bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aspects of Design in Low Voltage Resilient Grids—Focus on Battery Sizing and U Level Control with P Regulation in Microgrids of Energy Communities
Authors: Sanduleac Mihai , Sandulescu Alexandru , Efremov Cristina , Ionescu Constantin , Damian Ioan Catalin , Mandis Alexandru
Published: February 2023

Energy communities and their resiliency are both relatively new subjects of interest that need deeper analysis. The concepts are emerging in the current trend of energy decarbonization, combined with unpredictable external factors, such as extreme weather, or nearby conflicts, such as wars. To be resilient against electrical network supply outages or heavy blackouts, energy communities need appropriate design of their electrical microgrids to maintain an acceptable level of activity in both normal and critical situations. The paper deals with aspects of the design of the electrical network used by energy communities, seen as microgrids designed to offer an acceptable level of safe operation and energy resilience. While electrical network resilience covers both the public network (main grid) and local microgrid of an energy community, the paper focuses on the safe operation and resilience related to the local microgrid as a distinct goal from the one of preserving the main grid’s functionality. The first section considers definitions of energy resilience and some of the existing preoccupations on the subject. A second section of the paper presents different aspects of the design of a microgrid, with the purpose of increasing its safety in operation and energy community resilience. The section addresses electrical network architectures, multiple roles of storage resources related to prosumers and to islanded microgrids with high-RES penetration, and other aspects such as the impact of electrification of heating through, e.g., heat pumps. The next sections present selected use cases, which develop some of these design aspects by using typical real data for the analysis and assessing solutions to address resilient microgrid challenges. The selected use cases consider simplified approaches for real-time and short-term storage needs and operational use in microgrids, maintaining voltage levels in a high-RES scenario by using battery P control, and optimization of storage resources to cope with the needs. Conclusions are given in a final section, which also presents future work for a presumed continuation with other use cases related to storage means, safe operation, and resilient design of energy communities microgrids.
Impact of Distributed Generators Penetration Level on the Power Loss and Voltage Profile of Radial Distribution Networks
Authors: Salimon Sunday , Adepoju Gafari , Adebayo Isaiah , Howlader Harun , Ayanlade Samson , Adewuyi Oludamilare
Published: February 2023

The Distributed Generator types have different combinations of real and reactive power characteristics, which can affect the total power loss and the voltage support/control of the radial distribution networks (RDNs) in different ways. This paper investigates the impact of DG’s penetration level (PL) on the power loss and voltage profile of RDNs based on different DG types. The DG types are modeled depending on the real and reactive power they inject. The voltage profiles obtained under various circumstances were fairly compared using the voltage profile index (VPI), which assigns a single value to describe how well the voltages match the ideal voltage. Two novel effective power voltage stability indices were developed to select the most sensitive candidate buses for DG penetration. To assess the influence of the DG PL on the power loss and voltage profile, the sizes of the DG types were gradually raised on these candidate buses by 1% of the total load demand of the RDN. The method was applied to the IEEE 33-bus and 69-bus RDNs. A PL of 45–76% is achieved on the IEEE 33-bus and 48–55% penetration on the IEEE 69-bus without an increase in power loss. The VPI was improved with increasing PL of DG compared to the base case scenario.
Pricing and Simulating Energy Transactions in Energy Communities
Authors: Mello João , de Lorenzo Cristina , Campos Fco. Alberto , Villar José
Published: February 2023

Extensive literature is available for modeling and simulating local electricity markets, often called P2P electricity markets, and for pricing local energy transactions in energy communities. Market models and pricing mechanisms provide simulation tools to better understand how these new markets behave, helping to design their main rules for real applications, and assessing the financial compensations of the internal energy transactions. As such, pricing mechanisms are often needed in energy management systems when centralized management approaches are preferred to market-based ones. First, this paper highlights the links between local electricity markets, pricing mechanisms for local electricity transactions, and other approaches to sharing the collective benefits of participating in transactive energy communities. Then, a standard nomenclature is defined to review some of the main pricing mechanisms for local energy transactions, an innovative pricing mechanism based on the economic principles of a post-delivery pool market is proposed, and other relevant approaches for local electricity market simulation such as Nash equilibrium or agent-based simulation are also revisited. The revision was based on systematic searches in common research databases and on the authors’ experience in European and national projects, including local industrial applications for the past five years. A qualitative assessment of the reviewed methods is also provided, and the research challenges are highlighted. This review is intended to serve as a practical guide to pricing mechanisms and market simulation procedures for practical designs of internal financial compensation to share the collective benefits of energy communities.
Model for Predicting Horizontal Well Transient Productivity in the Bottom-Water Reservoir with Finite Water Bodies
Authors: Jia Xiaofei , Sun Zhaobo , Lei Guanglun , Yao Chuanjin
Published: February 2023

To better understand the horizontal well transient productivity in the bottom-water reservoir with finite water bodies, the horizontal well transient productivity model for the bottom-water reservoir with finite water-body multiple was developed using Green’s function and potential superposition method. Laplace transforms, Fourier transforms, superposition of point source, and Duhamel principle were used to obtain the transient productivity of the horizontal well, and the transient productivity of the horizontal well in real space was obtained by the Stehfest numerical inversion method. The typical pressure response curve and dimensionless productivity curves were plotted. The effects of the water-body multiple, the distance between the horizontal well and oil–water contact, and the skin factor, were analyzed. Six main flowing stages were divided for horizontal wells in the bottom-water reservoir with finite water bodies. When the water body multiples are zero or tend to infinity, the results obtained from the model are consistent with the calculations by the conventional top-bottom closed reservoir model or infinite rigid bottom-water reservoir model, respectively, and the pressure dynamic for the finite water body falls in between both. With the increase in the water body multiples and the decrease in distance between the horizontal well and the oil–water contact, and the horizontal well productivity decreases slowly. With the increase in the skin factor, the initial productivity decreases; moreover, the skin factor has a great influence on the initial productivity of the horizontal well, while the later influence gradually decreases. Accurate horizontal well productivity prediction in the bottom-water reservoir with finite water bodies provides a strong basis for horizontal well deployment, design optimization, and formulation of development policy.
Photometric Method to Determine Membrane Degradation in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
Authors: Heidinger Mathias , Kuhnert Eveline , Mayer Kurt , Sandu Daniel , Hacker Viktor , Bodner Merit
Published: February 2023

A new method for measuring membrane degradation in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) is proposed. The method is based on the detection of fluoride ions in effluent water from the cathode- and anode outlet of the PEFC using photometry (PM). The fluoride emission rate (FER) is an indicator of the membrane’s state of health (SoH) and can be used to measure the chemical membrane degradation. Commercial catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) have been tested at 80 °C and 90 °C at 30% relative humidity (RH) to investigate the reliability of the developed method for fuel cell effluent samples. To verify the measurement, a mean-difference plot was created by measuring the same data with a fluorine selective electrode. The average difference was at ±0.13 nmol h−1 cm−2, which indicates good agreement between the two methods. These new findings imply that PM is a promising method for quick and simple assessment of membrane degradation in PEM technology.
Review of the Integration of Drying and Thermal Treatment Processes for Energy Efficient Reduction of Contaminants and Beneficial Reuse of Wastewater Treatment Plant Biosolids
Authors: Nylen Julian , Sheehan Madoc
Published: February 2023

Biosolids have been traditionally used as a beneficial resource in the agricultural industry. However, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) threaten their reuse due to concerns of toxicity, bioaccumulation, and increased regulations on acceptable CEC concentrations in biosolids. The thermal treatment of biosolids has the potential to destroy/mineralize these contaminants as well as transform the biosolids into valuable biochar. However, the thermal processing of biosolids is highly energy intensive due to the energy costs associated with drying biosolids to the required moisture content for thermal processing. This article performs a brief review of the drying of biosolids from a physical and theoretical viewpoint. It also provides an overview of pyrolysis and gasification. It explains the impact that moisture can have on both the degradation of CECs and the products that can be obtained through the thermal treatment of biosolids. Additionally, model-based, lab-based, and pilot-scale examples of integrated drying and thermal treatment processes are reviewed. Key challenges, such as the need for co-pyrolysis and co-gasification, as well as the impact of biosolids composition on energetic viability, are identified.
Solar Hot Water Systems Using Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage: Perspectives and Challenges
Authors: Modi Nishant , Wang Xiaolin , Negnevitsky Michael
Published: February 2023

Domestic water heating accounts for 15% to 27% of the total energy consumption in buildings in Australia. Over the past two decades, the latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) system has been widely investigated as a way to reduce fossil fuel consumption and increase the share of renewable energy in solar water heating. However, the research has concentrated on the geometric optimisation of the LHTES heat exchanger for the past few years, and this might not be sufficient for commercialisation. Moreover, recent review papers mainly discussed the development of a particular heat-transfer improvement technique. This paper presents perspectives on various solar hot water systems using LHTES to shift focus to on-demand performance studies, as well as structure optimisation studies for faster commercialisation. Future challenges are also discussed. Since the topic is an active area of research, this paper focuses on references that showcase the overall performance of LHTES-assisted solar hot water systems and cannot include all published work in the discussion. This perspective paper provides directional insights to researchers for developing an energy-efficient solar hot water system using LHTES.
Accurate Modeling and Control System Design for a Spherical Radial AC HMB for a Flywheel Battery System
Authors: Zhang Weiyu , Wang Zhen
Published: February 2023

Different from common cylindrical magnetic bearings, the spherical radial AC HMB has obvious advantages in suppressing the gyroscopic effect, thus it is very suitable for application in flywheel battery systems. In this study, a precise mathematical model of suspension forces is deduced adopting wide-area and universal modeling theories in detail for the spherical radial AC HMB. Different from the traditional Maxwell tensor method based on a cylindrical two-dimensional coordinate system, the improved Maxwell tensor method based on a spherical coordinate system has a wider range and versatility. Then, the detailed explanation about the accuracy, wide-area and universality are given. Further, based on the model, the control system is designed, which includes the overall schematic, hardware and software designs. Finally, stiffness and performance tests are conducted. The good results of the stiffness tests indicate the error between the proposed model and the force-deflection stiffness test results is less than 2.8%. The good performance test results show that, based on the established model and control system, the rotor will soon return to equilibrium position under the disturbance of vehicle action.
Smart Energy Meters for Smart Grids, an Internet of Things Perspective
Authors: Rind Yousaf Murtaza , Raza Muhammad Haseeb , Zubair Muhammad , Mehmood Muhammad Qasim , Massoud Yehia
Published: February 2023

Smart energy has evolved over the years to include multiple domains integrated across multiple technology themes, such as electricity, smart grid, and logistics, linked through communication technology and processed in the cloud in a holistic way to deliver on global challenges. Advances in sensing, communication, and computation technologies have been made that enable better smart system implementations. In smart energy systems, sensing technologies have spanned multiple domains with newer techniques that are more accurate, have greater dynamic ranges, and are more reliable. Similarly, communication techniques have now evolved into very high-speed, flexible, and dynamic systems. Computation techniques have seen a quantum leap with greater integration, powerful computing engines, and versatile software stacks that are easily available and modifiable. Finally, the system integration has also seen advances in the form of management, automation, and analytics paradigms. Consequently, smart energy systems have witnessed a revolutionary transformation. The complexity has correspondingly grown exponentially. With regard to smart meters, the measurement component has to scale up to meet the demands of the evolved energy eco-system by relying on the advancements offered. The internet of things (IoT) is a key technology enabler in this scenario, and the smart meter is a key component. In recent years, metering technology has evolved in both complexity and functionality. Therefore, it must use the advances offered by IoT to deliver a new role. The internet of things (IoT) is a key technology enabler in this scenario and the smart meter a key component. In recent years, metering technology has evolved in both complexity and functionality. To deliver on its new role, it must use the advances offered by IoT. In this review, we analyze the smart meter as a combination of sensing, computing, and communication nodes for flexible and complex design paradigms. The components are, in turn, reviewed vis-à-vis the advances offered by IoT. The resultant gaps are reported for future design challenges in the conclusion. The identified gaps are the lack of usage of the full spectrum of the available technology and the lack of an inter-disciplinary approach to smart meter design.
A Review of Nanoparticle Material Coatings in Passive Radiative Cooling Systems Including Skylights
Authors: Gangisetty Gopalakrishna , Zevenhoven Ron
Published: February 2023

Daytime passive radiative cooling (DPRC) has remained a challenge over the past decades due to the necessity of precisely defined materials with a significantly high emissivity of thermal radiation within the atmospheric transparent window wavelength range (8–13 μm) as well as high reflectivity in the solar spectrum (0.2–3 μm). Fortunately, recent advances and technological improvements in nanoscience and metamaterials are making it possible to create diverse metamaterials. This enables the production of DPRC in direct solar irradiation. The development of a material that is appropriate for effective DPRC is also a noteworthy development in this field of technology. This review gives a thorough introduction and discussion of the fundamental ideas, as well as the state-of-the-art and current trends in passive radiative cooling, and describes the cutting-edge materials and various photonic radiator structures that are useful in enhancing net cooling performance. This work also addresses a novel skylight window that offers passive cooling developed at the Åbo Akademi (ÅA) University, Finland. In conclusion, nanomaterials and nanoparticle-based coatings are preferred over all other approaches for commercialization in the future because of their low cost, the ability for large-scale production, simplicity in fabrication, and great potential for further increasing cooling performance.
Global Potentials and Costs of Synfuels via Fischer–Tropsch Process
Authors: Buchenberg Patrick , Addanki Thushara , Franzmann David , Winkler Christoph , Lippkau Felix , Hamacher Thomas , Kuhn Philipp , Heinrichs Heidi , Blesl Markus
Published: February 2023

This paper presents the potentials and costs of synthetic fuels (synfuels) produced by renewable energy via PEM water electrolysis and the subsequent Fischer–Tropsch process for the years 2020, 2030, 2040, and 2050 in selected countries across the globe. The renewable energy potential was determined by the open-source tool pyGRETA and includes photovoltaic, onshore wind, and biomass. Carbon dioxide is obtained from biomass and the atmosphere by direct air capture. The potentials and costs were determined by aggregating minimal cost energy systems for each location on a state level. Each linear energy system was modelled and optimised by the optimisation framework urbs. The analysis focused on decentralised and off-grid synthetic fuels’ production. The transportation costs were roughly estimated based on the distance to the nearest maritime port for export. The distribution infrastructure was not considered since the already-existing infrastructure for fossil fuels can be easily adopted. The results showed that large amounts of synthetic fuels are available for EUR 110/MWh (USD 203/bbl) mainly in Africa, Central and South America, as well as Australia for 2050. This corresponds to a cost reduction of more than half compared to EUR 250/MWh (USD 461/bbl) in 2020. The synfuels’ potentials follow the photovoltaic potentials because of the corresponding low levelised cost of electricity. Batteries are in particular used for photovoltaic-dominant locations, and transportation costs are low compared to production costs.
Recent Progress and Challenges in MXene-Based Phase Change Material for Solar and Thermal Energy Applications
Authors: Awan Hafiz Taimoor Ahmed , Kumar Laveet , Wong Weng Pin , Walvekar Rashmi , Khalid Mohammad
Published: February 2023

Energy storage is becoming a critical issue due to the diminishing availability of fossil fuels and the intermittent nature of current renewable energy sources. As a result, thermal management (TM) and thermal energy systems have gained significant attention due to their crucial roles in various industries. Among the different TM materials, MXenes, a member of the transition metal carbide/nitride family, have emerged as a promising material due to their unique 2D nanostructure, changeable surface chemistry, high electrical/thermal conductivity, light absorptivity, and low infrared emissivity. This review outlines the synthesis methods of MXenes and their various features and applications in thermal management. These 2D materials exhibit outstanding optical and thermal properties, making them suitable for thermal energy generation and storage. The study also covers the potential applications of MXene in the desalination industry, hybrid photovoltaic thermal systems, solar energy storage, electronics, and other thermal management related industries. The findings suggest that MXene-based TM materials have remarkable features that significantly influence thermal energy storage and conversion and present opportunities for further research in efficiently using these materials.
Working Posture and the Center of Mass Assessment While Starting a Chainsaw: A Case Study among Forestry Workers in Croatia
Authors: Landekić Matija , Bačić Marin , Bakarić Matija , Šporčić Mario , Pandur Zdravko
Published: February 2023

Motor-manual work with a chainsaw is still an irreplaceable occupational activity in forest harvesting operations in Croatia and in many other countries. Chainsaw workers are exposed to different risk factors, such as noise and vibrations, heavy load lifting, awkward and preflexion postures, repetitive movements, etc. The working posture and the assessment of the center of mass plays an important role in understanding the exposure of forest workers to postural and occupational risks, either as a part of the entire work process or as a part of an individual element of the work technique. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the impact of three different chainsaw starting methods (from the ground, between the knees, and “drop starting”) on the postural load of the chainsaw worker and its association with personal and occupational factors. The field portion of data collection was conducted in the second and third quarters of 2022. For trunk posture assessment (n = 74), the rapid entire body assessment (REBA) tool was used, and for the center of mass measurement (n = 28), the Xsens MVN Link motion capture suit was used, a relatively new technology that allows data collection in real field conditions. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to verify and analyze the field data. Based on the obtained results, almost 50% of the sampled chainsaw workers ignored safety instructions and preferred “drop starting” a chainsaw. The results also showed that there is a significant difference between the three starting methods in the REBA score, as well as in the number of segments scored during the assessment. The obtained mean REBA score for all three methods is between 4 and 7, placing all methods at a medium level of MSD risk. Regarding the analysis of the Center of Mass (CoM) vertical deviation, the statistical difference is noticeable for the body mass index (BMI) group, the group related to experience with the chainsaw, and the age and height group in relation to three methods for starting a chainsaw. The safest method, which implies starting a chainsaw from the ground, resulted also as the riskiest in terms of postural strain, which, cumulatively over the time variable, can contribute to health problems in forest workers. In conclusion, related to the future process of professional training development for chainsaw workers, an integral part of the training must contain the most optimal postural-movement habits that need to be defined by further kinematic research in forestry.
Explaining Landscape Levels and Drivers of Chinese Moso Bamboo Forests Based on the Plus Model
Authors: Yu Lushan , Wei Juan , Li Dali , Zhong Yongde , Zhang Zhihui
Published: February 2023

China is the richest country in the world in terms of bamboo forest resources, with moso bamboo as the dominated landscape distribution. Analysis of its spatial distribution, landscape change, and its drivers is crucial for forest ecosystem management and sustainable development. However, investigations on the effects of multiple geographical and environmental factors on changes in the landscape of moso bamboo forests are still limited. In this study, Chinese moso bamboo forests in 2010, 2015 and 2020 were selected as the study objects, and 19 provinces (data for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are unavailable), where Chinese moso bamboo forests were actually distributed, were taken as the study areas. This paper aims to determine the spatial distribution and landscape level of moso bamboo forests in China, as well as to conduct a preliminary study on the natural and socioeconomic factors of landscape change within moso bamboo forests and their buffer zones through density analysis, landscape fragmentation analysis, and patch-generating land use simulation model. The analysis using ArcGIS kernel density analysis revealed significant variability in the spatial distribution of moso bamboo forests in China, expanding in both the north and southwest directions. China’s moso bamboo forests expanded fast between 2010 and 2020, with the landscape becoming more fragmented, landscape fragmentation increasing, aggregation diminishing, and overall landscape quality declining. Climate has the greatest influence on the shifting landscape distribution of moso bamboo forests, followed by locational factors and soil and terrain, and socioeconomic factors such as location, population density, and GDP also impact the shifting distribution and landscape of the moso bamboo forest.
Optimal Soil Calcium for the Growth of Mulberry Seedlings Is Altered by Nitrogen Addition
Authors: Zhang Tengzi , Li Yanan , Li Hui , Zhang Songzhu , Zhou Yongbin
Published: February 2023

Increasing soil N not only aggravates calcium (Ca) stress by stimulating Ca leaching from the soil but also impacts the sensitivity of plants to Ca stress. However, how increasing N influences the soil Ca demand of seedlings is largely unknown. We studied the influence of different concentrations of exogenous Ca (i.e., 0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg⋅kg−1 Ca2+) on the growth, photosynthesis, Ca absorption, and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) of mulberry (Morus alba) seedlings under two N levels (i.e., 200 and 600 mg⋅kg−1 NH4NO3). We found that there was an optimal concentration of soil Ca for the growth and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of mulberry seedlings; the optimal Ca concentration was 200 mg⋅kg−1 under low N conditions and 400 mg⋅kg−1 under high N conditions. Therefore, the application of N fertilizer increased the optimal Ca concentration. Different from the unimodal relationship between biomass and Ca levels, the iWUE of mulberry was significantly and positively correlated with soil Ca levels. At the same time, except under the 800 mg⋅kg−1 Ca treatment, the soil Ca levels were reflected by foliar Ca concentrations. The N deposition, large-scale N fertilizer application, and drought increase Ca demand in plants, thus causing the application of Ca fertilizer to be necessary in low-Ca soil while alleviating Ca stress in high-Ca soil. The balance between the optimal Ca level needed for growth and drought resistance should be considered when determining the amount of Ca fertilizer required.
Calibrating a Process-Based Model to Enhance Robustness in Carbon Sequestration Simulations: The Case of Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière
Authors: Boukhris Issam , Lahssini Said , Collalti Alessio , Moukrim Said , Santini Monia , Chiti Tommaso , Valentini Riccardo
Published: February 2023

To assess the degree to which it has met its commitments under the Paris Agreement, Morocco is called upon to carry out carbon assessments and transparent evaluations. Within the forestry sector, little is known about the role of Morocco’s forests in contributing to carbon uptake. With this aim, we applied for the first time in the literature the 3-PG model to Cedrus atlantica ((Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière, 1855), which represents about 131,800 ha of Morocco’s forest area (i.e., Azrou forest). Through the Differential Evolution-Markov Chains (DE-MC) we tested and assessed the sensitivity and calibrated the 3-PG model. This process-based model provided significant results regarding the carbon sequestration capacity. The results showed the following: i. Parameters related to stand properties, canopy structure, and processes, as well as biomass partitioning, are the most important or sensitive for the performance of the model; ii. The DE-MC method optimized the values of the 3-PG parameters which was confirmed by the means of the Gelman–Rubin convergence test; iii. According to the predictions of the calibrated 3-PG, the Net Primary Production in the pure Azrou forest varies between 0.35 and 8.82 tC.ha−1.yr−1, it is equal in average to 5.48 tC.ha−1.yr−1, which given the total area corresponds to 7918 tC.ha−1.
How to Teach Innovativeness Using the Case Study Method in Property Education
Authors: Yiu Chung-Yim , Cheung Ka-Shing
Published: February 2023

Conventional real estate education emphasises the application of knowledge from various disciplines. While this approach has its merits, its efficacy is affected by the stage of development of the discipline referenced. A notable case in point is the adoption of financial technologies (or FinTech) in real estate. How we prepare our next generation with creative thinking skills, an innovation mindset, and a risk-taking attitude to embrace the rapid transformation to an innovation-based economy is therefore critical. In this study, we advocate that the case study method is an effective teaching pedagogy that enables students to learn from analysing real cases and applying knowledge from a complex discipline in real estate. The method motivates students to acquire new knowledge to establish new practices and theories in innovative applications, such as FinTech, in real estate. This study provides a teaching reflection on adopting the case study method in an undergraduate Property Technology (PropTech) course. Students are required to use real business cases to analyse how FinTech is solving real estate problems. Discussions with lecturers and peer reviews in the online discussion forum enable students to wrestle with the knowledge they learn and encourage an atmosphere of knowledge co-creation.
Flavoromics Approach in Critical Aroma Compounds Exploration of Peach: Correlation to Origin Based on OAV Combined with Chemometrics
Authors: Li Qianqian , Li Bei , Zhang Rong , Liu Shuyan , Yang Shupeng , Li Yi , Li Jianxun
Published: February 2023

It is essential to seek the critical aroma compounds to identify the origins of peach as well as provide a guidance for quality evaluation. In this study, the peach was characterized by HS-SPME/GC-MS. Subsequently, the odor activity value (OAV) was calculated to specify the primary aroma-active compounds. Afterwards, the chemometrics methods were employed to explore the potentially critical aroma on the basis of p value, fold change (FC), S-plot, jack-knifing confidence interval, variable importance for projection (VIP), and the Shared and Unique Structures (SUS) plots. As a result, five compounds (methyl acetate, (E)-hex-2-enal, benzaldehyde, [(Z)-hex-3-enyl] acetate, and 5-ethyloxolan-2-one) were considered as critical aromas. Moreover, the multi-classification model was developed with an outstanding performance (accuracy of 100%) using the five critical aroma. Moreover, the potential chemical basis of odors was sought through sensory evaluation. In addition, this study provides the theoretical and practical foundation for geographical origin traceability and quality evaluation.
Transverse Oscillations of the M87 Jet Revealed by KaVA Observations
Authors: Ro Hyunwook , Yi Kunwoo , Cui Yuzhu , Kino Motoki , Hada Kazuhiro , Kawashima Tomohisa , Mizuno Yosuke , Sohn Bong Won , Tazaki Fumie
Published: February 2023

Recent VLBI monitoring has found transverse motions of the M87 jet. However, due to the limited cadence of previous observations, details of the transverse motion have not been fully revealed yet. We have regularly monitored the M87 jet at KVN and VERA Array (KaVA) 22 GHz from December 2013 to June 2016. The average time interval of the observation is ∼0.1 year, which is suitable for tracking short-term structural changes. From these observations, the M87 jet is well represented by double ridge lines in the region 2–12 mas from the core. We found that the ridge lines exhibit transverse oscillations in all observed regions with an average period of 0.94±0.12 years. When the sinusoidal fit is performed, we found that the amplitude of this oscillation is an order of ∼0.1 mas, and the oscillations in the northern and southern limbs are almost in phase. Considering the amplitude, it does not originate from Earth’s parallax. We propose possible scenarios of the transverse oscillation, such as the propagation of jet instabilities or magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) waves or perturbed mass injection around magnetically dominated accretion flows.
Phase Separation: Direct and Indirect Driving Force for High-Order Chromatin Organization
Authors: Li Xiaoli , An Ziyang , Zhang Wenqing , Li Feifei
Published: February 2023

The multi-level spatial chromatin organization in the nucleus is closely related to chromatin activity. The mechanism of chromatin organization and remodeling attract much attention. Phase separation describes the biomolecular condensation which is the basis for membraneless compartments in cells. Recent research shows that phase separation is a key aspect to drive high-order chromatin structure and remodeling. In addition, chromatin functional compartmentalization in the nucleus which is formed by phase separation also plays an important role in overall chromatin structure. In this review, we summarized the latest work about the role of phase separation in spatial chromatin organization, focusing on direct and indirect effects of phase separation on 3D chromatin organization and its impact on transcription regulation.
The Prognostic Impact of Gender, Therapeutic Strategies, Molecular Background, and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Glioblastoma: A Still Unsolved Jigsaw
Authors: Innocenti Lorenzo , Ortenzi Valerio , Scarpitta Rosa , Montemurro Nicola , Pasqualetti Francesco , Asseri Roberta , Lazzi Stefano , Szumera-Cieckiewicz Anna , De Ieso Katia , Perrini Paolo , Naccarato Antonio Giuseppe , Scatena Cristian , Fanelli Giuseppe Nicolò
Published: February 2023

Despite the adoption of novel therapeutical approaches, the outcomes for glioblastoma (GBM) patients remain poor. In the present study, we investigated the prognostic impact of several clinico-pathological and molecular features as well as the role of the cellular immune response in a series of 59 GBM. CD4+ and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were digitally assessed on tissue microarray cores and their prognostic role was investigated. Moreover, the impact of other clinico-pathological features was evaluated. The number of CD4+ and CD8+ is higher in GBM tissue compared to normal brain tissue (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0005 respectively). A positive correlation between CD4+ and CD8+ in GBM is present (rs = 0.417—p = 0.001). CD4+ TILs are inversely related to overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.1–3.1, p = 0.035). The presence of low CD4+ TILs combined with low CD8+ TILs is an independent predictor of longer OS (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.18–0.79, p = 0.014). Female sex is independently related to longer OS (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.22–0.77, p = 0.006). Adjuvant treatment, methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation, and age remain important prognostic factors but are influenced by other features. Adaptive cell-mediated immunity can affect the outcomes of GBM patients. Further studies are needed to elucidate the commitment of the CD4+ cells and the effects of different TILs subpopulations in GBM.
The Role of miRNA-221 and miRNA-34a in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck Region
Authors: Tamas Tiberiu , Raduly Lajos , Berindan-Neagoe Ioana , Dinu Cristian , Botan Emil , Bumbu Bogdan , Tamas Adela , Stoia Sebastian , Leucuta Daniel Corneliu , Bran Simion , Onisor Florin , Băciuț Grigore , Armencea Gabriel , Băciuț Mihaela
Published: February 2023

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is one of the most frequent types of malignancy in the human body with an increasing incidence. Short, non-coding RNA molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs) can control post-transcriptional gene expression and they have a significant role in several physiological cellular processes and pathologies, including cancer. Depending on the functions of the genes, miRNAs may function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. The aim of this paper was to describe the role of miRNA-34a and miRNA-221 in head and neck NMSC. Thirty-eight NMSC match paired (tumor and adjacent) tissue samples were evaluated by qRT-PCR. Total RNA was extracted and isolated from tissue samples using the phenol-chloroform (Trireagent) method according to the manufacturer’s protocol. The concentration of RNA was measured by a NanoDrop-1000 spectrophotometer. The expression level of each miRNA was calculated by threshold cycle. For all statistical tests, the 0.05 significance level was used and two-tailed p values. All analyses were conducted in an R environment for statistical computing and graphics. We found the miRNA-221 being overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (p < 0.05), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and basosquamous cell carcinoma (BSC) compared with adjacent normal tissue. Additionally, the levels of miRNA-221 were two times higher (p < 0.05) in cases where the excision of the tumor was done with positive margins (R1), which means that we are the first to highlight the potential role of miRNA-221 in the microscopical local invasion. Mi-RNA-34a expression was altered in the malignant tissue compared with the adjacent normal one both in BCC and SCC but not statistically significantly. In conclusion, NMSC are challenging because of their increasing incidence and rapidly evolving development and discovering their molecular mechanisms of action lead us to understand tumorigenesis and evolution, while also contributing to the implementation of novel therapeutic keys.
Unraveling the Arctic Sea Ice Change since the Middle of the Twentieth Century
Authors: Kong Nathan , Liu Wei
Published: February 2023

Changes in Arctic sea ice since the middle of the last century are explored in this study. Both observations and climate model simulations show an overall sea ice expansion during 1953–1970 but a general sea ice decline afterward. Anthropogenic aerosols, nature forcing and atmospheric ozone changes are found to contribute to the sea ice expansion in the early period. Their effects are strong generally in late boreal summer. On the other hand, greenhouse gas warming has a dominant effect on diminishing Arctic sea ice cover during 1971–2005, especially in September. Internal climate variability also plays a role in the Arctic sea ice change during 1953–1970. However, it cannot solely explain the Arctic sea ice decline since the 1970s.
Aerobic and Postural Strength Exercise Benefits in People with Schizophrenia
Authors: Szortyka Michele Fonseca , Cristiano Viviane Batista , Belmonte-de-Abreu Paulo
Published: February 2023

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two different types of physical intervention on sedentary behavior and clinical changes in people with schizophrenia. Method: This is a clinical trial including people with schizophrenia in regular outpatient care who realized a 3-month exercise protocol and were separated into two groups: aerobic physical intervention (API) and postural physical intervention (PPI). All participants performed an assessment of (a) functional capacity through a 6 min walk test (6MWT), (b) flexibility using Well’s bench, (c) disease severity using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), (d) quality of life using the SF-36 Questionnaire and (e) physical activity using the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ). Results: Thirty-eight patients with schizophrenia completed the intervention (24 patients in API and 14 patients in PPI). Regarding sedentary behavior, there was an improvement in the API group in the time exercising and in the PPI group concerning time in bed, time walking and exercising. Regarding quality of life, there was an improvement in the API group (functional capacity) and in the PPI group, there was an improvement in physical limitation, pain and emotional limitations. In the API group, there was an improvement in BMI (body mass index), diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure. Functional capacity was improved only in the PPI group. There was no change in flexibility and disease severity. Conclusions: The study demonstrated a change response in the physical and mental aspects in people with schizophrenia after a change in sedentary behavior.
The Implications of Climate Change on Health among Vulnerable Populations in South Africa: A Systematic Review
Authors: Khine Myo Myo , Langkulsen Uma
Published: February 2023

Climate change poses numerous threats to human life, including physical and mental health, the environment, housing, food security, and economic growth. People who already experience multidimensional poverty with the disparity in social, political, economic, historical, and environmental contexts are more vulnerable to these impacts. The study aims to identify the role of climate change in increasing multidimensional inequalities among vulnerable populations and analyze the strengths and limitations of South Africa’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. A systematic review was applied, and literature from Google, Google Scholar, and PubMed, as well as relevant gray literature from 2014–2022 were reviewed. Out of 854 identified sources, 24 were included in the review. Climate change has exacerbated multidimensional inequalities among vulnerable populations in South Africa. Though the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy has paid attention to health issues and the needs of vulnerable groups, the adaptation measures appear to focus less on mental and occupational health. Climate change may play a significant role in increasing multidimensional inequalities and exacerbating health consequences among vulnerable populations. For an inclusive and sustainable reduction in inequalities and vulnerabilities to the impact of climate change, community-based health and social services should be enhanced among vulnerable populations.
Taiwanese Older Adults Prefer to Use Antibiotics and Intravenous Infusion at the End of Life based on a Cartoon Version of the Life Support Preferences Questionnaire
Authors: Ke Li-Shan , Cheng Hui-Chuan , Liu Chien-Liang , Ku Yu-Chen , Lee Ming-Ju , Lin Yin-Ling , Huang Hsiu-Ying
Published: February 2023

Asians believe discussing death-related topics is inauspicious and may bring bad luck. It is critical to explore the end-of-life care preferences of the Asian elderly with less-threatening tools. The study examined older adults’ preferences regarding end-of-life treatments by applying a cartoon version of the Life Support Preferences Questionnaire (LSPQ). A cross-sectional survey was conducted to understand older adults’ preferences for end-of-life treatments. A total of 342 older adults participated in the study, comprising 268 elderly patients from a veterans hospital located in northern Taiwan and 74 elderly family members of the patients. Regardless of scenario, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) had the lowest score, indicating that older adults considered it a less desirable medical treatment. By contrast, antibiotics and intravenous infusions had the highest scores, indicating that older adults tended to prefer them. End-of-life care preferences were significantly different in genders. CPR and surgical preferences of older adults differed significantly with education level. Different demographic characteristics had different end-of-life treatment preferences, and future research may develop advance care planning programs for different attributes. This cartoon version of the LSPQ can help healthcare professionals to understand older adults’ preferences for end-of-life care and warrants further empirical research.
GATR: A Road Network Traffic Violation Prediction Method Based on Graph Attention Network
Authors: Zhou Yuquan , Wang Yingzhi , Zhang Feng , Zhou Hongye , Sun Keran , Yu Yuhan
Published: February 2023

Prediction of traffic violations plays a key role in transportation safety. Combining with deep learning to predict traffic violations has become a new development trend. However, existing methods are based on regular spatial grids which leads to a fuzzy spatial expression and ignores the strong correlation between traffic violations and road network. A spatial topological graph can express the spatiotemporal correlation more accurately and then improve the accuracy of traffic violation prediction. Therefore, we propose a GATR (graph attention network based on road network) model to predict the spatiotemporal distribution of traffic violations, which adopts a graph attention network model combined with historical traffic violation features, external environmental features, and urban functional features. Experiments show that the GATR model can express the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of traffic violations more clearly and has higher prediction accuracy (RMSE = 1.7078) than Conv-LSTM (RMSE = 1.9180). The verification of the GATR model based on GNN Explainer shows the subgraph of the road network and the influence degree of features, which proves GATR is reasonable. GATR can provide an important reference for prevention and control of traffic violations and improve traffic safety.
Towards Sustainable Food Security through Regional Grain Supply and Demand Analysis in China
Authors: Hu Tian , Ju Zhengshan , Liu Xiaoyang
Published: February 2023

As a vital part of sustainable development, food security is challenged by prolonged and concurrent pressures. Efforts have long been devoted to balance grain production across China as a whole, and thereby the uncertainties and underlying crisis in the regional grain-producing systems are hidden. In this study, we characterize the dynamic evolution of 357 cities and explore the dominant supply and demand effects to signal early warnings of grain insecurity. Our results show that 220 cities are in unsustainable grain supply–demand conditions in comparison with 10 years ago. Additionally, the south and southwest of China have experienced enlarged disparities and more severe grain insecurity. The dual effects from both increased population and decreased grain output are substantially responsible for the unsustainable grain-producing system on the city scale. Moreover, cities identified as having grain insecurity occupy high-quality cultivated land, including 55.4% of top-grade land, 49.8% of high-grade land, and only 28.9% of low-grade land. We consequently inform the incongruity between grain productivity and regional grain conditions. It is suggested that current intensive management of cultivation and the strategy of differentiated responsibilities in grain production should be based on environmental sustainability and a degree of self-sufficiency across the region.