bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Subacromial Pain Syndrome in Breast Cancer Survivors—Are Structural Shoulder Changes Verified by Ultrasound Clinically Relevant?
Authors: Klarić-Kukuz Ivana , Aljinović Jure , Barun Blaž , Roki Marko , Benzon Benjamin , Budimir Mršić Danijela , Marinović Guić Maja , Poljičanin Ana
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Shoulder pain is a common treatment outcome in breast cancer survivors. While various risk factors and mechanisms for shoulder pain have been proposed, evidence is inconsistent. Increased risk of subacromial pain syndrome exists, which can lead to disability and reduced quality of life if untreated. Ultrasound is a valuable tool for detecting rotator cuff changes aiding in timely diagnosis of subacromial pain syndrome. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of rotator cuff changes to better understand chronic shoulder pain in breast cancer survivors. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 74 breast cancer survivors from the University Hospital Split. Data were collected via questionnaires and clinical interviews. Bilateral shoulder ultrasounds were performed by two blinded investigators. Categorical variables were analyzed using Chi-squared tests, and continuous variables were analyzed with T-tests or Mann–Whitney tests. Results: Pathological findings were similarly prevalent on the operated and non-operated sides (p = 0.3 and p = 0.6). Among participants with shoulder pain, ultrasound-detected pathology was present in 91% of right shoulders and 96% of left shoulders (p < 0.005). Non-painful shoulders exhibited pathology in 59% of right and 57% of left shoulders. Ipsilateral pain to the site of breast surgery was reported by 57.7% of participants, with supraspinatus pathology in 56%, acromioclavicular joint pathology in 39%, and subacromial–subdeltoid bursitis in 41%. Conclusions: Similar pathology distribution on operated and non-operated sides and frequent asymptomatic findings highlight unresolved causes of shoulder pain in breast cancer survivors. Ultrasound is valuable but requires integration with clinics for accurate diagnosis of the underlying causes of shoulder pain.
Synchronous Analysis of Speech Production and Lips Movement to Detect Parkinson’s Disease Using Deep Learning Methods
Authors: Ríos-Urrego Cristian David , Escobar-Grisales Daniel , Orozco-Arroyave Juan Rafael
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects more than 6 million people worldwide. Its accurate diagnosis and monitoring are key factors to reduce its economic burden. Typical approaches consider either speech signals or video recordings of the face to automatically model abnormal patterns in PD patients. Methods: This paper introduces, for the first time, a new methodology that performs the synchronous fusion of information extracted from speech recordings and their corresponding videos of lip movement, namely the bimodal approach. Results: Our results indicate that the introduced method is more accurate and suitable than unimodal approaches or classical asynchronous approaches that combine both sources of information but do not incorporate the underlying temporal information. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that using a synchronous fusion strategy with concatenated projections based on attention mechanisms, i.e., speech-to-lips and lips-to-speech, exceeds previous results reported in the literature. Complementary information between lip movement and speech production is confirmed when advanced fusion strategies are employed. Finally, multimodal approaches, combining visual and speech signals, showed great potential to improve PD classification, generating more confident and robust models for clinical diagnostic support.
A Critical Appraisal of System-Reported Organ Dose (OD) Versus Manually Calculated Mean Glandular Dose (MGD) in Dubai’s Mammography Services
Authors: Noor Kaltham Abdulwahid Mohammad , Norsuddin Norhashimah Mohd , Karim Muhammad Khalis Abdul , Isa Iza Nurzawani Che , Ulaganathan Vaidehi
Published: January 2025

Background: This study compares system-reported organ doses (ODs) to manually calculated mean glandular doses (MGDs) in mammography across multiple centers and manufacturers in Dubai. Methods: A retrospective study of 2754 anonymized mammograms from six clinics in Dubai were randomly retrieved from a central dose survey database. Organ doses were documented along with other dosimetry information like kVp, mAs, filter, target, compression force, and breast thickness. Mean glandular doses, MGDs, were calculated manually for all the patients using the Dance formula and inferential statistical analyses were run to compare the two figures and verify the factors affecting each. Results: Our study’s analysis revealed that manually calculated mean glandular doses (MGDs) provide a more reliable indicator of radiation exposure than organ doses (ODs) reported by DICOM, particularly in multi-vendor scenarios. Manually calculated MGD values were consistently lower than system-reported ODs (MLO view: 0.96 ± 0.37 mGy vs. 1.38 ± 0.45 mGy; CC view: 0.81 ± 0.33 mGy vs. 1.22 ± 0.38 mGy). Significant differences in both system-reported ODs and manually calculated MGDs were observed across centers (p < 0.001). Strong correlations between system-reported ODs and manually calculated MGDs were found for Siemens equipment (r = 0.923, p < 0.001) but only moderate correlations for GE systems (r = 0.638, p < 0.001). Calculated MGD values were significantly higher for GE equipment compared to Siemens (1.49 ± 0.77 mGy vs. 0.93 ± 0.33 mGy, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study addresses concerns regarding mammography dosimetry accuracy by demonstrating the superiority of mean glandular doses over DICOM-generated organ doses. These findings empower practitioners to optimize dose levels, ensuring safer and more effective breast cancer screening protocols.
Intelligent Platform for Automating Vulnerability Detection in Web Applications
Authors: Moreira Diogo , Seara João Pedro , Pavia João Pedro , Serrão Carlos
Published: January 2025

In a world increasingly dependent on technology and in an era where connectivity is omnipresent, Web applications have become an essential part of our everyday life. The evolution of these applications, combined with the exponential increase in the number of users, has brought with it not only convenience but also significant challenges in terms of security. Ensuring the security of Web applications and their data is increasingly a priority for companies, although many companies lack the know-how, time, and money to do so. This research project studied and developed a system with the aim of automating the process of detecting vulnerabilities in Web applications by exploiting the benefits of the interoperability of the two forms of automation of the tool selected to carry out this analysis. The developed solution is low-cost and requires very little user intervention. In order to validate and evaluate the developed platform, experiments were carried out on applications with different types of vulnerabilities known in advance and on real applications. It is essential to guarantee the security of Web applications, and the developed system proved capable of automating the detection of vulnerability risks and returning the results in a relatively simple way for the user.
An 11-Bit Single-Slope/Successive Approximation Register Analog-to-Digital Converters with On-Chip Fine Step Range Calibration for CMOS Image Sensors
Authors: Byun Seong-Jun , Seo Jee-Taeck , Kim Tae-Hyun , Lee Jeong-Hun , Kim Young-Kyu , Baek Kwang-Hyun
Published: January 2025

This paper presents a novel high-precision 11-bit single-slope/successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter (SS/SAR ADC) architecture specifically designed for CMOS image sensors (CISs). The proposed design solves critical challenges in conventional ADCs by utilizing only two reference voltages, thereby minimizing voltage mismatch and completely eliminating the need for complex switch arrays. This unique approach reduces the transistor count by 64 per column ADC, significantly enhancing area efficiency and circuit simplicity. Furthermore, a groundbreaking on-chip fine step range calibration technique is introduced to mitigate the impact of parasitic capacitance, ensuring the precise alignment between coarse and fine steps and achieving exceptional linearity. Fabricated using a 0.18-µm CMOS process, the ADC demonstrates superior performance metrics, including a differential nonlinearity (DNL) of −1/+1.86 LSB, an integral nonlinearity (INL) of −2.74/+2.79 LSB, an effective number of bits (ENOB) of 8.3 bits, and a signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) of 51.77 dB. Operating at 240 kS/s with a power consumption of 22.16 µW, the ADC achieves an outstanding figure-of-merit (FOMW) of 0.291 pJ/step. These results demonstrate the proposed architecture’s potential as a transformative solution for high-speed, energy-efficient CIS applications.
Technological Convergence of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence: A Review and Challenges
Authors: Choi Nakhoon , Kim Heeyoul
Published: January 2025

Blockchain and artificial intelligence are two of the most prominent technologies in computer science today and have attracted considerable attention from various research communities. Recently, several initiatives have been launched to explore the combination of these two pioneering technologies. The main goal is to combine the data integrity, privacy, and decentralization properties of blockchain with the ability of artificial intelligence to process, analyze, predict, and refine massive data sets. The combination of blockchain and AI technologies is expected to address key challenges in the digital realm, such as data security, transparency, and streamlined decision-making. However, there is a problem that many studies have focused on the advancement of a single technology as the main perspective. To overcome these recent research limitations, we provide a broad view of the combination of blockchain and artificial intelligence and analyze the limitations of existing research and their causes. Furthermore, we identify challenges and attempts to be addressed through this analysis. The analysis in this paper is organized into a comprehensive section dedicated to the application of artificial intelligence in blockchain and vice versa. Based on our analysis, we identify existing challenges and propose a novel framework for researchers to overcome these limitations, thus expanding new research opportunities.
Design and Performance Analysis of a Novel Cooling Device for IGBT Modules in Wind Power Converters
Authors: Xie Pengkang , Ding Bowen , Zhang Ji
Published: January 2025

Overheating failure is one of the common causes of motor converter failure, so it is very important to improve the heat dissipation of the converter. In response to the inefficiency of traditional converter heat dissipation devices, we propose a novel heat dissipation device. The device combines micro-heat pipe arrays (MHPAs) and interleaved fins, and the MHPAs were initially applied in the converter. The device leverages the exceptional thermal conductivity of the MHPA to rapidly transfer heat from the heat source to various parts of the fins, ultimately achieving efficient heat dissipation and lowering the temperature. This study investigates the thermal resistance, heat dissipation performance, and overall temperature distribution of both the new and traditional heat dissipation devices using theoretical modeling, multi-condition experimental comparisons, and numerical simulation analysis. The experimental results demonstrate that the new heat dissipation device exhibits lower thermal resistance, higher heat dissipation, and greater convective heat transfer intensity compared to the conventional device. In a scenario with 6.3 kW power and 4.3 m/s wind speed, the new heat dissipation device decreases thermal resistance by 15 times, boosts heat dissipation by 30%, enhances convective heat transfer by 12.5%, and lowers the heatsink object temperature by 30%. As power and wind speed increase, the heat dissipation performance of the new heat dissipation device can be further improved. Additionally, the new heat dissipation device exhibits a characteristic where the temperature of the fins is higher on the outside and lower on the inside. Increasing the length of the fins helps improve the device’s heat dissipation performance. The feasibility of the MHPA being applied in converter heat dissipation systems is validated in this study. This device significantly enhances converter heat dissipation efficiency and is crucial for advancing the high-power capabilities of motors.
Analysis of Influence of Abnormal Fiber-Optical Current Transformer on Double Closed-Loop Control of Converter Valve in Flexible DC Converter Station
Authors: Ji Yirun , Huai Qing , Huang Xuanfei , Ma Libo , Yuan Qian , Zhou Chengjie , Zhao Chen
Published: January 2025

The fiber-optical current transformer (FOCT) is the core measuring equipment of the flexible DC converter station, which affects the operation control of the system. In order to solve the problem of the influence of the abnormal FOCT on the operation of the converter valve being unclear, the common fault modes of temperature and optical path of the FOCT are analyzed in this paper. Then, based on the traditional optical current transformer (OCT) model and considering the influence of temperature parameters on the FOCT, the FOCT dynamic model considering multiple factors is constructed. Finally, the simulation analysis is carried out on the MATLAB 2021b/Simulink platform, and the results show that (1) when the FOCT temperature compensation is abnormal, the transmission power of the converter valve increases with the increase in temperature, but the increase in temperature change is small; (2) when the FOCT light source compensation is abnormal, the light source attenuates, the converter valve active power decreases, and the reactive power increases; and (3) when the optical fiber sensing ring is broken, the transmission power increases and seriously deviates from the preset value (the active power increases by about 87.5% and the reactive power increases by about 90%). It can be seen that the abnormal FOCT in the converter station has a serious influence on the operation of the converter valve.
An Improved Image-Denoising Technique Using the Whale Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Hu Pei , Han Yibo , Pan Jeng-Shyang
Published: January 2025

Images often suffer from various types of noise during their collection and transmission, such as salt-and-pepper, speckle, and Gaussian noise. The wavelet transform (WT) is widely utilized for denoising. However, the decomposition level and threshold significantly impact the quality of the resulting images, but they are difficult to set. This paper uses a modified whale optimization algorithm (MWOA) to optimize the parameters of the WT to achieve better image denoising. The MWOA is enhanced through position updates and mutation to improve the solution quality of WOA and enlarge the search space of the WT. In benchmark images, experimental comparisons with other optimization algorithms like WOA, adaptive cuckoo search (ACS), and social spider optimization (SSO) show that the proposed denoising method achieves superior results in terms of the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), mean square error (MSE), and structural similarity index (SSIM).
Sustainable Development of the Energy Sector in the Context of Socioeconomic Cohesion in France, Germany, and Poland
Authors: Kowalska Magdalena , Gniadkowska-Szymańska Agata , Misztal Anna , Comporek Michał
Published: January 2025

The energy sector is crucial for the country’s stable and lasting socioeconomic development and for implementing environmentally friendly technologies. The sustainable development of the energy sector takes place in three pillars: economic, social, and environmental. It means improving economic results while increasing the share of alternative energy sources. The paper aims to assess the impact of socioeconomic cohesion on the sustainable development of the energy sector in France, Germany, and Poland. We created indicators of sustainable development and socioeconomic cohesion. We used correlation analysis to examine the relationships. Additionally, we created a single- and multi-equation model, which we reset using the ordinary least squares method and Seemingly Unrealized Regression. The results of the linear correlation coefficients show a very strong relationship between socio-economic cohesion and the sustainable development of the energy sector in Poland (Pearson’s R 0.94), a weaker correlation in Germany (0.811), and the weakest in France (0.59). The results suggest that the relationship is strongest in the country with the lowest economic development and the smallest share of renewable energy, a significant positive impact on the sustainable development of the energy sector. The strength of this impact is varied in the countries studied, indicating a different level of advancement and development in the countries studied.
Boricua Energy Justice Visualization
Authors: Pacheco-Cano Willian A. , Peña-Becerra Carlos A. , Castro-Sitiriche Marcel
Published: January 2025

The impact of natural hazards on the Puerto Rican electric system significantly affects the well-being of its population, particularly affecting populations in remote areas. The present study aims to identify the most affected geographic regions using a complementary approach that leverages open source governmental data. By harnessing the power of comprehensive data and utilizing a graphical analysis tool—a set of open access dashboards with maps and graphs—positive change can be fostered, providing stakeholders with comprehensive data for informed decision-making. The dashboards facilitate the identification, association, and analysis of different metrics such as customers without services, SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index), SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency Index), and CHoLES (Customers Hours of Lost Electric Service). Additionally, the dashboard provides information on the progress of the net metering, demonstrating the rapid integration of PV (photovoltaic) and BES (battery energy storage) systems. Interactive dashboards for stakeholders to analyze key metrics such as SAIDI, SAIFI and CHoLES were designed and built using an interactive data visualization platform.
Thermodynamic and Techno-Economic Performance Comparison of Methanol Aqueous Phase Reforming and Steam Reforming for Hydrogen Production
Authors: Hu Changsong , Xu Chao , Xi Xiaojun , He Yao , Wang Tiejun
Published: January 2025

Methanol, which can be derived from sustainable energy sources such as biomass, solar power, and wind power, is widely considered an ideal hydrogen carrier for distributed and mobile hydrogen production. In this study, a comprehensive comparison of the thermodynamic and techno-economic performance of the aqueous phase reforming (APR) and steam reforming (SR) of methanol was conducted using Aspen Plus and CAPCOST software to evaluate the commercial feasibility of the APR process. Thermodynamic analysis, based on the Gibbs free energy minimization method, reveals that while APR and SR have similar energy demands, APR achieves higher energy efficiency by avoiding losses from evaporation and compression. APR typically operates at higher pressures and lower temperatures compared to SR, suppressing CO formation and increasing hydrogen fraction but reducing methanol single-pass conversion. A techno-economic comparison of APR and SR for a distributed hydrogen production system with a 50 kg/h hydrogen output shows that although APR requires higher fixed operating costs and annual capital charges, it benefits from lower variable operating costs. The minimum hydrogen selling price for APR was calculated to be 7.07 USD/kg, compared to 7.20 USD/kg for SR. These results suggest that APR is a more economically viable alternative to SR for hydrogen production.
Research on Torque Compensation Strategy of Wind Maneuver Model Experimental System by Increasing the Analog Multiple of Moment of Inertia
Authors: Sun Qiming , Qiu Yaqin , Zhang Chao
Published: January 2025

Fan power generation, a form of new energy, has gained significant attention. However, as fan capacities grow, the challenges in the development process also increase. A wind maneuver model experiment system must be constructed to simulate the actual fan operation dynamics. The wind turbine simulator is essential for conducting experiments on wind turbines and advancing the research of wind power production technology. However, due to the insufficient moment of inertia in wind turbine simulators under laboratory conditions, physical compensation methods are challenging to implement. Therefore, most scholars rely on software compensation algorithms to realize the stability simulation of wind turbine simulators with small moments of inertia and actual wind turbines with large moments of inertia. Under this research background, this paper presents the existing moment of inertia compensation strategies based on current research hotspots. The theoretical foundation covers the mechanical dynamic models of both actual wind turbines and simulators along with an analysis of inertia compensation strategies, including high-order filters and feedforward bias suppression. Finally, the Simulink simulation platform is used to compare and validate the effectiveness of these strategies.
Experimental Investigation on Temperature-Resistant CO2 Foam Flooding in a Heterogenous Reservoir
Authors: Tian Mei , Wu Yi , Shi Yuhua , Cao Guohua , Sun Yu , Li Maozhu , Wang Wei , Gao Li , Wang Zhipeng , Li Yiqiang
Published: January 2025

Gas channeling treatment is a huge challenge for oil displacement and CO2 sequestration in the practical CO2 flooding process. The foaming agents can be used in the gas flooding process, which presents good application potential for gas channeling blockage. However, high temperature can affect surfactant foaming properties. This work takes a high-temperature heterogenous sandstone oil reservoir as an example; the foaming performance of different surfactants was evaluated via foamability, thermal stability, crude oil tolerance ability, and dynamic blocking capacity. The profile control performance of the optimized foaming agent was investigated via dual-core gas flooding experiments. (1) The results show that QPJ-c featured good foaming stability, which made it present the largest foam comprehensive index, although its foaming volume was slightly lower than that of QPJ-b. Its foaming volume retention rate was 83.2%, and its half-life retention rate remained 88.9% after 30 days aging at a temperature of 110 °C. (2) The foam resistance factor increased from 7 to 17 when the core permeability increased from 2 mD to 20 mD. This indicated that the high-permeability zone could be preferentially blocked by foam during the foam injection. (3) The dual-core flooding experiments verified that the fractional flow of the high-permeability core severely decreased due to the blockage of foam. The incremental oil recovery of the low-permeability core was 27.1% when the permeability ratio was 5. It increased to 40% when the permeability ratio was increased to 10. (4) Our work indicates that temperature-resistant CO2 foam could be a good candidate for profile control during CO2 flooding in the target reservoir.
Effect of Beam Power on Intermetallic Compound Formation of Electron Beam-Welded Cu and Al6082-T6 Dissimilar Joints
Authors: Kaisheva Darina , Kotlarski Georgi , Ormanova Maria , Stoyanov Borislav , Dunchev Vladimir , Anchev Angel , Valkov Stefan
Published: January 2025

In this work, electron beam welds between Cu and Al plates were formed using different power modes, namely 1800 W, 2400 W, and 3000 W. The structure, microhardness, and tensile strength of the raw materials and the weld seams were studied. The low power of the electron beam resulted in the improper penetration and insufficient depth of the weld seam. The low power resulted in high cooling rates, which hindered the nucleation of the copper and aluminum particles. A number of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) were formed, including the metastable Cu9Al4 one. An increase in the power of the electron beam reduced the cooling rate and increased the miscibility between the materials. This resulted in the formation of a mostly homogeneous structure comprising an αAl solid solution and dendritic eutectic CuAl2 intermetallic compounds. A preferred crystallographic orientation of the aluminum phase was detected regarding the sample prepared using a power of 3000 W, forming a specific texture towards the {111} family of crystallographic planes, which is the closest-packed structure. This plane characterizes the highest chemical activity and the highest plasticity. As a result, this sample exhibited the best chemical bonding between the IMCs and the aluminum matrix and the best microhardness and tensile test values.
Environmental Impact Assessment—Exploring New Frontiers
Authors: Pinheiro Manuel Duarte
Published: January 2025

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) legislation is a critical component of the decision-making process of projects with potential effects (i [...]
Optimizing Logistics in Forestry Supply Chains: A Vehicle Routing Problem Based on Carbon Emission Reduction
Authors: Sun Guohua , Li Tingting
Published: January 2025

A vehicle routing problem in timber logistics incorporating a comprehensive carbon emission reduction strategy is proposed. Carbon emission reduction based on an optimization model is established to minimize the total transportation cost while reducing carbon emissions and empty-loading mileage. To solve the problem efficiently, a hybrid algorithm that combines a greedy algorithm with a genetic algorithm featuring adaptive and elimination mechanisms is developed. The hybrid algorithm is featured with adaptive crossover and mutation probabilities and eliminates unsuitable individuals with elimination mechanisms, which improves the searching efficiency and quality of the optimal solution. Numerical experiments are conducted to verify the feasibility of the proposed methods. The results demonstrate that the hybrid algorithm reduces the total mileage travelled by 17.26% and the carbon emissions during empty-loading by about 38.71%. Based on the optimization results, it is concluded that reasonable route planning can provide a solid support to improve the economics, timeliness, and environmental sustainability of the timber logistics, which is conducive to realizing a sustainable forestry supply chain.
Cache Aging with Learning (CAL): A Freshness-Based Data Caching Method for Information-Centric Networking on the Internet of Things (IoT)
Authors: Hazrati Nemat , Pirahesh Sajjad , Arasteh Bahman , Sefati Seyed Salar , Fratu Octavian , Halunga Simona
Published: January 2025

Information-centric networking (ICN) changes the way data are accessed by focusing on the content rather than the location of devices. In this model, each piece of data has a unique name, making it accessible directly by name. This approach suits the Internet of Things (IoT), where data generation and real-time processing are fundamental. Traditional host-based communication methods are less efficient for the IoT, making ICN a better fit. A key advantage of ICN is in-network caching, which temporarily stores data across various points in the network. This caching improves data access speed, minimizes retrieval time, and reduces overall network traffic by making frequently accessed data readily available. However, IoT systems involve constantly updating data, which requires managing data freshness while also ensuring their validity and processing accuracy. The interactions with cached data, such as updates, validations, and replacements, are crucial in optimizing system performance. This research introduces an ICN-IoT method to manage and process data freshness in ICN for the IoT. It optimizes network traffic by sharing only the most current and valid data, reducing unnecessary transfers. Routers in this model calculate data freshness, assess its validity, and perform cache updates based on these metrics. Simulation results across four models show that this method enhances cache hit ratios, reduces traffic load, and improves retrieval delays, outperforming similar methods. The proposed method uses an artificial neural network to make predictions. These predictions closely match the actual values, with a low error margin of 0.0121. This precision highlights its effectiveness in maintaining data currentness and validity while reducing network overhead.
Are Chemicals a Useful Tool for Glass Eel Traceability?
Authors: Reis Pedro , Fernandes Mafalda , Pereira Luís , Antunes Carlos
Published: January 2025

According to European reports, the population of Anguilla anguilla has declined to unsafe biological limits in most areas and current fisheries are unsustainable. Indeed, the European eel has been listed as a critically endangered species since the 1970s and has been on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 2010. Glass eel fisheries in Europe are very limited, but illegal catches and international parallel trade are major threats to eel stocks due to their high commercial value. The main hypothesis of this study is that glass eels from each estuary have unique chemical profiles according to the ecological quality of the habitat. These unique chemical fingerprints were assessed using Chemical Integrating Approaches (CIA) based on multi-element (macro, trace and ultra-trace metals), global metabolome and stable isotope analyses. Thus, CIA are intended to be an effective chemical “weapon” to (i) fingerprint wild glass eels; (ii) fingerprint captive glass eels; (iii) authenticate and trace glass eels; and (iv) combat the illegal trade in juvenile European eels. The results of this study showed that Zn and Ni can fingerprint the chemical profiles of wild and captive glass eels and their geographical origin. In the same vein, metabolomes such as Butyric acid 4-vinylphenyl ester, N-(3-carboxypropanoyl)-Met, 2-(4-Methylphenyl)acetamide, N-formyl-glutamic acid, 3-Hydroxy-2-(3-methylbutanoylamino)propanoic acid, 4-Dodecylbenzenesulfonic Acid, Arginine and Pyrazole and the stable isotope 15N show potential as a chemical tools for glass eel traceability.
Numerical Simulation of First-Order Surface Reaction in Open Cavity Using Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Quintero-Castañeda Cristian Yoel , Sierra-Carrillo María Margarita , Villegas-Andrade Arturo I. , Burgos-Vergara Javier
Published: January 2025

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is a finite element and finite volume method for studying the reaction rate, mass diffusion and concentration of species. We are used the LBM to investigate the effect of the Damköhler number (Da) and Reynolds number (Re) on the laminar flow in a channel with an open square cavity and a reactive bottom wall in two dimensions in a first-order chemical reaction. The reactant A is transported through the cavity, where it undergoes a reaction on the reactive surface, resulting in the synthesis of product B. The effect of Da < 1 on the reaction rate is negligible for all investigated Re values; the generation of product B is slower because of the effect of the momentum diffusivity on the velocity inside the cavity. For Re = 5 and 1 < Da ≤ 100, the concentration of B inside the cavity reaches the maximum for Da = 100, and A is absorbed almost entirely on the bottom of the cavity. In our simulations, we observed that for all values of Re and Da > 100, the effect of the momentum diffusivity is negligible in the cavity, and the reaction on the surface is almost instantaneous.
Goat’s Milk Powder Enriched with Red (Lycium barbarum L.) and Black (Lycium ruthenicum Murray) Goji Berry Extracts: Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant Properties, and Prebiotic Activity
Authors: Milinčić Danijel D. , Kostić Aleksandar Ž. , Lević Steva , Gašić Uroš M. , Božić Dragana D. , Suručić Relja , Ilić Tijana D. , Nedović Viktor A. , Vidović Bojana B. , Pešić Mirjana B.
Published: January 2025

The current trend in food innovations includes developing products containing plant ingredients or extracts rich in bioactive compounds. This study aimed to prepare and characterize skimmed thermally treated goat’s milk powders enriched with lyophilized fruit extracts of Lycium ruthenicum Murray (GMLR) and Lycium barbarum L. (GMLB). Proximate analysis, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy using attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR), and electrophoretic analysis were assessed. Total phenolic content (TPC), total protein content, and antioxidant properties of enriched goat milk powders were determined spectrophotometrically, and prebiotic potential was evaluated by the broth microdilution method. A total of 25 phenolic compounds and 18 phenylamides were detected in the enriched goat milk powders. Electrophoretic analysis showed the absence of proteolysis in the prepared powders. The GMLR showed the highest TPC and displayed a ferric ion-reducing power, probably contributed by anthocyanins and some phenylamides. GMLR and GMLB had higher ABTS radical scavenging activity but lower ferrous ion-chelating capacity than control goat′s milk powder. GMLB and GMLR in a dose-dependent manner (0.3–5 mg/mL) showed a growth-promoting effect on probiotic strains. In summary, prepared goji/goat milk powders, primarily GMLR, might be used as prebiotic supplements or functional food additives.
AcOTApks Gene-Based Molecular Tools to Improve Quantitative Detection of the Mycotoxigenic Fungus Aspergillus carbonarius
Authors: Agnusdei Angelo , De Miccolis Angelini Rita Milvia , Faretra Francesco , Pollastro Stefania , Gerin Donato
Published: January 2025

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin, a common contaminant of grapes and their derivatives, such as wine, and classified as possible human carcinogen (group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Aspergillus carbonarius is the main producer of OTA in grapes. The stability of the molecule and the poor availability of detoxification systems makes the control of A. carbonarius in vineyards the main strategy used to reduce OTA contamination risk. Several molecular methods are available for A. carbonarius detection, but the correlation between the abundance of fungal population and OTA contamination needs to be improved. This study aimed at the development of innovative quantitative PCR (qPCR) and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) tools to quantify the mycotoxigenic fractions of A. carbonarius strains on grapes, based on the key gene AcOTApks in the pathway of OTA biosynthesis. Different primers/probe sets were assessed, based on their specificity and sensitivity. This method allowed to quantify up to 100 fg∙µL−1 [cycle of quantification (Cq) = 37] and 10 fg∙µL−1 (0.38 copies∙µL−1) of genomic DNA (gDNA) from A. carbonarius mycelium in qPCR and ddPCR, respectively. The sensitivity as to artificially contaminated must samples was up to 100 conidia (Cq = 38) and 1 conidium (0.13 copies∙µL−1) with qPCR and ddPCR, respectively. Finally, the methods were validated on naturally infected must samples, and the quantification of the fungus was in both cases highly correlated (r = +0.8) with OTA concentrations in the samples. The results showed that both analytical methods can be suitable for improving the sustainable management of OTA contamination in grapes and their derivatives.
The Impact of Polymerized Whey Protein on the Microstructure, Probiotic Survivability, and Sensory Properties of Hemp Extract-Infused Goat Milk Yogurt
Authors: Shi Hao , Freeman Kalev , Kawka Eric , McHenry Monique , Guo Mingruo
Published: January 2025

Goat milk yogurt infused with hemp extract (HE) is a novel dairy product; however, the unpleasant flavors from hemp terpenes and goat milk may impact its acceptance and popularity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of polymerized whey protein (PWP) on mitigating the hempy flavor of HE-infused goat milk yogurt and its impact on the physicochemical properties, microstructure, and probiotic survivability. Goat milk yogurt samples were infused with either nothing (plain flavor), HE, HE plus whey protein isolate, or HE plus PWP. Compared with plain goat milk yogurt, the addition of PWP in HE goat milk yogurt greatly improved the viscosity. The sensory evaluation results (N = 19) indicated that PWP significantly improved the consistency and decreased the hempy flavor of HE goat milk yogurt, although there was no difference in consumer acceptance. The microstructure analysis revealed that adding PWP formed a compact gel network compared to the irregular open protein matrixes in other groups. In conclusion, PWP not only improved the consistency of goat milk yogurt but was also useful in mitigating the hempy flavors of HE-infused goat milk.
Effects of Luteolin Treatment on Postharvest Quality and Antioxidant Capacity of Nanfeng Tangerines
Authors: Dong Wenjuan , Wang Xiaohan , Xiang Miaolian , Chen Jinyin , Zeng Jiaoke , Chen Ming
Published: January 2025

Postharvest quality deterioration is a major factor affecting the economic value and marketing of Nanfeng tangerines. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of luteolin treatment on the postharvest quality and antioxidant capacity of Nanfeng tangerines. We applied 1 g/L and 3 g/L luteolin to fruit after harvest and evaluated the decay rate, postharvest quality, and antioxidant capacity during a 60-day storage period at room temperature. The results indicated that, compared to untreated fruit, Nanfeng tangerines treated with 3 g/L luteolin exhibited enhanced appearance and flavor quality, as well as delayed disease incidence, during room-temperature storage. Additionally, flavor quality analysis revealed that luteolin treatment maintained high levels of titratable acid (TA) by delaying the degradation of organic acids such as citric, tartaric, succinic, ascorbic, and oxalic acids. Furthermore, luteolin treatment inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 accumulation by enhancing the content of total phenols and flavonoids content, augmenting antioxidant enzyme activities (peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), and elevating the overall antioxidant capacity measured through the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging rate. Collectively, these results demonstrate that luteolin has potential as a preservative for promoting postharvest quality and antioxidant capacity. Additionally, our findings elucidate the mechanisms by which plant-derived flavonoids contribute to the preservation of freshness.
Considerations for the Successful Detection and Quantification of Genetically Modified Events in Grain and Food Samples Using Multiplex Digital PCR
Authors: Demeke Tigst
Published: January 2025

The number of genetically modified (GMO) events for canola, corn, and soybean is steadily increasing. Some countries, including those in the EU, have regulatory requirements for the approval and use of plant ingredients containing GMOs. Multiplex digital PCR (dPCR) has been used for the simultaneous detection and quantification of various GMO events. This review covers the various factors to consider for multiplex digital PCR detection and the quantification of GMO events. DNA quality, quantity, and the presence of inhibitors are important factors to consider. Some dPCR instruments allow the use of multiple fluorescent dyes, which facilitates the setup of multiplex dPCR assays. This review focuses on the optimization of multiplex dPCR and describes the multiplex dPCR assays that have been reported for GMO detection.
Residue Analysis and Dietary Risk Assessment of 10 Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Oenanthe javanica from Hainan Province of China
Authors: Tang Shusheng , Zeng Zikang , Kang Rui , Wei Ying , Tan Gaohao , Chen Minni , Wang Bin , Tang Zhuhua
Published: January 2025

In this study, residues of 10 neonicotinoid insecticides were tested with 143 fresh samples of Oenanthe javanica using the QuEChERS method combined with UPLC-MS/MS. Based on the residue results, the point estimation method was used to assess dietary risks for adults and children, and the cumulative risk was assessed according to the hazard index (HI) and relative potency factor (RPF) methods. The results showed that 71 out of 143 samples of fresh Oenanthe javanica sold in Hainan tested positive for neonicotinoid insecticides, with a detection rate of 49.65%. Six neonicotinoid insecticides were detected and their detection frequencies are as follows: imidacloprid (44.76%), acetamiprid (16.08%), clothianidin (13.29%), dinotefuran (4.90%), thiamethoxam (3.50%) and flonicamid (3.50%). The most frequently co-detected combination was imidacloprid and acetamiprid, with a detection rate of 29.58%. The results of acute and chronic dietary risks showed that all the obtained values of %ADI (acceptable daily intake) and %ARfD (acute reference dose) are far below 100%, so the risks of the six detected neonicotinoid insecticides are acceptable for various population groups. Meanwhile, the results of the cumulative risk showed that all the obtained values of the hazard index and the corrected total exposure concentration are far lower than the health guidelines, indicating that the residue levels of neonicotinoid insecticides in fresh Oenanthe javanica are acceptable. However, it is notable that its acute risk is higher than its chronic risk, and the dietary risk for children is higher than adults. These findings will provide a theoretical basis and objective data for supporting the revision of MRLs for Oenanthe javanica, as well as valuable guidance for the production, consumption, regulation and standardization of Oenanthe javanica sold in Hainan.
Recent Advances of Tannase: Production, Characterization, Purification, and Application in the Tea Industry
Authors: Tang Zhanhui , Shi Liyu , Liang Shuang , Yin Junfeng , Dong Wenjiang , Zou Chun , Xu Yongquan
Published: January 2025

Tannase, as a type of tannin−degrading enzyme, can catalyze the hydrolysis of ester and depside bonds in gallotannins, thereby releasing gallic acid and glucose. Based on this reaction mechanism, Tannase can effectively improve the problems of bitter taste, weak aroma, and tea cheese in tea infusion, and is therefore widely used in the tea industry. However, due to high production costs, difficulties in purification and recovery, and insufficient understanding of Tannase properties, the large−scale application of Tannase is severely limited. Therefore, the sources of Tannase and the effects of fermentation temperature, pH, stirring speed, time, carbon, and nitrogen sources on the preparation of Tannase are described in this study. The advantages and disadvantages of various methods for measuring Tannase activity and their enzymatic characterization are summarized, and the concentration and purification methods of Tannase are emphasized. Finally, the application of Tannase to reduce the formation of tea precipitate, enhance antioxidant capacity, increase the extraction rate of active ingredients, and improve the flavor of the tea infusion is described. This study systematically reviews the production, characterization, purification, and application of Tannase to provide a reference for further research and application of Tannase.
Effect of Fortification with High-Milk-Protein Preparations on Yogurt Quality
Authors: Żulewska Justyna , Baranowska Maria , Bielecka Marika Magdalena , Dąbrowska Aneta Zofia , Tarapata Justyna , Kiełczewska Katarzyna , Łobacz Adriana
Published: January 2025

Protein-enriched yogurts have become increasingly popular among consumers seeking to boost their daily protein intake. The incorporation of milk proteins and protein preparations in yogurt production not only enhances nutritional value but also improves texture, viscosity, and overall sensory properties—key factors that influence consumer acceptance. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of casein and whey protein preparations on the physicochemical properties, viability of lactic acid bacteria, and sensory attributes of yogurts. Yogurts were enriched with 2% (w/w) protein preparations, including micellar casein preparation (CN85), whey protein isolate (WPI), whey protein concentrate (WPC60), and protein preparations obtained from skim milk by membrane filtration: micellar casein concentrate (CN75) and serum protein concentrate (SPC). The yogurts were produced using the thermostatic method, and their chemical composition, rheological properties, syneresis, firmness, lactic acid bacteria population, and sensory attributes were evaluated. The effects of high-protein preparations derived from skim milk through laboratory-scale membrane filtration processes (SPC, CN75) were compared with those of commercially available protein preparations (SMP, CN85, WPI, and WPC). Obtained results demonstrated that the membrane filtration-derived preparations (SPC and CN75) exhibited advantageous physicochemical properties and supported robust viability of yogurt and probiotic bacteria. However, their sensory quality was marginally inferior compared to the commercial preparations (SMP, CN85, WPI, and WPC). These findings indicate the potential applicability of membrane filtration-derived protein preparations in yogurt production while underscoring the necessity for further investigation to enhance and optimize their sensory characteristics.
Preparation and Mechanism Analysis of Boiling Resistance of the Fresh Alum-Free Sweet Potato Vermicelli Containing Gliadin Fractions
Authors: Liu Tingting , Men Zhifang , Lai Changjiangsheng , Lian Xijun
Published: January 2025

Alum, an essential additive in sweet potato vermicelli (SPV) production, is harmful to health. To eliminate the harm to the human body caused by alum in sweet potato vermicelli, and considering the different viscous properties of gliadin fractions, an experiment was performed to replace alum with gliadin fractions to enhance the boiling resistance of SPV in this study. The results showed that the longest boiling-resistant time of fresh SPV extended to 34.31 min when swelling the dough binder at 50 °C for 5 h, adding a 2% complex of ω-gliadin + αβγ-gliadin at a ratio of 1:1, and mixing at 70 °C for 20 min. The result was 95.7% higher than in the control. Starch swelling and freeze–thaw processes could partially replace the role of alum in preparing SPV. The results of FTIR and 13C solid-state NMR showed that the esterification reaction of ω-gliadin and αβγ-gliadin and hydrogen bonds between sweet potato starch and gliadin fractions reinforced the boiling resistance of vermicelli. There was no ordered area of starch in the new water-resistant vermicular. The gliadin fractions formed crystal with a diffraction angle of 17.38° (3.25 Å). Long-term cold storage could improve the boiling resistance of fresh sweet potato vermicelli. Additionally, the short-term retrogradation of sweet potato amylose significantly reduces its boiling resistance. The study provides new primary data and theoretical support for the industrial application of alum-free fresh sweet potato vermicelli.