bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wet Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) Wastewater Treatment Using Membrane Distillation
Authors: Yakah Noah , Noor Imtisal-e- , Martin Andrew , Simons Anthony , Samavati Mahrokh
Published: December 2022

The use of waste incineration with energy recovery is a matured waste-to-energy (WtE) technology. Waste incineration can reduce the volume and mass of municipal solid waste significantly. However, the generation of high volumes of polluting flue gases is one of the major drawbacks of this technology. Acidic gases are constituents in the flue gas stream which are deemed detrimental to the environment. The wet flue gas desulphurization (FGD) method is widely employed to clean acidic gases from flue gas streams, due to its high efficiency. A major setback of the wet FGD technology is the production of wastewater, which must be treated before reuse or release into the environment. Treating the wastewater from the wet FGD presents challenges owing to the high level of contamination of heavy metals and other constituents. Membrane distillation (MD) offers several advantages in this regard, owing to the capture of low-grade heat to drive the process. In this study the wet FGD method is adopted for use in a proposed waste incineration plant located in Ghana. Through a mass and energy flow analysis it was found that MD was well matched to treat the 20 m3/h of wastewater generated during operation. Thermal performance of the MD system was assessed together with two parametric studies. The thermal efficiency, gained output ratio, and specific energy consumption for the optimized MD system simulated was found to be 64.9%, 2.34 and 966 kWh/m3, respectively, with a total thermal energy demand of 978.6 kW.
Interturn Short Fault Detection and Location of Permanent Magnet Wind Generator Based on Negative Sequence Current Residuals
Authors: Wu Tonghua , Cai Shouguo , Dai Wei , Zhu Ying , Liu Xiaobao , Li Xindong
Published: December 2022

This article proposes a model-based method for the detection and phase location of interturn short fault (ISF) in the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). The simplified mathematical model of PMSG with ISF on dq-axis is established to analyze the fault signature. The current residuals are accurately estimated through Luenberger observer based on the expanded mathematical model of PMSG. In current residuals, the second harmonics are extracted using negative sequence park transform and angular integral filtering to construct the fault detection index. In addition, the unbalance characteristics of three-phase current after ISF can reflect the location of the fault phase, based on which the location indexes are defined. Simulation results for various operating and fault severity conditions primarily validate the effectiveness and robustness of diagnosis method in this paper.
Pressure Transient Analysis for the Fractured Gas Condensate Reservoir
Authors: Zhang Lijun , Yin Fuguo , Liang Bin , Cheng Shiqing , Wang Yang
Published: December 2022

Gas condensate reservoirs exhibit complex thermodynamic behaviors when the reservoir pressure is below the dew point pressure, leading to a condensate bank being created inside the reservoir, including gas and oil condensation. Due to natural fractures and multi-phase flows in fractured gas condensate reservoirs, there can be an erroneous interpretation of pressure-transient data using traditional multi-phase models or a fractured model alone. This paper establishes an analytical model for a well test analysis in a gas condensate reservoir with natural fractures. A three-region composite model was employed to characterize the multi-phase flow of retrograde condensation, and the fractured formation was described by a dual-porosity medium. In the first region, both the gas and condensate phases were mobile. In the second region, the gas was mobile whereas the condensates were immobile. In the third region, the only moving phase was the gas phase. The analytical solution was solved by a Laplace transformation to change the partial differential equations to ordinary differential equations. The Stehfest numerical inversion technique was then used to convert the solution of the proposed model into real space. Subsequently, the type curve was obtained and six flow regimes were determined. The influence of several factors on the pressure performance were studied by a sensitivity analysis. Finally, the accuracy of the model was verified by a case study. The model analysis results were in good agreement with the actual formation data. The proposed model provides a few insights toward the production behavior of fractured gas condensate reservoirs, and can be used to evaluate the productivity of such reservoirs.
Harvesting Wood Residues for Energy Production from an Oak Coppice in Central Italy
Authors: Del Giudice Angelo , Scarfone Antonio , Paris Enrico , Gallucci Francesco , Santangelo Enrico
Published: December 2022

The sustainable management of coppice forests and the valorization of forest residues represent key activities for the development of wood for the energy supply chain. The present study focused on the quantification and the physical/energetic characterization of oak residues (branches and tops) obtained from a coppice stand in central Italy. The study also evaluated the performance of the technologies used for the harvest and chipping operation. The wood residues obtained were mainly tree branches and tops and accounted for 19.8% of the total biomass extracted from the forest. Taking into account the standards of wood chips for energy use, the material produced was included in the quality class B. Summarizing, the results obtained in this work indicated that opportune forest operations can provide a significant amount of wood residues (mainly branches and tops) from oak coppices in central Italy and that the derived material can reach medium commercial features, being exploitable in different bioenergy production scenarios.
Maintenance Cycle Reduction Time and Energy Savings of Mechanical Face Seals Using Thermodynamic FEM Analysis
Authors: Farkas Andrei Zoltan , Argeșanu Veronica , Boșcai Beniamin , Abrudan Denisa
Published: December 2022

The lifetime cost evaluation of a seal must take into account all expenses throughout its operation. The thermodynamic aspects of mechanical face seals (MFSs) analyzed using FEM for various pairs of materials and their correlation with wear, reliability, and economic feasibility have not been researched in the literature. The MFSs analyzed in this paper were manufactured by ROSEAL S.A. for use in water pumps. The materials of the primary seal rings used by manufacturers were taken into account. The operating conditions were as follows: n = 3000 rpm, water temperature = 80 °C, and pressure = 0.1 MPa. In our study, we focused on the thermodynamic phenomena occurring in the MFS. The thermodynamic simulation was run using the FEM software MSC Nastran. Maps of the temperatures and the heat flow in the primary seal rings, for the two types of MFS and for different pairs of materials, were obtained using FEM analysis. The results highlight that the flow rate of leaks increases linearly with the angular speed of the pressure ring and is independent of the materials used in the primary seal.
Is China’s Natural Gas Consumption Converging? Empirical Research Based on Spatial Econometrics
Authors: Guan Xin , Lu Xiangyi , Wen Yang
Published: December 2022

Excessive regional differences in energy consumption have led to inequality and energy poverty. It is essential to clarify the factors of energy consumption convergence to solve this problem. We use the spatial convergence model to analyze the convergence characteristics and conditions of China’s natural gas consumption from 2005 to 2017. The results of spatial absolute convergence show that there is absolute convergence of natural gas consumption in China, and the economic competition among provinces slightly hinders the convergence. Furthermore, based on the spatial Durbin model and the spatial conditional convergence model, we found that insufficient pipe network construction and the price difference caused by provincial borders are the main factors hindering the flow of natural gas, which also restricts the spatial convergence of natural gas consumption. The development of the tertiary industry and the improvement of purchasing power will help accelerate the convergence of natural gas consumption. This research not only evaluates the spatial convergence of China’s natural gas consumption for the first time, but also provides an analytical idea for formulating policies to eliminate poverty in energy consumption.
Emerging Lignin-Based Materials in Electrochemical Energy Systems
Authors: Yi Yanjie , Zhuang Jingshun , Liu Chao , Lei Lirong , He Shuaiming , Hou Yi
Published: December 2022

Lignin is a promising material due to its excellent properties. It is commonly used in electrochemical energy systems (including electrolytes, electrodes, diaphragms, and binders) due to its low price, sustainability and rich functional groups. However, lignin’s applications in energy storage systems have not been systematically reviewed in the current research. In this article, recent advances in the preparation and design of lignin-derived energy storage materials were reviewed. Starting with a brief overview of the basic chemistry of lignin and the separation process, progress in the preparation of lignin-based materials for lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and solar cells were described, respectively. This review provides the basis for the application of lignin in the field of electrochemical energy systems. Also, the current bottleneck problems and perspectives of lignin-derived materials in improved energy storage device performance were presented for future developments.
Effect of Stagger Angle of Rotor Channels on the Wave Rotor
Authors: Chan Shining , Chen Yeyu , Xing Fei , Liu Huoxing
Published: December 2022

A wave rotor optimizes the use of energy resources by enhancing thermodynamic cycles, and further optimization of wave rotor geometry is emerging as an attractive research area. Among the geometric features, the stagger angle of channels lacks sufficient study in spite of its important effects. To address this question, this work developed and applied the velocity triangle models to modify the basic geometry of wave rotors for different stagger angles, and investigated the flow fields with two-dimensional numerical methods. Results showed that: (1) different stagger angles worked out similar unsteady pressure wave systems and kept nearly constant compression and expansion ratios of the wave rotor; (2) increased stagger angle made the inlet and outlet flows turn toward the axial direction, which was beneficial to compact and light-weighted integration of the wave rotor to a gas turbine; (3) increased stagger angle made the wave rotor consume more shaft power, but even the maximum shaft power was small. This work revealed a critical mechanism how the velocity variation across an unsteady pressure wave produced rim work in a staggered channel, and made a recommendation to comprehensive optimization of wave rotor geometry for better integration in a gas turbine and acceptable shaft power consumption.
Towards Sustainable Transport: Techno-Economic Analysis of Investing in Hydrogen Buses in Public Transport in the Selected City of Poland
Authors: Stecuła Kinga , Olczak Piotr , Kamiński Paweł , Matuszewska Dominika , Duong Duc Hai
Published: December 2022

The production, storage, and use of hydrogen for energy purposes will become increasingly important during the energy transition. One way to use hydrogen is to apply it to power vehicles. This green technological solution affects low-emissions transport, which is beneficial and important, especially in cities. The authors of this article analyzed the use of hydrogen production infrastructure for bus propulsion in the city of Katowice (Poland). The methods, used in the study, included a greedy algorithm and cost methods, which were applied for the selection of vehicles and identification of the infrastructure for the production, storage and refueling of hydrogen, as well as to conduct the economic analysis during this term. The article presented the complexity of the techno-economic analysis of the infrastructure and its installation. The key element was the selection of the number of vehicles to the hydrogen production possibilities of an electrolyser and capabilities of the storage and charging infrastructure.
A Microfluidic Experiment on CO2 Injection for Enhanced Oil Recovery in a Shale Oil Reservoir with High Temperature and Pressure
Authors: Lei Zhengdong , Liu Yishan , Wang Rui , Li Lei , Liu Yuqi , Zhang Yuanqing
Published: December 2022

In recent years, CO2 huff and puff has become one of the most important methods developed for unconventional shale oil reservoirs and has been widely used in all major shale oil fields. However, the microscopic mechanism of CO2 contacting with crude oil is complex, and the change law of the residual oil occurrence after CO2 injection is unclear. In this paper, a micro visualization fluid flow simulation experiment (microfluidic experiment) under high temperatures and high pressure of a shale reservoir was conducted to reveal the micro mechanism of CO2 and crude oil after contact at the microscale. This allows conclusion of more precise results than any experiment conducted in a room environment. Combined with gas–oil two-phase micro flow characteristics, the production mechanisms of crude oil by CO2 huff and puff at the pore scale are clarified, and the change characteristics of the remaining oil occurrence state after CO2 injection are quantified. The results show that CO2 mainly produces crude oil in macropores and microfractures in the injection stage of huff and puff, improves the mobility of crude oil through diffusion dissolution in the soaking stage, and that the driving of dissolved gas is dominant in depressurization production. The major micro-mechanisms for CO2 to improve shale oil are extraction and dissolution expansion, accompanied by a variety of secondary mechanisms, such as the miscibility effect, oil expansion, viscosity reduction and other contact effects, as well as the improvement of crude oil properties. The simulation results of huff and puff development show that soaking is an important stage to enhance oil recovery. With increasing soaking time or the soaking pressure, the recovery degree of crude oil will increase positively.
Harmonic Impedance Model of Multiple Utility-Interactive Multilevel Photovoltaic Inverters
Authors: Rojas Christian A. , Kouro Samir , Inzunza Ruben , Mitsugi Yasuaki , Alcaide Abraham M.
Published: December 2022

An important requirement of the power grid with high penetration of renewable energy sources is the mitigation of potential harmonic interactions between different distributed large grid-tie inverters and the mains. This work presents the harmonic interaction between multiple multilevel photovoltaic (PV) inverters based on the well-known T-type neutral-point-clamped inverter (3L-TNPC). The multiple 3L-TNPC is connected in parallel to a common ac bus by using distribution voltage feeders. The analysis is performed by using the Norton equivalence model of each power circuit, its admittance matrix modeling, and the potential overall impedance resonances with the ac grid. The main contribution of this work is the development of a current harmonic injection model of the system operating under a polluted voltage grid for harmonic analysis, while overall filtering design restrictions due to impedance limits based on current and voltage standards are considered. The proposed impedance Norton model is compared with the electromagnetic transient model (EMT model) by using comprehensive simulations, showing good match between both models.
Urban Sustainability: Recovering and Utilizing Urban Excess Heat
Authors: Lygnerud Kristina , Langer Sarka
Published: December 2022

Urban heat sources from urban infrastructure and buildings could meet ~10% of the European building heating demand. There is, however, limited information on how to use them. The EU project ReUseHeat has generated much of the existing knowledge on urban waste heat recovery implementation. Heat recovery from a data center, hospital and from water were demonstrated. Additionally, the project generated knowledge of stakeholders, risk profile, bankability and business models. The recovery of urban waste heat is characterized by high potential, high competitiveness compared to other heating alternatives, high avoidance of GHG emissions, payback within three years and low utilization. These characteristics reveal that barriers for increased utilization exist. The barriers are not technical. Instead, the absence of a waste heat EU level policy adds risk. Other showstoppers are low knowledge on the urban waste heat opportunity and new stakeholder relationships being needed for successful recovery. By combining key results and lessons learned from the project this article outlines the frontier of urban waste heat recovery research and practice in 2022.
Energy Harvesting Using a Nonlinear Resonator with Asymmetric Potential Wells
Authors: Litak Grzegorz , Wolszczak Piotr , Caban Jacek , Margielewicz Jerzy , Gąska Damian , Ma Xiaoqing , Zhou Shengxi
Published: December 2022

This paper presents the results of numerical simulations of a nonlinear bistable system for harvesting energy from ambient vibrating mechanical sources. Detailed model tests were carried out on an inertial energy harvesting system consisting of a piezoelectric beam with additional springs attached. The mathematical model was derived using the bond graph approach. Depending on the spring selection, the shape of the bistable potential wells was modified including the removal of wells’ degeneration. Consequently, the broken mirror symmetry between the potential wells led to additional solutions with corresponding voltage responses. The probability of occurrence for different high voltage/large orbit solutions with changes in potential symmetry was investigated. In particular, the periodicity of different solutions with respect to the harmonic excitation period were studied and compared in terms of the voltage output. The results showed that a large orbit period-6 subharmonic solution could be stabilized while some higher subharmonic solutions disappeared with the increasing asymmetry of potential wells. Changes in frequency ranges were also observed for chaotic solutions.
The Keys to Clean Energy Technology: Impact of Environmental Taxes on Biofuel Production and Consumption
Authors: Bilan Yuriy , Samusevych Yaryna , Lyeonov Serhiy , Strzelec Marcin , Tenytska Iryna
Published: December 2022

The growing level of modern environmental problems and the need to ensure energy security creates new challenges for the development of the energy sector. Nowadays, countries must balance their international competitiveness and progress in achievement the Sustainable Development Goals. This provides a necessity for the development of alternative energy technologies. Modern trends in the development of alternative energy indicate a gradual increase in the relevance of biofuel production. At the same time, the development of clean energy technologies needs significant investments, and their commercial implementation is a long process. Moreover, energy industry transformations require significant changes in the functioning of complementary spheres. That makes necessary the use of additional incentives for the development of the bioenergy sector. Thus, an assessment of the impact of environmental taxes on biofuel production and consumption becomes crucial. This research is aimed at the identification of contextual and causal relationships between environmental taxation (transport and energy taxes) and biofuel production and consumption. Contextual links were identified by the methods of bibliometric analysis (VOSviewer and Google Books Ngram Viewer results), while causal links were determined by the methods of panel regression modeling (panel-corrected standard errors model) with a time lag from 0 to 4 years. A sample of nine European countries (Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, U.K.) was formed for the assessment. The research period includes 2010–2020. The conducted bibliometric analysis proved the presence of a wide range of relationships between environmental taxation and the development of the bioenergy industry. Panel regression modeling proved the existence of a significant impact of environmental taxation on the volumes of biofuel production and consumption. The increase in revenues from transport and energy taxes determines the growth in indicators of biofuel production and consumption. Such effects are medium term for transport taxes and short term for energy taxes. These results made a huge contribution in the development of the system of state regulation methods of alternative energy stimulation and energy production and consumption transformations.
Electric Vehicle Charging Modes, Technologies and Applications of Smart Charging
Authors: Ahmad Afaq , Khalid Muhammad , Ullah Zahid , Ahmad Naveed , Aljaidi Mohammad , Malik Faheem Ahmed , Manzoor Umar
Published: December 2022

The rise of the intelligent, local charging facilitation and environmentally friendly aspects of electric vehicles (EVs) has grabbed the attention of many end-users. However, there are still numerous challenges faced by researchers trying to put EVs into competition with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). The major challenge in EVs is quick recharging and the selection of an optimal charging station. In this paper, we present the most recent research on EV charging management systems and their role in smart cities. EV charging can be done either in parking mode or on-the-move mode. This review work is novel due to many factors, such as that it focuses on discussing centralized and distributed charging management techniques supported by a communication framework for the selection of an appropriate charging station (CS). Similarly, the selection of CS is evaluated on the basis of battery charging as well as battery swapping services. This review also covered plug-in charging technologies including residential, public and ultra-fast charging technologies and also discusses the major components and architecture of EVs involved in charging. In a comprehensive and detailed manner, the applications and challenges in different charging modes, CS selection, and future work have been discussed. This is the first attempt of its kind, we did not find a survey on the charging hierarchy of EVs, their architecture, or their applications in smart cities.
Minor Actinides Transmutation and 233U Breeding in a Closed Th-U Cycle Based on Molten Chloride Salt Fast Reactor
Authors: He Liaoyuan , Chen Liang , Xia Shaopeng , Zou Yang
Published: December 2022

Long-lived minor actinides (MAs) are one of the primary contributors to the long-term radiological hazards of nuclear waste, and the buildup of MAs is hampering the development of nuclear power. The transmutation of MAs in reactors is regarded as a potential way to replace direct disposal to reduce the impact of MA on the environment and improve the utilization of fuel. Due to its superior features, such as outstanding neutron economy, no fuel assembly fabrication, high neutron flux, and especially online refueling and reprocessing, the molten chloride salt fast reactor (MCFR) is regarded as one of the potential reactors for MA incineration. In this work, MA transmutation capability and 233U breeding performance for an optimized MCFR have been evaluated in different scenarios. The results show that the MA transmutation capability and 233U breeding performance with online transuranic elements (TRU) and 232Th feeding scenario are improved significantly compared with the case in online 233U and 232Th feeding, when the initial MA loading is 5 mol%, the total mass of MA transmutation and MA incineration is 7160 kg and 1759 kg during the whole 100 years operation under online TRU and 232Th feeding scenario, and the corresponding average annual net production of 233U is 450 kg, however, the MA transmutation amount, MA incineration amount and average annual net production of 233U for online 233U and 232Th feeding scenario is 5298 kg, 1315 kg, and 249 kg, respectively. In addition, the research also shows that the increase in initial loading of MA has no obvious effect on the improvement of the 233U breeding performance but can improve the transmutation efficiency of MA under online TRU and 232Th feeding scenarios. Furthermore, if 233U is continuously extracted online from the core during the operation, the 233U breeding performance will be significantly improved, but it will deteriorate the safety performance, such as the fuel temperature coefficient of reactivity (TCR) and the effective delayed neutron fraction (EDNF), more importantly, it will also put forward higher requirements for the immature online reprocessing technology.
The Responses of Four Typical Annual Desert Species to Drought and Mixed Growth
Authors: Gou Qianqian , Xi Lulu , Li Yuda , Wang Guohua
Published: December 2022

Soil desiccation is increasingly threatening the growth of vegetation in artificial forests at the margins of arid desert oases, where a variety of annual herbaceous plants coexist. It is important to understand the response of annual desert plants to droughts and mixed growth and the resulting patterns of change in photosynthetic and physiological properties. Our results showed that annual plants were primarily affected by drought stress, and the effect of interspecific competition was significant only under severe drought stress. In the sprouting stage, moderate drought increased seed germination rates, whereas severe drought stress decreased the germination rates. In the growth phase, the aboveground and belowground parts of annual herbaceous plants showed a synergistic response to drought. Under mild and moderate drought stress, annual herbaceous plants promoted photosynthesis by increasing chlorophyll content, thereby promoting plant stem growth. Following moderate and high drought, root vigor increased to maintain basic metabolic activities and annual herbaceous plants used the “shadow and avoid” response by increasing stem and root length to increase competitive ability. Under severe drought stress, planted seedling chlorophyll levels decreased, resulting in a simultaneous reduction in photosynthetic ability. The root growth of annual herbaceous plants depends on their photosynthesis ability but the decrease in biomass led to a decrease in root growth. The mixed habitat reduced the inhibition of seedling stem growth by drought stress and promoted plant growth.
Comparison of Seasonally Adaptive Metabolic Response Strategies of Two Acer Species
Authors: Wu Kexin , Liu Yang , Liu Jia , Ren Yanjun , Liu Yuli , Sun Feiyang , Abozeid Ann , Tang Zhonghua , Mu Liqiang
Published: December 2022

Acer L. species are well known as ornamental trees due to their colourful leaves in autumn season. Acer pictum subsp. mono (Maxim.) H. Ohashi (APM) and Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala (Maximowicz) Wesmael (ATG) form leaves with completely different colours in autumn, yellow and red, respectively. In response to this phenomenon, we investigated the metabolic regulation of APM and ATG in different seasons by combining metabolomics, ionomics, the antioxidant system and pigment content. The results showed that the process of senescence and discolouration exists in leaves of different Acer species, and the regulatory strategy shows species specificity. Compared with green leaves, the accumulation of primary metabolites in autumn leaves of APM was extensively depleted, chlorophyll content was decreased, and antioxidant enzymes and C6C3C6 type phenolic compounds synergistically enhanced the antioxidant capacity of plants to cope with senescence. Carotenoid content was raised, which together with phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acid, rutin) provides the leaves with a yellow colour. The response of chlorophyll and the antioxidant system in autumn leaves of ATG is consistent with that of APM, while sugar content increases. The increased anthocyanin content in autumn leaves of ATG explains the transition of leaves from green to the red colour, which may be accompanied by the combined effect of elements (Fe, Zn, Mn) and isoflavones. This study provides a reference for the study of colouration mechanism and seasonal adaptation in Acer L. species.
Changes in Reserve Materials Deposited in Cotyledons of Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur L.) Seeds during 18 Months of Storage
Authors: Wawrzyniak Mikołaj Krzysztof , Kalemba Ewa Marzena , Wyka Tomasz Piotr , Chmielarz Paweł
Published: December 2022

Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) produces desiccation-sensitive seeds, the long-term storage of which is limited. We investigated the effectiveness of using a slightly lowered storage temperature (−5 °C) in combination with slight dehydration of acorns (38% MC) for improving seed viability during 18 months of storage. To this end, we performed a factorial experiment using storage temperatures of −5 °C and −3 °C combined with 38% and 40% seed MC and subsampled the acorns at 4-month intervals over 18 months. The modified regime of −5 °C combined with 38% MC resulted in increased germination and emergence rates but only when seeds were stored for 12 months. It also restricted seed biomass loss. Starch depletion was recorded on consecutive sampling dates, showing little dependence on storage conditions. At −5 °C at both MC, it was accompanied by an accumulation of soluble carbohydrates. Fat reserves also decreased under all storage conditions, but the slowest decrease was at −5 °C and 38% MC. We conclude that storing acorns in a slightly dehydrated state (38% MC) at −5 °C produced a transient improvement in seed viability and that the observed increase in soluble carbohydrates may indicate initiation of prosurvival mechanisms, such as osmo- and cryoprotection.
Saudi Traditional Fermented Goat Milk Protects against Experimental Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Hypoglycaemic and Antioxidant Potentials
Authors: Altamimy Khadijah M. , Alshammari Ghedeir M. , Yagoub Abu ElGasim A. , Albekairi Norah A. , Alshehri Samiyah , Saleh Ali , Yahya Mohammed Abdo
Published: December 2022

This study examined the effect of fermented goat milk (oggtt) against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats induced by chronic high-fat diet (HFD) treatments. Both control-fed and HFD-fed adult male rats received the same vehicle or treatment with two doses of freshly collected oggtt (2 mL or 5 mL) for 12 weeks (n = 8/group). The treatment of the control and HFD-fed rats with oggtt in both doses significantly reduced weight gain, but fasting serum glucose and insulin levels as well as HOMA-IR levels were lowered only in the HFD-fed rats. Treatment improved HFD-induced glucose and insulin homeostasis impairment as measured by the oral glucose tolerance test. Both doses of oggtt reduced serum levels of liver function markers and C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as hepatic levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and in-terlukin-6 (IL-6) in HFD-fed rats. In addition, the oggtt doses reduced serum and hepatic levels of triglycerides (TGs) and cholesterol (CHOL) as well as serum levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in these rats. These biochemical endpoints were reflected by the improvement in liver histology and reduction in the number of fatty vacuolated and pyknotic cells. In both the control and HFD-fed rats, oggtt at both doses stimulated levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH). All these effects were more profound with the highest dose of oggtt. In conclusion, the finding of this study strongly supports the use of oggtt as a functional food to treat NAFLD, as it has shown hypoglycaemic and antioxidant properties.
Engineering Escherichia coli for Efficient Aerobic Conversion of Glucose to Malic Acid through the Modified Oxidative TCA Cycle
Authors: Skorokhodova Alexandra Yu. , Stasenko Anastasiya A. , Krasilnikova Natalya V. , Gulevich Andrey Yu. , Debabov Vladimir G.
Published: December 2022

Malic acid is a versatile building-block chemical that can serve as a precursor of numerous valuable products, including food additives, pharmaceuticals, and biodegradable plastics. Despite the present petrochemical synthesis, malic acid, being an intermediate of the TCA cycle of a variety of living organisms, can also be produced from renewable carbon sources using wild-type and engineered microbial strains. In the current study, Escherichia coli was engineered for efficient aerobic conversion of glucose to malic acid through the modified oxidative TCA cycle resembling that of myco- and cyanobacteria and implying channelling of 2-ketoglutarate towards succinic acid via succinate semialdehyde formation. The formation of succinate semialdehyde was enabled in the core strain MAL 0 (∆ackA-pta, ∆poxB, ∆ldhA, ∆adhE, ∆ptsG, PL-glk, Ptac-galP, ∆aceBAK, ∆glcB) by the expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis kgd gene. The secretion of malic acid by the strain was ensured, resulting from the deletion of the mdh, maeA, maeB, and mqo genes. The Bacillus subtilis pycA gene was expressed in the strain to allow pyruvate to oxaloacetate conversion. The corresponding recombinant was able to synthesise malic acid from glucose aerobically with a yield of 0.65 mol/mol. The yield was improved by the derepression in the strain of the electron transfer chain and succinate dehydrogenase due to the enforcement of ATP hydrolysis and reached 0.94 mol/mol, amounting to 94% of the theoretical maximum. The implemented strategy offers the potential for the development of highly efficient strains and processes of bio-based malic acid production.
The Influence of Seasons on the Composition of Microbial Communities and the Content of Lactic Acid during the Fermentation of Fen-Flavor Baijiu
Authors: Zhao Xinyi , Li Jianghua , Du Guocheng , Chen Jian , Ren Tingyue , Wang Junyan , Han Ying , Zhen Pan , Zhao Xinrui
Published: December 2022

During the fermentation of Fen-flavor Baijiu, the number of lactic acid bacteria is high in summer, resulting in excessive lactic acid and an unpleasant astringent taste. Thus, it is necessary to identify the critical influence factors for the formation of lactic acid and the composition of the microbial community in the fermented grains during the brewing process of Fen-flavor Baijiu in cold and hot seasons using HPLC and high-throughput sequencing technology. The results suggest that Lactobacillus acetotolerans is the key microorganism causing different contents of lactic acid in fermented grains and that Lactobacillus plantarum is a favorable factor for acid production in the fermentation process during hot seasons. Twelve lactic-acid-producing strains were isolated from the fermented grains at the latter stage of fermentation, and the analysis of these strains showed that the Lactobacillus plantarum LP strain has the strongest capacity for lactic acid production and the Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR strain has the strongest capacity for acid production, respectively. In addition, the Lentilactobacillus hilgardii LH strain has the characteristics of both acid and alcohol resistance. The results obtained from this study provide a reference for reducing the content of lactic acid in summer and have potential value for further improving the quality of Fen-flavor Baijiu.
Study on Rice Grain Mildewed Region Recognition Based on Microscopic Computer Vision and YOLO-v5 Model
Authors: Sun Ke , Zhang Yu-Jie , Tong Si-Yuan , Tang Meng-Di , Wang Chang-Bao
Published: December 2022

This study aims to develop a high-speed and nondestructive mildewed rice grain detection method. First, a set of microscopic images of rice grains contaminated by Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum, and Aspergillus cinerea are acquired to serve as samples, and the mildewed regions are marked. Then, three YOLO-v5 models for identifying regions of rice grain with contamination of Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum, and Aspergillus cinerea in microscopic images are established. Finally, the relationship between the proportion of mildewed regions and the total number of colonies is analyzed. The results show that the proposed YOLO-v5 models achieve accuracy levels of 89.26%, 91.15%, and 90.19% when detecting mildewed regions with contamination of Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum, and Aspergillus cinerea in the microscopic images of the verification set. The proportion of the mildewed region area of rice grain with contamination of Aspergillus niger/Penicillium citrinum/Aspergillus cinerea is logarithmically correlated with the logarithm of the total number of colonies (TVC). The corresponding determination coefficients are 0.7466, 0.7587, and 0.8148, respectively. This study provides a reference for future research on high-speed mildewed rice grain detection methods based on MCV technology.
Temperature/pH-Sensitive Double Cross-Linked Hydrogels as Platform for Controlled Delivery of Metoclopramide
Authors: Coșman Bogdan-Paul , Bucătariu Sanda-Maria , Constantin Marieta , Fundueanu Gheorghe
Published: December 2022

Novel double cross-linked (DC) hydrogels with pH-/temperature-sensitive properties were designed and developed. Therefore, linear pH-sensitive poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) (P(VME/MA)) macromolecules were absorbed within a thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-hydroxyethylacrylamide)-hydrogel (PNH) and, subsequently, cross-linked together through a solvent-free thermal method. As a novelty, double cross-linked hydrogels were obtained from previously purified polymers in the absence of any solvent or cross-linking agent, which are generally harmful for the body. The new DC structures were characterized by FT–IR spectroscopy, SEM, swelling kinetic measurements, and mechanical tests. The resulting scaffolds exhibited interconnected pores and a flexible pattern, compared to the brittle structure of conventional PNH. The swelling kinetics of DC hydrogels were deeply affected by temperature (25 and 37 °C) and pH (7.4 and 1.2). Furthermore, the hydrogels absorbed a great amount of water in a basic environment and displayed improved mechanical properties. Metoclopramide (Met) was loaded within DC hydrogels as a model drug to investigate the ability of the support to control the drug release rate. The results obtained recommended them as convenient platforms for the oral administration of drugs, with the release of the largest part of the active principle occurring in the colon.
PCYT1A Missense Variant in Vizslas with Disproportionate Dwarfism
Authors: Ludwig-Peisker Odette , Ansel Emily , Schweizer Daniela , Jagannathan Vidhya , Loechel Robert , Leeb Tosso
Published: December 2022

Disproportionate dwarfism phenotypes represent a heterogeneous subset of skeletal dysplasias and have been described in many species including humans and dogs. In this study, we investigated Vizsla dogs that were affected by disproportionate dwarfism that we propose to designate as skeletal dysplasia 3 (SD3). The most striking skeletal changes comprised a marked shortening and deformation of the humerus and femur. An extended pedigree with six affected dogs suggested autosomal recessive inheritance. Combined linkage and homozygosity mapping localized a potential genetic defect to a ~4 Mb interval on chromosome 33. We sequenced the genome of an affected dog, and comparison with 926 control genomes revealed a single, private protein-changing variant in the critical interval, PCYT1A:XM_038583131.1:c.673T>C, predicted to cause an exchange of a highly conserved amino acid, XP_038439059.1:p.(Y225H). We observed perfect co-segregation of the genotypes with the phenotype in the studied family. When genotyping additional Vizslas, we encountered a single dog with disproportionate dwarfism that did not carry the mutant PCYT1A allele, which we hypothesize was due to heterogeneity. In the remaining 130 dogs, we observed perfect genotype–phenotype association, and none of the unaffected dogs were homozygous for the mutant PCYT1A allele. PCYT1A loss-of-function variants cause spondylometaphyseal dysplasia with cone–rod dystrophy (SMD-CRD) in humans. The skeletal changes in Vizslas were comparable to human patients. So far, no ocular phenotype has been recognized in dwarf Vizslas. We propose the PCYT1A missense variant as a candidate causative variant for SD3. Our data facilitate genetic testing of Vizslas to prevent the unintentional breeding of further affected puppies.
Genome-Wide Association Studies in Sunflower: Towards Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Diaporthe/Phomopsis Resistance Breeding
Authors: Filippi Carla Valeria , Corro Molas Andres , Dominguez Matias , Colombo Denis , Heinz Nicolas , Troglia Carolina , Maringolo Carla , Quiroz Facundo , Alvarez Daniel , Lia Veronica , Paniego Norma
Published: December 2022

Diseases caused by necrotrophic fungi, such as the cosmopolitan Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and the Diaporthe/Phomopsis complex, are among the most destructive diseases of sunflower worldwide. The lack of complete resistance combined with the inefficiency of chemical control makes assisted breeding the best strategy for disease control. In this work, we present an integrated genome-wide association (GWA) study investigating the response of a diverse panel of sunflower inbred lines to both pathogens. Phenotypic data for Sclerotinia head rot (SHR) consisted of five disease descriptors (disease incidence, DI; disease severity, DS; area under the disease progress curve for DI, AUDPCI, and DS, AUDPCS; and incubation period, IP). Two disease descriptors (DI and DS) were evaluated for two manifestations of Diaporthe/Phomopsis: Phomopsis stem canker (PSC) and Phomopsis head rot (PHR). In addition, a principal component (PC) analysis was used to derive transformed phenotypes as inputs to a univariate GWA (PC-GWA). Genotypic data comprised a panel of 4269 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), generated via genotyping-by-sequencing. The GWA analysis revealed 24 unique marker–trait associations for SHR, 19 unique marker–trait associations for Diaporthe/Phomopsis diseases, and 7 markers associated with PC1 and PC2. No common markers were found for the response to the two pathogens. Nevertheless, epistatic interactions were identified between markers significantly associated with the response to S. sclerotiorum and Diaporthe/Phomopsis. This suggests that, while the main determinants of resistance may differ for the two pathogens, there could be an underlying common genetic basis. The exploration of regions physically close to the associated markers yielded 364 genes, of which 19 were predicted as putative disease resistance genes. This work presents the first simultaneous evaluation of two manifestations of Diaporthe/Phomopsis in sunflower, and undertakes a comprehensive GWA study by integrating PSC, PHR, and SHR data. The multiple regions identified, and their exploration to identify candidate genes, contribute not only to the understanding of the genetic basis of resistance, but also to the development of tools for assisted breeding.
Congenital Defects in a Patient Carrying a Novel Homozygous AEBP1 Variant: Further Expansion of the Phenotypic Spectrum of Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome Classical-like Type 2?
Authors: Di Giosaffatte Niccolò , Ferraris Alessandro , Gaudioso Federica , Lodato Valentina , Savino Emanuele , Celletti Claudia , Camerota Filippo , Bargiacchi Simone , Laino Luigi , Majore Silvia , Bottillo Irene , Grammatico Paola
Published: December 2022

In 2018, a new clinical subtype, caused by biallelic variants in the AEBP1 gene, encoding the ACLP protein, was added to the current nosological classification of the Ehlers–Danlos Syndromes (EDS). This new phenotype, provisionally termed EDS classical-like type 2 (clEDS2), has not yet been fully characterized, as only nine cases have been reported to date. Here we describe a patient, homozygous for a novel AEBP1 pathogenic variant (NM_001129.5 c.2123_2124delTG (p.Val708AlafsTer5)), whose phenotype is reminiscent of classical EDS but also includes previously unreported multiple congenital malformations. Furthermore, we briefly summarize the current principal clinical manifestations of clEDS2 and the molecular evidence surrounding the role of AEBP1 in the context of extracellular matrix homeostasis and connective tissue development. Although a different coexisting etiology for the multiple congenital malformations of our patient cannot be formally excluded, the emerging role of ACLP in TGF-β and WNT pathways may explain their occurrence and the phenotypical variability of clEDS2.
Decisions of Greek Courts Securing the Right of Parent–Child Communication and Their Determinants
Authors: Koukoulis Andreas-Nikolaos , Tsellou Maria , Rougkala Vasiliki , Bacopoulou Flora , Papadodima Stavroula
Published: December 2022

Background: There is an increasing awareness that a child’s separation from one parent after the divorce places the child’s development and well-being at risk. The aim of this study was to determine how Greek courts deal with the cases of parental prevention of communication with their children and which factors affect the judicial decisions. Methods: The Greek legal databases “NOMOS” and “Isokratis” were searched, and associations between judicial decisions, as well as communication prevention ways, and several parameters, were assessed. Results/Conclusions: A total of 50 parental communication prevention law cases were retrieved for the time period from 1992 to 2019. Results showed that mothers were more frequently alleged to interfere with father–child communication. Both direct and indirect methods of interfering with communication were followed. In cases of a single child, the method of indirect interference was more frequently followed. Judicial decisions were unaffected by the age and gender of the child, the gender of the parent preventing the communication, the number of children, the gender of the child and whether the child is the same gender as the preventing or prevented parent, the way of prevention, and the reference to parental alienation.
Association between Survival Duration of Older Patients with Advanced Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer and Appetite Loss: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ohta Ryuichi , Moriwaki Yoshihiro , Sano Chiaki
Published: December 2022

This retrospective cohort study clarified associations between trajectories in palliative care and appetite loss among older patients with advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer and reviewed pancreatic cancer diagnosis among these populations in rural community hospitals. Patients aged >65 years and with pancreatic cancer in a rural community hospital were enrolled. The primary outcome was survival duration from the time of pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Participants were divided into those with and without appetite loss. Cumulative event-free survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method, analyzed using the log-rank test, and stratified by factors with statistically significant between-group differences (serum albumin). The mean participant age was 84.14 (SD, 8.34) years; 31.4% were men. Significant between-group differences were noted in albumin concentration and survival duration. Kaplan–Meier curves showed a significant between-group difference in survival probability (p < 0.001). Survival duration significantly differed after stratification by albumin level (p < 0.001). Appetite loss may be a useful symptom for predicting mortality among older patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, and hypoalbuminemia may accelerate deterioration in their conditions. Accordingly, subjective appetite loss observed by patients and families should be assessed to predict mortality, and it is advisable for physicians to promptly discuss relevant and advanced directives at appropriate timings.