bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wavelet and Earth Mover’s Distance Coupling Denoising Techniques
Authors: Zhang Zhihua , Xu Xudong , Crabbe M. James C.
Published: August 2023

The widely used wavelet-thresholding techniques (DWT-H and DWT-S) have a near-optimal behavior that cannot be enhanced by any local denoising filter, but they cannot utilize the similarity of small-size image patches to enhance the denoising performance. Two of the latest improvements (WNLM and NLMW) introduced the Euclidean distance to measure the similarity of image patches, and then used the non-local meaning of similar patches for further denoising. Since the Euclidean distance is not a good similarity measurement, these two improvements are limited. In this study, we introduced the earth mover’s distance (EMD) as the similarity measure of small-scale patches within the wavelet sub-bands of noisy images. Moreover, at higher noise levels, we further incorporated joint bilateral filtering, which can filter both the spatial domain and the intensity domain of images. Denoising simulation experiments on BSDS500 demonstrated that our algorithm outperformed the DWT-H, DWT-S, WNLM, and NLMW algorithms by 4.197 dB, 3.326 dB, 2.097 dB, and 1.162 dB in terms of the average PSNR, and by 0.230, 0.213, 0.132, and 0.085 in terms of the average SSIM.
Simulation and Comprehensive Analysis of AlGaN/GaN HBT for High Voltage and High Current
Authors: Wang Xinyuan , Zhang Lian , He Jiaheng , Cheng Zhe , Liu Zhe , Zhang Yun
Published: August 2023

We present a series of TCAD analysis of gallium nitride (GaN) heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) that investigates the impact of various key parameters on the gain characteristics, output characteristics, and breakdown characteristics. It has been observed that the DC gain of the AlGaN/GaN HBTs exhibits a non-linear relationship with the increase in the Al fraction. Specifically, the DC gain initially rises, then declines after reaching its peak value at approximately 7%. By optimizing the concentration of the base and the concentration and thickness of the collector epitaxial layer, it is possible to achieve devices with breakdown voltages of 1270 V (with a collector thickness of 6 μm and a carrier concentration of 2 × 1016 cm−3), specific on-resistance of 0.88 mΩ·cm2, and a current gain of 73. In addition, an investigation on breakdown characteristics is conducted for HBTs with two types of substrates, namely QV-HBTs and FV-HBTs, at different inclinations of the ramp. We propose that critical angles are 79° and 69° to prevent the surface breakdown of the device, which helps to achieve an avalanche in GaN HBTs. We anticipate that the aforementioned findings will offer valuable insights for designing GaN-based power HBTs with elevated breakdown thresholds, heightened current densities, and increased power capabilities.
T-FIM: Transparency in Federated Identity Management for Decentralized Trust and Forensics Investigation
Authors: Xu Bowen , Zhang Zhijintong , Sun Aozhuo , Guo Juanjuan , Wang Zihan , Li Bingyu , Dong Jiankuo , Jia Shijie , Song Li
Published: August 2023

Federated Identity Management (FIM) has gained significant adoption as a means to simplify user authentication and service authorization across diverse domains. It serves as a centralized authentication and authorization method, enabling users to access various applications or resources using credentials issued by a universally trusted identity provider (IdP). However, recent security incidents indicate that the reliability of credentials issued by IdP is not absolute in practice. If the IdP fails, it can persistently access any application that trusts it as any user. This poses a significant security threat to the entire system. Furthermore, with the increasing adoption of FIM across diverse scenarios, there is a growing demand for the development of an identity management system that can effectively support digital forensics investigations into malicious user behavior. In this work, we introduce transparency to federated identity management, proposing T-FIM to supervise unconditional trust. T-FIM employs privacy-preserving logs to record all IdP-issued tokens, ensuring that only the true owner can access the exact token. We utilize identity-based encryption (IBE), but not just as a black box, encrypting tokens before they are publicly recorded. In addition, we propose a decentralized private key generator (DPKG) to provide IBE private keys for users, avoiding the introduction of a new centralized trust node. T-FIM also presents a novel approach to digital forensics that enables forensic investigators to collect evidence in a privacy-preserving manner with the cooperation of the DPKG. We conduct a comprehensive analysis of the correctness, security, and privacy aspects of T-FIM. To demonstrate the practical feasibility of T-FIM, we evaluated the additional overhead through experimental evaluations. Additionally, we compared its performance with other similar schemes to provide a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities and advantages.
A Dual-Direction Attention Mixed Feature Network for Facial Expression Recognition
Authors: Zhang Saining , Zhang Yuhang , Zhang Ye , Wang Yufei , Song Zhigang
Published: August 2023

In recent years, facial expression recognition (FER) has garnered significant attention within the realm of computer vision research. This paper presents an innovative network called the Dual-Direction Attention Mixed Feature Network (DDAMFN) specifically designed for FER, boasting both robustness and lightweight characteristics. The network architecture comprises two primary components: the Mixed Feature Network (MFN) serving as the backbone, and the Dual-Direction Attention Network (DDAN) functioning as the head. To enhance the network’s capability in the MFN, resilient features are extracted by utilizing mixed-size kernels. Additionally, a new Dual-Direction Attention (DDA) head that generates attention maps in two orientations is proposed, enabling the model to capture long-range dependencies effectively. To further improve the accuracy, a novel attention loss mechanism for the DDAN is introduced with different heads focusing on distinct areas of the input. Experimental evaluations on several widely used public datasets, including AffectNet, RAF-DB, and FERPlus, demonstrate the superiority of the DDAMFN compared to other existing models, which establishes that the DDAMFN as the state-of-the-art model in the field of FER.
Cloud–Edge Collaborative Inference with Network Pruning
Authors: Li Mingran , Zhang Xuejun , Guo Jiasheng , Li Feng
Published: August 2023

With the increase in model parameters, deep neural networks (DNNs) have achieved remarkable performance in computer vision, but larger DNNs create a bottleneck for deploying DNNs on resource-constrained edge devices. The cloud–edge collaborative inference based on network pruning provides a solution for the deployment of DNNs on edge devices. However, the pruning methods adopted by existing frameworks are locally effective, and the compressed models are over-sparse. In this paper, we design a cloud–edge collaborative inference framework based on network pruning to make full use of the limited computing resources on edge devices. In our framework, we propose a sparsity-aware feature bias minimization pruning method to reduce the feature bias that happens during network pruning and prevent the pruned model from being over-sparse. To further reduce the inference latency, we consider the difference in computing resources between edge devices and the cloud, then design a task-oriented asymmetric feature coding to reduce the communication overhead of transmitting intermediate data. With comprehensive experiments, our framework can reduce end-to-end latency by 82% to 84% with less than 1% accuracy loss, compared to the cloud–edge collaborative inference framework with traditional methods, and our framework has the lowest end-to-end latency and accuracy loss compared to other frameworks.
Research on Speech Emotion Recognition Based on Teager Energy Operator Coefficients and Inverted MFCC Feature Fusion
Authors: Wang Feifan , Shen Xizhong
Published: August 2023

As an important part of our daily life, speech has a great impact on the way people communicate. The Mel filter bank used in the extraction process of MFCC has a better ability to process the low-frequency component of a speech signal, but it weakens the emotional information contained in the high-frequency part of the speech signal. We used the inverted Mel filter bank to enhance the feature processing of the high-frequency part of the speech signal to obtain the IMFCC coefficients and fuse the MFCC features in order to obtain I_MFCC. Finally, to more accurately characterize emotional traits, we combined the Teager energy operator coefficients (TEOC) and the I_MFCC to obtain TEOC&I_MFCC and input it into the CNN_LSTM neural network. Experimental results on RAVDESS show that the feature fusion using Teager energy operator coefficients and I_MFCC has a higher emotion recognition accuracy, and the system achieves 92.99% weighted accuracy (WA) and 92.88% unweighted accuracy (UA).
An Efficient Ship-Detection Algorithm Based on the Improved YOLOv5
Authors: Wang Jia , Pan Qiaoruo , Lu Daohua , Zhang Yushuang
Published: August 2023

Aiming to solve the problems of large-scale changes, the dense occlusion of ship targets, and a low detection accuracy caused by challenges in the localization and identification of small targets, this paper proposes a ship target-detection algorithm based on the improved YOLOv5s model. First, in the neck part, a weighted bidirectional feature pyramid network is used from top to bottom and from bottom to top to solve the problem of a large target scale variation. Second, the CNeB2 module is designed to enhance the correlation of coded spatial space, reduce interference from redundant information, and enhance the model’s ability to distinguish dense targets. Finally, the Separated and Enhancement Attention Module attention mechanism is introduced to enhance the proposed model’s ability to identify and locate small targets. The proposed model is verified by extensive experiments on the sea trial dataset. The experimental results show that compared to the YOLOv5 algorithm, the accuracy, recall rate, and mean average precision of the proposed algorithm are increased by 1.3%, 1.2%, and 2%, respectively; meanwhile, the average precision value of the proposed algorithm for the dense occlusion category is increased by 4.5%. In addition, the average precision value of the proposed algorithm for the small target category is increased by 5% compared to the original YOLOv5 algorithm. Moreover, the detection speed of the proposed algorithm is 66.23 f/s, which can meet the requirements for detection speed and ensure high detection accuracy and, thus, realize high-speed and high-precision ship detection.
An Analytical Model of a System with Compression and Queuing for Selected Traffic Flows
Authors: Hanczewski Sławomir , Stasiak Maciej , Weissenberg Joanna
Published: August 2023

This article proposes a new analytical model of a queuing system to which a mixture of multi-service traffic is offered. The system under consideration has the advantage of servicing calls, in a shared server, of which only part will be placed in a queue when the server has no free resources (while the remaining part of the calls will be lost). In addition, this model also introduces the possibility for a compression mechanism to be applied for a selected number of data flows. The possibility of simultaneous analysis of the calls that can be placed in the queue as well as of those in which queuing is not implemented, while a certain number of them can be compressed, provides unquestionable advantage to the proposed model. The proposed model can be successfully applied to analyse and model 5G systems.
A Machine Learning Application for the Energy Flexibility Assessment of a Distribution Network for Consumers
Authors: Rober Jaka , Maruša Leon , Beković Miloš
Published: August 2023

This paper presents a step-by-step approach to assess the energy flexibility potential of residential consumers to manage congestion in the distribution network. A case study is presented where a selected transformer station exhibits signs of overloading. An analysis has been performed to evaluate the magnitude of the overloading and the timing of the overload occurrence based on their historical load data. Based on the historical load data, the four most prominent consumers have been chosen for the flexibility assessment. Temperature load dependency has been evaluated for the selected consumers. The paper’s novel approach focuses on selecting individual consumers with the highest energy flexibility potential, and analysing their load patterns to address transformer overloading. To achieve this, machine learning algorithms, specifically, multiple linear regression and support vector machines, were used for load profile forecasting during the overload occurrences. Based on the forecast and measured load patterns, flexibility scenarios were created for each consumer. The generated models were evaluated and compared with the forecasting based on the average load of the past days. In the results, three potential consumers were identified who could resolve the transformer overloading problem. The machine learning models outperformed the average-based forecasting method, providing more realistic estimates of flexibility potential. The proposed approach can be applied to other overloaded transformer stations, but with a limited number of consumers.
A New Method for Predicting the Gas Content of Low-Resistivity Shale: A Case Study of Longmaxi Shale in Southern Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Duan Xianggang , Wu Yonghui , Jiang Zhenxue , Hu Zhiming , Tang Xianglu , Zhang Yuan , Wang Xinlei , Chen Wenyi
Published: August 2023

Low-resistivity shales are widely developed in the Sichuan Basin. The production of low-resistivity shale gas reservoirs ranges from high to low to none. The existing methods for gas-content prediction cannot accurately predict the gas content of low-resistivity shale. This increases the risk of shale-gas exploration. To prove that the random forest algorithm has apparent advantages in predicting the gas content of low-resistivity shale and reducing the risks associated with shale-gas exploration and development, three prediction methods were selected in this paper to compare their effects. The first method is known as the grey-correlation multiple linear regression method. Low-resistivity shale-gas content logging series were optimized using the grey-correlation approach, and then the low-resistivity shale-gas-content prediction model was established using the multiple linear regression method. The second method we selected was the resistivity method. The improved water-saturation model was used to predict the water saturation of low-resistivity shale, and then the gas content of low-resistivity shale was predicted based on the free-gas content and the adsorbed-gas-content model. The random forest algorithm was the third method we selected. Fourteen logging series were used as input data and the measured gas content was used as supervised data to train the model and to apply the trained model to the gas-content prediction. The findings demonstrated that the grey-correlation multiple regression method had poor accuracy in predicting gas content in low-resistivity shale; The resistivity method accurately predicted water saturation, and the predicted gas content was higher than the actual gas content. Because the random forest algorithm accurately predicted low-resistivity shale-gas content, its use in the Sichuan Basin was advantageous. The selection of a low-resistivity shale-gas-content prediction model was guided by the research findings.
Reducing CO2 Emissions for PV-CHP Hybrid Systems by Using a Hierarchical Control Algorithm
Authors: Kneiske Tanja M.
Published: August 2023

National targets for CO2 reduction in the German building sector have stagnated due to low refurbishment rates. This paper proposes an alternative approach using highly efficient, decentralized energy systems. By combining photovoltaic (PV) systems and combined heat and power (CHP) plants controlled by a modified hierarchical control algorithm, CO2 emissions can be reduced. Results from a single-family home show a 13% CO2 reduction with only 11% higher operational costs on heating days. On summer days, up to 50% CO2 emissions can be avoided without additional costs. The control algorithm easily adapts to changing input parameters, making it suitable for different countries and business cases. Overall, with its modified control, the PV-CHP hybrid system can effectively reduce CO2 emissions and adapt to varying conditions. The control can be easily used for other energy systems, like fuel cells or heat pumps.
The Cleaning Effect of Photovoltaic Modules According to Precipitation in the Operation Stage of a Large-Scale Solar Power Plant
Authors: Jo Wonkyun , Ham Namhyuk , Kim Juhyung , Kim Jaejun
Published: August 2023

A large-scale solar power plant costs a lot of money in the early stage of development and is greatly affected by the natural environment. Therefore, efficient operation is very important. The purpose of this study is to analyze the cleaning effect of photovoltaic modules according to precipitation during the operation stage of a large-scale solar power plant. The first analysis compared ‘average power generation on sunny days under standard cloudiness from after precipitation to the next precipitation’ and ‘average daily power generation per quarter’ and confirmed that precipitation had an effect on increasing power generation by 26%. The second analysis compared ‘average power generation on sunny days under the standard cloudiness from after precipitation to the next precipitation’ and ‘average daily power generation on a clear day just before precipitation’. It was confirmed that the average power generation efficiency of the entire sample increased by 4.8% on average after precipitation than before precipitation. This study quantitatively analyzed the cleaning effect of photovoltaic modules by precipitation through actual power generation data of large-scale solar power plants. This study has sufficient value in establishing an operation manual for decision-making on the appropriate input cost for cleaning photovoltaic modules and improvement of power generation efficiency.
Voltage-Oriented Control-Based Three-Phase, Three-Leg Bidirectional AC–DC Converter with Improved Power Quality for Microgrids
Authors: Tasnim Moshammed Nishat , Ahmed Tofael , Dorothi Monjila Afrin , Ahmad Shameem , Shafiullah G. M. , Ferdous S. M. , Mekhilef Saad
Published: August 2023

Renewable energy sources (RESs) and energy storage schemes (ESSs) integrated into a microgrid (MG) system have been widely used in power generation and distribution to provide a constant supply of electricity. The power electronics converters, particularly the bidirectional power converters (BPCs), are promising interfaces for MG infrastructure because they control the power management of the whole MG system. The controller of BPCs can be designed using several different control strategies. However, all the existing controllers have system stability, dynamics, and power quality issues. Therefore, this study demonstrates the development of an LCL-filtered grid-connected bidirectional AC–DC converter’s (BADC) control strategy based on voltage-oriented control (VOC) to overcome these issues. The proposed VOC-based inner current control loop (ICCL) is implemented in synchronous dq-coordinate with the help of proportional-integral (PI) controllers. An observer-based active damping (AD) is also developed in order to estimate the filter capacitor current from the capacitor voltage instead of directly measuring it. This developed AD system helps to damp the resonance effect of the LCL filter, improves system stability, and also eliminates the practical challenges of measuring capacitor current. The proposed controller with AD is able to realize bidirectional power transfer (BPT) with reduced power losses due to the elimination of passive damping and improved power quality, system dynamics, and stability. The mathematical modeling of the suggested system was developed, and the structure of the system model was established in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. The performance of the proposed system was validated with real-time software-in-the-loop (RT-SIL) simulation using the OPAL-RT simulator for a 16 kVA converter system. The real-time (RT) simulation results show that the BADC with the proposed control scheme can provide better dynamic performance and operate with tolerable total harmonic distortion (THD) of 2.62% and 2.71% for inverter and rectifier modes of operation, respectively.
Optimizing Landscape Structure of Hybrid Land Use in Ecological Corridors Based on Comprehensive Benefit Index in Metropolitan Area
Authors: Shen Jiake , Wang Yuncai
Published: August 2023

As an inherent part of the landscape ecological network (LEN), the ecological corridor is the bridge between ecological sources and also the key to ensuring urban ecological security. Existing studies on ecological corridors mostly stay in the large scale of landscape patterns and lack guidance for corridor structure design or optimization at the land use level. To provide a reference for the internal landscape structure adjustment of the ecological corridor composed of hybrid land use in the rapidly urbanized areas, first, we constructed the “Comprehensive benefit index of ecological corridors I” by using the three indexes of “Ecological benefit enhancement potential”, “Economic input cost” and “Social coordination cost”. Second, with the goal of maximizing the comprehensive benefits of the three aspects of ecological corridor construction, we established a functional relationship between the converted agricultural land area A, constructed land area C, and index I to determine the optimal proportion of agricultural lands and constructed lands converted into ecological lands within the planning scope of the ecological corridors. The results show that (1) according to the conversion ratio, the ecological corridors in the study area can be divided into three degrees of conversion rate: low, moderate, and high. (2) Among the 66 ecological corridors, the agricultural lands in 26 ecological corridors and the constructed lands in 35 ecological corridors need to be converted into ecological land at a high ratio to ensure the comprehensive benefits of the corresponding corridors. We also put forward suggestions for landscape structure adjustment and optimization for ecological corridors with different conversion degrees. This method can help balance the benefits of different stakeholders in the city and implement the results of ecological corridor planning on a large spatial and temporal scale at the land use level.
A General Rule-Based Framework for Generating Alternatives for Forest Ecosystem Management Decision Support Systems
Authors: Nobre Silvana , McDill Marc , Estraviz Rodriguez Luiz , Diaz-Balteiro Luis
Published: August 2023

Linear programming formulations of forest ecosystem management (FEM) problems proposed in the 1960s have been adapted and improved upon over the years. Generating management alternatives for forest planning is a key step in building these models. Global forests are diverse, and a variety of models have been developed to simulate management alternatives. This paper describes iGen, a forest prescription generator that employs a rule-based system (AI-RBS), an AI technique that is often used for expert systems. iGen was designed with the goal of being able to generate management alternatives for virtually any FEM problem. The prescription generator is not designed for, adapted to, focused on—and ideally not limited to—any specific region, landscape, forest condition, projection method, or yield function. Instead, it aims to maximize generality, enabling it to address a broad range of FEM problems. The goal is that practitioners and researchers who do not have and do not want to develop their own alternative generator can use iGen as a prescription generator for their problem instances. For those who choose to develop their own alternative generators, we hope that the concepts and algorithms we propose in this paper will be useful in designing their own systems. iGen’s flexibility can be attributed to three key features. First, users can define the state variable vector for management units according to the available data, models (production functions), and objectives of their problem instance. Second, users also define the types of interventions that can be applied to each type of management unit and create a rule base describing the conditions under which each intervention can be applied. Finally, users specify the equations of motion that determine how the state vector for each management unit will be updated over time, depending on which, if any, interventions are applied. Other than this basic structure, virtually everything in an iGen problem instance is user-defined. iGen uses these key elements to simulate all possible management prescriptions for each management unit and stores the resulting information in a database that is structured to efficiently store the output data from these simulations and to facilitate the generation of optimization models for ultimately determining the Pareto frontier for a given FEM problem. This article introduces iGen, illustrating its concepts, structure, and algorithms through two FEM example problems with contrasting forest management practices: natural regeneration with shelterwood harvests and plantation/coppice. For data and iGen source programs, visit github.com/SilvanaNobre/iGenPaper.
Yeast-Mediated Biomass Valorization for Biofuel Production: A Literature Review
Authors: Ahuja Vishal , Arora Anju , Chauhan Shikha , Thakur Sheetal , Jeyaseelan Christine , Paul Debarati
Published: August 2023

The European Union has recommended that about 10–50% of the global energy requirement should be supplemented by waste biomass resources by 2050 in order to achieve the objective of having net-zero-emission economies. This has led to intensive research being conducted on developing appropriate biofuel production technologies using advanced or integrated systems to tackle local, national, and global energy challenges using waste feedstock. Researchers have realized the potential of microbes (e.g., yeast strains) for bioenergy production. For this paper, both non-oleaginous and oleaginous yeasts were reviewed, with a specific focus being placed on their diversity in metabolism and tolerance to the various challenges that arise from the use of waste feedstock and influence bioprocessing. Gathering in-depth knowledge and information on yeast metabolism has paved the way for newer and better technologies to employ them for consolidated biorefineries to not only produce biofuels but also to cut down process expenses and decrease the risks of net carbon emissions. The rationale for using yeast strains improved by metabolic engineering and genetic manipulation that can substantially meet the challenges of alternate fuel resources is also described in this paper. This literature review presents the advantages and disadvantages of yeast-based biofuel production and highlights the advancements in technologies and how they contrast to conventional methods. Over the last decade, scientific publications have endorsed the idea of biorefineries for environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable biofuel production.
Strengthening Taiwan–Philippines Ties: Forging a Fisheries Cooperation in Shared Waters under the WCPFC Framework
Authors: Liu Wen-Hong , Fabilane Johonsan , Hsu Wen-Kai
Published: August 2023

Studies have shown the abundance of fisheries resources in the waters of the northern part of the Philippines bordering southern Taiwan. However, discrepancies in legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and cultural practices, as well as maritime boundary issues, contribute to complexities in collaboration. This paper thus aims to provide an understanding into the intricacies and challenges faced by both countries in managing their shared fishing resources. By analyzing the relevant international laws and instruments on fisheries cooperation, the paper shows what coastal states and entities fishing in the high seas could do to manage and conserve fishery resources in disputed areas. Existing fisheries agreements in the region such as the Taiwan–Japan Fisheries Cooperation provide a template of the kind of cooperation that can be concluded within the overlapping waters of both nations. Results of the analysis show how important it is for both nations to acknowledge the significance of fisheries cooperation in the overlapping waters. By recognizing the mutual benefits of sustainable resource management through peaceful dialogue, establishing a fisheries cooperation under the legal framework of the WCPFC is the logical solution. The findings contribute to understanding the complexities of cross-border fisheries cooperation and provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in the region.
Pullulan-Based Active Coating Incorporating Potassium Metabisulfite Maintains Postharvest Quality and Induces Disease Resistance to Soft Rot in Kiwifruit
Authors: Tian Yiming , Li Lamei , Wang Rui , Ji Ning , Ma Chao , Lei Jiqing , Guan Wenqiang , Zhang Xu
Published: August 2023

Soft rot is a severe postharvest disease of kiwifruit that causes enormous economic losses annually. In this study, we aimed to explore an effective pullulan-based active coating, incorporating food additives to reduce soft rot and extend the shelf life of cold-stored kiwifruit. The results showed that 1 g/L potassium metabisulfite could completely inhibit the mycelial growth of Diaporthe sp., Botryosphaeria dothidea, Phomopsis sp. and Alternaria sp., which were the primary pathogens of kiwifruit soft rot. Furthermore, the pullulan coating, combined with a 10 g/L potassium metabisulfite group, had a decay rate 46% lower than the control (CK) group and maintained fruit quality at the end of shelf life. The retention of physicochemical properties such as soluble solid content (SSC), firmness, weight loss and respiration rate also confirmed the efficacy of the treatment. In addition, at the end of shelf life, pullulan coating, combined with potassium metabisulfite, increased the accumulation of total phenolic content (37.59%) and flavonoid content (9.28%), maintained a high energy charge (51.36%), and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) (6.27%), peroxidase (POD) (62.50%), catalase (CAT) (84.62%) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) (24.61%) enzyme activities as well as initiating the upregulation of their gene expression levels. As a result, the disease resistance of fruit was improved, and the occurrence of soft rot was delayed. Overall, this study demonstrated that using the pullulan-based active coating incorporating potassium metabisulfite treatment effectively controlled soft rot and retarded the senescence of postharvest kiwifruit.
Prototype of an Innovative Vacuum Dryer with an Ejector System: Comparative Drying Analysis with a Vacuum Dryer with a Vacuum Pump on Selected Fruits
Authors: Šumić Zdravko , Tepić Horecki Aleksandra , Kašiković Vladimir , Rajković Andreja , Pezo Lato , Daničić Tatjana , Pavlić Branimir , Milić Anita
Published: August 2023

The following article describes new research about the design, construction and installation of the new prototype of a vacuum dryer with an ejector system. Moreover, the testing of this new prototype involved comparing the qualities of fruit dried in a vacuum drier with an ejector system to fruit dried in a convectional vacuum drier. The data obtained were then analyzed and presented. Due to their economic relevance and highly valuable nutritional value and sensory properties, sour cherries and apricots have been chosen to be the subjects for the testing. The most appropriate quality indicators for analyzing were moisture content, aw value, share and penetration force, total phenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH and ABTS test). The main results of this study were achieved by designing, constructing, installing and testing the usage of the innovative prototype of a vacuum dryer with an ejector system in the laboratory of the Technology of fruit and vegetable products of the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad. Based on our analyses of the obtained data, it was concluded that vacuum dryer with an ejector system are similar to vacuum dryer with a vacuum pump in terms of all tested physical, chemical and biological properties of dried samples. We observed similarities in some of the most important parameters, including product safety and quality, such as the aw value and the total phenol content, respectively. For example, in dried sour cherry, the aw values ranged from 0.250 to 0.521 with the vacuum pump and from 0.232 to 0.417 with the ejector system; the total phenol content ranged from 2322 to 2765 mg GAE/100 g DW with the vacuum pump and from 2327 to 2617 mg GAE/100 g DW with the ejector system. In dried apricot, the aw ranged from 0.176 to 0.405 with the vacuum pump and from 0.166 to 0.313 with the ejector system; total phenol content ranged from 392 to 439 mg GAE/100 g DW with the vacuum pump and from 378 to 428 mg GAE/100 g DW with the ejector system.
Effects of Ammonia and Salinity Stress on Non-Volatile and Volatile Compounds of Ivory Shell (Babylonia areolata)
Authors: Liu Chunsheng , Sun Yunchao , Hong Xin , Yu Feng , Yang Yi , Wang Aimin , Gu Zhifeng
Published: August 2023

In this study, the flavor compounds of ivory shell (Babylonia areolata) and their changes caused by ammonia and salinity stresses were studied. Ammonia stress improved the contents of free amino acids (FAAs), 5′-adenosine monophosphate (AMP), citric acid, and some mineral ions such as Na+, PO43−, and Cl−. The FAA contents decreased with increasing salinity, while the opposite results were observed in most inorganic ions (e.g., K+, Na+, Mg2+, Mn2+, PO43−, and Cl−). Hyposaline and hypersaline stresses increased the AMP and citric acid contents compared to the control group. The equivalent umami concentration (EUC) values were 3.53–5.14 g monosodium glutamate (MSG)/100 g of wet weight, and the differences in EUC values among treatments were mainly caused by AMP. Hexanal, butanoic acid, and 4-(dimethylamino)-3-hydroxy- and (E, E)-3,5-octadien-2-one were the top three volatile compounds, and their profiles were significantly affected when ivory shells were cultured under different ammonia and salinity conditions.
Liking and Description of Pasta Sauces with Varying Mealworm Content
Authors: Wallner Marlies , Julius Nina , Pelayo Raquel , Höfler Christina , Berner Simon , Rehorska René , Fahrner Lisa , Maunz Susanne
Published: August 2023

Entomophagy is directly connected with culture, explaining why it is commonly rejected in Western countries. Due to increased meat consumption in recent years with its associated negative impacts on health and sustainability, the development of products based on alternative protein sources has become urgent. The larval form of Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) has the potential to substitute meat as it requires less resources and produces less emissions compared to other forms of meat production. Therefore, in this project we have aimed to develop pasta sauces with differing mealworm contents based on a common meat sauce and to test the acceptance with 91 consumers in Austria. Three sauces (100% mealworm, 50% mealworm and 50% meat, 100% meat) were developed and tested using a 9-point hedonic scale for acceptance, and the CATA (Check-All-That-Apply) method was integrated to also receive descriptive information. The analysis of the liking data revealed that the liking for the hybrid sauce with meat and mealworm content was comparable to the meat sauce (6.9 ± 1.8. vs. 6.5 ± 1.8, p > 0.05). Less liked was the sauce with the highest mealworm content (5.7 ± 1.8, p < 0.05). The CATA analysis demonstrated the strongest positive effects on the mean in terms of how much the products were liked for the attribute “fleshy” (0.8). On the other hand, the attributes “brownish” (−0.9) or “mushy” (−1.0) had the strongest negative effects on the mean of the liking of products. We have seen that meat cannot be substituted by mealworm immediately and completely. The results suggest a stepwise substitution and the further adaptation of products regarding the (negative and positive effecting) attributes to increase consumer acceptance.
Ubiquitous Occurrence of Nano Selenium in Food Plants
Authors: Verstegen Jonas , Günther Klaus
Published: August 2023

Selenium is an essential trace element in human nutrition. Recent findings suggest that the biosynthesis of selenium nano particles (SeNPs) in plants might be a ubiquitous phenomenon. We investigated the potential of SeNP biosynthesis in food plants and our core objective was to explore the commonness and possible ubiquitousness of nano selenium in food plants and consequently in the human diet. By growing a variety of plants in controlled conditions and the presence of selenite we found strong evidence that SeNPs are widely present in vegetables. The shoots and roots of seven different plants, and additionally Brazil nuts, were analyzed with single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with a focus on edible plants including herbs and salads. SeNPs were found in every plant of our study, hence we conclude, that SeNPs are common ingredients in plant-based food and are therefore eaten daily by most humans. Considering the concerning worldwide prevalence of selenium deficiency and the great physiological properties of SeNPs, we see a high potential in utilizing this discovery.
Affine-Periodic Boundary Value Problem for a Fractional Differential Inclusion
Authors: Gao Shanshan , Zhao Sen , Lu Jing
Published: August 2023

In the article, affine-periodic boundary value problem involving fractional derivative is considered. Existence of solutions to a Caputo-type fractional differential inclusion is researched by some fixed-point theorems and set-valued analysis theory. Specifically, we consider two cases in which the multifunction has convex values and nonconvex values, respectively.
Study on the Characteristics of Composite Recycled Aggregate Concrete Based on Box–Behnken Design Response Surface Model
Authors: Li Haizhou , Zhang Lu , Liu Jianping , Chu Fujiao , Tian Yifan
Published: August 2023

This study investigates the influence of recycled fine aggregates (RFA) and waste concrete powder (WCP) on the compressive strength of concrete. The response surface methodology is employed, considering three factors: the content of WCP, the water–cement ratio, and the replacement ratio of recycled fine aggregates. Compressive tests are conducted at different ages (3 days, 28 days, and 90 days). A statistical approach is used to establish a response surface model for compressive strength and to verify its fitting with experimental results. By combining qualitative and quantitative analyses, including morphological analysis of SEM images, stratified binarization statistics, and fractal dimension calculations, the mechanisms of the effects of singly and doubly mixed RFA and WCP on the compressive strength of concrete are analyzed. The results show that an increase in the content of WCP from 5% to 15% gradually improves the compressive strength of the concrete. The water–cement ratio significantly affects the compressive strength, with an optimal ratio of 0.43. Replacement with less than 33% fine aggregates does not significantly reduce the compressive strength of the concrete. The concrete specimens with singly mixed fine aggregates exhibit the largest pore area after stratified grayscale binarization, while those with doubly mixed aggregates have the largest area of hydrated calcium silicate. Fractal analysis of the binarized images confirms a positive correlation between the fractal dimension of hydrated calcium silicate and compressive strength and a negative correlation between the fractal dimension of pores and compressive strength.
Cyclodextrin in Vaccines: Enhancing Efficacy and Stability
Authors: Varan Gamze
Published: August 2023

Cyclodextrins, a family of cyclic oligosaccharides, have received considerable interest in the field of pharmaceuticals due to their unique molecular structure and versatile properties. In the context of vaccines, cyclodextrins can effectively encapsulate antigens, ensuring their protection from degradation and improving their immunogenicity. Cyclodextrins offer stability advantages to vaccines by preventing the degradation of labile vaccine components during storage and transportation. Furthermore, cyclodextrins can serve as adjuvants, potentiating the immune response triggered by vaccines. Their unique structure and interaction with the immune system enhance the recognition of antigens by immune cells, leading to an improved activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. This adjuvant effect contributes to the development of robust and long-lasting immune protection against targeted pathogens. Owing to the distinctive attributes inherent to nanoparticles, their integration into vaccine formulations has assumed an imperative role. Through the encapsulation of vaccine antigens/adjuvants within cyclodextrin nanoparticles, the potency and stability of vaccines can be notably enhanced. In particular, the capacity of amphiphilic cyclodextrins to form nanoparticles through self-assembly without surfactants or co-solvents is a captivating prospect for their application as carrier systems for antigens. In conclusion, cyclodextrins present a promising platform for enhancing the efficacy and stability of vaccines. Their ability to encapsulate antigens, stabilize labile vaccine components and act as adjuvants demonstrates their potential to revolutionize vaccine formulation and delivery. Further research and development in this field will facilitate the translation of cyclodextrin-based vaccine technologies into practical and impactful immunization strategies, ultimately benefiting global health and disease prevention.
Integrating Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft into Public Airspace: A Scenario Study
Authors: Bridgelall Raj , White Shawn , Tolliver Denver
Published: August 2023

The successful deployment of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) requires the safe integration of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in non-segregated airspace. However, a lack of practical deployment demonstrations can slow the regulatory progress. This study presents a practical deployment framework for the integration of eVTOL aircraft into public airspace, in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) special airworthiness criteria. This study focused on a corporate use case to provide a comprehensive scenario for enhancing intra-company mobility. The scenario supports early implementation and demonstration goals by removing reliance on air traffic management systems or air traffic controller separation services. The practical deployment framework included facility selection, route planning, terrain mapping, collision avoidance, aircraft selection, infrastructure requirements, vertiport placement, electric chargers, ground handling, operational staff, and cost estimates. Planners can use the framework as a template to inform the implementation of real-world AAM services using eVTOL aircraft.
Modulating the Configurations of “Gel-Type” Soft Silicone Rubber for Electro-Mechanical Energy Generation Behavior in Wearable Electronics
Authors: Kumar Vineet , Alam Md. Najib , Yewale Manesh A. , Park Sang-Shin
Published: August 2023

Electro-mechanical configurations can be piezo-electric transducers, triboelectric generators, electromagnetic induction, or hybrid systems. Our present study aims at developing energy generation through the piezoelectric principle. Gel-type soft SR with Shore A hardness below 30 was used as a versatile material for an elastomeric substrate. Also, multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and diatomaceous earth (DE) were used as reinforcing fillers. This “gel-type” soft SR has crosslinking polymer networks with silicone encapsulated within its structure. Mechanical properties such as modulus or stretchability are of utmost importance for such devices based on “gel-type” soft. From the experiments, some of the mechanical aspect’s values are summarized. For example, the stretchability was 99% (control) and changes to 127% (3 phr, MWCNT), 76% (20 phr DE), and 103% (20 phr hybrid). From electro-mechanical tests, the output voltage was 0.21 mV (control) and changed to 0.26 mV (3 phr, MWCNT), 0.19 mV (20 phr DE), and 0.29 mV (20 phr hybrid). Moreover, from real-time biomechanical human motion tests in “gel-type” soft-based composites, a relationship among output voltage from machine to human motions was established. Overall, these configurations make them promising against traditional portable devices such as batteries for small power applications such as mobile phones.
Effect of the Administration of a Lyophilised Faecal Capsules on the Intestinal Microbiome of Dogs: A Pilot Study
Authors: Carapeto Sandra , Cunha Eva , Serrano Isa , Pascoal Pedro , Pereira Marcelo , Abreu Raquel , Neto Sara , Antunes Beatriz , Dias Ricardo , Tavares Luís , Oliveira Manuela
Published: August 2023

Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is a promising strategy for modulating the gut microbiome. We aimed to assess the effect of the oral administration of capsules containing lyophilised faeces on dogs with diarrhoea for 2 months as well as evaluate their long-term influence on animals’ faecal consistency and intestinal microbiome. This pilot study included five dogs: two used as controls and three with diarrhoea. Animals were evaluated for four months by performing a monthly faecal samples collection and physical examination, which included faecal consistency determination using the Bristol scale. The total number of viable bacteria present in the capsules was quantified and their bacterial composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which was also applied to the faecal samples. During the assay, no side effects were reported. Animals’ faecal consistency improved and, after ending capsules administration, Bristol scale values remained stable in two of the three animals. The animals’ microbiome gradually changed toward a composition associated with a balanced microbiota. After FMT, a slight shift was observed in its composition, but the capsules’ influence remained evident during the 4-month period. Capsules administration seems to have a positive effect on the microbiota modulation; however, studies with more animals should be performed to confirm our observations.