bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Mixed-Integer Linear Programming-Based Energy Management System of Fast Charging Station with Nuclear–Renewable Hybrid Energy System
Authors: Siddique Abu Bakar , Gabbar Hossam A.
Published: January 2023

The concept of transportation electrification is proliferating due to its high impact on emission reduction. However, the increased usage of electric vehicles strains the power grid’s charging infrastructure. As a result, to reduce demand on the power grid, lower the emissions, and solve the intermittency problem of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs), a Nuclear–renewable Hybrid Energy System (N-R HES) is proposed in this research to support the load demand of a Fast Charging Station (FCS). Fulfilling the power demand of the FCS while reducing the generation cost and waste of energy is a vital issue, and hence, energy management with optimization is a must for the hybrid energy system. To address this issue, a model reference adaptive control with a mixed-integer linear programming-based energy management method was modelled to accomplish the charging station’s extensive performance. MATLAB/Simulink software has been used to model and simulate the proposed system, and the results are analyzed. The assessment shows that the proposed energy management system offers an optimized performance of the fast charging station integrating with nuclear and renewable energy.
Micro Gas Turbine Role in Distributed Generation with Renewable Energy Sources
Authors: De Robbio Roberta
Published: January 2023

To become sustainable, the production of electricity has been oriented towards the adoption of local and renewable sources. Distributed electric and thermal energy generation is more suitable to avoid any possible waste, and the Micro Gas Turbine (MGT) can play a key role in this scenario. Due to the intrinsic properties and the high flexibility of operation of this energy conversion system, the exploitation of alternative fuels and the integration of the MGT itself with other energy conversion systems (solar field, ORC, fuel cells) represent one of the most effective strategies to achieve higher conversion efficiencies and to reduce emissions from power systems. The present work aims to review the results obtained by the researchers in the last years. The different technologies are analyzed in detail, both separately and under a more complete view, considering two or more solutions embedded in micro-grid configurations.
Pro-Ecological Energy Attitudes towards Renewable Energy Investments before the Pandemic and European Energy Crisis: A Segmentation-Based Approach
Authors: Graczyk Alicja Małgorzata , Kusterka-Jefmańska Marta , Jefmański Bartłomiej , Graczyk Andrzej
Published: January 2023

The household as the primary decision-making unit is founded on classical and neoclassical economics. However, household behaviour changes have been noticeable in the last decade, moving towards more green and sustainable patterns, which have been pronounced in EU countries striving for a more significant share of renewable energy sources (RES) in energy consumption. These behaviours can be attributed to sustainable economics and are an essential part of energy transformation, as they are focused on pro-ecological attitudes, considering both financial activities and those related to caring for the environment and future generations. This article aims to segment energy consumers and to determine what attitudes prevailed in the selected segments and to what extent consumers were pro-ecologically oriented when making decisions regarding RES management before the pandemic and the energy crisis outbreak in Europe. We propose a three-segment model for archetyping household energy consumers in Poland by considering the following groups of factors: environmental and energy goods protection (F1), the mirror effect (F2), and energy and devices profitability (F3). The segments are distinguished based on factor analysis and the fuzzy c-means method. The number of segments is determined based on the cluster validity measure. The presented results prove that the F1 factor plays the leading role in each segment. The percentage of positive responses for each segment, including a migrating group of households, oscillates over 80%. It gives strong hope for retaining sustainable attitudes regardless of the pandemic and energy crisis that occurred in 2022 in the EU.
Lime Hemp Concrete with Unfired Binders vs. Conventional Building Materials: A Comparative Assessment of Energy Requirements and CO2 Emissions
Authors: Haik Rotem , Meir Isaac A. , Peled Alva
Published: January 2023

This work assesses the energy requirements and CO2 emissions of a building made of Lime Hemp Concrete (LHC) with alternative unfired binders as lime replacement, compared to buildings made of standard LHC, and several conventional building materials. The assessment is based on ISO 14040, which deals with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and examines two aspects: energy, including pre-use phase Embodied Energy (EE), and use phase Operational Energy (OE); and CO2 emissions, including pre-use phase Embodied Carbon (EC), and use phase Operational Carbon (OC). The EE and EC calculations are based on published databases, while OE and OC were obtained with EnergyPlus simulations. The assessment refers to a specific case study in an arid region, with extreme diurnal and seasonal fluctuations of temperature and relative humidity. Using LHC with 100% unfired binder as lime replacement was shown to save up to 90% of the total energy consumption and CO2 emissions, as compared to conventional building materials. The findings of this research clearly demonstrate the high potential of LHC with unfired binders as lime replacement, which possesses the lowest energy requirements and CO2 emissions, illustrating the potential for a building with significantly low environmental impact over its life cycle, i.e., when calculating both EE and EC, and OE and OC.
Novel Hybrid Optimization Techniques to Enhance Reliability from Reverse Osmosis Desalination Process
Authors: Baseer Mohammad Abdul , Vinoth Kumar Venkatesan , Izonin Ivan , Dronyuk Ivanna , Velmurugan Athyoor Kannan , Swapna Babu
Published: January 2023

Water is the most important resource of the Earth and is significantly utilized for agriculture, urbanization, industry, and population. This increases the demand for water; meanwhile, the climatic condition decreases the supply of it. A rise in temperature of 1 degree Celsius might dry up 20% of renewable water resources, and to circumvent the water scarcity, it is necessary to reuse, create, and consume less water without wasting it. Water desalination is the process used to reuse the used or saline water by promptly extracting the salt or unwanted minerals and producing fresh consumable water. Based on the International Desalination Association, around 300 million people rely on desalination and the people of the Middle East region rely the most upon it. Around 7% of desalination plants are located in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. Reverse osmosis (RO) is the relevant desalination process in this type of area however, the conventional methods include more complexities, and hence to address this issue we proposed a novel approach known as Hybrid Capuchin and Rat swarm algorithm (HCRS) for effective water desalination technology using conventional sources and renewable energy in the middle east region. Moreover, a hybrid reverse osmosis plant model is developed for identifying renewable sources such as wind and solar energy. The proposed optimization can be used to mitigate the life cycle cost and enhances the reliability of the hybrid schemes. The experiment is conducted in a MATLAB simulator and compared the results with state-of-art works over the metrics such as relative error, system cost, and reliability. Our proposed method outperforms all the other approaches.
Electricity Production and Sustainable Development: The Role of Renewable Energy Sources and Specific Socioeconomic Factors
Authors: Halkos George E. , Tsirivis Apostolos S.
Published: January 2023

An eco-friendly and sustainable power production system constitutes the cornerstone of every country’s strategic plan to tackle climate change and enhance energy resource autonomy. Carbon dioxide abatement in electricity generation, in addition to being a necessary condition for t “green” energy transition, can contribute greatly to cleaner industrial production and sustainable development. Emphasizing this key role of the power sector, the present research focuses on shedding light on the impact of renewable energy resources (RES), per capita gross domestic product (GDP), electricity gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) and urbanization in the CO2 intensity, and the sustainability level of electricity production. The analysis is based on a comprehensive dataset of 31 countries including 26 European countries, U.S.A., Japan, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand from 1995 until 2018. The econometric outcomes revealed the strong statistical significance of all variables and a plethora of causality relationships, upon which several policy suggestions are made. Interestingly, GDP per capita beyond a certain level can gradually become an aggravating factor for the electricity carbon footprint. Similarly, the vital role of RES in clean electricity production was confirmed as expected, yet surprisingly, this effect also appears to reverse after a certain percentage of total RES reliance. In contrast to urbanization, the electricity GFCF parameter is estimated to have an adverse effect on electricity CO2 intensity, indicating that the vast amount of new investments in the power sector concerns carbon-intensive technologies. Finally, a dynamic analysis is carried out, revealing to policy makers the necessary time frame after which the implementation of new energy policies can have the full impact on the carbon emissions of electricity generation.
Analysis of the System Impact upon Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor Relocation Due to Changes in the Power System Environment
Authors: Ku Hyun-Keun , Kwon Hyuk-Il , Song Ji-Young , Oh Seung-Chan , Shin Jeong-Hoon
Published: January 2023

Owing to geographical and political influences, Korea has an independent electric power system and the highest density of electric power facilities in the world. Large-scale base power generation complexes are located in non-metropolitan coastal areas, while the most expensive combined cycle power plants are operating or under construction in the metropolitan areas, which have the largest electricity demand. It has become difficult to secure a site for power plants, and the existing power transmission network is insufficient because of the additional construction of generators in existing power generation complexes, the increase in capacity of facilities, and the rapid increase in new and renewable energy. In particular, the East Coast region has a problem of transient stability for this reason, which is being addressed in advance through power generation restrictions. In addition, TCSC (Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor) is installed and operated to expand the capacity of existing power transmission lines and improve stability in the failures of nearby high-voltage lines until new transmission lines that take more than 10 years are installed to resolve power generation restrictions. However, after the construction of a new transmission line, the efficiency of the existing TCSC is degraded, and for efficient use, it is necessary to rearrange the installation location to utilize the optimal TCSC according to changes in the configuration of the nearby power system. Moreover, a detailed analysis is needed on whether the TCSC designed according to the existing grid configuration exhibits accurate control performance even after the relocation and whether it interferes with nearby generators. In addition to the dynamic performance based on real-time simulations, it is necessary to study the control performance and interaction for this power electronic equipment. This study verified the need to change controller parameters, the interaction effect with nearby generators for stable operation, and the system effect of TCSC relocation using the same replica controller as the actual field controller, as well as RTDS (Real Time Digital Simulation) simulating the entire power transmission system.
Modeling, Energy Performance and Economic Analysis of Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic System for Net Energy Metering Scheme in Malaysia
Authors: Zublie Muhammad Firdaus Mohd , Hasanuzzaman Md. , Rahim Nasrudin Abd
Published: January 2023

Energy is one of the essential inputs for modernization and social development. Energy demand is increasing, and the primary energy source is fossil fuels, which negatively impact the environment. Energy saving and renewables are the potential solutions which could minimize environmental impact. This paper investigates the energy-saving and solar photovoltaic energy potential of an educational institution, Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah (PSAS), Malaysia. The feasibility analysis was conducted by assuming that PSAS joined the Net Energy Metering (NEM 3.0) program, where PSAS, as a NEM consumer, has a tripartite supply agreement with renewable energy (SARE) with a distribution licensee known as Tenaga National Berhad (TNB). This paper focuses on zero capital expenditure (CAPEX) saving through a 20-year contract. This paper proposes a rooftop solar photovoltaic diagram using a NEM meter installed in the ring distribution system at PSAS. The estimated savings to be obtained by PSAS in the 20 years that the contract is in force are calculated based on the assumption that the installed solar system has a capacity of 688 kW. The maximum value of power generated by the system for a year is 990,720 kWh. The feasibility analysis found that the cumulative net savings estimate for PSAS based on the overall calculation for 21 years of solar use is RM 3,534,250. Meanwhile, the cumulative assessment of carbon emission reduction obtained in the same period is 14,559,760 kg CO2 or 14,559.76 tons of CO2, which would save 363,994 mature trees from being cut down.
Theoretical and Experimental Study on Cementing Displacement Interface for Highly Deviated Wells
Authors: Wu Zhiqiang , Chen Zehua , Zhao Yipeng , Xue Yucheng , Wang Chengwen , Xiong Chao , Chen Shunli
Published: January 2023

An effective drilling fluid removal is necessary to achieve an efficient cementing in oil and gas industry, i.e., it is ideal that all the drilling fluid is displaced by the cement slurry. The displacement efficiency is closely related to the stability and development of the displacing interface between the cementing slurry and drilling fluid. Thus, an effective cementing requires a validated theoretical model to describe the displacing interface to guide cementing applications, especially for highly deviated wells. The current studies suffer from a lack of experimental validation for proposed models. In this study, a theoretical model of cementing interfacial displacement in eccentric annulus is established. An experimental study is conducted to examine effects of well inclination, eccentricity and fluid properties on the stability of displacement interface to verify the theoretical model. The model is found to well describe the interface in the eccentric annulus, and it is applicable to the wellbore annulus with different inclination angles. The results show that: the displacement interface gradually extends (i.e., length is increased) with the increase of well inclination; the cement displacement effect became worse with deviation angle under the same injection and replacement conditions. Increasing the apparent viscosity of cement slurry is beneficial to improve the stability of displacement interface. In highly deviated wells, a certain casing eccentricity can inhibit the penetration of cement slurry in the wide gap of the low side of the annulus, which is conducive to maintaining the stability of the displacement interface.
Evaluating Vehicle Energy Efficiency in Urban Transport Systems Based on Fuzzy Logic Models
Authors: Mateichyk Vasyl , Kostian Nataliia , Smieszek Miroslaw , Mosciszewski Jakub , Tarandushka Liudmyla
Published: January 2023

This work solves the task of developing a fuzzy logic model for evaluating the energy efficiency of vehicles as part of the control unit of an intelligent transport system. Within the scope of this study, the previously obtained morphological model of the transport system was modified. A mathematical dependence is proposed to determine the vehicle energy efficiency indicator. This dependence characterizes the energy consumption of the vehicle in relation to the energy consumption of the vehicle under the reference operating conditions. Synthesis of system configurations was performed, and procedures were used to transform the morphological formulas of the received configurations into a base of logical derivation rules. Parameters of the membership functions of system parameters to fuzzy terms of the area of their definition are defined. Based on the results of the morphological analysis, two fuzzy derivation models were developed: the Mamdani type and the Sugeno type. The accuracy of the modeling was evaluated using different defuzzification algorithms in the control sample. The most accurate model is the fuzzy Mamdani model, with an accuracy value of 98.8%. Using the developed model, the nature of the mutual influence of the transport system parameters on the level of vehicle efficiency was assessed. The results of the study can be used to justify the choice of the vehicle under the specified operating conditions and in the settlement design of the road infrastructure.
Derating of Squirrel-Cage Induction Motor Due to Rotating Harmonics in Power Voltage Supply
Authors: Drabek Tomasz
Published: January 2023

This paper presents a method for determining the load capacity of three-phase squirrel-cage induction motors supplied with a balanced distorted voltage containing rotating harmonics (1st, 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th,...). The method is based on the dependence of the motor load capacity on the load power losses in the rotor cage. The load capacity was determined based on motor short-circuit measurements made for frequencies equal to harmonic frequencies. To evaluate the load capacity, a factor with the proposed name Harmonic Losses Factor (HLF) was introduced. Its expression is a generalization of the well-known HVF expression. However, it has been shown that a more accurate estimation of the load capacity is obtained using the sum of load power losses in the rotor cage from higher harmonics. Measurements and calculations were carried out for a low-voltage squirrel-cage motor with a rated power of 22 kW and a synchronous speed of 1500 rpm. Calculations showed that the derating power curves given in the IEC 60034-17 and NEMA MG1 standards are incorrect for the tested motor.
Research on the Spillover Effect of China’s Carbon Market from the Perspective of Regional Cooperation
Authors: Liu Jing , Ding Xin , Song Xiaoqian , Dong Tao , Zhao Aiwen , Tan Mi
Published: January 2023

After the official launch of China’s unified carbon market, the potential for carbon emission reduction is huge. The pilot regional markets urgently need to be connected with the national carbon market to form a regional synergy and linkage mechanism and further promote the development of a unified carbon market. Spillover effects can be used to analyze the interaction between multiple markets. In this context, this study focuses on the overall spillover relationship among regional carbon trading markets. Using the VAR-GARCH-BEKK model and social network analysis (SNA), this study empirically analyzes the mean spillover effect and volatility spillover effect of regional carbon markets, and it establishes a spillover network between markets. The results show that the spillover effect of China’s regional carbon markets is widespread. Among them, the mean spillover effect is weak, and the impact period is short;. The volatility spillover effect is strong and has various directions; the spillover network connection between regional carbon markets is strong, but the spillover intensity is weak. Spillover effects will spread to the overall carbon market through information spillover paths and risk spillover paths. The stronger spillover effect and the stronger linkage between markets can bring more resource integration and unified supervision. Finally, we put forward policy recommendations, such as improving the carbon market mechanism and enhancing the maturity of carbon market development, increasing the participation and activity of the carbon market to encourage more participants to join the carbon market, improving the institutional system of the carbon market, and effectively supervising the process of information and risk spillover between carbon markets.
High-Sensitivity Detection Method for Metal Foreign Objects Based on Frequency Optimization in Wireless Electric Vehicles Charging
Authors: Sun Ying , Zhou Tian , Jiang Jinhai , Wei Guo , Zhu Chunbo , Song Kai
Published: January 2023

Metal foreign objects will not only reduce the output power and efficiency of the wireless power transfer (WPT) system, but also will be heated under the eddy current effect. The method based on the detection coil array has been wildly adopted for foreign object detection (FOD), especially in high-power level WPT applications. However, the problems of low sensitivity or misjudgment still exist which leads to a safety hazard. Therefore, high sensitivity of the foreign object-detection method based on the excitation frequency optimization has been proposed in this paper. Based on the impedance change of the detection coil caused by the foreign object coupling, the frequency characteristics of detection sensitivity were analyzed under the conditions of different self-inductance detection coils. Then, the detection coil was designed and its corresponding optimal excitation frequency was selected to achieve the optimal detection effect to eliminate the area of low detection sensitivity. Finally, an FOD experimental prototype was established to verify the proposed frequency optimization strategy. The results show that the sensitivity of the FOD system is up to 97.56%. With the optimal excitation frequency of 6.22 MHz, as for 1-yuan coin in the center position and corner position of the detection coil, the detection sensitivity is 92.89% and 40.16%, respectively, which is 22.13% and 23.89% higher than that of the excitation frequency is 1 MHz. The improvement of detection sensitivity is helpful to detect accurately and eliminate the detection blind area.
Techno-Economic Assessment of Green Hydrogen Production by an Off-Grid Photovoltaic Energy System
Authors: Hassan Qusay , Abdulrahman Imad Saeed , Salman Hayder M. , Olapade Olushola Tomilayo , Jaszczur Marek
Published: January 2023

Green hydrogen production is essential to meeting the conference of the parties’ (COP) decarbonization goals; however, this method of producing hydrogen is not as cost-effective as hydrogen production from fossil fuels. This study analyses an off-grid photovoltaic energy system designed to feed a proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzer for hydrogen production to evaluate the optimal electrolyzer size. The system has been analyzed in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, using experimental meteorological data. The 12 kWp photovoltaic array is positioned at the optimal annual tilt angle for the selected site. The temperature effect on photovoltaic modules is taken into consideration. Several electrolyzers with capacities in the range of 2–14 kW were investigated to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the system. The simulation process was conducted using MATLAB and considering the project life span from 2021 to 2035. The results indicate that various potentially cost-competitive alternatives exist for systems with market combinations resembling renewable hydrogen wholesale. It has been found that the annual energy generated by the analyzed photovoltaic system is 18,892 kWh at 4313 operating hours, and the obtained hydrogen production cost ranges from USD 5.39/kg to USD 3.23/kg. The optimal electrolyzer capacity matches a 12 kWp PV system equal to 8 kW, producing 37.5 kg/year/kWp of hydrogen for USD 3.23/kg.
Solid–Gas Thermochemical Energy Storage Materials and Reactors for Low to High-Temperature Applications: A Concise Review
Authors: Kur Anti , Darkwa Jo , Calautit John , Boukhanouf Rabah , Worall Mark
Published: January 2023

Thermochemical energy storage materials and reactors have been reviewed for a range of temperature applications. For low-temperature applications, magnesium chloride is found to be a suitable candidate at temperatures up to 100 °C, whereas calcium hydroxide is identified to be appropriate for medium-temperature storage applications, ranging from 400 °C up to 650 °C. For the high-temperature range (750–1050 °C), oxides of cobalt, manganese, and copper are found to have the redox behaviour required for thermochemical heat storage. However, some of these materials suffer from low thermal conductivities, agglomeration, and low cyclability and, therefore, require further improvements. The concept of enhancing thermal conductivities through additives such as nanomaterials has been encouraging. From an operational point of view, fluidized-bed reactors perform better than fixed- and moving-bed reactors due to better particle interactions. There is, however, a need for the reaction bed to be further developed toward achieving optimum heat and mass transfers. Agitated fluidized-bed reactors have shown encouraging results and are suggested for further exploration. A combination of appropriate computational tools can facilitate an in-depth understanding of bed dynamics.
An FPGA Hardware-in-the-Loop Approach for Comprehensive Analysis and Development of Grid-Connected VSI System
Authors: Singh Vijay Kumar , Tripathi Ravi Nath
Published: January 2023

Power electronic converters are used for an efficient and controlled conversion of power generated from renewable energy sources and can interface generated power to the grid. Among available power converters, voltage source inverters (VSIs) have been widely employed for grid-connected applications due to better controllability with higher efficiency. Although various conventional, as well as modern control techniques, have been developed for grid connected VSI system, there is a need to select suitable control technique based on application and control requirements. Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) is considered as a realistic approach for the development of system and control due to the inclusion of an actual hardware system. In this paper, a HIL approach is adopted for the comprehensive analysis and development of a grid connected VSI system using a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The control techniques must deal with trade-off, based on the features and limitations. Therefore, a grid-connected VSI system is developed considering employment of two different conventional control techniques: hysteresis current control (HCC) and PI-based space vector modulation (PI-SVM), as well as finite state model predictive control (FS-MPC) as a modern control technique for investigation considering different parameters. All three control systems are developed through a digital simulator of Xilinx that is integrated with MATLAB-Simulink, while considering an FPGA based system development and testing through FPGA HIL co-simulation methodology.
A New Technique for Estimating Stress from Fracture Injection Tests Using Continuous Wavelet Transform
Authors: Gabry Mohamed Adel , Eltaleb Ibrahim , Soliman Mohamed Y. , Farouq-Ali Syed M.
Published: January 2023

The diagnostic fracture injection test (DFIT) is widely used to obtain the fracture closure pressure, reservoir permeability, and reservoir pressure. Conventional methods for analyzing DFIT are based on the assumption that a vertical well is drilled in ultra-low permeability reservoirs with potential multiple closures but fails to consider horizontal wells. There is still significant debate about the rigorousness and validity of these techniques due to the complexity of the hydraulic fracture opening and closure process and assumptions of conventional fracture detection methods. The paper introduces a new method for detecting fracture closure pressure using the continuous wavelet transform (CWT). The new method aims to decompose the pressure fall-off signal into multiple levels with different frequencies using the CWT. This “short wavy” function is stretched or compressed and placed at many positions along the signal to be analyzed. The wavelet then convoluted the signal yielding a wavelet coefficient value. The signal energy is observed during the fracture closure process (pressure fall-off) and the fracture closure event is identified when the signal energy stabilizes to a minimum level. A predefined simple commercial fracture simulation case with known fracture closure, flow regime modeling, and actual field cases was used to validate the new methodology.
Lithium-Ion Battery Life Prediction Method under Thermal Gradient Conditions
Authors: Song Dawei , Wang Shiqian , Di Li , Zhang Weijian , Wang Qian , Wang Jing V.
Published: January 2023

Thermal gradient is inevitable in a lithium-ion battery pack because of uneven heat generation and dissipation, which will affect battery aging. In this paper, an experimental platform for a battery cycle aging test is built that can simulate practical thermal gradient conditions. Experimental results indicate a high nonlinear degree of battery degradation. Considering the nonlinearity of Li-ion batteries aging, the extreme learning machine (ELM), which has good learning and fitting ability for highly nonlinear, highly nonstationary, and time-varying data, is adopted for prediction. A battery life prediction model based on the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) is proposed in this paper to optimize the random weights and bias of the ELM network and verified by experimental data. The results show that compared with traditional ELM and back-propagation neural networks, the prediction results of ELM optimized by SSA have lower mean absolute error percentages and root mean square errors, indicating that the SSA-ELM model has higher prediction accuracy and better stability and has obvious advantages in processing data with a high nonlinear degree.
Occurrence Prediction of Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis: Coreidae) and Evaluation of the Effects of Climate Change on Its Distribution in South Korea Using Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Lee Dae-Seong , Lee Tak-Gi , Bae Yang-Seop , Park Young-Seuk
Published: January 2023

The western conifer seed bug (WCSB; Leptoglossus occidentalis) causes huge ecological and economic problems as an alien invasive species in forests. In this study, a species distribution model (SDM) was developed to evaluate the potential occurrence of the WCSBs and the effects of climate on WCSB distribution in South Korea. Based on WCSB occurrence and environmental data, including geographical and meteorological variables, SDMs were developed with maximum entropy (MaxEnt) and random forest (RF) algorithms, which are machine learning methods, and they showed good performance in predicting WCSB occurrence. On the potential distribution map of WCSBs developed by the model ensemble with integrated MaxEnt and RF models, the WCSB occurrence areas were mostly located at low altitudes, near roads, and in urban areas. Additionally, environmental factors associated with anthropogenic activities, such as roads and night lights, strongly influenced the occurrence and dispersal of WCSBs. Metropolitan cities and their vicinities in South Korea showed a high probability of WCSB occurrence. Furthermore, the occurrence of WCSBs in South Korea is predicted to intensify in the future owing to climate change.
Cell Wall Glycan Changes in Different Brachypodium Tissues Give Insights into Monocot Biomass
Authors: Avci Utku
Published: January 2023

The annual temperate grass Brachypodium distachyon has become a model system for monocot biomass crops and for understanding lignocellulosic recalcitrance to employ better saccharification and fermentation approaches. It is a monocot plant used to study the grass cell walls that differ from the cell walls of dicot plants such as the eudicot model Arabidopsis. The B. distachyon cell wall is predominantly composed of cellulose, arabinoxylans, and mixed-linkage glucans, and it resembles the cell walls of other field grasses. It has a vascular bundle anatomy similar to C3 grasses. These features make Brachypodium an ideal model to study cell walls. Cell walls are composed of polymers with complex structures that vary between cell types and at different developmental stages. Antibodies that recognize specific cell wall components are currently one of the most effective and specific molecular probes to determine the location and distribution of polymers in plant cell walls in situ. Here, we investigated the glycan distribution in the cell walls of the root and leaf tissues of Brachypodium by employing cell-wall-directed antibodies against diverse glycan epitopes. There are distinct differences in the presence of the epitopes between the root and leaf tissues as well as in the cell type level, which gives insights into monocot biomass.
Synthesis of Tungsten Oxide Nanoflakes and Their Antibacterial and Photocatalytic Properties
Authors: Thanakkasaranee Sarinthip , Kasi Gopinath , Kadhiravan Sivasamy , Arumugam Ayyakannu , Al-Ghanim Khalid A. , Riaz Mian Nadeem , Govindarajan Marimuthu
Published: January 2023

This current work revealed a single-step fabrication of tungsten oxide nanoflakes (WO3 NFs) with the help of Terminalia arjuna bark extract. Bioactive phytoconstituents of T. arjuna bark extract were involved in the nucleation process and promoted the material crystalline growth in a particular direction. The as-prepared sample thermal decomposition was analyzed by TG/DTG. The as-prepared sample was annealed at 300 °C for 2 h, and the annealed sample was characterized by UV-Vis-DRS, FTIR, Raman, XRD, SEM, EDX, and TEM. Synthesized WO3 samples showed a monoclinic phase of the flake-like structure with lengths of 25~230 nm and diameters of 25~120 nm. The WO3 NFs were evaluated against S. aureus and E. coli. Over 3 mg concentrations of WO3 NFs outperform the positive control in antibacterial activity. The pseudo-first-order kinetics of the WO3 NFs enhanced the photocatalytic performance of methylene blue (MB). These results prove that WO3 NFs have sustainable performance in antibacterial and MB degradation applications.
Amelioration of Biogas Production from Waste-Activated Sludge through Surfactant-Coupled Mechanical Disintegration
Authors: Valsa Vijetha , S Geethu Krishnan , Gondi Rashmi , Muthu Preethi , Sankarapandian Kavitha , Kumar Gopalakrishnan , Gugulothu Poornachandar , Jeyakumar Rajesh Banu
Published: January 2023

The current study intended to improve the disintegration potential of paper mill sludge through alkyl polyglycoside-coupled disperser disintegration. The sludge biomass was fed to the disperser disintegration and a maximum solubilization of 6% was attained at the specific energy input of 4729.24 kJ/kg TS. Solubilization was further enhanced by coupling the optimum disperser condition with varying dosage of alkyl polyglycoside. The maximum solubilization of 11% and suspended solid (SS) reduction of 8.42% were achieved at the disperser rpm, time, and surfactant dosage of 12,000, 30 min, and 12 μL. The alkyl polyglycoside-coupled disperser disintegration showed a higher biogas production of 125.1 mL/gCOD, compared to the disperser-alone disintegration (70.1 mL/gCOD) and control (36.1 mL/gCOD).
Assessment of a RANS Transition Model with Flapping Foils at Moderate Reynolds Numbers
Authors: Alberti Luca , Carnevali Emanuele , Crivellini Andrea
Published: January 2023

Numerical simulations based on a high-order discontinuous Galerkin solver were performed to investigate two-dimensional flapping foils at moderate Reynolds numbers, moving with different prescribed harmonic motion laws. A Spalart–Allmaras RANS model with and without an algebraic local transition modification was employed for the resolution of multiple kinematic configurations, considering both moderate-frequency large-amplitude flapping and high-frequency small-amplitude pure heaving. The propulsive performance of the airfoils with the two modelling approaches were tested by referring to experimental and (scale-resolving) numerical data available in the literature. The results show an increase in effectiveness in predicting loads when applying the transition model. This is particularly true at low Strouhal numbers when, after laminar separation at the leading edge, vorticity dynamics appears to have a strong effect on the forces exerted on the profile. Specifically, the transition model more accurately predicts the wake topology emerging in the flow field, which is the primary influence on thrust/drag generation.
Evaluation of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) Parameters in the Inactivation of Anisakis Larvae in Saline Solution and Hake Meat
Authors: Abad Vanesa , Alejandre Marta , Hernández-Fernández Elena , Raso Javier , Cebrián Guillermo , Álvarez-Lanzarote Ignacio
Published: January 2023

Larvae of the nematode family Anisakidae are capable of causing parasitic infections in humans associated with the consumption of fishery products, leading to intestinal syndromes and allergic reactions. Anisakidae larvae are widely distributed geographically, with rates of parasitism close to 100% in certain fish species. Methods need to be established for their inactivation and elimination, especially in fishery products that are to be consumed raw, pickled, or salted, or which have been insufficiently treated to kill the parasite. Many strategies are currently available (such as freezing and heat treatment), but further ones, such as pulsed electric fields (PEF), have hardly been investigated until now. This study focuses on the experimental evaluation of the efficacy of PEF in the inactivation of Anisakis spp. larvae in terms of electric field strength, specific energy, and pulse width, as well as on the evaluation of the quality of fish samples after PEF treatment. Results show that viability of Anisakis was highly dependent on field strength and specific energy. Pulse width exerted a considerable influence at the lowest field strengths tested (1 kV/cm). Central composite design helped to define a PEF treatment of 3 kV/cm and 50 kJ/kg as the one capable of inactivating almost 100% of Anisakis present in pieces of hake, while affecting the investigated quality parameters (moisture, water holding capacity, and cooking loss) to a lesser extent than freezing and thawing. These results show that PEF could serve as an alternative to traditional freezing processes for the inactivation of Anisakis in fish.
Transmission Scenarios of Listeria monocytogenes on Small Ruminant On-Farm Dairies
Authors: Schoder Dagmar , Pelz Alexandra , Paulsen Peter
Published: January 2023

Listeria monocytogenes can cause severe foodborne infections in humans and invasive diseases in different animal species, especially in small ruminants. Infection of sheep and goats can occur via contaminated feed or through the teat canal. Both infection pathways result in direct (e.g., raw milk from an infected udder or fresh cheese produced from such milk) or indirect exposure of consumers. The majority of dairy farmers produces a high-risk product, namely fresh cheese made from raw ewe’s and goat’s milk. This, and the fact that L. monocytogenes has an extraordinary viability, poses a significant challenge to on-farm dairies. Yet, surprisingly, almost no scientific studies have been conducted dealing with the hygiene and food safety aspects of directly marketed dairy products. L. monocytogenes prevalence studies on small ruminant on-farm dairies are especially limited. Therefore, it was our aim to focus on three main transmission scenarios of this important major foodborne pathogen: (i) the impact of caprine and ovine listerial mastitis; (ii) the significance of clinical listeriosis and outbreak scenarios; and (iii) the impact of farm management and feeding practices.
The Impact of Ellagitannins and Their Metabolites through Gut Microbiome on the Gut Health and Brain Wellness within the Gut–Brain Axis
Authors: Banc Roxana , Rusu Marius Emil , Filip Lorena , Popa Daniela-Saveta
Published: January 2023

Ellagitannins (ETs) are a large group of bioactive compounds found in plant-source foods, such as pomegranates, berries, and nuts. The consumption of ETs has often been associated with positive effects on many pathologies, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative syndromes, and cancer. Although multiple biological activities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive) have been discussed for ETs, their limited bioavailability prevents reaching significant concentrations in systemic circulation. Instead, urolithins, ET gut microbiota-derived metabolites, are better absorbed and could be the bioactive molecules responsible for the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities or anti-tumor cell progression. In this review, we examined the dietary sources, metabolism, and bioavailability of ETs, and analyzed the last recent findings on ETs, ellagic acid, and urolithins, their intestinal and brain activities, the potential mechanisms of action, and the connection between the ET microbiota metabolism and the consequences detected on the gut–brain axis. The current in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies indicate that ET-rich foods, individual gut microbiomes, or urolithin types could modulate signaling pathways and promote beneficial health effects. A better understanding of the role of these metabolites in disease pathogenesis may assist in the prevention or treatment of pathologies targeting the gut–brain axis.
Virtual Screening of Soybean Protein Isolate-Binding Phytochemicals and Interaction Characterization
Authors: Liu Panhang , Wu Annan , Song Yi , Zhao Jing
Published: January 2023

Soybean protein isolate (SPI) and small molecule interactions have drawn more and more attention regarding their benefits for both parts, while research on large-scale investigations and comparisons of different compounds is absent. In this study, a high throughput virtual screening was applied on a phytochemical database with 1130 compounds to pinpoint the potential SPI binder. Pentagalloylglucose, narcissoside, poliumoside, isoginkgetin, and avicurin were selected as the top-five ranking molecules for further validation. Fluorescence quenching assays illustrated that isoginkgetin has a significantly higher apparent binding constant (Ka) of (0.060 ± 0.020) × 106 L·mol−1, followed by avicularin ((0.058 ± 0.010) × 106 L·mol−1), pentagalloylglucose ((0.049 ± 0.010) × 106 L·mol−1), narcissoside ((0.0013 ± 0.0004) × 106 L·mol−1), and poliumoside ((0.0012 ± 0.0006) × 106 L·mol−1). Interface characterization by MD simulation showed that protein residues E172, H173, G202, and V204 are highly involved in hydrogen bonding with the two carbonyl oxygens of isoginketin, which could be the crucial events in SPI binding. Van der Waals force was identified as the major driven force for isoginketin binding. Our study explored SPI–phytochemical interaction through multiple strategies, revealing the molecular binding details of isoginkgetin as a novel SPI binder, which has important implications for the utilization of the SPI–phytochemical complex in food applications.
Effect of Enyzmes on the Quality and Predicting Glycaemic Response of Chinese Steamed Bread
Authors: Liu Wenjun , Brennan Margaret , Brennan Charles , You Linfeng , Tu Dawei
Published: January 2023

The present study investigates the individual and interactional effects of α-amylase (6 and 10 ppm), xylanase (70 and 120 ppm) and cellulase (35 and 60 ppm) on the physicochemical characteristics and nutritional quality of Chinese steamed bread (CSB) incorporated with 15% oat bran. As a result, the single enzyme can significantly improve the specific volume and texture of CSB. Compared to the single enzyme, the combined enzymes improved the specific volume of CSB up to the highest value (2.51 mL/g) and decreased the hardness to the minimum value (233.61 g) when the concentration was 6, 70 and 35 ppm. With respect to chemical and nutritional properties, the addition of single enzyme had no great changes, while the combined enzymes (6, 70 and 35 ppm) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the total starch from 37.52 to 34.11% and hence increased the area under the reducing sugar release curve during 2 h in vitro digestion (AUC) from 344.61 to 371.26. Consequently, enzymes combination can significantly improve the quality of oat bran CSB whereas reduce the nutritional value of oat bran CSB.
Antioxidants and Quality Changes of Thermally Processed Purple Corn (Zea mays L.) Milk Fortified with Low Sucrose Content during Cold Storage
Authors: Shiekh Khursheed Ahmad , Luanglaor Thitirat , Hanprerakriengkrai Natchaya , Jafari Saeid , Kijpatanasilp Isaya , Asadatorn Nicha , Worobo Randy W. , Bekhit Alaa El-Din Ahmed , Assatarakul Kitipong
Published: January 2023

Purple corn kernels were subjected to boiling and steaming times of 5–15 min to extract purple corn milk (PCM). Pasteurized and unpasteurized PCM samples were investigated for changes in anthocyanins, antioxidants, and physicochemical properties. Anthocyanins, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, color and viscosity values showed promising results in pasteurized PCM samples extracted from kernels steamed for 5 min (PPCM-S5) compared to other samples (p ≤ 0.05). Changes in L*, a* and b* values, total phenolics and DPPH activity were lowered in PPCM-S5 samples with higher retention of anthocyanins compared to the PCM extracted from boiled kernels (p ≤ 0.05). PCM extracted from 5 min steamed kernels fortified with 4% sucrose (PCM5-S4) after pasteurization revealed the lowest changes in color, pH, total soluble solid and viscosity during 12 days of storage at 4 °C compared to the unpasteurized PCM without sucrose and pasteurized PCM fortified with 6% sucrose. Additionally, pasteurized PCM5-S4 samples marked the highest anthocyanins, total phenolics and antioxidant activity during storage. Microbial load was lowest in pasteurized PCM5-S4 samples stored at 4 °C for 12 days. However, coliforms, yeast or mold and Escherichia coli were not present in the thermally processed PCM samples. The highest sensory scores were obtained in PCM5-S4 at day 12 of storage compared to PCM without any treatment. Therefore, pasteurized PCM extracted from 5 min steamed purple corn kernels retained bioactivity along with 4% sucrose fortification resulted in higher sensory acceptability. As a consequence the shelf-life of PCM5-S4 sample was extended up to 12 days at 4 °C.