bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Wideband High-Gain Dipole with Impedance and Field Control Structures
Authors: Zhang Honglin , Zhong Haiquan , Ye Jianhao , Liao Shaowei , Li Bing
Published: June 2022

Dipoles are favorable in various applications because of their simple and light structure. However, narrow bandwidths and low gain values limit their usage in wideband and long-range systems. To solve this problem, this paper presents a new method to achieve wideband high-gain for dipoles with embedded double-sleeve and a bathtub-shaped cavity. The double-sleeve adjusts the dipole’s impedance and enforces wideband matching from 4.8 GHz to 9.4 GHz. Furthermore, the bathtub-shaped cavity reshapes the antenna’s radiation field and elevates the antenna’s boresight gain to be above 10 dBi in the bandwidth of 5 GHz to 9.4 GHz, which is a 7.75 dBi improvement over the 2.15 dBi gain of conventional dipoles. The combination of the two structures creates a wideband high-gain dipole that features an average simulated boresight realized gain of 11.8 dBi in the impedance bandwidth of 64.8%. Thus, the new antenna can work efficiently in wideband and long-range systems because of its enhanced bandwidth and gain performances.
Feasible and Optimal Design of an Airborne High-Temperature Superconducting Generator Using Taguchi Method
Authors: Zhou Xiaoyi , Zou Shengnan , Song Shoujun , Chen Wei , Chen Zhanjun , Xu Jiaojiao , Yan Ming
Published: June 2022

Aircraft electrification has become a tendency with demands for low carbon emissions and high electrical load capacity nowadays. Aircraft are especially strict with onboard weight; as a result, high-temperature superconducting (HTS) electrical machines are drawing attention for airborne applications due to their potential for a significant increase in power density. In this study, a feasible scheme of a hybrid-HTS airborne synchronous generator was proposed to fulfill the requirements of a small aircraft (with fewer than eight seats and a maximum range of about 1000 km). The full design from top to bottom is described. The output characteristics and metallic and superconducting AC losses were calculated based on the finite element method. The power grade of 1 MW was obtained, with a power density of 9.27 kW/kg and an efficiency of 98.73%. Furthermore, the performance of the machine was optimized using the Taguchi method. The preliminary design demonstrated the possibility and benefits of hybrid-HTS machines for airborne applications.
On-Chip Polarization Reconfigurable Microstrip Patch Antennas Using Semiconductor Distributed Doped Areas (ScDDAs)
Authors: Allanic Rozenn , Le Berre Denis , Quendo Cédric , De Vasconcellos Douglas Silva , Grimal Virginie , Valente Damien , Billoué Jérôme
Published: June 2022

This paper presents two polarization reconfigurable patch antennas using semiconductor distributed doped areas (ScDDAs) as active components. One proposed antenna has a switching polarization between two linear ones, while the other one has a polarization able to commute from a linear to a circular one. The antennas are designed on a silicon substrate in order to have the ScDDAs integrated in the substrate, overcoming the needs of classical PIN diodes. Therefore, the proposed co-design method between the antenna and the ScDDAs permits us to optimize the global reconfigurable function, designing both parts in the same process flow. Both demonstrators have a resonant frequency of around 5 GHz. The simulated results fit well with the measured ones.
An Advanced TRACE Modeling Approach: Automatic Connection of 3D Cartesian and Cylindrical VESSEL Components in Integral Plant Models
Authors: Zhang Kanglong , Sanchez-Espinoza Victor Hugo
Published: June 2022

Best estimate system thermal-hydraulic codes in the nuclear engineering community, e.g., TRACE, RELAP3D, CATHARE-3, etc., were extended with 3D coarse-mesh components to better describe the 3D Thermal-Hydraulic (TH) phenomena taking place within the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) and the core. The RPV is usually shaped like a cylinder while the core is mostly a cube. Hence, the TRACE code is equipped with a Cylindrical VESSEL and a Cartesian VESSEL. The former one is to represent the RPV (including core), pressurizer, and steam generator. The latter one is more appropriate to represent the core. The two components are connected by two Vessel-Junctions (VJ) at the core inlet and outlet. Due to the different nodalization between the two VESSELs, the analyst needs to do repetitive and error-prone work defining the cell-to-cell junctions and their TH parameters. To facilitate this process, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has developed an automatic approach based on a mesh-constructing and field-mapping library, namely the MEDCoupling. These new capabilities of TRACE are demonstrated by the analysis of the coolant mixing for an academic case and the AP1000 reactor.
An Actively Controlled Two-Terminal Network Implementing a Given Linear Nonconvolution-Type Immittance Operator
Authors: Siwczyński Maciej , Jaraczewski Marcin , Hawron Konrad
Published: June 2022

This paper is a study on the synthesis of digital filters used to control active or self-excited systems. The active two-terminal branch implements a nonconvolution-type immittance operator, which generates a current waveform depending on the given impedance or admittance operator. In this article, for the first time, the method of how to construct immittance operators for linear time-variant (nonconvolution-type) two-terminal circuits, over discrete time, is presented. These operators are useful when calculating periodic steady-state signals of a parametric circuit. The formula for the duty cycle is derived based on the current generated by this branch, assuming a known branch voltage or vice versa. This formula allows us to make a direct calculation of the duty-cycle in an analytical manner and does not refer to any auxiliary signals, e.g., sawtooth signals, or to any control systems, e.g., PI controller. The determined duty-cycles allow us to select the appropriate switching frequency and voltage value for the switched voltage source. With this method, it is also possible to assess the parameters of the current signal that would be generated in the actual active filter branch due to the calculated PWM voltage. The presented method can be an alternative to commonly used PI controllers in feedback for controlling active power filters/inverters.
An nth Harmonic Current Suppression Method Based on the Impulse Current PWM Technique for a Multi-Phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Fed with a Current Source Inverter
Authors: Chen Chao , Chen Zhen , Gao Congzhe , Zhao Jing , Liu Xiangdong , Sun Xiaoyong
Published: June 2022

Among the existing harmonic current suppression methods, it is difficult and complicated to suppress any nth harmonic current accurately for multi-phase permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). To solve this problem, this paper takes a five-phase dual-rotor PMSM fed with a current source inverter (CSI) as an example, and proposes an nth harmonic current suppression method based on the impulse current PWM algorithm. Firstly, the analysis is conducted and presented for the nth harmonic current in the mth harmonic space. Then, based on the Sliding Discrete Fourier Transformation (SDFT), a low-pass filter (LPF) named SDFT-LPF is designed. Additionally, the impulse current PWM technique for the five-phase CSI is realized. In this paper, the experiments have confirmed that the SDFT-LPF has good filter performance. Compared with the SVPWM, the impulse current PWM technique has the same DC-link current utilization rate, but it is easier to implement. Moreover, the proposed harmonic current control method can accurately control any nth harmonic current without changing the PWM technique, which has significantly reduced the complexity of the harmonic current control. Additionally, the proposed scheme is easy to implement and can be directly extended to the multiple harmonic current’s control.
Hybrid Battery Thermal Management System with NiTi SMA and Phase Change Material (PCM) for Li-ion Batteries
Authors: Joula Mohammad , Dilibal Savas , Mafratoglu Gonca , Danquah Josiah , Alipour Mohammad
Published: June 2022

Poor heat dissipation and thermal runaway are most common in batteries subjected to fast charge or discharge and forced to work in hot or subzero ambient temperatures. For the safe operation of lithium-ion batteries throughout their lifecycle, a reliable battery thermal management system (BTMS) is required. A novel hybrid BTMS with a nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloy (SMA) actuated smart wire and phase change material (PCM) with expanded graphite (EG) is proposed in this study. A lumped electrochemical-thermal battery model is developed to analyze the efficiency of the proposed hybrid BTMS. The multiphysics BTMS is investigated by discharging at various electrical currents in both off-modes (inactivated SMA) and on-modes (activated SMA). Under on-mode BTMS operation, temperature elevation is reduced by 4.63 °C and 6.102 °C during 3 C and 5 C discharge, respectively. The proposed hybrid BTMS can be considered a competitive alternative for use in electrical vehicles due to its smart, compact, safe, and efficient performance in both cold and hot environments.
Forests for a Better Future: Sustainability, Innovation and Interdisciplinarity
Authors: Lo Monaco Angela , Macinnis-Ng Cate , Rajora Om P.
Published: June 2022

Forests offer a solution to climate change through carbon storage and providing ecosystem services and sustainable products [...]
Verification of a Deep Learning-Based Tree Species Identification Model Using Images of Broadleaf and Coniferous Tree Leaves
Authors: Minowa Yasushi , Kubota Yuhsuke , Nakatsukasa Shun
Published: June 2022

The objective of this study was to verify the accuracy of tree species identification using deep learning with leaf images of broadleaf and coniferous trees in outdoor photographs. For each of 12 broadleaf and eight coniferous tree species, we acquired 300 photographs of leaves and used those to produce 72,000 256 × 256-pixel images. We used Caffe as the deep learning framework and AlexNet and GoogLeNet as the deep learning algorithms. We constructed four learning models that combined two learning patterns: one for individual classification of 20 species and the other for two-group classification (broadleaf vs. coniferous trees), with and without data augmentation, respectively. The performance of the proposed model was evaluated according to the MCC and F-score. Both classification models exhibited very high accuracy for all learning patterns; the highest MCC was 0.997 for GoogLeNet with data augmentation. The classification accuracy was higher for broadleaf trees when the model was trained using broadleaf only; for coniferous trees, the classification accuracy was higher when the model was trained using both tree types simultaneously than when it was trained using coniferous trees only.
China’s Forest Eco-Bank Project: An Analysis Based on the Actor-Network Theory
Authors: Wei Guangcheng , Kong Xiangzhi , Wang Yumeng , Gao Qiang
Published: June 2022

The high degree of fragmentation and unsustainable exploitation patterns of forest resources have become prominent obstacles to the realisation of the economic and social value of China’s forest resources. China’s forest eco-bank (FEB) project was set up to achieve centralised utilisation of diffuse forest resources in an underdeveloped area. Analysing FEB projects is of great significance to countries with abundant forest resources aiming to benefit from the economic and ecological functions of such resources and achieve sustainable economic and social development. This study uses the actor-network theory framework to analyse cooperation among various actors in the implementation process of the FEB project in China. Our results indicate the following. First, the government was the principal actor playing a vital role in motivating the other parties and driving the project forward. Second, the diffuse nature of China’s forest resources is a major obstacle to their utilisation. The centralised integration of forest resources is a prerequisite for their effective utilisation. Finally, it is necessary to improve the balance of interests of the various actors to promote a more stable actor network and attract more actors to participate in the FEB project.
Validation of the Habitat Quality Index of Tetraclinis articulata Forests and Its Application in Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Restoration Projects
Authors: Moya-Pérez Juan Miguel , Esteve-Selma Miguel Ángel , Rocamora Adrián Ruiz , Carrillo Antonio Félix
Published: June 2022

The latest reports from the European Commission warn of the need to improve the conservation status of its forest habitats. Native populations of priority habitat 9570 (Tetraclinis articulata forests) in continental Europe are located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. The LIFE-TETRACLINIS-EUROPE project aimed to improve habitat conservation conditions. As part of the results of this project, a habitat quality index was proposed with the intention of evaluating both its conservation conditions and its evolution after the implemented action measures. The variables used in this index were selected with the aim of achieving high representativeness of the quality of the habitat while at the same time being easily integrated into monitoring programs. In this paper, we intend to verify the suitability of the variables chosen for this index, its sensitivity to discriminate different conservation levels, and its possible inclusion in forest management programs through a cost-effectiveness analysis.
Foliar Water Uptake Capacity in Six Mangrove Species
Authors: Schaepdryver Katrien H. D. , Goossens Willem , Naseef Abdulla , Kalpuzha Ashtamoorthy Sreejith , Steppe Kathy
Published: June 2022

Foliar water uptake (FWU) is a mechanism that enables plants to acquire water from the atmosphere through their leaves. As mangroves live in a saline sediment water environment, the mechanism of FWU might be of vital importance to acquire freshwater and grow. The goal of this study was to assess the FWU capacity of six different mangrove species belonging to four genera using a series of submersion experiments in which the leaf mass increase was measured and expressed per unit leaf area. The foliar water uptake capacity differed between species with the highest and lowest average water uptake in Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. (1.52 ± 0.48 mg H2O cm−2) and Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. (0.13 ± 0.06 mg H2O cm−2), respectively. Salt-excreting species showed a higher FWU capacity than non-excreting species. Moreover, A. marina, a salt-excreting species, showed a distinct leaf anatomical trait, i.e., trichomes, which were not observed in the other species and might be involved in the water absorption process. The storage of leaves in moist Ziplock bags prior to measurement caused leaf water uptake to already occur during transport to the field station, which proportionately increased the leaf water potential (A. marina: −0.31 ± 0.13 MPa and B. gymnorhiza: −2.70 ± 0.27 MPa). This increase should be considered when performing best practice leaf water potential measurements but did not affect the quantification of FWU capacity because of the water potential gradient between a leaf and the surrounding water during submersion. Our results highlight the differences that exist in FWU capacity between species residing in the same area and growing under the same environmental conditions. This comparative study therefore enhances our understanding of mangrove species’ functioning.
The Effect of Different Lactic Acid Bacteria Inoculants on Silage Quality, Phenolic Acid Profiles, Bacterial Community and In Vitro Rumen Fermentation Characteristic of Whole Corn Silage
Authors: Wang Yan-Lu , Wang Wei-Kang , Wu Qi-Chao , Zhang Fan , Li Wen-Juan , Yang Zhuo-Meng , Bo Yu-Kun , Yang Hong-Jian
Published: June 2022

Corn silage is an important source of forage, but whether or not bacterial inoculants should be applied is somewhat controversial in ruminant feeding practice. In the present study, chopped whole corn plants treated with a single inoculant of Lactobacillus buchneri (LB), Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP) served as either homofermentation (e.g., lactate only) or heterofermentation (e.g., lactate and acetate) controls and compared with those treated with either a mixture of the lactic acid bacteria (QA: 60% LP, 10%PP, 30% LB) or a mixture of the lactic acid bacteria (QB: 60% LP, 15% PP, 25% LB), to investigate their effects on the fermentation quality, ester-linked phenolic acids, and in vitro digestibility. After 60 day ensiling, the addition of QA exhibited the lowest pH (3.51) with greater lactic acid (LA) production. The ester-linked ferulic acid (FAest) and p-coumaric acid (pCAest) concentrations were significantly decreased during 60 days ensiling. And among all these groups, the LB and QA treated group showed a lower concentration of FAest and pCAest than other groups. After 60 days ensiling, Lactobacillus was the dominant genus in all LAB treated groups. Meanwhile, negative correlations of Bacillus, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Blautia, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, and Roseburia with FAest content after 60 days ensiling occurred in the present study. Komagataeibacter was mainly found in LB and PP addition silages, and presented a significant negative effect with the level of acid detergent fiber (ADF). To explore whether the addition of LABs can improve digestibility of whole corn silage, an in vitro rumen fermentation was conducted using the 60 day ensiled whole corn silages as substrates. The QA addition group exhibited a greater 48 h and 96 h in vitro dry matter and ADF disappearance, greater 48 h gas production and less methane emissions. Even though there were the same neutral NDF levels in corn silages treated with LB and QA after 60 days ensiling, the QA treated silages with lower FAest and pCAest presented higher IVDMD after 96 h and 48 h in vitro fermentation. In brief, the addition of mixed inoculants of 60% LB,10% PP, 30% LB compared with the addition of whichever single HoLAB or HeLAB inoculants, facilitated the release of ester-linked phenolic acids (e.g., ferulic and p-coumaric acids) and remarkably, improved silage quality in terms of sharp pH decline and greater lactate production. Taken together with the improvement in rumen microbial fermentation, the results obtained in the present study provided concrete evidence for the role of mixed LAB application in corn silage preparation for ruminant feeding practices.
Co-Authorship Networks Analysis to Discover Collaboration Patterns among Italian Researchers
Authors: Carchiolo Vincenza , Grassia Marco , Malgeri Michele , Mangioni Giuseppe
Published: June 2022

The study of the behaviors of large community of researchers and what correlations exist between their environment, such as grouping rules by law or specific institution policies, and their performance is an important topic since it affects the metrics used to evaluate the quality of the research. Moreover, in several countries, such as Italy, these metrics are also used to define the recruitment and funding policies. To effectively study these topics, we created a procedure that allow us to craft a large dataset of Italian Academic researchers, having the most important performance indices together with co-authorships information, mixing data extracted from the official list of academic researchers provided by Italian Ministry of University and Research and the Elsevier’s Scopus database. In this paper, we discuss our approach to automate the process of correct association of profiles and the mapping of publications reducing the use of computational resources. We also present the characteristics of four datasets related to specific research fields defined by the Italian Ministry of University and Research used to group the Italian researchers. Then, we present several examples of how the information extracted from these datasets can help to achieve a better understanding of the dynamics influencing scientist performances.
Browser Forensic Investigations of Instagram Utilizing IndexedDB Persistent Storage
Authors: Paligu Furkan , Varol Cihan
Published: June 2022

Social media usage is increasing at a rapid rate. Everyday users are leaving a substantial amount of data as artifacts in these applications. As the size and velocity of data increase, innovative technologies such as Web Storage and IndexedDB are emerging. Consequently, forensic investigators are facing challenges to adapt to the emerging technologies to establish reliable techniques for extracting and analyzing suspect information. This paper investigates the convenience and efficacy of performing forensic investigations with a time frame and social network connection analysis on IndexedDB technology. It focuses on artifacts from prevalently used social networking site Instagram on the Mozilla Firefox browser. A single case pretest–posttest quasi-experiment is designed and executed over Instagram web application to produce artifacts that are later extracted, processed, characterized, and presented in forms of information suited to forensic investigation. The artifacts obtained from Mozilla Firefox are crossed-checked with artifacts of Google Chrome for verification. In the end, the efficacy of using these artifacts in forensic investigations is shown with a demonstration through a proof-of-concept tool. The results indicate that Instagram artifacts stored in IndexedDB technology can be utilized efficiently for forensic investigations, with a large variety of information ranging from fully constructed user data to time and location indicators.
Recycling Process of a Basalt Fiber-Epoxy Laminate by Solvolysis: Mechanical and Optical Tests
Authors: Persico Livia , Giacalone Giorgia , Cristalli Beatrice , Tufano Carla , Saccorotti Eudora , Casalone Pietro , Mattiazzo Giuliana
Published: June 2022

Basalt fibre epoxy composites well suit various engineering applications for their mechanical properties and chemical stability. However, after basalt/epoxy product lifespan, there are not many established ways to treat and recycle the fibers without deteriorating their physical, mechanical and chemical properties. In this study, a chemical recycling method for basalt fiber reinforced polymers is presented. The process is based on previous studies concerning carbon fibers epoxy composites in which the fibers are separated from the polymeric matrix through a solvolysis reaction at temperature below 160 °C. Firstly, the specimens are thermally pre-treated in a heater set over the glass transition temperature, to promote the polymeric swelling of the matrix. The chemical degradation is obtained by means of a solution of glacial acetic acid (AcOH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2): compact, clean, resin-free, recycled woven fabrics are obtained and the original length of the yarns is maintained. Breaking tenacity of the recycled basalt fibers is kept up to 90.5% compared to the virgin ones, while, with a pyrolysis treatment, this value cannot exceed the 35%.
Controlling Metal Fires through Cellulose Flake Blanketing Followed by Water Spray Cooling
Authors: Hagauer Josef , Matlschweiger Ulrich , Tippelreither Christian , Lutz Markus , Hribernig Thomas , Lackner Maximilian
Published: June 2022

The traditional methods of fighting metal fires are not always safe for firefighters. The sand and salts that are thrown onto the fire to suffocate the flames can lead to splashes of molten metal, putting the firefighters and the surroundings at risk. A novel process is described where magnesium fires are brought under control using a simple two-step process. First, coated cellulose flakes, which contain approx. 30% inorganic salts, are blown onto the fire from a distance of several meters. Due to its low bulk density, the material settles smoothly on the fire and immediately covers the flames for several seconds. Before the hot metal can break through this cover, a fine water spray is applied to the fire. The water spray wets the top layer of the cellulose flakes, which will begin to char from the bottom. The water evaporates from within the cellulose flake layer and withdraws heat. It was observed that no hydrogen is formed and that this technique can safely control fires. It is judged that 90 kg of flakes could safely bring a pile of 75 kg of burning Mg flakes under control. By using a pneumatic conveying unit for the flakes, firefighters can effectively and efficiently cover the flames from a safe distance. This novel method could be recommended to firefighters in industrial magnesium processing plants, as well as local firefighters in the vicinity of such plants.
The Improvement of Sensory and Bioactive Properties of Yogurt with the Introduction of Tartary Buckwheat
Authors: Ye Yuanyuan , Li Pei , Zhou Jiaojiao , He Jiangling , Cai Jie
Published: June 2022

The incorporation of cereals in yogurt has recently gained increasing consumer approval, for its high nutritional value and health benefits, all over the world. Following this emerging trend, Tartary buckwheat (TB) was supplemented into yogurt as a natural functional ingredient in order to develop a yogurt with enhanced product characteristics and consumer acceptability. The impact of TB addition on physicochemical properties (pH, acidity, apparent viscosity, etc.) and the viability of lactic acid bacteria in yogurt was investigated. It is found that the TB introduction can reduce the pH, increase the acidity and apparent viscosity, and also greatly boost the bioactivities of yogurt. Response surface analysis demonstrated that yogurt with 8 g of TB, 10 g of sugar, and a fermentation duration of 5 h had the highest overall acceptability, and these cultural conditions were chosen as the best. Furthermore, the TB-added yogurt had not only a better sensory and aroma profile, but also good prospective health advantages when compared to regular yogurt. Our research shows that adding TB to yogurt has a significant positive impact on both overall quality and sensory characteristics, making a compelling case for using TB yogurt and developing new fermented dairy products.
Ambient Parameter Monitoring in Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Supply Chains Using Internet of Things-Enabled Sensor and Communication Technology
Authors: Lamberty Anna , Kreyenschmidt Judith
Published: June 2022

Up to half of the global fruit and vegetable production is wasted or lost along the supply chain, causing wastage of resources and economic losses. Ambient parameters strongly influence quality and shelf life of fresh fruit and vegetables. Monitoring these parameters by using Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled sensor and communication technology in supply chains can help to optimize product qualities and hence reduce product rejections and losses. Various corresponding technical solutions are available, but the diverse characteristics of fresh plant-based produce impede establishing valuable applications. Therefore, the aim of this review is to give an overview of IoT-enabled sensor and communication technology in relation to the specific quality and spoilage characteristics of fresh fruit and vegetables. Temperature, relative humidity (RH), O2, CO2 and vibration/shock are ambient parameters that provide most added value regarding product quality optimization, and can be monitored by current IoT-enabled sensor technology. Several wireless communication technologies are available for real-time data exchange and subsequent data processing and usage. Although many studies investigate the general possibility of monitoring systems using IoT-enabled technology, large-scale implementation in fresh fruit and vegetable supply chains is still hindered by unsolved challenges.
Microwave Irradiation: Effects on the Change of Colour Characteristics and Main Phenolic Compounds of Cabernet Gernischt Dry Red Wine during Storage
Authors: Yuan Jiang-Feng , Lai Yu-Ting , Chen Zhuo-Yao , Song Hui-Xia , Zhang Jing , Wang Da-Hong , Gong Ming-Gui , Sun Jian-Rui
Published: June 2022

Wine colour is an essential organoleptic property considered by consumers. In this paper, the potential effects on colour characteristics and the content of main phenolic compounds in red wine under microwave irradiation were investigated during wine storage. The results showed that the changing trend of colour characteristics of microwave-treated and untreated wines was very similar. Moreover, total phenolic compounds, total monomeric anthocyanins, main anthocyanins, main flavonoids, and main phenolic acids (gallic acid; caffeic acid; syringic acid; (+)-catechin; Cy-3-glu; Mv-3-glu) also showed similar change trends during storage. In other words, microwave irradiation had a long-term effect on the colour properties and main phenolic compounds of red wine, changes that require long-time aging in traditional processing. In terms of the studied parameters, the changes in microwave-treated wine were faster than those in untreated wine. These results showed that microwave technology, as a promising artificial aging technology, could in a short time produce red wine of similar quality to traditional aging.
In Silico and In Vitro Analyses of Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme Inhibitory and Antioxidant Activities of Enzymatic Protein Hydrolysates from Taiwan Mackerel (Scomber australasicus) Steaming Juice
Authors: Panjaitan Fenny Crista A. , Chen Ting-Yi , Ku Hao-Hsiang , Chang Yu-Wei
Published: June 2022

Mackerel (Scomber australasicus) steaming juice (MSJ) can be a good source of proteins. However, it is often treated as food waste during the canning process. The objective of this study was to investigate the Angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE-I) inhibitory and antioxidant activities from MSJ hydrolysates using in silico and in vitro approaches. Proteins extracted from MSJ were identified by proteomic techniques, followed by sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), in-gel digestion, tandem mass spectrometry and on-line Mascot database analysis. Myosin heavy chain (fast skeletal muscle), actin, myosin light chain 1 (skeletal muscle isoform), collagen alpha-2(I) chain, tropomyosin alpha-1 chain, beta-enolase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A and glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase were identified and further analyzed using BIOPEP-UWM database. In silico results indicated that MSJ proteins had potential bioactive peptides of antioxidant and ACE-I inhibitory activities. MSJ was then hydrolyzed using six proteases (papain, pepsin, proteinase k, alcalase, bromelain, thermolysin). In particular, pepsin hydrolysates (5 mg/mL) showed the highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (61.54%) among others. Alcalase hydrolysates (5 mg/mL) exhibited the highest metal chelating activity (89.76%) and proteinase K hydrolysates (5 mg/mL) indicated the highest reducing power activity (1.52 abs). Moreover, pepsin hydrolysates (0.1 mg/mL) possessed the highest ACE inhibitory activity (86.15%). Current findings suggest that MSJ hydrolysates can be a potential material to produce ACE-I inhibitory and antioxidant peptides as nutraceutical or pharmaceutical ingredients/products with added values.
Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling to Explore the Causes of Purple Leaves Formation in Non-Heading Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis Makino var. mutliceps Hort.)
Authors: Zhao Ying , Qi Xinghua , Liu Zeji , Zheng Wenfeng , Guan Jian , Liu Zhiyong , Ren Jie , Feng Hui , Zhang Yun
Published: June 2022

Purple non-heading Chinese cabbage is one of the most popular vegetables, and is rich in various health-beneficial anthocyanins. Research related to genes associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis in non-heading Chinese cabbage is important. This study performed integrative transcriptome and metabolome analysis in the purple non-heading Chinese cabbage wild type (WT) and its green mutant to elucidate the formation of purple leaves. The anthocyanin level was higher in purple than in green plants, while the contents of chlorophyll and carotenoid were higher in the green mutant than in the purple WT. Twenty-five anthocyanins were identified in purple and green cultivars; eleven anthocyanin metabolites were identified specifically in the purple plants. RNA-seq analysis indicated that 27 anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and 83 transcription factors were significantly differentially expressed between the WT and its mutant, most of them with higher expression in the purple than green non-heading Chinese cabbage. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses showed that UGT75C1 catalyzing the formation of pelargonidin-3,5-O-diglucoside and cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside may play a critical role in purple leaf formation in non-heading Chinese cabbage. Therefore, these results provide crucial information for elucidating the formation of purple leaves in non-heading Chinese cabbage.
Optimization of a Simultaneous Enzymatic Hydrolysis to Obtain a High-Glucose Slurry from Bread Waste
Authors: Sigüenza-Andrés Teresa , Pando Valentín , Gómez Manuel , Rodríguez-Nogales José M.
Published: June 2022

Bread and bakery products are among the most discarded food products in the world. This work aims to investigate the potential use of wasted bread to obtain a high-glucose slurry. Simultaneous hydrolysis of wasted bread using α-amylase and glucoamylase was carried out performing liquefaction and saccharification at the same time. This process was compared with a traditional sequential hydrolysis. Temperature and pH conditions were optimized using a response surface design determining viscosity, reducing sugars and glucose concentration during the enzymatic processes. The optimal conditions of pH and temperature in the saccharification stage and the simultaneous hydrolysis were pretty similar. Results show that the slurry produced with simultaneous process had a similar glucose yield at 2 h, and at 4 h a yield higher than that obtained by the sequential method of 4 h and could reduce time and energy.
The Fall and Rise of Identified Reference Collection: It Is Possible and Necessary to Transition from a Typological Conceptualization of Variation to Effective Utilization of Collections
Authors: Albanese John , Dagdag Abegail , Skalic Carmen , Osley Stephanie , Cardoso Hugo
Published: June 2022

In some jurisdictions, race, ancestry or population affinity are part of the biological profile used in preliminary identification, for historical and political reasons. It is long overdue for forensic anthropologists to abandon this typological approach to human variation, regardless of the terms used. Using a sample (n = 105) selected from the Terry and Coimbra identified reference collections, a blind experimental approach is used to test several metric methods and versions of methods for group estimation (Fordisc 3.0 and 3.1, and AncesTrees), that rely on different statistical approaches (discriminant function analysis and random forest algorithms, respectively) derived from different reference samples (Howells’ data in AncesTrees and Fordisc 3.1, and different forensic subsamples in Fordisc 3.0 and 3.1). The accuracy for matching premortem documented group designation is consistently low (36 to 50%) across testing parameters and consistent with other independent tests. The results clearly show that a change in terminology, software updates, alternative statistics, expanded reference samples, and newer collections will not solve the underlying fundamental problems. It is possible and necessary to transition from a typological conceptualization of variation to the effective utilization of identified reference collections in Forensic Anthropology. In addition to the theoretical and methodological reasons, it is unethical for forensic anthropologists to continue to use on the deceased methods that do not work and that serve only to further exclude and marginalize the living.
Formulation Development and Ex-Vivo Permeability of Curcumin Hydrogels under the Influence of Natural Chemical Enhancers
Authors: Nawaz Asif , Farid Arshad , Safdar Muhammad , Latif Muhammad Shahid , Ghazanfar Shakira , Akhtar Nosheen , Al Jaouni Soad K. , Selim Samy , Khan Muhammad Waseem
Published: June 2022

Background: The aim of the present research was to formulate and evaluate curcumin hydrogel and to investigate the potential of natural essential oils as permeation enhancers. Methods: Curcumin 2% w/w hydrogel containing various concentrations of eucalyptus oil, aloe vera oil and clove oil was developed using carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) as a gelling agent. Differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy were used to evaluate the compatibility between the drug and the excipients. In order to assess the efficacy of the formulation; rheological properties, skin irritation studies, in vitro release, ex vivo permeation and retention studies were conducted. Results: DSC and FTIR suggest no in-compatibility between curcumin and excipients. Studies proved that addition of suitable natural permeation enhancers to the hydrogels improved the in vitro release and ex vivo permeation and retention of curcumin. From the various natural essential oils, the aloe vera oil at a concentration of 3% w/w had the greatest effect on the permeability rate and skin retention of the Curcumin and produces the highest enhancement ratio amongst all the concentrations of essential oils examined. Conclusion: Aloe vera oil enhances the permeation of curcumin across the skin by altering the complex structure of the stratum corneum without itself undergoing any change. The developed curcumin hydrogels along with natural essential oils may present an effective choice regarding skin infection/wound healing.
Types and Performances of Polymer Gels for Oil-Gas Drilling and Production: A Review
Authors: Lei Shaofei , Sun Jinsheng , Lv Kaihe , Zhang Qitao , Yang Jingbin
Published: June 2022

Polymer gels with suitable viscoelasticity and deformability have been widely used for formation plugging and lost circulation control, profile control, and water shutoff. This article systematically reviews the research progress on the preparation principle, temperature resistance, salt resistance, and mechanical properties of the ground and in situ crosslinked polymer gels for oil-gas drilling and production engineering. Then, it comparatively analyzes the applicable conditions of the two types of polymer gel. To expand the application range of polymer gels in response to the harsh formation environments (e.g., high temperature and high salinity), we reviewed strategies for increasing the high temperature resistance, high salt resistance, and rheological/mechanical strengths of polymer gels. This article provides theoretical and technical references for developing and optimizing polymer gels suitable for oil-gas drilling and production.
First Report of Complete Mitochondrial Genome in the Tribes Coomaniellini and Dicercini (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and Phylogenetic Implications
Authors: Huang Xuyan , Chen Bo , Wei Zhonghua , Shi Aimin
Published: June 2022

The complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of the tribes Coomaniellini and Dicercini were sequenced and described in this study, including Coomaniella copipes (16,196 bp), Coomaniella dentata (16,179 bp), and Dicerca corrugata (16,276 bp). These complete mitogenomes are very similar in length and encoded 37 typical mitochondrial genes, including 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs). Most of PCGs had typical ATN start codons and terminated with TAR. Among these mitogenomes, Leu2 (L2), Ile (I), Ser2 (S2), and Phe (F) were the four most frequently encoded amino acids. Moreover, phylogenetic analyses were performed based on three kinds of nucleotide matrixes (13 PCGs, 2 rRNAs, and 13 PCGs + 2 rRNAs) among the available sequenced species of the family Buprestidae using Bayesian inference and Maximum-likelihood methods. The results showed that a Chrysochroninae species interspersed in Buprestinae, and Coomaniellini is more closely related to Dicercini than Melanophilini. Moreover, the clade of Buprestidae was well separated from outgroups and the monophyly of Agrilinae is confirmed again. Our whole mitogenome phylogenetic results support that the genus Dicerca can be transferred from Chrysochroinae to Buprestinae; whether Dicercini can be completely transferred remains to be further verified after enriching samples. Our results have produced new complete mitogenomic data, which will provide information for future phylogenetic and taxonomic research.
Identification of Putative SNP Markers Associated with Resistance to Egyptian Loose Smut Race(s) in Spring Barley
Authors: Abo-Elyousr Kamal A. M. , Mourad Amira M. I. , Baenziger P. Stephen , Shehata Abdelaal H. A. , Eckstein Peter E. , Beattie Aaron D. , Sallam Ahmed
Published: June 2022

Loose smut (LS) disease is a serious problem that affects barley yield. Breeding of resistant cultivars and identifying new genes controlling LS has received very little attention. Therefore, it is important to understand the genetic basis of LS control in order to genetically improve LS resistance. To address this challenge, a set of 57 highly diverse barley genotypes were inoculated with Egyptian loose smut race(s) and the infected seeds/plants were evaluated in two growing seasons. Loose smut resistance (%) was scored on each genotype. High genetic variation was found among all tested genotypes indicating considerable differences in LS resistance that can be used for breeding. The broad-sense heritability (H2) of LS (0.95) was found. Moreover, genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was performed on all genotypes and generated in 16,966 SNP markers which were used for genetic association analysis using single-marker analysis. The analysis identified 27 significant SNPs distributed across all seven chromosomes that were associated with LS resistance. One SNP (S6_17854595) was located within the HORVU6Hr1G010050 gene model that encodes a protein kinase domain-containing protein (similar to the Un8 LS resistance gene, which contains two kinase domains). A TaqMan marker (0751D06 F6/R6) for the Un8 gene was tested in the diverse collection. The results indicated that none of the Egyptian genotypes had the Un8 gene. The result of this study provided new information on the genetic control of LS resistance. Moreover, good resistance genotypes were identified and can be used for breeding cultivars with improved resistance to Egyptian LS.
Genetic Profile of Patients with Limb-Girdle Muscle Weakness in the Chilean Population
Authors: Cerino Mathieu , González-Hormazábal Patricio , Abaji Mario , Courrier Sebastien , Puppo Francesca , Mathieu Yves , Trangulao Alejandra , Earle Nicholas , Castiglioni Claudia , Díaz Jorge , Campero Mario , Hughes Ricardo , Vargas Carmen , Cortés Rocío , Kleinsteuber Karin , Acosta Ignacio , Urtizberea J. Andoni , Lévy Nicolas , Bartoli Marc , Krahn Martin , Jara Lilian , Caviedes Pablo , Gorokhova Svetlana , Bevilacqua Jorge A.
Published: June 2022

Hereditary myopathies are a group of genetically determined muscle disorders comprising more than 300 entities. In Chile, there are no specific registries of the distinct forms of these myopathies. We now report the genetic findings of a series of Chilean patients presenting with limb-girdle muscle weakness of unknown etiology. Eighty-two patients were explored using high-throughput sequencing approaches with neuromuscular gene panels, establishing a definite genetic diagnosis in 49 patients (59.8%) and a highly probable genetic diagnosis in eight additional cases (9.8%). The most frequent causative genes identified were DYSF and CAPN3, accounting for 22% and 8.5% of the cases, respectively, followed by DMD (4.9%) and RYR1 (4.9%). The remaining 17 causative genes were present in one or two cases only. Twelve novel variants were identified. Five patients (6.1%) carried a variant of uncertain significance in genes partially matching the clinical phenotype. Twenty patients (24.4%) did not carry a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in the phenotypically related genes, including five patients (6.1%) presenting an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder. The relative frequency of the different forms of myopathy in Chile is like that of other series reported from different regions of the world with perhaps a relatively higher incidence of dysferlinopathy.
Tubulin TUBB4B Is Involved in Spermatogonia Proliferation and Cell Cycle Processes
Authors: Feng Meiying , Wang Kai , Fu Shuying , Wei Hengxi , Mu Xiaokun , Li Li , Zhang Shouquan
Published: June 2022

Tubb4b (tubulin β-4b chain) is essential for cell growth and development as a microtubule network protein. Previous studies have shown that TUBB4B affects mouse pronucleus migration, but the gene function has yet to be elucidated. To study TUBB4B-related functions in mouse reproductive development, we designed a single sgRNA in chromosome 2 and generated a knockout spermatogonia cell line of the β-tubulin isoform Tubb4b by the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Tubb4b-KO spermatogonia recognized abnormal lysosomal membranes and cell morphology defects. Compared to control mouse spermatogonia, the proliferation rate was significantly slower and cycling stagnated in the G1/0 population. Although spermatogonia lacking TUBB4B have abnormal divisions, they are not lethal. We detected the mRNA levels of the cell-regulating cyclins CyclinsD1, CyclinsE, Cdk2, Cdk4, P21, Skp2 and the cell growth factors C/EBP α, C/EBP β, and G-CSF in the spermatogonia of Tubb4b-KO and found that the expressions of CyclinsD1, Skp2 and cell growth factors were significantly reduced. Further analysis revealed that 675 genes were expressed differently after Tubb4b deletion and were enriched in negative regulation of cell population proliferation (GO:0008285), negative regulation of cell cycle G2/M phase transition (GO:1902750), and positive regulation of cell death (GO: 0010942). We also found that there is a common gene Cdkn1a (P21) in these three GO pathways related to cell proliferation and cell cycle, and both quantitative analysis and transcriptome sequencing results showed that the expression of this gene was up-regulated in Tubb4b knockout cells. This implies that Tubb4b may be involved in the division of spermatogonia with multiple cell cycle regulatory proteins. Overall, these data indicate that Tubb4b has a specific role in regulating spermatogonia proliferation and cell cycle.
Editorial of Special Issue—“Geoheritage and Geotourism Resources: Education, Recreation, Sustainability”
Authors: Drinia Hara , Voudouris Panagiotis , Antonarakou Assimina
Published: June 2022

In recent years, the interest of society in the geoenvironment is constantly increasing [...]
Design of a Biaxial Laminar Shear Box for 1g Shaking Table Tests
Authors: Castelli Francesco , Grasso Salvatore , Lentini Valentina , Sammito Maria Stella Vanessa
Published: June 2022

In this paper, the design of a new laminar shear box at the Laboratory of Earthquake Engineering and Dynamic Analysis (L.E.D.A.) of the University of Enna “Kore” (Sicily, Italy), is presented. The laminar box has been developed to investigate the liquefaction phenomenon and to validate advanced numerical models and/or the numerical approaches assessed to simulate and prevent related effects. The first part of the paper describes in detail the types of soil containers that have been used in the last three decades around the world. Particular attention is paid to laminar shear box and liquefaction studies. Moreover, the most important factors that affect the performance of a laminar shear box are reported. The last part of the paper describes components, properties, and design advantages of the new laminar shear box for 1g shaking table tests at L.E.D.A. The new laminar box has a rectangular cross section and consists of 16 layers. Each layer is composed of two frames: an inner frame and an outer frame. The inner frame has an internal dimension of 2570 mm by 2310 mm, while the outer frame has an internal dimension of 2700 mm by 2770 mm. Between the layers, there is a 20 mm gap, making the total height 1600 mm.