the existence of intersubjective connections and the multidimensionality that permeate the guidelines, actions and relationships that sustain the disciplines.
The Perception of Spirituality and Its Assessment among Those with Different Health Statuses in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alrukban Mohammed , Alrabiah Abdulaziz , Alomri Faisal , Alghuligah Abdulaziz , Alderaywsh Abdulaziz , Alomar Abdulaziz , Alkraida Abdulaziz
Published: July 2023

This study compares the perception of spirituality among individuals with different health statuses. It also describes the spiritual services and religious support in the healthcare system that are recommended by the community. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in Riyadh during the year 2021. A face-to-face questionnaire was used to obtain data from seriously ill inpatients (N = 132), chronically ill outpatients (N = 202), and healthy individuals (N = 283), which is an assessment tool designed by the investigators to meet the purpose of the study. This study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals and in the community. Participants were randomly selected using a stratified random sampling technique. The study was performed on 635 participants. A significant number of the participants agreed that the provision of spiritual services has a positive effect on patient condition. The rural population had a higher mean value on limiting the concept of spirituality to religious aspects. There is a clear tendency from all categories toward religious services. The majority of the participants support the provision of psychological services, especially if it is provided by specialized and expert spiritual care providers. The positive perception of participants about spiritual care has been reflected on the tendency toward providing spiritual services. The provision of spiritual care in healthcare systems is expected to be a necessity and not a luxury.
Preoperative Anxiety in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer: What Contributes to Anxiety Levels in Patients Waiting for Surgical Intervention
Authors: Marinelli Veronica , Mazzi Maria Angela , Rimondini Michela , Danzi Olivia Purnima , Bonamini Deborah , Bassi Claudio , Salvia Roberto , Piccolo Lidia Del
Published: July 2023

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies. Currently, the only treatment is surgical resection, which contributes to significant preoperative anxiety, reducing quality of life and worsening surgical outcomes. To date, no standard preventive or therapeutic methods have been established for preoperative anxiety in pancreatic patients. This observational study aims to identify which patients’ socio-demographic, clinical and psychological characteristics contribute more to preoperative anxiety and to identify which are their preoperative concerns. Preoperative anxiety was assessed the day before surgery in 104 selected cancer patients undergoing similar pancreatic major surgery, by administering the STAI-S (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form) and the APAIS (Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale). Our data suggest that patients with high STAI-S showed higher levels of APAIS and that major concerns were related to surgical aspects. Among psychological characteristics, depressive symptoms and trait anxiety appeared as risk factors for the development of preoperative anxiety. Findings support the utility of planning a specific psychological screening to identify patients who need more help, with the aim of offering support and preventing the development of state anxiety and surgery worries in the preoperative phase. This highlights also the importance of good communication by the surgeon on specific aspects related to the operation.
Ripening Process of Tomato Fruits Postharvest: Impact of Environmental Conditions on Quality and Chlorophyll a Fluorescence Characteristics
Authors: Choi Hyo-Gil , Park Kyoung-Sub
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of temperature and light conditions on tomato maturation. Tomato fruits that had completed volumetric growth at the mature green stage were harvested and matured in growth chambers composed of two temperature conditions (daytime–nighttime: 30–20 °C or 20–15 °C) and two light conditions (0 µmol·m−2·s−1 or 400 µmol·m−2·s−1), which were set for 12 h each day and night. Our findings indicate that tomato ripening was significantly influenced by both light and temperature. Tomatoes that matured under low-temperature conditions in the absence of light took more than three times longer to transition from the green stage to the breaker stage compared to those matured under high-temperature conditions with light exposure. Notably, tomato fruit maturation occurred at a faster rate under low-temperature and light conditions than under high-temperature and dark conditions. Changes in chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters were observed throughout the ripening process of tomato fruits. Tomato fruits ripened under low-temperature and dark conditions exhibited significantly lower NPQ (non-photochemical quenching) and RFD (relative fluorescence decrease) values compared to other treatments, while their FO (initial fluorescence) and FM (maximum fluorescence) values were higher. The accumulation of sugar in tomato fruits was observed to be more influenced by light than temperature. On the other hand, the highest levels of phenolic content and lycopene were observed in tomato fruits matured under high-temperature and light conditions. Antioxidant activities, as measured by ABTS and DPPH assays, were highest in mature tomato fruits under high-temperature and light conditions, while they were lowest in fruits under low-temperature and dark conditions. In conclusion, this study highlights the critical role of temperature and light as crucial environmental factors influencing tomato maturation. Understanding these factors can contribute to optimizing postharvest conditions and enhancing fruit quality in the tomato industry.
Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Revealed the Molecular Mechanism of Anthocyanin Synthesis in Purple Leaf Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under Different Light Intensities
Authors: Shen Yiyu , Mao Lianzhen , Zhou Yao , Sun Ying , Liu Zhoubin , Liang Chengliang
Published: July 2023

Light is a crucial environmental component for plant growth, and light intensity plays a crucial function in controlling pigment anabolism in plants. We performed physiological characterisation, transcriptome, and metabolome investigations on purple leaf peppers treated with different light intensities to evaluate the effect on plant leaf colour. The results showed that the leaves of the peppers became significantly purplish under high light, with significantly higher anthocyanin, chlorophyll a, and carotenoid contents. A total of 44,263 genes were quantified using RNA-Seq, with the photoprotein-related genes LRP and LIP maintaining high expression levels under high and medium light. The anthocyanin synthesis pathway was variously enriched among the comparison groups, according to KEGG. The expression of the genes involved in the anthocyanin synthesis pathway, such as CHI, F3H, DFR, and BZ1, was significantly higher under high light. In addition, MYB and bHLH gene families were the most abundant, and MYB1R1, MYB113-like, and bHLH90-like were significantly expressed under high light and highly positively correlated with the above anthocyanin synthesis genes. According to our metabolomic analysis, delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside and delphinidin-3-O-glucoside accumulated in significant concentrations in purple leaves under high light. This study is useful for understanding the process of anthocyanin synthesis and metabolism in pepper leaves that is generated and regulated by varied light intensity.
Multiuser Incomplete Preference K-Nearest Neighbor Query Method Based on Differential Privacy in Road Network
Authors: Zhang Liping , Zhang Xiaojing , Li Song
Published: July 2023

In view of the existing research in the field of k-nearest neighbor query in the road network, the incompleteness of the query user’s preference for data objects and the privacy protection of the query results are not considered, this paper proposes a multiuser incomplete preference k-nearest neighbor query algorithm based on differential privacy in the road network. The algorithm is divided into four parts; the first part proposes a multiuser incomplete preference completion algorithm based on association rules. The algorithm firstly uses the frequent pattern tree proposed in this paper to mine frequent item sets, then uses frequent item sets to mine strong correlation rules, and finally completes multiuser incomplete preference based on strong correlation rules. The second part proposes attribute preference weight coefficient based on multiuser’ s different preferences and clusters users accordingly. The third part compares the dominance of the query object, filters the data with low dominance, and performs a k-neighbor query. The fourth part proposes a privacy budget allocation method based on differential privacy technology. The method uses the Laplace mechanism to add noise to the result release and balance the privacy and availability of data. Theoretical research and experimental analysis show that the proposed method can better deal with the multiuser incomplete preference k-nearest neighbor query and privacy protection problems in the road network.