bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Does Electricity Affect Economic Growth? Examining the Role of Government Policy to Selected Four South Asian Countries
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Mafizur , Rayhan Istihak , Sultana Nahid
Published: February 2023

Electricity consumption and government policy are two vital elements for economic growth. Thus, this study explores the roles of electricity use and government policy in the economic growth of the selected four South Asian countries over the period from 1980 to 2014. The study includes the government policy variable in the extended Cobb–Douglas production function of the electricity driven growth model, which was absent in earlier studies. The pooled mean group-based panel autoregressive distributed lag (P-ARDL) method is used for empirical investigation, while fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) methods are used for checking the sensitivity of the P-ARDL estimates. Our results reveal that the effects of electricity, government spending, financial development and capital formation have significant positive effects on the economic growth of South Asia. However, exports and imports are found to have detrimental effects. Causality test reveals a unidirectional causality from electricity consumption to economic growth that supports the growth hypothesis. Following the findings, important policy recommendations are made to foster the economic growth in the South Asian countries.
Reliability Assessment of the Configuration of Dynamic Uninterruptible Power Sources: A Case of Data Centers
Authors: Varnavskiy Kirill , Nepsha Fedor , Chen Qingguang , Ermakov Alexander , Zhironkin Sergey
Published: February 2023

The number of data centers worldwide is increasing year by year, mostly because of the development of cloud services and applications. In the near future, the rate of construction of data centers will grow, with a corresponding increase in their electrical energy consumption. The requirements of the reliability of the electrical power supply of data centers are one of the highest among industrial power consumers, since uninterrupted power supply is critically important for the continuous functioning of server hardware. The assessment of electrical power supply reliability is one of the most important parts of the design process of data centers. However, the speed of the development of new power equipment does not always make it possible to use classical probabilistic and statistical methods for reliability assessment. Therefore, the development of new methods for reliability assessment based on alternative approaches, which can eliminate the disadvantages of probabilistic and statistical methods, are of great interest. This paper discusses the alternative method for analyzing the reliability of electrical power supply for the case of data centers. The method defines the reliability through the internal information of the system that characterizes the system’s topology, flows of information, energy, and matter in the system.
Effect of Shear Action on Structural and Electrical Insulation Properties of Polypropylene
Authors: Wang Dianyu , Yang Jiaming , Li Lu , Wang Xuan , Yang Xu , Zhao Xindong , Zhao Hong , Li Lin , Liu Heqian
Published: February 2023

Polypropylene undergoes permanent alterations during the processing and manufacture of cables due to shear effects, which in turn affect all of its qualities. There are currently few research papers on the modulation of material structure and many performance parameters by the shear stress field. In this study, we examined the impact of various shear levels on the structural, mechanical, and electrical properties of polypropylene, as well as their relationships. The results indicated that shear strength decreased the material’s viscosity and oxidation resistance. As shear duration increased, crystallinity began to diminish. In the meantime, the crystallinity improved as the shear temperature rose. The thermal elongations of the sheared samples were all about 5%. Short-term shearing boosted the material’s toughness, but as the degree of shear continued to increase, the material’s toughness and rigidity steadily decreased. The storage modulus of the material decreased with increasing shear, the loss peak initially increased and subsequently decreased, the peak position shifted from low to high temperature, and the loss factor was relatively small. In samples sheared for brief periods, an accumulation of space charge and an increase in its nonlinear threshold field strength were observed. With increasing shear time, the material’s space charge accumulation was repressed, the current density initially grew and then reduced, and the nonlinear threshold field strength initially fell and then increased. Under shearing, the electrical strength of the material increased by approximately 2%. In addition, the presence of an antioxidant improved all of the aforementioned features.
Stability Impacts of an Alternate Voltage Controller (AVC) on Wind Turbines with Different Grid Strengths
Authors: Dimitropoulos Dimitrios , Wang Xiongfei , Blaabjerg Frede
Published: February 2023

This paper studies the stability impact of the alternate voltage controller’s (AVC) low-pass filter (LPF) in a wind turbine’s grid-connected voltage source converter (VSC). A small-signal model of the grid-connected converter is designed with a grid-following synchronization control. More specifically, the non-linear state-space model of the grid-connected converter was developed, including the dynamics of both the inner and outer control loops of the converter, the dynamics of the elements of the electrical system, as well as the digital time delay. An eigenvalue-based stability analysis gives insight into the stability impacts of the outer-loop controllers. It is proven that the cutoff frequency of the AVC’s LPF affects the phase-locked loop (PLL) and AVC bandwidths of instability, as well as the corresponding critical oscillation frequencies. This phenomenon is observed in both weak and strong grids. Consequently, the small-signal stability regions of the PLL and AVC bandwidth can be identified for the range of the AVC’s LPF cutoff frequency under study. The stability regions of the PLL and AVC, which are obtained from the small-signal model, as well as the determined critical oscillation frequencies, are validated through time domain simulations and fast-Fourier transformation (FFT) analysis.
Improved Model Predictive Direct Power Control for Parallel Distributed Generation in Grid-Tied Microgrids
Authors: Bhatti Muhammad Zubair Asif , Siddique Abubakar , Aslam Waseem , Atiq Shahid , Khan Hussain Sarwar
Published: February 2023

This research proposes an improved finite control set direct power model predictive control method (FCS-DPMPC) for grid-tie distributed generation (DG). FCS-DPMPC predicts the system outcomes using the system model. During the next sampling time, a voltage vector is defined using the cost function to minimize the power ripple, consequently allowing flexibility for power regulation. Furthermore, the impact of implementing a one-step delay is studied and compensated through a model forecast pattern. In addition, a new two-step horizon technique has been developed to minimize switching frequency and computation burden. Simulation results for single DG and parallel operated DGs in a grid-tie manner confirm the effectiveness of the suggested control strategy, which signifies that this is an appropriate approach for distributed generation in microgrids.
Review on the Recent Progress in Nuclear Plant Dynamical Modeling and Control
Authors: Dong Zhe , Cheng Zhonghua , Zhu Yunlong , Huang Xiaojin , Dong Yujie , Zhang Zuoyi
Published: February 2023

Nuclear plant modeling and control is an important subject in nuclear power engineering, giving the dynamic model from process mechanics and/or operational data as well as guaranteeing satisfactory transient and steady-state operational performance by well-designed plant control laws. With the fast development of small modular reactors (SMRs) and in the context of massive integration of intermittent renewables, it is required to operate the nuclear plants more reliably, efficiently, flexibly and smartly, motivating the recent exciting progress in nuclear plant modeling and control. In this paper, the main progress during the last several years in dynamical modeling and control of nuclear plants is reviewed. The requirement of nuclear plant operation to the subject of modeling and control is first given. By categorizing the results to the aspects of mechanism-based, data-based and hybrid modeling methods, the advances in dynamical modeling are then given, where the modeling of SMR plants, learning-based modeling and state-observers are typical hot topics. In addition, from the directions of intelligent control, nonlinear control, online control optimization and multimodular coordinated control, the advanced results in nuclear plant control methods are introduced, where the hot topics include fuzzy logic inference, neural-network control, reinforcement learning, sliding mode, feedback linearization, passivation and decoupling. Based upon the review of recent progress, the future directions in nuclear plant modeling and control are finally given.
Utilizing Thermal Energy for Crosslinking Gels: A Novel Rapid Approach
Authors: Awadallah-F Ahmed , Al-Muhtaseb Shaheen A.
Published: February 2023

A novel route was invented for utilizing thermal energy (at an elevated temperature of 110 ± 2 °C) to synthesize and crosslink gels from resorcinol and formaldehyde without using catalysts or buffers. The outcome gels are identified by various techniques such as Fourier transform infrared, Raman spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, nano-scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and surface area and porosity analyses. Resorcinol–formaldehyde gels prepared by this approach are also carbonized and activated to study their subsequent activated carbons. The gels and their corresponding activated carbons expose hierarchical pore structures with micro-, meso- and macroporous features. The average pore sizes of gels and activated carbons ranged from 3.5 to 62.9 nm and from 0.9 to 2.0 nm, respectively. The total surface areas of gels and activated carbons ranged from 0.01 to 176.15 and from 160.93 to 511.46 m2/g, respectively. Moreover, the total pore volumes of gels and activated carbons ranged from 0 to 0.546 and from 0.086 to 0.366 cm3/g, respectively. The results refer to how this novel approach could be used in the synthesis of resorcinol–formaldehyde gels in particular, and might be used in the synthesis of other gels in general. Due to the absence of added catalysts or buffers, this approach yields clean products that can be valuable in various sensitive applications such as biomaterials and pharmaceuticals, which require no impurities from extra reacting species.
Refinement of the Heuristic Solution for the Problem of TE-Polarized Electromagnetic Wave Diffraction on a Half-Plane with Two-Sided Impedance Boundary Conditions
Authors: Vesnik Michael V.
Published: February 2023

A technique for obtaining refined heuristic solutions for problems with electromagnetic wave diffraction by scatterers with non-ideal boundary conditions is proposed. Based on the method of fundamental components for the problem of TE-polarized wave diffraction on a “semitransparent” half-plane with two-sided impedance boundary conditions, an improved heuristic solution for the scattered field is obtained by replacing the primary heuristic formula. A quantitative and qualitative assessment of the accuracy of the heuristic relationship is carried out as well as a physical interpretation of the rigorous solution based upon them. A classification of heuristic solutions is proposed according to the purpose of their application in practical problems.
Evaluation of Physical Adsorption Properties of the Activated Carbon Layers Used in the Commercial Face Mask Inserts
Authors: Dizbay-Onat Melike
Published: February 2023

When the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spread globally, wearing face masks in public became one of the most effective protective measures. Subsequently, due to the increasing demand for face masks, researchers explored feasible approaches to optimize their efficiency. The outcome of this research provides insights into the adsorption performance of four commercial face mask filter inserts with activated carbon layers (ACL). The results showed that the ACL of the inserts has very low Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) surface areas (2–33 m2/g) and low carbon percentages (19–31%). Physical adsorption analysis revealed non-uniform micropore size distributions in all samples. In addition, non-woven structures were obtained through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental outcomes show that the ACL in the purchased face masks is low-quality adsorbent and not pure carbonaceous material; polymeric components may be predominant.
Image-Based Vehicle Classification by Synergizing Features from Supervised and Self-Supervised Learning Paradigms
Authors: Ma Shihan , Yang Jidong J.
Published: February 2023

This paper introduces a novel approach to leveraging features learned from both supervised and self-supervised paradigms, to improve image classification tasks, specifically for vehicle classification. Two state-of-the-art self-supervised learning methods, DINO and data2vec, were evaluated and compared for their representation learning of vehicle images. The former contrasts local and global views while the latter uses masked prediction on multiple layered representations. In the latter case, supervised learning is employed to finetune a pretrained YOLOR object detector for detecting vehicle wheels, from which definitive wheel positional features are retrieved. The representations learned from these self-supervised learning methods were combined with the wheel positional features for the vehicle classification task. Particularly, a random wheel masking strategy was utilized to finetune the previously learned representations in harmony with the wheel positional features during the training of the classifier. Our experiments show that the data2vec-distilled representations, which are consistent with our wheel masking strategy, outperformed the DINO counterpart, resulting in a celebrated Top-1 classification accuracy of 97.2% for classifying the 13 vehicle classes defined by the Federal Highway Administration.
End-to-End Learning for Visual Navigation of Forest Environments
Authors: Niu Chaoyue , Zauner Klaus-Peter , Tarapore Danesh
Published: February 2023

Off-road navigation in forest environments is a challenging problem in field robotics. Rovers are required to infer their traversability over a priori unknown and dynamically changing forest terrain using noisy onboard navigation sensors. The problem is compounded for small-sized rovers, such as that of a swarm. Their size-proportional low-viewpoint affords them a restricted view for navigation, which may be partially occluded by forest vegetation. Hand-crafted features, typically employed for terrain traversability analysis, are often brittle and may fail to discriminate obstacles in varying lighting and weather conditions. We design a low-cost navigation system tailored for small-sized forest rovers using self-learned features. The MobileNet-V1 and MobileNet-V2 models, trained following an end-to-end learning approach, are deployed to steer a mobile platform, with a human-in-the-loop, towards traversable paths while avoiding obstacles. Receiving a 128 × 96 pixel RGB image from a monocular camera as input, the algorithm running on a Raspberry Pi 4, exhibited robustness to motion blur, low lighting, shadows and high-contrast lighting conditions. It was able to successfully navigate a total of over 3 km of real-world forest terrain comprising shrubs, dense bushes, tall grass, fallen branches, fallen tree trunks, and standing trees, in over five different weather conditions and four different times of day.
The Role of Organ and Leaf Habit on the Secondary Xylem Anatomy Variation across 15 Species from Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: Dutra Rafaella , Nogueira Anselmo , Rossi Sergio , Chacon Dória Larissa , Buttò Valentina , Marcati Carmen Regina
Published: February 2023

Xylem is a complex tissue connecting the organs of plants and it performs multiple functions, including water transport, mechanical support, and storage. Because of the interaction between structure and function, xylem anatomy can provide useful information about its role in plant strategies. However, knowledge of how xylem anatomical traits change across organs and species functional groups is still limited. Here, we tested the role of different plant organs (stem and roots) and leaf habits (deciduous, semi-deciduous, and evergreen) on xylem anatomy variation across 15 woody species from the Brazilian Cerrado. Vessels, fibers, and parenchyma traits were measured on 45 individuals sampled in 2014 in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Our results revealed a higher parenchyma fraction and less fiber fraction in roots than in stems across species. Differences in wood anatomical traits between organs were mainly species-specific in parenchyma traits rather than vessel and fiber traits. Across leaf habits, only the root ray fraction was higher in evergreen species compared to deciduous species. These findings highlight a potential role of organs and leaf habits in xylem storage across Cerrado woody species.
Carbon Offset Service of Urban Park Trees and Desirable Planting Strategies for Several Metropolitan Cities in South Korea
Authors: Jo Hyun-Kil , Park Hye-Mi , Kim Jin-Young
Published: February 2023

Urban parks are essential for offsetting high carbon emissions in cities, which are known to be high emitters. This study quantified carbon uptake and storage in Daejeon and Daegu, two major metropolitan cities in South Korea, and explored planting strategies to promote carbon offset services. Mean carbon uptake and storage per unit area in the study parks were 2.6 ± 0.1 t/ha/yr and 29.9 ± 1.7 t/ha, respectively. The urban park trees of a metropolitan city in South Korea were estimated to annually sequester and store 50 kt/yr and 572 kt of carbon, respectively. This carbon uptake equaled 1.5% of the total annual carbon emissions from residential energy consumption. The economic value of the carbon uptake was equivalent to $3.3 million/yr, which is 1.50% of the annual establishment budget of urban forests of the Korea Forest Service. Planting strategies included reducing unnecessary grass and pavement areas, the active planting of trees in the potential planting space, multilayered planting, and planting tree species with high growth rates. These results are expected to guide policies related to carbon credits, which have recently emerged as major concerns, and to provide useful information for quantifying carbon offset services in greenspace establishment projects.
An Optimized Planning Tool for Microwave Terrestrial and Satellite Link Design
Authors: Ferreira Eduardo , Sebastião Pedro , Cercas Francisco , Sá Costa Carlos , Correia Américo
Published: February 2023

Today, the internet is fundamental to social inclusion. There are many people that live in remote areas, and the only way to supply internet services is through the use of microwave terrestrial and satellite systems. Thus, it is important to have efficient tools to design and optimize these systems. In this paper, a tool with the objective to shorten the time spent in the design process of microwave terrestrial and satellite point-to-point links is presented. This tool can be applied in academia by engineering students, providing an extended analysis of many sections of a link project design, as well as in professional practice by telecommunication engineering departments, presenting a concise step-by-step interactive design process. This tool uses three-dimensional world visualization, with the Cesium Application Programming Interface (API), to display and analyze site-specific characteristics that can disrupt the link’s quality of service (QoS). Using this visualization, two ray-tracing algorithms were developed to analyze signal diffraction and reflection mainly throughout terrestrial links. Using this new algorithm, an innovative process for signal diffraction and reflection calculations was created. Using updated standards provided by the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), the characteristics of the defined simulated links could be predicted, thus providing the user with the metrics of signal quality and system link budget.
Forest Fire Detection and Notification Method Based on AI and IoT Approaches
Authors: Avazov Kuldoshbay , Hyun An Eui , Sami S Alabdulwahab Abrar , Khaitov Azizbek , Abdusalomov Akmalbek Bobomirzaevich , Cho Young Im
Published: February 2023

There is a high risk of bushfire in spring and autumn, when the air is dry. Do not bring any flammable substances, such as matches or cigarettes. Cooking or wood fires are permitted only in designated areas. These are some of the regulations that are enforced when hiking or going to a vegetated forest. However, humans tend to disobey or disregard guidelines and the law. Therefore, to preemptively stop people from accidentally starting a fire, we created a technique that will allow early fire detection and classification to ensure the utmost safety of the living things in the forest. Some relevant studies on forest fire detection have been conducted in the past few years. However, there are still insufficient studies on early fire detection and notification systems for monitoring fire disasters in real time using advanced approaches. Therefore, we came up with a solution using the convergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and You Only Look Once Version 5 (YOLOv5). The experimental results show that IoT devices were able to validate some of the falsely detected fires or undetected fires that YOLOv5 reported. This report is recorded and sent to the fire department for further verification and validation. Finally, we compared the performance of our method with those of recently reported fire detection approaches employing widely used performance matrices to test the achieved fire classification results.
Study on the Effect of Blockage Ratio on Maximum Smoke Temperature Rise in the Underground Interconnected Tunnel
Authors: Xu Zhisheng , Zhen Yaxing , Xie Baochao , Sakepa Tagne Sylvain Marcial , Zhao Jiaming , Ying Houlin
Published: February 2023

The model-scale tunnel is used in this investigation to analyze the maximum smoke temperature rise of the interconnected tunnel for various longitudinal ventilation velocities, blockage ratios, and heat release rates where the fire is at the confluence of the underground interconnected tunnel. The results showed that the longitudinal ventilation velocities of both the ramp upstream of the fire source and the adjacent ramp influenced the maximum temperature rise under the underground interconnected tunnel, and the ventilation of both ramps jointly affected the maximum temperature rise. The change in the maximum temperature rise depends on who is more affected by the longitudinal ventilation velocity or the vehicle blockage ratio. As the longitudinal ventilation velocity in the interconnected tunnel increases, the convective heat transfer near the fire source increases, resulting in a decrease in the maximum temperature rise, and the effect of the blockage ratio on the maximum temperature rise is reduced. In this paper, a maximum temperature rise prediction model suitable for the case of blockage in the interconnected tunnel is proposed.
Inhibition of Browning in Apples Using Betacyclodextrin-Assisted Extracts of Green Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)
Authors: Vhangani Lusani Norah , Van Wyk Jessy
Published: February 2023

Green rooibos’ bioactive compounds contribute greatly towards its antioxidant activity. The anti-browning activity of aqueous (GRE) and beta-cyclodextrin (β-GRE)-assisted extracts of green rooibos was investigated in canned apples. Freeze-dried extracts (GRE and β-GRE) obtained at 40 °C for 60 min were added in canned apples at 0.25 and 0.5% prior to heat processing and stored at 23 and 37 °C for 24 weeks. Lightness (L*), colour difference (DE*), furfural and hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) were determined to establish the effect of extracts against non-enzymatic browning (NEB) development. The L* value decreased, whereas DE*, HMF and furfural increased with increased storage time and temperature. A higher inhibition was observed for samples stored at 23 °C, and storage at 37 °C reduced (p < 0.05) the inhibitory capacity of extracts. Greater inhibition against NEB development was reported for β-GRE 0.25 and 0.5 via the L* value (40.93–46.67%), β-GRE 0.25 for DE* (46.67%) and β-GRE 0.25 and 0.5 for HMF (59.55–67.33%). No differences (p > 0.05) were observed in furfural inhibition between all extracts, although inhibition was reported at 62.69–72.29%. Browning inhibition correlated with the reaction rate constant (k0) and activation energy (Ea), exhibiting a correlation coefficient of 0.925, 0.964, 0.932 and 0.754 for L*, DE*, HMF and furfural, respectively.
Effects of Sucrose Replacement by Polyols on the Dough-Biscuit Transition: Understanding by Model Systems
Authors: Roze Mathilde , Diler Guénaelle , Pontoire Bruno , Novalès Bruno , Jonchère Camille , Crucean Doina , Le-Bail Alain , Le-Bail Patricia
Published: February 2023

This study investigated the impacts of the complete substitution of sucrose by maltitol and/or sorbitol on the dough-crumb transition in biscuits. To this end, the phenomena of starch gelatinization/melting were studied at different moisture contents, both in the biscuit dough and model systems, by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Observation of doughs in ESEM revealed sorbitol had a structure very different from sucrose and maltitol crystals. After forming the dough pieces, it could be seen that at least some sugar and maltitol crystals were still present while sorbitol flakes were solubilized. At a limiting real water content (~20% dry basis), adding sweeteners to the mixture increased the gelatinization temperature, more markedly for sucrose and maltitol, as well as increasing the enthalpy. These results were confirmed by the model systems analyses. The calorimetric study with mixing batch cells revealed that sorbitol dissolved completely while maltitol and sucrose competed with the flour constituents to capture water. The proportion of water available for the sorption of the starch grain and its gelatinization was therefore different according to the affinity of the sweetener for water, and might influence the degree and temperature of starch gelatinization/melting.
Effect of Controlled Oxygen Supply during Crushing on Volatile and Phenol Compounds and Sensory Characteristics in Coratina and Ogliarola Virgin Olive Oils
Authors: Veneziani Gianluca , García-González Diego L. , Esposto Sonia , Nucciarelli Davide , Taticchi Agnese , Boudebouz Abdelaziz , Servili Maurizio
Published: February 2023

In virgin olive oil industries, the technological choices of the production plant affect the biochemical activities that take place in the olives being processed throughout the entire process, thereby affecting the quality of the final product. The lipoxygenase pool enzymes that operated their activity during the first phases of the process need the best conditions to work, especially concerning temperature and oxygen availability. In this study, a system was equipped to supply oxygen in the crusher at a controllable concentration in an industrial olive oil mill at pilot plant scale, and four oxygen concentrations and two cultivars, Coratina and Ogliarola, were tested. The best concentration for oxygen supply was 0.2 L/min at the working capacity of 0.64 Ton/h. Further, using this addition of oxygen, it was possible to increase the compound’s concentration, which is responsible for the green, fruity aroma. The effect on volatile compounds was also confirmed by the sensory analyses. However, at the same time, it was possible to maintain the concentration of phenols in a good quality olive oil while also preserving all the antioxidant properties of the product due to the presence of phenols. This study corroborates the importance of controlling oxygen supply in the first step of the process for process management and quality improvement in virgin olive oil production.
Production of Fish Analogues from Plant Proteins: Potential Strategies, Challenges, and Outlook
Authors: Zhong Chengxuan , Feng Yiming , Xu Yixiang
Published: February 2023

Fish products are consumed by human beings as a high-quality protein source. However, overfishing, and pollution puts out an urgent call to seek a new strategy to substitute fish protein for secure eco-sustainability. Plant-based fish analogs, which mimic the structure, texture, and flavor of fish meat products, are a rapid-growing segment of the food products. The purpose of this review is to discuss the feasibility and potential strategies for developing plant-based fish analog. The nutritional properties, especially the protein quality of plant-based fish analogs, were discussed. Furthermore, a thorough comparison was made between fish and terrestrial animal muscle structures, including both macroscopical and microscopical structures. Potential processing technologies for producing plant-based fish analogs from plant proteins and approaches for the characterization of the fish analog structures were elaborated. Comparing all the current processing techniques, extrusion is the predominately used technique in the current industry. At the same time, 3D-printing and electrospinning have shown the prominent potential of mimicking fish muscle structure as bottom-up approaches. Finally, key challenges and future research were discussed for the potential commercialization of plant-based fish analogues. The primary focus of this review covers the innovative works that were indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection in the past five years.
Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Oils from Cactus Opuntia ficus-indica L. and Opuntia dillenii Seeds
Authors: Al-Naqeb Ghanya , Cafarella Cinzia , Aprea Eugenio , Ferrentino Giovanna , Gasparini Alessandra , Buzzanca Chiara , Micalizzi Giuseppe , Dugo Paola , Mondello Luigi , Rigano Francesca
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to assess the capability of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) as an alternative and green technique compared to Soxhlet extraction for the production of oils from Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) seeds originating from Yemen and Italy and Opuntia dillenii (OD) seeds from Yemen. The following parameters were used for SFE extraction: a pressure of 300 bar, a CO2 flow rate of 1 L/h, and temperatures of 40 and 60 °C. The chemical composition, including the fatty acids and tocopherols (vitamin E) of the oils, was determined using chromatographic methods. The highest yield was achieved with Soxhlet extraction. The oils obtained with the different extraction procedures were all characterized by a high level of unsaturated fatty acids. Linoleic acid (≤62% in all samples) was the most abundant one, followed by oleic and vaccenic acid. Thirty triacylglycerols (TAGs) were identified in both OFI and OD seed oils, with trilinolein being the most abundant (29–35%). Vanillin, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillic acid, and hydroxytyrosol were phenols detected in both OFI and OD oils. The highest γ-tocopherol content (177 ± 0.23 mg/100 g) was obtained through the SFE of OFI seeds from Yemen. Overall, the results highlighted the potential of SFE as green technology to obtain oils suitable for functional food and nutraceutical products.
Thermosonication Applied to Kiwi Peel: Impact on Nutritional and Microbiological Indicators
Authors: Boghossian Magali , Brassesco María Emilia , Miller Fátima A. , Silva Cristina L. M. , Brandão Teresa R. S.
Published: February 2023

The peels of many fruits are rich sources of nutrients, although they are not commonly consumed. If they are properly decontaminated, they can be used as healthy food ingredients reducing food waste. The objective was to apply thermosonication processes to kiwi peel and evaluate the impact on Listeria innocua survival (a non-pathogenic surrogate of L. monocytogenes) and key nutrients and quality indicators: proteins, fibers, minerals (Ca, K, Mg, Na, and P), chlorophylls, and phenolic contents. Kiwi peels were artificially inoculated with L. innocua and thermal and thermosonication treatments were performed at 55 °C and 60 °C for 30 and 15 min maximum, respectively. Bacteria were enumerated through treatment time, and quality indicators were assessed before and at the end of treatments. A Weibull model with a decimal reduction time (D-value) was successfully used in L. innocua survival data fits. Results showed that coupling temperature to ultrasound had a synergistic effect on bacteria inactivation with significant decreases in D-values. Thermosonication at 60 °C was the most effective in terms of protein, fiber, chlorophylls, and phenolics retention. Minerals were not significantly affected by all treatments. Applying thermosonication to kiwi peel was more effective for decontamination than thermal treatments at the same temperature while allowing the retention of healthy compounds.
Valorisation of Three Underutilised Native Australian Plants: Phenolic and Organic Acid Profiles and In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Seididamyeh Maral , Phan Anh Dao Thi , Sivakumar Dharini , Netzel Michael E. , Mereddy Ram , Sultanbawa Yasmina
Published: February 2023

Tasmannia lanceolata, Diploglottis bracteata and Syzygium aqueum are understudied native Australian plants. This study aimed to characterise the non-anthocyanin phenolic and organic acid profiles of the aqueous extracts obtained from the leaves of T. lanceolata and fruits of D. bracteata and S. aqueum by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS and UHPLC-TQ-MS/MS. A total of 39, 22, and 27 non-anthocyanin polyphenols were tentatively identified in T. lanceolata, D. bracteata, and S. aqueum extracts, respectively. Furthermore, sugars and ascorbic acid contents as well as in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the extracts were determined. Response surface methodology was applied to achieve an extract blend with a strong inhibitory effect against Pseudomonas viridiflava, the main cause of soft rot in vegetables, Bacillus subtilis, Rhodotorula diobovata and Alternaria alternata. The identified compounds including organic acids (e.g., quinic, citric and malic acids) and polyphenols (e.g., catechin, procyanidins, and ellagitannins) might contribute to the observed antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, this study provides the most comprehensive phenolic profiles of these three underutilised native Australian plants to date.
The Sensitive Visualization and Generalized Fractional Solitons’ Construction for Regularized Long-Wave Governing Model
Authors: Ur Rahman Riaz , Faridi Waqas Ali , El-Rahman Magda Abd , Taishiyeva Aigul , Myrzakulov Ratbay , Az-Zo’bi Emad Ahmad
Published: February 2023

The solution of partial differential equations has generally been one of the most-vital mathematical tools for describing physical phenomena in the different scientific disciplines. The previous studies performed with the classical derivative on this model cannot express the propagating behavior at heavy infinite tails. In order to address this problem, this study addressed the fractional regularized long-wave Burgers problem by using two different fractional operators, Beta and M-truncated, which are capable of predicting the behavior where the classical derivative is unable to show dynamical characteristics. This fractional equation is first transformed into an ordinary differential equation using the fractional traveling wave transformation. A new auxiliary equation approach was employed in order to discover new soliton solutions. As a result, bright, periodic, singular, mixed periodic, rational, combined dark–bright, and dark soliton solutions were found based on the constraint relation imposed on the auxiliary equation parameters. The graphical visualization of the obtained results is displayed by taking the suitable parametric values and predicting that the fractional order parameter is responsible for controlling the behavior of propagating solitary waves and also providing the comparison between fractional operators and the classical derivative. We are confident about the vital applications of this study in many scientific fields.
Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL): A Review of the Classic and Emerging Target Therapies towards Molecular Heterogeneity
Authors: de Almeida Tâmara Dauare , Evangelista Fernanda Cristina Gontijo , Sabino Adriano de Paula
Published: February 2023

The occurrence of severe bleeding syndrome because of the PML-RARα fusion protein is a life-threatening event in APL. This protein destabilizes homeostasis, maturation, remodeling, and tissue regeneration in addition to hampering the maintenance and differentiation of hematopoietic cells into different lineages, fixing cells in the promyelocyte stage. APL is a classic example of how effective targeted therapy is and, therefore, how important the use of such therapy is to the overall survival of patients, which in this case is represented by the use of ATRA/ATO. Despite that, about 10% of cases of APL patients demonstrate resistance to treatment. Facing this scenario, we point out promising target therapies such as those recommended by the NCCN and Leukemia Net. Since this is such a heterogeneous molecular disease, it is of great importance to understand how important combined chemotherapy, target therapy, immune-based therapy, and combined therapies are in the survival of these APL patients.
Analysis of Deep Convolutional Neural Network Models for the Fine-Grained Classification of Vehicles
Authors: ul Khairi Danish , Ayaz Ferheen , Saeed Nagham , Ahsan Kamran , Ali Syed Zeeshan
Published: February 2023

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) is a broad area that encompasses vehicle identification, classification, monitoring, surveillance, prediction, management, reduction of traffic jams, license plate recognition, etc. Machine learning has practical and significant applications in ITS. Intelligent transportation systems rely heavily on vehicle classification for traffic management and monitoring. This research uses convolutional neural networks to classify cars at fine-grained classifications (make and model). Numerous obstacles must be overcome in order to complete the task, the greatest of which are intra- and inter-class similarities between the manufacturer and model of vehicles, different lighting effects, the shape and size of the vehicle, shadows, camera view angle, background, vehicle speed, colour occlusion and environmental conditions. This paper studies various machine learning algorithms used for the fine-grained classification of vehicles and presents a comparative analysis in terms of accuracy and the size of the implemented deep convolutional neural network (DCNN). Specifically, four DCNN models, mobilenet-v2, inception-v3, vgg-19 and resnet-50, are evaluated with three datasets, BMW-10, Stanford Cars and PAKCars. The evaluation results show that mobileNet-v2 is the smallest model as it is not computationally intensive due to depthwise separable convolution. However, resnet-50 and vgg-19 outperform inception-v3 and mobilenet-v2 in terms of accuracy due to their complex structure.
The Application of Hyaluronic Acid Injections in Functional and Aesthetic Andrology: A Narrative Review
Authors: Schifano Nicolò , Capogrosso Paolo , Antonini Gabriele , Baldini Sara , Scroppo Fabrizio , Salonia Andrea , Zerbinati Nicola , Dehò Federico
Published: February 2023

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan widely utilised in different fields of medicine. We aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific evidence on the use of HA in andrology. A review of the literature to identify pertinent studies concerning the use of HA in andrology was carried out on the Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane databases, with no time restriction up to December 2022. Penile girth enlargement (PGE) using HA proved to be safe and effective in enhancing the diameter of the penis, with durable and satisfactory outcomes in long-term follow-up. Injection of HA in the glans seems to represent an alternative treatment option for those patients with premature ejaculation (PE) who fail to respond to conventional medications. HA intra-plaque injections represent a valid option which may contribute to restore sexual activity in patients with Peyronie’s disease (PD). The adoption of HA filler injections should always be tailored to the patient’s peculiar anatomy and underlying condition. More robust evidence is required to achieve a uniformed consensus regarding the use of HA in andrology, and further efforts should continue to improve the current injection techniques and HA products.
Making the Genome Huge: The Case of Triatoma delpontei, a Triatominae Species with More than 50% of Its Genome Full of Satellite DNA
Authors: Mora Pablo , Pita Sebastián , Montiel Eugenia E. , Rico-Porras José M. , Palomeque Teresa , Panzera Francisco , Lorite Pedro
Published: February 2023

The genome of Triatoma delpontei Romaña & Abalos 1947 is the largest within Heteroptera, approximately two to three times greater than other evaluated Heteroptera genomes. Here, the repetitive fraction of the genome was determined and compared with its sister species Triatoma infestans Klug 1834, in order to shed light on the karyotypic and genomic evolution of these species. The T. delpontei repeatome analysis showed that the most abundant component in its genome is satellite DNA, which makes up more than half of the genome. The T. delpontei satellitome includes 160 satellite DNA families, most of them also present in T. infestans. In both species, only a few satellite DNA families are overrepresented on the genome. These families are the building blocks of the C-heterochromatic regions. Two of these satellite DNA families that form the heterochromatin are the same in both species. However, there are satellite DNA families highly amplified in the heterochromatin of one species that in the other species are in low abundance and located in the euchromatin. Therefore, the present results depicted the great impact of the satellite DNA sequences in the evolution of Triatominae genomes. Within this scenario, satellitome determination and analysis led to a hypothesis that explains how satDNA sequences have grown on T. delpontei to reach its huge genome size within true bugs.
GDP-Mannose Pyrophosphorylase B (GMPPB)-Related Disorders
Authors: Chompoopong Pitcha , Milone Margherita
Published: February 2023

GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase B (GMPPB) is a cytoplasmic protein that catalyzes the formation of GDP-mannose. Impaired GMPPB function reduces the amount of GDP-mannose available for the O-mannosylation of α-dystroglycan (α-DG) and ultimately leads to disruptions of the link between α-DG and extracellular proteins, hence dystroglycanopathy. GMPPB-related disorders are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and caused by mutations in either a homozygous or compound heterozygous state. The clinical spectrum of GMPPB-related disorders spans from severe congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) with brain and eye abnormalities to mild forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) to recurrent rhabdomyolysis without overt muscle weakness. GMPPB mutations can also lead to the defect of neuromuscular transmission and congenital myasthenic syndrome due to altered glycosylation of the acetylcholine receptor subunits and other synaptic proteins. Such impairment of neuromuscular transmission is a unique feature of GMPPB-related disorders among dystroglycanopathies. LGMD is the most common phenotypic presentation, characterized by predominant proximal weakness involving lower more than upper limbs. Facial, ocular, bulbar, and respiratory muscles are largely spared. Some patients demonstrate fluctuating fatigable weakness suggesting neuromuscular junction involvement. Patients with CMD phenotype often also have structural brain defects, intellectual disability, epilepsy, and ophthalmic abnormalities. Creatine kinase levels are typically elevated, ranging from 2 to >50 times the upper limit of normal. Involvement of the neuromuscular junction is demonstrated by the decrement in the compound muscle action potential amplitude on low-frequency (2–3 Hz) repetitive nerve stimulation in proximal muscles but not in facial muscles. Muscle biopsies typically show myopathic changes with variable degrees of reduced α-DG expression. Higher mobility of β-DG on Western blotting represents a specific feature of GMPPB-related disorders, distinguishing it from other α-dystroglycanopathies. Patients with clinical and electrophysiologic features of neuromuscular transmission defect can respond to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors alone or combined with 3,4 diaminopyridine or salbutamol.
Rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae Pers. de-Bary) of Pea (Pisum sativum L.): Present Status and Future Resistance Breeding Opportunities
Authors: Singh Anil Kumar , Kushwaha Chanda , Shikha Kumari , Chand Ramesh , Mishra Gyan P. , Dikshit Harsh Kumar , Devi Jyoti , Aski Muraleedhar S. , Kumar Shiv , Gupta Sanjeev , Nair Ramakrishnan M.
Published: February 2023

Uromyces viciae-fabae Pers. de-Bary is an important fungal pathogen causing rust in peas (Pisum sativum L.). It is reported in mild to severe forms from different parts of the world where the pea is grown. Host specificity has been indicated in this pathogen in the field but has not yet been established under controlled conditions. The uredinial states of U. viciae-fabae are infective under temperate and tropical conditions. Aeciospores are infective in the Indian subcontinent. The genetics of rust resistance was reported qualitatively. However, non-hypersensitive resistance responses and more recent studies emphasized the quantitative nature of pea rust resistance. Partial resistance/slow rusting had been described as a durable resistance in peas. Such resistance is of the pre-haustorial type and expressed as longer incubation and latent period, poor infection efficiency, a smaller number of aecial cups/pustules, and lower units of AUDPC (Area Under Disease Progress Curve). Screening techniques dealing with slow rusting should consider growth stages and environment, as both have a significant influence on the disease scores. Our knowledge about the genetics of rust resistance is increasing, and now molecular markers linked with gene/QTLs (Quantitative Trait Loci) of rust resistance have been identified in peas. The mapping efforts conducted in peas came out with some potent markers associated with rust resistance, but they must be validated under multi-location trails before use in the marker-assisted selection of rust resistance in pea breeding programs.