bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personalized Tour Recommendation via Analyzing User Tastes for Travel Distance, Diversity and Popularity
Authors: Lee Jongsoo , Shin Jung Ah , Chae Dong-Kyu , Lee Sang-Chul
Published: April 2022

The goal of a tour recommendation is to recommend the best destinations according to the preferences of each tourist. The task of tour recommendation is challenging in that it not only has to consider the ratings, as do existing traditional recommendation problems, but it must also consider the personalization of the unique characteristics, such as diversity, travel distance, and popularity of the travel destination, which previous studies have failed to take into account. In this paper, we propose, for the first time, aspect personalization: we find out how important each user considers the diversity, distance and popularity of a travel destination when choosing where to visit. Then, we provide recommendations on tourist attractions by combining the personalized score for each factor and the predicted score. For the evaluation, we gathered user ratings and metadata of POIs from TripAdvisor and Naver. Experimental results showed that the proposed method had an 82%, 24% and 20% improvement in precision and a 129%, 35% and 22% improvement in recall in terms of top-1, top-2 and top-3 recommendations.
Linear, High Dynamic Range Isolated Skin Resistance Transducer Circuit for Neurophysiological Research in Individuals after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Vítězník Martin , Veselý Tomáš , Kliment Radim , Smrčka Pavel , Kriz Jiri
Published: April 2022

The quantification of skin resistance in individuals after spinal cord injury for the purpose of neurophysiological research is difficult, mainly as a consequence of decreased activity of sweat glands in the injured human organism. In this original work, we propose a custom electrical skin resistance transducer, featuring extremely low patient auxiliary current, linear response and high dynamic range. After the design and fabrication of the prototype device, we conducted preliminary benchmark tests. We found that our prototype transducer was able to linearly report a broad range of resistance presented to its input terminals, which is not usually found in skin resistance research instrumentation. The basic design idea is viable and, following further research, an improved version of presented prototype device may be used for the purpose of neurophysiological research in individuals after spinal cord injury.
A Systematic Guide for Predicting Remaining Useful Life with Machine Learning
Authors: Berghout Tarek , Benbouzid Mohamed
Published: April 2022

Prognosis and health management (PHM) are mandatory tasks for real-time monitoring of damage propagation and aging of operating systems during working conditions. More definitely, PHM simplifies conditional maintenance planning by assessing the actual state of health (SoH) through the level of aging indicators. In fact, an accurate estimate of SoH helps determine remaining useful life (RUL), which is the period between the present and the end of a system’s useful life. Traditional residue-based modeling approaches that rely on the interpretation of appropriate physical laws to simulate operating behaviors fail as the complexity of systems increases. Therefore, machine learning (ML) becomes an unquestionable alternative that employs the behavior of historical data to mimic a large number of SoHs under varying working conditions. In this context, the objective of this paper is twofold. First, to provide an overview of recent developments of RUL prediction while reviewing recent ML tools used for RUL prediction in different critical systems. Second, and more importantly, to ensure that the RUL prediction process from data acquisition to model building and evaluation is straightforward. This paper also provides step-by-step guidelines to help determine the appropriate solution for any specific type of driven data. This guide is followed by a classification of different types of ML tools to cover all the discussed cases. Ultimately, this review-based study uses these guidelines to determine learning model limitations, reconstruction challenges, and future prospects.
Electrochemical Performance of Highly Conductive Nanocrystallized Glassy Alluaudite-Type Cathode Materials for NIBs
Authors: Nowagiel Maciej , Samsel Mateusz J. , Kazakevicius Edvardas , Zalewska Aldona , Kežionis Algimantas , Pietrzak Tomasz K.
Published: April 2022

Alluaudite-type materials are systematically attracting more attention as prospective cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. It has been demonstrated that optimized thermal nanocrystallization of glassy analogs of various cathode materials may lead to a significant increase in their electrical conductivity. In this paper, three alluaudite-like glasses (Na2Fe3(PO4)3—FFF, Na2VFe2(PO4)3—VFF, and Na2VFeMn(PO4)3—VFM) were synthesized and subjected to an optimized thermal nanocrystallization. This procedure resulted in nanostructured samples with increased electrical conductivity at room temperature: 5×10−7 S/cm (FFF), 7×10−5 S/cm (VFM), and 6×10−4 S/cm (VFF). The nanocrystalline microstructure was also evidenced by ultra-high-frequency impedance spectroscopy (up to 10 GHz) and proposed electrical equivalent circuits. Prototype electrochemical cells were assembled and characterized with voltage cutoffs of 1.5 and 4.5 V. The electrochemical performance was, however, modest. The gravimetric capacity varied between the studied materials, but did not exceed 35 mAh/g. Capacity retention after ca. 100 cycles was satisfactory. Further optimization of the residual-glass-to-nanocrystallite volume ratio would be desirable.
Geomechanically Sustainable Gas Hydrate Production Using a 3D Geological Model in the Ulleung Basin of the Korean East Sea
Authors: Lee Taehun , Son Hanam , Lee Jooyong , Ahn Taewoong , Kang Nyeonkeon
Published: April 2022

Although various simulation studies on gas hydrate production have been conducted, a single vertical well in the cylindrical system has been adopted in most research. However, this system has a limited ability to predict commercial production in gas hydrate reservoirs. In order to facilitate commercial production, a field-scale reservoir model with a multi-well system must be constructed using geological data, such as seismic data, well logging data, core data, etc. The depressurization method is regarded as a practical production strategy because it has high levels of production efficiency and economical effectiveness. However, this method can lead to subsidence due to the increased effective stress. In this work, we studied a production simulation strategy for commercial gas hydrate production. A three-dimensional geological model with a realistic field scale is constructed using seismic and well logging data from the Ulleung Basin of the Korean East Sea. All of the grids are refined in the I and J direction, and the grids near the production well are very small to consider realistic hydrate dissociation. The cyclic depressurization method is adopted for the increase in the geomechanical stability, rather than the non-cyclic depressurization method. Various case studies are conducted with alternating bottomhole pressures for the primary and secondary depressurization stages over 100 days. Geomechanical stability is significantly enhanced, while cumulative gas production is relatively less reduced or nearly maintained. In particular, all cases of the cumulative gas production at 6 MPa during the secondary depressurization stage are similar to the non-cyclic case, while the geomechanical stabilities of those cases are restored. This study is thought to have contributed to the development of technology for commercial gas hydrate production with a geomechanical stability study using a reservoir-scale model with a multi-well system.
A Visualization and Analysis Method by Multi-Dimensional Crossplots from Multi-Well Heterogeneous Data
Authors: Cao Maojun , Gao Zhiyong , Yuan Ye , Yan Zhao , Zhang Yihong
Published: April 2022

Crossplot is an important tool for data visualization analysis in well logging processing and interpretation. Generally, the color of the points in the crossplot is calibrated by the data to improve the plane crossplot from two dimensions (2D) to three dimensions (3D). However, this method is limited to the logging data. In many cases, it is necessary to use crossplots for comprehensive evaluation with the well logging, geology, mud logging, and oil testing data, or to deeply analyze the data from multiple wells and multiple layers. The traditional crossplots cannot meet the demands. To expand the traditional crossplot to multiple dimensions, we proposed an augmented-dimensional visualization and analysis method by the crossplot with multi-well and multi-dimensional heterogeneous data, which is developed based on the traditional crossplots. Firstly, we built the match matrix of the augmented-dimensional heterogeneous data from different depths and set up the crossplots of the heterogeneous data after depth normalization. In this way, the attribute calibrations of the points in the crossplots by logging data were realized, and the auxiliary figures of the augmented-dimensional crossplots were established. In addition, the crossplots were expanded to more dimensions by collaborative analysis of the multiple crossplots and synchronous display in different single-well and multi-well modules with the feature points projection. Secondly, we established the display method of the crossplots from multi-well data by quadtree index. The display and interaction performance of the augmented-dimensional crossplots under the conditions of large amount of data from multiple wells were greatly improved by optimizing the overlapped and covered points in the crossplots. This method can provide more information about the reservoirs and realize the comprehensive well logging comparison, analysis, and visualization from different views. It has been developed and integrated into a CIFLog software platform and has been widely used in many domestic oilfields.
Coupled Electrohydrodynamic and Thermocapillary Instability of Multi-Phase Flows Using an Incompressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Method
Authors: Almasi Fatemeh , Hopp-Hirschler Manuel , Hadjadj Abdellah , Nieken Ulrich , Safdari Shadloo Mostafa
Published: April 2022

This paper concerns the study of coupled effects of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) and thermocapillary (TC) on the dynamic behaviour of a single liquid droplet. An incompressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic (ISPH) multiphase model is used to simulate EHD-TC driven flows. The complex hydrodynamic interactions are modeled using the continuum surface force (CSF) method, in which the gradient of the interfacial tension and the Marangoni forces are calculated with an approximated error or 0.014% in the calculation of Marangoni force compared to the analytical solutions which is a significant improvement in comparison with previous SPH simulation studies, under the assumption that the thermocapillarity generates sufficiently large stress to allow droplet migration, while the electrohydrodynamic phenomena influences the droplet morphology depending on the electrical and thermal ratios of the droplet and the ambient fluid. This study shows that, when applying a vertical electric field and thermal gradient, the droplet starts to stretch horizontally towards a break-up condition at a high rate of electrical permitivity. The combined effect of thermal gradient and electric field tends to push further the droplet towards the break-up regime. When the thermal gradient and the electric field vector are orthogonal, results show that the droplet deformation would take place more slowly and the Marangoni forces cause the droplet to migrate, while the stretching in the direction of the electric field is not seen to be as strong as in the first case.
A Battery Management Strategy in a Lead-Acid and Lithium-Ion Hybrid Battery Energy Storage System for Conventional Transport Vehicles
Authors: Zau Andre T. Puati , Lencwe Mpho J. , Chowdhury S. P. Daniel , Olwal Thomas O.
Published: April 2022

Conventional vehicles, having internal combustion engines, use lead-acid batteries (LABs) for starting, lighting, and ignition purposes. However, because of new additional features (i.e., enhanced electronics and start/stop functionalities) in these vehicles, LABs undergo deep discharges due to frequent engine cranking, which in turn affect their lifespan. Therefore, this research study seeks to improve LABs’ performance in terms of meeting the required vehicle cold cranking current (CCC) and long lifespan. The performance improvement is achieved by hybridizing a lead-acid with a lithium-ion battery at a pack level using a fully active topology approach. This topology approach connects the individual energy storage systems to their bidirectional DC-DC converter for ease of control. Besides, a battery management strategy based on fuzzy logic and a triple-loop proportional-integral (PI) controller is implemented for these conversion systems to ensure effective current sharing between lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. A fuzzy logic controller provides a percentage reference current needed from the battery and regulates the batteries’ state-of-charge (SoC) within the desired limits. A triple-loop controller monitors and limits the hybridized system’s current sharing and voltage within the required range during cycling. The hybridized system is developed and validated using Matlab/Simulink. The battery packs are developed using the battery manufacturers’ data sheets. The results of the research, compared with a single LAB, show that by controlling the current flow and maintaining the SoC within the desired limits, the hybrid energy storage system can meet the desired vehicle cold cranking current at a reduced weight. Furthermore, the lead-acid battery lifespan based on a fatigue cycle-model is improved from two years to 8.5 years, thus improving its performance in terms of long lifespan.
A Novel Hybrid Artificial Intelligence Approach to the Future of Global Coal Consumption Using Whale Optimization Algorithm and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System
Authors: Jalaee Mahdis sadat , GhasemiNejad Amin , Jalaee Sayyed Abdolmajid , Amani Zarin Naeeme , Derakhshani Reza
Published: April 2022

Energy has become an integral part of our society and global economic development in the twenty-first century. Despite tremendous technological advancements, fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) continue to be the world’s primary source of energy. Global energy scenarios indicate a change in coal consumption trends in the future, which in turn will have commercial, geopolitical, and environmental consequences. We investigated coal consumption up to 2030 using a new hybrid method of WOANFIS (whale optimization algorithm and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system). The WOANFIS method’s performance was assessed by the MSE (Mean Squared Error), MAE (Mean Absolute Error), STD (error standard deviation), RMSE (Root Mean Squared Error), and coefficient of correlation (R2) among the real dataset and the WOANFIS result. For the prediction of global coal consumption, the proposed WOANFIS had the best MAE, RMSE, and correlation coefficient (R2) values, which were 0.00113, 0.0047, and 0.98, respectively. Lastly, future global coal consumption was predicted up to 2030 by WOANFIS. Following 150 years of coal dominance, the results demonstrate that WOANFIS is a suitable method for estimating worldwide coal consumption, which makes it possible to plan for the transition away from coal.
Bioethanol Production in Poland in the Context of Sustainable Development-Current Status and Future Prospects
Authors: Piwowar Arkadiusz , Dzikuć Maria
Published: April 2022

The high dependence on imported fuels, the need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the need to develop a low-carbon economy are reasons for the development of the renewable energy market in Poland. The wider use of biofuels can be a method for reducing oil dependence and reducing CO2 emission. Opportunities to reduce emissions and meet international requirements in the field of environmental protection are seen, among others, in the development of the production and greater use of biocomponents, including bioethanol. This article presents the current state of development in the area of bioethanol production in Poland. An outline of legal regulations in the examined area and statistical data, as well as the largest producers and their production capacity, are presented. The basic time range of analyses covered the years 2015–2019. According to the analyses, liquid biofuels in Poland are used on a small scale, although over 2015–2019, the production of bioethanol as a biocomponent in motor fuels increased by 43,537 tonnes. However, production potential is still underused. In recent years, there have been major changes in the structure of the use of raw materials for bioethanol production. The share of maize has significantly decreased (although it is still dominant in the consumption structure) in favour of waste raw materials.
Comprehensive Parametric Study of Blockage Effect on the Performance of Horizontal Axis Hydrokinetic Turbines
Authors: Abutunis Abdulaziz , Menta Venkata Gireesh
Published: April 2022

When a hydrokinetic turbine operates in a confined flow, blockage effects are introduced, altering the flow at and downstream of the rotor. Blockage effects have a significant effect on the loading and performance of turbines. As a result, understanding them is critical for hydrokinetic turbine design and performance prediction. The current study examines the main and interaction effects of solidity (σ), tip speed ratio (TSR), blockage ratio (ε), and pitch angle (θ) on how the blockage influences the performance (CP) of a three-bladed, untwisted, untapered horizontal axis hydrokinetic turbine. The investigation is based on validated 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD), design of experiments (DOE), and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) approaches. A total number of 36 CFD models were developed and meshed. A total of 108 CFD cases were performed as part of the analysis. Results indicated that the effect of varying θ was only noticeable at the high TSR. Additionally, the rate of increment of CP with respect to ε was found proportional to both TSR and σ. The power and thrust coefficients were affected the most by σ, followed by ε, TSR, and then θ.
Efficient Flash-D Deperming Protocol for Magnetic Stealth of Submarine Using the Preisach Model
Authors: Im Sang Hyeon
Published: April 2022

Demagnetization is required to prevent a warship from being detected by magnetic mines. However, minimal research has been conducted to establish a suitable deperming protocol, especially the Flash-D protocol. To establish such a deperming protocol, we conducted a theoretical study using Preisach modeling for the Flash-D protocol. Magnetic coercivity distributions were derived from B–H curves representing the material properties of the warship, and a deperming protocol that is effective on particles was proposed. The internal magnetization distribution was analyzed using the program combined with Preisach model and the finite element method (FEM), in accordance with the conventional and proposed protocols, and the proposed method was confirmed to be effective. In addition, the method was verified through experiments in a scaled-down magnetic treatment facility test room. Therefore, the proposed method can be used to establish an effective Flash-D protocol for submarines depending on the hysteresis characteristics of the magnetic material of the warship.
The Kisspeptin System in Male Reproduction
Authors: Meccariello Rosaria
Published: April 2022

The kisspeptin system includes the cleavage products Kiss1 precursor and kisspeptin receptor (Kiss1R). It was originally discovered and studied in cancer metastasis, but the identification of KISS1/KISS1R gene mutations causing hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) revealed unexpected effects in reproduction. Nowadays, the kisspeptin system is the main central gatekeeper of the reproductive axis at puberty and adulthood, but it also has a widespread functional role in the control of endocrine functions. At the periphery, Kiss1 and Kiss1R are expressed in the testes, but the need for kisspeptin signaling for spermatogenesis and sperm quality is still unclear and debated. This brief manuscript summarizes the main findings on kisspeptin and male reproduction; upcoming data on sperm maturation are also discussed.
Gross Primary Production of Dwarf Bamboo, Sasa senanensis, in Cool-Temperate Secondary Forests with Different Canopy Structures
Authors: Cai Yihan , Koido Ririko , Umino Taichi , Sakamoto Hiroki , Hasebe Yuki , Sarmah Ragini , Yoneda Mio , Ida Hideyuki , Hirota Mitsuru
Published: April 2022

Secondary forest accounts for almost 60% of the forest area in Japan. Dwarf bamboo (Sasa senanensis) grows widely in the understory of such forest and could make a significant contribution to the overall CO2 sink function (gross primary production, GPP) of forest ecosystems. It is, therefore, necessary to evaluate the GPP of Sasa in various forests and estimate its controlling factors. In this study, we estimated the Sasa GPP at the community level by using a chamber system in an evergreen coniferous forest, a mixed forest, and a deciduous broadleaved forest. We hypothesized that (1) the seasonal trends of Sasa community GPP and Sasa annual GPP would differ in different forest types, (2) in addition to light intensity, the seasonal changes of the Sasa community GPP would be controlled by different factors in the different forest types. As a result, although the seasonal trends of the Sasa GPP and the controlling factors differed among the three forests, the annual Sasa GPP was almost the same for the three forests. This study reveals the possible effect of forest type on the seasonal trends of Sasa GPP and its controlling factors; however, for the annual Sasa GPP, the length of the growing periods would also be an important factor.
Fermentation Characteristics of Rye and Sorghum Depending on Water:Feed Ratio
Authors: Osman Ahmed , Hartung Clara Berenike , Lingens Jan Berend , Rohn Kerstin , Schreiner Tom , Ahmed Marwa Fawzy Elmetwaly , Hankel Julia , Abd El-Wahab Amr , Visscher Christian
Published: April 2022

This study was conducted to determine the fermentation characteristics of rye or sorghum mixed with different ratios of water (25%, 37.5%, 50%, 62.5%, and 75% in dry matter (DM)), incubated up to 48 h. The pH of the fermented rye at a DM content of 25% after 24 h had the lowest values (3.57) compared to that at a DM content of 75% (6.42). In fermented sorghum, pH values were lower than 4 already after incubation at 25% DM for 12 h (3.93) in comparison to that at DM content 75% (6.51). The L-lactic acid concentration in the fermented rye with 25% DM content after 24 h was significantly the highest (18.7 g/kg DM), as was that of sorghum with 25% DM content after 24 h (22.2 g/kg DM). Moreover, the acetic acid level in the fermented rye with 25% DM content after 24 h was significantly the highest (3.02 g/kg DM) compared to the other DM contents of fermented rye. Also, in fermented sorghum (25% DM), the acetic acid content was significantly the greatest (1.49 g/kg DM) in comparison to the other DM contents of fermented sorghum. Overall, fermented rye and sorghum containing 25 or 37.5% DM for 24 h and 12 h for rye and sorghum, respectively are sufficient for fermentation to be optimized based on the values of pH and lactic acid content, except for acetic acid content, which may negatively affect the palatability in animals.
Fermentation Quality and Bacterial Ecology of Grass Silage Modulated by Additive Treatments, Extent of Compaction and Soil Contamination
Authors: Franco Marcia , Tapio Ilma , Pirttiniemi Juho , Stefański Tomasz , Jalava Taina , Huuskonen Arto , Rinne Marketta
Published: April 2022

New technologies related to the identification of bacterial communities in fresh forage and silage may give valuable detailed information on the best practices to produce animal feeds. The objective was to evaluate how management conditions during silage making manipulate the profile of bacterial communities and fermentation quality of grass silages. Silages were prepared from mixed timothy and meadow fescue grass using two compaction levels. As an additional treatment the grass was contaminated with soil and feces prior to tight compaction. Four additive treatments with different modes of action were applied: control without additive, formic acid-based additive, homofermentative lactic acid bacteria and salt-based additive. After 93 days the silos were opened, samples were taken and routinely analyzed. DNA extraction was carried out and PCR amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene V4 region was performed using universal primers. The silage pH was higher for loose than tight compaction and higher for non-contaminated than for contaminated silages. Great shift was observed in bacterial profiles from fresh material towards silage. Lactobacillus genus was barely found on the relative abundance of fresh grass but became predominant in the final silage along with Sphingomonas genus. Use of additives improved fermentation quality and modified the bacterial profiles of grass ensiled under different management conditions.
Effect of Low-Temperature-Tolerant Lactic Acid Bacteria on the Fermentation Quality and Bacterial Community of Oat Silage at 5 °C vs. 15 °C
Authors: Zhu Xiao-Meng , Jiang De-Dai , Yuan Bao-Jie , Ni Kui-Kui
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of low-temperature-tolerant lactic acid bacteria on the fermentation quality and bacterial community of oat silage. Silage treatments were designed as control (with no additives), with FO3, FO5, FO8, and L214 inoculants. After 60 days of ensiling, the fermentation characteristics and bacterial community were analyzed. The results showed that the low-temperature-tolerant lactic acid bacteria were able to reduce the pH and NH3-N and increase crude protein and lactic acid contents. It is worth noting that the addition of FO3 also significantly inhibited butyric acid production. High-throughput sequencing technique showed that at the genus level, Lactiplantibacillus were the dominant bacteria in all oat silages, while at the species level, the bacterial abundance in the treated silages differed significantly from the control. The highest abundance of Lactiplantibacillus sp. was found in the control and L214 groups, while the abundance of Lactiplantibacillus curvatus was most abundant in the silage treated with low-temperature-tolerant lactic acid bacteria. The results indicated the potential effectiveness of low-temperature-tolerant lactic acid bacteria in improving fermentation quality and reducing protein losses.
Statistical Modelling of Downside Risk Spillovers
Authors: Ahelegbey Daniel Felix
Published: April 2022

We study the sensitivity of stock returns to the tail risk of major equity market indices, including the G10 countries. We model the sensitivity relationship via extreme downside hedging and estimate the parameters via a Bayesian graph structural learning method. The empirical application examines whether downside risk connections among the major stock markets are merely anecdotal or provide a signal of contagion and the nature of sensitivity among major equity markets during the global financial crisis and the coronavirus pandemic. The result showed that the COVID-19 crisis recorded the historically highest spike in the downside risk interconnectedness among the major equity market indices, suggesting higher financial market vulnerability in the coronavirus pandemic than during the global financial crisis.
Arabinoxylans as Functional Food Ingredients: A Review
Authors: Zannini Emanuele , Bravo Núñez Ángela , Sahin Aylin W. , Arendt Elke K.
Published: April 2022

The health benefits of fibre consumption are sound, but a more compressive understanding of the individual effects of different fibres is still needed. Arabinoxylan is a complex fibre that provides a wide range of health benefits strongly regulated by its chemical structure. Arabinoxylans can be found in various grains, such as wheat, barley, or corn. This review addresses the influence of the source of origin and extraction process on arabinoxylan structure. The health benefits related to short-chain fatty acid production, microbiota regulation, antioxidant capacity, and blood glucose response control are discussed and correlated to the arabinoxylan’s structure. However, most studies do not investigate the effect of AX as a pure ingredient on food systems, but as fibres containing AXs (such as bran). Therefore, AX’s benefit for human health deserves further investigation. The relationship between arabinoxylan structure and its physicochemical influence on cereal products (pasta, cookies, cakes, bread, and beer) is also discussed. A strong correlation between arabinoxylan’s structural properties (degree of branching, solubility, and molecular mass) and its functionalities in food systems can be observed. There is a need for further studies that address the health implications behind the consumption of arabinoxylan-rich products. Indeed, the food matrix may influence the effects of arabinoxylans in the gastrointestinal tract and determine which specific arabinoxylans can be included in cereal and non-cereal-based food products without being detrimental for product quality.
The Content of Selected Bioactive Compounds in Wines Produced from Dehydrated Grapes of the Hybrid Variety ‘Hibernal’ as a Factor Determining the Method of Producing Straw Wines
Authors: Kowalczyk Barbara , Bieniasz Monika , Kostecka-Gugała Anna
Published: April 2022

Sweet wines are appreciated worldwide; many are produced by fermenting the must of dehydrated (semi-dried) grapes, using methods that vary from region to region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the basic chemical and oenological characteristics of wines obtained by three technologies of production. The wines were made from a hybrid cultivar ‘Hibernal’, grown under cool climate conditions. ‘Hibernal’ is a hybrid variety. This ‘Hibernal’ variety is widely cultivated in central and eastern Europe, where it is of great economic importance. Wines produced from this variety are popular in local markets. In comparison with the production of varieties belonging to Vitis vinifera, a very small percentage of the ‘Hibernal’ variety is cultivated. The methods used in the experiment for the production of wines were: classical method in the Italian passito style, modification of the passito style with a seven-day maceration of grapes, and a method of production in the Tokaj wine style at five Puttonyos. Basic chemical parameters, acid profile, total phenolic content, antioxidant and antiradical capacities, and quantitative analysis of selected polyphenols was performed. The sensory features and quality of the wines was assessed using a sommelier analysis based on The Wine & Spirit Education Trust guidelines. The results indicated that the seven-day maceration of the dehydrated grapes resulted in the highest polyphenol content, as well as the largest antioxidant and antiradical contents. The oenological evaluation of wines produced by the Tokaj method and Italian passito method with seven-day maceration found that the wines were appreciated due to their rich taste, flavor, and overall quality. The present study confirms the promising opportunities to obtain special sweet wine with a valuable composition and oenological characteristics in regions with cooler climates.
Extract of Ephedra sinica Stapf Induces Browning of Mouse and Human White Adipocytes
Authors: Park Se-Jun , Shon Dong-Hyun , Ryu Yang-Hwan , Ko Yong
Published: April 2022

Browning of adipocytes using herbal extracts is an attractive and realistic strategy for obesity treatment. Ephedra sinica Stapf (E. sinica) is an Asian traditional medicine known to activate brown adipocytes. To evaluate the effect of E. sinica (EEs) on the browning of white adipocytes, expression levels of browning markers, including uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), were determined using qPCR, Western blot, and immunocytochemistry after mature mouse inguinal preadipocyte (mIPA) and human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) were treated with EEs. In addition, mitochondrial activity was determined by analyzing MitoTracker staining, mtDNA copy number, and oxygen consumption rate (OCR). Treatment with EEs suppressed lipid accumulation and expression levels of adipogenic markers, including Pparg, during mIPA differentiation. In mature mIPA and hADSCs browning markers, including Ucp1, were up-regulated by EEs. In addition, EEs increased expression of mitochondrial genes, mtDNA copy number, and OCR. EEs showed a dual function: inhibiting adipogenesis in immature preadipocytes, and promoting thermogenesis via browning in mature white adipocytes. Therefore, E. sinica is a potential herb for regulating energy metabolism by inducing the browning process.
Nutritional Profile and Health Benefits of Ganoderma lucidum “Lingzhi, Reishi, or Mannentake” as Functional Foods: Current Scenario and Future Perspectives
Authors: El Sheikha Aly Farag El
Published: April 2022

Ganoderma lucidum has a long history of medicinal uses in the Far East countries of more than 2000 years due to its healing properties. Recently, G. lucidum has come under scientific scrutiny to evaluate its content of bioactive components that affect human physiology, and has been exploited for potent components in the pharmacology, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics industries. For instance, evidence is accumulating on the potential of this mushroom species as a promising antiviral medicine for treating many viral diseases, such as dengue virus, enterovirus 71, and recently coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Still, more research studies on the biotherapeutic components of G. lucidum are needed to ensure the safety and efficiency of G. lucidum and promote the development of commercial functional foods. This paper provides an extensive overview of the nutraceutical value of Ganoderma lucidum and the development of commercial functional food. Moreover, the geo-origin tracing strategies of this mushroom and its products are discussed, a highly important parameter to ensure product quality and safety. The discussed features will open new avenues and reveal more secrets to widely utilizing this mushroom in many industrial fields; i.e., pharmaceutical and nutritional ones, which will positively reflect the global economy.
Effect of Phenolic Extract from Red Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on T-2 Toxin-Induced Cytotoxicity in HepG2 Cells
Authors: Martínez-Alonso Carmen , Taroncher Mercedes , Castaldo Luigi , Izzo Luana , Rodríguez-Carrasco Yelko , Ritieni Alberto , Ruiz María-José
Published: April 2022

Red beans contain human bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. Several in vitro studies have proposed the natural compounds as an innovative strategy to modify the toxic effects produced by mycotoxins. Hence, in this work, a complete investigation of the polyphenolic fraction of red beans was performed using a Q-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis. Notably, epicatechin and delphinidin were the most detected polyphenols found in red bean extracts (3.297 and 3.108 mg/Kg, respectively). Moreover, the red bean extract was evaluated against the T-2 toxin (T-2) induced cytotoxicity in hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2) by direct treatment, simultaneous treatment, and pre-treatment assays. These data showed that T-2 affected the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, as well as observing a cytotoxic effect and a significant increase in ROS production at 30 nM. The simultaneous treatment and the pre-treatment of HepG2 cells with red bean extract was not able to modify the cytotoxic T-2 effect. However, the simultaneous treatment of T-2 at 7.5 nM with the red bean extract showed a significant decrease in ROS production, with respect to the control. These results suggest that the red bean extract could modulate oxidative stress on HepG2 cells.
Influence of Groundwater Depth on Pile–Soil Mechanical Properties and Fractal Characteristics under Cyclic Loading
Authors: Yuan Bingxiang , Li Zhijie , Chen Weijie , Zhao Jin , Lv Jianbing , Song Jie , Cao Xudong
Published: April 2022

The analysis of the behavior of soil and foundations when the piles in offshore areas are subjected to long-term lateral loading (wind) is one of the major problems associated with the smooth operation of superstructure. The strength of the pile-soil system is influenced by variations in the water content of the soil. At present, there are no studies carried out analyzing the mechanical and deformational behavior of both the material of the laterally loaded piles and soil with groundwater level as a variable. In this paper, a series of 1-g model tests were conducted to explore the lateral behavior of both soil and monopile under unidirectional cyclic loading, based on the foundation of an offshore wind turbine near the island. The influence of underground water level and cyclic load magnitude on the performance of the pile–soil system was analyzed. To visualize the movements of soil particles during the experimental process, particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to record the soil displacement field under various cyclic loading conditions. The relationship curves between pile top displacement and cyclic steps, as well as the relationship curves between cyclic stiffness and cyclic steps, were displayed. Combined with fractal theory, the fractal dimension of each curve was calculated to evaluate the sensitivity of the pile–soil interaction system. The results showed that cyclic loading conditions and groundwater depth are the main factors affecting the pile–soil interaction. The cyclic stiffness of the soil increased in all test groups as loading progressed; however, an increase in the cyclic load magnitude decreased the initial and cyclic stiffness. The initial and cyclic stiffness of dry soil was higher than that of saturated soil, but less than that of unsaturated soil. The ability of the unsaturated soil to limit the lateral displacement of the pile decreased as the depth of the groundwater level dropped. The greater the fluctuation of the pile top displacement, the larger the fractal dimension of each relationship curve, with a variation interval of roughly 1.24–1.38. The average increment of the cumulative pile top displacement between each cycle step following the cyclic loading was positively correlated with fractal dimension. Based on the PIV results, the changes in the pile–soil system were predominantly focused in the early stages of the experiment, and the short-term effects of lateral cyclic loading are greater than the long-term effects. In addition, this research was limited to a single soil layer. The pile–soil interaction under layered soil is investigated, and the results will be used in more complex ground conditions in the future.
A Preface for the Special Issue “Economics of Conflict and Terrorism”
Authors: Faria João Ricardo , Arce Daniel
Published: April 2022

The current Special Issue presents an interesting collection of seven articles that expand the existing literature on the subjects of terrorism and conflict [...]
Controlled Release of Epidermal Growth Factor from Furfuryl-Gelatin Hydrogel Using in Situ Visible Light-Induced Crosslinking and Its Effects on Fibroblasts Proliferation and Migration
Authors: Kong Min Sun , Koh Won-Gun , Lee Hyun Jong
Published: April 2022

Hydrogels are widely used in tissue engineering as materials that regulate cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. They also act as promising biomaterials that can provide a variety of stimuli by influencing the surrounding microenvironment, which can be achieved by modulating their mechanical properties, thereby aiding soluble factor delivery. Here, we developed a gelatin-based injectable hydrogel that has controllable mechanical properties and demonstrates sustained drug release without the need for invasive surgery. Gelatin was modified with furfuryl groups, and riboflavin phosphate was used as a photoinitiator to crosslink the hydrogel using visible light. A hydrogel–with a storage modulus in the range of 0.2–15 kPa was formed by maintaining the concentration of furfuryl-gelatin within 10–30% w/v. Consequently, their mechanical properties can be tailored for their applications. The furfuryl-gelatin hydrogel was loaded with maleimide-modified epidermal growth factor (EGF) as a model drug to achieve a controlled-release system. The sustained release of maleimide-EGF due to gelatin hydrogel matrix degradation was observed. Cell proliferation and scratch assays were performed to verify its effect on fibroblasts. When EGF was physically entrapped in the hydrogel matrix, the released EGF considerably affected cell proliferation and scratch closure of fibroblasts at the beginning of the culture. By contrast, maleimide-EGF was released sustainably and steadily and affected cell proliferation and scratch closure after the initial stage. We demonstrated that the release of soluble factors could be controlled by modulating the mechanical properties. Thus, the injectable hydrogel formed by in situ visible light-induced crosslinking could be a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering and biomedical therapeutics.
Current Understanding of the Applications of Photocrosslinked Hydrogels in Biomedical Engineering
Authors: Liu Juan , Su Chunyu , Chen Yutong , Tian Shujing , Lu Chunxiu , Huang Wei , Lv Qizhuang
Published: April 2022

Hydrogel materials have great application value in biomedical engineering. Among them, photocrosslinked hydrogels have attracted much attention due to their variety and simple convenient preparation methods. Here, we provide a systematic review of the biomedical-engineering applications of photocrosslinked hydrogels. First, we introduce the types of photocrosslinked hydrogel monomers, and the methods for preparation of photocrosslinked hydrogels with different morphologies are summarized. Subsequently, various biomedical applications of photocrosslinked hydrogels are reviewed. Finally, some shortcomings and development directions for photocrosslinked hydrogels are considered and proposed. This paper is designed to give researchers in related fields a systematic understanding of photocrosslinked hydrogels and provide inspiration to seek new development directions for studies of photocrosslinked hydrogels or related materials.
Effects of Cryoconcentrated Blueberry Juice as Functional Ingredient for Preparation of Commercial Confectionary Hydrogels
Authors: Casas-Forero Nidia , Trujillo-Mayol Igor , Zúñiga Rommy N. , Petzold Guillermo , Orellana-Palma Patricio
Published: April 2022

Hydrogels can absorb and/or retain components in the interstitial spaces due to the 3D cross-linked polymer network, and thus, these matrices can be used in different engineering applications. This study focuses on the physicochemical and textural properties, as well as bioactive compounds and their antioxidant activity stability of commercial hydrogels fortified with cryoconcentrated blueberry juice (CBJ) stored for 35 days. CBJ was added to commercial hydrogels (gelatin gel (GG), aerated gelatin gel (AGG), gummy (GM), and aerated gummy (AGM)). The samples showed a total polyphenol, anthocyanin, and flavonoid content ranging from 230 to 250 mg GAE/100 g, 3.5 to 3.9 mg C3G/100 g, and 120 to 136 mg CEQ/100 g, respectively, and GG and GM showed the lowest bioactive component degradation rate, while AGM presented the highest degradation. GG and GM samples could be stored for up to 21 days without significant changes, while the results indicated ≈15 days for the AGG and AGM samples. Thereby, CBJ offers enormous possibilities to be used as a functional ingredient due to the high nutritional values, and it allows enriching different hydrogel samples, and in turn, the structures of hydrogels protected components during in vitro digestion, enhancing the bioaccessibility after the digestion process.
Genomic Predictions for Common Bunt, FHB, Stripe Rust, Leaf Rust, and Leaf Spotting Resistance in Spring Wheat
Authors: Semagn Kassa , Iqbal Muhammad , Jarquin Diego , Crossa José , Howard Reka , Ciechanowska Izabela , Henriquez Maria , Randhawa Harpinder , Aboukhaddour Reem , McCallum Brent , Brûlé-Babel Anita , Navabi Alireza , N’Diaye Amidou , Pozniak Curtis , Spaner Dean
Published: April 2022

Some studies have investigated the potential of genomic selection (GS) on stripe rust, leaf rust, Fusarium head blight (FHB), and leaf spot in wheat, but none of them have assessed the effect of the reaction norm model that incorporated GE interactions. In addition, the prediction accuracy on common bunt has not previously been studied. Here, we investigated within-population prediction accuracies using the baseline M1 model and two reaction norm models (M2 and M3) with three random cross-validation (CV1, CV2, and CV0) schemes. Three Canadian spring wheat populations were evaluated in up to eight field environments and genotyped with 3158, 5732, and 23,795 polymorphic markers. The M3 model that incorporated GE interactions reduced residual variance by an average of 10.2% as compared with the main effect M2 model and increased prediction accuracies on average by 2–6%. In some traits, the M3 model increased prediction accuracies up to 54% as compared with the M2 model. The average prediction accuracies of the M3 model with CV1, CV2, and CV0 schemes varied from 0.02 to 0.48, from 0.25 to 0.84, and from 0.14 to 0.87, respectively. In both CV2 and CV0 schemes, stripe rust in all three populations, common bunt and leaf rust in two populations, as well as FHB severity, FHB index, and leaf spot in one population had high to very high (0.54–0.87) prediction accuracies. This is the first comprehensive genomic selection study on five major diseases in spring wheat.
Novel Protein–Protein Interactions Highlighting the Crosstalk between Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Ciliopathies and Neurodevelopmental Delays
Authors: Karunakaran Kalyani B. , Gabriel George C. , Balakrishnan Narayanaswamy , Lo Cecilia W. , Ganapathiraju Madhavi K.
Published: April 2022

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a severe congenital heart disease (CHD) affecting 1 in 5000 newborns. We constructed the interactome of 74 HLHS-associated genes identified from a large-scale mouse mutagenesis screen, augmenting it with 408 novel protein–protein interactions (PPIs) using our High-Precision Protein–Protein Interaction Prediction (HiPPIP) model. The interactome is available on a webserver with advanced search capabilities. A total of 364 genes including 73 novel interactors were differentially regulated in tissue/iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes of HLHS patients. Novel PPIs facilitated the identification of TOR signaling and endoplasmic reticulum stress modules. We found that 60.5% of the interactome consisted of housekeeping genes that may harbor large-effect mutations and drive HLHS etiology but show limited transmission. Network proximity of diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and liver carcinoma-associated genes to HLHS genes suggested a mechanistic basis for their comorbidity with HLHS. Interactome genes showed tissue-specificity for sites of extracardiac anomalies (placenta, liver and brain). The HLHS interactome shared significant overlaps with the interactomes of ciliopathy- and microcephaly-associated genes, with the shared genes enriched for genes involved in intellectual disability and/or developmental delay, and neuronal death pathways, respectively. This supported the increased burden of ciliopathy variants and prevalence of neurological abnormalities observed among HLHS patients with developmental delay and microcephaly, respectively.