bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Convolutional Neural Network Approach for Estimation of Li-Ion Battery State of Health from Charge Profiles
Authors: Chemali Ephrem , Kollmeyer Phillip J. , Preindl Matthias , Fahmy Youssef , Emadi Ali
Published: February 2022

Intelligent and pragmatic state-of-health (SOH) estimation is critical for the safe and reliable operation of Li-ion batteries, which recently have become ubiquitous for applications such as electrified vehicles, smart grids, smartphones, as well as manned and unmanned aerial vehicles. This paper introduces a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based framework for directly estimating SOH from voltage, current, and temperature measured while the battery is charging. The CNN is trained with data from as many as 28 cells, which were aged at two temperatures using randomized usage profiles. CNNs with between 1 and 6 layers and between 32 and 256 neurons were investigated, and the training data was augmented with noise and error as well to improve accuracy. Importantly, the algorithm was validated for partial charges, as would be common for many applications. Full charges starting between 0 and 95% SOC as well as for multiple ranges ending at less than 100% SOC were tested. The proposed CNN SOH estimation framework achieved a mean average error (MAE) as low as 0.8% over the life of the battery, and still achieved a reasonable MAE of 1.6% when a very small charge window of 85% to 97% SOC was used. While the CNN algorithm is shown to estimate SOH very accurately with partial charge data and two temperatures, further studies could also investigate a wider temperature range and multiple different charge currents or constant power charging.
Numerical Simulation Analysis of Heating Effect of Downhole Methane Catalytic Combustion Heater under High Pressure
Authors: Wang Yiwei , Wang Yuan , Deng Sunhua , Li Qiang , Gu Jingjing , Shui Haoche , Guo Wei
Published: February 2022

The hot exhaust gas generated by a downhole combustion heater directly heats the formation, which can avoid the heat loss caused by the injection of high-temperature fluid on the ground. However, if the temperature of the exhaust gas is too high, it may lead to the carbonization of organic matter in the formation, which is not conducive to oil production. This paper proposes the use of low-temperature catalytic combustion of a mixture of methane and air to produce a suitable exhaust gas temperature. The simulation studies the influence of different parameters on the catalytic combustion characteristics of methane and the influence of downhole high-pressure conditions. The results show that under high-pressure conditions, using a smaller concentration of methane (4%) for catalytic combustion can obtain a higher conversion efficiency (88.75%), and the exhaust temperature is 1097 K. It is found that the high-pressure conditions in the well can promote the catalytic combustion process of the heater, which proves the feasibility of the downhole combustion heater for in situ heating of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs.
Roof Hydraulic Fracturing for Preventing Floor Water Inrush under Multi Aquifers and Mining Disturbance: A Case Study
Authors: Wang Pengpeng , Jiang Yaodong , Ren Qingshan
Published: February 2022

Water inrush disasters from the coal seam floor occur frequently due to the high water pressure of the Ordovician limestone aquifer, multiple aquifers and strong mining disturbance. We presented a model of water-resisting key strata (WRKS) to investigate the mechanism of floor water inrush from multiple aquifers in deep coal mines. Roof hydraulic fracturing (RHF) for controlling floor water inrush and multi-parameter monitoring were proposed and validated in the Xingdong coal mine in Xingtai, Hebei Province. The results indicated that the periodic weighting step of the test working face after RHF was 9.53 m, which was 61.42% less than that of the working face without RHF (24.7 m). The floor failure depth was 30 m, which was 34.4% less than that of the zones without RHF (45.7 m). Hydraulic fracturing weakened the strength of the overlying strata to control the weighting step and reduce the mining disturbance stress, and the stability of the floor WRKS was enhanced, thereby preventing water inrush from the coal seam floor. The research results provide a solution for preventing floor damage and floor water inrush under strong mining disturbance and in complex hydrogeological environments in deep mining.
The Stack Effect on the Thermal-Fluid Behaviour of a Solar Collector
Authors: Dhaundiyal Alok , Gebremicheal Gedion Habtay
Published: February 2022

The article investigates the thermal behaviour of a solar collector retrofitted with a natural draught unit. The objective of this work is to draw a comparative line between a system that is equipped with a circular vertical channel and the conventional one. The effectiveness of the solar heating system and how to further improve the prevailing system are examined in this study. The flat plate solar collector was used to assess the dynamics of the system. The Hottel–Whillier–Bliss equation was used to obtain the useful heat gain rate. The instantaneous collector efficiency was reduced by 22.84%. The net heat loss encountered with natural draught was augmented by 10.89%. The net pressure drop along the length of the collector was increased when a solar collector related to the circular chimney. The stagnant temperature of the collector with the natural draught was decreased by 3.20%. The heat loss to the surrounding was computed to be 33.94% of the net energy received by a solar collector connected with the circular stack. The Fanning friction factor for airflow was reduced in the system equipped with natural draught. The static pressure was marginally dropped at the inlet, whereas it was steeply increased at the outlet of the solar collector. The static pressure would be the same for both systems at collector length l = 0.84 m. The inference can be deducted from the comparative analysis that the air stream flow behind the collector plate and could provide better prospects for a collector unit equipped with natural draught at the exhaust end of the solar dryer.
Aligned Ti3C2TX Aerogel with High Rate Performance, Power Density and Sub-Zero-Temperature Stability
Authors: Lu Xinchao , Yang Huachao , Bo Zheng , Gong Biyao , Cao Mengyu , Chen Xia , Wu Erka , Yan Jianhua , Cen Kefa , Ostrikov Kostya (Ken)
Published: February 2022

Ti3C2Tx-based aerogels have attracted widespread attention for three-dimensional porous structures, which are promising to realize high-rate energy storage. However, disordered Ti3C2Tx aerogels with highly tortuous porosity fabricated by conventional unidirectional freeze-casting substantially increase ion diffusion lengths and hinder electrolyte ions transport. Herein we demonstrate a new bidirectional ice-templated approach to synthesize porous ordered Ti3C2Tx aerogel with straight and aligned channels, straight and short ion diffusion pathways, leading to better ion accessibility. The aligned Ti3C2Tx aerogel exhibits the high specific capacitance of 345 F g−1 at 20 mV s−1 and rate capability of 52.2% from 10 to 5000 mV s−1. The specific capacitance is insensitive of mass loadings even at 10 mg cm−2 and an excellent power density of 137.3 mW cm–2 is obtained in symmetric supercapacitors. The electrochemical properties of Ti3C2Tx aerogel supercapacitors at sub-zero (to −30 °C) temperatures are reported for the first time. The aligned Ti3C2Tx aerogel delivers temperature-independent rate performance and high capacitance retention (73% at 50 mV s−1 from 25 to −30 °C) due to the unique structure with metallic conductivity.
Graphene-Based Phase Change Composite Nano-Materials for Thermal Storage Applications
Authors: Tselepi Marina , Prouskas Costas , Papageorgiou Dimitrios G. , Lagaris Isaac. E. , Evangelakis Georgios A.
Published: February 2022

We report results concerning the functionalization of graphene-based nanoplatelets for improving the thermal energy storage capacity of commonly used phase change materials (PCMs). The goal of this study was to enhance the low thermal conductivity of the PCMs, while preserving their specific and latent heats. We focused on wax-based PCMs, and we tested several types of graphene nanoparticles (GNPs) at a set of different concentrations. Both the size and shape of the GNPs were found to be important factors affecting the PCM’s thermal properties. These were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry measurements and a modified enthalpy-based water bath method. We found that a small addition of GNPs (1% weight) with high aspect ratio is sufficient to double the thermal conductivity of several widely used PCMs. Our results suggest a simple and efficient procedure for improving the thermal properties of PCMs used in thermal energy storage applications.
The Socio-Economic Impact of Using Photovoltaic (PV) Energy for High-Efficiency Irrigation Systems: A Case Study
Authors: Raza Faakhar , Tamoor Muhammad , Miran Sajjad , Arif Waseem , Kiren Tayybah , Amjad Waseem , Hussain Muhammad Imtiaz , Lee Gwi-Hyun
Published: February 2022

This paper presents the results of a field study undertaken all over the Punjab, Pakistan, to evaluate the socio-economic and climatic impact of photovoltaic-operated high-efficiency irrigation systems (HEIS), i.e., drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Nearly half of the rural population relies on agriculture for a living, and the recent energy crisis has had a negative impact on rural communities. Farmers’ reliance on fossil fuels for the operation of irrigation systems has increased exponentially, resulting in the high costs of agricultural production. Primary data regarding on-farm agriculture and irrigation practices used in this study were collected through an intensive on-farm survey, while secondary data were taken from published reports and statistics. The results of the current investigation show that the installation of PV systems has resulted in the increased adoption of high-efficiency irrigation systems, a reduction in the high operational costs incurred on account of old diesel-powered pumping systems (with an annual saving of 6.6 million liters of diesel), a 100% increase in farmer’s income, a reduction of 17,622 tons of CO2 emissions per annum, and 41% savings in water. The unit cost of PV-powered HEIS was found to be 0.1219 USD/kWh, which was 4% and 66% less than subsidized electricity cost and diesel cost, respectively.
Dynamic Characteristics of a Traction Drive System in High-Speed Train Based on Electromechanical Coupling Modeling under Variable Conditions
Authors: Zhang Ka , Yang Jianwei , Liu Changdong , Wang Jinhai , Yao Dechen
Published: February 2022

The traction drive system of a high-speed train has a vital role in the safe and efficient operation of the train. This paper established an electromechanical coupling model of a high-speed train. The model considers the interaction of the gear pair, the equivalent connecting device of the transmission system, the equivalent circuit of the traction motor, and the direct torque control strategy. Moreover, the numerical simulation of the high-speed train model includes constant speed, traction, and braking conditions. The results indicate that the meshing frequency and the high harmonics rotation frequency constitute the stator current. Furthermore, both frequencies are evident during constant speed. However, they are blurry among other conditions except for twice the rotation frequency. Meanwhile, the rotor and stator currents’ root-mean-square (RMS) values during traction are less than the RMS value during braking. The initiation of traction and braking causes a significant increase in current. During the traction and braking process, the RMS value of the current gradually decreases. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the impact of the transition process on system reliability.
An Engine Fault Detection Method Based on the Deep Echo State Network and Improved Multi-Verse Optimizer
Authors: Li Xin , Bi Fengrong , Zhang Lipeng , Yang Xiao , Zhang Guichang
Published: February 2022

This paper aims to develop an efficient pattern recognition method for engine fault end-to-end detection based on the echo state network (ESN) and multi-verse optimizer (MVO). Bispectrum is employed to transform the one-dimensional time-dependent vibration signal into a two-dimensional matrix with more impact features. A sparse input weight-generating algorithm is designed for the ESN. Furthermore, a deep ESN model is built by fusing fixed convolution kernels and an autoencoder (AE). A novel traveling distance rate (TDR) and collapse mechanism are studied to optimize the local search of the MVO and speed it up. The improved MVO is employed to optimize the hyper-parameters of the deep ESN for the two-dimensional matrix recognition. The experiment result shows that the proposed method can obtain a recognition rate of 93.10% in complex engine faults. Compared with traditional deep belief networks (DBNs), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), the long short-term memory (LSTM) network, and the gated recurrent unit (GRU), this novel method displays superior performance and could benefit the fault end-to-end detection of rotating machinery.
Piecewise Causality Study between Power Load and Vibration in Hydro-Turbine Generator Unit for a Low-Carbon Era
Authors: Duan Lianda , Wang Dekuan , Wang Guiping , Han Changlin , Zhang Weijun , Liu Xiaobo , Wang Cong , Che Zheng , Chen Chang
Published: February 2022

With the rapid development of wind and photovoltaic power generation, hydro-turbine generator units have to operate in a challenging way, resulting in obvious vibration problems. Because of the significant impact of vibration on safety and economical operation, it is of great significance to study the causal relationship between vibration and other variables. The complexity of the hydro-turbine generator unit makes it difficult to analyze the causality of the mechanism. This paper studied the correlation based on a data-driven method, then transformed the correlation into causality based on the mechanism. In terms of correlation, traditional research only judges whether there is a correlation between all data. When the data with correlation are interfered with by the data without correlation, the traditional methods cannot accurately identify the correlation. A piecewise correlation method based on change point detection was proposed to fill this research gap. The proposed method segmented time series pairs, then analyzed the correlation between subsequences. The causality between power load and vibration of a hydro-turbine generator unit was further analyzed. It indicated that when the power load is less than 200 MW, the causality is weak, and when the power load is greater than 375 MW, the causality is strong. The results show that the causality between vibration and power load is not fixed but piecewise. Furthermore, the piecewise correlation method compensated for the limitation of high variance of the maximum information coefficient.
A Review of the External and Internal Residual Exhaust Gas in the Internal Combustion Engine
Authors: Khoa Nguyen Xuan , Lim Ocktaeck
Published: February 2022

Efficiency and emission reduction are the primary targets of internal combustion engine research due the large number of vehicles in operation and the impact of emissions-related pollution on human and ecosystem health. Harmful components of engine exhaust gases include nitrous oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. NOx emissions in particular are associated with significant health threats. The recirculation of exhaust gases can reduce NOx emissions and improve engine efficiency when combined with other advanced techniques. On the other hand, the residual exhaust gas also effects on the quality of lubricating engine oil and therefore causes an increase in engine piston ring wear. In this review paper, the effects of external and internal exhaust gas recirculation on the performance and emission characteristics of diesel, gasoline, and alternative fuel engines are summarized and discussed in detail. Because it is difficult to estimate the internal residual exhaust gas in the combustion engine by doing experiments. This review paper introduces control strategies and prediction methods for internal and external exhaust gas recirculation.
Monitoring the Sediment Surface Elevation Change across a Chronosequence of Restored Stands of Tropical Mangroves and Their Contemporary Carbon Sequestration in Soil Pool
Authors: Castillo Jose Alan , MacKenzie Richard , Manahan John Rommel , Castillo Judith
Published: February 2022

Over the past 30 years, 30–40% of the world’s mangroves have been lost and continue to be lost to deforestation. In recent years, mangrove rehabilitation projects have increased, replacing once natural and diverse mangrove forests with monotypic stands (e.g., Rhizophora mucronata). However, the vulnerability to sea level rise of these artificial stands and their effectiveness at providing ecosystem services is unclear. To address these gaps, we compared the rate of sediment surface elevation change and contemporary soil C sequestration across three differently aged mangrove plantations (5, 10, 25 years) in relation to a natural mangrove forest in Quezon province, Philippines using rod surface elevation tables (rSETs) and soil C analyses. Over a 3-year period, we found that the elevation of the 5-year-old plantation had the highest rate (6.12 mm year−1), followed by 10-year-old (1.70 mm year−1) and 25-year-old (0.16 mm year−1) plantations, while the natural stand had a decreasing rate (−1.9 mm year−1). In addition, the mean soil carbon contemporary sequestration rate was 226, 123, and 8.9 g C m−2 year−1 for the 5-, 10-, and 25-year-old plantations. Old mangroves have bigger carbon stocks, whereas young mangrove plantations are more resilient to SLR and have higher contemporary carbon sequestration rates. Except for biomass and basal area, we found no correlation of the sediment elevation change and soil C sequestration rates with other stand variables. Apart from the 5-year-old plantations, the rates of sediment elevation change obtained are less than the global (3.2 mm year−1) and local (2–4 mm year−1) rates of sea level rise (SLR). These suggest that most of the forested coastal wetlands studied are not keeping pace with SLR and may potentially drown if there is no available land behind them to retreat. This also indicates that pro-active solutions such as strict protection must be made.
The Review of New Scientific Developments in Drilling in Wood-Based Panels with Particular Emphasis on the Latest Research Trends in Drill Condition Monitoring
Authors: Górski Jarosław
Published: February 2022

Drilling is still one of the basic cutting processes that are of particular interest to wood science and technology professionals. As a result, considerable (and very diverse thematically) research has been recently carried out on drilling. The article focuses on the new and quite spectacular approach to drill condition monitoring in wood-based panels machining. One of the most innovative elements in the analyzed research trend is the adoption of the new general methodological assumptions that allow one to define the drill condition monitoring problem as a standard three-class classification. The general effectiveness of the tested monitoring systems (accuracy of classification ACC [%]), ranged between 67% and 82%. The critical classification error (CCE [%]) ranged between 0% and 1.6%. These results seem very promising, yet are still not good enough to develop a commercial monitoring system. A more useful form of obtaining diagnostic data and more effective classification strategies (algorithms) are likely to be required.
The Past Matters: Previous Management Strategies Modulate Current Growth and Drought Responses of Norway Spruce (Picea abies H. Karst.)
Authors: Schmied Gerhard , Hilmers Torben , Uhl Enno , Pretzsch Hans
Published: February 2022

Due to high productivity and past management approaches, the forests of Central Europe are heavily dominated by conifers, even on sites where they do not occur naturally at all. One prominent example is Norway spruce (Picea abies H. Karst.), a species considered particularly vulnerable to severe droughts, especially outside of its ecological niche where it has been widely planted over the past centuries. In the face of global change, it is a major task for foresters to increase these forests’ ability to cope with the impacts of increasing climatic extremes. Therefore, gaining more knowledge about how different management strategies affect the drought responses of trees is crucial. However, we still know little about the influence of the individual treatment history of a tree on its growth. We used a dendroecological approach to address this issue and to assess how initial spacing, structural diversity, tree size, and density regulation approaches modulate annual growth, especially in drought years. We hypothesized that stand establishment and past silvicultural treatment codetermine tree growth and drought resilience. Our study took place at the combined spacing-thinning trial Fürstenfeldbruck 612 (FFB 612) in Southern Germany, since it delivered precise long-term data covering a broad range of treatments. Based on linear mixed effect models, we showed that the individual treatment history of a tree affects its annual growth and drought responses considerably. In more detail, we found that (i) high structural diversity in the vicinity of each tree favored growth and improved a tree’s performance under drought; (ii) larger trees were more climate-sensitive; (iii) previous high variations in thinning intensity, and consequently strong fluctuations in growth, affected current growth negatively and reduced recovery from droughts. Furthermore, we sought to understand the underlying mechanisms and to draw potential implications for refining silvicultural guidelines.
The New EU Forest Strategy for 2030: A New Understanding of Sustainable Forest Management?
Authors: Lier Markus , Köhl Michael , Korhonen Kari T. , Linser Stefanie , Prins Kit , Talarczyk Andrzej
Published: February 2022

Two decades after the pan-European set of indicators for sustainable forest management was adopted, the European Commission published the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030. We compared the documents on the basis of a content analysis to determine whether they share the same understanding of sustainable forest management. We looked at whether, and to what extent, the existing indicator set is fit for purpose to monitor progress towards the Strategy’s objectives, and the delivery of policy commitments. About two thirds of the identified objectives and commitments in the Strategy can be monitored at least partially by the pan-European set of indicators, whereas new indicators or approaches need to be developed for the remaining third. Several of the indicators are not linked to the Strategy, and some of them are only weakly linked to the policy issues addressed in the Strategy. Our comparison shows a few significant differences between the comprehensive vision of sustainable forest management formulated in the indicator set and the scope of the objectives and commitments in the Strategy. In particular, the forest policy concerns reflected in the Strategy address several issues which are not fully covered in the pan-European indicator set.
495-Year Wood Anatomical Record of Siberian Stone Pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) as Climatic Proxy on the Timberline
Authors: Zhirnova Dina F. , Belokopytova Liliana V. , Upadhyay Keshav K. , Tripathi Shri K. , Babushkina Elena A. , Vaganov Eugene A.
Published: February 2022

The application of quantitative wood anatomy (QWA) in dendroclimatic analysis offers deep insight into the climatic effect on tree-ring formation, which is crucial in understanding the forests’ response to climate change. However, interrelations between tree-ring traits should be accounted to separate climatic signals recorded during subsequent stages of cell differentiation. The study was conducted in the South Siberian alpine timberline on Pinus sibirica Du Tour, a species considered unpromising in dendroclimatology. Relationships between tree-ring width, cell number N, mean and maximum values of radial diameter D, and cell wall thickness (CWT) were quantified to obtain indexed anatomical chronologies. Exponential functions with saturation D(N) and CWT(N) were proposed, which explained 14–69% and 3–61% of their variability, respectively. Indexation unabated significance of the climatic signals but separated them within a season. Analysis of pointer years and climatic extremes revealed predominantly long-term climatogenic changes of P. sibirica radial growth and QWA and allowed to obtain QWA-based 11-year filtered reconstructions of vegetative season climatic characteristics (R2adj = 0.32–0.66). The revealed prevalence of low-frequency climatic reactions is probably explained by a strategy of slow accumulation and utilization of resources implemented by P. sibirica. It makes this species’ QWA a promising proxy for decadal climatic variations in various intra-seasonal timeframes.
Properties of Sweet Buttermilk Released from the Churning of Cream Separated from Sheep or Cow Milk or Sheep Cheese Whey: Effect of Heat Treatment and Storage of Cream
Authors: Sakkas Lambros , Evageliou Vasiliki , Igoumenidis Panagiotis E. , Moatsou Golfo
Published: February 2022

The objective of the study was to compare the buttermilk released from the churning of sweet cream separated from sheep milk (BSM) or whey (BSW) with the buttermilk from sweet cow milk cream (BCM). Additional experimental factors were the heat treatment (68 °C for 10 or 30 min) and storage of cream (refrigeration or freezing). The composition of BSM was the most advantageous in terms of non-fat solids, protein—which was the most abundant solid component—casein, calcium and phosphorus contents. No significant differences were observed in the phospholipids (PL) content of BSM, BCM and BSW. Antioxidant potential and emulsion stability (ES) of BSM were the highest. The radical scavenging activity (RSA) of BSW was high opposite to chelating activity (CA). Some functional properties of BSW were similar to those of BSM and BCM. The freezing of cream affected the churning, the fat content, the soluble nitrogenous fraction at pH 4.6 (WSN) and some functional properties of buttermilk, but not in a consistent manner. The properties of BSM were marginally affected or unaffected by the use of frozen cream. The freezing of whey cream caused significant changes (p < 0.05) in the protein profile and the functional behaviour of BSW. Cream heat treatment affected the WSN of BSW opposite to its sweet cream counterparts.
Pilot Study for the Dietary Assessment of Xenobiotics Derived from Food Processing in an Adult Spanish Sample
Authors: Zapico Aida , Ruiz-Saavedra Sergio , Gómez-Martín María , de los Reyes-Gavilán Clara G. , González Sonia
Published: February 2022

Background: Although xenobiotics from food processing have gained support as possible drivers of the relationship between diet and some types of cancer, there are still few studies characterizing the intake of these compounds among different populations. Aim: To describe the intake of heterocyclic amines (HAs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrates, nitrites, nitrosamines, and acrylamide; and to identify dietary and lifestyle related factors. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in 70 adult volunteers. Intake was registered by means of a food frequency questionnaire, including cooking methods, temperature, and degree of browning. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) and the Computerized Heterocyclic Amines Resource for Research in Epidemiology of Disease (CHARRED) databases were used for xenobiotic estimation in conjunction with data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Results: Dietary HAs (amino-alpha-carboline (AαC), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo (4,5,f) quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,8 dimethylimidazo (4,5,f) quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3,4,8 trime-thylimidazo (4,5,f) quinoxaline (DiMeIQx), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo (4,5,b) pyridine (PhIP)) were mainly derived from meat and meat products, while benzo (a) pyrene (B(a)P), dibenzo (a) anthracene (DiB(a)A), and total PAHs were explained by oils and fats, alcoholic beverages, and milk, respectively. Microwaved, fried, grilled, broiled, barbecued, and braised cooking methods were mainly responsible for HAs and PAHs consumption. Conclusion: Based on the wide presence and levels of intake of these compounds in different sources, more efforts should be made to adjust their intake to the levels recommended by health agencies.
Analysis and Comparison of Nutrition Profiles of Canine Milk with Bovine and Caprine Milk
Authors: Zhang Mengjie , Sun Xiaomeng , Cheng Jianjun , Guo Mingruo
Published: February 2022

Pet foods are gaining ground in China. Canine milk substitute formulations are based on their milk chemistry. This study aimed to analyze and compare the differences in proteins, fatty acids, minerals, and basic chemical composition between canine, bovine, and caprine milk. Canine milk contains higher contents of protein (6.62–17.34%), fat (8.92–14.31%), and ash (1.11–1.81%), and a lower content of lactose (1.56–3.92%) compared to bovine and caprine milk. The protein profiles of canine, bovine, and caprine milk were similar as confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis gel (SDS-PAGE). The quantification of proteins in canine, bovine, and caprine milk were significantly different when analyzed by inverse high-performance liquid chromatography. Canine milk showed higher contents of monounsaturated fatty acids (29.71–32.95% of total fatty acids) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (16.83–20.56% of total fatty acids), but a lower proportion of saturated fatty acids (47.57–53.18% of total fatty acids) than bovine and caprine milk. The essential fatty acids ARA and DHA were also found in canine milk in the ranges of 0.82–1.77% and 0.12–0.43% of total fatty acids, respectively. Canine milk had higher levels of Mg, K, Na, Fe, and Zn than those in bovine and caprine milk. The nutrient profile of canine milk was different from that of bovine and caprine milk. There were differences in nutritional compositions of the milk samples from four breeds, and Rottweiler milk had the highest nutritional content. The data of this study may provide useful information about the nutritional needs of puppies during their first months of life and the basic information for formulations of puppy milk substitutes.
Chemical Characterization of the Oil Separated by Mechanical Pressing from Strychnos madagascariensis Dried Fruit Pulp Flour
Authors: Chemane Sandra S. I. , Casal Susana , Cruz Rebeca , Pinho Teresa , Khan Maida , Pinho Olívia , Viegas Olga
Published: February 2022

In Mozambique, rural communities produce flours from the dried pulp of Strychnos madagascariensis fruits. Owing to its high lipid content, the oil from this flour is frequently separated by pressing to be used as seasoning and medicine. Aiming to characterize this oil, flour samples (n = 24), dried at two different temperatures (55 °C and 65 °C), were collected from four local communities, together with a control sample prepared in the lab (50 °C). The resulting oil was fluid at room temperature, deep orange, and characterized by a high content of oleic acid (62–63%), followed by palmitic (20%) and linoleic (7%). It contained considerable amounts of tocols (25–34 mg/100 g) and carotenoids (8–10 mg/100 g), as well as sterols (431 ± 10 mg/100 g) and triterpenic alcohols (823 ± 4 mg/100 g mg/100 g). The overall composition was highly consistent between origins and temperatures, with only small statistically significant differences (p < 0.05), mostly between the community dried flours and control group. However, its high free fatty acid content (22–25%) reveals intensive enzymatic hydrolysis during the drying/fermentation steps, whose extension can be reduced by optimizing its technological process. Its chemical profile supports some of its folklore uses, revealing that it can be a promising source of edible oil, with health and technological potential that is worth optimizing and exploring.
Characterization of the Reduced IgE Binding Capacity in Boiled and Autoclaved Soybeans through Proteomic Approaches
Authors: Pi Xiaowen , Sun Yuxue , Deng Xiaomin , Xin Dawei , Cheng Jianjun , Guo Mingruo
Published: February 2022

The study investigated the changes in IgE binding capacity, protein profiles and peptide compositions after soybeans were boiled and autoclaved. The results of ELISA showed that the IgE binding capacity of soybean was reduced by 69.3% and 88.9% after boiling and autoclaving, respectively. Above 43 and 10 kDa proteins disappeared in boiled and autoclaved soybeans from SDS-PAGE, respectively. A Venn diagram and heat map showed that there was no change in allergen types and a reduction in allergen contents in the boiled and autoclaved soybeans. The changes in peptide compositions were also observed in the boiled and autoclaved soybeans through Venn diagram, PCA and heat map. LC/MS-MS and peptide mapping analysis demonstrated that boiling and autoclaving masked many epitopes in Gly m 4 and Gly m 5, such as ALVTDADNVIPK, SVENVEGNGGPGTIKK and KITFLEDGETK of Gly m 4 and VEKEECEEGEIPRPRPRPQHPER of Gly m 5, resulting in a reduction of IgE binding capacity in the extracted proteins. By contrast, the exposure of many epitopes in Gly m 6 was observed in boiled and autoclaved soybeans, which might be mainly responsible for the existing IgE binding capacity in the treated soybean proteins. Interestingly, the IgE binding capacity of soybeans showed a positive correlation with the total contents and number of peptides in Gly m 4–Gly m 6.
Optimized Roasting Conditions of Germinated Wheat for a Novel Cereal Beverage and Its Sensory Properties
Authors: Aung Thinzar , Kim Bo Ram , Kim Mi Jeong
Published: February 2022

The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of using germinated wheat as a nutritionally improved novel cereal beverage. To enhance the health-related functionality of a germinated wheat beverage (GWB), the roasting time and temperature of germinated wheat were optimized using a central composite design and response surface methodology. The optimum roasting conditions were determined as roasting temperature of 180 °C and roasting time of 44.56 min, resulting in maximum total flavonoid content (0.74 mg CE/g), total phenolic content (1.95 mg GE/g), 2,2-diphnyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (5.10 μM TE/g), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (9.45 mM TE/g), and γ-aminobutyric acid content (2.25 mg/g). The germinated wheat roasted with optimum conditions was prepared in two types of GWB (hot and cold), and the sensory characteristics were tested by consumers (n = 102). The cold GWB showed relatively high preferences compared to hot GWB in appearance, odor, taste, and overall acceptabilities. In the intensity results of the sensory properties of GWB, the cold GWB tended to have stronger browning, grain odor, and nutty taste than the hot GWB. Conclusively, this study showed that optimizing the roasting conditions of germinated wheat could achieve desirable sensory properties and consumer acceptance while improving the health-related functionality of GWB.
Generalized k-Fractional Integral Operators Associated with Pólya-Szegö and Chebyshev Types Inequalities
Authors: Zhang Zhiqiang , Farid Ghulam , Mehmood Sajid , Nonlaopon Kamsing , Yan Tao
Published: February 2022

Inequalities related to derivatives and integrals are generalized and extended via fractional order integral and derivative operators. The present paper aims to define an operator containing Mittag-Leffler function in its kernel that leads to deduce many already existing well-known operators. By using this generalized operator, some well-known inequalities are studied. The results of this paper reproduce Chebyshev and Pólya-Szegö type inequalities for Riemann-Liouville and many other fractional integral operators.
Gastrointestinal Microbiota Dysbiosis Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Colorectal Cancer: The Implication of Probiotics
Authors: Odun-Ayo Frederick , Reddy Lalini
Published: February 2022

The complexity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)’s pathophysiology is such that microbial dysbiosis in the lung and gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota may be involved in its pathogenic process. GI microbiota dysbiosis has been associated with respiratory disorders, including COVID-19, as well as sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) through imbalanced microbiota and compromised immune response. It is pertinent to understand the possible role of probiotics in stabilizing the microbial environment and maintaining the integrity of the respiratory and GI tracts in SARS-CoV-2 induced dysbiosis and colorectal carcinogenesis. The long-term implication of SARS-CoV-2 in GI dysbiosis via microbiota-gut-lung cross-talk could increase the risk of new CRC diagnosis or worsen the condition of previously diagnosed individuals. Recent knowledge shows that the immune-modulatory response to probiotics is shifting the beneficial use of probiotics towards the treatment of various diseases. In this review, we highlight the potential impact of probiotics on SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with CRC through microbiota imbalance in COVID-19 patients.
Evidence of Many-Body Interactions in the Virial Coefficients of Polyelectrolyte Gels
Authors: Horkay Ferenc , Douglas Jack F.
Published: February 2022

Simulation studies of aqueous polymer solutions, and heuristic arguments by De Gennes for aqueous polyethylene oxide polymer solutions, have suggested that many-body interactions can give rise to the ‘anomalous’ situation in which the second osmotic virial coefficient is positive, while the third virial coefficient is negative. This phenomenon was later confirmed in analytic calculations of the phase behavior and the osmotic pressure of complex fluids exhibiting cooperative self-assembly into extended dynamic polymeric structures by Dudowicz et al. In the present study, we experimentally confirm the occurrence of this osmotic virial sign inversion phenomenon for several highly charged model polyelectrolyte gels (poly(acrylic acid), poly(styrene sulfonate), DNA, hyaluronic acid), where the virial coefficients are deduced from osmotic pressure measurements. Our observations qualitatively accord with experimental and simulation studies indicating that polyelectrolyte materials exhibit supramolecular assembly in solution, another symptomatic property of fluids exhibiting many-body interactions. We also find that the inversion in the variation of the second (A2) and third (A2) virial coefficients upon approach to phase separation does not occur in uncharged poly(vinyl acetate) gels. Finally, we briefly discuss the estimation of the osmotic compressibility of swollen polyelectrolyte gels from neutron scattering measurements as an alternative to direct, time-consuming and meticulous osmotic pressure measurements. We conclude by summarizing some general trends and suggesting future research directions of natural and synthetic polyelectrolyte hydrogels.
Genetic Variability and Population Structure of the Tunisian Sicilo-Sarde Dairy Sheep Breed Inferred from Microsatellites Analysis
Authors: Ben Sassi-Zaidy Yousra , Mohamed-Brahmi Aziza , Nouairia Ghada , Charfi-Cheikhrouha Faouzia , Djemali M’Naouer , Cassandro Martino
Published: February 2022

This study analyzed the genetic variability, inbreeding and population structure of the Tunisian–North African dairy sheep breed, the Sicilo-Sarde (SS), created by crossing the Sarda and Comisana dairy breeds. The level of variability in the SS, considered as an endangered breed after a dramatic decrease, was assessed using 17 microsatellite markers by analyzing the two breed populations sampled from their respective cradles: SS of Beja (SSB, n = 27) and SS of Mateur (SSM, n = 25). High levels of genetic diversity in SS were revealed, with a total of 212 alleles, a high mean number of alleles (12.47 ± 4.17) and a high average polymorphism information content (PIC) (0.81 ± 0.10). The observed heterozygosity was considerable in SSB and SSM (0.795 and 0.785, respectively). The inbreeding level measured by the population inbreeding coefficient FIS is higher in the SSM population (0.121) than in the SSB population (0.090). The higher genetic diversity level detected in SSB reflected the effect of new Italian Sarda genes introduced by intra-uterine artificial insemination recently practiced in this population. The Wilcoxon test and the mode-shift distribution indicated that the SS breed is a non-bottlenecked population. The structural analysis reflected the historical miscegenation practiced during the breed creation and highlighted further ancient miscegenation, which could date back to the first waves of sheep introduction to the western Mediterranean region. Microsatellite markers were successfully applied in the assessment of the genetic variability of SS and should be used in monitoring this variability during the application of conservation strategies.
The Ribosomal Protein RpL22 Interacts In Vitro with 5′-UTR Sequences Found in Some Drosophila melanogaster Transposons
Authors: Minervini Crescenzio Francesco , Berloco Maria Francesca , Marsano René Massimiliano , Viggiano Luigi
Published: February 2022

Mobility of eukaryotic transposable elements (TEs) are finely regulated to avoid an excessive mutational load caused by their movement. The transposition of retrotransposons is usually regulated through the interaction of host- and TE-encoded proteins, with non-coding regions (LTR and 5′-UTR) of the transposon. Examples of new potent cis-acting sequences, identified and characterized in the non-coding regions of retrotransposons, include the insulator of gypsy and Idefix, and the enhancer of ZAM of Drosophila melanogaster. Recently we have shown that in the 5′-UTR of the LTR-retrotransposon ZAM there is a sequence structured in tandem-repeat capable of operating as an insulator both in Drosophila (S2R+) and human cells (HEK293). Here, we test the hypothesis that tandem repeated 5′-UTR of a different LTR-retrotransposon could accommodate similar regulatory elements. The comparison of the 5′-UTR of some LTR-transposons allowed us to identify a shared motif of 13 bp, called Transposable Element Redundant Motif (TERM). Surprisingly, we demonstrated, by Yeast One-Hybrid assay, that TERM interacts with the D. melanogaster ribosomal protein RpL22. The Drosophila RpL22 has additional Ala-, Lys- and Pro-rich sequences at the amino terminus, which resembles the carboxy-terminal portion of histone H1 and histone H5. For this reason, it has been hypothesized that RpL22 might have two functions, namely the role in organizing the ribosome, and a potential regulatory role involving DNA-binding similar to histone H1, which represses transcription in Drosophila. In this paper, we show, by two independent sets of experiments, that DmRpL22 is able to directly and specifically bind DNA of Drosophila melanogaster.
Whole Genome DNA Methylation Profiling of D2 Medium Spiny Neurons in Mouse Nucleus Accumbens Using Two Independent Library Preparation Methods
Authors: Li Yuxiang , Xu Haiyang , Chitaman Javed M. , Feng Jian
Published: February 2022

DNA methylation plays essential roles in various cellular processes. Next-generation sequencing has enabled us to study the functional implication of DNA methylation across the whole genome. However, this approach usually requires a substantial amount of genomic DNA, which limits its application to defined cell types within a discrete brain region. Here, we applied two separate protocols, Accel-NGS Methyl-Seq (AM-seq) and Enzymatic Methyl-seq (EM-seq), to profile the methylome of D2 dopamine receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons (D2-MSNs) in mouse nucleus accumbens (NAc). Using 40 ng DNA extracted from FACS-isolated D2-MSNs, we found that both methods yielded comparably high-quality methylome data. Additionally, we identified numerous unmethylated regions (UMRs) as cell type-specific regulatory regions. By comparing the NAc D2-MSN methylome with the published methylomes of mouse prefrontal cortex excitatory neurons and neural progenitor cells (NPCs), we identified numerous differentially methylated CpG and non-CpG regions. Our study not only presents a comparison of these two low-input DNA whole genome methylation profiling protocols, but also provides a resource of DNA methylome of mouse accumbal D2-MSNs, a neuron type that has critical roles in addiction and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Chloroplast Genes Are Involved in The Male-Sterility of K-Type CMS in Wheat
Authors: Han Yucui , Gao Yujie , Li Yun , Zhai Xiaoguang , Zhou Hao , Ding Qin , Ma Lingjian
Published: February 2022

The utilization of crop heterosis can greatly improve crop yield. The sterile line is vital for the heterosis utilization of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The chloroplast genomes of two sterile lines and one maintainer were sequenced using second-generation high-throughput technology and assembled. The nonsynonymous mutated genes among the three varieties were identified, the expressed difference was further analyzed by qPCR, and finally, the function of the differentially expressed genes was analyzed by the barley stripe mosaic virus-induced gene silencing (BSMV-VIGS) method. A total of 16 genes containing 31 nonsynonymous mutations between K519A and 519B were identified. There were no base mutations in the protein-encoding genes between K519A and YS3038. The chloroplast genomes of 519B and K519A were closely related to the Triticum genus and Aegilops genus, respectively. The gene expression levels of the six selected genes with nonsynonymous mutation sites for K519A compared to 519B were mostly downregulated at the binucleate and trinucleate stages of pollen development. The seed setting rates of atpB-silenced or ndhH-silenced 519B plants by BSMV-VIGS method were significantly reduced. It can be concluded that atpB and the ndhH are likely to be involved in the reproductive transformation of 519B.
Sensitivity Analysis of the Global Response of Flexible Rockfall Barriers
Authors: Douthe Cyril , Girardon Chloé , Boulaud Romain
Published: February 2022

Protection barriers against the fall of boulders and rocks are structures with non-linear mechanical behaviour that make the study particularly complex. In this study, the understanding of an experimentally observed variability was investigated numerically using a non-linear spring-mass equivalence. First, key figures of the experiments on which this study is based are detailed. Then, the numerical model for the dynamic simulation of the barrier deformation under impact is presented. Finally, the variability due to block-related parameters and then net-related parameters are explored and evidence the role of the cables’ geometric stiffness in the global response of the fence.