bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconfigurable Battery for Charging 48 V EVs in High-Voltage Infrastructure
Authors: Haller Stefan , Alam Muhammad Farhan , Bertilsson Kent
Published: January 2022

48 V is emerging as a safe-to-touch alternative voltage level for electric vehicles (EVs). Using a low- instead of a high-voltage drive train reduces isolation efforts, eliminates the risk of electric shock, and thus increases the system safety. In contrast, fast charging of a 48 V battery would require very high currents and is incompatible with the widely established high-voltage electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Instead of employing additional on board power converters for fast charging, the concept of a reconfigurable battery is presented. A small-scale prototype system is designed consisting of eight 48 V lithium iron phosphate battery modules. In series configuration, they can be charged at 460 V with up to 25 A. In 48 V parallel configuration, the peak discharge current is up to 800 A. The MOSFET-based reconfiguration system also operates as a module charge balancer during high-voltage charging. The cost overhead for the reconfiguration system is estimated to 3% for a scaled-up full size EV. Due to the additional reconfiguration switch resistances, the simulation of a 48 V 75 kW electric vehicle in the World harmonized Light-duty vehicles Test Procedure showed a performance reduction of 0.24%.
Research of Hand–Eye System with 3D Vision towards Flexible Assembly Application
Authors: Liang Peidong , Lin Wenwei , Luo Guantai , Zhang Chentao
Published: January 2022

In order to improve industrial production efficiency, a hand–eye system based on 3D vision is proposed and the proposed system is applied to the assembly task of workpieces. First, a hand–eye calibration optimization algorithm based on data filtering is proposed in this paper. This method ensures the accuracy required for hand–eye calibration by filtering out part of the improper data. Furthermore, the improved U-net is adopted for image segmentation and SAC-IA coarse registration ICP fine registration method is adopted for point cloud registration. This method ensures that the 6D pose estimation of the object is more accurate. Through the hand–eye calibration method based on data filtering, the average error of hand–eye calibration is reduced by 0.42 mm to 0.08 mm. Compared with other models, the improved U-net proposed in this paper has higher accuracy for depth image segmentation, and the Acc coefficient and Dice coefficient achieve 0.961 and 0.876, respectively. The average translation error, average rotation error and average time-consuming of the object recognition and pose estimation methods proposed in this paper are 1.19 mm, 1.27°, and 7.5 s, respectively. The experimental results show that the proposed system in this paper can complete high-precision assembly tasks.
Synthetic Energy Data Generation Using Time Variant Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Asre Shashank , Anwar Adnan
Published: January 2022

Energy consumption data is being used for improving the energy efficiency and minimizing the cost. However, obtaining energy consumption data has two major challenges: (i) data collection is very expensive, time-consuming, and (ii) security and privacy concern of the users which can be revealed from the actual data. In this research, we have addressed these challenges by using generative adversarial networks for generating energy consumption profile. We have successfully generated synthetic data which is similar to the real energy consumption data. On the basis of the recent research conducted on TimeGAN, we have implemented a framework for synthetic energy consumption data generation that could be useful in research, data analysis and create business solutions. The framework is implemented using the real-world energy dataset, consisting of energy consumption data of the year 2020 for the Australian states of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania. The results of implementation is evaluated using various performance measures and the results are showcased using visualizations along with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (TSNE) plots. Overall, experimental results show that Synthetic data generated using the proposed implementation possess very similar characteristics to the real dataset with high comparison accuracy.
Grapevine Downy Mildew Warning System Based on NB-IoT and Energy Harvesting Technology
Authors: Mezei Ivan , Lukić Milan , Berbakov Lazar , Pavković Bogdan , Radovanović Boris
Published: January 2022

One major problem that affecting grape production is that of infestations by fungal pathogens, among which Plasmopara viticola is one of the worst, causing grapevine downy mildew. This can cause substantial damage to a vineyard, which leads to economic losses. Methods of predicting disease outbreak rely on the monitoring of meteorological parameters. With the recent development of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, in situ data can be efficiently collected on a large scale. In this paper, a new model with early warning system implementation for grapevine downy mildew based on Narrow Band IoT (NB-IoT) and energy harvesting is presented. Models of downy mildew warning systems have evolved from the early temperature-based (and later, humidity-based) models to the latest mechanistic models which include rainfall/leaf wetness and hourly monitoring. We added parameters such as ’favorable night condition’ and ’wind speed’ as critical for sporangia spreading. The comparison of the model with the commercial iMetos® warning system and the latest mechanistic model for three specific vineyard locations indicates a high correlation between alarms.
A Critical Analysis of a Tourist Trip Design Problem with Time-Dependent Recommendation Factors and Waiting Times
Authors: Porras Cynthia , Pérez-Cañedo Boris , Pelta David A. , Verdegay José L.
Published: January 2022

The tourist trip design problem (TTDP) is a well-known extension of the orienteering problem, where the objective is to obtain an itinerary of points of interest for a tourist that maximizes his/her level of interest. In several situations, the interest of a point depends on when the point is visited, and the tourist may delay the arrival to a point in order to get a higher interest. In this paper, we present and discuss two variants of the TTDP with time-dependent recommendation factors (TTDP-TDRF), which may or may not take into account waiting times in order to have a better recommendation value. Using a mixed-integer linear programming solver, we provide solutions to 27 real-world instances. Although reasonable at first sight, we observed that including waiting times is not justified: in both cases (allowing or not waiting times) the quality of the solutions is almost the same, and the use of waiting times led to a model with higher solving times. This fact highlights the need to properly evaluate the benefits of making the problem model more complex than is actually needed.
Two-Stage Optimization Method for Sizing Stack and Battery Modules of a Fuel Cell Vehicle Based on a Power Split Control
Authors: Graber Giuseppe , Calderaro Vito , Galdi Vincenzo
Published: January 2022

Currently, hybrid and battery electric vehicles are the best-selling green cars commercially available. However, there is a growing interest in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCVs). Nevertheless, due to the unidirectional nature of energy transformation in an FCV, an auxiliary energy storage system (ESS) is required to cope with peak power demand and recover braking energy. In this paper, we propose a joint algorithm for sizing both the fuel cell (FC) stack and an auxiliary storage system, taking into account the power split strategy between the two energy sources. Moreover, a novel power split method is introduced based on the lumped resistance of both the FC stack and lithium-ion battery modules. Several simulation results implementing different driving cycles prove that the proposed sizing procedure is able to reduce the fuel consumption of the FCV and increase the expected lifetime of both the FC stack and lithium-ion battery modules according to a given power split strategy.
Evaluation of the Efficiency Performance of 3-Phase, 6-Switch PFC Circuit Based on the Used 1.2 kV SiC Transistor
Authors: Hanko Branislav , Frivaldsky Michal , Morgos Jan
Published: January 2022

This paper evaluates the performance of the high-voltage wide-band gap SiC power transistors equipped within 3-phase bridgeless 3 kW PFC circuit. The main aim of the study is the experimental evaluation of the dynamic properties and driving power requirements of the transistors, for which the parameters are similar. These are competing products from different manufacturers, while the selection criterion was the same type of package technology (7 pin D2PAK). Second, the effect of the transistor type was analysed in terms of the performance efficiency of the PFC circuit. Within the analysis, the driver circuit was constructed first, and adapted to high voltage transistor driving. During individual measurements, the driver remained the same, while gate-driver losses were analysed for individual transistors. The obtained results reveal differences related to requirements on driving power, as well as to the dynamics of transistors themselves. At the end of the paper, the evaluation of efficiency for different operating conditions of a constructed PFC converter is realized. The obtained results provide a more detailed overview of the dynamic properties of transistors and their impact on the resulting efficiency of the main circuit also in terms of driving requirements.
Simple, Fast, and Accurate Broadband Complex Permittivity Characterization Algorithm: Methodology and Experimental Validation from 140 GHz up to 220 GHz
Authors: Bao Xiue , Wang Li , Wang Zeyu , Zhang Jiabei , Zhang Meng , Crupi Giovanni , Zhang Anxue
Published: January 2022

Accurate permittivity characterization has attracted a lot of attention in various areas. Resonant characterization methods are well-known for their accuracy, but they are restricted in very narrow frequency ranges, and thus, they are normally not recommended to be used for dispersive or high-loss materials. Transmission line characterization techniques are outstanding for being inexpensive, accurate, and broadband, but the algorithms are often complex to perform. This paper proposes a fast, simple, and accurate broadband permittivity characterization algorithm, which is mainly suitable for millimeter-wave applications. It combines a general line–line method and a closed-form algorithm, extracting the complex permittivity of the material under test (MUT) without the need for calculating any intermediate parameters. Validation measurements on de-ionized water in the frequency range from 140 to 220 GHz are in very good agreement with the literature data, which successfully indicates that the proposed algorithm is reliable and accurate for millimeter wave permittivity characterization.
Effects on Co-Presence of a Virtual Human: A Comparison of Display and Interaction Types
Authors: Kim Daehwan , Jo Dongsik
Published: January 2022

Recently, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled virtual humans have been widely used in various fields in our everyday lives, such as for museum exhibitions and as information guides. Given the continued technological innovations in extended reality (XR), immersive display devices and interaction methods are evolving to provide a feeling of togetherness with a virtual human, termed co-presence. With regard to such technical developments, one main concern is how to improve the experience through the sense of co-presence as felt by participants. However, virtual human systems still have limited guidelines on effective methods, and there is a lack of research on how to visualize and interact with virtual humans. In this paper, we report a novel method to support a strong sense of co-presence with a virtual human, and we investigated the effects on co-presence with a comparison of display and interaction types. We conducted the experiment according to a specified scenario between the participant and the virtual human, and our experimental study showed that subjects who participated in an immersive 3D display with non-verbal interaction felt the greatest co-presence. Our results are expected to provide guidelines on how to focus on constructing AI-based interactive virtual humans.
Lexicon-Based vs. Bert-Based Sentiment Analysis: A Comparative Study in Italian
Authors: Catelli Rosario , Pelosi Serena , Esposito Massimo
Published: January 2022

Recent evolutions in the e-commerce market have led to an increasing importance attributed by consumers to product reviews made by third parties before proceeding to purchase. The industry, in order to improve the offer intercepting the discontent of consumers, has placed increasing attention towards systems able to identify the sentiment expressed by buyers, whether positive or negative. From a technological point of view, the literature in recent years has seen the development of two types of methodologies: those based on lexicons and those based on machine and deep learning techniques. This study proposes a comparison between these technologies in the Italian market, one of the largest in the world, exploiting an ad hoc dataset: scientific evidence generally shows the superiority of language models such as BERT built on deep neural networks, but it opens several considerations on the effectiveness and improvement of these solutions when compared to those based on lexicons in the presence of datasets of reduced size such as the one under study, a common condition for languages other than English or Chinese.
Design of a Microscale Refrigeration System for Optimizing the Usable Space in Compact Refrigerators
Authors: Goenaga Ane , Martin-Escudero Koldobika , Flores-Abascal Iván , Azkorra-Larrinaga Zaloa , Escudero César , Soriano Josu
Published: January 2022

This research aims to enter the miniature refrigeration machine sector with the objective of designing a small scale unit while maintaining a competitive coefficient of performance (COP), comparing with a Peltier plates system. To this end, a research of the current technology was carried out in order to obtain indicative values on the scales that were being worked on and their application. After the previous research, a refrigeration cycle was designed in EES (engineering equation solver). From this design, different conclusions were obtained: (1) The correct sizing of the compressor revolutions together with its displacement is crucial for the equipment to be able to provide the desired cooling capacity. (2) In order to obtain the desired cooling capacity in the microscale refrigeration system, the heat exchangers must have fins. (3) Of the analysed refrigerants, R600a is the best choice, as it shows favourable characteristics (high COP and low compression ratio) when working in this type of cycle.
The Mediating Role of Public Health between Environmental Policy Tools and Economic Development
Authors: Xu Hui , Pan Wei , Xin Meng , Hu Cheng , Pan Wu-Lin , Dai Wan-Qiang , Huang Ge
Published: January 2022

Environmental pollution damages public health and affects economic development. Environmental regulation is the main way for the government to solve environmental pollution. So what type of environmental regulation works better for public health and economic development? Can environmental regulation have an influence on economic development through public health? To solve these problems, this research uses China’s provincial panel data from 2013 to 2017 to divide environmental regulation into command-control policy tools and economic incentive policy tools and uses the mediating effect model to examine the relationship among environmental regulation, public health and economic development. The results show that: (1) There is a positive correlation between economic incentive policy tools and economic development; while no significant relationship between command-control policy tools and economic development is founded; (2) The relationship between command-control policy tools and public health is not significant, while the relationship between economic incentive policy tools and public health is positive; (3) Public health does not play a mediating role between command-control policy tools and economic development but plays a partial mediating role between economic incentive policy tools and economic development. Therefore, the government should strengthen the use of economic incentive policy tools to promote public health and sustainable economic development.
Numerical Simulations of Air Flow and Traffic–Related Air Pollution Distribution in a Real Urban Area
Authors: Zhou Mengge , Hu Tingting , Jiang Guoyi , Zhang Wenqi , Wang Dan , Rao Pinhua
Published: January 2022

With increasing urbanization, urban air pollutants are becoming more and more relevant to human health. Here, combined with meteorological observation data, a numerical simulation of typical urban blocks in Shanghai was carried out to understand the spread of air pollutants caused by road traffic sources (ground–level and viaduct–level). Firstly, we analyzed the wind environment characteristics. Then, we quantitatively analyzed the pollutant distribution profiles and the contributions of two pollutant sources (PSV). Finally, we analyzed seven urban morphological parameters based on ventilation efficiency indices. Results revealed the following. (1) Ventilation patterns within the architectural complex are determined by local geometry; (2) Pollutants released at ground level were dominant when the Z–plane < 8 m high, and pollutants released from the viaduct source were 0.8–6.1% higher when the Z–plane ≥ 8 m high; (3) From ground level to a height of 60 m, the spatially–averaged normalized concentration (C*) tended to decrease gradually with distance from the source. C* increased irregularly with an increase in distance between 60 m and 86 m. Above 86 m, C* tended to increase linearly; (4) Vertical profiles of C* around buildings were building–specific, and their rate of change was inconsistent with height increases. In general, the correlations between C* and VRw, and between C* and KEturb were larger on the windward side of PSV upstream buildings than on the leeward side. Buildings downstream of the PSV showed the opposite situation; (5) At pedestrian level, the seven urban morphological parameters had no significant correlation with VRw, Cir*, and Czs*.
Effect of Temperature on Densification Pressure and the Unit Density in Production of Corn Straw Pellet with a Post-Heating Method
Authors: Li Chengjun , Chen Zhongjia , Wang Qingchun
Published: January 2022

In the biomass densification process, a lot of energy is needed to prevent its spring-back and to overcome the friction between the material and the channel surface of the die so as to build up pressure. However, moisture, particle size, temperature, and type of material all influence the densification pressure, pellet quality, and the density. The research was aimed to find out how the densification pressure and density were affected by the die temperature based on an open-end densification method using a self-developed pellet extruder. When the piston fixed in the front of the extruder moved in a reciprocating way, the raw material was pressed into the opening die, which had a heater wrapped up. Crushed corn straw with a particle size under 4 mm and with a given moisture content of 10% was used to be compacted by the extruder. The results showed that with the increase of the die temperature, the value of densification pressure decreased; however, the quality of pellets was not good at temperatures higher than 140 °C. The proper temperature for corn straw densification was 100 °C, and the value of the unit density was above 1.0 g/cm³. Meanwhile, the surface quality of the pellet was comparatively good. The reference values of the friction coefficient at different temperatures were provided.
Photovoltaic System with a Battery-Assisted Quasi-Z-Source Inverter: Improved Control System Design Based on a Novel Small-Signal Model
Authors: Grgić Ivan , Vukadinović Dinko , Bašić Mateo , Bubalo Matija
Published: January 2022

This paper deals with a photovoltaic (PV) system containing a quasi-Z-source inverter (qZSI) and batteries connected in parallel with the qZSI’s lower-voltage capacitor. The control system design is based on knowledge of three transfer functions which are obtained from the novel small-signal model of the considered system. The transfer function from the d-axis grid current to the battery current has been identified for the first time in this study for the considered system configuration and has been utilized for the design of the battery current control loop for the grid-tied operation. The transfer function from the duty cycle to the PV source voltage has been utilized for the design of the PV source voltage control loop. The PV source voltage is controlled so as to ensure the desired power production of the PV source. For the maximum power point tracking, a perturb-and-observe algorithm is utilized that does not require the measurement of the PV source current, but it instead utilizes the battery current during the stand-alone operation and the d-axis reference current during the grid-tied operation. The corresponding tracking period was determined by using the transfer function from the duty cycle to the battery current and in accordance with the longest settling time noted in the corresponding step response. The proposed control algorithm also has integrated protection against battery overcharging during the stand-alone operation. The considered system has been experimentally tested over wide ranges of irradiance and PV panel temperature.
Identification of Gaps and Barriers in Regulations, Standards, and Network Codes to Energy Citizen Participation in the Energy Transition
Authors: Nouri Alireza , Khadem Shafi , Mutule Anna , Papadimitriou Christina , Stanev Rad , Cabiati Mattia , Keane Andrew , Carroll Paula
Published: January 2022

The success of the energy transition in Europe depends on the engagement of citizens and the sustainable replacement of conventional generation with renewable production. Highlights of the PAN European Technology Energy Research Approach (PANTERA) project, a H2020 coordination and support action, are presented in this paper. In broad terms, PANTERA offers a forum for actors in the smart grid to support the expansion of activities in smart grid research, demonstration, and innovation, especially in the below-average spending member states in the European Union (EU). The focus of this paper is on those activities of the project consortium related to the identification of gaps and barriers in regulations, standards, and network codes that hinder the sustainable engagement of energy citizens in the energy transition. The paper summarises the challenges to citizen engagement in the energy transit and considers the enablers that make the engagement of citizens viable, e.g., demand response (DR), renewable energy resources (RESs), and modern designs for local energy markets (LEMs). We focus on the barriers to the enablers that are explicitly and implicitly related to regulations, standards, and network codes and explore aspects of the relevant regulations and standards of the sample below-average spending member states. A specific case study of a research and demonstration project in Ireland for updating the network codes is also presented to demonstrate the ways in which member states are attempting to remove the barriers and enable citizen participation in the smart energy transition. Finally, the opportunities to foster smart grid research and innovation through shared knowledge and insights offered by the PANTERA European Interconnection for Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship (EIRIE) platform are highlighted.
A Novel Hybrid Chaotic Jaya and Sequential Quadratic Programming Method for Robust Design of Power System Stabilizers and Static VAR Compensator
Authors: Welhazi Yosra , Guesmi Tawfik , Alshammari Badr M. , Alqunun Khalid , Alateeq Ayoob , Almalaq Yasser , Alsabhan Robaya , Abdallah Hsan Hadj
Published: January 2022

This paper proposes a novel hybrid algorithm combining chaotic Jaya (CJaya) and sequential quadratic programming (SQP), namely CJaya-SQP, for solving the coordinated design problem of static var compensator (SVC) and power system stabilizers (PSSs). The CJaya serves as a global optimizer and the SQP as a local optimizer for fine-tuning the solution. In the proposed algorithm, chaotic maps are used to generate the initial solutions and control the search process. In order to prove the performance of the CJaya-SQP, a set of benchmark optimization problems is used where the results are compared with those of the basic Jaya and other recognized algorithms. The proposed optimization method is then applied for the optimal tuning of PSSs and SVC controllers in such a way that damping ratios and damping factors of the electromechanical modes are optimally improved. To illustrate the robustness of the CJaya-SQP-based coordinated PSSs and SVC controllers, the four-machine, two-area system is used. Eigenvalue analysis and nonlinear time-domain simulation vividly show that the CJaya-SQP-based coordinated controllers improve greatly the system’s dynamic stability with a robust damping of local and inter-area power oscillations.
Potential of Demand Response for Power Reallocation, a Literature Review
Authors: Binyet Emmanuel , Chiu Ming-Chuan , Hsu Hsin-Wei , Lee Meng-Ying , Wen Chih-Yuan
Published: January 2022

The power demand on the electric grid varies according to the time of the day following users’ needs and so does the cost of electricity supply because the electricity mix is formed using different generators of varying capacities. Demand response (DR) is the modification of the consumption load curve following a signal from the electricity provider; it is mostly used for peak clipping. By reducing the short-term mismatch between generation and consumption, it helps to integrate intermittent renewables and new low-carbon technologies such as energy storage, electric vehicles, and power-to-gas. The present work is a literature survey based on the following keywords: demand response, demand technology, potential, power, and power dispatch, which aims to provide a summary of the state of the art regarding the potential for demand response implementation. Literature is either related to potential assessment or to implementation; less focus is given on non-dispatchable DR than on dispatchable DR. There is a great untapped potential for power demand reallocation in all sectors. Incentivizing users to participate in demand response programs is crucial, as well as education campaigns and smart meters penetration. The barriers to demand response are mostly the investment costs in the absence of an adequate pricing scheme.
Thermal Performance Improvement for Different Strategies of Battery Thermal Management Systems Combined with Jute—A Comparison Study
Authors: Youssef Rekabra , Hosen Md Sazzad , He Jiacheng , AL-Saadi Mohammed , Van Mierlo Joeri , Berecibar Maitane
Published: January 2022

Jute is a cheap, eco-friendly, widely available material well-known for its cooling properties. In electric vehicles (EVs), dissipating a huge amount of the heat generated from lithium-ion batteries with an efficient, light, and low-power consumption battery thermal management system (BTMS) is required. In our previous study, jute fibers were proposed and investigated as a novel medium to enhance the cooling efficiency of air-based battery thermal management systems. In this paper, as the first attempt, jute was integrated with a phase change material (PCM) passive cooling system, and the thermal performance of a 50 Ah prismatic battery was studied. Temperature evolution, uniformity, and cooling efficiency were investigated. A comparison between the thermal behavior of the air-based BTMS and PCM-assisted cooling system was performed. The results indicated that adding jute to the BTMS increased the cooling efficiency and especially decreased the temperature development. Furthermore, the temperature difference (ΔT) efficiency was enhanced by 60% when integrating jute with PCM, and temperature uniformity improved by 3% when integrating jute with air-based BTMS. This article compared the integration of jute with active cooling and passive cooling; thus, it shed light on the importance of jute as a novel, eco-friendly, lightweight, cheap, available, and nontoxic material added to two strategies of BTMS. The setup was physically made and experimentally studied for the purpose of BTMS optimization.
Research on Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) System
Authors: Sundaram Senthilarasu , Paul Manosh C. , Mahmoudi Yasser
Published: January 2022

Modern-day buildings have become the third-largest consumer of energy, after industry and agriculture, and energy consumption in buildings contributes up to 40% of the total energy use in developed countries [...]
Internal Induced Voltage Modification for Current Limitation in Virtual Synchronous Machine
Authors: Orihara Dai , Taoka Hisao , Kikusato Hiroshi , Hashimoto Jun , Otani Kenji , Takamatsu Takahiro , Oozeki Takashi , Matsuura Takahiro , Miyazaki Satoshi , Hamada Hiromu , Miyazaki Teru
Published: January 2022

Virtual inertia control is a methodology to make inverter-based resources (IBR) behave like a synchronous machine. However, an IBR cannot fully emulate the response of synchronous machine because of its low-current capacity. When the inertial response of an IBR is affected by the current limitation, the synchronization of the synchronous machine simulated virtually inside the IBR controller with the other synchronous generators in the grid is affected, which may cause step-out of the simulated generator. We propose a methodology which can keep the synchronization by modifying internal induced voltage of the simulated generator to follow the system voltage change. The proposal is validated by the simulation using a nine-bus transmission system model including two synchronous generators and a large-scale IBR. The result of the generator trip simulation shows that the proposed method suppresses the phase angle variation while the current is limited, and avoids the instability regarding the synchronism. Furthermore, the impact of the current limitation on frequency stability is also evaluated through the simulation study and it is found that as the amount of output suppression increases, the frequency nadir falls, but the rate-of-change of frequency is hardly affected.
Henry II of Trastámara (1366–1367, 1369–1379)
Authors: Jordano Barbudo María Ángeles
Published: January 2022

Henry II of Castile, also known as Henry of Trastámara, from the Latin “Tras Tamaris” (or beyond the Tambre River), King of Castile and León (1366–1367, 1369–1379) was the first king of the Trastámara Dynasty. In summary, it was a minor branch of the house of Burgundy (or an “Iberian extension” of it), with presence in the kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, Navarre, and Naples. Most notably, it began playing an essential role in the kingdom of Castile, but after the Compromise of Caspe, its power extended decisively to the kingdom of Aragon (1412). Henry II was the illegitimate son of Alfonso XI and his lover Leonor de Guzmán. He waged a civil war against his stepbrother, Peter I, legitimate heir to the throne, as the son of Alfonso XI and Maria of Portugal, Queen of Castile. Henry’s determination to be recognized as king led him to employ the arts in a campaign to discredit his stepbrother and tarnish his image, portraying himself as a defender of the faith with the right to rule. He built the Royal Chapel (1371) in the main church of Córdoba (today’s Mosque/Cathedral) for the burial of his father and grandfather, Ferdinand IV, in order to underscore his connection to the royal line, and refurbished the Puerta del Perdón (Gate of Forgiveness) in 1377, the main entrance to the church, for use as a dramatic stage for public events.
Influence of the Thickness of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Veneers on Selected Properties of Flooring Materials
Authors: Beer Piotr , Pacek Paweł , Burawska-Kupniewska Izabela
Published: January 2022

The aim of our study was to analyze the influence of the thickness of Scots pine veneers on the chosen physical and mechanical properties of plywood-like composites dedicated to flooring applications. The utilitarian goal of the research is to replace three-layer flooring requiring high production costs with flooring materials of much cheaper (lower number but thicker veneers) and less specialized production. The only variable in the presented research is the thickness of the veneer creating the structure of the base layer of flooring materials. If we take into account that the number of veneers in the base layer can be reduced, it is the best way to reduce the number of materials (especially adhesives), to protect the environment. The research was conducted regarding basic mechanical properties that determine the suitability of flooring materials: modulus of elasticity, stiffness, and bending strength. The cross arrangement of the veneers in the tested samples in the base layer showed high values of the modulus of elasticity and stiffness. These values are higher than for three-layer commercially available composites. Despite the fact that the research was of pilot character, the results indicate a large potential for saving raw wood and for increasing the productivity of enterprises. The flooring materials were tested, but the test results are relevant in other applications built on materials with veneers in the form of plywood-like structure.
Burning Characteristics of Ancient Wood from Traditional Buildings in Shanxi Province, China
Authors: Wang Yufei , Wang Weibin , Zhou Haibin , Qi Fei
Published: January 2022

Due to long-term natural degradation, the surface morphology of traditional building wood differs significantly from that of modern wood. It is more combustible than modern wood and its combustion characteristics are important evaluation indicators for fire simulation and fire protection of traditional buildings. In this paper, ancient wood from six traditional buildings were tested by a surface morphology fractal method and conical calorimeter. Additionally, their combustion properties such as ignition time, heat release rate, total heat release and charring time were analyzed to determine the combustion behavior of ancient wood and their differences with modern wood. The results showed that the ignition time of the specimens was significantly influenced by the surface morphological features. The higher the fractal dimension grade of the morphological features, the shorter the ignition time. The ignition time of Ulm wood with fractal dimension class 3 was 15 s, while that of Ulm wood with fractal dimension class 1 was 23 s. Under the same fractal dimension class, the total heat release per unit time of ancient softwood was higher than that of ancient hardwood. The average heat release rates of Larch wood and Ulm wood were 66.21 kw·m−2, 72.07 kw·m−2 and 57.26 kw·m−2, 67.30 kw·m−2. The basic charring rate of ancient wood of the same species was mostly higher than that of modern wood by more than 6%, with the basic charring rate of ancient Larch wood being 0.8559 mm/min, which was 15.66% higher than that of modern Larch wood, 22.27% higher than that recommended in the European EC5 standard, and 6.87% higher than that calculated in the American AFPA. The results of the study are important guidelines for fire risk assessment and fire protection of traditional buildings.
Staphylococcus spp. and Lactobacillus sakei Starters with High Level of Inoculation and an Extended Fermentation Step Improve Safety of Fermented Sausages
Authors: Dias Igor , Laranjo Marta , Potes Maria Eduarda , Agulheiro-Santos Ana Cristina , Ricardo-Rodrigues Sara , Fraqueza Maria João , Oliveira Margarida , Elias Miguel
Published: January 2022

Paio do Alentejo (PA) is one of the most popular dry-fermented sausages in Portugal. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of a high concentration of starter cultures with an extended fermentation step on the safety and quality of PA. Physicochemical parameters, microbiological parameters, biogenic amines, colour, texture profile, and sensory attributes were assessed. Five starters were selected based on our previous works. Staphylococcus equorum S2M7, Staphylococcus xylosus CECT7057, Lactobacillus sakei CV3C2, Lactobacillus sakei CECT7056, and a yeast strain (2RB4) were co-inoculated in meat batters at a concentration of 108 cfu/g for bacteria and 106 cfu/g for yeast strain, and 0.25% dextrose was added. Inoculated starters significantly reduced pH, Listeria monocytogenes counts, and total content in biogenic amines. The studied starter cultures did not compromise the sensory characteristics of PA, and thus, their use can be considered to protect these sausages and contribute to their safety.
Concrete Reinforced by Hybrid Mix of Short Fibers under Bending
Authors: Lusis Vitalijs , Annamaneni Krishna Kiran , Krasnikovs Andrejs
Published: January 2022

In the present study, the mechanical behavior of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (FRC) beams was studied under bending until rupture. Each beam was reinforced with a hybrid mix of short fibers randomly distributed in its volume. Concrete beams with three different fiber combinations were investigated, namely, beams reinforced with (1) a homogeneously distributed mix of short polypropylene fibers (PP) and steel fibers, (2) PP fibers and Alkali Resistant Glass (ARG) fibers, and (3) PP and composite fibers (CF). The amount of short PP fibers was the same in all FRCs. The investigation focused on the fracture mechanisms and the load-bearing capacity of FRC beams with the developing macro cracks. In total, 12 FRC composite prismatic specimens were casted and tested in four-point bending experiments (4PBT). The current load value versus the Crack Mouth Opening Displacement (CMOD) for all FRCs was analyzed. The crack opening relationship and the influence of fibers on the fracture energy and flexural tensile strength were determined. Rupture surfaces of all samples were investigated using an optical microscope.
The Spatial Distribution and Morphological Characteristics of Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in South Korea
Authors: Hong Donghyun , Joo Gea-Jae , Jung Eunsong , Gim Jeong-Soo , Seong Ki Baik , Kim Doo-Ho , Lineman Maurice J. M. , Kim Hyun-Woo , Jo Hyunbin
Published: January 2022

Chum salmon (Oncorhyncus keta) is a cold-water species reported to migrate within a wide range of habitats, including Korea, Japan, North America, and Russia, playing important roles in the river–sea nutrient cycle and food web. However, research on this species has not been widely performed in South Korea owing to its geographical location at the southern edge of migration. In this study, we analyzed the spatial distribution and morphological characteristics of chum salmon migrating to South Korea using the length–weight relationship. We also analyzed 3 years of catch, sex ratio, and individual information (total length (cm), weight (kg), n = 4400) from ten rivers (eight in the East coast and two on the South coast) with a total of 17 years of water quality and the distance they traveled (n = 50) using multivariate analysis. As a result, we discovered a trend of less migration in the southern part of South Korea for all individuals migrating to South Korea. Furthermore, the weight ratio of males/females was significantly different (p < 0.05). Based on the length–weight relationship analysis, the a and b values were between 0.0011 and 0.038 and 2.65 and 3.49, respectively. In the correlation analysis, catch is negatively correlated with distance traveled and temperature (p < 0.05), and positively correlated with pH, dissolved oxygen, distance, and female ratio (p < 0.05). This is possibly the result of differences in water quality during early life stages or the presence of an estuarine barrage at the mouth of the Nakdong River. This research may be used as fundamental distribution and morphological variations of chum salmon in South Korea.
Single Contaminated Drops Falling through Stagnant Liquid at Low Reynolds Numbers
Authors: Hayashi Kosuke , Motoki Yuya , van der Linden Matheus J. A. , Deen Niels G. , Hosokawa Shigeo , Tomiyama Akio
Published: January 2022

Numerical simulations of contaminated spherical drops falling through a stagnant liquid at low Reynolds numbers are carried out using the finite difference method. The numerical results are used to describe the behavior of the surfactant concentrations and to understand the surfactant effects on the fluid motions in detail. The predicted interfacial surfactant concentration, Γ, is almost zero for angles, θ, below a certain value (the stagnant-cap angle, θcap), whereas it steeply increases and reaches a large value for θ>θcap (the stagnant-cap region). The increase in the initial surfactant concentration, C0, in the drop enhances the adsorption from the drop to the interface, which results in the increase in Γ and the decrease in θcap. Peaks appear in the predicted Marangoni stresses around θcap, which causes similar peaks in the pressure distribution. The high-pressure spots prevent the fluid motion along the interface, which results in the formation of the stagnant-cap region and the attenuation of the tangential velocity in the continuous phase. The surfactant flux from the bulk to the interface decreases C in the vicinity of the interface for θ<θcap and the weak diffusion cannot compensate for the reduction in C by adsorption, which results in C at the interface smaller than C0. The pattern of the low C region is determined by the advection and does not smear out because of a small diffusive flux.
Influence of Different Bacteria Inocula and Temperature Levels on the Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Prickly Pear Vinegar Produced by Surface Culture
Authors: Es-sbata Ikram , Castro Remedios , Carmona-Jiménez Yolanda , Zouhair Rachid , Durán-Guerrero Enrique
Published: January 2022

This work intends to determine the effect on the aroma profile, phenolic content and antioxidant activity of prickly pear vinegars produced by the surface culture at two different fermentation temperatures and using different acetic acid bacteria (AAB) inocula. Prickly pear wine was fermented at two temperature levels (30 and 37 °C) by using bacteria inocula containing Acetobacter, Gluconobacter or a mixture of bacteria isolated from Sherry vinegars. Eighty-five individual volatile compounds from different families and sixteen polyphenolic compounds have been identified. It was confirmed that the highest temperature tested (37 °C) resulted in a lower concentration of volatile compounds, while no significant effect on the vinegars’ volatile composition could be associated with the AAB inoculum used. Contrariwise, the highest content of polyphenolic compounds was detected in those vinegars produced at 37 °C and their concentration was also affected by the type of AAB inoculum used. Prickly pear wine displayed greater antioxidant activity than juices or vinegars, while the vinegars obtained through the mixture of AAB from Sherry vinegar showed higher antiradical activity than those obtained through either of the two AAB genera used in this study. It can be therefore concluded that, although the volatile content of vinegars decreased when fermented at a higher temperature, vinegars with a higher content in polyphenols could be obtained by means of partial fermentations at 37 °C, as long as thermotolerant bacteria were employed.
Consumer Behaviour towards Pork Meat Products: A Literature Review and Data Analysis
Authors: Mondéjar-Jiménez Juan Antonio , Sánchez-Cubo Francisco , Mondéjar-Jiménez José
Published: January 2022

Knowing the behaviour of consumers is essential for all types of companies, including meat companies. For this purpose, academia is an ally of industry, and analysing scientific production seems crucial for conducting future research. Therefore, this study aimed to carry out an exhaustive review of the literature, relying on both descriptive and bibliometric analyses, the latter being through the application of clustering techniques by simple centres. The main results and conclusions are as follows: (1) consumer perceptions, behaviours and attitudes towards food are the main focus of research in this area; (2) the ingredients and additives of meat products are the main concerns in the industry regarding such products; (3) sausages are the dominant meat product; (4) and pork, as well as other types of meat, fall under the generic umbrella term meat. Furthermore, there is a lack of studies considering age, sex and income cohorts. Such lack might have led to finding consumer behaviour and the welfare of animals not significant despite the presupposed positive correlation. The main limitations for researchers are around the availability of budgets and the existence of trade secrets.
Encapsulation of Pomegranate Peel Extract (Punica granatum L.) by Double Emulsions: Effect of the Encapsulation Method and Oil Phase
Authors: Sanhueza Leyla , García Paula , Giménez Begoña , Benito José Manuel , Matos María , Gutiérrez Gemma
Published: January 2022

Pomegranate peel is an agro-industrial waste that can be used as source of punicalagin, a polyphenolic compound with several beneficial effects on health. Since, once extracted, punicalagin is prone to degradation, its encapsulation by double emulsions can be an alternative to protect the active compound and control its release. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the feasibility of encapsulating pomegranate peel extract (PPE) in double emulsions using different types of oils (castor, soybean, sunflower, Miglyol and orange) in a ratio of 70:30 (oil:PPE) and emulsification methods (direct membrane emulsification and mechanical agitation), using polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and Tween 80 as lipophilic and hydrophilic emulsifiers, respectively. Direct membrane emulsification (DME) led to more stable emulsions during storage. Droplet size, span values, morphology and encapsulation efficiency (EE) were better for double emulsions (DEs) prepared by DME than for mechanical agitation (MA). DEs formulated using Miglyol or sunflower oil as the oily phase could be considered as suitable food grade systems to encapsulate punicalagin with concentrations up to 11,000 mg/L of PPE.
Correction: Hammershøj et al. Dual-Purpose Poultry in Organic Egg Production and Effects on Egg Quality Parameters. Foods 2021, 10, 897
Authors: Hammershøj Marianne , Kristiansen Gitte Hald , Steenfeldt Sanna
Published: January 2022

The authors would like to make the following correction to the published paper [...]
Immunomodulatory Activity of Extracellular Vesicles of Kimchi-Derived Lactic Acid Bacteria (Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Latilactobacillus curvatus, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum)
Authors: Kim Sang-Hyun , Lee Ji Hee , Kim Eun Hae , Reaney Martin J. T. , Shim Youn Young , Chung Mi Ja
Published: January 2022

Lactic acid bacteria present in Kimchi, such as Leuconostoc mesenteroides (Lm), Latilactobacillus curvatus (Lc), and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lp) produce extracellular vesicles (ECVs) that modulate immune responses. The ECVs of probiotic Kimchi bacteria are abbreviated as LmV, LcV, and LpV. Treatment of macrophages (RAW264.7) with ECVs (LmV, LcV, and LpV) increased the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Immunostimulatory effects exerted on the RAW264.7 cells were stronger after treatments with LmV and LcV than with LpV. Treatment of mice with LcV (1 mg/kg, orally) induced splenocyte proliferation and subsequent production of both NO and cytokines (INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-10). Furthermore, pre-treatment of macrophages and microglial cells with ECVs prior to LPS stimulation significantly attenuated the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6). Therefore, ECVs (LmV, LcV, and LpV) prevent inflammatory responses in the LPS-stimulated microglial cells by blocking the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and p38 signaling pathways. These results showed that LmV, LcV, and LpV from Kimchi probiotic bacteria safely exert immunomodulatory effects.