bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Virtual Reality and Online Learning Immersion Experience Evaluation Model Based on SVM and Wearable Recordings
Authors: Guo Junqi , Wan Boxin , Wu Hao , Zhao Ziyun , Huang Wenshan
Published: April 2022

The increasing development in the field of biosensing technologies makes it feasible to monitor students’ physiological signals in natural learning scenarios. With the rise of mobile learning, educators are attaching greater importance to the learning immersion experience of students, especially with the global background of COVID-19. However, traditional methods, such as questionnaires and scales, to evaluate the learning immersion experience are greatly influenced by individuals’ subjective factors. Herein, our research aims to explore the relationship and mechanism between human physiological recordings and learning immersion experiences to eliminate subjectivity as much as possible. We collected electroencephalogram and photoplethysmographic signals, as well as self-reports on the immersive experience of thirty-seven college students during virtual reality and online learning to form the fundamental feature set. Then, we proposed an evaluation model based on a support vector machine and got a precision accuracy of 89.72%. Our research results provide evidence supporting the possibility of predicting students’ learning immersion experience by their EEGs and PPGs.
A Figure of Merit for Selection of the Best Family of SiC Power MOSFETs
Authors: Chaturvedi Mayank , Dimitrijev Sima , Haasmann Daniel , Moghadam Hamid Amini , Pande Peyush , Jadli Utkarsh
Published: April 2022

This paper proposes a criterion to select the best family of commercial SiC power metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) that provides the highest quality and reliability. Applying a recently published integrated-charge method, a newly proposed figure of merit is correlated to the density of near-interface traps that degrade the quality and reliability of SiC MOSFETs. The applicability of the proposed figure of merit is experimentally demonstrated with the most widely used and commercially available planar and trench MOSFETs from different manufacturers.
Improving Cuff-Less Continuous Blood Pressure Estimation with Linear Regression Analysis
Authors: Figini Valeria , Galici Sofia , Russo Daniele , Centonze Ilenia , Visintin Monica , Pagana Guido
Published: April 2022

In this work, the authors investigate the cuff-less estimation of continuous BP through pulse transit time (PTT) and heart rate (HR) using regression techniques, which is intended as a first step towards continuous BP estimation with a low error, according to AAMI guidelines. Hypertension (the ‘silent killer’) is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which are the main cause of death worldwide. Its continuous monitoring can offer a valid tool for patient care, as blood pressure (BP) is a significant indicator of health and, using it together with other parameters, such as heart and breath rates, could strongly improve prevention of CVDs. The novelties introduced in this work are represented by the implementation of pre-processing and by the innovative method for features research and features processing to continuously monitor blood pressure in a non-invasive way. Currently, invasive methods are the only reliable methods for continuous monitoring, while non-invasive techniques measure the values every few minutes. The proposed approach can be considered the first step for the integration of these types of algorithms on wearable devices, in particular on those developed for the SINTEC project.
Intrinsic Interference Cancellation Scheme for FBMC-OQAM Systems Based on Power Multiplexing
Authors: Li Jiazhe , Li Siyi , Dong Heng , Li Zhuoming
Published: April 2022

As a competitive candidate of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), filter-bank multicarrier (FBMC) has significant advantages in low spectrum leakage, relaxed synchronization requirements and high spectral efficiency. However, the loss of orthogonality leads to intrinsic interference in FBMC, whereas most methods eliminate it by sacrificing data symbols, resulting in a non-negligible decrease in spectral efficiency. In this context, we propose a new method that eliminates intrinsic interference completely without sacrificing any data symbols thanks to the power multiplexing in the transmitter and the successive interference cancellation scheme in the receiver, contributing to a higher spectral efficiency compared with previous methods. Both the analytical and simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method has higher spectral efficiency and similar power efficiency compared with the traditional coded auxiliary pilot (CAP) method without a notable decrease in bit error rate (BER) performance.
Two-Phase Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Modelling of Hydrodynamic-Aerodynamic and Wave-Structure Interaction
Authors: Ouyang Zhenyu , Khoo Boo Cheong
Published: April 2022

A two-phase (air and water) smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method is employed to study the hydrodynamic-aerodynamic and wave interaction with fixed and floating structures in a wave basin. The method is first verified for a classical two-phase dam-breaking. A mirror-open boundary is implemented at the top and left sides of a two-phase wave basin with a piston to generate a second-order regular wave. It is observed that, compared to the single-phase simulation, the two-phase one obtains a smoother water surface and prevents the non-physical water splash when interacting with the sloped dissipative beach. This wave basin is also used to investigate wave-structure problems such as wave interaction with a rigid cantilever beam fixed to the basin bottom and downstream of the wave-maker mechanism and the dynamics of a single floating box and two floating boxes in the waves. A typical wave-structure interaction period is captured and described using pressure contours and velocity vectors at three selected instants for the wave-rigid cantilever beam case. With the increase of the structure’s height, the wave height after the structure decreases, but no evident variation is found when changing its thickness. Besides the hydrodynamics interaction, a periodical collision is observed between the two floating boxes on the wave surface.
The Errors of Electronic Energy Meters That Measure Energy Consumed by LED Lighting
Authors: Skórkowski Artur , Kampik Marian , Musioł Krzysztof , Nocoń Adam
Published: April 2022

Various metrological aspects for the correct measurements of electrical energy that is consumed by energy-saving (mainly LED) single phase loads are discussed in this paper. One of the most important problems presented here concerns the question of how strong distortions of the current waveform, introduced by typical LED lighting, affects the operation of electronic energy meters. Measurement results for the energy consumption of different LED lamps used in households in various conditions, alongside comparative results that were obtained by electronic and electromechanical energy meters, were also offered and the appropriate conclusions were then drawn.
Numerical Simulation of Oil Shale Pyrolysis under Microwave Irradiation Based on a Three-Dimensional Porous Medium Multiphysics Field Model
Authors: Wang Hao , Li Xiaogang , Zhu Jingyi , Yang Zhaozhong , Zhou Jie , Yi Liangping
Published: April 2022

The pyrolysis characteristics of oil shale during heat treatment dominate the oil production of kerogen. In this study, the pyrolysis characteristics of oil shale in a laboratory microwave apparatus were investigated based on a novel fully coupled three-dimensional electromagnetic-thermal-chemical-hydraulic model according to the experimental microwave apparatus. By simulating the electric field, temperature distribution, and kerogen decomposition within oil shale subjected to microwave irradiation, several parameters, including waveguide, position, and power, were successfully optimized. The results indicated that the non-uniform temperature distribution was consistent with the distribution of the electric field. Double microwave ports were more effective than single ports in terms of heating rate and temperature uniformity. There was an optimal location where the highest heating efficiency was obtained, which was on the left of the cavity center. When irradiation was conducted over a range of microwave powers, a higher power was suitable for achieving a rapid temperature increase, whereas a lower power was suitable to gain a high efficiency of the pyrolysis rate. Therefore, a variable power heating mode was introduced to decrease the heating time and improve the heat uniformity simultaneously during oil shale pyrolysis. Specifically, the secondary reactions of oil products should be maximally avoided by controlling the microwave power.
Effect of the Air Flow on the Combustion Process and Preheating Effect of the Intake Manifold Burner
Authors: Li Zhishuang , Wang Ziman , Mo Haoyang , Wu Han
Published: April 2022

Diesel engines show poor performance and high emissions under cold-start conditions. The intake manifold burner is an effective method to increase the intake air temperature and improve engine performance. In this paper, a visualization system was employed to investigate the combustion process of the intake manifold burner. The effects of diesel flow rate and airflow velocity on combustion performance were investigated. The combustion process of the intake manifold burner showed four stages: preparing stage A, rapid development stage B, steady-development stage C, and stable stage D. Flame stripping was found in stages C and D, presenting the instability of the combustion process. With the increase in air flow velocity from 1.4 m/s to 3.0 m/s, the flame stripping was enhanced, leading to the increasing combustion instability and regular flame penetration fluctuations. The average temperature rise and combustion efficiency increased with the increasing diesel flow rate, indicating the combustion enhancement. Comparison of temperature rise and combustion efficiency under 2.0 m/s and 10.0 m/s showed that stronger cross wind enhances the heat convection, improving the temperature uniformity and combustion efficiency.
Improved Thermal Switch Based on an Adsorption Material in a Heat Pipe
Authors: Winkler Markus , Schipper Jan , Teicht Christian , Corhan Patrick , Polyzoidis Angelos , Bartholomé Kilian , Schäfer-Welsen Olaf , Pappert Sandra
Published: April 2022

For many applications, the possibility of controlling heat flow by “thermal switching” can be very beneficial. In previous work, we presented a novel approach for thermal switching using a water-loaded adsorbent as part of the evaporator of a heat pipe. The basic idea is that the adsorbent releases water upon exceeding a certain evaporator temperature and thus “activates” the heat pipe by providing the working fluid for thermal transport. In this work, we present an improved version of the heat switch. We found that an ordinary copper heat pipe (i.e., thermosyphon) with outer diameters common in heat pipe applications (10 mm) can be used as a base of the heat switch. The reversibility of the switching effect was proven. The location of heat input relative to the adsorbent position was optimized, leading to improved switching ratios of up to 36 as calculated from thermal resistance change between evaporator and condenser. Furthermore, the role of the insulation on thermal resistance and switching ratio was examined and found to be significant.
Risk Management of Island Petrochemical Park: Accident Early Warning Model Based on Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Li Guiliang , Hong Bingyuan , Hu Haoran , Shao Bowen , Jiang Wei , Li Cuicui , Guo Jian
Published: April 2022

Island-type petrochemical parks have gradually become the ‘trend’ in establishing new parks because of the security advantages brought by their unique geographical locations. However, due to the frequent occurrence of natural disasters and difficulties in rescue in island-type parks, an early warning model is urgently needed to provide a basis for risk management. Previous research on early warning models of island-type parks seldom considered the particularity. In this study, the early warning indicator system is used as the input parameter to construct the early warning model of an island-type petrochemical park based on the back propagation (BP) neural network, and an actual island-type petrochemical park was used as a case to illustrate the model. Firstly, the safety influencing factors were screened by designing questionnaires and then an early warning indicator system was established. Secondly, particle swarm optimization (PSO) was introduced into the improved BP neural network to optimize the initial weights and thresholds of the neural network. A total of 30 groups of petrochemical park data were taken as samples—26 groups as training samples and 4 groups as test samples. Moreover, the safety status of the petrochemical park was set as the output parameter of the neural network. The comparative analysis shows that the optimized neural network is far superior to the unoptimized neural network in evaluation indicators. Finally, the Zhejiang Petrochemical Co., Ltd., park was used as a case to verify the accuracy of the proposed early warning model. Ultimately, the final output result was 0.8324, which indicates that the safety status of the case park was “safer”. The results show that the BP neural network introduced with PSO can effectively realize early warning, which is an effective model to realize the safety early warning of island-type petrochemical parks.
Pressure Drop Optimization of the Main Steam and Reheat Steam System of a 1000 MW Secondary Reheat Unit
Authors: Li Yanfeng , Liu Jingru , Huang Guohe
Published: April 2022

The pressure drop of a main steam and reheat steam system should be optimized during the design and operation of a thermal power plant to minimize operation costs. In this study, the pressure drop of the main steam pipe and reheat steam pipe of a 1000 MW secondary reheat unit are optimized by modulating the operation parameters and the cost of operation is explored. Optimal pipe specifications were achieved by selecting a bend pipe and optimizing the pipe specifications. The pressure loss of the main steam pipeline was optimized to 2.61% compared with the conventional pressure drop (5%), the heat consumption of steam turbine was reduced by about 0.63 kJ/(kW·h), the standard coal consumption was minimized by about 0.024 g/(kW·h), and the total income in 20 years is approximated to be CNY 217,700. The primary reheat system was optimized to 4.88%, the steam turbine heat consumption was reduced by about 7.13 kJ/(kW·h), the standard coal consumption decreased by about 0.276 g/(kW·h), and the total income in 20 years is projected to be CNY 20.872 million after the optimization of the pressure drop. The secondary reheat system was optimized to 8.13%, the steam turbine heat consumption was reduced by about 7.86 kJ/(kW·h), the standard coal consumption decreased by about 0.304 g/(kW·h), and the total income in 20 years is projected to be CNY 22.7232 million after the optimization of the pressure drop. The research results of the present study provide a guide for the design and operation of secondary reheat units to achieve an effective operation and minimize costs.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Promote Gleditsia sinensis Lam. Root Growth under Salt Stress by Regulating Nutrient Uptake and Physiology
Authors: Ma Shilin , Zhu Lingjun , Wang Jinping , Liu Xin , Jia Zhaohui , Li Chong , Liu Jing , Zeng Jingyi , Zhang Jinchi
Published: April 2022

Towards the improvement of plant productivity in saline–alkali soils, the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is an intensive topic of research. For this study, three inoculation treatments, namely, autoclaved AMF inocula (CK), Funneliformis mosseae (FM), and Corymbiglomus tortuosum (CT), and four NaCl levels, namely, 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM were established to investigate the growth and physiological responses of mycorrhizal Gleditsia sinensis Lam. root systems to increase salinity through root dry weight, morphology, nutrient content, and physiology, and soil nutrient content. As NaCl levels increased, root dry weight, morphology, and nutrient content under the CK treatment exhibited a downward trend, while FM and CT treatments weakened this trend and significantly improved root dry weight and morphology, which increased by more than 200%. Under high NaCl levels, root activity under the FM treatment was significantly higher than that under the CK, with an average increase of 120.86%. In contrast to the activity of nitrate reductase, niacinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase activity under CK was significantly less than that in FM and CT treatments. Moreover, inoculation with AMF significantly affected soil alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), total nitrogen (TN), and phosphorus (TP), while NaCl had no significant impact on soil nutrients. Further, both soil salinity and mycorrhizal colonization rate had significant direct effects on root growth. However, soil salinity primarily influenced root growth through indirect effects on root nitrogen content, while mycorrhizal colonization rate indirectly impacted root nitrate reductase activity, and root nitrogen and phosphorus content. Our results suggested that the use of suitable AMF (e.g., Funneliformis mosseae) might effectively improve the currently unfavorable situation of economic tree species production on land with saline soils, which may greatly optimize the utility of these areas.
Microsporogenesis, Pollen Ornamentation, Viability of Stored Taxodium distichum var. distichum Pollen and Its Feasibility for Cross Breeding
Authors: Wang Ziyang , Yin Ming , Creech David L. , Yu Chaoguang
Published: April 2022

Taxodium Rich is well known for its flooding tolerance and has great ecological and economic potential. A comprehensive understanding of pollen characteristics and storage capacity is important for breeding and genetic resource conservation of the genus. In this study, we observed the microsporogenesis and pollen ornamentation, studied the conditions of in vitro pollen germination, compared the difference in pollen viability of T. distichum var. distichum measured by in vitro germination and TTC staining, analyzed the change in pollen viability after different storage times and the feasibility of using stored pollen for cross breeding. Results indicated that the pollen mother cells of T. distichum var. distichum begin to enter the meiosis stage one month before the male strobilus disperse, reach metaphase 10 days after meiosis and form pollen grains three to five days after tetrad development. Pollen germination rate topped in the culture medium of 0.012% boric acid under 30 °C after 48 h, reaching 66.81%. The TTC staining demonstrated that the pollen viability of T. distichum var. distichum TD-4 and TD-5 were 97.78% and 80.54%, 98.96% and 91.67%, and 83.67% and 21.75% after one-, two- and three-year storage at −20 °C, which is significantly higher than (p < 0.05) that of 17.02 and 27.04%, 2.77% and 12.82%, and 0 determined by the in vitro cultivation. It is feasible to use pollen of T. distichum var. distichum TD-4 and TD-5 stored at −20 °C for one year for artificial hybridization, and the fruit setting rate and seed germination rate were 10.94 and 36.79%, and 11.47 and 65.76%, respectively.
Challenges and Strategies for Sustainable Mangrove Management in Indonesia: A Review
Authors: Arifanti Virni Budi , Sidik Frida , Mulyanto Budi , Susilowati Arida , Wahyuni Tien , Subarno Subarno , Yulianti Yulianti , Yuniarti Naning , Aminah Aam , Suita Eliya , Karlina Endang , Suharti Sri , Pratiwi Pratiwi , Turjaman Maman , Hidayat Asep , Rachmat Henti Hendalastuti , Imanuddin Rinaldi , Yeny Irma , Darwiati Wida , Sari Nilam , Hakim Safinah Surya , Slamet Whitea Yasmine , Novita Nisa
Published: April 2022

Mangroves are an important ecosystem that provides valuable social, economic, and environmental services. Indonesia has placed mangroves on its national priority agenda in an important effort to sustainably manage this ecosystem and achieve national climate commitments. However, mangrove management is faced with complex challenges encompassing social, ecological, and economic issues. In order to achieve the government’s commitments and targets regarding mangrove restoration and conservation, an in-depth study on and critical review of mangrove management in Indonesia was conducted herein. This work aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and strategic recommendations for sustainable mangrove management in Indonesia. SWOT analysis was carried out to understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to mangrove management in Indonesia. To address these gaps, we reviewed the existing policies, current rehabilitation practices, environmental challenges, and research and technology implementations in the field. We found that strategies on mangrove ecosystem protection, such as improving the function and value of mangrove forests, integrating mangrove ecosystem management, strengthening political commitments and law enforcement, involving all stakeholders (especially coastal communities), and advancing research and innovations, are crucial for sustainable mangrove management and to support the national blue carbon agenda.
Effects of Clonal Integration on Foraging Behavior of Three Clonal Plants in Heterogeneous Soil Environments
Authors: Cao Xiao-Xiao , Xue Wei , Lei Ning-Fei , Yu Fei-Hai
Published: April 2022

Environments are ubiquitously heterogeneous in nature, and clonal plants commonly benefit from both clonal integration and foraging responses in heterogeneous environments. While many studies have examined clonal integration and foraging responses separately, few have tested the effect of clonal integration on the foraging response of clonal plants to environmental heterogeneity. We grew offspring ramets of each of three clonal plants (Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Duchesnea indica, and Glechoma longituba) in both homogeneous and heterogenous soil environments and severed their stem connection to a mother ramet (to prevent clonal integration from the mother ramet) or kept it intact (to allow clonal integration). Without clonal integration from the mother ramet, soil heterogeneity had no effect on biomass or number of ramets for any of the three species. With clonal integration, soil heterogeneity also had no effect on biomass or number of ramets of D. indica and G. longituba, but significantly decreased biomass and marginally significantly decreased number of ramets of H. vulgaris. Without clonal integration, offspring ramets did not demonstrate either shoot or root foraging responses in terms of total, shoot and root biomass and ramet number in the heterogeneous soil environment in any of the three species. With integration, offspring ramets of H. vulgaris also did not demonstrate either root or shoot foraging responses, but offspring ramets of G. longituba demonstrated both root and shoot foraging responses, and those of D. indica demonstrated a root foraging response when they grew in the heterogeneous soil environment. We conclude that clonal integration can alter the foraging response of clonal plants, but this effect is species-specific. Our results also suggest that foraging responses of clonal plants in heterogeneous soil environments may not necessarily benefit the growth of clonal plants.
A Bidirectional Trust Model for Service Delegation in Social Internet of Things
Authors: Wei Lijun , Yang Yuhan , Wu Jing , Long Chengnian , Lin Yi-Bing
Published: April 2022

As an emerging paradigm of service infrastructure, social internet of things (SIoT) applies the social networking aspects to the internet of things (IoT). Each object in SIoT can establish the social relationship without human intervention, which will enhance the efficiency of interaction among objects, thus boosting the service efficiency. The issue of trust is regarded as an important issue in the development of SIoT. It will influence the object to make decisions about the service delegation. In the current literature, the solutions for the trust issue are always unidirectional, that is, only consider the needs of the service requester to evaluate the trust of service providers. Moreover, the relationship between the service delegation and trust model is still ambiguous. In this paper, we present a bidirectional trust model and construct an explicit approach to address the issue of service delegation based on the trust model. We comprehensively consider the context of the SIoT services or tasks for enhancing the feasibility of our model. The subjective logic is used for trust quantification and we design two optimized operators for opinion convergence. Finally, the proposed trust model and trust-based service delegation method are validated through a series of numerical tests.
A Survey on Monitoring of Wild Animals during Fires Using Drones
Authors: Ivanova Svetlana , Prosekov Alexander , Kaledin Anatoly
Published: April 2022

Forest fires occur for natural and anthropogenic reasons and affect the distribution, structure, and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Monitoring fires and their impacts on ecosystems is an essential prerequisite for effectively managing this widespread environmental problem. With the development of information technologies, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) are becoming increasingly important in remote monitoring the environment. One of the main applications of drone technology related to nature monitoring is the observation of wild animals. Unmanned aerial vehicles are thought to be the best solution for detecting forest fires. There are methods for detecting wildfires using drones with fire- and/or smoke-detection equipment. This review aims to study the possibility of using drones for monitoring large animals during fires. It was established that in order to use unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor even small groups of wild animals during forest fires, effective unmanned remote sensing technologies in critical temperature conditions are required, which can be provided not only by the sensors used, but also by adapted software for image recognition.
Reducing Rural Fire Risk through the Development of a Sustainable Supply Chain Model for Residual Agroforestry Biomass Supported in a Web Platform: A Case Study in Portugal Central Region with the Project BioAgroFloRes
Authors: Casau Margarida , Dias Marta , Teixeira Leonor , Matias João , Nunes Leonel
Published: April 2022

In the European Mediterranean region, rural fires are a widely known problem that cause serious socio-economic losses and undesirable environmental consequences, including the loss of lives, infrastructures, cultural heritage, and ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and the provisioning of raw materials. In the last decades, the collapse of the traditional rural socioeconomic systems that once characterized the Mediterranean region, along with land-use changes, have created conflicts and additional driving factors for rural fires. Within Europe, Portugal is the most affected country by rural fires. This work intends to demonstrate the importance of recovering and valorizing residual agroforestry biomass to reduce rural fire risk in Portugal, and thus contributing to a fire resilient landscape. From the results of the known causes of fires in Portugal, it becomes very clear that it is crucial to educate people to end risky behaviors, such as the burning of agroforestry leftovers that causes 27% of fires in Portugal each year. The valorization of the existing energy potential in the lignocellulosic biomass of agroforestry residues favors the reduction of the probability of rural fires, this being the focus of the project BioAgroFloRes—Sustainable Supply Chain Model for Residual Agroforestry Biomass supported in a Web Platform—introduced and explained here.
Cytoprotective and Antigenotoxic Properties of Organic vs. Conventional Tomato Puree: Evidence in Zebrafish Model
Authors: Mottola Filomena , Finelli Renata , Santonastaso Marianna , Carillo Petronia , Rocco Lucia
Published: April 2022

In this in vivo study, we investigated cytoprotective and antigenotoxic effects of commercial tomato puree obtained from conventional vs. organic farming systems (pesticides vs. pesticide-free agriculture, respectively). This is relevant as pesticides are widely used in agriculture to prevent pests, weeds, and the spread of plant pathogens. By exposing zebrafish to tomato puree alone and in combination with H2O2 (a well-known genotoxic agent), we analyzed the percentage of fish survival, cell viability, intracellular concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation index (DFI%), and genomic template stability (GTS%). Fish exposed to organic puree showed higher fish survival and cellular viability, lower DFI% and ROS, and improved GTS%. Our results suggest a higher cytoprotective and antigenotoxic effect of organic pesticide-free tomatoes, probably because the activity of natural phytochemicals is not affected by the presence of toxic residues, which are otherwise produced by pesticides used in conventional farming systems. Our study points out the importance of considering alternative strategies in agriculture to minimize the genotoxic impact of chemical pesticides.
The Reproductive Characteristics of Garra tibetana, an Endemic Labeonine Fish in the Lower Yarlung Tsangpo River, Tibet, China
Authors: Gong Zheng , Chen Lin , Wang Jian , Liu Huanzhang
Published: April 2022

The reproductive characteristics of an endemic labeonine fish, Garra tibetana, were investigated by examining 778 individuals collected monthly, from December 2015 to November 2016, in the lower Yarlung Tsangpo River, Tibet, China. Results showed that females predominated in the overall population with a sex ratio of 1:0.73, while the sex ratio for the mature individuals was 1:1. Standard length at first maturity was estimated as 82.4 mm for females and 55.4 mm for males based on logistic regression. Analyses based on the monthly variation of the gonad-somatic index, monthly proportion of gonad development, and frequency distribution of oocyte diameter demonstrated the spawning period of G. tibetana to be from February to April, with a peak in March. Absolute fecundity ranged from 113 to 440 oocytes, with a mean of 201.8 ± 58.7 oocytes. The relative fecundity ranged from 6 to 18 oocytes per gram, with a mean of 11.7 ± 2.6 oocytes per gram. Absolute fecundity showed positive correlations with standard length, body weight, and gonad weight, revealing that larger females produced more offspring. In conclusion, G. tibetana matures early and spawns synchronously from February to April, with low fecundity and large oocytes. These reproductive characteristics could explain why this species is dominant in its habitat and also provide valuable information for developing applicable management and conservation strategies.
Research on the Formation Mechanism of Individual Food Waste Behavior from the Perspective of Image Construction
Authors: Chen Feiyu , Gu Xiao , Hou Jing
Published: April 2022

The attention regarding individuals’ external appearance and social identity provides a unique perspective to reveal the cause of their behavior. This study explored the formation mechanism of individual food waste behavior in China from the perspective of appearance image construction and social image construction, especially considering the role of emotion, education level, and body mass index (BMI) in relationship transmission. This study collected data by questionnaire in 133 cities in 32 provinces of China. By using the methods of factor analysis, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis, the results show that individuals with high need for external appearance image (r = 0.242, p < 0.001) and social image construction (r = 0.31, p < 0.001) are more likely to waste food. In terms of transmission mechanisms, positive emotions (e.g., excitement) (β = 0.104~0.187, 95% confidence interval) and negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and disgust) (β = 0.08~0.177, 95% confidence interval) are the intermediary factors of image construction affecting food waste behavior, and emotional fluctuations can aggravate individuals’ food waste behavior. In terms of interaction effects, BMI significantly positively regulates the predictive effect of image construction on food waste behavior, while the level of education buffers this predictive effect. Finally, relevant policy suggestions are put forward to guide individuals to reduce food waste.
Blanching Effect on the Quality and Shelf-Life Characteristics of Fresh Cowpea Grains [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]
Authors: Tavares Romayana Medeiros de Oliveira , Assis Cristiane Fernandes de , Lima Patrícia de Oliveira , Lima Paulo Douglas Santos de , Lima Roberto Rodrigues Cunha , Damasceno Karla Suzanne Florentino da Silva Chaves
Published: April 2022

The high perishability of fresh cowpeas impairs its commercialization. Thus, this study aims to determine the temperature–time binomial for blanching fresh cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] by evaluating the effects of heat treatment and kinetic behavior on the peroxidase (POD) activity and on the physical characteristics (firmness, color, mass gain). A factorial design (3 × 6) with temperature (70, 80, and 90 °C) and time (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 min) was implemented. Physicochemical, microbiological, and enzymatic (POD) changes, in addition to photographic monitoring, were evaluated throughout the storage period (4.90 °C). With regard to the effects of the independent variables and the first-order kinetic model, it was determined that 70 °C for 4 min of blanching maintained and/or improved the physical characteristics of the raw material. The pH and the acidity of the blanched fresh cowpea changed little during the storage period; the microbiological load and POD activity reduced with blanching and remained stable until the eighth day of storage, and provided an increase of 5 days in shelf-life under refrigeration when compared to non-blanched. Blanching is shown as an alternative for improving fresh cowpeas, favoring an economic increase in production with guaranteed quality and safety attributes.
Probiotics in Citrus Fruits Products: Health Benefits and Future Trends for the Production of Functional Foods—A Bibliometric Review
Authors: Monteiro Shênia Santos , de Oliveira Verônica Macário , Pasquali Matheus Augusto de Bittencourt
Published: April 2022

The relationship between food and human health drives the search for knowledge of food components that are related to these benefits. The scientific community shows a growing interest in the knowledge of the interactions between components of citrus fruits and probiotics to develop ways to improve the quality of the food produced. In this bibliometric review, a study of scientific publications is carried out on the potential of probiotics in citrus fermentation, addressing the importance and future trends of plant-based products in the functional food group as an alternative to the dairy market. The review process of the articles initially took place with a bibliometric analysis and was followed by a literature review. The Scopus database was used in the search for articles, carried out in May 2021. The use of foods as carriers of probiotics is an alternative that has been growing and the surveys evaluated show the desire to diversify the probiotics available on the market. In addition, it was observed that citrus fruits have great potential for the development of functional foods due to their high acceptability and possibilities of development and application in various products.
Effect of Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) on Drying Kinetics and Quality Characteristics of Shiitake Mushroom
Authors: Xiao Anjin , Ding Changjiang
Published: April 2022

The effect of an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying system on the drying kinetics, microstructure and nutritional composition of shiitake mushrooms was studied. Shiitake mushroom slices were dried at 0, 18, 22, 26, 30 and 34 kV. The results showed that the drying rate, effective moisture diffusion coefficient and shrinkage of the EHD treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The 34 kV treatment group had the highest drying rate (0.24 g W/g DM × h) and the highest effective moisture diffusion coefficient (1.01 × 10−10 m2/s), which were 6.75 and 7.41 times higher than those of the control group, respectively. The control group had the highest rehydration ratio (7.72) and showed unsatisfactory color performance. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that compared with the control group, the surface of samples dried by EHD exhibited different degrees of encrustation, and the area of encrustation increased with increasing voltage. After analysis by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, it was found that the samples of both the EHD-treated and control groups had similar absorption peak positions, but the intensity of the absorption peak of the EHD-dried samples was greater. Compared with the control group, the shiitake mushroom slices dried by EHD had a higher protein content and polysaccharide content. The polysaccharide content in 22 kV treatment group was the highest (4.67 g/100 g), and the protein content in 26 kV and 34 kV treatment groups was the highest (17.0 g/100 g). This study provides an experimental and theoretical basis for an in-depth study of the drying kinetics of shiitake mushrooms and provides theoretical guidance and clues for the wider application of EHD drying technology.
Combined Anti-Biofilm Enzymes Strengthen the Eradicate Effect of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Biofilm: Mechanism on cpsA-J Expression and Application on Different Carriers
Authors: Li Yuan , Dong Ruyue , Ma Lei , Qian Yilin , Liu Zunying
Published: April 2022

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a human foodborne pathogen, and it can form a mature biofilm on food and food contact surfaces to enhance their resistance to antibacterial agents. In this study, the effect of anti-biofilm enzymes (combined lipase, cellulase and proteinase K) on the inhibition and eradication of pathogen biofilm was evaluated. The biofilm content of V. parahaemolyticus showed the highest level at the incubation time of 24 h, and the combined enzymes significantly inhibited the biofilm’s development. The biofilm’s inhibition and eradication rate at an incubation time of 24 h was 89.7% and 66.9%, respectively. The confocal laser scanning microscopic images confirmed that the microcolonies’ aggregation and the adhesion of biofilm were inhibited with the combined enzyme treatment. Furthermore, combined enzymes also decreased the concentration of exopolysaccharide (EPS) and disrupted the EPS matrix network, wherein the expression of the EPS-related gene, cpsA-J, was likewise suppressed. The combined enzymes showed an excellent inhibition effect of V. parahaemolyticus biofilm on different carriers, with the highest inhibition rate of 59.35% on nonrust steel plate. This study demonstrates that the combined enzyme of lipase, cellulase and proteinase K could be a novel candidate to overcome biofilm’s problem of foodborne pathogens in the food industry.
Barrier Option Pricing in the Sub-Mixed Fractional Brownian Motion with Jump Environment
Authors: Ji Binxin , Tao Xiangxing , Ji Yanting
Published: April 2022

This paper investigates the pricing formula for barrier options where the underlying asset is driven by the sub-mixed fractional Brownian motion with jump. By applying the corresponding Ito^’s formula, the B-S type PDE is derived by a self-financing strategy. Furthermore, the explicit pricing formula for barrier options is obtained through converting the PDE to the Cauchy problem. Numerical experiments are conducted to test the impact of the barrier price, the Hurst index, the jump intensity and the volatility on the value of barrier option, respectively.
Threshold Dynamics and the Density Function of the Stochastic Coronavirus Epidemic Model
Authors: Sun Jianguo , Gao Miaomiao , Jiang Daqing
Published: April 2022

Since November 2019, each country in the world has been affected by COVID-19, which has claimed more than four million lives. As an infectious disease, COVID-19 has a stronger transmission power and faster propagation speed. In fact, environmental noise is an inevitable important factor in the real world. This paper mainly gives a new random infectious disease system under infection rate environmental noise. We give the existence and uniqueness of the solution of the system and discuss the ergodic stationary distribution and the extinction conditions of the system. The probability density function of the stochastic system is studied. Some digital simulations are used to demonstrate the probability density function and the extinction of the system.
3D Boundary Element Model for Ultrasonic Wave Propagation Fractional Order Boundary Value Problems of Functionally Graded Anisotropic Fiber-Reinforced Plates
Authors: Fahmy Mohamed Abdelsabour
Published: April 2022

This paper proposes a three–dimensional (3D) local boundary element model based on meshless moving least squares (MLS) method for ultrasonic wave propagation fractional order boundary value problems of functionally graded anisotropic (FGA) fiber-reinforced plates. The problem domain is split into several circular sub-domains. The nodal points are randomly distributed across the examined region. Each node is the focal point of a circular sub-domain that encircles it. The Laplace-transform approach is used to solve dynamic issues. In the local weak form of the governing equations for the converted quantities, a unit test function is utilized. The Gauss divergence theorem to the weak-form is used to produce local boundary-domain integral equations. A meshless approximation is achieved using the MLS method. To find time-dependent solutions, an inverse Laplace-transform approach is used. The effects of the fractional order parameter, functionally graded material, anisotropy, and the time characteristic of the laser pulse are investigated. The proposed method’s validity and performance are demonstrated for a two-dimensional problem with excellent agreement with the finite element method.
Clinical Sociology and Mixedness: Towards Applying Critical Mixed Race Theory in Everyday Life
Authors: Rocha Zarine L.
Published: April 2022

Research on mixed racial and ethnic identities has developed rapidly over the past decades, increasing in theoretical scope and depth, and exploring mixedness across a growing range of national and social contexts. Recent research has highlighted the huge variations and shifts in conceptions of mixedness around the world, and the different pathways to understanding what it means to be mixed through migration, development, postcolonialism and different forms of nation-building. This paper seeks to connect theory to practice, approaching mixedness through the lens of clinical sociology, applying sociological theory on the ground and exploring the utility of critical mixed race studies in everyday life. Clinical sociology as a practice is first outlined, juxtaposed against the development in theorizing around mixed racial and ethnic identities on an international level. The paper then looks at some possibilities for practical impact: by acknowledging the complexity of mixedness and everyday life, research on mixed identities can go beyond the development of theory and case description, with applied and clinical impacts ranging from the level of the individual to the level of the state. Research on mixedness worldwide illustrates the diversity inherent within ideas of mixing, and the micro, meso and macro applications and potential outcomes of such theories. This paper draws on new and shifting conceptions of mixedness, emphasizing that the sociology of mixedness can have considerable value in effecting positive social change: positioning the (mixed) individual within the (mixed) society and allowing sociology to become action. The development and use of theories around mixedness emphasize the importance of clinical sociology as a practice: a reason for theory, connecting the abstract to the everyday.
Ghost in the Kitchen: Multiracial Korean Americans (Re)Defining Cultural Authenticity
Authors: Sprague Justin
Published: April 2022

This scholarly essay explores some techniques that multiracial Korean Americans employ to trouble traditional notions of cultural authenticity as markers for racial/ethnic identity construction. I position multiracial individuals as foils to the common assumptions that cultural authenticity requires “native” lived experience, “full bloodedness”, or a particular level of linguistic competency, in favor of cultural competency, analyzing the web community, HalfKorean.com. The site is a U.S.-based community of multiracial Korean Americans, where narrations of food and Korean motherwork play roles in many elements of the site, and in different ways work to reinforce new and adaptable forms of authenticity. Paying particular attention to the ways that cultural knowledge on the individual level becomes a marker for shaping community, I position Korean motherwork and household practices as vehicles of analysis. These embodied cultural practices inform community building practices, becoming critical variables for multiracial Korean Americans to exert cultural knowledge and expertise, authenticating flexible racial/cultural identities, which is an act of embodying what I term “plastic authenticity”. Multiracial bodies are inherently perceived as racially in-authentic; however, plastic authenticity is a framework that allows for expressions of identity and memory that resist this notion, grounded in their proximity to Korean women/motherhood.
Genetic and Epigenetic Signatures Associated with the Divergence of Aquilegia Species
Authors: Wang Zhenhui , Lu Tianyuan , Li Mingrui , Ding Ning , Lan Lizhen , Gao Xiang , Xiong Aisheng , Zhang Jian , Li Linfeng
Published: April 2022

Widely grown in the Northern Hemisphere, the genus Aquilegia (columbine) is a model system in adaptive radiation research. While morphological variations between species have been associated with environmental factors, such as pollinators, how genetic and epigenetic factors are involved in the rapid divergence in this genus remains under investigated. In this study, we surveyed the genomes and DNA methylomes of ten Aquilegia species, representative of the Asian, European and North American lineages. Our analyses of the phylogeny and population structure revealed high genetic and DNA methylomic divergence across these three lineages. By multi-level genome-wide scanning, we identified candidate genes exhibiting lineage-specific genetic or epigenetic variation patterns that were signatures of inter-specific divergence. We demonstrated that these species-specific genetic variations and epigenetic variabilities are partially independent and are both functionally related to various biological processes vital to adaptation, including stress tolerance, cell reproduction and DNA repair. Our study provides an exploratory overview of how genetic and epigenetic signatures are associated with the diversification of the Aquilegia species.