bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review of Renewable Energy Potentials in Indonesia and Their Contribution to a 100% Renewable Electricity System
Authors: Langer Jannis , Quist Jaco , Blok Kornelis
Published: October 2021

Indonesia has an increasing electricity demand that is mostly met with fossil fuels. Although Indonesia plans to ramp up Renewable Energy Technologies (RET), implementation has been slow. This is unfortunate, as the RET potential in Indonesia might be higher than currently assumed given the archipelago’s size. However, there is no literature overview of RET potentials in Indonesia and to what extent they can meet current and future electricity demand coverage. This paper reviews contemporary literature on the potential of nine RET in Indonesia and analyses their impact in terms of area and demand coverage. The study concludes that Indonesia hosts massive amounts of renewable energy resources on both land and sea. The potentials in the academic and industrial literature tend to be considerably larger than the ones from the Indonesian Energy Ministry on which current energy policies are based. Moreover, these potentials could enable a 100% renewables electricity system and meet future demand with limited impact on land availability. Nonetheless, the review showed that the research topic is still under-researched with three detected knowledge gaps, namely the lack of (i) economic RET potentials, (ii) research on the integrated spatial potential mapping of several RET and (iii) empirical data on natural resources. Lastly, this study provides research and policy recommendations to promote RET in Indonesia.
Investigation of Optimization of Combustion Processes in the Engine of Combat Vehicles by Use of Disk Structure
Authors: Korobiichuk Igor , Mel’nick Viktorij , Karachun Volodimir , Shybetskyi Vladyslav
Published: October 2021

This work analyzes the possibility of a provision of force-majeure mode of the combat vehicles with the aid of disk construction installed in the baffler, the base of the operation of which is the method of residual cyclical quadratic chain code of construction of the “windows” of the movable disk. To determine the optimal parameters of the moving disk of the rotor system, mathematical modeling was performed. The results of mathematical modeling were used to create a PC-based calculation program. The calculation was performed for the rotational frequency ω = 300 s−1 andfor harmonic numbers from 1 to 100. The waveforms used in simulation were as follows: quasi-trapezoidal and rectangular. It is established that at the number of “windows” m = 276 in the moving disk of the rotor system the radiation spectrum acquires a uniform distribution. The object of the research is the process of extreme burning of fuel material in the combat vehicles’ engines, ensuring, according to the technical possibilities of the engine, the implementation of the force-majeure mode of the combat vehicle in the whole. The quantitative and qualitative criteria of fullness of fuel material burning in the engine are chosen as the basis for the evaluation of the reaching of the force-majeure mode. The “flat noise” of the efflux is chosen as the basis of this evaluation. This method ensures the construction of the stochastic structure of “flat noise” in the engine efflux and, in that way, confirms the possibility of technical implementation of the force-majeure mode. The rotor system further ensures not only the force-majeure formation, but also reaches the minimum noise of the combat vehicle at the change of its dislocation. The research results can be further used to optimize the design of exhaust systems, which will reduce emissions.
A Study of the Energy Exchange within a Hybrid Energy Storage System and a Comparison of the Capacities, Lifetimes, and Costs of Different Systems
Authors: Jiao Yang , Månsson Daniel
Published: October 2021

By combining the advantages of different energy storage technologies, the hybrid energy storage system (HESS) can satisfy the multiple requirements of prosumer systems. However, the required capacity of the HESS is larger than that of the single-battery energy storage system (ESS). This paper investigates the energy exchange within the HESS caused by the phase shift of the low-pass filter controller and its relevant impact on the HESS. The results show that unnecessary energy exchange results in an oversized capacity and increased energy loss. In addition, the increase in the time constant of the low-pass filter controller leads to a larger phase shift, further contributing to the increases in the total capacity and energy loss. Furthermore, this paper compares the single-battery ESS, the battery-supercapacitor HESS, and the battery-flywheel HESS implemented in a household-prosumer system along with a renewable energy source (RES). The comparison of the ESS combinations demonstrates the differences between their power flows, the required capacities of their individual energy storage devices (ESDs), their energy losses, their battery lifetimes, and their project costs. The results indicate that techno-economic analysis should be performed carefully to select the appropriate ESS solution for specific household-prosumer systems.
Electrification of Inland Waterway Ships Considering Power System Lifetime Emissions and Costs
Authors: Perčić Maja , Vladimir Nikola , Koričan Marija
Published: October 2021

This paper deals with the applicability of alternative power system configurations to reduce the environmental footprint of inland waterway ships. Its original contribution includes: models for assessment of the lifetime emissions and associated lifetime costs of alternative power system configurations for different types of inland waterway vessels, identification of the most cost-effective options for these vessels, and an estimation of the impact of emission policies on the profitability of each option. The case study considers the Croatian inland waterway sector, where three types of vessel with significantly different purposes, designs, and operative profiles are considered (cargo ship, passenger ship, and dredger). The technical and operational features of these ships are analyzed with an emphasis on their energy needs. Then, life-cycle assessments (LCAs) of a diesel engine-powered ship configuration and two battery-powered ship configurations (with and without a photovoltaic system) are performed by means of GREET 2020 software. These configurations are compared from the economical viewpoint, by the life-cycle cost assessment (LCCA), where potential carbon credit scenarios are investigated, while relevant quantities are converted into monetary units. Although the LCA identified the photovoltaic cells’ battery-powered ship configuration as the most environmentally friendly, according to the LCCA, its life-cycle costs are rather high, except for passenger ships, for which the battery-powered ship configuration is a feasible option. If a set of required specific input data is known, the presented procedure is applicable to reduce the environmental footprint of any other inland waterway fleet.
Application of the Sinusoidal Voltage for Detection of the Resonance in Inductive Voltage Transformers
Authors: Kaczmarek Michal , Stano Ernest
Published: October 2021

In the case of the inductive voltage transformer (VT), the resonance phenomenon may be the main reason for its poor transformation accuracy of the non-sinusoidal voltage. This problem mainly results from the leakage inductance and the parasitic capacitance of its primary winding. The application of the sinusoidal voltage with a frequency from 20 Hz to 20 kHz presented in this study ensures proper identification of the resonance frequencies of the medium-voltage (MV) inductive VTs. The results are consistent with the values obtained in the reference condition at their nominal primary voltage. Therefore, it is proven that the proposed solution is effective in all cases. The influence of the main frequency variation of the non-sinusoidal primary voltage on the resonance properties of the inductive VT is also studied. Moreover, the tests indicate that the capacitance of the load of the secondary winding may cause a decrease in their resonance frequency.
Management of Green Consumer Values in Renewable Energy Sources and Eco Innovation in India
Authors: Rutkowska Małgorzata , Bartoszczuk Paweł , Singh Uma
Published: October 2021

Renewable energy sources are ecological and sustainable solutions accepted with a common consensus under the sustainable development goals. Energy source exploration has enforced the human race to think about sustainable energy production as fossil fuels are non-renewable and are having a negative impact on ecosystem. Consumer needs and wants are the key for acceptance of renewable energy and making production a possibility. The real challenge is with the consumer market for the acceptance of green energy. The current research is based on the concept of GREEN consumer values synergizing with renewable energy sources, and eco innovation for sustainability in India. The crucial point of study is assessing GREEN consumer values which are the determining factor for consumption. All five renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass) have received a higher level of acceptance by respondents which shows that India is on its way to enhancing its capacity for renewable energy. Indian consumer values are very much aligned with eco sustainability, and the market is ready to consume renewable energy.
A Comparative Analysis of Energy and Water Consumption of Mined versus Synthetic Diamonds
Authors: Zhdanov Vladislav , Sokolova Marina , Smirnov Pavel , Andrzejewski Lukasz , Bondareva Julia , Evlashin Stanislav
Published: October 2021

In our research, we analyzed the energy and water consumption in diamond mining and laboratory synthesis operations. We used publicly available reports issued by two market leaders, DeBeers and ALROSA, to estimate water and energy use per carat of a rough diamond. The efficiency of the two most popular synthesis technologies for artificial diamonds—High-Pressure-High-Temperature (HPHT) and Microwave-assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (M-CVD)—was examined. We found that the modern HPHT presses, with open cooling circuits, consume about 36 kWh/ct when producing gem-quality and average-sized (near-) colorless diamonds. ALROSA and DeBeers use about 96 kWh/ct and 150 kWh/ct, respectively, including all energy required to mine. Energy consumption of M-CVD processes can be different and depends on technological conditions. Our M-CVD machine is the least energy-efficient, requiring about 215 kWh/ct in the single-crystal regime, using 2.45-GHz magnetron for the support synthesis. The M-CVD methods of individual synthetic companies IIa Technology and Ekati Mine are different from our results and equal 77 and 143 kWh/ct, respectively. Water consumption for the HPHT and M-CVD methods was insignificant: approximately zero and 0.002 m3/ct, respectively, and below 0.077 m3/ct for ALROSA-mined diamonds. This study touches upon the impact of the diamond production methods used on the carbon footprint.
Asexual Epichloë Fungi—Obligate Mutualists
Authors: Caradus John R. , Card Stuart D. , Hewitt Katrin G. , Hume David E. , Johnson Linda J.
Published: October 2021

Asexual Epichloë are obligate fungal mutualists that form symbiosis with many temperate grass species, providing several advantages to the host. These advantages include protection against vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores (i.e., grazing livestock and invertebrate pests, respectively), improved resistance to phytopathogens, increased adaptation to drought stress, nutrient deficiency, and heavy metal-containing soils. Selected Epichloë strains are utilised in agriculture mainly for their pest resistance traits, which are moderated via the production of Epichloë-derived secondary metabolites. For pastoral agriculture, the use of these endophyte infected grasses requires the balancing of protection against insect pests with reduced impacts on animal health and welfare.
Ambient Air Quality Measurement with Low-Cost Optical and Electrochemical Sensors: An Evaluation of Continuous Year-Long Operation
Authors: Bílek Jiří , Bílek Ondřej , Maršolek Petr , Buček Pavel
Published: October 2021

Sensor technology is attractive to the public due to its availability and ease of use. However, its usage raises numerous questions. The general trustworthiness of sensor data is widely discussed, especially with regard to accuracy, precision, and long-term signal stability. The VSB-Technical University of Ostrava has operated an air quality sensor network for more than two years, and its large sets of valid results can help in understanding the limitations of sensory measurement. Monitoring is focused on the concentrations of dust particles, NO2, and ozone to verify the impact of newly planted greenery on the reduction in air pollution. The sensor network currently covers an open field on the outskirts of Ostrava, between Liberty Ironworks and the nearby ISKO1650 monitoring station, where some of the worst air pollution levels in the Czech Republic are regularly measured. In the future, trees should be allowed to grow over the sensors, enabling assessment of the green barrier effect on air pollution. As expected, the service life of the sensors varies from 1 to 3 years; therefore, checks are necessary both prior to the measurement and regularly during operation, verifying output stability and overall performance. Results of the PMx sensory measurements correlated well with the reference method. Concentration values measured by NO2 sensors correlated poorly with the reference method, although timeline plots of concentration changes were in accordance. We suggest that a comparison of timelines should be used for air quality evaluations, rather than particular values. The results showed that the sensor measurements are not yet suitable to replace the reference methods, and dense sensor networks proved useful and robust tools for indicative air quality measurements (AQM).
Recent Advances in Dynamic Modeling and Process Control of PVA Degradation by Biological and Advanced Oxidation Processes: A Review on Trends and Advances
Authors: Lin Yi-Ping , Dhib Ramdhane , Mehrvar Mehrab
Published: October 2021

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is an emerging pollutant commonly found in industrial wastewater, owing to its extensive usage as an additive in the manufacturing industry. PVA’s popularity has made wastewater treatment technologies for PVA degradation a popular research topic in industrial wastewater treatment. Although many PVA degradation technologies are studied in bench-scale processes, recent advancements in process optimization and control of wastewater treatment technologies such as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) show the feasibility of these processes by monitoring and controlling processes to meet desired regulatory standards. These wastewater treatment technologies exhibit complex reaction mechanisms leading to nonlinear and nonstationary behavior related to variability in operational conditions. Thus, black-box dynamic modeling is a promising tool for designing control schemes since dynamic modeling is more complicated in terms of first principles and reaction mechanisms. This study seeks to provide a survey of process control methods via a comprehensive review focusing on PVA degradation methods, including biological and advanced oxidation processes, along with their reaction mechanisms, control-oriented dynamic modeling (i.e., state-space, transfer function, and artificial neural network modeling), and control strategies (i.e., proportional-integral-derivative control and predictive control) associated with wastewater treatment technologies utilized for PVA degradation.
Different Responses of Evapotranspiration Rates of Urban Lawn and Tree to Meteorological Factors and Soil Water in Hot Summer in a Subtropical Megacity
Authors: Zou Zhendong , Yan Chunhua , Yu Leiyu , Jiang Xianchenghao , Ding Jinshan , Ding Junjie , Qiu Guoyu
Published: October 2021

Urban evapotranspiration (ET) is an effective way to mitigate ecological challenges resulting from rapid urbanization. However, the characteristics of urban vegetation ET, especially how they respond to meteorological factors and soil water, remains unclear, which is crucial for urban ET regulation. Therefore, this study measured the actual ET rate of an urban lawn (ETlawn) using the Bowen ratio system and an urban tree (Ttree) by a sap flow system in the hot summer of a subtropical megacity, Shenzhen. The results showed that the daily ETlawn was more restricted by energy (Rs) and diffusion conditions (vapor pressure deficit, VPD), while the daily Ttree was more restricted by VPD and relative extractable water (REW) in the urban area. The daily Ttree decreased when the REW was lower than 0.18, while the daily ETlawn started to decrease when it was lower than 0.14. When REW was lower than 0.11, the Ttree stayed at a relatively low level. The impacts of VPD was more evident on the diurnal Ttree than on the diurnal ETlawn. Wind speed had a scarce impact as it was relatively low in urban areas. This study clarifies the different responses of ETlawn and Ttree to meteorological factors and soil water based on actual ET. The results are of great significance for the knowledge of urban forestry and urban hydrology.
The Identification of Several Dipterocarpaceae and Fagaceae Trees by Barcode DNA Coupled with High-Resolution Melting Analysis
Authors: Osathanunkul Maslin , Madesis Panagiotis
Published: October 2021

The loss of forests is a major environmental, social, and economic problem. The disappearance has been occurring to an extreme degree in many parts of Southeast Asia, including Thailand. Logging and clearing of forests for agriculture, cash crops, and food production has destroyed much of the tropical forests in Thailand. Floristic inventory could provide essential information for forest conservation but species identification as a part of inventory creating could be challenging in some cases. Barcode DNA coupled with High Resolution Melting analysis (Bar-HRM) was used here in aiding species identification of plant in Dipterocarpaceae (Dipterocarpus alatus, D. costatu, D. intricatus, D. obtusifolius, Hopea ferrea, H. odorata, Shorea guiso, S. obtuse, S. roxburghii, and S. siamensis) and Fagaceae (Castanopsis echinocarpa, C. inermis, Lithocarpus wallichianus, Quercus aliena and Q. oidocarpa) families. Two main experiments were conducted including: (1) a comparing method for primer design and (2) testing the robustness of the Bar-HRM by trying to identify tree samples that did not have sequences in the GenBank. In experiment 1, the manual design primer pair was found to be the best fit for the work. Of key importance is finding the primers which give the most nucleotide variations within the generated amplicon; this is a parameter that cannot be set in any web-based tools. Next, in experiment 2, Bar-HRM using primers of ITS1 and ITS2 regions were able to discriminate all 10 tested tree species without any problem, even when there were no sequences of the samples to be analysed before performing the HRM. Here, Bar-HRM poses potential to be a game-changer in tropical forest conservation, as it will be useful for species identification.
Assessing Genetic Variation in Resistance to Pinewood Nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in Pinus radiata D. Don Half-Sib Families
Authors: Menéndez-Gutiérrez María , Alonso Margarita , Díaz Raquel
Published: October 2021

Full understanding and control of pine wilt disease (PWD) is a work in progress and breeding for disease resistance constitutes an essential management strategy for reducing its impact, as evidenced by advanced breeding programs in countries such as Japan. Since Pinus radiata is one of the most commercially relevant species in northern Spain, we designed a study to assess genetic variation in susceptibility to this pathogen using 44 P. radiata half-sib families from the Galician breeding program. Three Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pinewood nematode, PWN) inoculation experiments were performed to evaluate disease-related variables, estimate genetic parameters, and study sources of genotype by environment interaction (G × E). We also looked at differences in the constitutive chemical compounds of susceptible and non-susceptible individuals. The results showed great variation in PWN susceptibility, with survival rates for P. radiata families ranging from 0% to 90%. In addition, heritability estimates (hi2 = 0.43, hf2 = 0.72) and genetic gain (>26% selecting 50% of the families) were both moderately high for survival. Significant differences in several constitutive chemical compounds were found between susceptible and non-susceptible seedlings in the two susceptibility groups considered. These results confirm the potential of breeding to obtain P. radiata genotypes that are resistant to pine wilt disease and open possibilities for mitigating its future impact on P. radiata stands.
Fire Regime Has a Greater Impact Than Selective Timber Harvesting on Vegetation in a Sub-Tropical Australian Eucalypt Forest
Authors: Lewis Tom , Menzies Tracey , Pachas Anibal Nahuel
Published: October 2021

We compared selectively harvested and unharvested areas located among treatments of annual burning since 1952, triennial burning since 1973 and an area that had received no prescribed burning, but with a single wildfire in 2006 (one fire in 72 years), in a dry sclerophyll eucalypt forest, south-eastern Queensland, Australia. Historic fire regime, rather than low-intensity, selective timber harvesting (17% to 37% live tree basal area removed) had a greater impact on a range of vegetation and soil attributes. Plant taxa composition was influenced more by historic fire regime than recent harvesting; of the 25.5% of the variation in taxa composition explained, fire treatments alone accounted for 96.4% of the explained variation and harvesting alone accounted for just 4.8%. Selective harvesting of timber had a predictable influence associated with removal of tree cover and physical impacts associated with extraction of logs. In harvested areas there were increases (p < 0.05) in bare-ground cover and in coarse woody debris volumes and decreases in understorey vegetation height, particularly where woody understorey was present. However, overall, the combined effects of timber harvesting and fire regime were relatively minor. These sub-tropical dry eucalypt forests appear to be resilient to the impacts of combined, but low-intensity disturbances.
A Compromise Programming Application to Support Forest Industrial Plantation Decision-Makers
Authors: Nobre Silvana Ribeiro , Diaz-Balteiro Luis , Rodriguez Luiz Carlos Estraviz
Published: October 2021

The conflicts that arise between natural resources consumption and the desire to preserve them make the multicriteria decision theory necessary. Brazil, one of the 10 largest timber producers globally, uses optimization models that represent the growth of forests integrated with decision support systems. Brazilian forest plantation managers often face conflicts when continuously seeking efficiency gains (higher productivity at lower costs) and efficacy (higher profits with minimum social and environmental impacts). Managers of leading producing countries on timber, pulp, and fiberboard constantly interact to fine-tune industry processing demands vis-a-vis the demands of highly productive fast-growing forest plantations. The decision process in such cases seeks a compromise that accommodates short-term industry productivity optimization and long-term forestry production capacity. This paper aims to apply a forest management decision support system (FMDSS) to a case study that represents the challenges that industrial plantations in Brazil usually face. A vertically integrated pulp company situation was simulated to provide a real scenario. In this scenario, forest managers tend to shorten the rotations due to Brazil’s usually high-interest rates; meanwhile, industrial managers tend to ask for longer ones due to the positive correlation between age and wood density. Romero®, a Forest Management Decision Support System, developed by following the multi-criteria decision theory, was used to process the case study. Expressly, the hypothesis that mill managers initially have, that older ages rotation could improve mill production, was not confirmed. Moreover, mill managers lean towards changes in the short term, while the case study shows that changes in rotation size and genetic material take time, and decisions have to be made involving both interests: forest and mill managers.
Xylitol Production by Candida Species from Hydrolysates of Agricultural Residues and Grasses
Authors: West Thomas P.
Published: October 2021

Xylitol is an industrially important chemical due to its commercial applications. The use of xylitol as a sweetener as well as its utilization in biomedical applications has made it a high value specialty chemical. Although several species of yeast synthesize xylitol, this review focusses on the species of the genus Candida. The importance of the enzyme xylitol reductase present in Candida species as it relates to their ability to synthesize xylitol was examined. Another focus of this work was to review prior studies examining the ability of the Candida species to synthesize xylitol effectively from hydrolysates of agricultural residues and grasses. An advantage of utilizing such a hydrolysate as a substrate for yeast xylitol production would be decreasing the overall cost of synthesizing xylitol. The intent of this review was to learn if such hydrolysates could substitute for xylose as a substrate for the yeast when producing xylitol. In addition, a comparison of xylitol production by Candida species should indicate which hydrolysate of agricultural residues and grasses would be the best substrate for xylitol production. From studies analyzing previous hydrolysates of agricultural residues and grasses, it was concluded that a hydrolysate of sugarcane bagasse supported the highest level of xylitol by Candida species, although corncob hydrolysates also supported significant yeast xylitol production. It was also concluded that fewer studies examined yeast xylitol production on hydrolysates of grasses and that further research on grasses may provide hydrolysates with a higher xylose content, which could support greater yeast xylitol production.
Software Design and Experimental Evaluation of a Reduced AES for IoT Applications
Authors: Qasaimeh Malik , Al-Qassas Raad S. , Ababneh Mohammad
Published: October 2021

IoT devices include RFID tags, microprocessors, sensors, readers, and actuators. Their main characteristics are their limited resources and computing capabilities, which pose critical challenges to the reliability and security of their applications. Encryption is necessary for security when using these limited-resource devices, but conventional cryptographic algorithms are too heavyweight and resource-demanding to run on IoT infrastructures. This paper presents a lightweight version of AES (called LAES), which provides competitive results in terms of randomness levels and processing time, operating on GF(24). Detailed mathematical operations and proofs are presented concerning LAES rounds design fundamentals. The proposed LAES algorithm is evaluated based on its randomness, performance, and power consumption; it is then compared to other cryptographic algorithm variants, namely Present, Clefia, and AES. The design of the randomness and performance analysis is based on six measures developed with the help of the NIST test statistical suite of cryptographic applications. The performance and power consumption of LAES on a low-power, 8-bit microcontroller unit were evaluated using an Arduino Uno board. LAES was found to have competitive randomness levels, processing times, and power consumption compared to Present, Clefia, and AES.
Chemical Characterization and Bioaccessibility Assessment of Bioactive Compounds from Umbu (Spondias tuberosa A.) Fruit Peel and Pulp Flours
Authors: Cangussu Laís B. , Fronza Pãmella , Franca Adriana S. , Oliveira Leandro S.
Published: October 2021

Umbu, a common fruit from the northeastern region of Brazil, contains many bioactive compounds not yet exploited. Thus, this study evaluated the potential of pulps and peels of mature and semi-mature umbu as a source of bioactive compounds. Trigonelline contents ranged from 1.75 to 6.14 mg/100 g, values higher than those of many vegetables described in the literature, such as corn and barley. The contents of extractable and non-extractable phenolic compounds were also higher than those of other vegetables. Bioaccessibility of total extractable phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins was determined (15.67–37.73%, 31.87–39.10% and 18.81–114.27%, respectively). The constituent polysaccharides of the pulp and peel were tentatively chemically characterized as arabinoxylans, arabinogalactans, rhamnoarabinogalactans, xyloglucans, and pectin of the rhamnogalacturonan type. The technological potential of peel flours was evaluated. The maturation advancement showed no significant changes in the technological properties of the flours, except for color and water solubility index. Results indicated excellent prospects for future research on umbu pulps and peels as potential sources of natural bioactive compounds.
Microbial Interactions between Amylolytic and Non-Amylolytic Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains Isolated during the Fermentation of Pozol
Authors: Bolaños-Núñez Sandra , Santiago-Urbina Jorge A. , Guyot Jean-Pierre , Díaz-Ruiz Gloria , Wacher Carmen
Published: October 2021

Pozol is a Mexican beverage prepared from fermented nixtamalized maize dough. To contribute to understanding its complex microbial ecology, the effect of inoculating on MRS-starch pure and mixed cultures of amylolytic Sii-25124 and non-amylolytic W. confusa 17, isolated from pozol, were studied on their interactions and fermentation parameters. These were compared with L. plantarum A6, an amylolytic strain isolated from cassava. Microbial growth, kinetic parameters, amylolytic activity, lactic acid production, and hydrolysis products from starch fermentation were measured. The population dynamics were followed by qPCR. L. plantarum A6 showed higher enzymatic activity, lactic acid, biomass production, and kinetic parameters than pozol LAB in pure cultures. Mixed culture of each pozol LAB with L. plantarum A6 showed a significant decrease in amylolytic activity, lactic acid yield, specific growth rate, and specific rate of amylase production. The interaction between Sii-25124 and W. confusa 17 increased the global maximum specific growth rate (µ), the lactic acid yield from starch (Ylac/s), lactic acid yield from biomass (Ylac/x), and specific rate of lactic acid production (qlac) by 15, 30, 30, and 40%, respectively, compared with the pure culture of Sii-25124. Interactions between the two strains are essential for this fermentation.
Development of a DNA Metabarcoding Method for the Identification of Bivalve Species in Seafood Products
Authors: Gense Kristina , Peterseil Verena , Licina Alma , Wagner Martin , Cichna-Markl Margit , Dobrovolny Stefanie , Hochegger Rupert
Published: October 2021

The production of bivalve species has been increasing in the last decades. In spite of strict requirements for species declaration, incorrect labelling of bivalve products has repeatedly been detected. We present a DNA metabarcoding method allowing the identification of bivalve species belonging to the bivalve families Mytilidae (mussels), Pectinidae (scallops), and Ostreidae (oysters) in foodstuffs. The method, developed on Illumina instruments, targets a 150 bp fragment of mitochondrial 16S rDNA. We designed seven primers (three primers for mussel species, two primers for scallop species and a primer pair for oyster species) and combined them in a triplex PCR assay. In each of eleven reference samples, the bivalve species was identified correctly. In ten DNA extract mixtures, not only the main component (97.0–98.0%) but also the minor components (0.5–1.5%) were detected correctly, with only a few exceptions. The DNA metabarcoding method was found to be applicable to complex and processed foodstuffs, allowing the identification of bivalves in, e.g., marinated form, in sauces, in seafood mixes and even in instant noodle seafood. The method is highly suitable for food authentication in routine analysis, in particular in combination with a DNA metabarcoding method for mammalian and poultry species published recently.
Greenhouse Effect in the Standard Atmosphere
Authors: Smirnov Boris Michailovich , Zhilyaev Dmitri Alexandrovich
Published: October 2021

The “line-by-line” method is used for the evaluation of thermal emission of the standard atmosphere toward the Earth. Accounting for thermodynamic equilibrium of the radiation field with air molecules and considering the atmosphere as a weakly nonuniform layer, we reduce the emission at a given frequency for this layer containing molecules of various types to that of a uniform layer, which is characterized by a certain radiative temperature Tω, an optical thickness uω and an opaque factor g(uω). Radiative parameters of molecules are taken from the HITRAN database, and an altitude of cloud location is taken from the energetic balance of the Earth. Within the framework of this model, we calculate the parameters of the greenhouse effect, including the partial radiative fluxes due to different greenhouse components in the frequency range up to 2600 cm−1. In addition, the derivations are determined from the radiative flux from the atmosphere to the Earth over the concentration logarithm of greenhouse components. From this, it follows that the observed rate of growth of the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide accounts for a contribution of approximately 30% to the observed increase in the global atmosphere during recent decades. If we assume that the basic part of the greenhouse effect is determined by an increase in the concentration c(H2O) of water atmospheric molecules, it is approximately dlnc(H2O/dt)=0.003 yr−1. This corresponds to an increase in the average moisture of the atmosphere of 0.2%/yr.
Marine Polymer-Gels’ Relevance in the Atmosphere as Aerosols and CCN
Authors: Orellana Mónica V. , Hansell Dennis A. , Matrai Patricia A. , Leck Caroline
Published: October 2021

Marine polymer gels play a critical role in regulating ocean basin scale biogeochemical dynamics. This brief review introduces the crucial role of marine gels as a source of aerosol particles and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in cloud formation processes, emphasizing Arctic marine microgels. We review the gel’s composition and relation to aerosols, their emergent properties, and physico-chemical processes that explain their change in size spectra, specifically in relation to aerosols and CCN. Understanding organic aerosols and CCN in this context provides clear benefits to quantifying the role of marine nanogel/microgel in microphysical processes leading to cloud formation. This review emphasizes the DOC-marine gel/aerosolized gel-cloud link, critical to developing accurate climate models.
Phylogenetic Signal Dissection of Heterogeneous 28S and 16S rRNA Genes in Spinicaudata (Branchiopoda, Diplostraca)
Authors: Sun Xiaoyan , Cheng Jinhui
Published: October 2021

It is still a challenge to reconstruct the deep phylogenetic relationships within spinicaudatans, and there are several different competing hypotheses regarding the interrelationships among Eocyzicidae, Cyzicidae s. s., Leptestheriidae, and Limnadiidae of the Suborder Spinicaudata. In order to explore the source of the inconsistencies, we focus on the sequence variation and the structure model of two rRNA genes based on extensive taxa sampling. The comparative sequence analysis revealed heterogeneity across species and the existence of conserved motifs in all spinicaudatan species. The level of intraspecific heterogeneity differed among species, which suggested that some species might have undergone a relaxed concerted evolution with respect to the 28S rRNA gene. The Bayesian analyses were performed on nuclear (28S rRNA, EF1α) and mitochondrial (16S rRNA, COI) genes. Further, we investigated compositional heterogeneity between lineages and assessed the potential for phylogenetic noise compared to signal in the combined data set. Reducing the non-phylogenetic signals and application of optimal rRNA model recovered a topology congruent with inference from the transcriptome data, whereby Limnadiidae was placed as a sister group to Leptestheriidae + Eocyzicidae with high support (topology I). Tests of alternative hypotheses provided implicit support for four competing topologies, and topology I was the best.
Developmental Signals in the 21st Century; New Tools and Advances in Plant Signaling
Authors: Ezquer Ignacio , Vittorioso Paola , de Folter Stefan
Published: October 2021

This special issue includes different research papers and reviews that studied the role of signaling cascades controlling both plant developmental processes and plant response mechanisms to biotic and abiotic stresses [...]
An Integrative Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis of Red Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) Seedlings in Response to Heat Stress
Authors: Jiao Zhengli , Xu Weijuan , Nong Quandong , Zhang Mei , Jian Shuguang , Lu Hongfang , Chen Jiantong , Zhang Mingyong , Xia Kuaifei
Published: October 2021

Red pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) is a significant functional food that is largely planted in Southeast Asia. Heat stress (HS) induced by high temperatures is likely to restrict the growth and survival of red pitaya. Although pitaya can tolerate temperatures as high as 40 °C, little is known of how it can withstand HS. In this study, the transcriptomic and metabolomic responses of red pitaya seedlings to HS were analyzed. A total of 198 transcripts (122 upregulated and 76 downregulated) were significantly differentially expressed after 24 h and 72 h of exposure to 42 °C compared with a control grown at 28 °C. We also identified 64 differentially accumulated metabolites in pitaya under HS (37 increased and 27 decreased). These differential metabolites, especially amino acids, organic acids, and sugars, are involved in metabolic pathways and the biosynthesis of amino acids. Interaction network analysis of the heat-responsive genes and metabolites suggested that similar pathways and complex response mechanisms are involved in the response of pitaya to HS. Overexpression of one of the upregulated genes (contig10820) in Arabidopsis, which is a homolog of PR-1 and named HuPR-1, significantly increased tolerance to HS. This is the first study showing that HuPR-1 plays a role in the response of pitaya to abiotic stress. These findings provide valuable insights that will aid future studies examining adaptation to HS in pitaya.
Effect of High Hydrostatic Pressure on Stress-Related dnaK, hrcA, and ctsR Expression Patterns in Selected Lactobacilli Strains
Authors: Bucka-Kolendo Joanna , Juszczuk-Kubiak Edyta , Sokołowska Barbara
Published: October 2021

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the natural environment meet multiple stressors such as pH and temperature variations, increased nutrition and metabolite concentrations, harmful chemicals, acidic/oxidative conditions, osmotic pressure, and starvation. However, LAB strains are not subjected to high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) which currently is the most common non-thermal decontamination technology in the food industry. In this context, the LAB response to HHP is more difficult to identify compared to other stress-induced responses, and dnaK, ctsR, and hrcA can serve as essential regulators in this reaction. In the present study, the expression level of dnaK, ctsR, and hrcA mRNAs in 15 LAB strains after the HHP (300 MPa/5′) exposure was evaluated. As a result, the HHP-treatment affected the up-regulation of dnaK, ctsR, and hrcA in L. backii KKP 3565, L. backii KKP 3566, L. rhamnosus KKP 3570, L. brevis KKP 3575 strains, whereas, in L. plantarum KKP 3569, L. rhamnosus KKP 3571, L. brevis KKP 3573 all genes were lower expressed. The relative expression level of the dnaK, ctsR, and hrcA either before or after the pressure treatment for L. brevis DSM 6235, L. rhamnosus KKP 3572, L. brevis KKP 3574, L. brevis KKP 3576, L. rossiae KKP 3577, L. curvatus KKP 3578 strains were undetectable. Significant differences in the expression levels were observed, between the control and the HHP treatment strains for dnaK in L. backii KKP 3565, L. backii KKP 3566, L. plantarum KKP 3569, L. rhamnosus KKP 3570, L. rhamnosus KKP 3571, ctsR in, L. backii KKP 3565, L. rhamnosus KKP 3570, L. rhamnosus KKP 3571, and hrcA in L. plantarum KKP 3569, L. rhamnosus KKP 3571. Overall, the studied genes, dnaK, ctsR, and hrcA can be useful markers to indicate the LAB cellular response to HHP. These molecular parameters can help to optimize the desirable LAB growing conditions in industrial processes and to understand the complexity of the stress-related mechanism.
Cross-Amplification in Strigiformes: A New STR Panel for Forensic Purposes
Authors: Giangregorio Patrizia , Naldi Lorenzo , Mengoni Chiara , Greco Claudia , Padula Anna , Zaccaroni Marco , Fani Renato , Argenti Giovanni , Mucci Nadia
Published: October 2021

Strigiformes are affected by a substantial decline mainly caused by habitat loss and destruction, poaching, and trapping. Moreover, the increasing trend in bird trade and the growing interest in wild-caught rather than captive-bred birds are expected to encourage illegal trade. The biomolecular investigation represents a valuable tool to track illegal trade and to explore the genetic variability to preserving biodiversity. Microsatellite loci (STRs) are the most used markers to study genetic variability. Despite the availability of species-specific microsatellite loci in Strigiformes, a unique panel permitting the description of the genetic variability across species has not been identified yet. We tested 32 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to evaluate the reliability of a unique microsatellite panel in different species of Strigiformes and its use for conservation and forensic purposes. We included in the study 84 individuals belonging to 28 parental groups and 11 species of Strigiformes. After screening polymorphic microsatellite loci, the description of genetic variability, and the kinship assessment, we characterized a final panel of 12 microsatellite loci able to identify individuals in 9 Strigiformes species. This STR panel might support the authorities in the forensic investigation for suspected smugglers and false parental claims; moreover, it can be useful to evaluate relatedness among individuals in captive-bred populations and to implement research projects finalized to the description of the genetic variability in wild populations.
CMAX3: A Robust Statistical Test for Genetic Association Accounting for Covariates
Authors: Chen Zhongxue , Zang Yong
Published: October 2021

The additive genetic model as implemented in logistic regression has been widely used in genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for binary outcomes. Unfortunately, for many complex diseases, the underlying genetic models are generally unknown and a mis-specification of the genetic model can result in a substantial loss of power. To address this issue, the MAX3 test (the maximum of three separate test statistics) has been proposed as a robust test that performs plausibly regardless of the underlying genetic model. However, the original implementation of MAX3 utilizes the trend test so it cannot adjust for any covariates such as age and gender. This drawback has significantly limited the application of the MAX3 in GWASs, as covariates account for a considerable amount of variability in these disorders. In this paper, we extended the MAX3 and proposed the CMAX3 (covariate-adjusted MAX3) based on logistic regression. The proposed test yielded a similar robust efficiency as the original MAX3 while easily adjusting for any covariate based on the likelihood framework. The asymptotic formula to calculate the p-value of the proposed test was also developed in this paper. The simulation results showed that the proposed test performed desirably under both the null and alternative hypotheses. For the purpose of illustration, we applied the proposed test to re-analyze a case-control GWAS dataset from the Collaborative Studies on Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). The R code to implement the proposed test is also introduced in this paper and is available for free download.
A Non-Shedding Fruit Elaeis oleifera Palm Reveals Perturbations to Hormone Signaling, ROS Homeostasis, and Hemicellulose Metabolism
Authors: Morcillo Fabienne , Serret Julien , Beckers Antoine , Collin Myriam , Tisné Sebastien , George Simon , Poveda Roberto , Louise Claude , Tranbarger Timothy John
Published: October 2021

The developmentally programmed loss of a plant organ is called abscission. This process is characterized by the ultimate separation of adjacent cells in the abscission zone (AZ). The discovery of an American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera) variant that does not shed its has allowed for the study of the mechanisms of ripe fruit abscission in this species. A comparative transcriptome analysis was performed to compare the fruit AZs of the non-shedding E. oleifera variant to an individual of the same progeny that sheds its ripe fruit normally. The study provides evidence for widespread perturbation to gene expression in the AZ of the non-shedding variant, compared to the normal fruit-shedding control, and offers insight into abscission-related functions. Beyond the genes with known or suspected roles during organ abscission or indehiscence that were identified, a list of genes with hormone-related functions, including ethylene, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, cytokinin and salicylic acid, in addition to reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, transcriptional responses and signaling pathways, was compiled. The results also allowed a comparison between the ripe fruit abscission processes of the African and American oil palm species at the molecular level and revealed commonalities with environmental stress pathways.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms from CSF2, FLT1, TFPI and TLR9 Genes Are Associated with Prelabor Rupture of Membranes
Authors: Wujcicka Wioletta Izabela , Kacerovsky Marian , Krekora Michał , Kaczmarek Piotr , Grzesiak Mariusz
Published: October 2021

A prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM) and its subtypes, preterm PROM (pPROM) and term PROM (tPROM), are associated with disturbances in the hemostatic system and angiogenesis. This study was designed to demonstrate the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), localized in CSF2 (rs25881), FLT1 (rs722503), TFPI (C-399T) and TLR9 (rs352140) genes, in PROM. A population of 360 women with singleton pregnancy consisted of 180 PROM cases and 180 healthy controls. A single-SNP analysis showed a similar distribution of genotypes in the studied polymorphisms between the PROM or the pPROM women and the healthy controls. Double-SNP TT variants for CSF2 and FLT1 polymorphisms, CC variants for TLR9 and TFPI SNPs, TTC for CSF2, FLT1 and TLR9 polymorphisms, TTT for FLT1, TLR9 and TFPI SNPs and CCCC and TTTC complex variants for all tested SNPs correlated with an increased risk of PROM after adjusting for APTT, PLT parameters and/or pregnancy disorders. The TCT variants for the CSF2, FLT1 and TLR9 SNPs and the CCTC for the CSF2, FLT1, TLR9 and TFPI polymorphisms correlated with a reduced risk of PROM when corrected by PLT and APTT, respectively. We concluded that the polymorphisms of genes, involved in hemostasis and angiogenesis, contributed to PROM.