bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finite-Time Parameter Observer-Based Sliding Mode Control for a DC/DC Boost Converter with Constant Power Loads
Authors: He Wei , Shang Yukai
Published: March 2022

Constant power loads have negative impedance characteristics, which reduce the damping of DC/DC converter systems and have negative effects on the stability of the DC microgrid. In this paper, a finite-time parameter observer-based sliding mode controller is proposed for a boost converter with constant power loads. Firstly, a non-singular terminal sliding-mode controller is designed based on the flatness of the differential and sliding mode control theory. Secondly, a finite-time observer is designed to estimate the input voltage and tunes the parameter of the controller in time. Thirdly, the finite-time stability of the closed-loop system is proved through the proposed controller. Finally, the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed controller with unknown input voltage are verified by simulation. The proposed controller can guarantee finite-time convergence without input voltage sensors, which can reduce system cost and improve system reliability.
A Comprehensive Review of Channel Modeling for Land Mobile Satellite Communications
Authors: Tropea Mauro , De Rango Floriano
Published: March 2022

As demands on the network continue to grow, it is increasingly important to upgrade the existing infrastructure in order to offer higher bandwidth and service level guarantees to users. Next generation networks (NGNs) represent a fully IP-based architecture that is able to support different technologies. In this context, the satellite networks are considered a fundamental part for future hybrid architectures. In this scenario, knowing satellite channel propagation characteristics in order to be able to design a communication system to respond to new user needs is of fundamental importance. Many papers in the literature show channel models in different satellite scenarios both for fixed and mobile applications; however, to the best of our knowledge, nobody presents an overview on different satellite models based on Markov chains. This paper wants to present a comprehensive review of the most recent developments in satellite channel communications related to mobile services and, in particular, for the land mobile satellite systems. The work presents all different types of Markov models, from single-state to multi-state models, that have been proposed in the literature from the early 1980s.
Coprime Transformed Nested Array with Enhanced DOFs and Reduced Mutual Coupling Based on the Difference and Sum Coarray
Authors: Ma Junchi , Zhong Shunan , Peng Zhe , Gao Wei , Wang Weijiang , Wang Xiaohua
Published: March 2022

Recently, the concept of the difference and sum coarray has attracted increasing interest in the direction of the arrival estimation field because it can generate enhanced degrees of freedom. In this paper, we propose an improved transformed nested array design strategy by relaxing the constraints on the dense subarray of the transformed nested array. Then, three conditions are given for the array design to ensure the continuity of the difference and sum coarray. Based on the strategy, we develop a novel nested configuration named coprime transformed nested array (CTNA) whose dense subarray is a coprime structure, and the closed-form expressions for the sensor positions and the range of consecutive coarray are derived. CTNA can increase the number of degrees of freedom (DOFs) compared to the existing nested arrays, while the mutual coupling effect can be maintained at the same low level as the coprime arrays, which indicates that CTNA has the merits of both nested array and coprime array. Numerical simulations are performed to verify the superiority of the proposed array configuration in terms of the number of DOFs, mutual coupling and direction of arrival (DOA) estimation accuracy.
Toward Efficient Blockchain for the Internet of Vehicles with Hierarchical Blockchain Resource Scheduling
Authors: Gao Liming , Wu Celimuge , Du Zhaoyang , Yoshinaga Tsutomu , Zhong Lei , Liu Fuqiang , Ji Yusheng
Published: March 2022

With the development of advanced information and communication technology, the traditional centralized cloud architecture cannot satisfy the exploding demand for data exchange in Internet of Vehicle (IoV) systems. Moreover, the traditional centralized architecture of the vehicular network has the potential risk of a single point of failure and lacks autonomy since the system highly relies on a trusted third party (TTP) to provide identity management. Fortunately, the emergence of blockchain technology provides a potential direction to address these problems. However, there are still some problems existing in the construction of an efficient blockchain system in IoV systems, such as the dynamic network topology and limited resources. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical resource scheduling scheme for blockchain-enabled IoV systems that improves the performance of the blockchain-enabled IoV system by efficiently allocating computational resources. The superiority of the proposed method is fully demonstrated by comparing it with existing baseline methods.
Low Power Consumption Gate-Tunable WSe2/SnSe2 van der Waals Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor
Authors: Abderrahmane Abdelkader , Woo Changlim , Ko Pil-Ju
Published: March 2022

Two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted attention as promising next-generation electronic devices and sensors. In this study, we fabricated a novel nanoelectronic device based on a black-phosphorus-gated WSe2/SnSe2 van der Waals (vdW) tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET), where hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) was used as the gate insulator. We performed morphological, electrical, and optoelectronic characterizations. The p-WSe2/n-SnSe2 heterostructure-based TFET exhibited p-type behavior with a good dependence on the gate voltage. The TFET device showed a trend toward negative differential resistance (NDR) originating from band-to-band tunneling, which can be tuned by applying a gate voltage. The optoelectronic performance of the TFET device was low, with a maximum photoresponsivity of 11 mA W−1, owing to the large device length. The results obtained herein promote the integration of black phosphorus into low-energy-consumption 2D vdW TFETs.
Soil Contamination by Heavy Metals and Metalloids
Authors: Gasparatos Dionisios
Published: March 2022

Soils are central to life on Earth because they provide food, clean water, and air due to their filtering capacity; raw materials; habitats for living organisms; and climate resilience via carbon sequestration, therefore supporting a variety of ecosystem services [...]
Incidence of Large Wood Borers in the Conservation of dehesa Islands Forests in Southwestern Spain
Authors: Domínguez Luis , López-Pantoja Gloria , Cremades David , Paramio Antonia , Hidalgo Pablo J. , Sánchez-Osorio Israel
Published: March 2022

The dehesa is a traditional agrosilvopastoral ecosystem characterized by a savanna-like structure. It has been in decline since the middle of the last century, in particular in agricultural environments where it has been relegated to isolated forests. This paper presents a study into the reduction over the past 50 years. One of the main causes of this decline has been identified as xylophagous insects, specifically the wood borer Cerambyx welensii Kuster (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Based on estimations in both the population size, using Jolly Seber models, and the level of tree injury, using a single-index model, the study investigates the role the insect has played in the decline of the dehesa. Surface area loss was found to be greater than 50%, while canopy cover has diminished linearly over the period studied, with the risk of disappearance of the woodland increasing in the same magnitude as borer population density. The highest wood borer population densities observed corresponded to stands with an average canopy cover loss of 1.68% a year, indicating a risk of completely losing the forest cover in the short term (10–30 years). The proposed tree injury index was successful in categorizing the size of the insect population, and seems to be a useful indicator for describing the relationship between the two variables. According to this indicator, woodlands with more than 10% of trees with severe or very severe injuries are at risk. Follow-up work should be undertaken to investigate long-term demographic changes in wood borer populations, and management practices should be developed to reduce the population size, minimize forest loss and preserve these relict oak trees in unconnected landscapes.
Evaluation of PM2.5 Retention Capacity and Structural Optimization of Urban Park Green Spaces in Beijing
Authors: Yin Zhe , Zhang Yuxin , Ma Keming
Published: March 2022

Green space can effectively retain particles and improve air quality. However, most studies have focused on leaf-scale measurements or regional-scale model simulations, and few focus on individual trees. In this study, 176 urban park green spaces were selected within the 5th Ring Road in Beijing, and the i-Tree Eco model was used to estimate the PM2.5 retention levels of individual trees and sample plots. The results show that the retention capacity varied according to tree species. The PM2.5 retention of each sample plot was significantly affected by the tree coverage, species richness, mean tree height, mean crown width, and number of trees. The PM2.5 retention of urban park green spaces in the study area was estimated to be about 6380 t·year−1, and the air quality improvement rate was 1.62%. After structural optimizing, PM2.5 retention of the mixed coniferous and broad-leaved green space was as high as 80,000 g·year−1. This study studied the effects of trees on PM2.5 retention at multiple scales to fill the gaps in existing research at the scales of individual trees and communities, and it can serve as a reliable reference for the design and construction of green spaces aimed at improving air quality.
Nitrogen and Boron Dosage Effects on Arginine Accumulation in Scots Pine Needles
Authors: Chernobrovkina Nadezhda P. , Robonen Elena V. , Akhmetova Gulnara V. , Nikerova Ksenia M. , Pekkoev Aleksey N. , Zaitseva Maria I. , Kolesnikov Gennady N.
Published: March 2022

Free arginine (Arg) content was observed to multiply when the level of nitrogen (N) nutrition was high, and additional fertilization with boron (B) potentiated this effect. Owing to this feature, conifers can be suggested for use as bioproducers of Arg. Concentrations of Arg in relation to N and B fertilization needed to be better understood. The effect of soil fertilization with N and B on accumulation of these elements and free Arg in one-year-old needles of 16-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees was determined in this study. Plantations were fertilized with doses of N from 0 to 1000 kg ha−1 and B from 0 to 6 kg ha−1. Fertilization with 3 kg ha−1 B at N doses of 200–500 kg ha−1 stimulated the accumulation of N in needles of up to 3.1–3.6% dry weight (DW). The level of Arg in needles increased from 74.7 to 175.9 μmol g−1 DW at these levels of N and B.
Reconstruction of the Expansion of Siberian Larch into the Mountain Tundra in the Polar Urals in the 20th—Early 21st Centuries
Authors: Fomin Valery , Mikhailovich Anna , Golikov Dmitry , Agapitov Egor
Published: March 2022

This paper presents results of analyzing the second half of the 20th–early 21st century changes in lateral spatial structure of Larix sibirica Ledeb. population in the upper treeline ecotone located on the Rai-Iz massif (Polar Urals, Russia). The GIS layers characterizing distribution of Siberian larch trees and undergrowth together with their crowns was produced for a 7.32 square kilometer area based on aerial images recognition. Using statistical models, we assessed probabilities for assigning trees to age intervals of 1–10, 11–40, and 40+ years based on the average radius of tree crown projection. These maps and layer showing locations of trees that grew in the upper part of the ecotone, and died during the Little Ice Age, allow for assessing specifics of forest cover proliferation at different parts of upper treeline ecotone, and comparing current location of the trees with one from the past. The proposed method for probability-based recognition of Siberian larch tree generations in the upper treeline ecotone using average crown radius can be used to reconstruct time and spatial forest dynamics at the upper growth boundaries for time spans up to 100 years and more.
Population Variability of Almond-Leaved Willow (Salix triandra L.) Based on the Leaf Morphometry: Isolation by Distance and Environment Explain Phenotypic Diversity
Authors: Tumpa Katarina , Šatović Zlatko , Vidaković Antonio , Idžojtić Marilena , Stipetić Rudolf , Poljak Igor
Published: March 2022

Almond-leaved willow (Salix triandra L., Salicaceae) is a dioecious shrub, rarely a small tree that grows under various environmental conditions. We examined the population structure of 12 populations of almond-leaved willow using nine leaf morphological traits and specific leaf area. Populations were selected from a range of habitats, from continental to the sub-Mediterranean zone, to examine the influence of environmental conditions (climate and altitude) and geographic distance on leaf variability. Significant differences were confirmed among all populations for all traits, with significant correlations between geographic location of populations and morphological traits, and between environmental conditions and morphological traits. Large-leaved populations were found in continental and sub-Mediterranean climates, while small-leaved populations were found in higher elevations and smaller karstic rivers. In addition, populations from floodplains showed greater variability than populations from the karstic habitats, indicating a positive influence of lowland habitats and possible underlying differences in gene pool size. In conclusion, we found that environmental conditions and geographical distances in addition to genetic drift, are the main influences on the variability in almond-leaved willow, with the species showing a high level of plasticity and adaptation to local environmental conditions.
Production of a Yogurt Drink Enriched with Golden Berry (Physalispubescens L.) Juice and Its Therapeutic Effect on Hepatitis in Rats
Authors: Shahein Magdy Ramadan , Atwaa El Sayed Hassan , Radwan Hanan A. , Elmeligy Abdelmoneim Ahmed , Hafiz Amin A. , Albrakati Ashraf , Elmahallawy Ehab Kotb
Published: March 2022

Fermented dairy products have been associated with multiple health benefits. The present study aimed to produce a functional yogurt drink fortified with golden berry juice and assess its therapeutic effect on hepatitis rats. Thirty male albino rats were randomly divided into two major groups. The first group included the control (-) animals (six rats) and was fed a standard diet, whereas the second group included 24 rats that were fed a standard diet and injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 2 weeks to trigger chronic damage of the liver (hepatitis); they were then divided into four groups (six rats/group): Group 2: hepatitis, fed on a standard diet as a positive control group; Group 3: received a basal diet with 5 mL of the yogurt drink; Group 4: received a basal diet with 5 mL of the yogurt drink fortified with 10% golden berry juice. Group 5: received a basal diet with 5 mL of the yogurt drink fortified with 20% golden berry juice. Various biological parameters were determined. Yogurt drink treatments were evaluated for their chemical, phytochemical, and sensory properties, as well as for their effects on hepatoprotective activity by determining various biochemical parameters. We found that the yogurt drinks containing golden berry juice exhibited no significant differences in fat, protein, and ash content compared with the control samples. Moreover, the yogurt drinks containing golden berry juice exhibited the highest content of total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and organoleptic scores among all treatments. In addition, rats fed on a diet fortified with yogurt drinks containing golden berry juice for 8 weeks exhibited higher potential hepatoprotective effects compared with the liver injury control group. This improvement was partly observed in the group that received the yogurt drink containing golden berry juice. Therefore, we concluded that golden berry juice can be recommended as a natural additive in the manufacture of functional yogurt drinks, as it showed a potential hepatoprotective effect in rats with hepatitis.
Thermal Hydraulics and Thermochemical Design of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (Biodiesel) Esterification Reactor by Heating with High Boiling Point Phenyl-Naphthalene Liquid
Authors: Davidy Alon
Published: March 2022

FAME (biodiesel) is an alternative fuel that can be produced from vegetable oils. There is growing interest in the research and development of renewable energy sources. A possible solution is a biofuel usable in compression-ignition engines (diesel engines) produced from biomass rich in fats and oils. This paper contains a new and safer design of an esterification reactor for producing FAME (biodiesel) by utilizing high boiling point fluid (called phenyl-naphthalene). CFD simulation of biodiesel production by using methyl imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ionic liquid has been carried out. Ionic liquids (ILs) are composed of anions and cations that exist as liquids at relatively low temperatures. They have many advantages, such as chemical and thermal stability, low flammability, and low vapor pressures. In this work, the ionic liquids have been applied in organic reactions as solvents and catalysts of the esterification reaction. The great qualities of high boiling temperature fluids, along with advances in the oil and gas industries, make the organic concept more suitable and safer (water coming into contact with liquid metal may cause a steam explosion hazard) for heating the esterification reactor. The COMSOL Multiphysics code has been employed and simultaneously solves the continuity, fluid flow, heat transfer, and diffusion with chemical reaction kinetics equations. It was shown that the heat flux could provide the necessary heat flux required for maintaining the esterification process. It was found that the mass fractions of methanol and oleic acid decrease along the reactor axis. The FAME mass fraction increased along the reactor axis. The maximal biodiesel yield obtained in the esterification reactor was 86%. This value is very similar to the experimental results obtained by Elsheikh et al.
Particle Transport Velocity in Vertical Transmission with an Airlift Pump
Authors: Enany Parviz , Shevchenko Oleksandr , Drebenstedt Carsten
Published: March 2022

This paper presents the optimal conditions for fast transfer of solid particle with an airlift pump. The experimental examinations were carried out in an airlift pump with a length of 5.64 m and an inner diameter of 0.102 m in order to determine the impact of submergence ratio, air flow, and physical particle properties, such as shape, size, and density, on the vertical velocity of the particle in detail. The results showed that with the same air flow, the maximum particle velocity was achieved when the churn flow regime is established with a submergence ratio close to 0.89. However, in bubble and slug flow, it is not possible to carry a large particle in the dimensions of centimeters. Furthermore, in a churn flow, the velocity of the particle exceeds the velocity of pumped water; hence, water is not the only particle carrier in a vertical three-phase flow.
Subject-Specific Computational Fluid-Structure Interaction Modeling of Rabbit Vocal Fold Vibration
Authors: Avhad Amit , Li Zheng , Wilson Azure , Sayce Lea , Chang Siyuan , Rousseau Bernard , Luo Haoxiang
Published: March 2022

A full three-dimensional (3D) fluid-structure interaction (FSI) study of subject-specific vocal fold vibration is carried out based on the previously reconstructed vocal fold models of rabbit larynges. Our primary focuses are the vibration characteristics of the vocal fold, the unsteady 3D flow field, and comparison with a recently developed 1D glottal flow model that incorporates machine learning. The 3D FSI model applies strong coupling between the finite-element model for the vocal fold tissue and the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation for the flow. Five different samples of the rabbit larynx, reconstructed from the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans after the in vivo phonation experiments, are used in the FSI simulation. These samples have distinct geometries and a different inlet pressure measured in the experiment. Furthermore, the material properties of the vocal fold tissue were determined previously for each individual sample. The results demonstrate that the vibration and the intraglottal pressure from the 3D flow simulation agree well with those from the 1D flow model based simulation. Further 3D analyses show that the inferior and supraglottal geometries play significant roles in the FSI process. Similarity of the flow pattern with the human vocal fold is discussed. This study supports the effective usage of rabbit larynges to understand human phonation and will help guide our future computational studies that address vocal fold disorders.
Effects of Selenium Nanoparticles on Preventing Patulin-Induced Liver, Kidney and Gastrointestinal Damage
Authors: Qiu Yue , Chen Xinlu , Chen Zhangxi , Zeng Xuejun , Yue Tianli , Yuan Yahong
Published: March 2022

Patulin (PAT) is a toxic fungal metabolite, and oxidative damage was proved to be its important toxicity mechanism. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were prepared by reducing sodium selenite with chitosan as a stabilizer and used for preventing PAT-induced liver, kidney and gastrointestinal damage. SeNPs have good dispersibility, in vitro antioxidant activity, and are much less cytotoxic than sodium selenite. Cell culture studies indicated that SeNPs can effectively alleviate PAT-induced excessive production of intracellular ROS, the decline of glutathione peroxidase activity, and the suppression of cell viability. Evaluation of serum biochemical parameters, histopathology, oxidative stress biomarkers and activities of antioxidant enzymes in a mouse model showed that pre-treatment with SeNPs (2 mg Se/kg body weight) could ameliorate PAT-induced oxidative damage to the liver and kidneys of mice, but PAT-induced gastrointestinal oxidative damage and barrier dysfunction were not recovered by SeNPs, possibly because the toxin doses suffered by the gastrointestinal as the first exposed tissues exceeded the regulatory capacity of SeNPs. These results suggested that a combination of other strategies may be required to completely block PAT toxicity.
Effects of Enzymatic Konjac Glucomannan Hydrolysates on Textural Properties, Microstructure, and Water Distribution of Grass Carp Surimi Gels
Authors: Wu Wenjin , Que Feng , Li Xuehong , Shi Liu , Deng Wei , Fu Xiaoyan , Xiong Guangquan , Sun Jing , Wang Lan , Xiong Shanbai
Published: March 2022

This present work investigated the influence of konjac glucomannan (KGM) enzymatic hydrolysates on the textural properties, microstructure, and water distribution of surimi gel from grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). The molecular weight (Mw) of KGM enzymatic hydrolyzed by β-dextranase degraded from 149.03 kDa to 36.84 kDa with increasing enzymatic time. In the microstructure of surimi gels, KGM enzymatic hydrolysates with higher Mw showed entangled rigid-chains, while KGM enzymatic hydrolysates with lower Mw (36.84 kDa) exhibited swelled fragments. The hardness of surimi gel with a decline in KGM Mw exhibited first increasing then decreasing trends, while the whiteness of surimi gel increased. When KGM Mw decreased, the immobile water percentage of total signals decreased from 96.7% to 93.6%, and mobile water increased from 3.03% to 6.37%. In particular, the surimi gel with the addition of K2 showed better gel strength and water distributions. KGM enzymatic hydrolysates are expected to be used as a low-calorie healthy gel enhancer in surimi processing.
Innovative and Healthier Dairy Products through the Addition of Microalgae: A Review
Authors: Hernández Héctor , Nunes Maria Cristiana , Prista Catarina , Raymundo Anabela
Published: March 2022

In recent years, the development of healthier foods, richer in nutraceutical or functional compounds, has been in great demand. Microalgae are attracting increasing attention, as their incorporation in foods and beverages can be a promising strategy to develop sustainable foods with improved nutritional profiles and a strong positive impacts on health. Despite the increasing market demand in plant-based foods, the popularity of fermented dairy foods has increased in the recent years since they are a source of microorganisms with health-promoting effects. In this context, the incorporation of microalgae in cheeses, fermented milks and other dairy products represents an interesting approach towards the development of innovative and added-value hybrid products based on animal proteins and enriched with vegetable origin ingredients recognized as extremely valuable sources of bioactive compounds. The effect of the addition of microalgal biomass (Chlorella vulgaris, Arthrospira platensis, Pavlova lutheri, and Diacronema vlkianum, among others) and its derivates on the physicochemical composition, colorimetric and antioxidant properties, texture and rheology behavior, sensory profile, and viability of starter cultures and probiotics in yogurt, cheese and ice cream is discussed in the current work. This review of the literature on the incorporation of microalgae in dairy products aims to contribute to a better understanding of the potential use of these unique food ingredients in the development of new sustainable products and of their beneficial effects on health. Considering the importance of commercialization, regulatory issues about the use of microalgae in dairy products are also discussed.
Fiber-Rich Cranberry Pomace as Food Ingredient with Functional Activity for Yogurt Production
Authors: Varnaitė Laurita , Keršienė Milda , Šipailienė Aušra , Kazernavičiūtė Rita , Venskutonis Petras Rimantas , Leskauskaitė Daiva
Published: March 2022

In this study, different amounts (from 2% to 4.5%) of dietary fiber-rich cranberry pomace (CP) were added to yogurt before or after fermentation to increase dietary fiber content without changing the textural properties of the product. The addition of CP reduced whey loss, improved the firmness and viscosity, increased the total phenol compound content and the antioxidant capacity values (DPPH•, ABTS, and ORAC) of the yogurt in a dose-dependent manner, and had no significant effect on the viability of the yogurt culture bacteria. For all CP-supplemented yogurt samples, the bioaccessibility index of the polyphenols after in vitro intestinal phase digestion was approximately 90%. However, yogurt with CP added before fermentation exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) lower degree of protein hydrolysis post-gastric and post-intestinal than the yogurt with CP added after fermentation. Yogurt supplemented with 4.5% CP could be considered a good antioxidant dairy product and a good source of dietary fiber.
Advancements in Biodegradable Active Films for Food Packaging: Effects of Nano/Microcapsule Incorporation
Authors: Baghi Fatemeh , Gharsallaoui Adem , Dumas Emilie , Ghnimi Sami
Published: March 2022

Food packaging plays a fundamental role in the modern food industry as a main process to preserve the quality of food products from manufacture to consumption. New food packaging technologies are being developed that are formulated with natural compounds by substituting synthetic/chemical antimicrobial and antioxidant agents to fulfill consumers’ expectations for healthy food. The strategy of incorporating natural antimicrobial compounds into food packaging structures is a recent and promising technology to reach this goal. Concepts such as “biodegradable packaging”, “active packaging”, and “bioactive packaging” currently guide the research and development of food packaging. However, the use of natural compounds faces some challenges, including weak stability and sensitivity to processing and storage conditions. The nano/microencapsulation of these bioactive compounds enhances their stability and controls their release. In addition, biodegradable packaging materials are gaining great attention in the face of ever-growing environmental concerns about plastic pollution. They are a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective alternative to conventional plastic packaging materials. Ultimately, a combined formulation of nano/microencapsulated antimicrobial and antioxidant natural molecules, incorporated into a biodegradable food packaging system, offers many benefits by preventing food spoilage, extending the shelf life of food, reducing plastic and food waste, and preserving the freshness and quality of food. The main objective of this review is to illustrate the latest advances in the principal biodegradable materials used in the development of active antimicrobial and antioxidant packaging systems, as well as the most common nano/microencapsulated active natural agents incorporated into these food-packaging materials.
Compositional and Morphological Characterization of ‘Sorrento’ and ‘Chandler’ Walnuts
Authors: Romano R. , De Luca L. , Vanacore M. , Genovese A. , Cirillo C. , Aiello A. , Sacchi R.
Published: March 2022

In Italy, most of the cultivated walnuts belong to the Sorrento ecotype, and they are considered commercially valuable due to their specific organoleptic characteristics. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the morphological and compositional characteristics of walnuts sampled from ‘Sorrento’ trees cultivated in different locations in Campania and trees of both the ‘Chandler’ and ‘Sorrento’ varieties derived from the same location. The results demonstrated that ‘Sorrento’ and ‘Chandler’ walnuts have different biometric characteristics and a different fat content, with the highest fat content being found in the ‘Sorrento’ variety. Regarding the fatty acid (FA) composition, the content of monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids (MUFAs and SFAs) was highest in the ‘Sorrento’ variety (from 13 to 15% for MUFAs and from 11 to 13% for SFAs), while the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) content was highest in the ‘Chandler’ variety (77%). The total phenolics content (TPC) was highest in the ‘Sorrento’ variety (from 910 to 1230 mg GAE/100 g), while no difference in γ-tocopherol content was found. Furthermore, the influence of walnut area cultivation was shown for fat content, FA composition and TPC. Therefore, both walnut varieties demonstrated good nutritional properties considering the PUFAs and γ-tocopherol content.
Quality Evaluation Indices for Soybean Oil in Relation to Cultivar, Application of N Fertiliser and Seed Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum
Authors: Szpunar-Krok Ewa , Wondołowska-Grabowska Anna
Published: March 2022

Soybean ranks second in production and consumption of vegetable oils worldwide and these are expected to continue to increase. The suitability of soybean oil for specific uses is determined by the fatty acid composition from which a number of indices and indicators can be calculated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the indices of nutritional and health-promoting fat in seeds of soybean cultivars grown in 2016–2019 under the influence of varying doses of N and inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Omega 3 and Omega 6, unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), saturated fatty acids (SFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), index of desirable fatty acids (DFA), sum of hypercholesterolemic fatty acids (OFA), index of atherogenicity (AI), index of thrombogenicity (TI), oleic desaturation ratio (ODR), linoleic desaturation ratio (LDR), calculated oxidizability value (COX) and the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (HH), saturation fat index (S/P) and ALA/LA, OL/(LA+ALA) ratios and the consumer index (CI) were included. Fat quality indices for soybean seeds were strongly determined by weather conditions. Seeds of the cv. Aldana contained higher amounts of Omega 6 and featured more favourable MUFA/PUFA and OL/(LA+ALA) ratios, while the seeds of the cv. Annushka had more favourable CI and higher ODR, COX and S/P indices. No important differences were observed regarding the effect of nitrogen dose and seed inoculation on the formation of the DFA, OFA, HH, AI, TI and CI indices. The value of the S/P index suggests that higher nitrogen rates (60 kg∙ha−1) and the lack of inoculation treatment produce seeds with a more favourable dietary fatty acid balance.
Recovery of Pasteurization-Resistant Vibrio parahaemolyticus from Seafoods Using a Modified, Two-Step Enrichment
Authors: Meza Guadalupe , Majrshi Hussain , Tiong Hung King
Published: March 2022

Persistent Vibrio-parahaemolyticus-associated vibriosis cases, attributed, in part, to the inefficient techniques for detecting viable-but-non-culturable (VBNC) Vibrio pathogens and the ingestion of undercooked seafood, is the leading cause of bacterial seafood-borne outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States. The effect of extreme heat processing on Vibrio biology and its potential food safety implication has been underexplored. In the present work, environmental samples from the wet market, lagoon, and estuarine environments were analyzed for V. parahaemolyticus recovery using a modified, temperature-dependent, two-step enrichment method followed by culture-based isolation, phenotype, and genotype characterizations. The work recovered novel strains (30% of 12 isolates) of V. parahaemolyticus from prolonged-heat-processing conditions (80 °C, 20 min), as confirmed by 16S rDNA bacterial identification. Select strains, VHT1 and VHT2, were determined to be hemolysis- and urease-positive pathogens. PCR analyses of chromosomal DNA implicated the tdh-independent, tlh-associated hemolysis in these strains. Both strains exhibited significant, diverse antibiotic profiles (p < 0.05). Turbidimetric and viable count assays revealed the pasteurization-resistant V. parahaemolyticus VHT1/VHT2 (62 °C, 8 h). These findings disclose the efficiency of Vibrio extremist recovery by the modified, two-step enrichment technique and improve knowledge of Vibrio biology essential to food safety reformation.
New Consumer Research Technology for Food Behaviour: Overview and Validity
Authors: Dijksterhuis Garmt , de Wijk René , Onwezen Marleen
Published: March 2022

Background: the last decade has witnessed an explosion of new consumer behaviour research technology, and new methods are published almost monthly. To what extent are these methods applicable in the specific area of food consumer science, and if they are, are they any good? Methods: in this paper, we attempt to give an overview of the developments in this area. We distinguish between (‘input’) methods needed to shape the measurement context a consumer is brought in, e.g., by means of ‘immersive’ methods, and (‘output’) methods that perform measurements proper. Concerning the latter, we distinguish between methods focusing on neuro-science, on psychology, and on behaviour. In addition, we suggest a way to assess the validity of the methods, based on psychological theory, concerning biases resulting from consumer awareness of a measurement situation. The methods are evaluated on three summarising validity criteria; conclusions: the conclusion is that behavioural measures generally appear more valid than psychological or neuro-scientific methods. The main conclusion is that validity of a method should never be taken for granted, and it should be always be assessed in the context of the research question.
KASP Markers Specific for the Fertility Restorer Locus Rf1 and Application for Genetic Purity Testing in Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.)
Authors: Radanović Aleksandra , Sprycha Yves , Jocković Milan , Sundt Monja , Miladinović Dragana , Jansen Constantin , Horn Renate
Published: March 2022

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were significantly associated with fertility restoration of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) PET1 by the restorer gene Rf1. For these SNPs, four Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers were successfully designed. The KASP markers cover the fertility restorer locus Rf1, spanning about 3 Mb, and clearly differentiate restorer and maintainer lines. For genetic purity testing in sunflower hybrid production, the efficiency for detecting contaminations in samples was simulated using mixtures of hypocotyls or leaves. Contaminations of restorer lines with 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, and 50% of maintainer lines were screened with all four KASP markers. Contaminations of 10% could be clearly detected in pools of 100 plants. Contaminations below this level require detection on a single plant level. For single plant detections, ethyl methanesulfonate-treated sunflower F1 hybrids, which had been phenotypically evaluated for male sterility (potential mutation in the Rf1 gene) were screened. Nine identified either partially male-sterile or male-sterile plants were analyzed with all four KASP markers and only one proved to be a hybrid with a mutation, seven were male-sterile contaminants in the F1 seeds used (1.6%) and one a recombinant plant. The four KASP markers should be valuable tools for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in sunflower breeding regarding the restorer locus Rf1.
Effect of the PmARF6 Gene from Masson Pine (Pinus massoniana) on the Development of Arabidopsis
Authors: Ye Youju , Han Xin , Rong Hao , Qian Renjuan , Zheng Jian , Ni Zhouxian , Xu Li’an
Published: March 2022

Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) is a core industrial tree species that is used for afforestation in southern China. Previous studies have shown that Auxin Response Factors (ARFs) are involved in the growth and development of various species, but the function of ARFs in Masson pine is unclear. In this research, we cloned and identified Masson pine ARF6 cDNA (PmARF6). The results showed that PmARF6 encodes a protein of 681 amino acids that is highly expressed in female flowers. Subcellular analysis showed that the PmARF6 protein occurred predominantly in the nucleus and cytomembrane of Masson pine cells. Compared with wild-type (WT) Arabidopsis, transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing PmARF6 had fewer rosette leaves, and their flower development was slower. These results suggest that overexpression of PmARF6 may inhibit the flower and leaf development of Masson pine and provide new insights into the underlying developmental mechanism.
Complex Autism Spectrum Disorder with Epilepsy, Strabismus and Self-Injurious Behaviors in a Patient with a De Novo Heterozygous POLR2A Variant
Authors: Evans Daniel R. , Qiao Ying , Trost Brett , Calli Kristina , Martell Sally , Jones Steven J. M. , Scherer Stephen W. , Lewis M. E. Suzanne
Published: March 2022

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) describes a complex and heterogenous group of neurodevelopmental disorders. Whole genome sequencing continues to shed light on the multifactorial etiology of ASD. Dysregulated transcriptional pathways have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that de novo POLR2A variants cause a newly described phenotype called ‘Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Hypotonia and Variable Intellectual and Behavioral Abnormalities’ (NEDHIB). The variable phenotype manifests with a spectrum of features; primarily early onset hypotonia and delay in developmental milestones. In this study, we investigate a patient with complex ASD involving epilepsy and strabismus. Whole genome sequencing of the proband–parent trio uncovered a novel de novo POLR2A variant (c.1367T>C, p. Val456Ala) in the proband. The variant appears deleterious according to in silico tools. We describe the phenotype in our patient, who is now 31 years old, draw connections between the previously reported phenotypes and further delineate this emerging neurodevelopmental phenotype. This study sheds new insights into this neurodevelopmental disorder, and more broadly, the genetic etiology of ASD.
Nearshore Pelagic Influence at the SW Margin of the Paratethys Sea—Examples from the Miocene of Croatia
Authors: Sremac Jasenka , Bošnjak Marija , Velić Josipa , Malvić Tomislav , Bakrač Koraljka
Published: March 2022

(1) The ancient Paratethys Sea was a spacious inland salt-water basin, extending from the Alps, over Central Europe, to Central Asia. The southwestern part of its central area, the Croatian part of the Pannonian Basin System (CPBS), is generally known for shallow-water deposition and biota. The main purpose of this paper is to emphasize the significance of its less widespread deeper-water deposits in environmental and applied geology. (2) The authors consulted the previously published data, combined with their own results, obtained from the paleontological and sedimentological research, seismic stratigraphy and well-log analyses. (3) During our research in the CPBS, we noticed the connection between the tectonic structures and deep marine canyons and depressions within the Paratethyan shallows. Such structures can be recognized on well-logs and seismic or surface outcrops. They are situated along the faults, and deposits are characterized by the domination of pelagic over the benthic biota, sometimes with visible selective dissolution of aragonite/calcite tests. (4) Studied sedimentary sequences from these structures proved to be a precious source of data on the transgressive-regressive cycles, ancient migrations, modes of deposition and hydrocarbon formation during the Miocene Epoch in the CPBS.
Numerical Assessment of the Loading Factors Affecting Liquefaction-Induced Failure
Authors: Forcellini Davide , Tessari Anthony
Published: March 2022

This paper presents parametric studies that assess the role of loading factors (i.e., number of cycles, frequency, and amplitude) on liquefaction-induced failure by performing numerical simulations. Most of the existing literature considers the effects of the soil properties on the development of excess pore pressure with few research endeavours focusing on the effects of the input motion itself. Numerical simulations are performed herein, via the advanced software platform OpenSees, to generate several finite element models that consider non-linear development of pore pressure inside the soil. Several sinusoidal inputs were considered to study the effects of the various loading factors and compare the responses. The main findings arise from evaluating the effects of several input motion parameters (number of cycles, frequency, and amplitude) on soil liquefaction through numerical simulations. This research study, based on state-of-the-art knowledge, may be applied to assess future seismic events and to update or propose new code provisions for soil liquefaction.
Commentary and Review of Modern Environmental Problems Linked to Historic Flow Capacity in Arid Groundwater Basins
Authors: Hibbs Barry J.
Published: March 2022

Environmental problems may develop in groundwater basins when water levels change due to long-term wetter or drier climate or land development. A term related to water-level elevation is flow capacity, which develops in aquifers when the water table is at or very close to land surface. Non-capacity develops in systems where the water table is too deep for capillary water to reach the land surface. Flow capacity is the maximum amount of water that an aquifer can transmit. Sufficient moisture is not available for flow capacity to be established in most aquifers in arid zones and these aquifers are at non-capacity, but many aquifers in today’s deserts were at flow capacity when paleoclimates were cooler and moister during the late Pleistocene. Climate change and anthropogenic activities can cause aquifers to move toward flow capacity but in the last 15,000 years, almost always toward non-capacity. This paper reviews environmental and geotechnical problems associated with the transition of groundwater basins from flow capacity to non-capacity, and vice versa. Five relevant topics are discussed and evaluated: (1) The effects of flow capacity and non-capacity on groundwater basins targeted for waste repositories; (2) The salt contamination of groundwater where flow capacity was present in the Late Pleistocene and is no longer present; (3) Trace element enrichment in salt crusts in playa sediments and environmental risks to groundwater when the flow systems transition from flow capacity to non-capacity; (4) The development and retention of environmental tracers in arid groundwater flow systems at flow capacity that cannot be explained under conditions of non-capacity; and (5) The relationship of flow capacity to fossil hydraulic gradients and non-equilibrium conditions where there is little groundwater extraction. A case example is provided with each of these topics to demonstrate relevance and to provide an understanding of topics as they relate to land management.
Virtudes (e Misterios) and The Inner Memory: Emigration and Return as Identity Fragmentation and an Exercise of Post-Memory in Galician Diaspora
Authors: Garrido González Ana
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we will analyse how Xesús Fraga’s novel Virtudes (e misterios) (2020) and María Ruido’s audiovisual project The inner memory (2002), by creating memory and post-memory of Galician emigration in the 1960s and 1970s, reconfigure the symbolic image of the Galician nation, which has always been defined on the basis of the discourse of mobility and emigration. Both authors, from the fragmentation of intimate memories and through an ambiguous pact with the reader, between the documentary and the fictional, bring us the stories of emigrant women—narratives in which identities are inevitably hybrid, fragmentary and far removed from homesickness as a defining factor of the Galician identity. Emigrant women do not fit into the hieratical traditional identity, which marginalises them because they do not fit the archetype of ‘widows of the living’.
Age Dependent Epidemic Modeling of COVID-19 Outbreak in Kuwait, France, and Cameroon
Authors: Oshinubi Kayode , Buhamra Sana S. , Al-Kandari Noriah M. , Waku Jules , Rachdi Mustapha , Demongeot Jacques
Published: March 2022

Revisiting the classical model by Ross and Kermack-McKendrick, the Susceptible–Infectious–Recovered (SIR) model used to formalize the COVID-19 epidemic, requires improvements which will be the subject of this article. The heterogeneity in the age of the populations concerned leads to considering models in age groups with specific susceptibilities, which makes the prediction problem more difficult. Basically, there are three age groups of interest which are, respectively, 0–19 years, 20–64 years, and >64 years, but in this article, we only consider two (20–64 years and >64 years) age groups because the group 0–19 years is widely seen as being less infected by the virus since this age group had a low infection rate throughout the pandemic era of this study, especially the countries under consideration. In this article, we proposed a new mathematical age-dependent (Susceptible–Infectious–Goneanewsusceptible–Recovered (SIGR)) model for the COVID-19 outbreak and performed some mathematical analyses by showing the positivity, boundedness, stability, existence, and uniqueness of the solution. We performed numerical simulations of the model with parameters from Kuwait, France, and Cameroon. We discuss the role of these different parameters used in the model; namely, vaccination on the epidemic dynamics. We open a new perspective of improving an age-dependent model and its application to observed data and parameters.