bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges in Assessing the Behaviour of Nodal Electricity Prices in Insular Electricity Markets: The Case of New Zealand
Authors: Macedo Daniela Pereira , Marques António Cardoso , Damette Olivier
Published: June 2023

In this new era of energy transition, access to reliable and correctly functioning electricity markets is a huge concern for all economies. The restructuring path taken by most electricity markets involves the movement towards green generation structures and the increasing integration of wind and solar photovoltaic energy sources. Furthermore, it involves the electrification of energy systems, which implies a substantial increase in electricity demand levels. It is also important to add that electricity use has been pivotal in achieving efficient productivity levels in many sectors and is thus crucial to boosting economic activity. Nevertheless, this shift in generation structures has raised several challenges in electricity markets, mainly because the electricity produced from wind and solar photovoltaics is intermittent. In turn, adopting green power sources has been claimed to increase electricity price volatility and thus increase pricing risks. Therefore, to ensure that the right market signals are being sent to investors, the behaviour of electricity prices should be carefully assessed. There are three main types of pricing mechanisms commonly used in electricity markets: zonal, uniform and nodal. This study provides a short literature survey on these three pricing mechanisms. Our analysis has revealed that the assessment of the behaviour of nodal electricity price volatility is rarely studied in the literature. This fact has motivated the exploration of this topic and the consideration of the New Zealand electricity market case. The New Zealand electricity market is an energy-only system with no interconnections with other electricity markets. Furthermore, it has plenty of electricity produced from hydropower, which has a high potential to reduce price volatility through its backup role. The nodal pricing mechanism is complex, and data on it are hard to process. This paper elucidates the main challenges in processing electricity big data. Three different procedures to make this data more useable are described in detail. The main conclusions of this paper highlight the need to access easy-to-manage data and identify certain variables that significantly affect nodal prices for data which are unavailable.
Young Pupils’ Joint Creation of Multimodal Fairy Tales Using Analogue and Digital Resources
Authors: Wernholm Marina , Danielsson Kristina , Ebbelind Andreas , Palmér Hanna , Patron Emelie
Published: June 2023

The present study aimed to explore ‘what’s happening’ and ‘what’s possible’, when young pupils jointly create multimodal texts in small groups. This was achieved by studying the process when pupils in a grade 2 classroom (i) created handwritten fairy tales, (ii) drew images, and then, (iii) transformed them into animated multimodal texts using a digital application during three small-group activities. Data comprises video recordings, pupils’ multimodal texts (writing and drawings), teaching materials, and lesson plans. This qualitative case study focuses on one group of three pupils aged 8–9. The study is theoretically grounded in the designs for learning perspective, with the Learning Design Sequence Model utilized as an analytical tool. The teacher’s design for learning—including her planned activities and the resources made available to the pupils—appeared to have a major impact on what happens and what becomes possible for the pupils in their design for learning. The teacher’s design also influenced what competencies the pupils could (and chose) to draw upon in the different activities. An important result was that the pupils positioned themselves and each other in quite different ways during the small-group activities, which partly could be explained by the different affordances of the resources provided, as well as the teacher’s design. The detailed descriptions of how the pupils’ positioning changed in relation to the teacher’s design for learning and the available resources add valuable knowledge to the field of educational research.
Nested Entity Recognition Fusing Span Relative Position and Region Information
Authors: Guo Yunqiao , Tang Tinglong , Sun Shuifa , Wu Yirong , Li Xiaolong
Published: June 2023

At present, span-based entity recognition methods are mainly used to accurately identify the span (entity) boundary for entity recognition, in which the relative position information of the span boundary and the information of words in the span region are routinely ignored. This information can be used to improve entity recognition performance. Therefore, a nested entity recognition model, which integrates the relative position information of the span and the region information within the span, is proposed. The span representation is first obtained with a triaffine attention. Then, the relative position of the span boundary and the word information in the span region, as well as the previous span representation, are fused to obtain a new label-level span representation with another triaffine attention. Finally, the span (entity) recognition task is carried out by a cooperative biaffine mechanism. Experiments were conducted on some public datasets, including ACE2004, ACE2005 and GENIA. The results show that the F1-scores achieved using the proposed method were 87.66%, 86.86% and 80.90% on ACE2004, ACE2005 and GENIA, respectively. These experiments show that the method achieved state-of-the-art (SOTA) results. Moreover, the proposed model has fewer parameters and needs fewer resources with a lower time complexity than the existing triaffine mechanism model.
Support Vector Machine Chains with a Novel Tournament Voting
Authors: Atik Ceren , Kut Recep Alp , Yilmaz Reyat , Birant Derya
Published: June 2023

Support vector machine (SVM) algorithms have been widely used for classification in many different areas. However, the use of a single SVM classifier is limited by the advantages and disadvantages of the algorithm. This paper proposes a novel method, called support vector machine chains (SVMC), which involves chaining together multiple SVM classifiers in a special structure, such that each learner is constructed by decrementing one feature at each stage. This paper also proposes a new voting mechanism, called tournament voting, in which the outputs of classifiers compete in groups, the common result in each group gradually moves to the next round, and, at the last round, the winning class label is assigned as the final prediction. Experiments were conducted on 14 real-world benchmark datasets. The experimental results showed that SVMC (88.11%) achieved higher accuracy than SVM (86.71%) on average thanks to the feature selection, sampling, and chain structure combined with multiple models. Furthermore, the proposed tournament voting demonstrated higher performance than the standard majority voting in terms of accuracy. The results also showed that the proposed SVMC method outperformed the state-of-the-art methods with a 6.88% improvement in average accuracy.
Progress on Memristor-Based Analog Logic Operation
Authors: Huang Yufei , Li Shuhui , Yang Yaguang , Chen Chengying
Published: June 2023

There is always a need for low-power, area-efficient VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integration) design and this need is increasing day by day. However, conventional design methods based on Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) devices and Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Transistor (CMOS) technology cannot meet the performance requirements. The memristor, as a promising computing and memory integration device, offers a new research idea for conventional logic circuit structure and architecture innovation, given its non-volatility, scalability, low power consumption, fast switching speed, etc. This paper proposes a brief overview of the characteristics and current status of memristor-based logic circuits and analyzes their applications in numerical expression and memory. The benefits and drawbacks of various analog logic circuit structures are summarized and compared. In addition, some solution strategies for these issues are presented. Finally, this paper offers prospects for the applications of memristors in the logic implementation of large-scale memristor arrays, the novel structure of in-memory computing, and neural network computing.
Downlink Training Sequence Design Based on Waterfilling Solution for Low-Latency FDD Massive MIMO Communications Systems
Authors: Naser Marwah Abdulrazzaq , Abdul-Hadi Alaa M. , Alsabah Muntadher , Mahmmod Basheera M. , Majeed Ammar , Abdulhussain Sadiq H.
Published: June 2023

Future generations of wireless communications systems are expected to evolve toward allowing massive ubiquitous connectivity and achieving ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) with extremely high data rates. Massive multiple-input multiple-output (m-MIMO) is a crucial transmission technique to fulfill the demands of high data rates in the upcoming wireless systems. However, obtaining a downlink (DL) training sequence (TS) that is feasible for fast channel estimation, i.e., meeting the low-latency communications required by future generations of wireless systems, in m-MIMO with frequency-division-duplex (FDD) when users have different channel correlations is very challenging. Therefore, a low-complexity solution for designing the DL training sequences to maximize the achievable sum rate of FDD systems with limited channel coherence time (CCT) is proposed using a waterfilling power allocation method. This achievable sum rate maximization is achieved using sequences produced from a summation of the user’s covariance matrices and then applying a waterfilling power allocation method to the obtained low-complexity training sequence. The results show that the proposed TS outperforms the existing methods in the medium and high SNR regimes while reducing computational complexity. The obtained results signify the proposed TS’s feasibility for practical consideration compared with the existing DL training sequence designs.
Prediction of Regional Carbon Price in China Based on Secondary Decomposition and Nonlinear Error Correction
Authors: Hu Beibei , Cheng Yunhe
Published: June 2023

Effective prediction of carbon prices matters a great deal for risk management in the carbon financial market. This article designs a blended approach incorporating secondary decomposition and nonlinear error-correction technology to predict the regional carbon price in China. Firstly, the variational mode decomposition (VMD) method is used to decompose the carbon price, and then, the time-varying filter-based empirical mode decomposition (TVFEMD) is introduced to decompose the residual term generated by VMD, and the multiple kernel-based extreme learning machine (MKELM) optimized by the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) is innovatively built to forecast the carbon subsequences. Finally, in order to mine the hidden information contained in the forecasted error, the nonlinear error-correction method based on the SSA-MKELM model is introduced to correct the initial prediction of carbon price. The empirical results show that the proposed model improves the prediction accuracy of carbon prices, with RMSE, MAE, MAPE, and DS up to 0.1363, 0.1160, 0.0015, and 0.9231 in Guangdong, respectively. In the case of the Hubei market, the model also performs best. This research innovatively expands the prediction theory and method of China’s regional carbon price.
Research on Factor Coupling of Industrialization of Oil and Gas Scientific and Technological Achievements
Authors: Wang Hao , He Sha
Published: June 2023

This paper presents the relationship between the factors of the industrialization of oil and gas scientific and technological achievements. These have established the internal coupling model and the external coupling model among the factors of the industrialization of oil and gas scientific and technological achievements. As revealed in the process of the industrialization of oil and gas scientific and technological achievements, there is a mutual influence between the factors. The actual data is used to simulate the internal coupling and the coupling between the factors of the industrialization of oil and gas scientific and technological achievements. The results show that the degree of the internal coupling and the coupling between the factors changes from coupling dissonance to a coordination state, indicating that the coupling of the factors of the industrialization of oil and gas scientific and technological achievements are enhanced. Results are presented the degree of internal coupling and coupling coordination of each factor basically changed from coupling dissonance to coordination state, indicating that the coupling of the elements in the industrialization of oil and gas scientific and technological achievements is synergistic. In conclusion, attention was drawn to strengthen the interaction between the subject of the industrialization of oil and gas scientific and technological achievements, integrate the industrialization resources of oil and gas scientific and technological achievements, improve the environment for the industrialization of oil and gas scientific and technological achievements, and improve the management system for the industrialization of oil and gas scientific and technological achievements, which can promote the development of the industrialization of oil and gas scientific and technological achievements.
Analytical Calculation of Air Gap Magnetic Field of SPMSM with Eccentrically Cut Poles Based on Magnetic Pole Division
Authors: Zhang Jiahe , Hu Jiapei , Gu Guobiao , Du Fangmian
Published: June 2023

In the design process of surface-mounted permanent magnet motor (SPMSM) for industrial robots and computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools, to pursue the sinusoidal nature of the back electromotive force, the magnetic poles in the form of eccentric pole cutting structure are often used. To analyze the no-load air gap magnetic field of the SPMSM with eccentrically cut poles simply and accurately, a subdomain model magnetic field analytical calculation method based on equal-area integral block processing of permanent magnets is proposed. The problem that the traditional subdomain analysis model cannot be directly applied to the SPMSM with eccentrically cut poles of unequal thickness is solved. The proposed method considers the influence of stator slotting and the actual permeability of permanent magnets, and directly obtains the fundamental wave and harmonic components of the no-load air gap flux density by solving the subdomain model. The finite element method (FEM) is used to directly calculate the air gap magnetic field for verification. The results of the analytical method and the no-load air gap magnetic density calculated by the FEM are consistent, which verifies the accuracy of the proposed analytical method and can quickly guide the design of the SPMSM with eccentrically cut poles.
Improving the Efficiency of Fuel Combustion with the Use of Various Designs of Embrasures
Authors: Fedorov Ruslan V. , Generalov Dmitry A. , Sherkunov Vyacheslav V. , Sapunov Valeriy V. , Busygin Sergey V.
Published: June 2023

Currently, NOX emission requirements for thermal power plants and power equipment are being tightened. Regime and technical measures are being developed to improve the efficiency of fuel combustion in boilers. Due to the high cost of field studies, and in some cases the impossibility of conducting them, mathematical modeling tools allow one to work out technical and tactical measures. In this paper, the multidisciplinary STAR-CCM+ platform with GMU-45 type burners is used to simulate the combustion of gaseous fuel in a digital model of an energy boiler of the type TGME-464. By conducting numerical experiments, the possibility of reducing NOX emissions by using flue gas recirculation is considered, and the efficiency of burner devices is compared when using different embrasure configurations.
Discussion on Operational Stability of Governor Turbine Hydraulic System Considering Effect of Power System
Authors: Zhou Jianxu , Li Chaoqun , Mao Yutong
Published: June 2023

Hydropower has grown to play an important role in power systems including increasing clean and low-carbon energies, and the effect of electric loads should be basically evaluated for the reliable operation of these systems. For the hydraulic–mechanical–electrical system of the hydropower station, the state equation model for stability evaluation was derived with typical electric load models and elastic models for pipe flow, and after experimental confirmation with a built single-unit setup for a system, the effects of different electrical loads and pipe flow models on typical hydropower systems stability were investigated in detail. The results indicate that for the built single-unit system with different load characteristics, the numerical results were basically consistent with experimental research, and the unit’s regulation performance for the dynamic load was superior to that of the static load. Evident differences existed in the effects of different electric loads on the operational stability, mainly depending on the pipe length and the corresponding models, and an optimum-order elastic model of pipe flow was preferred to reveal the dynamic interactions between different systems. Furthermore, for a typical two-unit system, the potential coupling resonance hydraulic–mechanical–electrical system is pointed out with the preferred-order elastic model of pipe flow.
The Use of Methanol Vapour for Effective Drying of Cellulose Insulation
Authors: Przybylek Piotr , Gielniak Jaroslaw
Published: June 2023

The paper deals with a new method of drying cellulose insulation, which uses methanol vapour present in nitrogen as a drying medium. Compared to the insulation drying methods currently used in the industry, the method presented in the article has the following advantages: there is no cellulose depolymerization because there is no need to heat the insulation, there is no need to use large-size and energy-intensive dryers because the whole process takes place in the tank of the transformer. Important parameters of the drying process, such as methanol concentration in the nitrogen, flow rate, and process duration, were determined in four separate experiments. For the purposes of these experiments, a special system was constructed to control and measure the flow of drying medium. Controlling the flow rate of the carrier gas (nitrogen) made it possible to obtain different concentrations of methanol in nitrogen. Such values of concentration and flow rate were determined that allow drying of pressboard and paper in less than 144 h to a level lower than 1%.
Synergy Effect during Water Treatment by Electric Discharge and Chlorination
Authors: Malyushevskaya Antonina P. , Koszelnik Piotr , Yushchishina Anna , Mitryasova Olena , Mats Andrej , Gruca-Rokosz Renata
Published: June 2023

Water treatment, such as disinfection, is an integral stage of its use for human life. The use of plasma technology with high-voltage electric discharge in a liquid for obtaining a bactericidal effect is discussed. It has been experimentally shown that among the factors accompanying a high-voltage electric discharge in a liquid and affecting the viability of bacteria, cavitation is the main one. Simultaneous use of electric discharge in the special cavitation mode and oxidizing agents makes it possible to achieve stable disinfection of water. At the same time, bactericidal doses of the oxidizing agent are reduced by a factor of 10 relative to existing standards, and the energy costs for electric discharge exposure, enhanced by small doses of an oxidizing agent, are reduced by 6 times compared to the costs of disinfection by only an electric discharge.
Evaluating Household Welfare in Participation of China’s Natural Forest Protection Program: A Dual Perspective of Income Welfare and Material Welfare
Authors: Cao Bo , Zhu Hongge , Chen Zhenhuan , Song Zhijie , Huang Xianqiao , Yu Bo
Published: June 2023

This paper presents novel empirical evidence on the welfare impacts of forest protection programs, focusing on both income and material welfare at the household level. Specifically, we conduct a household survey of 1271 households in forestry communities that participate in the Natural Forest Protection Program (NFPP) in China. The survey data are collected from 56 state forest enterprises (SFEs) across three provinces in China. We employ the Alkire–Foster method to calculate and decompose the material deprivation index based on household income levels. Our analysis reveals that forestry communities exhibit a significant proportion of households in low-income welfare states, comprising nearly one-fourth (25.41%) of the sample. Furthermore, we observe that the percentage of households in a low-material welfare state is nearly one-fifth (21.70%), with 7.79% of households experiencing both low-income and low-material welfare. Importantly, we find that welfare disparities persist across population subgroups based on occupation and geography. In addition, we assess the impact of the NFPP on household welfare outcomes and identify an elite group of technicians residing in urban communities down the hill who experience positive welfare effects from the program. These findings provide critical insights beyond a single welfare dimension and contribute to the growing literature on evaluating forest protection policies. Furthermore, the results offer valuable lessons for designing and implementing forest protection programs in other developing countries.
Changes in the Gut Microbiota Composition of Juvenile Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) Caused by Pathogenic Bacterial Infection
Authors: Kim Dong-Gyun , Lee Su-Jeong , Lee Jong Min , Lee Eun-Woo , Jang Won Je
Published: June 2023

The fish gut microbiota plays an important role in overall health. However, few reports have described the changes in the composition of gut microbiota following infection with pathogenic bacteria in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Here, we reported the changes in the gut microbiota composition of flounder after treatment with each of the three pathogenic bacteria (Edwardsiella tarda, Streptococcus iniae, and Vibrio harveyi). Edwardsiella tarda infection decreased the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia and increased Proteobacteria abundance at the phylum level of the gut microbiota over time. Similarly, Streptococcus iniae infection reduced the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia. Vibrio harveyi infection caused a decrease in the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia and increased Proteobacteria. At the genus level, infection with all three pathogens increased the relative abundance of Ralstonia and Sphingomonas species. Conversely, this infection decreased the relative abundances of Rubritalea, Saccharimonas, and Bacillus species. Therefore, reducing the abundance of Ralstonia and Sphingomonas and increasing the abundance of Rubritalea, Saccharimonas, and Bacillus in the gut microbiota composition of flounder might help maintain a healthy gut microbiota balance. This research might be useful for future studies on improving the health of flounder through gut microbiota regulation.
Bifurcation Analysis and Propagation Conditions of Free-Surface Waves in Incompressible Viscous Fluids of Finite Depth
Authors: Ghahraman Arash , Bene Gyula
Published: June 2023

Viscous linear surface waves are studied at arbitrary wavelength, layer thickness, viscosity, and surface tension. We find that in shallow enough fluids no surface waves can propagate. This layer thickness is determined for some fluids, water, glycerin, and mercury. Even in any thicker fluid layers, propagation of very short and very long waves is forbidden. When wave propagation is possible, only a single propagating mode exists for a given horizontal wave number. In contrast, there are two types of non-propagating modes. One kind of them exists at all wavelength and material parameters, and there are infinitely many such modes for a given wave number, distinguished by their decay rates. The other kind of non-propagating mode that is less attenuated may appear in zero, one, or two specimens. We notice the presence of two length scales as material parameters, one related to viscosity and the other to surface tension. We consider possible modes for a given material on the parameter plane layer thickness versus wave number and discuss bifurcations among different mode types. Motion of surface particles and time evolution of surface elevation is also studied at various parameters in glycerin, and a great variety of behaviour is found, including counterclockwise surface particle motion and negative group velocity in wave propagation.
Meat Substitute Markets: A Comparative Analysis of Meat Analogs in Austria
Authors: Falkenberg Christof , Trexler Alena , Garaus Christian , Pöchtrager Siegfried
Published: June 2023

The consumption of meat substitutes has significantly grown over the last decade. To understand the extent to which plant-based meat alternatives can already substitute conventional meat in terms of price and nutritional value, detailed knowledge of current market offerings is essential. We conducted an analysis of 38 plant-based minced products and 36 plant-based sausage products in Austrian supermarkets. The data were obtained using standardized observation in Austrian supermarkets reflecting 90% of the current market, expanded further through secondary data, and analyzed the generated dataset using mean value comparison. To provide a broader perspective on the trends in these markets, we incorporate results from a comparative study conducted in Australia. Our results obtained through t-tests revealed that there is no statistically significant difference in the protein content of plant-based meat substitutes and conventional meat (at the 95% confidence interval), underscoring the potential of meat substitutes as an alternative source of protein. Offering comparable protein content but with significantly lower caloric intake (at the 1% significance level), plant-based substitutes may contribute to reducing obesity in industrialized countries. The findings also reveal that plant-based products continue to be priced significantly higher than conventional meat (at the 1% significance level). We found substantial differences in ingredients and other nutritional values of plant-based products between Austria and Australia, although the main protein sources are the same in both countries, with peas being included in 60 out of 74 and soy in 27 out of 74 Austrian products. Our article concludes with a discussion of the implications for scholars and policymakers and identifies new avenues for future research.
The Role of Ancient Grains in Alleviating Hunger and Malnutrition
Authors: Majzoobi Mahsa , Jafarzadeh Shima , Teimouri Shahla , Ghasemlou Mehran , Hadidi Milad , Brennan Charles S.
Published: June 2023

Meeting the United Nation’s sustainable development goals for zero hunger becomes increasingly challenging with respect to climate change and political and economic challenges. An effective strategy to alleviate hunger and its severe implications is to produce affordable, nutrient-dense, and sustainable food products. Ancient grains were long-forgotten due to the dominance of modern grains, but recently, they have been rediscovered as highly nutritious, healthy and resilient grains for solving the nutrition demand and food supply chain problems. This review article aims to critically examine the progress in this emerging field and discusses the potential roles of ancient grains in the fight against hunger. We provide a comparative analysis of different ancient grains with their modern varieties in terms of their physicochemical properties, nutritional profiles, health benefits and sustainability. A future perspective is then introduced to highlight the existing challenges of using ancient grains to help eradicate world hunger. This review is expected to guide decision-makers across different disciplines, such as food, nutrition and agronomy, and policymakers in taking sustainable actions against malnutrition and hunger.
Meta-Regression Analysis of Relationships between Fibre Type and Meat Quality in Beef and Pork—Focus on Pork
Authors: LeMaster Michelle N. , Warner Robyn D. , Chauhan Surinder S. , D’Souza Darryl N. , Dunshea Frank R.
Published: June 2023

This meta-regression analysis was conducted to identify the relationship between fibretype cross-sectional area (CSA) and frequency (%) and meat quality traits, especially tenderness (sensory and Warner-Bratzler Shear Force, WBSF). Literature searches were conducted using specific keywords which resulted in 32 peer-reviewed manuscripts that contained averages and correlation coefficients for fibre type (frequency and CSA) and quality traits of longissimus muscle for beef and pork (7 and 25 studies respectively). Correlations were analysed in meta-regression using R-Studio and linear regression was also conducted. For the combined beef and pork analysis, only pH, WBSF, and drip loss were associated with fibre type frequency and CSA (p < 0.05 for all). Limiting the analysis to pork, the key results were frequency of type I fibres were associated with decreased drip loss, increased cook loss, decreased lightness (L*) and increased sensory tenderness whereas frequency of type IIb fibres were associated with increased drip loss (p < 0.05 for all). In addition, the CSA of type I and IIb fibres was associated with colour traits lightness and redness (p < 0.05 for all). Future research should focus on fibre type across breeds and muscles to further understand the impacts of fibre type frequency and CSA on quality.
Physicochemical, Rheological, and Nutritional Quality of Artisanal Fermented Milk Beverages with Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) Pulp and Flour
Authors: Gutiérrez-Álzate Katherine , Rosario Iuri L. S. , de Jesus Rafael L. C. , Maciel Leonardo F. , Santos Stefanie A. , de Souza Carolina O. , Vieira Carla Paulo , Cavalheiro Carlos P. , Costa Marion Pereira da
Published: June 2023

The use of fruits and their by-products in food has dramatically impacted the food industry due to the nutritional benefits and the technological and sensory effects of food matrices. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the effects of adding cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) pulp and flour on fermented milk beverages’ physicochemical, microbial, and sensory properties during refrigerated storage (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days). Twelve formulations were realized with different percentages of cupuassu pulp (0, 5, 7.5, and 10% w/v) and flour (0, 1.5, and 3% w/v). The treatments with 3% cupuassu flour presented the highest percentages of protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrates, compared with the samples containing pulp. On the other hand, the addition of pulp increased water retention capacity and color parameters (L*, a*, b*, and C*) and decreased pH and syneresis on day 0 of storage. During storage, the samples with pulp showed increases in pH values, consistency index, and apparent viscosity. In comparison, cupuassu flour addition decreased syneresis values and increased L* and b* during storage, as did pulp. In addition, sample HPHF (10% pulp and 3% cupuassu flour), based on just-about-right, penalty, and check-all-that-apply analyses, improved some sensory attributes of the fermented milk beverage, such as brown color, acid taste, bitter taste, cupuassu flavor, and firm texture. It can be concluded that cupuassu pulp and flour addition improves the physicochemical and sensory quality of fermented milk beverages and can provide nutritional value to the product.
Factors Affecting the Quality of Canola Grains and Their Implications for Grain-Based Foods
Authors: Sabbahi Rachid , Azzaoui Khalil , Rhazi Larbi , Ayerdi-Gotor Alicia , Aussenac Thierry , Depeint Flore , Taleb Mustapha , Hammouti Belkheir
Published: June 2023

Canola, Brassica napus L., is a major oilseed crop that has various uses in the food, feed, and industrial sectors. It is one of the most widely produced and consumed oilseeds in the world because of its high oil content and favorable fatty acid composition. Canola grains and their derived products, such as canola oil, meal, flour, and bakery products, have a high potential for food applications as they offer various nutritional and functional benefits. However, they are affected by various factors during the production cycle, post-harvest processing, and storage. These factors may compromise their quality and quantity by affecting their chemical composition, physical properties, functional characteristics, and sensory attributes. Therefore, it is important to optimize the production and processing methods of canola grains and their derived products to ensure their safety, stability, and suitability for different food applications. This literature review provides a comprehensive overview of how these factors affect the quality of canola grains and their derived products. The review also suggests future research needs and challenges for enhancing canola quality and its utilization in food.
Correction: Sato et al. Separation of Fructosyl Oligosaccharides in Maple Syrup by Using Charged Aerosol Detection. Foods 2021, 10, 3160
Authors: Sato Kanta , Yamamoto Tetsushi , Mitamura Kuniko , Taga Atsushi
Published: June 2023

In the original publication [...]
HS-SPME/GC×GC-TOFMS-Based Flavoromics and Antimicrobial Properties of the Aroma Components of Zanthoxylum motuoense
Authors: Gu Wei , Wei Yinghuan , Fu Xianjie , Gu Ronghui , Chen Junlei , Jian Junyou , Huang Liejun , Yuan Chunmao , Guan Wenling , Hao Xiaojiang
Published: June 2023

Zanthoxylum motuoense Huang, native to Tibet, China, is a newly discovered Chinese prickly ash, which, recently, has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers. In order to understand its volatile oil compositions and flavor characteristics, and to explore the flavor difference between Z. motuoense and the common Chinese prickly ash sold in the market, we analyzed the essential oils of Z. motuoense pericarp (MEO) using HS-SPME/GC×GC-TOFMS coupled with multivariate data and flavoromics analyses. The common commercial Chinese prickly ash in Asia, Zanthoxylum bungeanum (BEO), was used as a reference. A total of 212 aroma compounds from the 2 species were identified, among which alcohols, terpenoids, esters, aldehydes, and ketones were the major compounds. The predominant components detected from MEO were citronellal, (+)-citronellal, and β-phellandrene. Six components—citronellal, (E,Z)-3,6-nonadien-1-ol, allyl methallyl ether, isopulegol, 3,7-dimethyl-6-octen-1-ol acetate, and 3,7-dimethyl-(R)-6-octen-1-ol—could be used as the potential biomarkers of MEO. The flavoromics analysis showed that MEO and BEO were significantly different in aroma note types. Furthermore, the content differences of several numb taste components in two kinds of prickly ash were quantitatively analyzed using RP-HPLC. The antimicrobial activities of MEO and BEO against four bacterial strains and nine plant pathogenic fungi were determined in vitro. The results indicated that MEO had significantly higher inhibitory activities against most microbial strains than BEO. This study has revealed the fundamental data in respect of the volatile compound properties and antimicrobial activity of Z. motuoense, offering basic information on valuable natural sources that can be utilized in the condiment, perfume, and antimicrobial sectors.
Finite-Interval Stability Analysis of Impulsive Fractional-Delay Dynamical System
Authors: Kaliraj K. , Lakshmi Priya P. K. , Nieto Juan J.
Published: June 2023

Stability analysis over a finite time interval is a well-formulated technique to study the dynamical behaviour of a system. This article provides a novel analysis on the finite-time stability of a fractional-order system using the approach of the delayed-type matrix Mittag-Leffler function. At first, we discuss the solution’s existence and uniqueness for our considered fractional model. Then standard form of integral inequality of Gronwall’s type is used along with the application of the delayed Mittag-Leffler argument to derive the sufficient bounds for the stability of the dynamical system. The analysis of the system is extended and studied with impulsive perturbations. Further, we illustrate the numerical simulations of our analytical study using relevant examples.
An Adaptive Selection Method for Shape Parameters in MQ-RBF Interpolation for Two-Dimensional Scattered Data and Its Application to Integral Equation Solving
Authors: Sun Jian , Wang Ling , Gong Dianxuan
Published: June 2023

The paper proposes an adaptive selection method for the shape parameter in the multi-quadratic radial basis function (MQ-RBF) interpolation of two-dimensional (2D) scattered data and achieves good performance in solving integral equations (O-MQRBF). The effectiveness of MQ-RBF interpolation for 2D scattered data largely depends on the choice of the shape parameter. However, currently, the most appropriate parameter is chosen by empirical techniques or trial and error, and there is no widely accepted method. Fourier transform can linearly represent 2D scattering data as a combination of sine and cosine functions. Therefore, the paper employs an improved stochastic walk optimization algorithm to determine the optimal shape parameters for sine functions and their linear combinations, generating a dataset. Based on this dataset, the paper trains a particle swarm optimization backpropagation neural network (PSO-BP) to construct an optimal shape parameter selection model. The adaptive model accurately predicts the ideal shape parameters of the Fourier expansion of 2D scattering data, significantly reducing computational cost and improving interpolation accuracy. The adaptive method forms the basis of the O-MQRBF algorithm for solving one-dimensional integral equations. Compared with traditional methods, this algorithm significantly improves the precision of the solution. Overall, this study greatly facilitates the development of MQ-RBF interpolation technology and its widespread use in solving integral equations.
Modeling the Transmission Dynamics of Coronavirus Using Nonstandard Finite Difference Scheme
Authors: Khan Ihsan Ullah , Hussain Amjid , Li Shuo , Shokri Ali
Published: June 2023

A nonlinear mathematical model of COVID-19 containing asymptomatic as well as symptomatic classes of infected individuals is considered and examined in the current paper. The largest eigenvalue of the next-generation matrix known as the reproductive number is obtained for the model, and serves as an epidemic indicator. To better understand the dynamic behavior of the continuous model, the unconditionally stable nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) scheme is constructed. The aim of developing the NSFD scheme for differential equations is its dynamic reliability, which means discretizing the continuous model that retains important dynamic properties such as positivity of solutions and its convergence to equilibria of the continuous model for all finite step sizes. The Schur–Cohn criterion is used to address the local stability of disease-free and endemic equilibria for the NSFD scheme; however, global stability is determined by using Lyapunov function theory. We perform numerical simulations using various values of some key parameters to see more characteristics of the state variables and to support our theoretical findings. The numerical simulations confirm that the discrete NSFD scheme maintains all the dynamic features of the continuous model.
Synchronization of Discrete-Time Fractional-Order Complex-Valued Neural Networks with Distributed Delays
Authors: Perumal R. , Hymavathi M. , Ali M. Syed , Mahmoud Batul A. A. , Osman Waleed M. , Ibrahim Tarek F.
Published: June 2023

This research investigates the synchronization of distributed delayed discrete-time fractional-order complex-valued neural networks. The necessary conditions have been established for the stability of the proposed networks using the theory of discrete fractional calculus, the discrete Laplace transform, and the theory of fractional-order discrete Mittag–Leffler functions. In order to guarantee the global asymptotic stability, adequate criteria are determined using Lyapunov’s direct technique, the Lyapunov approach, and some novel analysis techniques of fractional calculation. Thus, some sufficient conditions are obtained to guarantee the global stability. The validity of the theoretical results are finally shown using numerical examples.
Payment Systems, Supplier-Induced Demand, and Service Quality in Credence Goods: Results from a Laboratory Experiment
Authors: Karunadasa Manela , Sieberg Katri K. , Jantunen Toni Tapani Kristian
Published: June 2023

This experiment examines the relationship between payment systems and the quality and quantity of services provided in credence goods markets. By using a real-effort task to stimulate the decision making of service providers, the study finds that payment systems do indeed have an impact on service provision. Specifically, providers in fee-for-service systems over-provide, while those in salary systems under-provide services. Additionally, there is a lack of alignment between the services provided under fee-for-service and the actual needs of customers, resulting in a substantial loss of customer benefits under fee-for-service in comparison to under salary. The study also finds that providers in fee-for-service systems perform more faulty tasks than those in salary, indicating that they may prioritize quantity over quality in their services. As for insurance, the results of this study show no significant effect of insurance on the number of services provided; however, customers without insurance received significantly more faulty tasks. Based on these results, the study concludes that payment systems play an important role in determining the quality and quantity of services provided in credence goods markets. Overall, this study highlights the need for a better alignment between customer needs and services provided under fee-for-service systems.
Synthetic Light Curve Design for Pulsating Binary Stars to Compare the Efficiency in the Detection of Periodicities
Authors: Alberici Adam Aldana , Avila Marín Gunther F. , Christen Alejandra , Cidale Lydia Sonia
Published: June 2023

B supergiant stars pulsate in regular and quasi-regular oscillations resulting in intricate light variations that might conceal their binary nature. To discuss possible observational bias in a light curve, we performed a simulation design of a binary star affected by sinusoidal functions emulating pulsation phenomena. The Period04 tool and the WaveletComp package of R were used for this purpose. Thirty-two models were analysed based on a combination of two values on each of the k = 6 variables, such as multiple pulsations, the amplitude of the pulsation, the pulsation frequency, the beating phenomenon, the light-time effect, and regular or quasi-regular periods. These synthetic models, unlike others, consider an ARMA (1, 1) statistical noise, irregular sampling, and a gap of about 4 days. Comparing Morlet wavelet with Fourier methods, we observed that the orbital period and its harmonics were well detected in most cases. Although the Fourier method provided more accurate period detection, the wavelet analysis found it more times. Periods seen with the wavelet method have a shift due to the slightly irregular time scale used. The pulsation period hitting rate depends on the wave amplitude and frequency with respect to eclipse depth and orbital period. None of the methods was able to distinguish accurate periods leading to a beating phenomenon when they were longer than the orbital period, resulting, in both cases, in an intermediate value. When the beating period was shorter, the Fourier analysis found it in all cases except for unsolved quasi-regular periods. Overall, the Morlet wavelet analysis performance was lower than the Fourier analysis. Considering the strengths and disadvantages found in these methods, we recommend using at least two diagnosis tools for a detailed time series data analysis to obtain confident results. Moreover, a fine-tuning of trial periods by applying phase diagrams would be helpful for recovering accurate values. The combined analysis could reduce observational bias in searching binaries using photometric techniques.
Green Synthesis of Hydrogel-Based Adsorbent Material for the Effective Removal of Diclofenac Sodium from Wastewater
Authors: Chelu Mariana , Popa Monica , Calderon Moreno Jose , Leonties Anca Ruxandra , Ozon Emma Adriana , Pandele Cusu Jeanina , Surdu Vasile Adrian , Aricov Ludmila , Musuc Adina Magdalena
Published: June 2023

The removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from wastewater has gained considerable attention in recent years, particularly in the advancements of hydrogel-based adsorbents as a green solution for their ease of use, ease of modification, biodegradability, non-toxicity, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. This study focuses on the design of an efficient adsorbent hydrogel based on 1% chitosan, 40% polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG4000), and 4% xanthan gum (referred to as CPX) for the removal of diclofenac sodium (DCF) from water. The interaction between positively charged chitosan and negatively charged xanthan gum and PEG4000 leads to strengthening of the hydrogel structure. The obtained CPX hydrogel, prepared by a green, simple, easy, low-cost, and ecological method, has a higher viscosity due to the three-dimensional polymer network and mechanical stability. The physical, chemical, rheological, and pharmacotechnical parameters of the synthesized hydrogel were determined. Swelling analysis demonstrated that the new synthetized hydrogel is not pH-dependent. The obtained adsorbent hydrogel reached the adsorption capacity (172.41 mg/g) at the highest adsorbent amount (200 mg) after 350 min. In addition, the adsorption kinetics were calculated using a pseudo first-order model and Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm parameters. The results demonstrate that CPX hydrogel can be used as an efficient option to remove DCF as a pharmaceutical contaminant from wastewater.
Differences in Physical Activity Levels between Healthy and Transplanted Children: Who Needs More Tips?
Authors: Tranchita Eliana , Cafiero Giulia , Giordano Ugo , Palermi Stefano , Gentili Federica , Guzzo Isabella , Spada Marco , Morolli Federica , Drago Fabrizio , Turchetta Attilio
Published: June 2023

Background: Advances in the medical-surgical field have significantly increased the life expectancy of patients undergoing solid organ transplantation but this exposes patients to long-term complications due to chronic therapies and changes in lifestyle. It is known that children affected by pathology tend to be more sedentary and inactivity represents a further risk factor for the onset of non-communicable diseases. The aim of the present study was to compare the lifestyle of two groups of young patients: one group of healthy subjects (HG) and one group of kidney or liver transplant recipients (TG). Methods: Patients were asked to complete Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Results: A total of 104 subjects were recruited (50.9% male, mean age 12.8 ± 3.16 years old). No significant differences were observed in the final score between groups when comparing subjects based on health condition (Healthy 2.69 ± 0.65 vs. Transplant Group 2.42 ± 0.88), the intensity of sports activities (Competitive 2.82 ± 0.59 vs. Not Competitive 2.53 ± 0.7) or type of transplant (Liver 2.51 ± 0.91 vs. Kidney 2.16 ± 0.75). Conclusion: The results of this study showed a worrying reality: children are engaged in low levels of physical activity regardless of their health status and in general the level of activity does not reach the recommended values even in the absence of contraindications. So, it is necessary to encourage healthy children to practice more PA and to introduce PA prescriptions for transplanted children to prevent their health from deteriorating due to sedentariness.