bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Effects of Altered Precipitation Patterns on Alpine Vegetation Species Composition on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Ni Xiangnan , Guo Wei , Liu Tong , Li Shuheng , Zhang Junzhe
Published: December 2022

Changes in global precipitation patterns have had important impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. However, the relationship between alpine vegetation species composition and precipitation patterns remained uncertain. Based on in situ observations, long-term datasets of monthly aboveground biomass (AGB) and daily precipitation were applied in an alpine grassland on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), in order to characterize the responses of multi-species biomass to changing rainfall patterns. In this study, vegetation species composition exhibited obvious variations during 1997–2011 in alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Rapid increases in weed, Kobresia humilis, and Poa crymophila Keng squeezed the living space of the dominant species, Stipa sareptana var. krylovii. Meanwhile, effective precipitation had stronger effects on vegetation biomass, which were heterogeneous in different precipitation periods. Therefore, the crucial effective precipitation, accounting the effective precipitation in crucial periods, could better explain vegetation biomass variations, which could be a new representative climatic indicator to accurately describe vegetation change in alpine grasslands. In addition, crucial periods of effective precipitation appeared to influence heterogeneity for different vegetation species, which showed the heterogeneous adaptability of species to the changes in precipitation patterns. Precipitation patterns during 1997–2011 were more conducive to the growth of Poa crymophila Keng and Kobresia humilis, thereby changing the species composition in alpine grasslands. The coupling of biological environmental adaptability and abiotic crucial effective precipitation determined the variations of vegetation species composition. The new indicator of crucial effective precipitation could provide a new perspective for studying and predicting the species dynamics of alpine grassland.
Elicitation of Secondary Metabolites in Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. Callus Culture by Crude Mycelial Extract of Fusarium solani and Methyl Jasmonate
Authors: Faizal Ahmad , Esyanti Rizkita Rachmi , Utami Nadia Puji , Azar Alda Wydia Prihartini , Hermawaty Dina , Setiyobudi Titis , Martin Andri Fadillah , Hapsari Betalini Widhi , Turjaman Maman
Published: December 2022

Agarwood is a resinous wood of great economic value produced by trees from the Thymelaeaceae family in response to stress. The natural formation of agarwood can take decades after exposure to the stressors. Artificial agarwood induction by inoculating the stem with fungi has been successfully demonstrated, but resin accumulation occurs very slowly. Cell suspension and callus cultures may serve as an alternative solution to provide a fast-growing plant material to produce artificial agarwood in a short period. Here, we induced agarwood formation in callus cultures of Aquilaria malaccensis by application of crude mycelial extracts of Fusarium solani strains GSL1 or GSL2, or methyl jasmonate (MeJA). After 20 days of treatment with elicitors, all treated calluses had less dry weight than the control group. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis identified 33 different secondary metabolites among all samples, four of which were present in all treatments and control, i.e., 1-docosene and 1-octadecene (alkenes), 4-di-tert-buthylphenol (phenolic), and benzenepropanoic acid (fatty acid). The 6-methoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenethyl)-4H-chromene-4-one, a chromone derivative, was only detected in callus elicited with the F. solani strain GSL2 and MeJA. All treated calli produced more fatty acid derivatives than the control group. We conclude that elicitors used in this study can induce the production of agarwood-related chemicals such as chromone and fatty acid in callus culture.
Assessment of Drought Events in Southwest China in 2009/2010 Using Sun-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence
Authors: Jia Liping , He Yi , Liu Wanqing , Zhang Yaru , Li Yanlin
Published: December 2022

With the increasing trend of global warming, drought events frequently occur, which have an impact on human life and the environment. In this study, an extreme drought event in Southwest China in 2009/2010 was used as an example to explore the potential of using satellite observations of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) for drought monitoring. The results indicated that the SIF observations show more proper responses to drought than EVI, which underestimated the losses by approximately 50%. The SIF reduction in this drought event (19% in March 2010 and 11% in May 2010) was more obvious than that of the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) (4% and 5%). The drought severity index (DSI) overestimates the drought during most dry months. SIF can be a reliable tool for monitoring drought in a timely and accurate manner. In addition, the significant correlation coefficient with SIF and ET (reaching 0.8 at the beginning and end of the drought stage), indicates the ability of SIF to reveal the interaction of carbon and water during drought, which provides us with ideas for future research on the terrestrial carbon–water cycle.
Optimization of Solid-Phase Lactobacillus Fermentation Conditions to Increase γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Content in Selected Substrates
Authors: Kwon Hee-yeon , Choi Ji-soo , Kim Soo-jin , Kim Eun-min , Uhm Ji-hyun , Kim Bo-kyung , Lee Jae-yeon , Kim Yong-deok , Hwang Kwon-tack
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study was to optimize conditions of solid-phase fermentation of lactic acid bacteria to enhance GABA contents in grains. Optimal solid-phase fermentation conditions that could enhance the GABA content after fermenting Oryza sativa (brown rice) were investigated by changing the Lactobacillus strain, fermentation temperature, fermentation time, and inoculated bacteria number. Avena sativa, Cicer arietinum, and red and brown Lens culinaris were then fermented using the optimal solid-phase fermentation conditions to measure changes in GABA content and antioxidant activity. As a result of the experiment, the optimal solid-phase fermentation conditions to enhance the GABA contents in grains were: fermentation time, 48 h; amounts of bacteria, inoculating 5% of 1 × 107 CFU/mL of lactic acid bacteria; and fermentation temperature, 36 °C. When fermented under this condition, the GABA content increased from 4.64 mg/g to 6.93 mg/g (49.0%) compared to unfermented raw material. The results of the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity assays confirmed that both the GABA content and radical scavenging activity were increased after fermentation. Such solid fermentation conditions developed in this study can be used to support the development of health functional food materials with enhanced GABA content and antioxidant activity.
SmartGroup: A Tool for Small-Group Learning Activities
Authors: Zhu Haining , Li Na , Rai Nitish Kumar , Carroll John M.
Published: December 2022

Small-group learning activities (SGLAs) offer varied active learning opportunities and student benefits, but higher education instructors do not universally adopt SGLAs, in part owing to management burdens. We designed and deployed the SmartGroup system, a tool-based approach to minimize instructor burdens while facilitating SGLAs and associated benefits by managing peer group formation and peer group work assessment. SmartGroup was deployed in one course over 10 weeks; iterations of SmartGroup were provided continuously to meet the instructor’s needs. After deployment, the instructor and teaching assistant were interviewed, and 20 anonymous post-study survey responses were collected. The system exposed students to new perspectives, fostered meta-cognitive opportunities, and improved weaker students’ performances while being predominantly well-received in terms of usability and satisfaction. Our work contributes to the literature an exploration of tool-assisted peer group work assessment in higher education and how to promote wider SGLA adoption.
Evaluating the Perceived Quality of Mobile Banking Applications in Croatia: An Empirical Study
Authors: Orehovački Tihomir , Blašković Luka , Kurevija Matej
Published: December 2022

Mobile banking is nowadays a standard service provided by banks worldwide because it adds convenience for people. There is no more rushing to a bank or waiting in lines for a simple transaction that can be conducted from anywhere and at any time in the blink of an eye. To be consumed by a respective amount of bank clients regularly, mobile banking applications are required to be continuously improved and updated, be in line with recent security standards, and meet quality requirements. This paper tackles the perceived quality of mobile banking applications that are most commonly used in Croatia and has three objectives in that respect. The first one is to identify the extent to which pragmatic and hedonic dimensions of quality contribute to customers’ satisfaction and their behavioral intentions related to the continuous use of mobile banking applications. The second one is to determine if there are significant differences in the perceived quality between users of diverse mobile banking applications as well as between users who belong to different age groups. The last one is to uncover the advantages and disadvantages of evaluated mobile banking applications. For this purpose, an empirical study was carried out, during which data were collected with an online questionnaire. The sample was composed of 130 participants who are representative and regular users of mobile banking applications. The psychometric features of the proposed research model, which represents an interplay of perceived quality attributes, were tested using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. Differences in the perceived quality among different mobile banking applications and customers of various age groups were explored with Kruskal–Wallis tests. Pros and cons of mobile banking applications were identified with the help of descriptive statistics. Study findings indicate that, in the context of mobile banking applications used in Croatia, feedback quality and responsiveness contribute to the ease of use, usefulness is affected by both ease of use and efficiency, responsiveness has a significant impact on efficiency while ease of use, usefulness, and security of personal data are predictors of customers’ satisfaction which in turn influences their behavioral intentions. While no significant difference exists in the perceived quality of four examined mobile banking applications, we found a significant difference in the perceived quality among three age groups of users of mobile banking applications. The most commonly reported advantages of mobile banking applications were related to facets of their efficiency and usefulness, whereas their main drawback appeared to be the lack of features dealing with the personalization of offered services. The reported and discussed results of an empirical study can be used as a set of guidelines for future advances in the evaluation and design of mobile banking applications.
Liquid Crystal Coated Yarns for Thermo-Responsive Textile Structures
Authors: Agra-Kooijman Deña Mae , Mostafa Md , Krifa Mourad , Ohrn-McDaniel Linda , West John L. , Jákli Antal
Published: December 2022

We have developed a prototype of breathable thermochromic textile ideal for sensor applications, e.g., medical thermography. The textile was woven/knitted from polyester filaments pre-coated with thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) ink, in lieu of coating the TLC ink on the woven/knitted textile. This process brings us closer to achieving breathable thermochromic textiles while enhancing the versatility of the textile. A combination of precoated yarns can be preselected according to the desired thermochromic properties of the textile. Swatches from both knitted and handwoven fabrics showed excellent reversible thermochromic property showing color from red to blue as the temperature is raised from 26 to 32 °C, consistent with the unincorporated TLC ink.
Nutrient Composition of Germinated Foxtail Millet Flour Treated with Mixed Salt Solution and Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water
Authors: Wu Tongjiao , Li Huiying , Li Jiaxin , Hao Jianxiong
Published: December 2022

Germination of millet can improve its consumption quality, optimize its nutritional composition, and promote the accumulation of functional components such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In the present study, foxtail millet was germinated with tap water, a mixed salt solution of 7.5 mmol/L NaCl and 15 mmol/L CaCl2, and slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) with three available chlorine concentrations (ACCs; 10.92, 20.25, and 30.35 mg/L). The effects of the salt solution and SAEW on the germination of foxtail millet and the GABA, crude protein, and amino acid composition of the germinated millet flour were analyzed. The results showed that the salt solution and SAEW treatments promoted the growth of millet sprouts, contributed to the accumulation of GABA in germinated millet flour, and optimized the protein and amino acid composition. The GABA content of germinated foxtail millet flour treated with salt solution for 60 h (336.52 mg/100 g) was 29.5 times higher than that of ungerminated millet flour. In conclusion, the highest GABA content and amino acid scores of germinated millet flour obtained by germination treatment with salt solution at 25 °C and 86% humidity for 60 h were more acceptable for human nutritional requirements.
Effect of Nanoemulsion Containing Enterocin GR17 and Cinnamaldehyde on Microbiological, Physicochemical and Sensory Properties and Shelf Life of Liquid-Smoked Salmon Fillets
Authors: Duan Jiaojiao , Nie Rong , Du Jing , Sun Haoxuan , Liu Guorong
Published: December 2022

The spoilage of liquid-smoked salmon represented a serious restriction for shelf life, due to the loss of taste, smell, color and consistency in product quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of applying a nanoemulsion delivery system co-encapsulated enterocin Gr17 and essential oils (EOs) to the refrigerated storage of liquid-smoked salmon. The synergistic inhibiting effects of enterocin Gr17 and EOs were evaluated, a nanoemulsion delivery system with the optimal combination was developed, and the evolution of the microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory properties of liquid-smoked salmon fillets were analyzed during a 49-day period of refrigerated storage. The results showed that the combination of enterocin Gr17 and cinnamaldehyde essential oil (CEO) displayed the strongest synergistic inhibiting effect on foodborne pathogens. A nanoemulsion system incorporating enterocin Gr17 and CEO was successfully developed and presented a broad spectrum of activity against most of the tested bacteria. A nanoemulsion system incorporating enterocin Gr17 and CEO (CO-NE) could significantly inhibit the growth of microflora, suppress the accumulation of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), and maintain better color, texture, and sensory profiles during smoked salmon storage at 4 °C. Overall, from a microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory point of view, the CO-NE treatment could extend the shelf life to 42 days and maintain the relatively low TVB-N value (≤15.38 mg/100 g), TBARS value (≤2.51 mg MDA/kg), as well as a relatively high sensory score (≥5.83) during the whole storage period. Hence, a nanoemulsion system incorporating enterocin Gr17 and CEO could be a promising bio-preservative technology and alternative to the conventional processes used for improving the safety and quality of chilled liquid-smoked salmon.
Wake Up! Resuscitation of Viable but Nonculturable Bacteria: Mechanism and Potential Application
Authors: Pan Hanxu , Ren Qing
Published: December 2022

The viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state is a survival strategy for bacteria when encountered with unfavorable conditions. Under favorable environments such as nutrient supplementation, external stress elimination, or supplementation with resuscitation-promoting substances, bacteria will recover from the VBNC state, which is termed “resuscitation”. The resuscitation phenomenon is necessary for proof of VBNC existence, which has been confirmed in different ways to exclude the possibility of culturable-cell regrowth. The resuscitation of VBNC cells has been widely studied for the purpose of risk control of recovered pathogenic or spoilage bacteria. From another aspect, the resuscitation of functional bacteria can also be considered a promising field to explore. To support this point, the resuscitation mechanisms were comprehensively reviewed, which could provide the theoretical foundations for the application of resuscitated VBNC cells. In addition, the proposed applications, as well as the prospects for further applications of resuscitated VBNC bacteria in the food industry are discussed in this review.
In Vitro Assessment of the Prebiotic Potential of Xylooligosaccharides from Barley Straw
Authors: Álvarez Cristina , González Alberto , Ballesteros Ignacio , Gullón Beatriz , Negro María José
Published: December 2022

Barley straw was subjected to hydrothermal pretreatment (steam explosion) processing to evaluate its potential as a raw material to produce xylooligosaccharides (XOS) suitable for use as a prebiotic. The steam explosion pretreatment generated a liquid fraction containing solubilised hemicellulose. This fraction was purified using gel permeation chromatography to obtain a fraction rich in XOS DP2-DP6. The sample was characterised through analytical techniques such as HPAEC-PAD, FTIR and MALDI-TOF-MS. The prebiotic activity was evaluated using in vitro fermentation in human faecal cultures through the quantification of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and lactate production, the evolution of the pH and the consumption of carbon sources. The total SCFA production at the end of fermentation (30 h) was 90.1 mM. Positive significant differences between the amount of XOS from barley straw and fructooligosaccharides after incubation were observed.
Double-Camera Fusion System for Animal-Position Awareness in Farming Pens
Authors: Huo Shoujun , Sun Yue , Guo Qinghua , Tan Tao , Bolhuis J. Elizabeth , Bijma Piter , de With Peter H. N.
Published: December 2022

In livestock breeding, continuous and objective monitoring of animals is manually unfeasible due to the large scale of breeding and expensive labour. Computer vision technology can generate accurate and real-time individual animal or animal group information from video surveillance. However, the frequent occlusion between animals and changes in appearance features caused by varying lighting conditions makes single-camera systems less attractive. We propose a double-camera system and image registration algorithms to spatially fuse the information from different viewpoints to solve these issues. This paper presents a deformable learning-based registration framework, where the input image pairs are initially linearly pre-registered. Then, an unsupervised convolutional neural network is employed to fit the mapping from one view to another, using a large number of unlabelled samples for training. The learned parameters are then used in a semi-supervised network and fine-tuned with a small number of manually annotated landmarks. The actual pixel displacement error is introduced as a complement to an image similarity measure. The performance of the proposed fine-tuned method is evaluated on real farming datasets and demonstrates significant improvement in lowering the registration errors than commonly used feature-based and intensity-based methods. This approach also reduces the registration time of an unseen image pair to less than 0.5 s. The proposed method provides a high-quality reference processing step for improving subsequent tasks such as multi-object tracking and behaviour recognition of animals for further analysis.
Comparison of Binding Properties of a Laccase-Treated Pea Protein–Sugar Beet Pectin Mixture with Methylcellulose in a Bacon-Type Meat Analogue
Authors: Moll Pascal , Salminen Hanna , Stadtmueller Lucie , Schmitt Christophe , Weiss Jochen
Published: December 2022

A bacon-type meat analogue consists of different structural layers, such as textured protein and a fat mimetic. To obtain a coherent and appealing product, a suitable binder must glue those elements together. A mixture based on pea protein and sugar beet pectin (r = 2:1, 25% w/w solids, pH 6) with and without laccase addition and a methylcellulose hydrogel (6% w/w) serving as benchmark were applied as binder between textured protein and a fat mimetic. A tensile strength test, during which the layers were torn apart, was performed to measure the binding ability. The pea protein–sugar beet pectin mixture without laccase was viscoelastic and had medium and low binding strength at 25 °C (F ≤ 3.5 N) and 70 °C (F ≈ 1.0 N), respectively. The addition of laccase solidified the mixture and increased binding strength at 25 °C (F ≥ 4.0 N) and 70 °C (F ≈ 2.0 N), due to covalent bonds within the binder and between the binder and the textured protein or the fat mimetic layers. Generally, the binding strength was higher when two textured protein layers were glued together. The binding properties of methylcellulose hydrogel was low (F ≤ 2.0 N), except when two fat mimetic layers were bound due to hydrophobic interactions becoming dominant. The investigated mixed pectin–pea protein system is able serve as a clean-label binder in bacon-type meat analogues, and the application in other products seems promising.
Phenolic Profile and the Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Properties of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) Meal: A Prospective Study
Authors: de Souza Silva Anna Paula , de Camargo Adriano Costa , Lazarini Josy Goldoni , Franchin Marcelo , Sardi Janaina de Cassia Orlandi , Rosalen Pedro Luiz , de Alencar Severino Matias
Published: December 2022

The mechanical extraction of oils from Brazilian açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart) produces significant amounts of a byproduct known as “meal”, which is frequently discarded in the environment as waste material. Nevertheless, plant byproducts, especially those from oil extraction, may contain residual polyphenols in their composition and be a rich source of natural bioactive compounds. In this study, the phenolic composition and in vitro biological properties of a hydroethanolic açaí meal extract were elucidated. The major compounds tentatively identified in the extract by high-resolution mass spectrometry were anthocyanins, flavones, and flavonoids. Furthermore, rhamnocitrin is reported in an açaí byproduct for the first time. The extract showed reducing power and was effective in scavenging the ABTS radical cation (820.0 µmol Trolox equivalent∙g−1) and peroxyl radical (975.7 µmol Trolox equivalent∙g−1). NF-κB activation was inhibited at 10 or 100 µg∙mL−1 and TNF-α levels were reduced at 100 µg∙mL−1. However, the antibacterial effects against ESKAPE pathogens was not promising due to the high concentration needed (1250 or 2500 µg∙mL−1). These findings can be related to the diverse polyphenol-rich extract composition. To conclude, the polyphenol-rich extract obtained from açaí meal showed relevant biological activities that may have great applicability in the food and nutraceutical industries.
Association of Slowly Digestible Starch Intake with Reduction of Postprandial Glycemic Response: An Update Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Yanli , Zhou Xiao , Xiang Xuesong , Miao Ming
Published: December 2022

Slowly digestible starch (SDS) has been shown to digest slowly throughout the entire small intestine, generating slow and prolonged release of glucose, according to the in vitro Englyst assay. The aim of this work was to conduct a meta-analysis of up-to-date evidence to evaluate the association between SDS consumption and a reduction in the postprandial glycemic response, including extended glycemic index (EGI) or glycemic profile (GP) parameters, during in vivo digestion. We searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Europe PMC, Cochrane Library, and Embase to identify related articles published up to September 2022. Human trials investigating the effect of the SDS amount on the postprandial glucose profile were estimated at the standard mean difference (SMD), with a 95% confidence interval (CI), using random effect models. The review followed the systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The meta-analysis included a total of 65 participants. The results revealed that the EGI experienced a greater increase (SMD = 24.61, I2 = 79.2%, p < 0.01) after SDS intake, while the GP exhibited similar trends (SMD = 29.18, I2 = 73.3%, p < 0.01). High heterogeneity vanished in the subgroup and sensitivity analysis (EGI: I2 = 14.6%, p = 0.31; GP: I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.97). There was no evidence of publication bias for EGI (p = 0.41) or GP (p = 0.99).The present meta-analysis provides evidence that SDS intake is positively correlated with EGI and GP levels. The quantitative relationship of the reduction in the postprandial glycemic response and SDS consumption was used to quantify the slow digestion property on an extended time scale, and supplement the in vitro concept of SDS.
Effects of Brines and Containers on Flavor Production of Chinese Pickled Chili Pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) during Natural Fermentation
Authors: Zhang Shiyao , Xiao Yue , Jiang Yongli , Wang Tao , Cai Shengbao , Hu Xiaosong , Yi Junjie
Published: December 2022

The effects of (fresh/aged) brine and (pool/jar) containers on the flavor characteristics of pickled chili peppers were investigated based on a multivariate analysis integrated with kinetics modeling. The results showed that the effect of brine on organic acid, sugar, and aroma was more dominant than that of containers, while free amino acids production was more affected by containers than brines. Chili pepper fermented using aged brine exhibited higher acidity (3.71–3.92) and sugar (7.92–8.51 mg/g) than that using fresh brine (respective 3.79–3.96; 6.50–9.25 mg/g). Besides, chili peppers fermented using pool containers showed higher free amino acids content (424.74–478.82 mg/100 g) than using a jar (128.77–242.90 mg/100 g), particularly with aged brine. As for aroma, the number of volatiles in aged brine was higher (88–96) than that in fresh brine (76–80). The contents of the esters, alcohols, and ketones were significantly higher in the aged brine samples than those in fresh brine (p < 0.05), while terpenes in chili pepper fermented using the pool were higher than those using the jar. In general, jar fermentation with aged brine contributed more flavor to pickled chili peppers than other procedures.
The Interactional Characterization of Lentil Protein Isolate (LPI) with Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside (C3G) and Their Effect on the Stability and Antioxidant Activity of C3G
Authors: Qian Hongxia , Guo Fanghua , Xiong Hua , Zhang Hua , Jiang Li , Sun Yong
Published: December 2022

The interaction between lentil protein isolate (LPI) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) was investigated via with UV–vis spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy and the stability of anthocyanin was also evaluated. After LPI mixed with C3G, the turbidity and foaming capacity increased and the particle size and surface charge did not change significantly, while the surface hydrophobicity decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The fluorescence results indicated that C3G quenched the intrinsic of LPI by static quenching and LPI bound with C3G via hydrophobic effects with Ka of 3.24 × 106 M−1 at 298 K. The addition of LPI significantly (p < 0.05) slightly decreased the thermal and oxidation degradation of C3G by up to 90.23% and 54.20%, respectively, while their antioxidant activity was inhibited upon mixing. These alterations of physicochemical properties might be attributed to their structural changes during the interaction. The obtained results would be of help in stabilizing bioactive compounds and the development of functional foods.
The Chemical Composition Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Cooking Fume Condensates from Residential Kitchens in Different Regions of China
Authors: Liu Qinghong , Zhang Xiaofang , Yang Yan , Tang Qiuxia , Zheng Liting , Lou Hongwei , Chen Huaguo , Yang Qin
Published: December 2022

The aim of this study was to explore the similarities and differences of volatile organic pollutants (VOCs) in cooking fumes (COF) of residential buildings in different regions of China, as well as to evaluate their potential health risks. COF condensates were collected from 10 representative cities in China and analyzed by a GC–MS method. Their effects on α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were then detected to evaluate potential health risks. A total of 174 kinds of VOCs, including aldehydes, esters, hydrocarbons, alcohols, and carboxylic acid, were identified. There were 59 identical compounds in the northern and southern regions, and 56 common compounds in spicy and non-spicy regions. Health risk assessment results showed that COF condensate could inhibit the activity of α-glucosidase to varying degrees (61.73–129.25%), suggesting that it had a potential risk of causing hypoglycemia. Daily and 3 and 6 month intakes of COF in minors, adults, and the elderly had both activated and inhibited effects on AchE. The activated effect in the southern and spicy areas was higher than that in northern and non-spicy areas, revealing that different regions and dietary habits had different effects on the risk of neurological diseases caused by changes in AchE activity. For minors, adults, and the elderly, COF had different degrees of activation of LDH at different exposure times and regions. Activation in the northern and non-spicy areas was higher than that in southern and spicy areas, suggesting that the health risks caused by changes in LDH activity levels were significantly increased.
In Vitro Assessment of Yeasts Strains with Probiotic Attributes for Aquaculture Use
Authors: Diguță Camelia Filofteia , Mihai Constanța , Toma Radu Cristian , Cîmpeanu Carmen , Matei Florentina
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to investigate in vitro the probiotic potential of three yeasts strains (BB06, OBT05, and MT07) isolated from agro-food natural sources. Screening was performed, including several functional, technological, and safety aspects of the yeast strains, in comparison to a reference Saccharomyces boulardii, to identify the ones with suitable probiotic attributes in aquaculture. The yeast strains were identified by 5.8S rDNA-ITS region sequencing as Metschnikowia pulcherrima OBT05, Saccharomyces cerevisiae BB06, and Torulaspora delbrueckii MT07. All yeast strains were tolerant to different temperatures, sodium chloride concentrations, and wide pH ranges. S. cerevisiae BB06 showed a strong and broad antagonistic activity. Moreover, the S. cerevisiae strain exhibited a high auto-aggregation ability (92.08 ± 1.49%) and good surface hydrophobicity to hexane as a solvent (53.43%). All of the yeast strains have excellent antioxidant properties (>55%). The high survival rate in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) can promote yeast isolates as probiotics. All yeast strains presented a resistance pattern to the antibacterial antibiotics. Non-hemolytic activity was detected. Furthermore, freeze-drying with cryoprotective agents maintained a high survival rate of yeast strains, in the range of 74.95–97.85%. According to the results obtained, the S. cerevisiae BB06 strain was found to have valuable probiotic traits.
Use of Tuna Visceral Pepsin in Combination with Trypsin as Digestion Aid: Enhanced Protein Hydrolysis and Bioavailability
Authors: Patil Umesh , Saetang Jirakrit , Zhang Bin , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: December 2022

Freeze-dried tuna pepsin powder (TPP) was prepared using maltodextrin (10%) and trehalose (5%), while trypsin-loaded beads (TLB) with 5% glycerol were obtained via chitosan/alginate ionotropic gelation. The storage stability of TPP and TLB and their proteolytic activity toward red kidney bean protein (RKB), threadfin bream surimi (TBS) and egg white protein (EWP) in varying simulated in vitro gastrointestinal (GI) tract conditions were studied. The intestinal transepithelial transportation of generated peptides was also carried out through Caco-2 cell monolayers after the cytotoxicity test. Enzyme activity was dropped when TPP and TLB in blister packs were kept for 10 weeks of storage at room (28 °C) and refrigerated (4 °C) temperatures. TPP and TLB at a level of 50% (w/w of proteins) effectively hydrolyzed RKB, TBS and EWP in a simulated in vitro GI tract, as indicated by marked protein degradation and increased degree of hydrolysis. Some peptides generated after GI digestion could transport through Caco-2 cell monolayers. Those peptides had different molecular size distribution and antioxidant activities. The highest antioxidant activity was observed for RKB hydrolysate after passing through the Caco-2 cell monolayer. Therefore, TPP and TLB from skipjack tuna viscera could potentially be used for enzyme supplementation to help digest food proteins. Food-derived bioactive peptides generated after GI digestion could assist in improving human health due to their antioxidant activity.
The Effects of Sous Vide, Microwave Cooking, and Stewing on Some Quality Criteria of Goose Meat
Authors: Wereńska Monika , Haraf Gabriela , Okruszek Andrzej , Marcinkowska Weronika , Wołoszyn Janina
Published: December 2022

Background: Heat treatment methods including frying (with and without fat or oil), deep frying, oven roasting, grilling, charcoal roasting, broiling, steaming, and microwave cooking promote a cascade of adverse changes in the functional properties of meat, including protein fraction, lipid oxidation, and loss of some vitamins and mineral compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of three cooking methods (sous vide (SV), microwave (M) cooking, and stewing (S)) on the basic chemical composition, cholesterol content, energy value, mineral concentration, and retention coefficients in goose meat. Methods: Basic chemical composition and mineral analysis were determined using AOAC methods. Total cholesterol content was established using the HPLC method. Results: Both types of goose meat (without and with skin) and heat treatment had a significant effect on nutrient values, mineral concentration, and retention coefficients. The S meat was characterized by a higher protein content than M and SV meat, and had the lowest fat, protein, and cholesterol retention, among other methods. The M meat had lower total cholesterol content than SV and S meat. There were significant differences in energy value for SV, M, and S meats. The SV meat contained less P, Mg, Fe, Zn, and more Na and K than the M and S samples. The highest values of Zn, Mg, and Fe content and the lowest of K and Ca were recorded in S meat compared with the SV and M samples. The retention coefficients of P, Mg, Na, Ca, and K in S meat were lower than in the SV and M samples. The meat without skin was characterized by a lower energy value, fat content, retention of proteins, and cholesterol, but higher fat retention than skin samples. This meat contained more minerals such as P, Mg, Fe, K, Na, and less Ca than skin meat. Higher retention coefficients were observed for Zn, P, Mg, Ca, and lower were observed for Na, Fe, and K in meat without skin than in samples with skin. Conclusions: From a dietary point of view, the most beneficial were SV muscles without skin. Whereas, taking into account the protein, fat content, and retention coefficients of fat, cholesterol, Zn, and Na, the most optimal form of cooking for meat with skin seems to be stewing. These results may be used by consumers in making dietary choices by taking into account the type of goose meat and kind of heat treatment.
Petviashvili Method for the Fractional Schrödinger Equation
Authors: Bayındır Cihan , Farazande Sofi , Altintas Azmi Ali , Ozaydin Fatih
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we extend the Petviashvili method (PM) to the fractional nonlinear Schrödinger equation (fNLSE) for the construction and analysis of its soliton solutions. We also investigate the temporal dynamics and stabilities of the soliton solutions of the fNLSE by implementing a spectral method, in which the fractional-order spectral derivatives are computed using FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) routines, and the time integration is performed by a 4th order Runge–Kutta time-stepping algorithm. We discuss the effects of the order of the fractional derivative, α, on the properties, shapes, and temporal dynamics of the soliton solutions of the fNLSE. We also examine the interaction of those soliton solutions with zero, photorefractive and q-deformed Rosen–Morse potentials. We show that for all of these potentials, the soliton solutions of the fNLSE exhibit a splitting and spreading behavior, yet their dynamics can be altered by the different forms of the potentials and noise considered.
Fuzzy Analysis of Artificial Drug Transmission Model with Optimal Control
Authors: Murthy B. S. N. , Díaz Palencia José Luis , Madhusudanan V. , Srinivas M. N. , Gul Nadia , Zeb Anwar
Published: December 2022

This article presents an artificial drug abusers system consolidating the impact of treatment with psychological and physiological addicts under fuzzy parameters. In the fuzzy model, all of the parameters are considered to be triangular fuzzy numbers to represent the uncertainty that pervaded the dynamics. To handle the arrangements while avoiding problems, the fuzzy model is turned into a defuzzified model using the utility function method. The fuzzy model’s positivity and boundedness are carefully explored, and an equilibrium analysis is also completed. Both the drug-addict equilibrium and the drug-free equilibrium have established stability analyses. This article explains fuzzy optimum control using Pontryagin’s maximum principle. Finally, it is shown that the treatment alongside counselling and conducting awareness programs is more fruitful and drug-related controlling is more viable in the fuzzy nature. Likewise, we plot the 3D associations with fuzzy parameters which show the inventiveness and appropriateness of the results.
Switching-Jumps-Dependent Quasi-Synchronization Criteria for Fractional-Order Memrisive Neural Networks
Authors: Fan Yingjie , Wei Zhongliang , Li Meixuan
Published: December 2022

This paper investigates the switching-jumps-dependent quasi-synchronization issue for fractional-order memristive neural networks (FMNNs). First, a simplied linear feedback controller is applied. Then, in terms of several fractional order differential inequalities and two kinds of Lyapunov functions, two quasi-synchronization criteria expressed by linear matrix inequality (LMI)-based form and algebraic form are established, respectively. Meanwhile, the co-designed scheme for error bound and control gain is established. Compared with the previous quasi-synchronization results, a strong assumption that the system states must be bounded is removed. Finally, some simulation examples are carried out to display the feasibility and validity of the proposed analysis methods.
DAMNet: A Dual Adjacent Indexing and Multi-Deraining Network for Real-Time Image Deraining
Authors: Zhao Penghui , Zheng Haowen , Tang Suigu , Chen Zongren , Liang Yangyan
Published: December 2022

Image deraining is increasingly critical in the domain of computer vision. However, there is a lack of fast deraining algorithms for multiple images without temporal and spatial features. To fill this gap, an efficient image-deraining algorithm based on dual adjacent indexing and multi-deraining layers is proposed to increase deraining efficiency. The deraining operation is based on two proposals: the dual adjacent method and the joint training method based on multi-deraining layers. The dual adjacent structure indexes pixels from adjacent features of the previous layer to merge with features produced by deraining layers, and the merged features are reshaped to prepare for the loss computation. Joint training method is based on multi-deraining layers, which utilise the pixelshuffle operation to prepare various deraining features for the multi-loss functions. Multi-loss functions jointly compute the structural similarity by loss calculation based on reshaped and deraining features. The features produced by the four deraining layers are concatenated in the channel dimension to obtain the total structural similarity and mean square error. During the experiments, the proposed deraining model is relatively efficient in primary rain datasets, reaching more than 200 fps, and maintains relatively impressive results in single and crossing datasets, demonstrating that our deraining model reaches one of the most advanced ranks in the domain of rain-removing.
Local and Global Mild Solution for Gravitational Effects of the Time Fractional Navier–Stokes Equations
Authors: Abuasbeh Kinda , Shafqat Ramsha , Niazi Azmat Ullah Khan , Salman Hassan J. Al , Ghafli Ahmed A. Al , Awadalla Muath
Published: December 2022

The gravitational effect is a physical phenomenon that explains the motion of a conductive fluid flowing under the impact of an exterior gravitational force. In this paper, we work on the Navier–Stokes equations (NSES) of the fluid flowing under the impact of an exterior gravitational force inclined at an angle of 45∘ with A time-fractional derivative of order β∈(0,1). To encourage anomalous diffusion in fractal media, we apply these equations. In Hδ,r, we prove the existence and uniqueness of local and global mild solutions. Additionally, we provide moderate local solutions in Jr. Additionally, we establish the regularity and existence of classical solutions to these equations in Jr.
Hepatobiliary Impairments in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: The Current Approach
Authors: Ionescu Vlad Alexandru , Gheorghe Gina , Varlas Valentin Nicolae , Stanescu Ana Maria Alexandra , Diaconu Camelia Cristina
Published: December 2022

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to chronic conditions with a low mortality but high disability. The multisystemic nature of these diseases can explain the appearance of some extraintestinal manifestations, including liver damage. Abnormal liver biochemical tests can be identified in approximately one third of patients with IBD and chronic liver disease in 5% of them. Among the liver diseases associated with IBD are primary sclerosing cholangitis, cholelithiasis, fatty liver disease, hepatic amyloidosis, granulomatous hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, venous thromboembolism, primary biliary cholangitis, IgG4-related cholangiopathy, autoimmune hepatitis, liver abscesses or the reactivation of viral hepatitis. The most common disease is primary sclerosing cholangitis, a condition diagnosed especially in patients with ulcerative colitis. The progress registered in recent years in the therapeutic management of IBD has not eliminated the risk of drug-induced liver disease. Additionally, the immunosuppression encountered in these patients increases the risk of opportunistic infections, including the reactivation of viral hepatitis. Currently, one of the concerns consists of establishing an efficiency and safety profile of the use of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) among patients with hepatitis C and IBD. Early diagnosis and optimal treatment of liver complications can improve the prognoses of these patients.
Study of Thixotropic Characteristics of a Kerosene Gel Propellant by Bayesian Optimization
Authors: Zhou Hao , Chen Cai , Feng Feng , Zhou Changsheng , Zhang Wenling , Wu Wei-Tao
Published: December 2022

The rheological behavior of gel propellants is crucial for their practical applications, especially in the rocket engine and ramjet fields. The thixotropic characteristics of gel propellants are an important component of their rheological properties and have a notable impact on their flow and injection process. However, most gel propellants contain rich, dynamic cross-linked network structures, which impart complex non-Newtonian fluid properties, and it is difficult to establish a unified mathematical model. In view of this, this study addresses the thixotropy of a prepared RP-3 kerosene gel and determines the mathematical model and model parameters describing its thixotropy. Experiments show that the kerosene gel exhibits shear-thinning properties as well as thixotropy. To describe the microstructural changes in the gel, three thixotropic constitutive models are introduced to analyze the rheological data, and the constitutive equation parameters are optimized. The three models are all structural dynamic models, which can be used to describe microstructural changes within the material. In addition, the fitting of the constitutive equation is a multiparameter optimization problem, and an appropriate optimization method must be used for parameter fitting. Therefore, the Bayesian optimization method combined with Gaussian process regression and the upper confidence bound (UCB) acquisition function is used in the multiparameter fitting of the constitutive models. Both experiments and numerical results show that the thixotropic model, which introduces a pre-factor with shear strain and assumes that the breakdown of the gel structure is related to energy dissipation rather than the shear rate, has a better fitting effect and prediction ability with regard to the gel. Combined with transient experiments at different shear rates, the model parameters of the constitutive law can be determined quickly by applying the Bayesian optimization method.
Synthesis of Hydrogels and Their Progress in Environmental Remediation and Antimicrobial Application
Authors: Song Mengshan , Wang Jingfeng , He Jiabei , Kan Dongxiao , Chen Kaiyun , Lu Jialu
Published: December 2022

As a kind of efficient adsorptive material, hydrogel has a wide application prospect within different fields, owing to its unique 3D network structures composed of polymers. In this paper, different synthetic strategies, crosslinking methods and their corresponding limitations and outstanding contributions of applications in the fields of removing environmental pollutants are reviewed to further provide a prospective view of their applications in water resources sustainability. Furthermore, the applications within the biomedical field, especially in wound dressing, are also reviewed in this paper, mainly due to their unique water retention ability, antibacterial ability, and good biocompatibility. Finally, the development direction of hydrogels in the fields of environmental remediation and biomedicine were summarized and prospected.