bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Extreme Value Analysis-Based Systemic Approach in Healthcare Information Systems: The Case of Dietary Intake
Authors: Panagoulias Dimitrios P. , Sotiropoulos Dionisios N. , Tsihrintzis George A.
Published: January 2023

Biomarkers are measurements of biological variables that can determine a state of health. They consist of measuring a single variable or a combination of variables related to the state of health that these variables represent. Biomarkers can provide an early warning of a health problem in relation to an individual patient or group of patients, and thus trigger actions and lead to interventions. Nutritional biomarkers measure the biological consequences of one’s diet. In our recent work, we have used machine learning to predict weight, metabolic syndrome and blood pressure, using blood-exam-based biomarkers. In the current work, we use extreme value theory to examine the significance of outliers in health data, with a focus on diet and the standard biochemistry profile. Specifically, we show that, using extreme value analysis and by applying a systemisation of the process, health trends can be predicted, and thus, health interventions can be (at least partially) automated. For that purpose, public access datasets have been used, which were retrieved from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The NHANES is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of the population in the United States. In total, about 70,000 datapoints were analysed, covering about a decade’s worth of observations.
Electronic System of Remote Optical Control of LiNbO3 Mach-Zehnder Modulator Operating Point
Authors: Agruzov Peter , Parfenov Mikhail , Tronev Aleksandr , Varlamov Andrei , Ilichev Igor , Usikova Anna , Shamrai Aleksandr
Published: January 2023

A system for integrated optical LiNbO3 Mach–Zehnder modulator operating point remote control and stabilization was developed. It consisted of a conventional telecom photodiode and a passive electronic circuit at the bias input of the modulator. Light from an amplitude-modulated laser was used to remotely set the output voltage of the electronic circuit at the bias input of the Mach–Zehnder modulator. Information regarding the current operating point that had been provided with feedback system implementation was taken from DC values of high frequency photodetector currents. Efficient remote control of the modulator operating point over 1 km of a single-mode optical fiber, which multiplexes an optical carrier at 1550 nm and a low frequency control signal with a peak power of 2 mW at 1310 nm, was demonstrated. The results could be of interest for antenna remoting, radio-over-fiber (RoF) technology, and other applications with broadband optical transmission from remote sources in a distributed network.
A Study on a Probabilistic Method for Designing Artificial Neural Networks for the Formation of Intelligent Technology Assemblies with High Variability
Authors: Bukhtoyarov Vladimir V. , Tynchenko Vadim S. , Nelyub Vladimir A. , Masich Igor S. , Borodulin Aleksey S. , Gantimurov Andrei P.
Published: January 2023

Currently, ensemble approaches based, among other things, on the use of non-network models are powerful tools for solving data analysis problems in various practical applications. An important problem in the formation of ensembles of models is ensuring the synergy of solutions by using the properties of a variety of basic individual solutions; therefore, the problem of developing an approach that ensures the maintenance of diversity in a preliminary pool of models for an ensemble is relevant for development and research. This article is devoted to the study of the possibility of using a method for the probabilistic formation of neural network structures developed by the authors. In order to form ensembles of neural networks, the influence of parameters of neural network structure generation on the quality of solving regression problems is considered. To improve the quality of the overall ensemble solution, using a flexible adjustment of the probabilistic procedure for choosing the type of activation function when filling in the layers of a neural network is proposed. In order to determine the effectiveness of this approach, a number of numerical studies on the effectiveness of using neural network ensembles on a set of generated test tasks and real datasets were conducted. The procedure of forming a common solution in ensembles of neural networks based on the application of an evolutionary method of genetic programming is also considered. This article presents the results of a numerical study that demonstrate a higher efficiency of the approach with a modified structure formation procedure compared to a basic approach of selecting the best individual neural networks from a preformed pool. These numerical studies were carried out on a set of test problems and several problems with real datasets that, in particular, describe the process of ore-thermal melting.
Drone Detection Method Based on MobileViT and CA-PANet
Authors: Cheng Qianqing , Li Xiuhe , Zhu Bin , Shi Yingchun , Xie Bo
Published: January 2023

Aiming at the problems of the large amount of model parameters and false and missing detections of multi-scale drone targets, we present a novel drone detection method, YOLOv4-MCA, based on the lightweight MobileViT and Coordinate Attention. The proposed approach is improved according to the framework of YOLOv4. Firstly, we use an improved lightweight MobileViT as the feature extraction backbone network, which can fully extract the local and global feature representations of the object and reduce the model’s complexity. Secondly, we adopt Coordinate Attention to improve PANet and to obtain a multi-scale attention called CA-PANet, which can obtain more positional information and promote the fusion of information with low- and high-dimensional features. Thirdly, we utilize the improved K-means++ method to optimize the object anchor box and improve the detection efficiency. At last, we construct a drone dataset and conduct a performance experiment based on the Mosaic data augmentation method. The experimental results show that the mAP of the proposed approach reaches 92.81%, the FPS reaches 40 f/s, and the number of parameters is only 13.47 M, which is better than mainstream algorithms and achieves a high detection accuracy for multi-scale drone targets using a low number of parameters.
Research on the Electromagnetic Characteristics of an Integrated Multi-Winding Inductive Filtering Converter Transformer and Its Filter System
Authors: Li Jianying , Zhang Yuexing , Li Jianqi , Yang Minsheng , Wan Jingying , Xiao Xunchang
Published: January 2023

In this paper, the electromagnetic characteristics of a novel integrated multi-winding inductive filtering converter transformer, including two parallel-connected delta filter windings with zero impedance, are studied. First, based on Ansoft, a 3D FEM model of the novel converter transformer is built according to its structural parameters and material characteristics. Next, the external circuit connection based on the established 3D FEM model is realized so the corresponding field-circuit coupling model can be established under three different working conditions. On this basis, the electric field characteristics, magnetic field characteristics, winding electromagnetic force characteristics, and core loss characteristics of the novel converter transformer with different conditions are analyzed. The results show that because the harmonic current is effectively suppressed, the flux chain passing through the windings of the novel converter transformer is closer to the sinusoidal wave and the harmonic magnetic potential is effectively suppressed; the electromagnetic force received by each winding of the converter transformer and the high-frequency vibration component are significantly reduced; and the transformer core loss is also significantly reduced. The research on the internal electromagnetic characteristics of the integrated multi-winding inductive filter converter transformer reveals the mechanism of reducing vibration and noise.
Analysis of Low-Density Heat Flux Data by the Wavelet Method
Authors: Hotra Oleksandra , Kovtun Svitlana , Dekusha Oleg , Grądz Żaklin , Babak Vitalii , Styczeń Joanna
Published: January 2023

When evaluating the energy efficiency of buildings and implementing the necessary measures to increase energy efficiency levels, thermal technical characteristics are determined. For this purpose, in situ measurements of the thermal resistance of external enclosing structures were carried out. One of the methods most often used by researchers is the non-destructive method—the heat flow meter (HFM) method regulated by ISO 9869. In the case of surveying a building with a high level of thermal resistance, researchers are faced with low-density heat flux measurements, which is always a difficult task due to significant fluctuations and the influence of external factors on the measurement results. This is due to the fact that it is difficult to determine what is a useful signal and what is a consequence of the effects of non-stationarity and heat transfer conditions. The article provides an example of low-density heat flux measurements when determining the thermal resistance of a building and proposes a data pre-processing procedure that allows for the reduction of heat flux fluctuations, which has a significant impact on the final result at low density. The proposed use of wavelet analysis in the pre-processing of low-density heat flux measurement data makes it possible to reconstruct them or reduce disturbances that occur during research. A comparison of the obtained results with the results of the calculation according to ISO 9869-1 showed a decrease in the standard deviation of the measurements from 5.74 to 2.81%. The results of this study can be used to reduce the noise of low-density heat flux and, as a result, reduce the standard deviation of the measurement when applying the HFM method of determining the thermal resistance of external enclosing structures.
The Effect of Pore Structure on the Distribution of Wet Gases in Coal Seams of Enhong Syncline, SW China
Authors: Lan Fengjuan , Qin Yong , Li Ming , Wang Yugan , Liu Yuhang
Published: January 2023

The origin of the high content of wet gases in coalbed seams is very important geologically, especially in the Enhong syncline in China. The present study focuses on the role of the material that generates the hydrocarbons. The effect of the pore structure on the generation of wet gases has not been thoroughly examined. The present paper characterizes the coal pore structure in the “wet gas area” and “dry gas area”. The pore structures in the two areas are shown to have different features, which affect the distribution of the wet gases. With respect to the pore structure parameters, coals in the wet gas area have a greater total specific surface area and pore volume in micropores. The pore structure types also differ between the two areas: the pore structures in the dry gas areas are mainly of the parallel type and reverse S type, which is favorable for the migration and dissipation of coalbed gases. The pore structure in the wet gas area is relatively closed, with poor connectivity and susceptibility to blockage. The micropore volume, total specific surface area, and the connectivity of the pore structure significantly affect the reserve of wet gases. The adsorption capacity of the micropores and the closed pore structure contribute to the preservation of wet gases.
Microscopic Analysis of Hydrogen Production from Methane Sono-Pyrolysis
Authors: Dehane Aissa , Merouani Slimane
Published: January 2023

The sonolysis of certain substrates in water has proved its effectiveness for the enhancement of the sonochemical production of hydrogen. In this study, the sonolysis of methane has been investigated for the first time in a single acoustic bubble (microreactor) over a frequency from 140 to 515 kHz. The obtained findings have been compared to those available in the literature. Independently of the methane dose (inside the bubble), the yield of H2 was improved especially with the decrease in wave frequency (from 515 to 140 kHz). For the driving frequencies 140, 213, 355, and 515 kHz, the production of hydrogen was maximized at 20, 15, 10, and 10% CH4, respectively. For 213 kHz, and the presence of 10% methane, the yield of hydrogen goes up by 111 fold compared to the case where the gas atmosphere is saturated only by argon. On the other hand, the highest methane conversions (~100% for 2, 5 and 7% CH4) were retrieved at 140 and 213 kHz. In terms of hydrogen formation and methane decay, the use of 140 kHz was found to be the best choice, whereas for a multi-bubble system, the number of acoustic bubbles should be taken into account for an optimal choice of frequency. Interestingly, it was observed that at 140 and 213 kHz and for methane mole fractions lower than or equal to 30 and 10%, respectively, a maximal formation of H2 and a relatively important production of •OH could result simultaneously.
Yield and Bioenergy Quality of Maralfalfa Biomass Obtained at Different Plant Strata and Cutting Dates
Authors: Rosales-Serna Rigoberto , Ríos-Saucedo Julio César , Martínez-Galindo Jhessica Abigail , Carrillo-Parra Artemio , Santana-Espinoza Saúl , Jiménez-Ocampo Rafael , Domínguez-Martínez Pablo Alfredo
Published: January 2023

One viable option for meeting global energy demand is the creation of biofuels from plant species that demonstrate high biomass productivity and good energy characteristics. In this study, growth was evaluated using plant height (PH), the production of green (GB) and dry biomass (DB), and the energy quality of leaves, pods, and stems, considering apical and basal sections of maralfalfa plants at 28, 60, 90, and 140 days after applying a uniformity cut (AUC). The variables were analyzed with correlation tests and variance analyses (ANOVA) using a factorial array design; in addition, Tukey tests were performed. A steady increase in PH (72 to 239 cm) was found. The highest yield of stems was at 90 AUC (41,362 kg/ha) for GB and 140 days AUC (6331 kg/ha) for DB, and a high correlation was observed between PH and stem biomass production for both the GB (r = 0.91) and DB (r = 0.93). There was a strong correlation between higher heating value and DB from the apical stratum (r = 0.99) and the basal stratum (r = 0.97). Maralfalfa shows high biomass productivity and high energy production in short growth periods.
Comparison of Corrected and Uncorrected Enthalpy Methods for Solving Conduction-Driven Solid/Liquid Phase Change Problems
Authors: König-Haagen Andreas , Diarce Gonzalo
Published: January 2023

The numerical study of solid/liquid phase change problems represents a large and ongoing field of research with many applications. These simulations should run as fast and accurately as possible. Therefore, proceeding from previous work and findings from the literature, this study investigates enthalpy methods for solving solid/liquid phase change problems. The relationship between temperature and enthalpy is strongly non-linear and requires special treatment; iteratively corrected methods, as well as approaches that do not correct the temperature/enthalpy relationship at all or only once per time step, were considered for a one-dimensional test problem. Based on the results of this study, two solvers can be recommended, the so-called optimum approach and a simple explicit method; both provide accurate results. The explicit method is easy to program, but the optimum approach allows larger time steps and is, therefore, faster. The influence of several parameters was investigated. The mesh resolution strongly influenced the accuracy and the computational speed, and the time step size barely influenced the accuracy but did affect the computational speed. An artificial melting temperature range influenced the accuracy but had hardly any influence on the simulation speed. Higher-order time discretization schemes were not superior compared to the first-order implicit optimum approach.
Simulations to Eliminate Backflow Power in an Isolated Three-Port Bidirectional DC–DC Converter
Authors: Koneh Norbert Njuanyi , Ko Jae-Sub , Kim Dae-Kyong
Published: January 2023

The aim of this work was to eliminate the backflow power present in an isolated three-port DC–DC converter. Backflow power (which is an inherent property of phase-shifted DC–DC converters) is the major contributor of circulating current the converter, which in turn is known to be the leading cause of system loss. The dual phase shift (DPS) control scheme (which alters the transformer voltage waveform at the different winding terminals) was used to reduce the backflow power. Mathematical relations for the backflow power present in the three-port converter were derived. And from this equation, an operating point in which the backflow power is zero was also obtained. This condition for zero backflow power was confirmed by simulations on PSIM. Added to this were simulation results that show other operating conditions in which zero backflow power could be obtained in the converter. In addition, equations for the power processed at the different ports of the converter were also presented, and 3D plots were made to illustrate the variation of the power and backflow power with respect to the phase shift ratios of the DPS control scheme. It was observed that the backflow power can be totally removed from the three-port converter when using this control scheme.
In-Situ Generation of Nitrogen-Doped MoS2 Quantum Dots Using Laser Ablation in Cryogenic Medium for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Shahi Fatemeh , Parvin Parviz , Mortazavi Seyedeh , Reyhani Ali , Sadrzadeh Mohtada , Moafi Ali , Ebrahimi Mahdi , Aghaei Mohammadreza
Published: January 2023

Here, nitrogen doped molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (N-MoS2 QDs) are fabricated by making use of the pulsed laser ablation (PLA) process in liquid nitrogen (LN2) as a dopant agent. In fact, LN2 contributes the rapid condensation of the plasma plume to form MoS2 QDs, optimizing the conditions for the synthesis of N-doped MoS2 with p-type property. The structural/optical features of the synthesized products are studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy techniques, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The TEM image shows the creation of MoS2 QDs with 5.5 nm average size. UV-vis and PL spectroscopy confirm the formation of N-MoS2 QDs according to the dominant peaks. The Tuck plot gives a direct band-gap of 4.34 eV for MoS2 QDs. Furthermore, XPS spectroscopy reveals Mo-N bonding, indicating nitrogen doping as evidence of p-type MoS2 QDs. Thus, PLA provides a single-stage way to the clean and green synthesis of the MoS2 QDs suspension without a need for high vacuum devices and additional chemical components. Regarding the pristine MoS2, the N-MoS2 QDs benefit from a low overpotential of −0.35 V at −10 mA/cm2 per µg alongside a low Tafel slope of 300 mV/dec. Subsequently, the lower Rct value of N-MoS2 QDs verifies the enhancement of the charge transfer kinetics mainly due to the elevated electronic conductivity. Furthermore, the quasi-rectangular cyclic voltammetry (CV) as well as the larger current window demonstrate a notable electrocatalytic activity. The former is based on the enhanced active sites in favor of N-MoS2 QDs against other samples of interest. Thereby, it is discovered that the N-doped MoS2 QD acts as an effective catalyst to notably improve the performance of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Review of Selected Aspects of Wind Energy Market Development in Poland and Lithuania in the Face of Current Challenges
Authors: Chomać-Pierzecka Ewa , Gąsiński Hubert , Rogozińska-Mitrut Joanna , Soboń Dariusz , Zupok Sebastian
Published: January 2023

The disruption of fossil fuel supply chains due to the war in Ukraine has resulted in the need for an urgent reorganisation of the energy supply system, the cost of which has created a substantial increase in electricity prices in many markets. In light of the above, the need for the development of a renewable energy market has become stronger than ever; hence, the authors of this study have oriented their efforts towards investigating the development of the renewable energy market in countries bordering the line of armed conflict in Ukraine, i.e., Poland—strongly dependent on traditional forms of energy production—and Lithuania. The primary objective of the paper is to review the literature on wind energy, which is necessary to establish the current role of this energy dimension in the renewable energy market in the energy systems of Poland and Lithuania. Therefore, this review paper is oriented towards a review and evaluation of the available thematic literature and industry studies, as well as conclusions related to the number and direction of research topics in the area of the explored issues. The basic finding of this review is that the reviewed literature and studies are most strongly oriented towards a general assessment of the ongoing energy transition in the world, in which the thread of the assessment of the energy situation in Poland and Lithuania, including the thread of the analysis of wind energy, is part of broader assessments, most often regarding EU countries. The wind energy of the countries included in the scope of the review is not discussed comprehensively. The gap identified in this respect relates in particular to the aspect of wind energy development potential concerning solutions targeted at the individual consumer. In quantitative terms, studies addressing wind energy in Lithuania represent a lower percentage of the thematic literature acquired for the review. In the area of noted niches, the need for research and analysis is recommended to increase the information supply for developing the renewable energy market in Poland and Lithuania. In doing so, it is important to explore the technical and technological solutions (with a focus on the individual customer) and the economic aspects of wind installations from a micro and macro perspective. In addition, there is a lack of sufficient studies revealing the position of public opinion regarding the development of this dimension of the RES market and the direction of its changes. This is an important problem—particularly in Poland, where the so-called distance law constantly blocks the development of this dimension of RES and where the need to develop energy from renewable sources is particularly urgent.
Experimental Evaluation of the Effect of Replacing Diesel Fuel by CNG on the Emission of Harmful Exhaust Gas Components and Emission Changes in a Dual-Fuel Engine
Authors: Karczewski Mirosław , Szamrej Grzegorz
Published: January 2023

The constant development of civilization increases environmental pollution as a result of industrial activity and transport. Consequently, human activity in this area is restricted by regulations governing the permissible emission of harmful substance components into the environment. These include substances emitted by combustion engines, the use of which remains high in many industries. Consequently, research is being conducted to reduce the emissions of harmful exhaust components from existing and newly manufactured internal combustion engines. This research presents a used semi-truck engine, in which an innovative Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) supply system was applied. Using this fuel supply installation allows a mass exchange of the base diesel fuel to natural gas of up to 90%. The study evaluated the effect of the diesel/CNG exchange ratio for different engine operating conditions (engine load, speed) on the concentration of toxic components, such as CO, NO, NO2, NOX, as a sum of NO, NO2, CH4, C2H4, C2H6, C3H8, NH3, and CH2O. The use of a dual-fuel system had a positive effect on the emissions of some harmful exhaust components, even in an engine from a vehicle that had been running for many years on diesel and at high mileage, but, simultaneously, the emissions of some harmful exhaust gas components increased.
Application of Intelligent and Digital Technologies to the Tasks of Wind Energy
Authors: Kovalnogov Vladislav N. , Fedorov Ruslan V. , Chukalin Andrei V. , Kornilova Mariya I. , Karpukhina Tamara V. , Petrov Anton V.
Published: January 2023

The article considers the relevance and issues of wind turbine modeling, the principles of wind energy conversion (WEC) system operation, working areas and regulation. The influence of soft computing technologies on the different aspects of wind power systems, particularly in the fields of operation and maintenance, is considered. This article discusses the recent research, development and trends in soft computing techniques for wind-energy-conversion systems. For reliable analysis, the interaction of the wind-generator operation with the atmospheric boundary layer is considered. The authors give a detailed description of the approaches for the study and numerical modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) in the vicinity of a wind farm. The study of the atmospheric boundary layer in the vicinity of the Ulyanovsk wind farm on the basis of cluster analysis of meteorological data is performed. Ten localizations of ABL homogeneous properties are identified. The subject of the study is the application of the results of cluster analysis to set linguistic variables in fuzzy inference algorithms as well as to adjust the initial conditions in the digital model of a wind generator. The results of cluster analysis made it possible to reasonably construct membership functions for the wind speed value in the fuzzy control algorithm to limit the output power of wind turbines. A simulation of the operation of a three-bladed horizontal type wind turbine for the conditions of one of the resulting clusters is performed, and the main regularities of the flow around the wind turbine are revealed. The results obtained are a valuable source for assessing the mutual influence of wind farms and the environment as well as wind farm site development.
Design of a 2DOF-PID Control Scheme for Frequency/Power Regulation in a Two-Area Power System Using Dragonfly Algorithm with Integral-Based Weighted Goal Objective
Authors: Abdel-hamed Alaa M. , Abdelaziz Almoataz Y. , El-Shahat Adel
Published: January 2023

The increase in power demand, nonlinearity, complexity, varying structure, and other important causes has necessitated the implementation of artificial intelligent control methodologies for safe and acceptable operation of the electric power systems. Therefore, in this article, an improved two-degrees-of-freedom (2DOF-PID) control scheme is proposed for power/frequency control of a two-area interconnected electric power system. The parameters of the 2-DOF-PID control scheme are optimized using the Dragonfly Algorithm (DA) via a new integral-based weighted goal fitness function (IB-WGFF) (i.e., DF-2DOF-PID-IB-WGFF). The superiority of the suggested scheme is proved by comparing the results obtained using the proposed IB-WGFF with those obtained using the conventional controllers, and the 2DOF-PID controllers optimized using the DA and Genetic Algorithm (GA) via the frequently published performance criterion. To verify the stability, efficacy, and robustness of the proposed control scheme, a load disturbances and parameters perturbations with various percentages are implemented in the controlled system under the same controllers. Finally, verification results proved that the proposed 2DOF-PID optimized using DA via the IB-WGFF is more stable, efficient, and robust than the other controllers recently used in the literature.
Unsupervised Machine Learning Techniques for Improving Reservoir Interpretation Using Walkaway VSP and Sonic Log Data
Authors: Zareba Mateusz , Danek Tomasz , Stefaniuk Michal
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we present a detailed analysis of the possibility of using unsupervised machine learning techniques for reservoir interpretation based on the parameters obtained from geophysical measurements that are related to the elastic properties of rocks. Four different clustering algorithms were compared, including balanced iterative reducing and clustering using hierarchies, the Gaussian mixture model, k-means, and spectral clustering. Measurements with different vertical resolutions were used. The first set of input parameters was obtained from the walkaway VSP survey. The second one was acquired in the well using a full-wave sonic tool. Apart from the study of algorithms used for clustering, two data pre-processing paths were analyzed in the context of matching the vertical resolution of both methods. The validation of the final results was carried out using a lithological identification of the medium based on an analysis of the drill core. The measurements were performed in Silurian rocks (claystone, mudstone, marly claystone) lying under an overburdened Zechstein formation (salt and anhydrite). This formation is known for high attenuating seismic signal properties. The presented study shows results from the first and only multilevel walkaway VSP acquisition in Poland.
A Compound Coordinated Optimal Operation Strategy of Day-Ahead-Rolling-Realtime in Integrated Energy System
Authors: Liu Zhibin , Guo Feng , Liu Jiaqi , Lin Xinyan , Li Ao , Zhang Zhaoyan , Liu Zhiheng
Published: January 2023

Aiming at the impact of the uncertainty of source load on the optimal scheduling in an integrated energy system (IES), in this paper, based on hybrid resolution modeling and hybrid instruction cycle scheduling technology, three time scales of day-ahead, intra-day rolling and real-time feedback optimization scheduling models are established, respectively, with the objectives of the economic optimal daily operation of the system, the minimum sum of the operation cost of energy purchase and wind curtailment penalty cost in the rolling control time domain, and the minimum adjustment amount of equipment output power. Then, the chaotic gravitational search algorithm (CGSA) is used to solve the problem, and the composite coordination optimization operation strategy of IES with mixed time scales based on CGSA is proposed. In the example, the comparison between the multi-timescale scheduling plan and the actual output, the comparison of the system scheduling results under different strategies and the comparison of different optimization algorithms show that the proposed optimization operation strategy is beneficial to optimize the energy flow distribution, reduce the system operation cost, improve the IES economy and optimization speed.
A GIS-Based Study on the Layout of the Ecological Monitoring System of the Grain for Green Project in China
Authors: Guo Ke , Niu Xiang , Wang Bing
Published: January 2023

The Grain for Green Project (GGP) is an essential ecological system protection and restoration measure which can effectively improve the ecological environment. Constructing ecological monitoring system and obtaining ecological parameters can scientifically evaluate the ecological benefits of the GGP, consolidate the existing achievements, take the road of high-quality development, and promote the construction of a national ecological civilization. Firstly, an index system was constructed based on the factors driving forest ecosystem functions, involving climate (thermal and moisture conditions), vegetation types, and typical ecological zones. Then, GIS spatial analysis technology and the merging criteria index method were used to identify GGP ecological function monitoring zones. Finally, according to the scale of the project, the spatial distribution of existing stations, typical ecological zones, and the density of monitoring stations, the eco-efficiency monitoring stations, were arranged in an overall way, which constitutes the GGP ecological monitoring network. The results showed that the ecological function monitoring zones of GGP included 77 divisions, and 99 ecological monitoring stations (20 compatible level-1 stations, 31 compatible level-2 stations, 18 professional level-1 stations, and 30 professional level-2 stations) were arranged. Among them, 83 are located in national major ecosystem protection and restoration engineering areas (NMEPREA), 79 in national ecological fragile areas (NEFA), 41 in national ecological barrier areas (NEBA), and 58 in national key ecological function areas (NKEFA). The proportion of types of NMEPREA, NEFA, NEBA, and NKEFA covered by monitoring is 66.7%, 100%, 100%, and 76%, respectively. The ecological monitoring system of GGP can not only meet the monitoring needs of the GGP but also effectively monitor the effectiveness of protection and restoration of typical ecological zones. In addition, this study can provide a methodological basis for other countries or ecological projects to build a more scientific and reasonable ecological monitoring system.
Relationship between Leaf Scorch Occurrence and Nutrient Elements and Their Effects on Fruit Qualities in Chinese Chestnut Orchards
Authors: Chen Rongrong , Zhu Jingle , Zhao Jiabing , Shi Xinru , Shi Wenshi , Zhao Yue , Yan Jiawei , Pei Lu , Jia Yunxia , Wu Yanyan , Liu Haitao , Jiang Zeping , Ma Changming , Shi Shengqing
Published: January 2023

Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) is a multipurpose tree providing nuts and timbers, which holds an important position in the mountainous villages in China. However, leaf scorch disease is becoming more and more serious in the chestnut orchards of Yanshan Mountain areas, but the cause of occurrence is still unclear. In this study, the nutrient elements were analyzed from the leaves, roots, and surrounding soils of roots as well as the nut qualities in the healthy and scorched trees from two adjacent chestnut orchards. The results showed that the elements of nitrogen (N), iron (Fe), boron (B), and zinc (Zn) in leaves significantly increased in the scorched trees as well as N and B in roots, and potassium (K), and available potassium (AP) in soils, but leaf magnesium (Mg), root manganese (Mn), and soil Mg, copper (Cu), Fe, and B significantly decreased. Correlation analysis demonstrated that B, Zn, Mg, and Fe had a greater influence on the status of leaf health, and soil AK, K, Fe, B, and Cu had an impact on leaf B concentration. In addition, the occurrence of leaf scorch affected the nut sizes, contents of total soluble proteins and ascorbic acid as well as the catalase activity in the nuts. These results indicated that the disruption of soil-element balance may be one of the main causes resulting in the occurrence of leaf scorch, which would provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the prevention of chestnut leaf scorch disease.
Short-Term Effects of Thinning on Tree Growth and Soil Nutrients in the Middle-Aged Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) Plantations
Authors: Lin Na , Deng Ninglong , Lu Dehao , Xie Huiyan , Feng Mingchun , Chen Shiqing
Published: January 2023

Knowing the effect of thinning on forest ecosystem services is an important aspect of sustainable forest management. This study analyzed the traditional thinning on tree growth and soil nutrients in the Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) plantations. The Chinese fir plantations were 11 years old with different initial densities in Jinji (4000 tree·ha−1), and Yingde (3000 tree·ha−1), Xiaolong (2000 tree·ha−1) forest farms, and 20 years old in Yangmei (2000 tree·ha−1) forest farm. The thinning intensity was 35% in Yangmei and Xiaolong forest farms, and 43% in Jinji and Yingde forest farms. Tree growth was measured as the increment of diameter at breast height and stand volume; soil nutrients were measured as pH, soil carbon and nitrogen contents at 0–10 cm soil. The thinning led to an increase in the diameter of trees in all study plots, with the fastest growth rate in Jinji (22.02%) forest farm. The stand volume growth rate was higher in thinning plots than in control plots, with the highest volume growth rate in Xiaolong (27.8%), due to its higher leaf area index and lower density. There was an increasing pattern of C and N contents in the higher initial density plots after thinning (Jinji and Yingde forest farms). During the extreme drought year in 2021, the thinning mitigated the changes in soil acidity and soil moisture, which indicated that thinning could also increase drought tolerance in the short term. Thinning response studies frequently focus on the long-term effect; our results demonstrate how thinning promotes tree growth in the short term.
Adjunctive Therapeutic Effects of Forest Bathing Trips on Geriatric Hypertension: Results from an On-Site Experiment in the Cinnamomum camphora Forest Environment in Four Seasons
Authors: Huang Runxia , Li Aibo , Li Zhengcai , Chen Zhuomei , Zhou Benzhi , Wang Guofu
Published: January 2023

Forest bathing is receiving increased attention due to its health benefits for humans. However, knowledge is scarce about the adjunctive therapeutic effects of forest bathing in different seasons on geriatric hypertension. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the antihypertensive effects of forest bathing in a Cinnamomum camphora (C. camphora) forest environment in four seasons. One group of participants with geriatric hypertension was sent to a C. camphora forest to experience a 3 day trip, while, as a control, another group was sent to the urban center. The participants’ blood pressure, blood routine, and blood biochemistry were assessed. The profile of the mood states (POMS) of the participants was assessed before and after the experiment. The air quality, atmospheric environment, and content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at the two experimental sites were monitored during the experiment. This experiment was repeated across four seasons. The advantages of the urban forest groups over the control groups were mainly represented by reductions in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and heart rate (HR), as well as increased oxygen saturation (SpO2). The antihypertensive effects of forest bathing in the C. camphora forest environment changed with the seasons. Compared with the baseline level, SBP and DBP declined after forest bathing across the whole year, except during winter, whereas SpO2 increased. The effect of forest bathing on lowering blood pressure was particularly pronounced during summer and autumn. The antihypertensive effects of forest bathing in the four seasons were highly consistent with the seasonal dynamics of VOCs and negative air ions (NAIs), which implies that the effect of forest bathing may be attributed to alterations of the atmospheric environment. The antihypertensive effects of C. camphora forest were confirmed in our study, and the results can provide a reference for scheduling bathing trips.
Phase Resolved Simulation of the Landau–Alber Stability Bifurcation
Authors: Athanassoulis Agissilaos G.
Published: January 2023

It has long been known that plane wave solutions of the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger Equation (NLS) are linearly unstable. This fact is widely known as modulation instability (MI), and sometimes referred to as Benjamin–Feir instability in the context of water waves. In 1978, I.E. Alber introduced a methodology to perform an analogous linear stability analysis around a sea state with a known power spectrum, instead of around a plane wave. This analysis applies to second moments, and yields a stability criterion for power spectra. Asymptotically, it predicts that sufficiently narrow and high-intensity spectra are unstable, while sufficiently broad and low-intensity spectra are stable, which is consistent with empirical observations. The bifurcation between unstable and stable behaviour has no counterpart in the classical MI (where all plane waves are unstable), and we call it Landau–Alber bifurcation because the stable regime has been shown to be a case of Landau damping. In this paper, we work with the realistic power spectra of ocean waves, and for the first time, we produce clear, direct evidence for an abrupt bifurcation as the spectrum becomes narrow/intense enough. A fundamental ingredient of this work was to look directly at the nonlinear evolution of small, localised inhomogeneities, and whether these can grow dramatically. Indeed, one of the issues affecting previous investigations of this bifurcation seem to have been that they mostly looked for the indirect evidence of instability, such as an increase in overall extreme events. It is also found that a sufficiently large computational domain is crucial for the bifurcation to manifest.
Energy and Information Fluxes at Upper Ocean Density Fronts
Authors: Cornejo Pablo , Bahamonde Adolfo
Published: January 2023

We present large eddy simulations of a midlatitude open ocean front using a modified state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics code. We investigate the energy and information fluxes at the submesoscale/small-scale range in the absence of any atmospheric forcing. We find submesoscale conditions (Ro∼1, Ri∼1) near the surface within baroclinic structures, related to partially imbalanced frontogenetic activity. Near the surface, the simulations show a significant scale coupling on scales larger than ∼103 (m). This is manifested as a strong direct energy cascade and intense mutual communication between scales, where the latter is evaluated using an estimator based on Mutual Information Theory. At scales smaller than ∼103 (m), the results show near-zero energy flux; however, at this scale range, the estimator of mutual communication still shows values corresponding with a significant level of communication between them. This fact motivates investigation into the nature of the self-organized turbulent motion at this scale range with weak energetic coupling but where communication between scales is still significant and to inquire into the existence of synchronization or functional relationships between scales, with emphasis on the eventual underlying nonlocal processes.
Research Progress on Mango Post-Harvest Ripening Physiology and the Regulatory Technologies
Authors: Liu Bangdi , Xin Qi , Zhang Min , Chen Jianhu , Lu Qingchen , Zhou Xinqun , Li Xiangxin , Zhang Wanli , Feng Wei , Pei Haisheng , Sun Jing
Published: January 2023

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an important tropical fruit with a delicate taste, pleasant aroma, and high nutritional value. In recent years, with the promotion of the rural revitalization strategy and the development of the poverty alleviation industry, China has gradually become an important mango producer. However, the short shelf life of mango fruit, the difficulty in regulating the postharvest quality, and the lack of preservation technology are the main problems that need to be solved in China‘s mango industry. In this paper, the physiological changes and mechanisms of mango during postharvest ripening were summarized, including sugar and acid changes, pigment synthesis and accumulation, and aroma formation and accumulation. The physical, chemical, and biological technologies (such as endogenous phytohormones, temperature, light, chemical preservatives, and edible coatings) commonly used in the regulation of mango postharvest ripening and their action principles were emphatically expounded. The shortcomings of the existing mango postharvest ripening regulation technology and physiological mechanism research were analyzed in order to provide a reference for the industrial application and development of mango postharvest.
Investigations into Determinants of Blueberry Coating Effectiveness
Authors: Obenland David , Leyva-Gutierrez Francisco M. A. , Wang Tong
Published: January 2023

Coatings have been investigated as a means of slowing weight loss and helping to preserve quality in blueberries but reported results have been inconsistent with the inadequate presentation of the impact of coatings on blueberry appearance. In this study, we compare the ability to limit weight loss, along with the effect on appearance, of several previously studied coatings for blueberries and attempt to identify reasons why coatings have not been more successful in limiting weight loss in blueberries. In a two-year study, coatings were applied either as a spray or a dip, depending on the nature of the coating, and included 1% chitosan (CH) with and without either 1% or 2% oleic acid (OA), 1% Semperfresh (SF), 2% sodium caseinate (SC), and carnauba wax (CAR). None of the coatings reduced weight loss in either year of the study and sometimes enhanced it. CH, CH + OA, CAR, and SF greatly altered the appearance of the berries by removing all or a part of the waxy bloom. SC also did this to some degree but was generally better at maintaining the natural appearance. It was found that coating application did not effectively limit weight loss through either the cuticle or stem end of the blueberries. Loss of the bloom on the blueberry surface, confirmed visually and by scanning electron microscopy, occurred during coating application, but was found to not influence coating effectiveness. Using CH + OA as an example, it was found that increasing the amount of handling during the drying process significantly increased subsequent weight loss relative to blueberries with minimal handling. This indicates that careful handling during the coating process is important for coating success.
Protein Requirements of Oncorhynchus mykiss Cultured in the Convection-Water Cages by Evaluating Growth, Body Composition and Liver Health
Authors: Zhao Wei , Guo Yu-Cai , Yao Rong , Chen An-Qi , Chen Bao-Yang , Niu Jin
Published: January 2023

The diet formulation for trout has changed dramatically over the last decade due to changes in the ingredient markets and advances in feed processing technology. The protein requirements of Oncorhynchus mykiss were established at the end of the last century, and it is unclear whether these requirements are applicable to modern dietary formulations. Therefore, an eight-week feeding trial was performed to measure the protein requirements of O. mykiss by evaluating growth, body composition, antioxidation property, innate immune response and liver morphology. The five experimental diets were prepared to contain the same levels of crude lipid (120 g/kg) and graded levels of crude protein (356.3, 383.9, 411.5, 439.2 and 466.8 g/kg). The results suggested that the growth, feed utilization and whole-body crude protein levels were significantly increased when fish were fed diets containing 439.2 and 466.8 g/kg crude protein. Meanwhile, low dietary protein levels (356.3 and 383.9 g/kg) significantly down-regulated the mRNA levels of insulin-like growth factor I, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, complement 3 and lysozyme, and also up-regulated the insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 as well as proinflammatory cytokine expression in the liver, including interleukin 1β, interleukin 8 and tumor necrosis factor-α. Moreover, low dietary protein levels (356.3 and 383.9 g/kg) damaged liver structure, suppressed total antioxidative capacity and increased the malondialdehyde content in liver. In conclusion, high dietary protein (439.2 and 466.8 g/kg) promoted fish growth, while low dietary protein (356.3 and 383.9 g/kg) damaged liver structure, induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses and weakened non-specific immunity. The protein requirement of O. mykiss reared in the convection-water cages is no less than 439.2 g/kg for optimal growth, antioxidant and immune properties.