bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Progress and Open Challenges for Combined Toxic Effects of Manufactured Nano-Sized Objects (MNO’s) on Soil Biota and Microbial Community
Authors: Mubeen Bismillah , Hasnain Ammarah , Wang Jie , Zheng Hanxian , Naqvi Syed Atif Hasan , Prasad Ram , Rehman Ateeq ur , Sohail Muhammad Amir , Hassan Muhammad Zeeshan , Farhan Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Altaf , Moustafa Mahmoud
Published: January 2023

Soil is a porous matrix containing organic matter and minerals as well as living organisms that vary physically, geographically, and temporally. Plants choose a particular microbiome from a pool of soil microorganisms which helps them grow and stay healthy. Many ecosystem functions in agrosystems are provided by soil microbes just like the ecosystem of soil, the completion of cyclic activity of vital nutrients like C, N, S, and P is carried out by soil microorganisms. Soil microorganisms affect carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nanoparticles (NPs), and a nanopesticide; these are called manufactured nano-objects (MNOs), that are added to the environment intentionally or reach the soil in the form of contaminants of nanomaterials. It is critical to assess the influence of MNOs on important plant-microbe symbiosis including mycorrhiza, which are critical for the health, function, and sustainability of both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Toxic compounds are released into rural and urban ecosystems as a result of anthropogenic contamination from industrial processes, agricultural practices, and consumer products. Once discharged, these pollutants travel through the atmosphere and water, settling in matrices like sediments and groundwater, potentially rendering broad areas uninhabitable. With the rapid growth of nanotechnology, the application of manufactured nano-objects in the form of nano-agrochemicals has expanded for their greater potential or their appearance in products of users, raising worries about possible eco-toxicological impacts. MNOs are added throughout the life cycle and are accumulated not only in the soils but also in other components of the environment causing mostly negative impacts on soil biota and processes. MNOs interfere with soil physicochemical qualities as well as microbial metabolic activity in rhizospheric soils. This review examines the harmful effect of MNOs on soil, as well as the pathways used by microbes to deal with MNOs and the fate and behavior of NPs inside the soils.
Abrasive and Erosive Wear of TI6Al4V Alloy with Electrospark Deposited Coatings of Multicomponent Hard Alloys Materials Based of WC and TiB2
Authors: Penyashki Todor , Kostadinov Georgi , Kandeva Mara , Kamburov Valentin , Nikolov Antonio , Dimitrova Rayna
Published: January 2023

In the present work, abrasive and erosive wear of wear-resistant composite coatings with a complex structure and different phase compositions deposited on titanium surfaces was studied. The coatings were obtained by electrospark deposition (ESD) using two types of hard-alloy compositions: WC–TiB2–B4C–Co–Ni–Cr–Si–B and TiB2–TiAl reinforced with dispersed nanoparticles of ZrO2 and NbC. The influence of the ESD process parameters on the roughness, thickness, composition, structure and coefficient of friction of the coated surfaces was investigated, and their role in protecting the titanium surfaces from wear was clarified. Dense coatings with the presence of newly formed wear-resistant phases and crystalline-amorphous structures were obtained, with roughness, thickness and microhardness that can be varied by the ESD modes in the range Ra = 2.5 ÷ 4.5 µm, δ = 8 ÷ 30 µm and HV 8.5 ÷ 14.0 GPa. The new coatings were found to reduce the abrasive and erosive wear of the coated surfaces by up to four times. The influence of the geometric characteristics, composition and structure of coatings on the wear intensity and wear resistance of coatings was studied.
Optical Characterization of Gadolinium Fluoride Films Using Universal Dispersion Model
Authors: Franta Daniel , Vohánka Jiří , Dvořák Jan , Franta Pavel , Ohlídal Ivan , Klapetek Petr , Březina Jaromír , Škoda David
Published: January 2023

The optical characterization of gadolinium fluoride (GdF3) films is performed in a wide spectral range using heterogeneous data-processing methods (the ellipsometric and spectrophotometric measurements for five samples with thicknesses ranging from 20 to 600 nm are processed simultaneously). The main result of the characterization is the optical constants of GdF3 in the range from far infrared to vacuum ultraviolet, both in the form of a table and in the form of dispersion parameters of the universal dispersion model (UDM). Such reliable data in such a broad spectral range have not been published so far. The GdF3 films exhibit several defects related to the porous polycrystalline structure, namely, surface roughness and a refractive index profile, which complicate the optical characterization. The main complication arises from the volatile adsorbed components, which can partially fill the pores. The presented optical method is based on the application of the UDM for the description of the optical response of GdF3 films with partially filled pores. Using this dispersion model, it is possible to effectively separate the optical response of the host material from the response of the adsorbed components. Several recently published structural and dispersion models are used for optical characterization for the first time. For example, a model of inhomogeneous rough films based on Rayleigh–Rice theory or asymmetric peak approximation with a Voigt profile for the phonon spectra of polycrystalline materials.
Awareness of Cosmetic Procedures among Adults Seeking to Enhance Their Physical Appearance: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study in Central Jordan
Authors: Aladwan Safwan M. , Shakya Ashok K. , Naik Rajashri R. , Afrashtehfar Kelvin I.
Published: January 2023

The increase in urban society in the use of cosmetic practices to rejuvenate oneself or obtain a more appealing appearance has influenced the practices of cosmetic dermatologists, general medical practitioners, plastic surgeons, and dental practitioners, among others. The pharmaceutical industry has evolved to meet customers’ desire to be more physically attractive irrespectively of age and gender. This study aimed to preliminarily explore Jordanian adults’ awareness of dental, facial, and other cosmetic procedures. The reasons for undergoing such cosmetic procedures and self-reported knowledge of the side effects or risks associated with these interventions were also explored. The results show that the participants had undergone various procedures to enhance their looks, attractiveness, and confidence. None of the female participants wanted to emulate a celebrity. Most participants were aware of the side effects associated with cosmetic procedures, which may be attributed to their educational backgrounds, as the participants’ minimum qualification was 12th grade and their easy access to information services such as electronic media. A multicenter, large-scale, regional study is required to determine the associations, correlations, and recommendations for individuals seeking cosmetic treatment, cosmetic health providers, and policymakers.
Study of the Bonding Characteristics at β-Ga2O3(201)/4H-SiC(0001) Interfaces from First Principles and Experiment
Authors: Xu Bei , Hu Jichao , Meng Jiaqi , He Xiaomin , Wang Xi , Pu Hongbin
Published: January 2023

For the first time, β-Ga2O3 were prepared on 4H-SiC (0001) substrates using a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) technique. The obtained β-Ga2O3/4H-SiC heterostructures display strongly preferential growth orientation along the <201> of β-Ga2O3. Combining the experimental results, interfacial properties, such as the work of adhesion (Wad), electronic properties and bonding characteristics of β-Ga2O3(201)/4H-SiC(0001) heterointerface were systemically studied using first principles. Four different β-Ga2O3(201)/4H-SiC(0001) interface models composed of different atom stacking sequences were established. It was found that the interface consisting of silicon terminated of 4H-SiC (0001), and oxygen terminated of β-Ga2O3(201) (Si-O) has the lowest relaxation energy and the highest stability. Results indicated that the binding of interface Si and C to the O atoms is stronger than that to the Ga atoms. The results of the difference charge density and electron localization function reveals that the Si and C atoms at interface are bonded with O atoms of β-Ga2O3 by covalent bonds, in which Si-O and C-O covalent bonds play a favorable role in the final stable configurations formation. This work will provide a further understanding of the various electronic behaviors of the β-Ga2O3(201)/4H-SiC(0001) heterointerface.
Upper Limb Disorders in Catering Workers
Authors: Giorgianni Concetto , Principato Francesco , Spatari Giovanna
Published: January 2023

Background: The literature reports that catering workers are exposed to various occupational health hazardsé. Objective: This study aims to assess a cohort of catering workers in relation to upper limb disorders, thus contributing to the quantification of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in this occupational sector. Methods: Here, 500 employees, of which 130 were males and 370 were females, with an overall mean age of 50.7 years and an average length of service of 24.8 years, were examined. All subjects completed a standardized questionnaire: the medical history questionnaire of diseases of the upper limbs and spine proposed in “Health surveillance of workers”, third edition, EPC. Results: The obtained data enables the following conclusions to be drawn. Musculoskeletal disorders affect a wide range of catering workers. The most affected anatomical region is the shoulder. These disorders increase with advancing age, specifically shoulder, wrist/hand disorders and daytime and nighttime paresthesias. Employment seniority in the catering sector increases the likelihood of all considered conditions. An increase in weekly workload exclusively affects the shoulder region. Conclusions: This study aims to serve as an impetus for further research that seeks to better analyze musculoskeletal problems in the catering sector.
Tree Branch Skeleton Extraction from Drone-Based Photogrammetric Point Cloud
Authors: Zhang Wenli , Peng Xinyu , Cui Guoqiang , Wang Haozhou , Takata Daisuke , Guo Wei
Published: January 2023

Calculating the complex 3D traits of trees such as branch structure using drones/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with onboard RGB cameras is challenging because extracting branch skeletons from such image-generated sparse point clouds remains difficult. This paper proposes a skeleton extraction algorithm for the sparse point cloud generated by UAV RGB images with photogrammetry. We conducted a comparison experiment by flying a UAV from two altitudes (50 m and 20 m) above a university orchard with several fruit tree species and developed three metrics, namely the F1-score of bifurcation point (FBP), the F1-score of end point (FEP), and the Hausdorff distance (HD) to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm. The results show that the average values of FBP, FEP, and HD for the point cloud of fruit tree branches collected at 50 m altitude were 64.15%, 69.94%, and 0.0699, respectively, and those at 20 m were 83.24%, 84.66%, and 0.0474, respectively. This paper provides a branch skeleton extraction method for low-cost 3D digital management of orchards, which can effectively extract the main skeleton from the sparse fruit tree branch point cloud, can assist in analyzing the growth state of different types of fruit trees, and has certain practical application value in the management of orchards.
Integration of Sustainable Criteria in the Development of a Proposal for an Online Postgraduate Program in the Projects Area
Authors: Gracia Villar Mónica , Alvarez Roberto Marcelo , Brie Santiago , Miró Vera Yini Airet , García Villena Eduardo
Published: January 2023

Regulatory dispersion and a utilitarian use of sustainability deepen the gap within the teaching–learning process and limit the introduction of sustainable criteria in organizations through projects. The objective of this research consisted in developing a sustainable and holistic educational proposal for an online postgraduate program belonging to the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (UNEATLANTICO) within the field of projects. The proposal was based on the instrumentalization of a model comprised of national and international bibliographic references, resulting in a sustainability guide with significant improvements in relation to the reference standard par excellence: ISO 26000:2010. This guide formed the basis of a sustainability management plan, which was key in the project methodology and during the development of sustainable objectives and descriptors for each of the subjects. Lastly, the entities, attributes, and cardinal relationships were established for the development of a physical model used to facilitate the management of all this information within a SQL database. The rigor when determining the educational program, as well as the subsequent analysis of results as supported by the literature review, presupposes the application of this methodology toward other multidisciplinary programs contributing to the adoption of good sustainability practices within the educational field.
Learning Mediated by Social Network for Education in K-12: Levels of Interaction, Strategies, and Difficulties
Authors: Pereira Aluisio José , Gomes Alex Sandro , Primo Tiago Thompsen , Rodrigues Rodrigo Lins , Júnior Ronaldo Pereira Melo , Moreira Fernando
Published: January 2023

This study aims to capture evidence on the effectiveness of emergency remote learning mediated by educational technology according to the interaction levels of K-12 students. The study involved students from a public institution that adopted emergency remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. From a mixed approach that used quantitative and qualitative methods, data from 963 students were collected and analyzed on the domain and use of the virtual learning environment Redu. Data were collected through student interactions and classified according to eleven classes that were used to identify the level and characteristics of those interactions between students and educators. We also performed interviews with 13 students based on their interaction patterns (highly interact, sporadically interact, rarely interact) to characterize the students’ interaction strategies within the virtual learning environment and strategies without the use of the virtual learning environment. It was found that students seek other means to interact and to send requests for help, regularly interact about school content, participate in discussions, and contact peers and teachers. The results can serve as a basis for proposing new functionalities for virtual learning environments.
A Universal Accelerated Coprocessor for Object Detection Based on RISC-V
Authors: Wu Dongyan , Liu Yuzhou , Tao Chongben
Published: January 2023

With the application of object detection (OD) technology in various fields, common OD methods have been increasingly widely used, which poses a challenge to their calculative performance and accuracy. To improve the computational performance of OD algorithms, a general-purpose accelerated coprocessor was designed and implemented based on the extensibility of the RISC-V architecture. The accelerator was transformed into the form of a coprocessor and connected to its CPU core through the EAI coprocessor interface. Meanwhile, the corresponding instructions were designed, and the acceleration library functions were established. Finally, the performance and resource depletion of the coprocessor were analyzed on the FPGA platform. The experimental results suggest that only 10,091 LUTs were consumed by the accelerated coprocessor designed in this study, accounting for 52.2% of the entire SoC system. Moreover, the processing capacity of the YOLOv3 algorithm was 6.33 times that of a general-purpose CPU.
Efficient Secure Routing Mechanisms for the Low-Powered IoT Network: A Literature Review
Authors: Hussain Muhammad Zunnurain , Hanapi Zurina Mohd
Published: January 2023

The Wireless Sensor Network in the Internet of Things (WSN-IoT) has been flourishing as another global breakthrough over the past few years. The WSN-IoT is reforming the way we live today by spreading through all areas of life, including the dangerous demographic aging crisis and the subsequent decline of jobs. For a company to increase revenues and cost-effectiveness growth should be customer-centered and agile within an organization. WSN-IoT networks have simultaneously faced threats, such as sniffing, spoofing, and intruders. However, WSN-IoT networks are often made up of multiple embedded devices (sensors and actuators) with limited resources that are joined via various connections in a low-power and lossy manner. However, to our knowledge, no research has yet been conducted into the security methods. Recently, a Contiki operating system’s partial implementation of Routing Protocol for Low Power & Lossy Network RPL’s security mechanisms was published, allowing us to evaluate RPL’s security methods. This paper presents a critical analysis of security issues in the WSN-IoT and applications of WSN-IoT, along with network management details using machine learning. The paper gives insights into the Internet of Things in Low Power Networks (IoT-LPN) architecture, research challenges of the Internet of Things in Low Power Networks, network attacks in WSN-IoT infrastructures, and the significant WSN-IoT objectives that need to be accompanied by current WSN-IoT frameworks. Several applied WSN-IoT security mechanisms and recent contributions have been considered, and their boundaries have been stated to be a significant research area in the future. Moreover, various low-powered IoT protocols have been further discussed and evaluated, along with their limitations. Finally, a comparative analysis is performed to assess the proposed work’s performance. The study shows that the proposed work covers a wide range of factors, whereas the rest of the research in the literature is limited.
Abrasive Technologies with Dry Ice as a Blasting Medium—Review
Authors: Dzido Aleksandra , Krawczyk Piotr
Published: January 2023

The objective of this work was to present an overview of abrasive technologies with solid carbon dioxide as a blasting medium. These methods can be successfully used for the removal of a wide range of types of industrial pollution. The article covers literature reports in the field of the examined cleaning mechanisms and manufacturing process of dry ice, focusing on the structure and size of the product. Having the correct understanding of these processes is crucial for further technological development. Then various configurations of the dry-ice-blasting and snow-blasting systems are presented, including a range of typical parameters met in the literature and in industrial applications. Because the nozzle can be treated as a key part of the system, typical examples of nozzles are described. Special attention is paid to the usability of each type. This study also covers the actual scope of applications for the described systems, especially in industry and science.
Well-to-Wheels for Light-Duty Vehicle Powertrains by Segments in Isolated Systems
Authors: Ramírez-Díaz Alfredo J. , Ramos-Real Francisco J. , Barrera-Santana Josue
Published: January 2023

The transportation sector has the highest energy demand worldwide and bears the primary responsibility for CO2 emissions. Electromobility has emerged as the most feasible way to alleviate this problem. However, its potential depends heavily on the development of renewable energies. Island regions raise additional barriers to electromobility due to their heavy dependence on fossil fuels. This article addresses this challenge by presenting a comprehensive well-to-wheel framework to assess the levels of efficiency and CO2 emissions of electromobility options such as battery and plug-in electric vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs). The results were compared with those for internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). The framework proposed takes account of various factors including the extraction, refining, and transport of oil, different segments of land vehicles, and electricity system operations. The framework is demonstrated with a case study of the Spanish Canary archipelago. The results show that BEVs improve efficiency and CO2 emissions by around 30% compared to ICEVs on islands where the share of renewable energies is higher than 21%. In contrast, limited renewable generation may lead to BEVs polluting up to 15% more than ICEVs. PHEVs should be considered as a suitable alternative if the share of renewable generation is higher than 35%.
Acceptance of IoT Edge-Computing-Based Sensors in Smart Cities for Universal Design Purposes
Authors: Walczak Renata , Koszewski Krzysztof , Olszewski Robert , Ejsmont Krzysztof , Kálmán Anikó
Published: January 2023

Around 20% of the population is disabled. Many people have mobility problems, including the elderly and people with young children. It is crucial to adapt cities to the needs of these people and, at the same time, to the needs of all residents. This is the subject of universal design, which should consider inhabitants’ needs and habits. This information can be collected by Internet of Things (IoT) devices that observe and listen to residents. Residents do not accept constant surveillance, so the public may not accept data collection by IoT sensors. This study aimed to identify and evaluate factors influencing the acceptance of data collection by IoT devices for universal design. For this purpose, an online survey was prepared by the Warsaw University of Technology. The following statistical methods were used to analyze the data: descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis and structural equation modeling. This paper identifies key factors influencing the acceptance of IoT devices for universal design. The statistically significant factors are the perceived usefulness of data collection, trust in city authorities, the perceived security of data collected by IoT devices and empathy for people with disabilities. The original achievement of this study is its indication that empathy for the disabled moderates and increases the positive relationship between the perceived usefulness of IoT devices and their acceptance. It was also found that trust in city authorities mediates the relationship between the perceived usability and acceptance of IoT devices. City authorities can use the results of this analysis in the implementation of IoT devices in smart cities.
Progress of Coupled Heat Transfer Mechanisms of Regenerative Cooling System in a Scramjet
Authors: He Ni , Liu Chaoyang , Pan Yu , Liu Jian
Published: January 2023

The feasibility of regenerative cooling technology in scramjet engines has been verified, while the heat transfer behavior involved in the process needs further study. This paper expounds on the necessity of coupled heat-transfer analysis and summarizes its research progress. The results show that the effect of pyrolysis on heat transfer in the cooling channel depends on the heat flux and coking rate, and the coupling relationship between combustion and heat transfer is closely related to the fuel flow rate. Therefore, we confirm that regulating the cooling channel layout according to the real heat-flux distribution, suppressing coking, and accurately controlling the fuel flow rate can contribute to accomplishing the optimal collaborative design of cooling performance and combustion performance. Finally, a conjugate thermal analysis model can be used to evaluate the performance of various thermal protection systems.
Exergy and Exergy-Economic Approach to Evaluate Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems in Buildings
Authors: Kallio Sonja , Siroux Monica
Published: January 2023

Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) combine two or more renewable energy systems and are an interesting solution for decentralized renewable energy generation. The exergy and exergo-economic approach have proven to be useful methods to analyze hybrid renewable energy systems. The aim of this paper is to present a review of exergy and exergy-economic approaches to evaluate hybrid renewable energy systems in buildings. In the first part of the paper, the methodology of the exergy and exergo-economic analysis is introduced as well as the main performance indicators. The influence of the reference environment is analyzed, and results show that the selection of the reference environment has a high impact on the results of the exergy analysis. In the last part of the paper, different literature studies based on exergy and exergo-economic analysis applied to the photovoltaic-thermal collectors, fuel-fired micro-cogeneration systems and hybrid renewable energy systems are reviewed. It is shown that the dynamic exergy analysis is the best way to evaluate hybrid renewable energy systems if they are operating under a dynamic environment caused by climatic conditions and/or energy demand.
Evaluation of the Community Land Model-Simulated Specific Leaf Area with Observations over China: Impacts on Modeled Gross Primary Productivity
Authors: Zheng Yuanhao , Zhang Li , Li Pan , Ren Xiaoli , He Honglin , Lv Yan , Ma Yuping
Published: January 2023

Specific leaf area (SLA) is a key leaf functional trait associated with the ability to acquire light. Substantial variations in SLA have not been well described in the community land model (CLM) and similar terrestrial biosphere models. How these SLA variations influence the simulation of gross primary productivity (GPP) remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the mismatch in SLA between the CLM4.5 and observed data collected from China and quantified the impacts of SLA variation calculated from both observations and the default values across seven terrestrial biosphere models on modeled GPP using CLM4.5. The results showed that CLM4.5 tended to overestimate SLA values at the top and gradient of the canopy. The higher default SLA values could cause an underestimation of the modeled GPP by 5–161 g C m−2 yr−1 (1%–7%) for temperate needleleaf evergreen tree (NET), temperate broadleaf deciduous tree (BDT), and C3 grass and an overestimation by 50 g C m−2 yr−1 (2%) for temperate broadleaf evergreen tree (BET). Moreover, the observed SLA variation among species ranged from 21% to 59% for 14 plant functional types (PFTs), which was similar to the variation in default SLA values across models (9%–60%). These SLA variations would lead to greater changes in modeled GPP by 7%–19% for temperate NET and temperate BET than temperate BDT and C3 grass (2%–9%). Our study suggested that the interspecific variation in SLA and its responses to environmental factors should be involved in terrestrial biosphere models; otherwise, it would cause substantial bias in the prediction of ecosystem productivity.
Forest-Fire-Risk Prediction Based on Random Forest and Backpropagation Neural Network of Heihe Area in Heilongjiang Province, China
Authors: Gao Chao , Lin Honglei , Hu Haiqing
Published: January 2023

Forest fires are important factors that influence and restrict the development of forest ecosystems. In this paper, forest-fire-risk prediction was studied based on random forest (RF) and backpropagation neural network (BPNN) algorithms. The Heihe area of Heilongjiang Province is one of the key forest areas and forest-fire-prone areas in China. Based on daily historical forest-fire data from 1995 to 2015, daily meteorological data, topographic data and basic geographic information data, the main forest-fire driving factors were first analyzed by using RF importance characteristic evaluation and logistic stepwise regression. Then, the prediction models were established by using the two machine learning methods. Furthermore, the goodness of fit of the models was tested using the receiver operating characteristic test method. Finally, the fire-risk grades were divided by applying the kriging method. The results showed that 11 driving factors were significantly correlated with forest-fire occurrence, and days after the last rain, daily average relative humidity, daily maximum temperature, daily average water vapor pressure, daily minimum relative humidity and distance to settlement had a high correlation with the risk of forest-fire occurrence. The prediction accuracy of the two algorithms in regard to fire points was higher than that for nonfire points. The overall prediction accuracy and goodness of fit of the RF and BPNN algorithms were similar. The two methods were both suitable for forest-fire occurrence prediction. The high-fire-risk zones were mainly concentrated in the northwestern and central parts of the Heihe area.
Scale-Up of Pigment Production by the Marine-Derived Filamentous Fungus, Talaromyces albobiverticillius 30548, from Shake Flask to Stirred Bioreactor
Authors: Venkatachalam Mekala , Mares Gary , Dufossé Laurent , Fouillaud Mireille
Published: January 2023

Talaromyces albobiverticillius 30548, a marine-derived fungus, produces Monascus-like azaphilone red/orange pigments which have the potential for various industrial applications. The objective of this study was to scale up pigment production in a 2 L bioreactor with a working volume of 1.3 L media and to compare its biomass growth and pigment production against small volume (500 mL) shake flasks with 200 mL working volume. Additionally, fungal morphology, pigment intensity, fermentation length and duration of pigment production were also compared. Experiments were carried out at laboratory scale in 200 mL shake flasks without controlling pH and oxygen. In parallel, fermentation was performed in a 2 L bioreactor as an initial scale-up to investigate the influence of dissolved oxygen, agitation speed and controlled pH on pigment production and biomass growth of T. albobiverticillius 30548. The highest orange and red pigment production in bioreactor at 24 °C was noticed after 160 h of fermentation (70% pO2) with 25.95 AU 470 nm for orange pigments and 22.79 AU 500 nm for red pigments, at pH set point 5.0. Meanwhile, the fermentation using 200 mL shake flasks effectively produced orange pigments with 22.39 AU 470 nm and red pigments with 14.84 AU 500 nm at 192 h under the same experimental conditions (24 °C, pH 5.0, 150 rpm). Regarding fungal morphology, growth of fungus in the bioreactor was in the form of pellets, whereas in the shake flasks it grew in the form of filaments. From the observed differences in shake flasks and closed bioreactor, it is known that the bioprocess was significantly influenced by dissolved oxygen saturation and agitation speed in scale-up. Thus, oxygen transfer appears to be the rate-limiting factor, which highly influences overall growth and production of pigments in Talaromyces albobiverticillius 30548 liquid culture.
Tenderization of Beef Semitendinosus Muscle by Pulsed Electric Field Treatment with a Direct Contact Chamber and Its Impact on Proteolysis and Physicochemical Properties
Authors: Jeong Se-Ho , Jung Young-Min , Kim Siyeon , Kim Jong-Hun , Yeo Hyunho , Lee Dong-Un
Published: January 2023

In this study, the effects of pulse electric field (PEF) treatment on the tenderization of beef semitendinosus muscle were investigated. An adjustable PEF chamber was designed to make direct contact with the surface of the beef sample without water as the PEF-transmitting medium. PEF treatment was conducted with electric field strengths between 0.5 and 2.0 kV/cm. The pulse width and pulse number were fixed as 30 μs and 100 pulses, respectively. The impedance spectrum of PEF-treated beef indicated that PEF treatments induced structural changes in beef muscle, and the degree of the structural changes was dependent on the strength of the electric field. Cutting force, hardness, and chewiness were significantly decreased at 2.0 kV/cm (35, 37, and 34%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Troponin-T was more degraded by PEF treatment at 2.0 kV/cm intensity (being degraded by 90%). The fresh quality factors such as color and lipid oxidation were retained under a certain level of PEF intensity (1.0 kV/cm). These findings suggest that PEF treatment could tenderize beef texture while retaining its fresh quality.
Smartphone-Based Quantitative Detection of Ochratoxin A in Wheat via a Lateral Flow Assay
Authors: Tian Yunxin , Hu Xiaofeng , Jiang Jun , Tang Xiaoqian , Tian Zhiquan , Zhang Zhaowei , Li Peiwu
Published: January 2023

Ochratoxin A (OTA) poses a severe health risk to livestock along the food chain. Moreover, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, it is also categorized as being possibly carcinogenic to humans. The lack of intelligent point-of-care test (POCT) methods restricts its early detection and prevention. This work establishes a smartphone-enabled point-of-care test for OTA detection via a fluorescent lateral flow assay within 6 min. By using a smartphone and portable reader, the assay allows for the recording and sharing of the detection results in a cloud database. This intelligent POCT provided (iPOCT) a linearity range of 0.1–3.0 ng/mL and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.02 ng/mL (0.32 µg/kg in wheat). By spiking OTA in blank wheat samples, the recoveries were 89.1–120.4%, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) between 3.9–9.1%. The repeatability and reproducibility were 94.2–101.7% and 94.6–103.4%, respectively. This work provides a promising intelligent POCT method for food safety.
Empirical and Theoretical Bases of Good Steamed Bread Production
Authors: Peng Yanchun , Zhao Yun , Jin Xiaojie , Xiong Yin , Dong Jing , Ma Wujun
Published: January 2023

Chinese steamed bread (CSB) is a main staple food in China, accounting for 40% of wheat flour usage in China. Due to its health benefits, CSB is gaining popularity across the world. In this review, the effects of gluten proteins (particularly glutenins and gliadins) on the quality of CSB are summarized from the literature. Requirements of appropriate rheological parameters in different studies are compared and discussed. Along with the increasing demand for frozen storage food, there are obvious increases in the research on the dynamics of gluten proteins in frozen dough. This review also summarizes the factors influencing the deterioration of CSB dough quality during frozen storage as well as effective measures to mitigate the negative effects.
The Mineral Oil Hydrocarbon Paradox in Olive Pomace Oils
Authors: Gómez-Coca Raquel , Pérez-Camino María , Moreda Wenceslao
Published: January 2023

The aim of this work was to understand the actual content of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) in olive pomace oil in order to contribute to the monitoring requested by EFSA for the food groups making a relevant impact on human background exposure. Such information will complement both the information inferred from the limits established by the EU and the interpretation of the coming toxicological risk assessment. At the same time, the origin of such a group of compounds is discussed. From the raw material to the commercial product, olive pomace oils were sampled and analyzed at different points and/or conditions. Through the ultimate online HPLC-GC-FID system, we gathered information on the MOH concentrations and molecular mass profiles (C-fractions), and through GCxGC-TOF/MS, we identified the key structures that prove the innocuousness of the mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbon (MOAH) fraction. Our approaches provided chromatographic signals on the C10-C50 range, rendering 33–205 mg/kg mineral oil saturated hydrocarbon (MOSH) and 2–55 mg/kg MOAH in the commercial product. The results confirmed that the C25-C35 cut is the main fraction to which humans are exposed via olive pomace oil, showing concentrations highly dependent on the extraction process. Moreover, the identification of the main MOAH groups showed that in olive pomace oil, mainly 1- and 2-ring species were present, being virtually free of the carcinogenic 3–7 ring aromatics.
Production of Cookies Enriched with Bioactive Compounds through the Partial Replacement of Wheat Flour by Cocoa Bean Shells
Authors: Soares Ingrid Denardi , Cirilo Marcela Eduarda Marchi , Junqueira Isabela Gayola , Vanin Fernanda Maria , Rodrigues Christianne Elisabete da Costa
Published: January 2023

Approximately 500 thousand tons of cocoa bean shells (CSs) are generated annually and treated as waste. However, their composition is of great nutritional, technological, and economic interest due to their dietary fiber (46.4 to 60.6%), protein (11.6 to 18.1%), and lipid contents (2 to 18.5%), as well as the presence of flavonoids and alkaloids. Thus, this study aimed to obtain CS flour by milling the CSs, characterizing the flour according to its chemical composition and functionalities, and then applying it in the production of cookies, substituting a wheat flour portion (10, 20, 30, and 40%) with CS flour. Cookies were characterized in terms of water, lipids, proteins, phenolic (PC), and total flavanol (FLA) contents, and specific volume (SV), hardness (H), and L*, a*, and b color scale parameters. Increasing the amount of CS showed positive results, as the cookies were enriched with PC (0.68 to 2.37 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of sample) and FLA (0.10 to 0.19 mg epicatechin equivalents/g of sample) but increased hardness (353 to 472 N). By associating the responses, it was concluded that the wheat flour replacement with 30% CS presented values of PC and FLA 3 and 1.6 times higher than the control and could be a formulation of interest to consumers.
The Effect of Different Ratios of Starch and Freeze–Thaw Treatment on the Properties of Konjac Glucomannan Gels
Authors: Wang Yangyang , Liu Jie , Liu Yawei
Published: January 2023

The composite gels of konjac glucomannan (KGM) and corn starch (CS) were prepared and treated by the freeze–thaw method. For KGM–CS gels, as the starch ratio rose from 0 to 100%, storage modulus (G′) decreased by 97.7% (from 3875.69 Pa to 87.72 Pa), degradation temperature decreased from 313.32 °C to 293.95 °C, and crystallinity decreased by 16.7%. For F–KGM–CS gels, G′ decreased by 99.0% (from 20,568.10 Pa to 204.09 Pa), degradation temperature increased from 289.68 °C to 298.07 °C, and crystallinity decreased by 17.1% with more starch content. The peak in infrared spectroscopy shifted to a higher wavenumber with more starch and to a lower wavenumber by freezing the corresponding composite gels. The detected retrogradation of the composite gels appeared for KGM–CS with 80% starch and F–KGM–CS with 40% starch. The endothermic enthalpy of free water rose by 10.6% and 10.1% with the increase in starch for KGM–CS and F–KGM–CS, respectively. The results of moisture distribution found that bound water migrated to free water and the water-binding capacity reduced with more starch. The results demonstrated that the molecular interaction in composite gels was weakened by starch and strengthened by freezing.
Studying the Role of Potato Powder on the Physicochemical Properties and Dough Characteristics of Wheat Flour
Authors: Yang Liping , Zhang Houfang , Huang Biao , Hao Shimian , Li Songnan , Li Peiyan , Yu Haibing
Published: January 2023

Potato flour (PF) is rich in health-promoting compounds that can improve the nutritional benefits of food products after blending with wheat flour. However, the incorporation of PF may influence the processing characteristics of mixed powders and the quality properties of products. In this study, the physicochemical properties, processing characteristics, and structures of mixed powders and their corresponding doughs with different PF content (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%) were investigated. The addition of PF dramatically increased the fiber content from 0.09 to 1.10 g·kg−1 but diluted the protein in wheat flour. The peak and final viscosity of mixed powders decreased (from 5111.00 to 1806.33 cP and 5195.33 to 2135.33 cP, respectively) with an increase in PF fraction. The incorporation of PF significantly increased gelatinization temperature. The rapidly digestible starch decreased from 30.48% to 19.67%, and resistant starch increased from 16.93% to 41.84% when the PF content increased from 0% to 100%. The water absorption, stability time, and development time decreased with an increase in PF levels. The G′ and G″ of the dough decreased as the addition amount of PF increased, while tan δ presented a complex change tendency. Due to the decrease in protein content in the mixed powders, the addition of PF in wheat flour notably decreased the Hm values of doughs and total carbon dioxide volume produced during fermentation. Additionally, the SH and S–S contents decreased with an increase in PF fraction. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that when the PF content reached up to 80%, a poor and discontinuous gluten framework was formed in the dough. Results showed that PF affected the processing characteristics and gluten structures of wheat dough and was related to the interaction or competition for water molecules between protein and starch, as well as potato starch and wheat starch. Thus, the results of the present study can provide insights into the optimal level of addition of PF during the development of potato-based food products.
Controlling the LCST-Phase Transition in Azobenzene-Functionalized Poly (N-Isopropylacrlyamide) Hydrogels by Light
Authors: Colaco Ruchira , Appiah Clement , Staubitz Anne
Published: January 2023

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) PNIPAAm hydrogels were modified with a new azobenzene-containing co-monomer. In this work, light responsiveness as an additional functionality, is conceptualized to induce two phase transitions in the same material, which can be controlled by light. For a hydrogel with merely 2.5 mol% of this co-monomer, the lower critical solution transition temperature (LCST) was lowered by 12 °C (to 20 °C) compared to PNIPAAm (LCST at 32 °C), as analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The untreated unimodal endotherm split into a bimodal peak upon irradiation with UV-light, giving a second onset due to the switched (Z) isomer-rich regions, LCST*H2.5%-(Z) = 26 °C. On irradiation with 450 nm, leading to the reverse (Z) to (E) isomerization, the endotherm was also reversible. Thus, a photo-switchable hydrogel whose LCST and structure are tunable with the hydrophobicity-hydrophilicity of the (E) and (Z) isomeric state of azobenzene was obtained. The influence of the increase in the mol% of azoacrylate on the LCST was evaluated via DSC, in combination with NMR studies, UV-vis spectroscopy and control experiments with linear polymers. The large light-driven modulation of the LCST adds bistability in thermoresponsive hydrogels, which may open diverse applications in the field of soft robotics actuators.
Semen Thresholds of Normality Established by the WHO Do Not Reveal Genome Instability—A Potential Occult Male Factor
Authors: Punjabi Usha , Goovaerts Ilse , Peeters Kris , De Neubourg Diane
Published: January 2023

Semen parameters are unable to inform on the function or fertilizing capacity of the male gamete. Standardized methods are provided by the WHO but, the lower reference limits have reduced sensitivity to predict chances of conception. Subfertile men may be falsely classified as “normal” and a male factor contributing to genome instability may be overlooked. Semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), sperm chromatin maturity and stability, and sperm aneuploidy were assessed in fertile (F), subfertile normozoospermic (SN) and subfertile non-normozoospermic males (SN-N). Standardized assays employing flow cytometry were used to detect genome instability. Sperm DNA fragmentation did not differ significantly whether the semen samples were from a fertile (F), subfertile normozoospermic (SN) or subfertile non-normozoospermic male (SN-N). Chromatin decondensation was significantly reduced and hyperstability significantly increased in the SN group as compared to the F group. The frequency of diploidy was significantly different in the three study groups with significance between F and SN and between F and SN-N groups. Subfertile men with normal semen parameters are often excluded from extensive genetic testing. Genome instability might be an independent attribute of semen quality detecting problems not seen with semen analysis alone.
On the Annual and Semi-Annual Components of Variations in Extent of Arctic and Antarctic Sea-Ice
Authors: Lopes Fernando , Courtillot Vincent , Gibert Dominique , Mouël Jean-Louis Le
Published: January 2023

In this paper, the 1978–2022 series of northern (NHSI) and southern (SHSI) hemisphere sea ice extent are submitted to singular spectral analysis (SSA). The trends are quasi-linear, decreasing for NHSI (by 58,300 km2/yr) and increasing for SHSI (by 15,400 km2/yr). The amplitude of annual variation in the Antarctic is double that in the Arctic. The semi-annual components are in quadrature. The first three oscillatory components of both NHSI and SHSI, at 1, 1/2, and 1/3 yr, account for more than 95% of the signal variance. The trends are respectively 21 (Antarctic) and 4 times (Arctic) less than the amplitudes of the annual components. We next analyze variations in pole position (PM for polar motion, coordinates m1, m2) and length of day (lod). Whereas the SSA of the lod is dominated by the same first three components as sea ice, the SSA of the PM contains only the 1-yr forced annual oscillation and the Chandler 1.2-yr component. The 1-yr component of NHSI is in phase with that of the lod and in phase opposition with m1, while the reverse holds for the 1-yr component of SHSI. The semi-annual component appears in the lod and not in m1. The annual and semi-annual components of NHSI and SHSI are much larger than the trends, leading us to hypothesize that a geophysical or astronomical forcing might be preferable to the generally accepted forcing factors. The lack of modulation of the largest (SHSI) forced component does suggest an alternate mechanism. In Laplace’s theory of gravitation, the torques exerted by the Moon, Sun, and planets play the leading role as the source of forcing (modulation), leading to changes in the inclination of the Earth’s rotation axis and transferring stresses to the Earth’s envelopes. Laplace assumes that all masses on and in the Earth are set in motion by astronomical forces; more than variations in eccentricity, it is variations in the inclination of the rotation axis that lead to the large annual components of melting and re-freezing of sea-ice.