bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is It Safe to Treat Stable Patients with Bacteremic Urinary Tract Infections with High-Resistant-Rate Antibiotics?
Authors: Shimoni Zvi , Salama Hanna , Finn Talya , Froom Paul
Published: July 2024

Background and Objectives: In most areas of the world, urine bacteria have high resistance rates to third-generation cephalosporins, and it is unclear if it is safe to treat stable patients with bacteremic urinary tract infections (UTI) with those antibiotics. There are recommendations that empiric therapy for a suspected UTI should include only antibiotics with resistance rates less than 10%. Materials and Methods: In this historical observational single center study, we selected 180 stable internal medicine patients hospitalized between January 2019 and December 2021, with identical bacteria isolated from blood and urine cultures. Charts were reviewed to determine if deaths and readmissions up to 30 days after discharge were due to bacterial resistance to initial antibiotic therapy (BRIAT). Results: The patient’s median age was 82 years (1st–3rd quartiles, 73–87 years). A total of 54.4% were female. There were 125 patients treated with ceftriaxone. A total of 38 (30.3%) had BRIAT. Four patients died, but none were because of a delay in appropriate treatment. The median days of hospitalization for all patients was 7 days, and 9 days versus 6 days in those with and without BRIAT. There were no re-hospitalizations for a UTI in patients with BRIAT. Conclusions: We conclude that, despite high resistance rates, empiric ceftriaxone in stable hospitalized patients with a bacteremic UTI is safe. There was no urosepsis-related mortality during the hospitalization or on follow-up. The treatment of all patients with wider-spectrum antibiotics might have decreased the median hospital stay by only one day. The potential effect would be even lower if all patients with a suspected systemic UTI were treated with wide-spectrum antibiotics, because some patients do not have an infection of the urinary tract. A reassessment of the recommendation that empiric therapy for a suspected systemic urinary tract infection should include only wider-spectrum antibiotics is warranted.
Adaptive Factor Fuzzy Controller for Keeping Multi-UAV Formation While Avoiding Dynamic Obstacles
Authors: Gong Bangmin , Li Yiyang , Zhang Li , Ai Jianliang
Published: July 2024

The development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) formation systems has brought significant advantages across various fields. However, formation change and obstacle avoidance control have long been fundamental challenges in formation flight research, with the majority of studies concentrating primarily on quadrotor formations. This paper introduces a novel approach, proposing a new method for designing a formation adaptive factor fuzzy controller (AFFC) and an artificial potential field (APF) method based on an enhanced repulsive potential function. These methods aim to ensure the smooth completion of fixed-wing formation flight tasks in three-dimensional (3D) dynamic environments. Compared to the traditional fuzzy controller (FC), this approach introduces a fuzzy adaptive factor and establishes fuzzy rules to address parameter-tuning uncertainties. Simultaneously, improvements to the obstacle avoidance algorithm mitigate the issue of local optimal values. Finally, multiple simulation experiments were conducted. The findings show that the suggested method outperforms the proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control and fuzzy control methods in achieving formation transformation tasks, resolving formation obstacle avoidance challenges, enabling formation reconstruction, and enhancing formation safety and robustness.
A Lightweight Convolutional Spiking Neural Network for Fires Detection Based on Acoustics
Authors: Li Xiaohuan , Liu Yi , Zheng Libo , Zhang Wenqiong
Published: July 2024

As urbanization accelerates, the prevalence of fire incidents leads to significant hazards. Enhancing the accuracy of remote fire detection systems while reducing computation complexity and power consumption in edge hardware are crucial. Therefore, this paper investigates an innovative lightweight Convolutional Spiking Neural Network (CSNN) method for fire detection based on acoustics. In this model, Poisson encoder and convolution encoder strategies are considered and compared. Additionally, the study investigates the impact of observation time steps, surrogate gradient functions, and the threshold and decay rate of membrane potential on network performance. A comparison is made between the classification metrics of the traditional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) approaches and the proposed lightweight CSNN method. To assess the generalization performance of the proposed lightweight method, publicly available datasets are merged with our experimental data for training, which results in a high accuracy of 99.02%, a precision of 99.37%, a recall of 98.75%, and an F1 score of 99.06% on the test datasets.
FPGA-Based Multi-Channel Real-Time Data Acquisition System
Authors: Choi Soyeon , Yang Heehun , Noh Yunjin , Kim Giyoung , Kwon Eunsang , Yoo Hoyoung
Published: July 2024

Data acquisition systems that receive analog signals, convert them to digital, and perform signal processing are used in a variety of systems that use acoustics, radar, sonar, indoor localization, and navigation. The previous systems, such as NI USRP-RIO, are expensive to build, and the number of signals a single device can receive is limited to between two and four. In order to receive more channels of signals, multi-channel data acquisition systems using ADCs operating at tens of MSPS have been proposed. However, these systems require additional processing time because data acquisition and signal processing are performed on different devices. In this paper, we propose a multi-channel data acquisition system using a 16-channel ADC that can support up to 100 MSPS. In particular, to reduce unnecessary signal transmission time, we propose a one-chip structure where all processes are performed on a single chip. Also, we propose a data acquisition system that applies pipelining techniques to enable real-time processing. To verify the proposed system, we used TI ADS52J90 and a Kintex UltraScale KCU105 evaluation board, and confirmed that it is possible to receive and process all channels simultaneously. Furthermore, it is possible to configure a real-time system by adjusting the speed of the signal-processing operation and the speed of the communication interface. Therefore, the proposed system is expected to reduce the cost of system construction by performing signal reception and processing with a single chip, and to reduce the time required for overall signal processing.
Design and Implementation of Peak Current Mode with PI Controller for Coupled Inductor-Based High-Gain Z-Source Converter
Authors: Özer Şükrü Can , Dağ Bülent , Demirel Selman , Özdemir Mehmet Akif
Published: July 2024

In this study, a peak current mode controller design and implementation is carried out for a high-gain integrated Z-Source DC–DC Converter. In this context, firstly, a small-signal dynamic modeling method for switching converters, based on volt–charge balance methodology, has been proposed and then applied to the Z-Source converter. With the proposed method, the modeling procedure of the integrated complex converters with multiple operating points can be simplified. To verify the obtained model, a small-signal simulation of the converter is also performed by using the Frequency Response Estimator tool of MATLAB/Simulink. The transfer function from the control current to the output was then obtained from the developed converter model to design the current mode controller. Then, a PI (proportional–integral) controller was designed according to the obtained transfer function, and a simulation study was performed with PLECS. Finally, an experimental study was carried out and compared with the simulation study. The results of the simulation and experimental studies show that the designed control method maintains the output voltage at desired levels regardless of the changes in load conditions and input voltage, successfully.
Decarbonizing Hard-to-Abate Sectors with Renewable Hydrogen: A Real Case Application to the Ceramics Industry
Authors: Sousa Jorge , Azevedo Inês , Camus Cristina , Mendes Luís , Viveiros Carla , Barata Filipe
Published: July 2024

Hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources is a valuable energy carrier for linking growing renewable electricity generation with the hard-to-abate sectors, such as cement, steel, glass, chemical, and ceramics industries. In this context, this paper presents a new model of hydrogen production based on solar photovoltaics and wind energy with application to a real-world ceramics factory. For this task, a novel multipurpose profit-maximizing model is implemented using GAMS. The developed model explores hydrogen production with multiple value streams that enable technical and economical informed decisions under specific scenarios. Our results show that it is profitable to sell the hydrogen produced to the gas grid rather than using it for self-consumption for low-gas-price scenarios. On the other hand, when the price of gas is significantly high, it is more profitable to use as much hydrogen as possible for self-consumption to supply the factory and reduce the internal use of natural gas. The role of electricity self-consumption has proven to be key for the project’s profitability as, without this revenue stream, the project would not be profitable in any analysed scenario.
Application of Dynamic Weight Mixture Model Based on Dual Sliding Windows in Carbon Price Forecasting
Authors: Liu Rujie , He Wei , Dong Hongwei , Han Tao , Yang Yuting , Yu Hongwei , Li Zhu
Published: July 2024

As global climate change intensifies, nations around the world are implementing policies aimed at reducing emissions, with carbon-trading mechanisms emerging as a key market-based tool. China has launched carbon-trading markets in several cities, achieving significant trading volumes. Carbon-trading mechanisms encompass cap-and-trade markets and voluntary markets, influenced by various factors, including policy changes, economic conditions, energy prices, and climate fluctuations. The complexity of these factors, coupled with the nonlinear and non-stationary nature of carbon prices, makes forecasting a substantial challenge. This paper proposes a dynamic weight hybrid forecasting model based on a dual sliding window approach, effectively integrating multiple forecasting models such as LSTM, Random Forests, and LASSO. This model facilitates a thorough analysis of the influences of policy, market dynamics, technological advancements, and climatic conditions on carbon pricing. It serves as a potent tool for predicting carbon market price fluctuations and offers valuable decision support to stakeholders in the carbon market, ultimately aiding in the global efforts towards emission reduction and achieving sustainable development goals.
Fundamental Barriers to Green Energy Production in Selected EU Countries
Authors: Wardal Witold Jan , Mazur Kamila , Barwicki Jan , Tseyko Mikhail
Published: July 2024

Most EU countries are trying to develop new sources of energy to meet local power requirements due to energy shortages. The most popular renewable energy developments include biogas stations, wind turbines, water turbines, and solar systems. This article focuses on reviewing studies concerning the utilization of solar energy systems, especially photovoltaic (PV) ones, in European countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland, which are leaders in PV installations. The review identifies factors influencing the development of PV investments and the energy situation in these countries. Economic, market, environmental, and infrastructural barriers, as well as driving factors, are presented. In all countries, the majority of installations were in the prosumer sector, with only a very small percentage in the state-owned sector. The methodology of the study covered the mentioned barriers, which were identified using scientific databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and branch organizations websites like the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The novelty of the article lies in its examination of special barriers concerning green energy production in chosen EU countries. Normally, when reading articles on PV installations, as presented in the References section, one primarily observes a description of the construction process without deep involvement in the presented ideas.
Study on Compatibility Evaluation of Multilayer Co-Production to Enhance Recovery of Water Flooding in Oil Reservoir
Authors: Tian Leng , Chai Xiaolong , Zhang Lei , Zhang Wenbo , Zhu Yuan , Wang Jiaxin , Wang Jianguo
Published: July 2024

Increasing oil production is crucial for multilayer co-production. When there are significant differences in the permeability of each layer, an interlayer contradiction arises that can impact the recovery efficiency. After a number of tests and the establishment of a mathematical model, the effects of permeability contrast on oil production for water flooding were revealed. In the meantime, the developed mathematical model was solved using the Buckley–Lever seepage equation. Ultimately, the accuracy of the established model was confirmed by comparing the simulated outcomes of the mathematical model with the experimental results. The findings indicate that when permeability contrast increases, the production ratio of the high-permeability layer will improve. This is primarily due to the low-permeability layer’s production contribution rate decreasing. The accuracy of the established model is ensured by an error of less than 5% between the results of the experiment and the simulation. When the permeability contrast is less than three, the low-permeability layer can be effectively used for three-layer commingled production. However, when the permeability contrast exceeds six, the production coefficient of the low-permeability layer will be less than 5%, which has a significant impact on the layer’s development.
A Hybrid Commutation Technique for Reducing Zero-Crossing Distortion in a Sliding Mode Controller for Single-Phase Grid-Tied Full-Bridge Inverters
Authors: Bolaños-Navarrete Mario Andrés , Bastidas-Rodríguez Juan David , Osorio Gustavo
Published: July 2024

This paper presents a single-phase Full-Bridge (FB) inverter with a hybrid commutation technique designed to reduce the harmonic distortion caused by the loss of the controller capability around the zero-crossing point in the unipolar commutation region. The hybrid modulation changes from unipolar to bipolar commutation under the loss of the reference control, improving the robustness and efficiency of the method. The commutation technique improves the switching performance and reduces the switching losses. Simulation models are developed in MATLAB/Simulink R2023b to evaluate their performance under different operating conditions. The results show that the proposed commutation technique can achieve high efficiency, low total harmonic distortion (THD), and fast dynamic response. The experimental implementation of sliding mode control (SMC) implemented in an STM32 microcontroller confirms that the hybrid commutation technique can reduce the THD by 0.96 percentage points for local (off-grid) loads and up to 2.45 in an industrial grid-tie network, compared with unipolar commutation. These findings highlight the potential of the proposed modulation technique for applications like solar panels and offer crucial insights for ongoing research and development in this field.
A Medium- and Long-Term Residential Load Forecasting Method Based on Discrete Cosine Transform-FEDformer
Authors: Li Dengao , Liu Qi , Feng Ding , Chen Zhichao
Published: July 2024

Accurate and reliable medium- and long-term load forecasting is crucial for the rational planning and operation of power systems. However, existing methods often struggle to accurately extract and capture long-term dependencies in load data, leading to poor predictive accuracy. Therefore, this paper proposes a medium- and long-term residential load forecasting method based on FEDformer, aiming to capture long-term temporal dependencies of load data in the frequency domain while considering factors such as electricity prices and temperature, ultimately improving the accuracy of medium- and long-term load forecasting. The proposed model employs Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) for frequency domain transformation of time-series data to address the Gibbs phenomenon caused by the use of Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) in FEDformer. Additionally, causal convolution and attention mechanisms are applied in the frequency domain to enhance the model’s capability to capture long-term dependencies. The model is evaluated using real-world load data from power systems, and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model effectively learns the temporal and nonlinear characteristics of load data. Compared to other baseline models, DCTformer improves prediction accuracy by 37.5% in terms of MSE, 26.9% in terms of MAE, and 26.24% in terms of RMSE.
Tracking Biofuel Innovation: A Graph-Based Analysis of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Patents
Authors: de Oliveira Matheus Noschang , Mosquéra Letícia Rezende , Martins Patricia Helena dos Santos , Serrano André Luiz Marques , Bispo Guilherme Dantas , Vergara Guilherme Fay , Saiki Gabriela Mayumi , Neumann Clovis , Gonçalves Vinícius Pereira
Published: July 2024

The use of biofuels represents a promising means of achieving a sustainable future and offers considerable economic and environmental benefits. Since they are derived from organic sources, such as vegetable oils and animal fats, biofuels can mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, support local agriculture, create employment opportunities, and enhance energy security by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. However, introducing these alternative fuels to the aviation sector remains a significant challenge. Thus, it is vital to investigate the potential of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and discover how to overcome the technological obstacles to its integration into mainstream aviation to attain broader decarbonization objectives. This article seeks to contribute to a discussion about SAF by examining how it has evolved and its connections to related patents. This article is a comprehensive study of biofuel innovation, highlighting the complex relationships between academia, industry, and other stakeholders. It is hoped that the findings from this study will provide a clearer understanding of the catalysts involved in SAF innovation and provide valuable insights for policymakers, academics, and professionals in the field who are committed to shaping the trajectory of sustainable energy technologies in the future.
Assessment of Low-Carbon Flexibility in Self-Organized Virtual Power Plants Using Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning
Authors: He Gengsheng , Huang Yu , Huang Guori , Liu Xi , Li Pei , Zhang Yan
Published: July 2024

Virtual power plants (VPPs) aggregate a large number of distributed energy resources (DERs) through IoT technology to provide flexibility to the grid. It is an effective means to promote the utilization of renewable energy, and enable carbon neutrality for future power systems. This paper addresses the evaluation issue of DERs‘ low-carbon benefits, proposes a flexibility assessment model for self-organized VPP to quantify the low-carbon value of DERs’ response behavior in different time periods. Firstly, we introduce the definition of zero-carbon index based on the curve simultaneous rate of renewable energy and load demand. Then, we establish a multi-level self-organized aggregation method for virtual power plants, define the basic rules of DER, and characterize its self-organized aggregation as a Markov game process. Moreover, we use QMIX to achieve a bottom-up, hierarchical construction of VPP from simple to complex. Experimental results show that when users track the zero-carbon curve, they can achieve zero carbon emissions without reducing the overall load, significantly enhancing the grid’s regulation capabilities and the consumption of renewable energy. Additionally, self-organized algorithms can optimize the combinations of DERs to improve the coordination efficiency of VPPs in complex environments.
Pyrolytic Pathway of Wheat Straw Pellet by the Thermogravimetric Analyzer
Authors: Nath Bidhan , Bowtell Les , Chen Guangnan , Graham Elizabeth , Nguyen-Huy Thong
Published: July 2024

The study of the thermokinetics of two types of wheat straw pellets, T1 (100% wheat straw) and T2 (70% wheat straw, 10% each of bentonite clay, sawdust, and biochar), under a nitrogen atmosphere (31–800 °C and 5, 10, and 20 °C/min heating rates) using model-free and model-based approaches by TG/DTG data, revealed promising results. While model-free methods were not suitable, model-based reactions, particularly Fn (nth-order phase interfacial) and F2 (second-order) models, effectively described the three-phase consecutive thermal degradation pathway (A→B, C→D, and D→E). The activation energy (Eα) for phases 2 and 3 (Fn model) averaged 136.04 and 358.11 kJ/mol for T1 and 132.86 and 227.10 kJ/mol for T2, respectively. The pre-exponential factor (lnA) varied across heating rates and pellets (T2: 38.244–2.9 × 109 1/s; T1: 1.2 × 102–5.45 × 1014 1/s). Notably, pellets with additives (T2) exhibited a higher degradable fraction due to lower Eα. These findings suggest a promising potential for utilizing wheat straw pellet biomass as a bioenergy feedstock, highlighting the practical implications of this research.
Unraveling the Role of Amino Acid L-Tryptophan Concentration in Enhancing CO2 Hydrate Kinetics
Authors: Li Yan , Gambelli Alberto Maria , Rao Yizhi , Liu Xuejian , Yin Zhenyuan , Rossi Federico
Published: July 2024

Carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrates have garnered significant interest as a promising technology for CO2 capture and storage due to its high storage capacity and moderate operating conditions. The kinetics of CO2 hydrate formation is a critical factor in determining the feasibility of hydrate-based CO2 capture and storage technologies. This study systematically investigates the promotional effects of the amino acid L-tryptophan (L-trp) on CO2 hydrate formation kinetics and morphology under stirred and unstirred conditions. In the stirred system, experiments were conducted in a high-pressure 100 mL reactor with 0.05, 0.10, and 0.30 wt% L-trp solution. CO2 gas uptake kinetics and morphological evolution were monitored using a high-resolution digital camera. Results showed that L-trp promoted CO2 hydrate formation kinetics without delay, with rapid CO2 consumption upon nucleation. Morphological evolution revealed rapid hydrate formation, wall-climbing growth, and dendritic morphology filling the bulk solution. Under unstirred conditions, experiments were performed in a larger 1 L reactor with 0.1 wt% and 0.5 wt% L-trp solutions to assess the influence of additive concentration on hydrate formation thermodynamics and kinetics. Results demonstrated that L-trp influenced both thermodynamics and kinetics of CO2 hydrate formation. Thermodynamically, 0.1 wt% L-trp resulted in the highest hydrate formation, indicating an optimal concentration for thermodynamic promotion. Kinetically, increasing L-trp concentration from 0.1 wt% to 0.5 wt% reduced formation time, demonstrating a proportional relationship between L-trp concentration and formation kinetics. These findings provide insights into the role of L-trp in promoting CO2 hydrate formation and the interplay between additive concentration, thermodynamics, and kinetics. The results can inform the development of effective hydrate-based technologies for CO2 sequestration, highlighting the potential of amino acids as promoters in gas hydrate.
Honeybees and the One Health Approach
Authors: Prata Joana C. , Martins da Costa Paulo
Published: July 2024

The One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health. Honeybees (Apis mellifera) embody this framework due to their crucial role in ecosystems, food production, and susceptibility to contaminants. Despite their suitability for a One Health approach, there is a lack of research showcasing the multidisciplinary impacts and contributions of bees. The objective of this work is to explore the application of the One Health approach to bees through a narrative review. This work highlights the contribution of bees to history and culture, economy, medicine, nutrition, food security, and the functioning of ecosystems. It also demonstrates that bee health is affected by land management, agricultural practices, environmental contaminants, nutritional resource availability, predators and diseases, weather, climate patterns, and beekeeping practices. This complex system is highly influenced by policy and beekeeping practices, which will benefit animal health directly and environmental and human health indirectly. Thus, the protection of bees should be prioritized.
Modeling the Effects of Spatial Distribution on Dynamics of an Invading Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) Blake Population
Authors: Lu Yuanming , Xia Junfei , Holt Robert D. , DeAngelis Donald L.
Published: July 2024

To predict the potential success of an invading non-native species, it is important to understand its dynamics and interactions with native species in the early stages of its invasion. In spatially implicit models, mathematical stability criteria are commonly used to predict whether an invading population grows in number in an early time period. But spatial context is important for real invasions as an invading population may first occur as a small number of individuals scatter spatially. The invasion dynamics are therefore not describable in terms of population level state variables. A better approach is spatially explicit individual-based modeling (IBM). We use an established spatially explicit IBM to predict the invasion of the non-native tree, Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) Blake, to a native community in southern Florida. We show that the initial spatial distribution, both the spatial density of individuals and the area they cover, affects its success in growing numerically and spreading. The formation of a cluster of a sufficient number and density of individuals may be needed for the invader to locally outcompete the native species and become established. Different initial densities, identical in number and density but differing in random positions of individuals, can produce very different trajectories of the invading population through time, even affecting invasion success and failure.
Primary Metabolites and Microbial Diversity in Commercial Kombucha Products
Authors: Sogin Jonathan H. , Worobo Randy W.
Published: July 2024

Kombucha brewers selling non-alcoholic beverages in the United States must ensure that the ethanol content of their products remains below 0.5% (v/v) throughout all stages of production and shelf life. Producers struggle to comply with this regulation in the absence of expensive dealcoholizing equipment if they wish to sell the unpasteurized or minimally pasteurized products that consumers typically expect. To identify which bacterial and/or fungal species contribute to the high ethanol content of commercial kombucha, we analyzed 47 commercial kombucha samples purchased at supermarkets near Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, USA. We analyzed samples for ethanol content via HPLC, microbial load determination, and next-generation amplicon sequencing of the bacterial and fungal populations of those samples. Two brands were found to contain significantly more than 0.5% ethanol (v/v) in the tested samples (t-test, p < 0.05, greater), and three brands were found to contain significantly different amounts of sugar in the tested samples compared to what was reported on the nutrition label (one higher and two lower, t-test, p < 0.05, two-sided). The microbial communities of the samples most significantly varied due to brand (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05). The main bacterial genera observed in the samples were Komagataeibacter, Acetobacter, Gluconobacter, Oenococcus, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium. The main fungal genera observed in the samples were Saccharomyces, Dekkera, Cyberlindnera, Lachancea, Schizosaccharomyces, and Pichia. We did not identify any bacterial or fungal species associated with differences in ethanol content between samples within brands, suggesting significant strain variation in the bacteria and fungi involved in commercial kombucha fermentation. However, we did find that the relative abundance of Lactobacillales and the lactic acid content of the samples were significantly correlated (Kendall correlation test, p < 0.05). These results build upon recent research elucidating the role of lactic acid bacteria in the commercial fermentation of kombucha.
Power-Efficient Resource Allocation for Active STAR-RIS-Aided SWIPT Communication Systems
Authors: Gao Chuanzhe , Li Shidang , Wu Yixuan , Duan Siyi , Wei Mingsheng , Yu Bencheng
Published: July 2024

Simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) has emerged as a pivotal technology in 6G, offering an efficient means of delivering energy to a large quantity of low-power devices while transmitting data concurrently. To address the challenges of obstructions, high path loss, and significant energy consumption associated with long-distance communication, this work introduces a novel alternating iterative optimization strategy. The proposed approach combines active simultaneous transmission and reflection of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (STAR-RIS) with SWIPT to maximize spectrum efficiency and reduce overall system energy consumption. This method addresses the considerable energy demands inherent in SWIPT systems by focusing on reducing the power output from the base station (BS) while meeting key constraints: the communication rate for information receivers (IRs) and minimum energy levels for energy receivers (ERs). Given complex interactions between variables, the solution involves an alternating iterative optimization process. In the first stage of this approach, the passive beamforming variables are kept constant, enabling the use of semi-definite relaxation (SDR) and successive convex approximation (SCA) algorithms to optimize active beamforming variables. In the next stage, with active beamforming variables fixed, penalty-based algorithms are applied to fine-tune the passive beamforming variables. This iterative process continues, alternating between active and passive beamforming optimization, until the system converges on a stable solution. The simulation results indicated that the proposed system configuration, which leverages active STAR-RIS, achieves lower energy consumption and demonstrates improved performance compared to configurations utilizing passive RIS, active RIS, and passive STAR-RIS. This evidence suggests that the proposed approach can significantly contribute to advancing energy efficiency in 6G systems.
Effect of a Guar Meal Protein Concentrate in Replacement of Conventional Feedstuffs on Productive Performances and Gut Health of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Roncarati Alessandra , Galosi Livio , Di Cerbo Alessandro , Quagliardi Martina , Marchetti Francesco , Fiordelmondo Elisa , Mariotti Francesca , Magi Gian Enrico
Published: July 2024

A trial was performed to investigate the effect of a proprietary guar protein concentrate, as a partial replacement of conventional protein sources, on the productive performances and gut health of rainbow trout through the growing phase. A total of 2700 rainbow trout were reared in 3 m3, 12 concrete tanks for 90 days. Three diets were formulated to contain a protein level of 43% and a lipid content of 25.3% by replacing 0% (CD), 5% (D5), and 15% (D15) of conventional protein sources with guar protein concentrate. The final mean weight was similar between D5 and CD, significantly higher than D15. The same trend was observed in weight gain and specific growth rate. The feed conversion rate had the most favourable performances in D5 and CD. Feed palatability was higher in CD and D5 than in D15. Histological intestinal score showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the groups with the highest values in CD and the lowest in D15. Significant differences were observed for goblet cell hyperplasia with higher values in the CD group. Based on this trial, the 5% guar protein concentrate inclusion gave the best zootechnical results.
Untapped Potential of Side Stream Products from the Industrial Processing of Fruits: The Biosorption of Anthocyanins on Raspberry Seeds
Authors: Dabić Zagorac Dragana , Sredojević Milica , Fotirić Akšić Milica , Ćirić Ivanka , Rabrenović Biljana , Pećinar Ilinka M. , Natić Maja
Published: July 2024

Natural biosorbents from agricultural side stream products are being investigated due to their large surface area and capacity for various compounds. The aim of the present work was to investigate the raspberry seeds and their sorption potential in the recovery of natural pigments. The experiment included raspberry seed and a liquid by-phase rich in anthocyanins initially collected during the depulping of the raspberry seed material. Biosorption was monitored by LC-MS analysis of the anthocyanins and by the total anthocyanin content (TAC) before and after biosorption. Cyanidins predominated in the seed material, followed by pelargonidins and peonidins. The efficiency of biosorption was examined by comparing the percent of removal. The heterogeneous polymer structure of the biosorbent, which consists mainly of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman Spectroscopy (RS). The FTIR spectra of raw and defatted seed indicated functional groups involved in biosorption and principal component analysis (PCA) performed on Raman spectra pointed to differences among biosorbents. The developed strategy for the valorization of raspberry seeds in the recovery of natural colorants was shown to be effective, with recoveries from 49 to 88 percent of total anthocyanins.
Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of Polysaccharides from Cyclocarya paliurus In Vitro and in Hypercholesterolemia Mice
Authors: Zhang Yang , Zeng Lei , Ouyang Kehui , Wang Wenjun
Published: July 2024

In this study, a new component of Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharides (CPP20) was precipitated by the gradient ethanol method, and the protective effect of CPP20 on hypercholesterolemia mice was investigated. In vitro, CPP20 had the ability to bind bile salts and inhibit cholesterol micelle solubility, and it could effectively clear free radicals (DPPH•, •OH, and ABTS+). In vivo, CPP20 effectively alleviated hypercholesterolemia and liver damage in mice. After CPP20 intervention, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px) and the level of HDL-C in liver and serum were increased, and the activity of aminotransferase (ALT and AST) and the level of MDA, TC, TG, LDL-C, and TBA were decreased. Molecular experiments showed that CPP20 reduced cholesterol by regulating the mRNA expression of antioxidation-related genes (SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT) and genes related to the cholesterol metabolism (CYP7A1, CYP27A1, SREBP-2, HMGCR, and FXR) in liver. In addition, CPP20 alleviated intestinal microbiota disturbances in mice with hypercholesterolemia and increased levels of SCFAs. Therefore, CPP20 alleviates hypercholesterolemia by alleviating oxidative damage, maintaining cholesterol homeostasis, and regulating gut microbiota.
Effects of Tea Seed Oil Extracted by Different Refining Temperatures on the Intestinal Microbiota of High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice
Authors: Chen Lin , Jiang Qihong , Lu Hongling , Jiang Chenkai , Hu Wenjun , Liu Hanxiao , Xiang Xingwei , Tan Chin Ping , Zhou Tianhuan , Shen Guoxin
Published: July 2024

Obesity has become one of the most serious chronic diseases threatening human health. Its onset and progression are closely related to the intestinal microbiota, as disruption of the intestinal flora promotes the production of endotoxins and induces an inflammatory response. This study aimed to investigate the variations in the physicochemical properties of various refined tea seed oils and their impact on intestinal microbiota disorders induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) through dietary intervention. In the present study, C57BL/6J mice on a HFD were randomly divided into three groups: HFD, T-TSO, and N-TSO. T-TSO and N-TSO mice were given traditionally refined and optimized tea seed oil for 12 weeks. The data revealed that tea seed oil obtained through degumming at 70 °C, deacidification at 50 °C, decolorization at 90 °C, and deodorization at 180 °C (at 0.06 MPa for 1 h) effectively removed impurities while minimizing the loss of active ingredients. Additionally, the optimized tea seed oil mitigated fat accumulation and inflammatory responses resulting from HFD, and reduced liver tissue damage in comparison to traditional refining methods. More importantly, N-TSO can serve as a dietary supplement to enhance the diversity and abundance of intestinal microbiota, increasing the presence of beneficial bacteria (norank_f__Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides) while reducing pathogenic bacteria (Alistipes and Mucispirillum). Therefore, in HFD-induced obese C57BL/6J mice, N-TSO can better ameliorate obesity compared with a T-TSO diet, which is promising in alleviating HFD-induced intestinal microbiota disorders.
Alleviation of High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia in Mice by Stachys sieboldii Miq. Huangjiu via the Modulation of Gut Microbiota Composition and Metabolic Function
Authors: Geng Jingzhang , Wu Yunxia , Tian Honglei , Dong Jianwei
Published: July 2024

Hyperlipidemia is a chronic disease that is difficult to cure, and long-term pharmacotherapy may have negative consequences. Dietary therapy is a very promising strategy, and Chinese rice wine (Huangjiu) will play an important role because of its many biologically active components. In this work, the alleviating effect of Stachys sieboldii Miq. Huangjiu (CSCHJ) on high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia in mice was investigated, which is brewed from the wheat Qu with the addition of Stachys sieboldii Miq. and contains 15.54 g/L of polysaccharides. The experimental results showed that CSCHJ inhibited appetite, reduced body weight and blood sugar levels, and downregulated the serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) while concurrently upregulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia mice. At the same time, it was discovered that alcohol worsens hyperlipidemia symptoms and related physiological markers, implying that CSCHJ polysaccharides may play a role in hyperlipidemia treatment. Through the assessment of organ indices, liver and kidney function, and tissue staining, CSCHJ demonstrated efficacy in repairing liver, kidney, and colon mucosal damage in hyperlipidemic mice. Furthermore, 16S rDNA sequencing and gas chromatography studies revealed that CSCHJ effectively restored the intestinal microbial structure and enhanced the quantity of fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in hyperlipidemic mice. Therefore, the alleviating effect of CSCHJ on hyperlipidemia in mice may be attributed to its regulation of energy metabolism by repairing liver, kidney, and colon mucosal damage and restoring the gut microbiota structure, among other mechanisms. Overall, our findings provide evidence that CSCHJ contains active ingredients capable of alleviating hyperlipidemia, thereby laying a theoretical foundation for the extraction of bioactive substances from Huangjiu for future medical or dietary use.
The Combined Analysis of GC-IMS and GC-MS Reveals the Differences in Volatile Flavor Compounds between Yak and Cattle-Yak Meat
Authors: Zhang Ben , Cao Mengli , Wang Xingdong , Guo Shaoke , Ding Ziqiang , Kang Yandong , Hu Liyan , Xiong Lin , Pei Jie , Ma Yi , Guo Xian
Published: July 2024

In order to investigate the composition and differences in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in yak and cattle-yak meat and determine the key metabolites and metabolic pathways related to flavor formation. In this study, the VOCs and non-volatile metabolites in Longissimus dorsi muscle of two groups of samples were detected and analyzed by gas chromatography–ion migration spectrometry (GC-IMS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that 31 VOCs were identified by GC-IMS, including 5 alcohols, 5 ketones, 5 esters, 3 aldehydes, 2 furans, 2 hydrocarbons, 1 amine, 1 acid, 1 thiazole, 1 pyrazine, and 5 others. Most of them were alcohols, ketones, esters, and aldehydes. A total of 75 non-volatile metabolites with significant differences were obtained by GC-MS screening, among which amino acid contents such as serine, glycine, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid were significantly up-regulated in cattle-yak, and glutamic acid and tyrosine were significantly up-regulated in yak. The non-volatile differential metabolites in the two groups were significantly enriched in the metabolic pathways of arginine biosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation. By combining GC-IMS and GC-MS, this study comprehensively and intuitively reflected the differences in VOCs between yak and cattle-yak meat, and clarified the metabolomic reasons for the differences in VOCs, so as to provide a theoretical basis for meat quality improvement.
Structure–Activity Relationships and Changes in the Inhibition of Xanthine Oxidase by Polyphenols: A Review
Authors: Li Kexin , Wang Yumei , Liu Wanlu , Zhang Chengfeng , Xi Yu , Zhou Yanv , Li He , Liu Xinqi
Published: July 2024

Hyperuricemia (HUA), or elevated uric acid in the blood, has become more prevalent in recent years. Polyphenols, which are known to have good inhibitory activity on xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), are effective in uric acid reduction. In this review, we address the structure–activity relationship of flavonoids that inhibit XOR activity from two perspectives: the key residues of XOR and the structural properties of flavonoids. Flavonoids’ inhibitory effect is enhanced by their hydroxyl, methoxy, and planar structures, whereas glycosylation dramatically reduces their activity. The flavonoid structure–activity relationship informed subsequent discussions of the changes that occur in polyphenols’ XOR inhibitory activity during their extraction, processing, gastrointestinal digestion, absorption, and interactions. Furthermore, gastrointestinal digestion and heat treatment during processing can boost the inhibition of XOR. Polyphenols with comparable structures may have a synergistic effect, and their synergy with allopurinol thus provides a promising future research direction.
Effect of Soy Protein Isolate on the Quality Characteristics of Silver Carp Surimi Gel during Cold Storage
Authors: Zhang Songxing , Song Zeyu , Gu Junhao , Guo Xueqian , Wan Yangling , Tian Huaixiang , Wang Xichang
Published: July 2024

This study mainly investigated the effect of soy protein isolate (SPI) on the gel quality of silver carp surimi under different storage conditions (storage temperatures of 4 °C, −20 °C, and −40 °C, and storage times of 0, 15, and 30 d). The results found that 10% SPI could inhibit the growth of ice crystals, improve the water distribution, enhance the water holding capacity of the gels, and strengthen the interaction between surimi and proteins. Compared to the control group, the composite silver carp surimi gel exhibited superior quality in texture, chemical interactions, and rheological properties during cold storage. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed an increasing trend in α-helix and β-turn content and a decreasing trend of β-sheet and random coil content. As storage time increased, the gel deterioration during cold storage inhibitory effect of the treatment group was superior to the control group, with the best results observed at −40 °C storage conditions. Overall, SPI was a good choice for maintaining the quality of silver carp surimi gel during cold storage, which could significantly reduce the changes in the textural properties during cold storage with improved water holding capacity.
An Application of Multiple Erdélyi–Kober Fractional Integral Operators to Establish New Inequalities Involving a General Class of Functions
Authors: Tassaddiq Asifa , Srivastava Rekha , Alharbi Rabab , Kasmani Ruhaila Md , Qureshi Sania
Published: July 2024

This research aims to develop generalized fractional integral inequalities by utilizing multiple Erdélyi–Kober (E–K) fractional integral operators. Using a set of j, with (j∈N) positively continuous and decaying functions in the finite interval a≤t≤x, the Fox-H function is involved in establishing new and novel fractional integral inequalities. Since the Fox-H function is the most general special function, the obtained inequalities are therefore sufficiently widespread and significant in comparison to the current literature to yield novel and unique results.
New Insights into the Mechanism by Which the Pituitary Gland Copes with Hypoxia Stress Based on a Transcriptomic Analysis of Megalobrama amblycephala
Authors: Xie Ruilin , Guo Huandi , Luo Yuanyuan , Huang Wen , Ruan Zhuohao , Liu Wensheng
Published: July 2024

Hypoxia is a common environmental stressor in aquatic ecosystems, and during the cultivation process, Megalobrama amblycephala is prone to death because it is hypoxia-intolerant, which brings huge economic losses to farmers. The pituitary gland is a crucial endocrine gland in fish, and it is mainly involved in the secretion, storage, and regulation of hormones. In the present study, we compared the transcriptional responses to serious hypoxia in the pituitary gland among hypoxia-sensitive (HS) and hypoxia-tolerant (HT) M. amblycephala and a control group that received a normal oxygen supply (C0). The fish were categorized according to the time required to lose balance during a hypoxia treatment. A total of 129,251,170 raw reads were obtained. After raw sequence filtering, 43,461,745, 42,609,567, and 42,730,282 clean reads were obtained for the HS, HT, and C0 groups, respectively. A transcriptomic comparison revealed 1234 genes that were differentially expressed in C0 vs. HS, while 1646 differentially expressed genes were obtained for C0 vs. HT. In addition, the results for HS vs. HT showed that 367 upregulated and 41 downregulated differentially expressed genes were obtained for a total of 408 differentially expressed genes. A KEGG analysis of C0 vs. HS, C0 vs. HT, and HS vs. HT identified 315, 322, and 219 enriched pathways, respectively. Similar hypoxia-induced transcription patterns suggested that the downregulated DEGs and enriched pathways were related to pathways of neurodegeneration in multiple diseases, pathways in cancer, thermogenesis, microRNAs in cancer, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and renin secretion. However, in the upregulated DEGs, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway (C0 vs. HS), microRNAs in cancer (C0 vs. HT), and HIF-1 signaling pathway (HS vs. HT) were significantly enriched. There is a lack of clarity regarding the role of the pituitary gland in hypoxic stress. These results not only provide new insights into the mechanism by which pituitary tissue copes with hypoxia stress in M. amblycephala but also offer a basis for breeding M. amblycephala with hypoxia-resistant traits.