bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Positioning Method of Coal Mine Mining Equipment Based on Monocular Vision
Authors: Yu Rui , Fang Xinqiu , Hu Chengjun , Yang Xiuyu , Zhang Xuhui , Zhang Chao , Yang Wenjuan , Mao Qinghua , Wan Jicheng
Published: October 2022

In view of the insufficient characteristics and depth acquisition difficulties encountered in the process of uniocular vision measurement, the posture measurement scheme of tunneling equipment based on uniocular vision was proposed in this study. The positioning process of coal mine tunneling equipment based on monocular vision was proposed to extract the environmental features and match the features, and the RANSAC algorithm was used to eliminate the pair of mismatching points. This was done to solve the optimized matching pair and realize the pose estimation of the camera. The pose solution model based on the triangulation depth calculation method was proposed, and the PNP solution method was adopted based on the three-dimensional spatial point coordinates so as to improve the visual measurement accuracy and stability and lay the foundation for the 3D reconstruction of the roadway. This was done to simulate the downhole environment to build an experimental verification platform for monocular visual positioning. The experimental results showed that the position measurement accuracy of the uniocular visual roadheader positioning method within 60 mm and 1.3° could realize the accurate registration of the point cloud in the global coordinate system. The time required for the whole monocular visual positioning was only 179 ms, so it had good real-time performance.
A Conceptual Framework for the Design of Energy-Efficient Vertical Green Façades
Authors: Seyrek Şık Cansu , Woźniczka Agata , Widera Barbara
Published: October 2022

This research aims to develop a conceptual framework for a design support model for energy-efficient vertical green façade systems with a focus on their thermal and shading performance. The model applies forecasting and backcasting methods based on an extensive literature review and analysis by the authors, with a particular focus on the energy efficiency parameters of vertical green façades. The key parameters are related to the location (climate, surroundings, orientation of the façade), system type (air gap dimensions, irrigation, structure, and substrate type) and plant characteristics (leaf area index, leaf absorptivity, foliage thickness, stomatal resistance, typical leaf dimensions, leaf emissivity, transmission coefficient, radiation attenuation) determined from actual data collected from buildings. This holistic approach changes the perception of a user and an architect while facilitating the design process. The method’s limitations result from the scarcity of comparative experimental studies. However, the proposed model can be customised for specific conditions, with an increasing number of studies testing energy efficiency parameters comparatively. The article emphasises the vital importance of vertical green façades for built environment decarbonisation and links it to a new conceptual framework to encourage designers to make greater use of vertical green systems that are fully integrated into building energy strategies.
Single-Stage Isolated and Bidirectional Three-Phase Series-Resonant AC–DC Converter: Modulation for Active and Reactive Power Control
Authors: Sal y Rosas Damian , Chavez Daniel , Frey David , Ferrieux Jean-Paul
Published: October 2022

Single-stage isolated and bidirectional (SSIB) AC–DC converters have a high potential for future solid-state transformers and smart battery chargers due to their reduced volume and high efficiency. However, there is a research gap for SSIB reactive power injection. This article introduces an SSIB three-phase AC–DC converter composed of three low frequency rectifiers linked by tiny film capacitors with a quad-active-bridge series-resonant (QABSR) DC–DC. A novel QAB modulation is proposed to solve three issues: (1) Three DC inputs with high ripple compensation, (2) active–reactive power injection, and (3) minimization of high-frequency (HF) transformers currents. The rectified grid voltages were modulated by time-variant duty ratio (DR) angles. In contrast, the DC source was modulated by a fixed DR (FDR) angle along with a phase-shift angle which changes according to the grid current amplitude. A constant HF current amplitude with minimum value was obtained. It is shown that the HF current amplitude is increased for reactive power injection. Hence, the FDR angle was used to compensate for this increase. Active and reactive power control were validated in a 2 kW prototype. Compared with other structures, tiny DC-link capacitors and smaller L filters were used. Moreover, higher efficiency (96%) and smaller grid currents THDi (3%) were obtained.
Life Evaluation of Battery Energy System for Frequency Regulation Using Wear Density Function
Authors: Park Jingyeong , Choi Jeonghyeon , Jo Hyeondeok , Kodaira Daisuke , Han Sekyung , Acquah Moses Amoasi
Published: October 2022

Frequency regulation (FR) using a battery energy storage system (BESS) has been expanding because of the growth of renewable energy. This study introduces the wear density function, which considers battery degradation factors such as the rate of current, temperature, and depth of discharge (DOD) to provide a precise lifespan prediction. Furthermore, an equivalent system model is developed to evaluate the FR performance of the BESS for various operating parameters. Finally, a quantitative tradeoff relationship between performance and battery lifecycle is derived from the analysis using operational data of the actual BESS for FR.
Development of a Hydrogen Valley for Exploitation of Green Hydrogen in Central Italy
Authors: Ficco Giorgio , Arpino Fausto , Dell’Isola Marco , Grimaldi Michele , Lisi Silvia
Published: October 2022

Green hydrogen exploitation plays a crucial role in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Hydrogen, in fact, provides a number of key benefits for the energy system, due to its integrability with other clean technologies for energy production and consumption. This paper is aimed at presenting the project of recovery of an abandoned industrial area located in central Italy by developing a site for the production of green hydrogen. To this aim, the analysis of the territorial and industrial context of the area allowed us to design the project phases and to define the sizing criteria of the hydrogen production plant. The results of a preliminary cost–benefit analysis show that a huge initial investment is required and that, in the short term, the project is sustainable only with a very large public grant. On the other hand, in the long term, the project is sustainable, and the benefits significantly overcome the costs.
Can Spot Motor-Manual Brushing Treatments Be Effective for Controlling Aspen and Increasing Spruce Growth in Regenerating Mixedwood Stands?
Authors: Comeau Philip G.
Published: October 2022

Broadcast motor-manual or manual brushing treatments applied to control aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in young spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) plantations often result in increases in the number of aspen stems and the amount of aspen competition. In this study data collected at three locations is used to examine the potential effectiveness of spot brushing treatments, applied over radii ranging between 1.0 and 2.5 m around individual spruce, to aspen that are two, four or six years old. Results indicate that spot manual or motor-manual treatments result in reductions in the number and size of aspen stump sprouts compared to the untreated control. However, when aspen size and vigour are reduced due to site or other factors, as observed for blocks at one location, post-treatment aspen densities may still be high (e.g., above 5000 stems ha−1). Spot treatments applied when aspen regeneration was two years old were observed to be less effective than treatments applied at ages 4 or 6. At two study locations where control was effective, spot brushing treatments significantly increased spruce diameters after treatment compared to untreated. Broadcast or spot treatment using basal bark application of triclopyr ester (Release®) herbicide at one of the study sites resulted in similar increases in spruce diameter to those observed for motor-manual treatment.
Value of a Flexible Forest Harvest Decision with Short Period Forest Carbon Offsets: Application of a Binomial Option Model
Authors: Koirala Unmesh , Adams Damian C. , Susaeta Andres , Akande Emmanuel
Published: October 2022

Forest carbon offset programs have suffered from low landowner uptake, in large part to their long duration. A recent innovation in forest carbon offsets is the use of short period delays to harvest, which extend the rotation age of the stand beyond what is optimal for timber alone and increase sequestered carbon. Here, we assess the economic value of a short period delay “option pricing” in forest harvest with price uncertainty using a binomial option approach, accounting both for timber and carbon. Results from an option pricing model showed that landowners can generate considerably higher revenue with managerial flexibility along with the additional revenue from carbon offset programs. These results can help forest landowners make proper ownership decisions to withstand the risk and uncertainty associated with stumpage prices, while benefiting from carbon offset revenues.
EARLY FLOWERING3 Gene Confers Earlier Flowering and Enhancement of Salt Tolerance in Woody Plant Osmanthus fragrans
Authors: Zheng Zifei , Chen Penwei , Cao Shanshan , Zhong Shiwei , Wang Yiguang , Yang Liyuan , Fang Qiu , Zheng Xiao , Zhao Hongbo , Dong Bin
Published: October 2022

Osmanthus fragrans Lour. is popular in landscaping and gardening in Asia. In recent years, growing attention has been given to evergreen tree flowering and adaptation. EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3) plays an essential role in plant flowering regulation and abiotic stress tolerance. However, there is very little known about how the ELF3 gene affects flowering time and salt tolerance in O. fragrans. To elucidate the potential role of the flowering-related gene ELF3 in responding to salt tolerance, a significantly upregulated gene OfELF3 was obtained by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) after salt treatment in O. fragrans. Our results showed that OfELF3 is a nuclear protein, which did not have a transcriptional activation ability. OfELF3 accumulation was determined in different tissues and the differentiation process of floral buds by qRT–PCR, and the gene was also significantly induced by salt stress treatment. In addition, overexpression of OfELF3 accelerated the flowering time of transgenic Arabidopsis lines, and an increase in the expression of flowering integrators such as AtFT, AtSOC1, and AtAP1 was investigated. Moreover, OfELF3 overexpression significantly improved the salt tolerance of transgenic plants, seed germination and root length of transgenic plants and was superior to those of the wild type (WT) under NaCl treatment at 4 days post-germination and the 5-day-old seedling stage, respectively. Similarly, phenotype and physiological indexes (REL, MDA and soluble protein) of 3-week-old transgenic plants were superior to the WT plants as well. Together, our results suggest that OfELF3 is not only a positive regulator in the regulation of flowering but is also involved in the salt tolerance response in O. fragrans.
Quantifying the Effects of Root and Soil Properties on Soil Detachment Capacity in Agricultural Land Use of Southern China
Authors: Peng Lang , Tang Chongjun , Zhang Xinyin , Duan Jian , Yang Luyang , Liu Shiyu
Published: October 2022

Unsustainable agricultural land use will lead to an increased risk of soil erosion and soil degradation. However, few studies have investigated impacts of changes in root and soil properties on the soil detachment process. Therefore, we investigated the effects of agricultural land use on the relative contribution of root and soil properties to soil detachment capacity. Soil samples were collected from six different land use types and subjected to flow scouring under six shear stresses ranging from 4.98 to 16.37 Pa. Agricultural land use influenced root distribution and soil properties in the soil surface layer. Root length density, root surface area density, and root volume density in orchards with no cover, orchards with grass cover, and farmland were less than those of grassland samples. Different land use types affected soil detachment capacity. Bare land, farmland, and orchards with no cover were more vulnerable to erosion, while forest, orchard with grass cover, and grassland showed little soil detachment. Soil detachment capacity decreased exponentially with increasing soil bulk density, aggregate stability, organic matter, and root mass density. The root mass density and aggregate stability had the greatest contribution to the soil detachment capacity. Agricultural land use increases the risk of soil erosion; a groundcover management strategy, such as planting grass in orchard, could effectively increase the fine root distribution and aggregate stability to control soil erosion.
Carbon Budget of Undrained and Drained Nutrient-Rich Organic Forest Soil
Authors: Butlers Aldis , Lazdiņš Andis , Kalēja Santa , Bārdule Arta
Published: October 2022

The impact of the moisture regime on the carbon budget of organic soils with different nutrient statuses has not been fully studied in hemiboreal forests thus far. This study evaluated soil carbon (C) stock changes in forests with drained and undrained nutrient-rich organic soils by estimating C loss through respiration and C input through the litter. The study sites included forest stands dominated by Norway spruce (Picea abies), silver birch (Betula pendula), black alder (Alnus glutinosa), and clear-cuts. Soil respiration was measured using the chamber method, and to estimate the soil C input by litter—the biomass and the C content of the foliar litter, ground vegetation, and fine-root production were measured. The soil in forest stands acted as a C sink. The carbon dioxide (CO2) removal rates of 0.4 ± 0.4 t C ha−1 year−1 and 0.1 ± 0.4 t C ha−1 year−1 were estimated for undrained and drained soil in forest stands, respectively. The soil in the clear-cuts acted as a CO2 source, and the annual emissions ranged from 0.4 ± 0.4 t C ha−1 year−1 in undrained to 0.9 ± 0.7 t C ha−1 year−1 in drained conditions. The reason for the soil in clear-cuts being a C source was increased C loss by respiration and reduced soil C input by litter. Furthermore, the mean soil C input by ground vegetation biomass in the clear-cuts was considerably higher than in the forest stands, which did not compensate for the increase in soil respiration and the absence of C input by foliar litter and the fine roots of trees. The results of the study on annual soil C stock changes can be used as an emission factor in national greenhouse gas inventories of forest land in the hemiboreal zone.
Douglas Fir Growth Is Constrained by Drought: Delineating the Climatic Limits of Timber Species under Seasonally Dry Conditions
Authors: Gazol Antonio , Valeriano Cristina , Cantero Alejandro , Vergarechea Marta , Camarero Jesús Julio
Published: October 2022

There is debate on which tree species can sustain forest ecosystem services in a drier and warmer future. In Europe, the use of non-native timber species, such as Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco), is suggested as a solution to mitigate climate change impacts because of their high growth resilience to drought. However, the biogeographical, climatic and ecological limits for widely planted timber species still need to be defined. Here, we study the growth response to climate variables and drought of four Douglas fir plantations in northern Spain subjected to contrasting climate conditions. Further, we measure wood density in one of the sites to obtain a better understanding of growth responses to climate. Correlative analyses and simulations based on the Vaganov–Shaskin process-based model confirm that growth of Douglas fir is constrained by warm and dry conditions during summer and early autumn, particularly in the driest study site. Minimum wood density increased in response to dry spring conditions. Therefore, planting Douglas fir in sites with a marked summer drought will result in reduced growth but a dense earlywood. Stands inhabiting dry sites are vulnerable to late-summer drought stress and can act as “sentinel plantations”, delineating the tolerance climate limits of timber species.
Water Retention Characteristics of Mineral Forest Soils in Finland: Impacts for Modeling Soil Moisture
Authors: Launiainen Samuli , Kieloaho Antti-Jussi , Lindroos Antti-Jussi , Salmivaara Aura , Ilvesniemi Hannu , Heiskanen Juha
Published: October 2022

Soil hydraulic properties are central for soil quality and affect forest productivity and the impacts of climate change on forests. The water retention characteristics (WRC) of mineral forest soils in Finland are not well known, and practical tools to predict them for hydrological, biogeochemical and forest models are lacking. We statistically analyzed mineral forest soils WRC from over 130 sites in Finland, focusing on the humus layer and main root zone (0–19 cm depth). We showed that mineral forest soils can be grouped into five WRC classes that are well predictable from soil bulk density, organic matter content and clay fraction. However, the majority of the forest soils are hydrologically rather similar. We found that neither topsoil maps nor any combination of open geospatial data were able to predict WRC. Thus, in the absence of site-specific soil data, parameterizing WRC as a function of forest site fertility type was proposed. We demonstrated the approach in soil moisture modeling at a small forest headwater catchment and showed that the soil moisture response to weather conditions is jointly affected by WRC, stand attributes and topography. We showed that drought risks are highest for dense mature forests at nutrient-poor, coarse-textured sites and lower for young stands on peatlands and lowland herb-rich sites with groundwater influence. The results improve hydrological predictions for Finnish forests, and the open dataset can contribute to the larger synthesis and development of boreal forest soil pedo-transfer functions.
Genetic Diversity, Structure, and Differentiation of Pinus sylvestris L. Populations in the East European Plain and the Middle Urals
Authors: Sboeva Yana , Chertov Nikita , Nechaeva Yulia , Valeeva Alena , Boronnikova Svetlana , Kalendar Ruslan
Published: October 2022

Genetic diversity is important for the long-term survival of species and plays a critical role in their conservation. To manifest the adaptive potential, it is necessary to preserve the allelic diversity of populations, including both typical and region-specific alleles. Molecular genetic analysis of 22 populations of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.; Pinaceae) in 10 subjects of the Russian Federation in the East European Plain and the Middle Urals was carried out. Molecular genetic analysis of 22 populations of P. sylvestris revealed 182 polymorphic PCR fragments. The studied populations are characterized by a medium level of genetic diversity. A high subdivision coefficient (GST) of the studied populations was established; the intensity was 0.559. At the same time, the level of subdivision differed for different regions; for the populations from the Middle Urals, it was 15.5% (GST = 0.155), and for the populations from the East European Plain, it was 55.8% (GST = 0.558). The dendrogram of genetic similarity shows five clusters of the studied populations of P. sylvestris according to their geographical location. The populations from the East European Plain are mostly characterized by typicality, while the populations from the Middle Urals, on the contrary, are more specific in gene pools. The use of the coefficient of genetic originality to identify populations with typical and specific alleles allows for solving the problem of selecting populations for the conservation of forest genetic resources. The data obtained on genetic diversity, and the structure of populations growing in areas of active logging, are important for determining the geographical origin of plant samples, which is an integral part of the control of illegal logging.
Exploring the Spatial Characteristics of Stay Areas in Walking Tours through the Lens of Volunteered GPS Trajectories: A Case Study of the Zhuhai–Macao Metropolitan Area
Authors: Zhao Miaoxi , Zhang Qiaojia , Shi Haochen , Liu Mingxin , Liang Jingyu
Published: October 2022

The stay areas in walking tours are the service and management unit of recreational walking in metropolitan areas. The rational characterization of stay areas in walking tours is of great significance for developing local tourism, constructing appropriate public facilities, optimizing the configuration of tourist elements, and improving facility efficiency. The existing research focuses mainly on functional, top-down classifications of tourism, tourist behavior patterns, and route designs, but it has left tourists’ stay areas largely unaddressed. To fill this gap, we propose a new framework for the interpretation of stay areas in walking tours based on GPS trajectory data and accompanying photos uploaded by users. Taking the Zhuhai–Macao metropolitan area as an example, we first captured the stay points and clustered them to the walking tour stay areas using DBSCAN. The characteristics of the stay areas were then collected, and a hierarchical analysis was conducted in terms of spatial features and geotagged photos. The results show that the stay areas can be grouped into six categories displaying obvious differences in spatial distribution, landscape features, and tourist activities. We also found the connections between Zhuhai City and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) to be relatively weak. In conclusion, our results can contribute to tourism planning as well as the further management and allocation of recreational service facilities in the area researched.
Comparison of Stomatal Structure and Distribution between Ovules and Leaves in Ginkgo biloba
Authors: Chen Siming , Wang Di , Sheng Xi , Zhang Chengyu , Li Wei , Xiao Nan , Wang Li , Lu Zhaogeng
Published: October 2022

Stomata are plant epidermal structures that play essential roles in photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration. Although stomata on plant leaves have been extensively studied, their structure and distribution on other organs remain poorly understood. The “living fossil “, Ginkgo biloba, has naked ovules that are thought to be primitive reproductive structures in ancient seed plants. Therefore, we hypothesized that there are some distinct stoma features in G. biloba ovules that have not been reported. In this study, we investigated the morphological development of stomata on ovules and leaves of Ginkgo biloba using scanning electron microscopy, then examined the anatomical characteristics of the general stalk and petiole using semi-thin sectioning. We found that stomata were distributed on the epidermis of the whole ovule, except near the micropyle; these stomata persisted until harvest, indicating that ovules perform gross photosynthesis to an extent similar to the photosynthesis observed in leaves, which is beneficial to ovule development. Ovule and leaf stomata share similar orientation, composition, and development; however, their distribution and subsidiary cell morphology significantly differ. The morphology of the general stalk was similar to the morphology of the petiole, but xylem cell development was minimal, and no sclerenchyma cells were present beneath the epidermis; these findings suggested that the general stalk is biomechanically weaker than the petiole. Overall, these results suggest that despite their differences, G. biloba ovules and leaves share many morphological and anatomical similarities in terms of stomatal architecture and stalk anatomy. These findings will help to elucidate the leaf origins of “flowers” in ancient plants.
Do Forest Experience, Socialization and Demographic Characteristics Affect the Attitudes toward Hunting of Youths from Urban Areas?
Authors: Codrow Hubert , Łukowski Adrian , Klimkiewicz Michał , Krokowska-Paluszak Małgorzata , Wierzbicka Anna , Skorupski Maciej
Published: October 2022

Acceptance of forest management and its park, game and wildlife management is decreasing in Europe. Building a positive attitude toward game and wildlife management is a field of work of forest educators. To design and conduct effective activities, it was crucial to identify the specific needs. We conducted a survey among Polish high school students from cities and towns (1947 individuals) to find out answers to the following questions: What kind of attitude toward hunting (ATH) do Polish teenagers have? What shapes their ATH? Is this attitude and its drivers similar to the ones of adults? Half of Polish urban teenagers recognized that hunting in Poland is necessary. From socio-demographic factors, forest and hunting experience had the largest impact on teenagers’ attitude toward hunting. Gender and social network had a smaller but still significant impact. Other factors, e.g., place of residence, had no impact on the ATH. Our results show that forest education should be focused on all young residents, no matter if they are from a big city or a small town, as teenagers’ ATH is the same. Field trips and other active methods are recommended because personal experience has the largest impact on shaping ATH.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Putative Genes Involved in the Lipid Metabolism of Chaulmoogra Oil Biosynthesis in Carpotroche brasiliensis (Raddi) A.Gray, a Tropical Tree Species
Authors: Vasconcelos Letícia Maróstica de , Bittencourt Flora , Vidal Ramon Oliveira , Silva Edson Mario de Andrade , Costa Eduardo Almeida , Micheli Fabienne , Kirst Matias , Pirovani Carlos Priminho , Gaiotto Fernanda Amato
Published: October 2022

Chaulmoogra oil is found in the seeds of Carpotroche brasiliensis (Raddi) Endl. (syn. Mayna brasiliensis Raddi), an oil tree of the Achariaceae family and native to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest biome, which is considered the fifth most important biodiversity hotspot in the world. Its main constituents are cyclopentenic fatty acids. Chaulmoogra oil has economic potential because of its use in the cosmetics industry and as a drug with anti-tumor activity. The mechanisms related to the regulation of oil biosynthesis in C. brasiliensis seeds are not fully understood, especially from a tissue-specific perspective. In this study, we applied a de novo transcriptomic approach to investigate the transcripts involved in the lipid pathways of C. brasiliensis and to identify genes involved in lipid biosynthesis. Comparative analysis of gene orthology, expression analysis and visualization of metabolic lipid networks were performed, using data obtained from high-throughput sequencing (RNAseq) of 24 libraries of vegetative and reproductive tissues of C. brasiliensis. Approximately 10.4 million paired-end reads (Phred (Q) > 20) were generated and re-assembled into 107,744 unigenes, with an average length of 340 base pairs (bp). The analysis of transcripts from different tissues identified 1131 proteins involved in lipid metabolism and transport and 13 pathways involved in lipid biosynthesis, degradation, transport, lipid bodies, and lipid constituents of membranes. This is the first transcriptome study of C. brasiliensis, providing basic information for biotechnological applications of great use for the species, which will help understand chaulmoogra oil biosynthesis.
Advances in Forest Management Research in the Context of Carbon Neutrality: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yanqin , Fei Xinhui , Liu Fan , Chen Jiaxin , You Xianli , Huang Shanjun , Wang Minhua , Dong Jianwen
Published: October 2022

Climate change has become a threat to humanity, and achieving carbon neutrality is a worldwide objective. Forests are significant natural carbon sinks; forest ecosystems are one of the effective ways to mitigate climate change, and professional management may effectively contribute to achieving carbon neutrality goals. Using the bibliometrix R-package in R and CiteSpace for bibliometric analysis of research areas from general statistics and knowledge base perspectives, this study systematically reviewed the status, evolution, and research hotspots of forest management in the context of carbon neutrality based on 6112 papers published in this research area between 2002 and 2022. The results revealed: (1) The research on forest management in the context of carbon neutrality has rapidly developed with a high level of attention between 2002–2022. Furthermore, this field of research has become a well-established discipline. (2) Throughout the research history, there were five main research hotspots, which were the function of forest carbon sinks, scientific and rational forest management, forest ecosystem services, assessment of forest carbon sinks, and forest management models. (3) Potential future research avenues include the development of a new model of forest management in the context of carbon neutrality.
Fruit Morphology and Fatty Acid Composition of Swida wilsoniana Populations Collected from Different Regions in Southern China
Authors: Zhang Luhong , Zhou Xiao , Chen Yunzhu , Li Peiwang , Yang Yan , Li Changzhu , Chen Jingzhen
Published: October 2022

We examined the fruit morphology, oil content, and fatty acids (FAs) of 11 populations of Swida wilsoniana in four provinces in southern China. The fruit oil was extracted by the Soxhlet method, and the FA composition was determined by gas chromatography (GC). The variation in oil content ranged from 16.10 ± 4.94% to 33.08 ± 5.52%, and the major FAs were linoleic acid (44.85 ± 6.70%), oleic acid (29.45 ± 7.63%), palmitic acid (19.59 ± 3.98%), stearic acid (1.95 ± 0.39%), and linolenic acid (0.21 ± 0.07%). The unsaturated FAs accounted for 78.38 ± 3.74%. There was high genetic variation in the oil content and FA composition among the populations. We assessed the relationships between the ecological factors and the FA composition among the populations. The oil content was positively correlated with temperature (r = 0.645, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with latitude (r = −0.653, p < 0.05). Interestingly, both latitude and temperature were strongly correlated with the unsaturated FAs of the fruits. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the populations in different areas could be separated based on oil quality and plant growth. In conclusion, the oil content and FA composition were influenced by geographical area. The findings could help to improve fruit oil quality in future S. wilsoniana breeding programs.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus Hsryfm 1301 Fermented Milk Regulates Lipid Metabolism and Inflammatory Response in High-Fat Diet Rats
Authors: Qu Hengxian , Zong Lina , Sang Jian , Liang Jiaojiao , Wa Yunchao , Chen Dawei , Huang Yujun , Chen Xia , Gu Ruixia
Published: October 2022

A rat model of disordered lipid metabolism was established to study the regulation of lipid metabolism and inflammatory response by Lactobacillus rhamnosus hsryfm 1301 fermented milk. The results showed that the high-fat diet caused the disorder of lipid metabolism in rats, accompanied by the occurrence of an inflammatory response. After Lactobacillus rhamnosus hsryfm 1301 fermented milk intervention, the blood lipid level was reduced along with the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as well as triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) contents in the liver of rats (p < 0.05), the fat vacuoles of rat hepatocytes were reduced, and the lipid accumulation in the rat liver was decreased. Liver injury was restored. Meanwhile, the levels of free fatty acid (FFA) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein esterase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL) in serum and liver of rats were significantly lower than those in the model group (p < 0.05), which indicated that fatty acid synthesis was inhibited, fatty acid production was reduced and lipid metabolism was restored to balance. In addition, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory factors in the serum of rats were also significantly reduced (p < 0.05), and the inflammatory response of rats was restored. Lactobacillus rhamnosus hsryfm 1301 fermented milk could not only inhibit fatty acid synthase but reduce the production of excessive fatty acids, thus reducing fat accumulation, restoring the balance of lipid metabolism and alleviating the inflammatory response in rats. At the same time, it can also reduce the level of ROS through the antioxidant effect, alleviate the inflammatory response, and thus alleviate the disorder of lipid metabolism.
Effect of Spring Maize Genotypes on Fermentation and Nutritional Value of Whole Plant Maize Silage in Northern Pakistan
Authors: Jiang Mingming , Ma Yulin , Khan Nadar , Khan Muhammad Zahoor , Akbar Ali , Khan Rifat Ullah , Kamran Muhammad , Khan Nazir Ahmad
Published: October 2022

In the current study, we evaluated the growth, biomass yield, ensiling, and nutritional characteristics of spring maize genotypes grown under the climatic conditions of Northern Pakistan. Six promising spring maize genotypes were grown under uniform standard agronomic conditions in 72 plots (8 m × 10 m), blocked within three replicate fields. Maize crops were harvested at targeted dry matter (DM) content (33 g/100 g DM). Data were collected on plant phonological characteristics and biomass yield, and then the harvested crop of each plot was chopped, and subsamples were ensiled in three replicate 1.5 L laboratory silos (n = 12/genotype). After 90 days of ensiling, subsamples were analyzed for fermentation quality, nutrient composition, Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) carbohydrate subfractions, digestible nutrients, metabolizable energy (ME), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD). Results revealed large differences (p < 0.001) among maize genotypes in the yields (tons/ha) of DM (13.0 to 17.9), crude protein (CP; 0.83 to 1.24), and starch (4.16 to 6.67). Except for total carbohydrates (CHO) and NH3-N, the contents of all measured chemical components varied (p < 0.001) among the spring maize genotypes. Similarly, all reported CNCPS subfractions varied (p < 0.01) among the genotypes, except for the non-digestible (CC) subfraction. Among the genotypes, there were large variations in the contents (g/100 g DM) of CP (6.60 to 8.05), starch (32.0 to 37.3), non-fiber carbohydrates (40.3 to 43.8), in vitro DMD (61.5 to 67.9), total digestible nutrients (68.1 to 70.6), digestible energy (2.80 to 3.07 Mcal/kg), and metabolizable energy (2.28 to 2.44 Mcal/kg), with genotype QPM300 having the highest values and genotype Azam having the lowest values. It was concluded that QPM300 is the most suitable spring maize genotype for silage production in terms of yields and silage nutritional and fermentation quality under the environmental condition of Northern Pakistan.
Biocontrol of Geosmin Production by Inoculation of Native Microbiota during the Daqu-Making Process
Authors: Du Hai , Wei Junlin , Zhang Xitong , Xu Yan
Published: October 2022

Geosmin produced by Streptomyces can cause an earthy off-flavor at trace levels, seriously deteriorating the quality of Chinese liquor. Geosmin was detected during the Daqu (Chinese liquor fermentation starter)-making process, which is a multi-species fermentation process in an open system. Here, biocontrol, using the native microbiota present in Daqu making, was used to control the geosmin contamination. Six native strains were obtained according to their inhibitory effects on Streptomyces and then were inoculated into the Daqu fermentation. After inoculation, the content of geosmin decreased by 34.40% (from 7.18 ± 0.13 μg/kg to 4.71 ± 0.30 μg/kg) in the early stage and by 55.20% (from 8.86 ± 1.54 μg/kg to 3.97 ± 0.78 μg/kg) in the late stage. High-throughput sequencing combined with an interaction network revealed that the fungal community played an important role in the early stage and the correlation between Pichia and Streptomyces changed from the original indirect promotion to direct inhibition after inoculation. This study provides an effective strategy for controlling geosmin contamination in Daqu via precisely regulating microbial communities, as well as highlights the potential of biocontrol for controlling off-flavor chemicals at trace levels in complex fermentation systems.
What Is Metaverse?—A Definition Based on Qualitative Meta-Synthesis
Authors: Weinberger Markus
Published: October 2022

The term Metaverse has received much attention in various industries, in society, and, increasingly, in scientific communities. This creates demand for a comprehensive and broadly accepted definition of the subject, which is well grounded in research. At the same time, the Metaverse is rather a vision under evolution than an examinable phenomenon. Therefore, this study applied an adapted version of the meta-synthesis method to analyze the existing literature and distill a proposal for a Metaverse definition. The adapted method takes the nature of the subject into account by weighing younger publications with many citations over older, less influential documents. Initially, 47 publications were fed into the process, of which 24 were left after the primary analysis. As a result of the analysis, the following definition is proposed: “The Metaverse is an interconnected web of ubiquitous virtual worlds partly overlapping with and enhancing the physical world. These virtual worlds enable users represented by avatars to connect and interact with each other, to experience and consume user-generated content in an immersive, scalable, synchronous and persistent environment. An economic system provides incentives for contributing to the Metaverse.” The meta-synthesis method ensures a systematic and reproducible approach while at the same time preserving the original voice and notion of the analyzed literature in order to create new knowledge based on the existing literature; thus the proposed Metaverse definition might serve as a helpful foundation for future research.
Ambient Environmental Parameter Estimation for Reliable Diffusive Molecular Communications
Authors: Toriyama Shota , Hasegawa Shoma , Kirchner Jens , Fischer Georg , Anzai Daisuke
Published: October 2022

Molecular communication is a promising communication technology that uses biomolecules such as proteins and ions to establish a communication link between nanoscale devices. In diffusive molecular communication, which uses diffusion characteristics of transfer molecules, the diffusion mechanism is mathematically derived as a Channel Impulse Response (CIR) to design an optimal detector structure. However, an ideal environment is assumed for deriving a CIR. Hence there is a concern that developed systems based on the derived CIR may not operate well in a realistic environment. In this study, based on the finite element method (FEM), we constructed a model of the environment with heterogeneous temperature distribution and actual volume of transmitting molecules to not only demodulate the bit information via maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) but also to estimate the temperature and volume of the transmitting molecules. Furthermore, in this study, we evaluated the performance of the MLSE method and investigated the effects of ambient environmental temperature distribution and volume of the transmitted molecules on diffusive molecular communication. The evaluation results demonstrated that the proposed method can improve the communication performance by approximately 9 dB by estimating the temperature and transmit molecule volume.
A Multi-Gateway Behaviour Study for Traffic-Oriented LoRaWAN Deployment
Authors: Abakar Kerima Saleh , Bennis Ismail , Abouaissa Abdelhafid , Lorenz Pascal
Published: October 2022

The advantages of LoRaWAN over conventional networks (GSM, 4G, 5G) in terms of investment and operating costs have been proven for network coverage in urban and rural areas. However, the theoretical coverage compared to the reality on the ground and the quality of service (QoS) provided remain very relative and depend on several technical factors, subject to increased research. Several recent approaches and hardware specifications recommended adding gateways as a solution to improve the LoRaWAN QoS indicators, mainly for high-traffic situations. However, such a solution will not work in all real-life scenarios since many factors must be considered. This article presents a study of the factors impacting the LoRaWAN QoS in the case of the usage of multiple gateways by exploring different scenarios to show how the payload length impacts the whole network’s packet delivery ratio (PDR) and how it interacts when enhancing the GW number with and without confirmed traffic. Based on the simulation results, increasing the number of gateways can negatively impact the network’s ability to support higher payload packets, especially in a high-traffic scenario. More precisely, we can say that for a low number of GWs, it is more appropriate to use a high payload length since we can achieve a high PDR. Nevertheless, with a high number of GWs, it would be more appropriate to use a low payload length to achieve a good PDR. Similarly, our analyses show that increasing the number of gateways ensures a better PDR but with a significant packet loss at the gateways, which is synonymous with higher energy consumption.
Introducing the “Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation of Combustion and Fire” Section of the Journal Fire
Authors: Benim Ali Cemal
Published: October 2022

It is my immense pleasure to assume the role of Editor-in-Chief for the “Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation of Combustion and Fire” Section of Fire, which is intended to take a leading role in the dissemination of high-quality research in this area [...]
Shark Provisioning Influences the Gut Microbiota of the Black-Tip Reef Shark in French Polynesia
Authors: Esposito Anaïs , Sasal Pierre , Clua Éric , Meglécz Emese , Clerissi Camille
Published: October 2022

There is an increasing interest in touristic observations of top predators in the wild. Sharks are probably the most sought-after animal in marine ecosystems by divers. Regulations have been put in place, and even if they are more or less respected, providing food is still used in some places in order to attract wild animals. Because of the difficulty in sampling shark guts, few studies have analyzed the microbiota of sharks, and none have evaluated the effect of feeding on this microbiota. In this work, we compare microbiota assemblages of black-tip sharks between sites with and without regular feeding. Our results revealed a significant feeding effect on both alpha and beta diversities of microbiota. Notably, the alpha diversity of fed sharks was lower than unfed sharks. We hypothesize that this result is related to a lower diversity of food intake by sharks in places where feeding is regularly provided. More studies need to be conducted in order to estimate the impact of feeding on shark physiology.
Dietary Supplementation with Prebiotic Chitooligosaccharides Enhances the Growth Performance, Innate Immunity and Disease Resistance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Nurmalasari  , Liu Chun-Hung , Maftuch Ir. M. , Hu Shao-Yang
Published: October 2022

Prebiotics acting as immunosaccharides exhibit immunomodulatory functions to improve the immune defense of the host against infectious diseases. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary chitooligosaccharide (COS) supplementation on the growth, innate immunity and disease resistance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed a diet containing 0.4%, 0.8% and 1.2% COSs for 8 weeks. The results showed significant increases in weight gain (WG), feed efficiency (FE) and specific growth rate (SGR) in COS-supplemented fish compared to fish in the control group. The fish exhibited a significant decrease in cumulative mortality in fish fed 0.8% and 1.2% COS when challenged with Streptococcus iniae. The immune parameters, including phagocytotic activity (PA), respiratory burst (RB) activity, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of the head kidney and serum lysozyme, as well as the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8, were revealed in 0.8% and 1.2% COS-supplemented fish. These results demonstrated that COS could be used as a prebiotic and that dietary supplementation with 0.8% COS could improve growth performance and innate immunity against pathogen infections in Nile tilapia.
Transient Electrophoresis of a Cylindrical Colloidal Particle
Authors: Ohshima Hiroyuki
Published: October 2022

We develop the theory of transient electrophoresis of a weakly charged, infinitely long cylindrical colloidal particle under an application of a transverse or tangential step electric field. Transient electrophoretic mobility approaches steady electrophoretic mobility with time. We derive closed-form expressions for the transient electrophoretic mobility of a cylinder without involving numerical inverse Laplace transformations and the corresponding time-dependent transient Henry functions. The transient electrophoretic mobility of an arbitrarily oriented cylinder is also derived. It is shown that in contrast to the case of steady electrophoresis, the transient Henry function of an arbitrarily oriented cylinder at a finite time is significantly smaller than that of a sphere with the same radius and mass density as the cylinder so that a cylinder requires a much longer time to reach its steady mobility than the corresponding sphere.
Utilization of Grain Physical and Biochemical Traits to Predict Malting Quality of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under Sub-Tropical Climate
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Sharma Amit Kumar , Narwal Sneh , Sheoran Sonia , Verma Ramesh Pal Singh , Singh Gyanendra Pratap
Published: October 2022

Barley is the most popular raw material for malting, and recently, the demand for malt-based products has increased several folds in India and other South Asian countries. The barley growing season is peculiar in the sub-tropical plains region compared to European or Northern American conditions, characterized by a total crop duration of 130–145 days with a maximum grain filling duration of around only 35–40 days. A total of 19 barley genotypes were grown for three years to assess the comparative performance in relation to different quality traits, including grain physical traits and biochemical and malt quality parameters. Analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and principal component analysis were performed to determine the correlation among different traits. The results showed significant genotypic variation among genotypes for individual grain and malt traits. Despite the shorter window for grain filling, several good malting genotypes have been developed for the sub-tropical climates. The genotypes DWRUB52, DWRB101, RD2849, DWRUB64, and DWRB91 were found suitable for malting. Based on correlation studies, a few grain parameters have been identified which can be used to predict the malting potential of a barley genotype. The hot water extract was found to be positively correlated with the grain test weight, thousand-grain weight, and malt friability but was negatively correlated with the husk content. Beta-glucan content varied from 3.4 to 6.1% (dwb); reducing the grain beta-glucan content and increasing the amylase could be priorities to address in future malt barley improvement programs under sub-tropical climatic conditions.