bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Online Autonomous Motion Control of Communication-Relay UAV with Channel Prediction in Dynamic Urban Environments
Authors: Tao Cancan , Liu Bowen
Published: December 2024

In order to improve the network performance of multi-unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) systems in urban environments, this article proposes a novel online autonomous motion-control method for the relay UAV. The problem is solved by jointly considering unknown RF channel parameters, unknown multi-agent mobility, the impact of the environments on channel characteristics, and the unavailable angle-of-arrival (AoA) information of the received signal, making the solution of the problem more practical and comprehensive. The method mainly consists of two parts: wireless channel parameter estimation and optimal relay position search. Considering that in practical applications, the radio frequency (RF) channel parameters in complex urban environments are difficult to obtain in advance and are constantly changing, an estimation algorithm based on Gaussian process learning is proposed for online evaluation of the wireless channel parameters near the current position of the UAV; for the optimal relay position search problem, in order to improve the real-time performance of the method, a line search algorithm and a general gradient-based algorithm are proposed, which are used for point-to-point communication and multi-node communication scenarios, respectively, reducing the two-dimensional search to a one-dimensional search, and the stability proof and convergence conditions of the algorithm are given. Comparative experiments and simulation results under different scenarios show that the proposed motion-control method can drive the UAV to reach or track the optimal relay position and improve the network performance, while demonstrating that it is beneficial to consider the impact of the environments on the channel characteristics.
A Novel Video Compression Approach Based on Two-Stage Learning
Authors: Shao Dan , Wang Ning , Chen Pu , Liu Yu , Lin Lin
Published: December 2024

In recent years, the rapid growth of video data posed challenges for storage and transmission. Video compression techniques provided a viable solution to this problem. In this study, we proposed a bidirectional coding video compression model named DeepBiVC, which was based on two-stage learning. Firstly, we conducted preprocessing on the video data by segmenting the video flow into groups of continuous image frames, with each group comprising five frames. Then, in the first stage, we developed an image compression module based on an invertible neural network (INN) model to compress the first and last frames of each group. In the second stage, we designed a video compression module that compressed the intermediate frames using bidirectional optical flow estimation. Experimental results indicated that DeepBiVC outperformed other state-of-the-art video compression methods regarding PSNR and MS-SSIM metrics. Specifically, on the VUG dataset at bpp = 0.3, DeepBiVC achieved a PSNR of 37.16 and an MS-SSIM of 0.98.
Physical Literacy of Physical Education Teachers and the Application of Physical Literacy Components During Physical Education Classes
Authors: Rutkauskaite Renata , Baravykiene Julita , Maciuleviciene Edita , Sukys Saulius
Published: December 2024

This study emphasizes the importance of a teacher’s adaptability in conveying knowledge and the varied interpretations of exercises among educators. While there is an evident difference in how physical education (PE) is approached, the common thread is the motivation and involvement of students. Promoting physical activity and forming associated habits at school has a major impact on a person’s entire life. Students should learn these skills through PE classes led by physically literate teachers. The aim of this study was to determine PE teachers’ physical literacy (PL), their understanding of the concept of PL, and the application of its components in PE classes. In the first phase of the research questionnaire survey of 81 PE teachers, the aim was to determine their physical literacy. In the second phase, observations were conducted to assess which components of PL teachers use during PE classes. In the third phase, a group interview was conducted to determine the opinions of PE teachers on the components of PL and its application. Teachers with a normal BMI and teaching higher grade students (p < 0.05) had significantly higher PL scores than those with a BMI that was too high (p < 0.05). Additionally, correlation analysis (r = −0.247, p < 0.05) showed that as BMI decreased, the PL score increased. Only two aspects of PL are developed during PE classes—competence and motivation. Very little or no elements of knowledge and understanding of physical activities and associated health benefits, and ways to reduce sedentary time and promote daily habits were observed. PE teachers’ interviews revealed that they recognized PL as a holistic concept for the development of a person’s physical abilities and knowledge. PE specialists also suggested teaching methods that could be applied outside of classes and acknowledged shared problems that reduce students’ motivation to move and how to address them. This study highlights the complexity of the concept of PL and reveals many areas for future research: searching for a universal assessment of PL and focusing on the concept of promoting new, creative, less linear ways of assessing and teaching PL.
Creative Writing: Story-Based Learning in Public and Private High School for Exploration of Written Text
Authors: Ramírez Nali Borrego , Ruiz Cansino Marcia L. , Anaya Campos Cipatli , Borrego Gómez Daniel D. , Garza Vázquez Luis H.
Published: December 2024

Case study to investigate whether creative writing through story-based learning in public and private secondary schools can account for performance in readability, purpose, word/sentence relationships, vocabulary diversity, correct use of punctuation marks and proper use of spelling rules. The exclusion criteria, applied only to public and private secondary school students, first, second and third periods. The sampling is convenient as the participants were selected from accessible educational institutions. This is a cross-sectional study of descriptive qualitative cut in which the coding of linguistic patterns and dominant themes is used. When triangulated with statistical results it was found that despite the variability in the results there was a production of original narratives, which corroborates the theories about the relationship between creativity and divergent thinking. It is confirmed that ABH is an active methodology based on the emotional link with creative writing from which components of the structure and creation of the narrative are derived, and it was found that most of the students are in a zone of proximal development, i.e., they are ready to learn with the help of a tutor or more advanced partner.
Cognitive Profile Discrepancy as a Possible Predictor of Emotion Dysregulation in a Clinical Sample of Female Adolescents with Suicidal Behavior
Authors: Furente Flora , Annecchini Federica , Matera Emilia , Serafino Sabrina , Frigeri Giorgia , Gabellone Alessandra , Margari Lucia , Petruzzelli Maria Giuseppina
Published: December 2024

Emotional dysregulation (ED) has not yet been defined as a clinical entity, although it plays an important role in child and adolescent psychopathology. It is a transdiagnostic construct defined as the inability to regulate the intensity and quality of emotions to produce an appropriate emotional response, to cope with excitability, mood instability, and emotional over-reactivity. The aim of this study is to assess, in a sample of female patients with internalizing disorders and suicidal behavior, the correlation between cognitive profile (assessed with Wechsler Scales) and the dimensions of emotion regulation assessed with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). We also investigated whether a discrepancy between the General Ability Index (GAI) and the Cognitive Proficiency Index (CPI) could have predictive value for certain ED domains. Our results confirmed a statistically significant prediction of the ΔGAI-CPI for individual DERS domains and for the total (p = 0.014 for DERS-TOT, p = 0.04 for GOALS, p = 0.002 for STRATEGIES and p = 0.015 for CLARITY); furthermore, IAG and PRI correlate with worse ability to find ER strategies (p = 0.04, p = 0.010). These results suggest the importance of examining the impact of cognitive vulnerabilities on the ability to manage emotions and psychopathology in general, even with normal FSIQ/GAI.
Underwater Image Enhancement Based on Difference Convolution and Gaussian Degradation URanker Loss Fine-Tuning
Authors: Cao Jiangzhong , Zeng Zekai , Lao Hanqiang , Zhang Huan
Published: December 2024

Underwater images often suffer from degradation such as color distortion and blurring due to light absorption and scattering. It is essential to utilize underwater image enhancement (UIE) methods to acquire high-quality images. Convolutional networks are commonly used for UIE tasks, but their learning capacity is still underexplored. In this paper, a UIE network based on difference convolution is proposed. Difference convolution enables the model to better capture image gradients and edge information, thereby enhancing the network’s generalization capability. To further improve performance, attention-based fusion and normalization modules are incorporated into the model. Additionally, to mitigate the impact of the absence of authentic reference images in datasets, a URanker loss module based on Gaussian degradation is proposed during the fine-tuning. The input images are subjected to Gaussian degradation, and the image quality assessment model URanker is utilized to predict the scores of the enhanced images before and after degradation. The model is further fine-tuned using the score difference between the two. Extensive experimental results validate the outstanding performance of the proposed method in UIE tasks.
BMFusion: Bridging the Gap Between Dark and Bright in Infrared-Visible Imaging Fusion
Authors: Liu Chengwen , Liao Bin , Chang Zhuoyue
Published: December 2024

The fusion of infrared and visible light images is a crucial technology for enhancing visual perception in complex environments. It plays a pivotal role in improving visual perception and subsequent performance in advanced visual tasks. However, due to the significant degradation of visible light image quality in low-light or nighttime scenes, most existing fusion methods often struggle to obtain sufficient texture details and salient features when processing such scenes. This can lead to a decrease in fusion quality. To address this issue, this article proposes a new image fusion method called BMFusion. Its aim is to significantly improve the quality of fused images in low-light or nighttime scenes and generate high-quality fused images around the clock. This article first designs a brightness attention module composed of brightness attention units. It extracts multimodal features by combining the SimAm attention mechanism with a Transformer architecture. Effective enhancement of brightness and features has been achieved, with gradual brightness attention performed during feature extraction. Secondly, a complementary fusion module was designed. This module deeply fuses infrared and visible light features to ensure the complementarity and enhancement of each modal feature during the fusion process, minimizing information loss to the greatest extent possible. In addition, a feature reconstruction network combining CLIP-guided semantic vectors and neighborhood attention enhancement was proposed in the feature reconstruction stage. It uses the KAN module to perform channel adaptive optimization on the reconstruction process, ensuring semantic consistency and detail integrity of the fused image during the reconstruction phase. The experimental results on a large number of public datasets demonstrate that the BMFusion method can generate fusion images with higher visual quality and richer details in night and low-light environments compared with various existing state-of-the-art (SOTA) algorithms. At the same time, the fusion image can significantly improve the performance of advanced visual tasks. This shows the great potential and application prospect of this method in the field of multimodal image fusion.
From Aggregate Production Planning to Aggregate Energy Industrial Consumption Plans
Authors: Leseure Michel
Published: December 2024

The increasing use of renewable energy sources in national electricity networks is challenging because of intermittence, i.e., the fact that the availability of the fuel (e.g., solar irradiance, wind) is volatile. This is a new challenge for the energy sector that has led to much research about energy storage. In the manufacturing sector, dealing with the volatility of demand is not a new problem and is addressed by the application of aggregate production planning techniques. Solving an aggregate production planning problem is about finding the best trade-off because capacity and inventory utilization. This paper explores the application of this technique to energy management problems and explains how it can be used as a complementary solution to energy storage, showing how industrial entities can play an active role in greening the electricity sector, solely through a different planning of their inventory levels.
Biomass Briquetting Technology for Sustainable Energy Solutions: Innovations in Forest Biomass Utilization
Authors: Roman Kamil , Grzegorzewska Emilia
Published: December 2024

This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the use of logging residues in manufacturing briquettes, and to demonstrate their potential as a renewable energy source. Technical aspects of briquetting are examined, including wood properties, particle size, moisture content, and process temperature. Forest residues, such as branches and treetops, have a high energy potential with calorific values reaching up to 20 MJ∙kg−1 after briquetting. Densifying these residues increases their energy density (achieving up to 1120 kg∙m−3) and reduces waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Briquetting processes were analyzed economically and environmentally, with studies showing that production costs can be reduced by 25% when using locally sourced residues. This review recommends optimizing production processes to improve briquette durability and quality. Future research directions focused on developing cost-effective briquetting technologies tailored for small- and medium-sized businesses are identified in the study. Rural and economically disadvantaged regions could benefit from these advancements in briquetting. This paper advocates improved collaboration with international organizations to standardize briquette quality, promoting market acceptance and trade. Technology such as briquetting has the potential to advance renewable energy systems and achieve global climate goals.
An Overview of Power System Flexibility: High Renewable Energy Penetration Scenarios
Authors: Rahman Md Motinur , Dadon Saikot Hossain , He Miao , Giesselmann Michael , Hasan Md Mahmudul
Published: December 2024

Power system flexibility is becoming increasingly critical in modern power systems due to the quick switch from fossil fuel-based power generation to renewables, old-fashioned infrastructures, and a sharp rise in demand. If a power system complies with financial restrictions and responds quickly to unforeseen shifts in supply and demand, it can be considered flexible. It can ramp up production during periods of high demand or increase it during unanticipated or scheduled events. The broad use of renewable energy in the power grid can provide environmental and economic benefits; nevertheless, renewables are highly stochastic in nature, with variability and uncertainty. New management with adequate planning and operation in the power system is necessary to address the challenges incorporated with the penetration of renewable energy. The primary aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of power system flexibility, including appropriate definitions, parameters, requirements, resources, and future planning, in a compact way. Moreover, this paper potentially addresses the effects of various renewable penetrations on power system flexibility and how to overcome them. It also presents an emerging assessment and planning of influential flexibility solutions in modern power systems. This review’s scientific and engineering insights provide a clear vision of a smart, flexible power system with promised research direction and advancement.
Development of a Method for Evaluating the Influence of Building Facade Form on Its Potential for Solar Radiation Acquisition
Authors: Hao Shangkai , Liu Yu , Yang Xiaojing , Song Jie
Published: December 2024

Studying the potential of buildings for utilizing solar radiation would be helpful to decrease the energy consumption of buildings. The solar radiation acquisition (SRA) potential of building facades can be used to characterize the building’s SRA potential. A review of the existing literature shows that few performance indicators have been established to specifically evaluate and guide the design of the building facade form from the perspective of SRA potential. This study explores how to evaluate the form of building facades to affect their SRA potential. Two new indicators (ρ value—the surface density of solar radiation received by the facades—and α value—the correction coefficient for receiving solar radiation in the concave part of the facade) and one new path were constructed to evaluate the SRA potential of building facades. It was found that the ρ values can reflect the upper limit of solar radiation in the region itself and serve as a basis for measuring the building’s SRA potential in the region. It is only related to the shapes of buildings and not to their sizes, and the larger the ρ value of a building, the stronger its facade’s potential to receive solar radiation. The α values can intuitively show the discount of the SRA potential when adding a concave part into the architectural design. At the same time, the extent of the discount due to the elements of the concave part can be elucidated, which can help minimize the loss of solar radiation when designing the concave part in the architectural design process. It is only related to the shapes of building plans (which directly relate to the building facade) but not their sizes. The larger the α value of the concave part of the building facade, the stronger its potential to receive solar radiation. The method for identifying the proper range of ρ values and calculating the standard ρ values was proposed and utilized in Lanzhou city as an example. It reveals that, for Lanzhou city, the maximum ρ value (ρmax) is 670.98 kwh/m2 and the average value of ρ value (ρave) is 592.47 kwh, which reflect the basic situation of buildings’ SRA potentials in this city. For the concave parts of the triangular facades in this specific region, the concave offset has almost no effect on their α value. When the concave part of the building facade is triangular, the further south the concave part (rectangular is up to 30° southwest), the smaller the CCS, the higher the concave HWR, the larger the correction coefficient, and the greater the SRA potential of the buildings’ facades.
A New Approach for Measuring and Comparing the Energy Performances in Hydraulic Systems
Authors: Costa Gustavo Koury , Sepehri Nariman
Published: December 2024

The need for “green” energy management has sparked discussions on developing hydraulically actuated systems that are more efficient, consume less power, and are consequently more environmentally friendly. Numerous scientific papers and extensive research have been dedicated to this important topic. However, due to the variety of designs and different modes of operation, there is still no unified method to compare different systems with respect to energy management. In fact, terms such as “efficiency” and “energy regeneration” are often loosely defined and need to be revisited periodically. In this paper, we propose a new, physically meaningful indicator called the “Cyclic Performance Ratio” to measure the energy performance of hydraulic circuits. The goal is to establish a universal method that can be reliably used to compare industrial hydraulically actuated machines with respect to their energy efficiencies. Specifically, we aim to (a) precisely define the three possible modes of operation of hydraulic circuits, (b) establish the correct conditions under which the usual definition of efficiency can be applied in hydraulic circuits, (c) demonstrate that the current concept of efficiency cannot be used for operations where load energy is recovered, and (d) argue that the newly defined performance indicator correctly accounts for energy load recovery. Some examples are provided to show how the new indicator can be used with confidence in various applications.
Impact of Shading Effect from Nearby Buildings on Energy Demand and Load Calculations for Historic City Centres in Central Europe
Authors: Sadłowska-Sałęga Agnieszka , Wąs Krzysztof
Published: December 2024

EU legislation requires introducing a variety of measures to reduce energy consumption. Energy use decrease should be achieved through thermal retrofitting of the least energy-efficient buildings. In the case of cities like Kraków, this means the need to modernize (retrofitting as well as the incorporation of modern HVAC systems) historical buildings. Furthermore, urban morphology is an influencing factor with regards to the energy performance of buildings and therefore of cities (since the influence of shading from nearby buildings cannot be ignored). The paper presents the results of a study on the impact of shading on energy demand for heating and cooling in the historic centre of Krakow. A comparative analysis of the simulation calculation results was performed using the statistical climate as a boundary condition. In the case of a typical five-floor residential tenement house from the turn of the 20th century, an 8% increase in energy demand for heating and a 50% reduction in energy demand for cooling were estimated. As the analysis of the results shows, taking into account the shading from nearby buildings may be crucial for optimizing the volume (power of devices, diameters of ducts and pipes) of the HVAC installation.
Healthy Aging in Place with the Aid of Smart Technologies: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hu Ming , Han Soojin , Ghorbany Siavash , Zhang Kai
Published: December 2024

This study evaluates the current scope of smart technology applications that support aging in place and identifies potential avenues for future research. The global demographic shift towards an aging population has intensified interest in technologies that enable older adults to maintain independence and quality of life within their homes. We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature from Web of Science, PubMed, and ProQuest, identifying 44 smart technologies across 32 publications. These technologies were classified into three categories: nonmobile technologies for individual monitoring, nonmobile technologies for home environment monitoring, and wearable technologies for health and activity tracking. Notably, the research in this area has grown significantly since 2018; yet, notable gaps persist, particularly within the traditional disciplines related to aging and in the use of quantitative methodologies. This emerging field presents substantial opportunities for interdisciplinary research and methodological advancement, highlighting the need for well-developed research strategies to support the effective integration of smart technology in aging in place.
The Consequences of a Lack of Basic Sanitation in the Municipality of Maricá (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Resulting in Low Concentrations of Metals but Dissemination of Endocrine Disruptors Through Local Environments: Subsidies for Local Environmental Management
Authors: Gil Moisés L. , da Fonseca Estefan M. , Pierri Bruno S. , Delgado Jéssica de F. , Lima Leonardo da S. , da Cunha Danieli L. , Corrêa Thulio R. , Neves Charles V. , Bila Daniele M.
Published: December 2024

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are emerging pollutants that can potentially accumulate in aquatic ecosystems at significant levels, with the potential to impact the health of both animals and humans. Many scientists have correlated human exposure to high concentrations of EDCs with critical physiological impacts, including infertility, thyroid imbalance, early sexual development, endometriosis, diabetes, and obesity. Several substances, such as heavy metals, belong to this family, ranging from natural to synthetic compounds, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and plastic-derived compounds. Domestic sewage represents a significant source of EDCs in the surrounding aquatic ecosystems. To this day, most rural and urban domestic wastewater in the municipality of Maricá is directly discharged into local aquatic environments without any treatment. The present study aimed to assess the potential contamination of the riverine and lagoonal environment in the municipality of Maricá. Water and sediment samples were collected seasonally at 18 sites along the Maricá watershed and the main lagoon, into which most of the watershed’s contributors flow. Water physico-chemical parameters (pH, reduction–oxidation potential—Eh, dissolved oxygen levels, salinity, turbidity, temperature, and fecal coliforms) were analyzed to characterize the urban influence on the aquatic environment. Sediment samples were also analyzed for grain size, total organic carbon percentage, potential bioavailable fraction of trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni, Zn), and metalloid As. Finally, the sediment toxicity was assessed using yeast estrogen screen (YES) assays. The results obtained already demonstrate the presence of estrogenic effects and raise concerns about water quality. The current study indicates that, despite the absence of agricultural and industrial activities in the city of Maricá, EDCs are already present and have the potential to impact the local ecosystem, posing potential risks to human health.
The Interplay Between Vitamin D Deficiency, Iron Status, and Anemia Risk in Moroccan Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Zouine Noura , Lhilali Ilham , Godderis Lode , El Midaoui Adil , El Jaafari Samir , Filali-Zegzouti Younes
Published: December 2024

Background: Vitamin D and iron deficiencies are prevalent among Moroccan women of reproductive age (WRA). Research suggests that Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) may impair iron bioavailability, potentially leading to iron deficiency (ID) and anemia. Objectives: This study investigates associations between vitamin D status, iron levels, and anemia risk in WRA, aged 18–49, from Meknes, Morocco. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 463 participants, measuring serum 25(OH)D, blood count parameters, iron, ferritin, C-reactive protein, and creatinine. Lifestyle factors, including dietary intake, sun exposure, and physical activity, were assessed through validated questionnaires, and anthropometric data were collected. Linear and logistic regression models analyzed associations, while ROC analysis evaluated VDD’s predictive accuracy for ID and anemia. Results: VDD (25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL) was significantly associated with reduced hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, and ferritin (all p < 0.01), indicating vitamin D’s role in erythropoiesis and iron storage. Multivariate logistic regression showed that VDD increased the risk of anemia (OR: 7.17, 95% CI: 3.19–19.28, p < 0.001), ID (OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.32–3.77, p = 0.007), and IDA (OR: 4.10, 95% CI: 1.73–12.08, p = 0.004). Dietary iron intake was inadequate, showing minimal protective effects against anemia and ID (β(SE): −0.08(0.03), p = 0.030 and β(SE): −0.05(0.02), p = 0.037). Conclusions: VDD is a significant risk factor for impaired iron status and anemia in Moroccan WRA, highlighting the need for targeted nutritional interventions and further research.
Epidemiology of Bovine Neosporosis in Relation to Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Transmissibility Factors in Dual-Purpose Production Systems in Colombia
Authors: Murcia-Mono Cesar A. , Falla-Tapias Sergio , Cabrera-Ospina Britney K. , Vargas-Domínguez Jahir O. , Burgos-Paz William O.
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Bovine neosporosis represents a significant threat to reproduction and production in livestock systems worldwide. This disease is caused by the protozoan Neospora caninum, resulting in abortions of cows and neurological signs in newborn calves. This leads to significant economic losses, decreasing meat and milk production, especially in tropical regions. The infection has an endogenous and exogenous cycle of transmission involving dogs that shed the oocysts, with the highest transmission successes in humid areas. Similarly, there is a lack of knowledge about the epidemiological risk factors and management practices involved in the transmission success in tropical humid regions. Methods: In this sense, a cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted on 150 farms from 24 municipalities of the Huila area. A total of 360 cattle were sampled, and information about the production system was collected using a structured poll with 128 questions. Results: In these cattle, 53% (191/360) were positive for antibodies against Neospora caninum using ELISA. The logistic regression analysis using the information collected from the poll identified the presence of flooring type, water access, production systems, and feed management as risk factors. Among the protective factors were identified the geographical area, molasses supplementation, and biosecurity practices such as animal separation and access control. Discussion: This study identified for the first time the epidemiological risk factors associated mainly with the exogenous cycle of neosporosis. The present study contributes to the design of intervention strategies oriented to minimize the impact of parasitism in Colombian herds.
Dispersion of Boletus-Type Spores Within and Beyond Beech Forest
Authors: Wójcik-Kanach Magdalena , Kasprzyk Idalia
Published: December 2024

Basidiomycetes produce huge numbers of spores that can disperse over various distances. High spore concentrations are typically observed near the fruiting bodies, with their abundance in the air influenced by the specific habitat in which the fungi grow. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of airborne Boletus-type spores in a forest environment and evaluate the thesis that their dispersion beyond the forest is limited. Fungal spores were sampled in the summer and fall of 2022 in the forest, at its edge, and 1500 m away from the forest. The highest spore concentration was recorded in the forest interior, where approximately 76% of the total spores were detected. A noticeable decline in spore concentrations was observed at the forest edge, with a further significant reduction in open areas, including arable fields and mosaics of crops and heterogeneous plots, where spore presence accounted for only 12.1% of the total. During mushroom picking, airborne Boletus-type spores in the forest were unexpectedly high, so they could pose a threat to sensitized people.
Characteristics of Solid Fuel from Carbonized Surface Pellets Using Food Waste Digestion Sludge and Unused Forest Biomass: A Case Study in South Korea
Authors: Ahn Kwang-Ho , Lee Ye-Eun , Jeong Yoonah , Jung Jinhong , Kim I-Tae
Published: December 2024

The promulgation of the Biogas Act in South Korea has increased the number of organic waste treatment facilities and the amount of food waste digestion sludge (FWDS), a byproduct of the biogas process. FWDS recovery involves various challenges, which leads to the accumulation or improper disposal of sludge. Hence, FWDS needs to be treated in environmentally sound and safe ways. In this study, anaerobic digestion sludges were mixed with unused forest biomass to produce fuel. The results showed that pellets produced via mixing of FWDS with unused forest biomass had improved durability, bulk density, and fine particle performance compared to surface-carbonized wood pellets. Carbonized pellets manufactured with 30% FWDS had a moisture content of 11.746% and met all biosolid waste fuel (SRF) standards, except for moisture content. Carbonized pellets prepared with 15% FWDS met the L2 wood pellet standards for ash content (less than 3.0%) and bulk density (greater than 550 kg/m3), as well as all other standard values in both the industrial wood pellet quality standards and bio-SRF criteria. This study confirmed the potential and suitability of digestion sludge and unused forest biomass for fuel utilization by addressing their respective limitations.
Effects of Substituting Fishmeal (FM) Diet with a Diet of FM Plus Soy Protein Concentrate (SPC) Supplemented with Essential Amino Acids on the Growth and Gonadal Development of the Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)
Authors: Lee Sang Hyun , Sim Yu Jin , Park Jong-Won , Jeong Minhwan , Kim Julan , Jeong Seong-Mok , Lee Dain , Kim Hyun Chul
Published: December 2024

Numerous studies have explored alternative protein sources to fishmeal (FM) to enhance fish diets, yet limited research exists on their effects on maturation. This study assessed the impact of replacing FM with soy protein concentrate (SPC) supplemented with lysine and methionine on growth and gonadal development in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Three diets were tested: a control (Con) diet with 60% FM and two diets replacing FM with 25% (LF1) and 50% (LF2) SPC. Fish were fed to apparent satiation twice daily for 12 months. Growth performance and feed intake were not significantly different between groups. However, the gonadosomatic index varied with diet. Muscle composition and amino acid levels were similar across treatments, though n-3 fatty acids were higher in Con. Spermatogonia was increased, and spermatogenesis was impaired in SPC groups. At 12 months, oocytes in Con diets had absorbed yolk globules, whereas this was absent in SPC groups. Growth-related genes in the brain (growth hormones and insulin-like growth factor) were increased with higher SPC, while follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones decreased. Estrogen receptor α levels were elevated in SPC groups. Vitellogenin gene expression in gonads was highest in Con, while liver expression peaked in LF2. The expression of digestive enzymes, chymotrypsin2, and trypsin2 was highest in LF2, while lipase genes were lower. In summary, up to 50% FM replacement with SPC, with amino acid supplementation, supported growth performance and muscle composition without adverse effects on growth in olive flounder but influenced gonadal development.
Formation and Characterization of Mycelium–Potato Protein Hybrid Materials for Application in Meat Analogs or Substitutes
Authors: Santhapur Ramdattu , Jayakumar Disha , McClements David Julian
Published: December 2024

There is increasing interest in the development of meat analogs due to growing concerns about the environmental, ethical, and health impacts of livestock production and consumption. Among non-meat protein sources, mycoproteins derived from fungal fermentation are emerging as promising meat alternatives because of their natural fibrous structure, high nutritional content, and low environmental impact. However, their poor gelling properties limit their application in creating meat analogs. This study investigated the potential of creating meat analogs by combining mycoprotein (MCP), a mycelium-based protein, with potato protein (PP), a plant-based protein, to create hybrid products with meat-like structures and textures. The PP-MCP composites were evaluated for their physicochemical, rheological, textural, and microstructural properties using electrophoresis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic shear rheology, texture profile analysis, confocal fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy analyses. The PP-MCP hybrid gels were stronger and had more fibrous structures than simple PP gels, which was mainly attributed to the presence of hyphae fibers in mycelia. Dynamic shear rheology showed that the PP-MCP hybrids formed irreversible heat-set gels with a setting temperature of around 70 °C during heating, which was attributed to the unfolding and aggregation of the potato proteins. Confocal and electron microscopy analyses showed that the hybrid gels contained a network of mycelia fibers embedded within a potato protein matrix. The hardness of the PP-MCP composites could be increased by raising the potato protein content. These findings suggest that PP-MCP composites may be useful for the development of meat analogs with more meat-like structures and textures.
Changes in Functional Properties and In Vitro Digestibility of Black Tartary Buckwheat Starch by Autoclaving Combination with Pullulanase Treatment
Authors: Zheng Faying , Nie Fuxin , Qiu Ye , Xing Yage , Xu Qinglian , Chen Jianxiong , Zhang Ping , Liu Hong
Published: December 2024

The processing properties of resistant starch (RS) and its digestion remain unclear, despite the widespread use of autoclaving combined with debranching in its preparation. In this study, the physicochemical, rheological and digestibility properties of autoclaving modified starch (ACB), autoclaving–pullulanase modified starch (ACPB) and native black Tartary buckwheat starch (NB) were compared and investigated. The molecular weight and polydispersity index of modified starch was in the range of 0.15 × 104~1.90 × 104 KDa and 1.88~2.82, respectively. In addition, the SEM results showed that both modifications influenced the morphological characteristics of the NB particles, and their particles tended to be larger in size. Autoclaving and its combination with pullulanase significantly increased the short-range ordered degree, resistant starch yield and water- and oil-absorption capacities, and decreased the syneresis properties with repeated freezing/thawing cycles. Moreover, rheological analysis showed that both ACB and ACPB exhibited shear-thinning behavior and lower gel elasticity as revealed by the power law model and steady-state scan. The degradation of starch chains weakened the interaction of starch molecular chains and thus changed the gel network structure. The in vitro digestion experiments demonstrated that ACB and ACPB exhibited greater resistance to enzymatic digestion compared to the control, NB. Notably, the addition of pullulanase inhibited the hydrolysis of the ACB samples, and ACPB showed greater resistance against enzymatic hydrolysis. This study reveals the effects of autoclaving combined with debranching on the processing properties and functional characteristics of black Tartary buckwheat starch.
Advanced Extraction Techniques for Bioactive Compounds from Berry Fruits: Enhancing Functional Food Applications
Authors: Krakowska-Sieprawska Aneta , Walczak-Skierska Justyna , Pomastowski Paweł , Sobolewska Róża , Głogowski Jarosław , Bernat Cezary , Rafińska Katarzyna
Published: December 2024

The modern functional food market is developing dynamically, responding to the growing demand for products combining nutritional and health-promoting values. At the center of this evolution are natural bio-organic extracts, rich in bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamins, which can enrich traditional food products, including fruit juices, increasing their health-promoting values. The aim of the research was to compare the efficiency of extraction of bioactive compounds from various forms of plant raw material (dried, freeze-dried, frozen material) using innovative techniques: supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). The research showed that the ASE method demonstrated higher extraction efficiency, in some cases exceeding 40%, whereas SFE exhibited superior selectivity, achieving higher carotenoid contents (105.59 mg/100 g in sea buckthorn powder) and antioxidant activity (234.67 µmol TEAC/g in black elderberry fruit). The use of advanced extraction techniques is a modern approach to juice production, in line with current trends in functional food and healthy eating, which can contribute to the prevention of lifestyle diseases.
Facile Hydrothermal Assisted Basic Catalyzed Sol Gel Synthesis for Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle from Alkali Silicate Solutions Using Dual Structural Templates
Authors: AlMohaimadi Khaled M. , Albishri Hassan M. , Thumayri Khaled A. , AlSuhaimi Awadh O. , Mehdar Yassin T. H. , Hussein Belal H. M.
Published: December 2024

This work presents a novel hydrothermally aided sol-gel method for preparation of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with a narrow particle size distribution and varied pore sizes. The method was carried out in alkaline media in presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) as dual templates and permitted the synthesis of spherical mesoporous silica with a high surface area (1011.42 m2/g). The MSN materials were characterized by FTIR, Thermogravimetric (TG), Nitrogen adsorption and desorption and Field emission scanning electron microscopic analysis (FESEM). The materials feasibility as solid phase adsorbent has been demonstrated using cationic dyes; Rhodamine B (RB) and methylene blue (MB) as models. Due to the large surface area and variable pore width, the adsorption behaviors toward cationic dyes showed outstanding removal efficiency and a rapid sorption rate. The adsorption isotherms of RB and MB were well-fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich models, while the kinetic behaviours adhered closely to the pseudo-second-order pattern. The maximum adsorption capacities were determined to be 256 mg/g for MB and 110.3 mg/g for RB. The findings suggest that MSNs hold significant potential as solid-phase nanosorbents for the extraction and purification of dye pollutants, particularly in the analysis and treatment of effluents containing cationic dyes.
Better Quality of Life in Physically Active Adults Regardless of Age
Authors: Dąbrowska-Galas Magdalena , Onik Grzegorz , Rutkowska Magdalena , Nowakowska Iwona
Published: December 2024

Quality of life (QOL) has become an important public health issue. Adults presenting better QOL have shown reduced mortality and risk of chronic diseases and better mental health. Regular physical activity (PA) is consistently associated with a number of health benefits in older adults, including betted QOL, which is a key component of healthy aging. The purpose of the study was to examine how physical activity level and age influenced QOL in adults. Material and Methods: A total of 378 adults from Poland participated in the study (mean age of 57.89 ± 12.54). Respondents completed questionnaires to measure QOL (WHOQOL-BREF) and physical activity level (International Physical Activity Questionnaire—short form). Linear regression analysis was used to examine the effect of age and PA on QOL. Results: Weekly energy expenditure associated with recreational physical activity was correlated with better QOL in all domains: physical (R = 0.5, p < 0.001), physiological (R = 0.4, p < 0.001), social (R = 0.3, p < 0.001) and environmental (R = 0.39, p < 0.001). Increases in PA level predicted increases in the physiological domain (β = 0.41, SE = 0.05, p < 0.001), social domain (β = 0.34, SE = 0.05, p < 0.001) and environmental domain (β = 0.39, SE = 0.05, p < 0.001). In the physical domain, increases in both physical activity level (β = 0.41, SE = 0.04, p < 0.001) and age (β = 0.31, SE = 0.04, p < 0.001) predicted better QOL. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the potential benefits of physical activity on QOL regardless of age. Although aging is combined with various age-related diseases, quality of life improves with age in physically active adults.
Development of Communication Skills Training for Oncology Clinicians to Promote Inclusion of the Family Members of LGBTQ+ People with Cancer
Authors: Rosa William E. , Kastrinos Amanda , Banerjee Smita C. , Acquaviva Kimberly , Alexander Koshy , McDarby Meghan , Behrens Mia , Parker Patricia A.
Published: December 2024

Background: LGBTQ+ persons with cancer and their families consistently face discriminatory care. In addition, clinicians report inadequate population-specific knowledge and communication skills to effectively promote LGBTQ+ inclusion. To fill this gap, we designed a communication skills training based on extant literature; multidisciplinary perspectives; and patient, family, and clinician expert engagement. Methods: Training content comprised didactic information, including exemplar videos of communication strategies, and experiential learning roleplay opportunities with standardized patient and family member actors. Two training sessions were conducted virtually with invited multidisciplinary clinicians using convenience sampling. Each training was followed by a one-hour, semi-structured focus group to solicit feedback on participants’ experiences and recommendations for improvement. Focus group transcripts were thematically analyzed using a constant comparative approach. Results: Two major themes were identified: key takeaways from the training and recommendations for improvement. Participants reported favorable learning experiences and believed the training would have a positive influence on future clinical interactions. We synthesized recommendations into five discrete pieces of feedback related to (1) the advanced level of training material; (2) diversity throughout the training; (3) complexity of family dynamics; and (4) recovery from communication mistakes; and (5) additional topics for future training. Based on feedback, corresponding changes for each item and a refined communication skills blueprint are provided. Conclusions: Our innovative training on inclusive cancer care for LGBTQ+ patients’ families will provide both knowledge-based and experiential learning opportunities to advance clinicians’ confidence in communicating empathically with members of diverse sexual orientation and gender identities. The training is poised for feasibility and efficacy testing.
A Novel Methodology for Evaluating Authenticity Perceptions in Andalusian Paradores Through Machine Learning
Authors: Calderón-Fajardo Víctor , Puig-Cabrera Miguel , Miguel-Fernández Víctor , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Ignacio
Published: December 2024

This study emphasises the pivotal role of emotions and cultural backgrounds in shaping tourists’ perceptions of authenticity within Andalusian Paradores. By employing an innovative machine learning method to analyse an extensive database of User-Generated Content, this research study reveals that certain emotions significantly diminish perceived authenticity. It also demonstrates that cultural and gender differences markedly influence authenticity perceptions. Notably, domestic tourists apply more stringent criteria for authenticity compared with international visitors, who may rely on idealised representations of Spanish culture. SHAP analysis further elucidates the contribution of various characteristics to authenticity perceptions, highlighting the predominance of emotional responses over demographic factors. These insights provide valuable guidance for tourism managers seeking to enhance visitor satisfaction. The findings advocate for the development of nuanced marketing strategies that cater to both international and domestic tourists, thereby fostering deeper engagement with cultural heritage and supporting the long-term sustainability of Andalusian Paradores.