bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The present and the future of benzydamine: expert opinion paper
Authors: Bossi Paolo , Gurizzan Cristina , Guntinas-Lichius Orlando , Hainarosie Razvan , Lancini Davide
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Benzydamine is a compound indicated in the treatment of symptoms of irritation/inflammation of the oropharyngeal cavity, including those associated with pain. Objectives of this expert opinion narrative review is to summarize current indicated benzydamine applications and elicit further ones to be explored.

Materials and methods

In this expert opinion paper, evidences underlying the mechanism of action and clinical application of benzydamine are reviewed. Insights are also provided on possible new clinical applications of the drug and new formulations.

Results

Current recognized indications of benzydamine include: relief of symptoms associated with inflammatory conditions of the mouth and oropharynx, symptomatic treatment of gingivitis and stomatitis, oral mucositis induced by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and post operative sore throat. In addition, among new applications that need to be explored experts embed: oral lichen planus, burning mouth syndrome, post intubation sore throat, antifungal action and new anticancer target agents induced mucositis.

Conclusions

Benzydamine is a very versatile compound able to play an auxiliary and adjuvant role in the prevention and treatment of oral cavity/oropharynx disorders. According to experts’ opinion there is the need to design clinical trials to highlight novel possible applications of benzydamine and implemented translational analyses to fine-tune patients’ selection and open future research scenarios.
Dermis-retained breast dermo-glandular flap: a new surgical approach for granulomatous lobular mastitis
Authors: Huang Junying , Sin Tat-Hang , Nie Longzhu , Zhou Yidong , Zhang Fan , Ma Jia , Shi Xiaoguang , Chen Linlin , Niu Kunying , Zhang Xiaohui , Sun Qiang , Huang Hanyuan
Published: June 2023

Background

Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) is characterized by nonspecific chronic inflammation concentrated in breast lobules. Surgical resection is one of the most common treatment options for GLM. On the basis of our previous use of Breast Dermo-Glandular Flap (BDGF), we designed a new surgical approach for GLM, especially for cases where the focus is close to the nipple. Here we describe this new treatment approach.

Methods

In Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) and Beijing Dangdai Hospital during January 2020—June 2021, we enrolled all 18 GLM patients who underwent surgery with the use of Dermis-Retained BDGF. All patients were women; most of the patients were 18–50 years old (88%); and the most common clinical manifestation of GLM was breast mass (60%). Then, we collected and analyzed data about the surgery and outcomes (drainage tubes moving time, relapse, patients’ shape satisfaction). We regarded GLM recurrence on the same side as relapse. If there was no complication and the patient's satisfaction was excellent or good, we rated the surgery as successful. We recorded the occurrence of all common postsurgical complications of the breast.

Results

The debridement area was 3–5.5 (4.3 ± 0.7) cm; surgery time was 78–119 (95.6 ± 11.6) min; and mean debridement time (27.8 ± 8.9 min) was shorter than the time to obtain and transplant the flap (47.5 ± 12.9 min). Blood loss was less than 139 ml. As for bacterial culture, two patients had positive results, but they had no symptoms. No surgery-related complications happened. In terms of the outcomes, all of the drainage tubes were removed in less than 5 days, and only one patient experienced relapse after 1 year of surgery during the follow-up. The patients’ satisfaction with the breast shape was as follows: excellent (50%), good (22%), acceptable (22%), and poor (6%).

Conclusion

For GLM patients refractory to conservative therapy or former unsatisfactory surgical management whose lesion is in the vicinity of the nipple and larger than 3 cm, Dermis-Retained BDGF is a suitable approach to fill the after-debridement defect below the nipple-areola and achieve a relatively satisfactory cosmetic outcome.
Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles and Co-Existence of Multiple Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in mcr-Harbouring Colistin-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Isolates Recovered from Poultry and Poultry Meats in Malaysia
Authors: Karim Md. Rezaul , Zakaria Zunita , Hassan Latiffah , Mohd Faiz Nik , Ahmad Nur Indah
Published: June 2023

The co-existence of the colistin resistance (mcr) gene with multiple drug-resistance genes has raised concerns about the possibility of the development of pan-drug-resistant bacteria that will complicate treatment. This study aimed to investigate the antibiotic resistance profiles and co-existence of antibiotic resistance genes among the colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates recovered from poultry and poultry meats. The antibiotic susceptibility to various classes of antibiotics was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and selected antimicrobial resistance genes were detected using PCR in a total of 54 colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates including Escherichia coli (E. coli) (n = 32), Salmonella spp. (n = 16) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) (n = 6) isolates. Most of the isolates had multi-drug resistance (MDR), with antibiotic resistance against up to seven classes of antibiotics. All mcr-harbouring, colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates showed this MDR (100%) phenotype. The mcr-1 harbouring E. coli isolates were co-harbouring multiple antibiotic resistance genes. The seven most commonly identified resistance genes (blaTEM, tetA, floR, aac-3-IV, aadA1, fosA, aac(6_)-lb) were detected in an mcr-1-harbouring E. coli isolate recovered from a cloacal swab. The mcr-5 harbouring Salmonella spp. isolate recovered from poultry meats was positive for blaTEM, tetA, floR, aac-3-IV, fosA and aac(6_)-lb genes. In conclusion, the colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae with mcr genes co-existing multiple clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes in poultry and poultry meats may cause potential future threats to infection treatment choices in humans and animals.
Research on the High Speed of Piston Pumps Based on Rapid Erecting of Launch Vehicles
Authors: Hu Mengya , Jiang Yi
Published: June 2023

Rapid erection is a key technology for modern warfare in vehicle weapon launch systems. It is challenging to attain rapidity with the hydraulic erecting system because of the intensified cavitation in the piston chamber at high speeds, which reduces volumetric efficiency and increases flow pulsation in the typical high-pressure axial piston pump. In this paper, an improved scheme for the cylinder window area overflow surface was proposed to solve this problem. Based on the full cavitation model and the compressible model, a numerical model of the internal flow in the piston pump was developed, and the effect of rotational speeds on the flow and cavitation characteristics of the pump was analysed. The results show that after the improvement, the maximum flow of the pump is increased from 1.765 kg/s to 2.295 kg/s, an increase of 30.028%, and the maximum speed corresponding to the volumetric efficiency of more than 90% is increased from 1500 rpm to 2100 rpm. At high speeds, the improved block can effectively suppress the cavitation and backflow in the piston chamber, improve the volumetric efficiency of the piston pump and reduce the flow pulsation, which is conducive to reducing the vibration and noise of the pump body.
Assessment of the Accumulation of Trace Metals and Oxidative Stress Response Biomarkers in the Portunid Portunus segnis
Authors: Dghim Amel , Ben Ameur Walid , Annabi Ali
Published: June 2023

The invasive blue crab Portunus segnis, which was collected from two sites on the Gulf of Gabès, is the subject of this work. This study is based on demonstrating the accumulation capacity of P. segnis by measuring the concentrations of cadmium, zinc, lead, and copper in the gills and hepatopancreas. The enzymatic activities of catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, reduced glutathione, and lipid peroxidase were assessed in this region for the first time. The main results show that the metals have high bioaccumulation potentials in P. segnis tissues between different sites. The possible adaptation of P. segnis in the Gulf of Gabès and the variations in the studied biomarkers and metal concentrations at different sites confirm the usefulness of the invasive blue crab as a sentinel species.
Optimized Design of Large-Body Structure of Pile Driver Based on Particle Swarm Optimization Improved BP Neural Network
Authors: Wu Jinmei , Hu Jiameng , Yang Yanqing
Published: June 2023

Optimization of the pile driver’s large-body structure is important to achieve the driver’s overall light weight. This paper studies the large-body structure of a hydraulic static pile driver. We used the APDL parametric design language provided by ANSYS to construct a geometric model of the large-body structure and performed a static analysis of the finite element model. Under the assumption that the strength and stiffness meet the design requirements, the optimization model was constructed with the thickness of each plate of the large-body structure as the design variable, the structural strength and stiffness as the constraints, and the minimum mass as the objective function. Finally, two optimization algorithms were used to solve the model, and the comparison of the two sets of solutions shows that the improved BP neural network algorithm based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm performs better. The optimized mass of the large-body structure was reduced from 82,556.1 kg to 65,046.15 kg, a mass reduction of 21%. The lightweight design of the pile driver was achieved.
Multifunctional MXene–Fe3O4–Carbon Nanotube Composite Electrodes for High Active Mass Asymmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: Liang Wenyu , Xu Rui , Nawwar Mohamed , Zhitomirsky Igor
Published: June 2023

Ti3C2Tx–Fe3O4–carbon nanotube composites were prepared for electrochemical energy storage in the negative electrodes of supercapacitors. The electrodes show a remarkably high areal capacitance of 6.59 F cm−2 in a neutral Na2SO4 electrolyte, which was obtained by the development of advanced nanofabrication strategies and due to the synergistic effect of the individual components. Enhanced capacitance was achieved using the in-situ synthesis method for the Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The superparamagnetic behavior of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles facilitated the fabrication of electrodes with a reduced binder content. Good mixing of the components was achieved using a celestine blue co-dispersant, which adsorbed on the inorganic components and carbon nanotubes and facilitated their co-dispersion and mixing. The capacitive behavior was optimized by the variation of the electrode composition and mass loading in a range of 30–45 mg cm−2. An asymmetric device was proposed and fabricated, which contained a Ti3C2Tx–Fe3O4–carbon nanotube negative electrode and a polypyrrole–carbon nanotube positive electrode for operation in an Na2SO4 electrolyte. The asymmetric supercapacitor device demonstrated high areal capacitance and excellent power-density characteristics in an enlarged voltage window of 1.6 V. This investigation opens a new avenue for the synthesis and design of MXene-based asymmetric supercapacitors for future energy storage devices.
MicroRNAs Differentially Expressed in Actinic Keratosis and Healthy Skin Scrapings
Authors: Chiantore Maria Vincenza , Iuliano Marco , Mongiovì Roberta Maria , Luzi Fabiola , Mangino Giorgio , Grimaldi Lorenzo , Accardi Luisa , Fiorucci Gianna , Romeo Giovanna , Di Bonito Paola
Published: June 2023

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a carcinoma in situ precursor of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), the second most common cancer affecting the Caucasian population. AK is frequently present in the sun-exposed skin of the elderly population, UV radiation being the main cause of this cancer, and other risk factors contributing to AK incidence. The dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) observed in different cancers leads to an improper expression of miRNA targets involved in several cellular pathways. The TaqMan Array Human MicroRNA Card assay for miRNA expression profiling was performed in pooled AK compared to healthy skin scraping samples from the same patients. Forty-three miRNAs were modulated in the AK samples. The expression of miR-19b (p < 0.05), -31, -34a (p < 0.001), -126, -146a (p < 0.01), -193b, and -222 (p < 0.05) was validated by RT-qPCR. The MirPath tool was used for MiRNA target prediction and enriched pathways. The top DIANA-mirPath pathways regulated by the targets of the 43 miRNAs are TGF-beta signaling, Proteoglycans in cancer, Pathways in cancer, and Adherens junction (7.30 × 10−10 < p < 1.84 × 10−8). Selected genes regulating the KEGG pathways, i.e., TP53, MDM2, CDKN1A, CDK6, and CCND1, were analyzed. MiRNAs modulated in AK regulate different pathways involved in tumorigenesis, indicating miRNA regulation as a critical step in keratinocyte cancer.
Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Berberine and Tocopherol in Managing Diabetic Neuropathy: A Comprehensive Approach towards Alleviating Chronic Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Alkholifi Faisal K. , Aodah Alhussain H. , Foudah Ahmed I. , Alam Aftab
Published: June 2023

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) causes sensory dysfunction, such as numbness, tingling, or burning sensations. Traditional medication may not ease pain and discomfort, but natural remedies such as Berberine (BR) and vitamin E or Tocopherol (TOC) have therapeutic potential to reduce inflammation while improving nerve function. Novel substances offer a more potent alternative method for managing severe chronic neuropathic pain that does not react to standard drug therapy by targeting various pathways that regulate it. Rats with diabetic control received oral doses of BR + TOC that showed significant changes in serum insulin levels compared to DN controls after 90 days, suggesting a decrease in sensitivity to painful stimuli partly by modulating the oxidative stress of the inflammatory pathway such as TNF-α suppression or stimulation of TNF-α depending on the amount of dose consumed by them. NF-kB also played its role here. Administering doses of BR and TOC reduced heightened levels of NF-kB and AGEs, effectively counteracting inflammation-targeted key factors in diabetes, promising possibilities for the benefits of these molecules revealed through in vivo investigation. In summary, treating neuropathy pain with a more comprehensive and organic approach can involve harnessing the powerful capabilities of BR and TOC. These compounds have been found to not only considerably decrease inflammation but also provide effective nerve protection while enhancing overall nerve function. With their multifunctional impacts on various neuropathic pain pathways in the body, these naturally occurring substances offer an exciting possibility for those who encounter high levels of neuropathic distress that do not respond well to conventional medication-centred therapies.
c-Myc/microRNA-17-92 Axis Phase-Dependently Regulates PTEN and p21 Expression via ceRNA during Reprogramming to Mouse Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Ishida Tomoaki , Ueyama Tomoe , Ihara Dai , Harada Yukihiro , Nakagawa Sae , Saito Kaho , Nakao Shu , Kawamura Teruhisa
Published: June 2023

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are promising cell sources for regenerative medicine and disease modeling. iPSCs are commonly established by introducing the defined reprogramming factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. However, iPSC reprogramming efficiency remains low. Although recent studies have identified microRNAs that contribute to efficient reprogramming, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. miR-17-92 is highly expressed in embryonic stem cells and may play an important role in regulating stem cell properties. Therefore, we examined the role of miR-17-92 in the induction of mouse iPSC production. c-Myc-mediated miR-17-92 upregulation increased reprogramming efficiency, whereas CRISPR/Cas9-based deletion of the miR-17-92 cluster decreased reprogramming efficiency. A combination of in silico and microarray analyses revealed that Pten and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (known as p21) are common target genes of miR-17 and miR-20a, which are transcribed from the miR-17-92 cluster. Moreover, miR-17-92 downregulated p21 in the early phase and PTEN in the mid-to-late phase of reprogramming. These downregulations were perturbed by introducing the 3′ UTR of PTEN and p21, respectively, suggesting that PTEN and p21 mRNAs are competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) against miR-17-92. Collectively, we propose that the c-Myc-mediated expression of miR-17-92 is involved in iPSC reprogramming through the phase-dependent inhibition of PTEN and p21 in a ceRNA manner, thus elucidating an underlying mechanism of iPSC reprogramming.
Riding a Mechanical Scooter from the Inconvenient Side Promotes Muscular Balance Development in Children
Authors: Mickevicius Mantas , Satkunskiene Danguole , Sipaviciene Saule , Kamandulis Sigitas
Published: June 2023

Mechanical scooter riding is a popular physical activity among children, but little is known about the differences in muscle loading between the dominant and non-dominant sides during this activity. The objective of this study was to identify the muscle activation patterns in children’s dominant and non-dominant legs as they rode scooters on the convenient and inconvenient sides. The study included nine healthy children aged 6–8. The participants rode 20 m on a mechanical scooter at a self-selected pace using both the convenient and inconvenient sides. Electromyography was used to measure the muscle activity in the dominant and non-dominant legs during the pushing and gliding phases. A 20 m sprint run was used as a control exercise to estimate the typical differences in muscle activation between the dominant and non-dominant legs. In the pushing phase, the symmetry index for five of the eight analyzed muscles exceeded 50% (p < 0.05); four of these muscles were more active in the pushing leg, and one was more active in the standing leg. In the gliding phase, four muscles were more active in the standing leg, and one was more active in the pushing leg (p < 0.05). Upon observing children who changed sides while riding a scooter, it was found that the pattern of muscle activation displayed a reverse trend that resembled the initial pattern. Our study indicated notable differences in muscle activity patterns between the dominant and non-dominant sides of individual leg muscles during children’s scooter riding. These patterns were reversed when children switched sides on the scooter. These findings suggest that using both legs and switching sides while riding a scooter may be a viable strategy for promoting balanced muscular development.
Is the Impact of the European Mouflon on Vegetation Influenced by the Allochthonous Nature of the Species?
Authors: Kárpáti Tamás , Náhlik András
Published: June 2023

The mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon) is an introduced ungulate in continental Europe. It has adapted well to its occupied habitats over the last 150 years. Its growing population has drawn increasing attention to its impact on autochthonous species, especially in endangered ecosystems. Its allochthonous character, habitat selection, and feeding led scientists to question the raison d’etre of mouflons. The mouflon’s space use and foraging strategies highlighted some pressure elements it exerts on those habitats. Mouflon trampling damage may be behind the degradation of rare, endangered grasslands. We review studies to discuss the results and the limitations of exclusion experiments to evaluate the extent of mouflon-caused damage in the context of population density. We review the forest damage attributed to mouflons considering interspecies competition with other large herbivores such as red deer (Cervus elaphus) and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). Climate change makes the mouflon use its space differently when seeking shelter in southern habitats; consequently, the increased trampling and foraging pressures suggest new challenges in managing its impact. We review research results on these direct impacts of the species; however, the long-term effects on herbaceous plant communities, such as rock grasslands, are still unclear. This is true for the mouflon’s influence under changing population dynamics. Our results intend to set directions for future research on long-term experiments with density impact, coexistence with red deer or chamois, and warming-climate-driven behavior change.
Influence of Removing Leaf Node Neighbors on Network Controllability
Authors: Wu Chengpei , Xu Siyi , Yu Zhuoran , Li Junli
Published: June 2023

From the perspective of network attackers, finding attack sequences that can cause significant damage to network controllability is an important task, which also helps defenders improve robustness during network constructions. Therefore, developing effective attack strategies is a key aspect of research on network controllability and its robustness. In this paper, we propose a Leaf Node Neighbor-based Attack (LNNA) strategy that can effectively disrupt the controllability of undirected networks. The LNNA strategy targets the neighbors of leaf nodes, and when there are no leaf nodes in the network, the strategy attacks the neighbors of nodes with a higher degree to produce the leaf nodes. Results from simulations on synthetic and real-world networks demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. In particular, our findings suggest that removing neighbors of low-degree nodes (i.e., nodes with degree 1 or 2) can significantly reduce the controllability robustness of networks. Thus, protecting such low-degree nodes and their neighbors during network construction can lead to networks with improved controllability robustness.
Reliable Thermal-Physical Modeling of Lithium-Ion Batteries: Consistency between High-Frequency Impedance and Ion Transport
Authors: Sordi Gabriele , Rabissi Claudio , Casalegno Andrea
Published: June 2023

Among lithium-ion battery diagnostic tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, being highly informative on the physics of battery operation within limited testing times, deserves a prominent role in the identification of model parameters and the interpretation of battery state. Nevertheless, a reliable physical simulation and interpretation of battery impedance spectra is still to be addressed, due to its intrinsic complexity. An improved methodology for the calibration of a state-of-the-art physical model is hereby presented, focusing on high-energy batteries, which themselves require a careful focus on the high-frequency resistance of the impedance response. In this work, the common assumption of the infinite conductivity of the current collectors is questioned, presenting an improved methodology for simulating the pure resistance of the cell. This enables us to assign the proper contribution value to current collectors’ resistance and, in turn, not to underestimate electrolyte conductivity, thereby preserving the physical relation between electrolyte conductivity and diffusivity and avoiding physical inconsistencies between impedance spectra and charge–discharge curves. The methodology is applied to the calibration of the model on a commercial sample, demonstrating the reliability and physical consistency of the solution with a set of discharge curves, EIS, and a dynamic driving cycle under a wide range of operating conditions.
HENS Unchained: MILP Implementation of Multi-Stage Utilities with Stream Splits, Variable Temperatures and Flow Capacities
Authors: Huber David , Birkelbach Felix , Hofmann René
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we present an extended heat exchanger synthesis superstructure (HENS) formulation to consider streams with variable temperatures and flow capacities using mixed-integer linear programming (MILP). To keep the problem tractable and to leverage the potential of state-of-the-art MILP solvers, piecewise-linear models with logarithmic coding are used. Allowing for variable utility parameters within a feasible technical range, instead of a priori defined ones, removes limitations of the HENS. Increasing the utility’s degree of freedom offers advantages when sensible heat from, for example, flue gas, thermal oil, or water is used. Moreover, utilities are no longer limited to single-stage heat transfer without stream splits at the stream ends, generating opportunities for efficiency enhancement. We consider three representative case studies to evaluate the performance of the unchained HENS method. Our results show that representing utilities as streams in the HENS optimization problem leads to lower total annual costs (TAC). Significant cost savings arise due to more efficient utility placement, heat transfer, and smaller heat exchanger areas. The results indicate that this method can lead to cheaper and more resource-efficient HEN and thus positively contribute to the environment.
Balancing Power in Sweden Using Different Renewable Resources, Varying Prices, and Storages Like Batteries in a Resilient Energy System
Authors: Dahlquist Erik , Wallin Fredrik , Chirumalla Koteshwar , Toorajipour Reza , Johansson Glenn
Published: June 2023

In this paper, balancing electricity production using renewable energy such as wind power, PV cells, hydropower, and CHP (combined heat and power) with biomass is carried out in relation to electricity consumption in primarily one major region in Sweden, SE-3, which contains 75% of the country’s population. The time perspective is hours and days. Statistics with respect to power production and consumption are analyzed and used as input for power-balance calculations. How long periods are with low or high production, as well as the energy for charge and discharge that is needed to maintain a generally constant power production, is analyzed. One conclusion is that if the difference in production were to be completely covered with battery capacity it would be expensive, but if a large part of the difference were met by a shifting load it would be possible to cover the rest with battery storage in an economical way. To enhance the economy with battery storage, second-life batteries are proposed to reduce the capital cost in particular. Batteries are compared to hydrogen as an energy carrier. The efficiency of a battery system is higher than that of hydrogen plus fuel cells, but in general much fewer precious materials are needed with an H2/fuel-cell system than with batteries. The paper discusses how to make the energy system more robust and resilient.
Peak Electrical Energy Consumption Prediction by ARIMA, LSTM, GRU, ARIMA-LSTM and ARIMA-GRU Approaches
Authors: Pierre Agbessi Akuété , Akim Salami Adekunlé , Semenyo Agbosse Kodjovi , Babiga Birregah
Published: June 2023

Forecasting peak electrical energy consumption is important because it allows utilities to properly plan for the production and distribution of electrical energy. This reduces operating costs and avoids power outages. In addition, it can help reduce environmental impact by allowing for more efficient power generation and reducing the need for additional fossil fuels during periods of high demand. In the current work, electric power consumption data from “Compagnie Electrique du Benin (CEB)” was used to deduce the peak electric power consumption at peak hours. The peak consumption of electric power was predicted using hybrid approaches based on traditional time series prediction methods (autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA)) and deep learning methods (long short-term memory (LSTM), gated recurrent unit (GRU)). The ARIMA approach was used to model the trend term, while deep learning approaches were employed to interpret the fluctuation term, and the outputs from these models were combined to provide the final result. The hybrid approach, ARIMA-LSTM, provided the best prediction performance with root mean square error (RMSE) of 7.35, while for the ARIMA-GRU hybrid approach, the RMSE was 9.60. Overall, the hybrid approaches outperformed the single approaches, such as GRU, LSTM, and ARIMA, which exhibited RMSE values of 18.11, 18.74, and 49.90, respectively.
On the Remote Calibration of Instrumentation Transformers: Influence of Temperature
Authors: Verhelst Bart , Rens Sané , Rens Johan , Knockaert Jos , Desmet Jan
Published: June 2023

The remote calibration of instrumentation transformers is theoretically possible using synchronous measurements across a transmission line with a known impedance and a local set of calibrated voltage and current transformers. In this paper, an extension of the research results presented in our paper “On the Remote Calibration of Voltage Transformers: Validation of Opportunity” published in AMPS 2018 was undertaken by reporting on how temperature could increase the measurement uncertainty contributed by voltage and current transformers. This was needed to better understand if remote calibration could be realized under real-world conditions where temperatures at different geographical locations could be significantly different. This paper describes the influence of magnetic voltage, current transformers, and capacitive voltage transformers. Based on the research in this paper, one could conclude that the influence of magnetic voltage transformers (MVTs) is low, but, especially with current measurement transformers and capacitive voltage transformers, errors should be considered when performing remote calibrations on measurement transformers over long distances with different environmental conditions.
PV Temperature Prediction Incorporating the Effect of Humidity and Cooling Due to Seawater Flow and Evaporation on Modules Simulating Floating PV Conditions
Authors: Kaplanis Socrates , Kaplani Eleni , Kaldellis John K.
Published: June 2023

The temperature prediction for floating PV (FPV) must account for the effect of humidity. In this work, PV temperature prediction for steady-state Tpv and transient conditions Tpv(t) incorporates the effect of humidity and cooling due to seawater (s.w.) splashing and evaporation on PV modules. The proposed formulas take as main inputs the in-plane solar irradiance, wind speed, ambient temperature, relative humidity (RH), and s.w. temperature. The transient effects of s.w. splashing and the evaporation of the s.w. layer from the module are theoretically described considering the layer’s thickness using Navier–Stokes equations. Tpv and Tpv(t) measurements were taken before and after s.w. splashing on c-Si modules at the seashore and inland. PV temperature predictions compared to measured values showed very good agreement. The 55% RH at the seashore versus 45% inland caused the Tpv to decrease by 18%. The Tpv(t) at the end of the s.w. flow of 50–75 mL/s/m on the module at the seashore was 35–51% lower than the Tpv inland. This Tpv(t) profile depends on the s.w. splashing, lasts for about 1 min, and is attributed to higher convection, water cooling, and evaporation on the modules. The PV efficiency at FPV conditions was estimated to be 4–11.5% higher compared to inland.
Analysis of the Effects of Different Nanofluids on Critical Heat Flux Using Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Serrao Bruno Pinheiro , Kim Kyung Mo , Duarte Juliana Pacheco
Published: June 2023

Nanofluid (NF) pool boiling experiments have been conducted widely in the past two decades to study and understand how nanoparticles (NP) affect boiling heat transfer and critical heat flux (CHF). However, the physical mechanisms related to the improvements in CHF in NF pool boiling are still not conclusive due to the coupling effects of the surface characteristics and the complexity of the experimental data. In addition, the current models for pool boiling CHF prediction, which consider surface microstructure characteristics, show limited agreement with the experimental data and do not represent NF pool boiling CHF. In this scenario, artificial intelligence tools, such as machine learning (ML) regressor models, are a very promising means of solving this nonlinear problem. This study focuses on creating a new model to provide more accurate NF pool boiling CHF predictions based on pressure, substrate thermal effusivity, and NP size, concentration, and effusivity. Three ML models (supporting vector regressor—SVR, multi-layer perceptron—MLP, and random forest—RF) were constructed and showed good agreement with an experimental database built from the literature, with MLP presenting the highest mean R2 score and the lowest variability. A systematic methodology for optimizing the ML models is proposed in this work.
Combustion Characteristics of N-Butanol/N-Heptane Blend Using Reduced Chemical Kinetic Mechanism
Authors: Zhang Defu , Wang Fang , Pei Yiqiang , Yang Jiankun , An Dayang , Hao Hongbin
Published: June 2023

The detailed mechanisms of n-heptane and n-butanol were reduced for the target condition of ignition delay time using the direct relationship diagram method based on error transfer, the direct relationship diagram method based on coupling error transfer and sensitivity analysis, and the total material sensitivity analysis method. The reduced n-heptane (132 species and 585 reactions) and n-butanol (82 species and 383 reactions) were used to verify the ignition delay time and concentrations of the major species, respectively. The results showed that the reduced mechanism has a good prediction ability for the ignition delay time. The predicted mole fraction results of the major species were in good agreement. These reduced mechanisms were combined to finally construct a reduced mechanism for the n-heptane/butanol fuel mixture, which included 166 species and 746 reactions. Finally, the reduced mechanism was used to simulate the HCCI combustion mode, and the results showed that the reduced mechanism can better predict the ignition and combustion timings of HCCI under different conditions and maintain the ignition and combustion characteristics of the detailed mechanism; this indicates that the mechanism model constructed in this study is reliable.
The Etiological Diagnosis of Diabetes: Still a Challenge for the Clinician
Authors: Dubois-Laforgue Danièle , Timsit José
Published: June 2023

The etiological diagnosis of diabetes conveys many practical consequences for the care of patients, and often of their families. However, a wide heterogeneity in the phenotypes of all diabetes subtypes, including Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and monogenic diabetes, has been reported and contributes to frequent misdiagnoses. The recently revised WHO classification of diabetes mellitus includes two new classes, namely “hybrid forms” and “unclassified diabetes”, which also reflect the difficulties of this etiological diagnosis. During the last years, many studies aiming at identifying homogenous subgroups on refined phenotypes have been reported. Ultimately, such subtyping may improve the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients on a pathophysiological basis. Here, we discuss the concepts of typical vs. atypical diabetes in the context of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and its monogenic forms. We discuss the contributions of clinical markers, biological tests, particularly islet cell auto-antibodies, and genetics to improving accurate diagnoses. These data support a systematic evaluation of all newly diagnosed diabetes cases.
In Vitro Rumen Fermentation of Coconut, Sugar Palm, and Durian Peel Silages, Prepared with Selected Additives
Authors: Khota Waroon , Panyakaew Paiwan , Kesorn Piyawit , Gunun Pongsatorn , Suwannasing Rattikan , Kimprasit Thachawech , Puangploy Premsak , Kittipongpittaya Ketinun , Cherdthong Anusorn , Thip-uten Suwit , Sawnongbua Pakpoom , Kaewpila Chatchai
Published: June 2023

Understanding the nutritive values of fruit peel residues could expand our feed atlas in sustaining livestock production systems. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), cellulase enzyme, molasses, and their combinations on the fermentation quality and in vitro digestibility of coconut peel (CCP), sugar palm peel (SPP), and durian peel (DRP) silage. The CCP, SPP, and DRP were ensiled in a small-scale silo without additive (control), and with LAB strain TH14 (TH14), molasses, or Acremonium cellulase (AC) using a small-scale silage preparation technique according to a completely randomized design. All fresh peels had sufficient factors for ensiling such as moisture content (78–83%), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC, 4.20–4.61% dry matter (DM)), and epiphytic LAB population (104–105 colony-forming units (cfu)/g fresh matter (FM)). However, aerobic bacteria counts were high (107–109 cfu/g FM). The fiber content of these fruit peels was high, with lignin abundances ranging from 9.1–21.8% DM and crude protein was low (2.7–5.4% DM). After ensiling, the pH values of the silage were optimal (≤4.25) and lower (p < 0.01) for SPP silage. The addition of molasses+TH14, molasses+AC, and molasses+TH14+AC has the potential to enhance fermentation characteristics and improve chemical composition. Silages treated with molasses alone improved the in vitro digestibility of tropical fruit peels. The residue of tropical fruits has the potential to be used as an alternative feed source for ruminants. Adding molasses, TH14, and AC during silage preparation could improve its nutritive value and digestibility.
Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis Revealed the Difference of Component and Geographical Indication Markers of Panax notoginseng in Different Production Areas
Authors: Zhang Shijia , Fang Kexin , Ding Zenan , Wu Jinxia , Lin Jianzhong , Xu Dunming , Zhong Jinshui , Xia Feng , Feng Jianghua , Shen Guiping
Published: June 2023

Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng) has excellent medicinal and food dual-use characteristics. However, P. notoginseng with a unique origin label has become the target of fraud because of people confusing or hiding its origin. In this study, an untargeted nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics approach was used to discriminate the geographical origins of P. notoginseng from four major producing areas in China. Fifty-two components, including various saccharides, amino acids, saponins, organic acids, and alcohols, were identified and quantified through the NMR spectrum, and the area-specific geographical identification components were further screened. P. notoginseng from Yunnan had strong hypoglycemic and cardiovascular protective effects due to its high acetic acid, dopamine, and serine content, while P. notoginseng from Sichuan was more beneficial for diseases of the nervous system because of its high content of fumarate. P. notoginseng from Guizhou and Tibet had high contents of malic acid, notoginsenoside R1, and amino acids. Our results can help to distinguish the geographical origin of P. notoginseng and are readily available for nutritional recommendations in human consumption.
Effects of Reactive Oxygen Levels on Chilling Injury and Storability in 21 Apricot Varieties from Different Production Areas in China
Authors: Xin Qi , Zhou Xinqun , Jiang Weibo , Zhang Min , Sun Jing , Cui Kuanbo , Liu Yu , Jiao Wenxiao , Zhao Handong , Liu Bangdi
Published: June 2023

The key factors for resistance to chilling injury in apricot fruits were obtained by analyzing the low-temperature storage characteristics of 21 varieties of apricot fruits in the main producing areas of China. Twenty-one varieties of apricots from different production areas in China were stored at 0 °C for 50 d and then shelved at 25 °C. The storage quality, chilling injury, reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant ability, and contents of bioactive substances of the apricots were measured and analyzed. The results showed that the 21 varieties of apricot fruits could be divided into two categories according to tolerance during low-temperature storage, where there was chilling tolerance and lack of chilling tolerance. Eleven varieties of apricots, of which Xiangbai and Yunbai are representative, suffered from severe chilling injury after cold storage and shelf life. After 50 d of storage at 0 °C, the levels of superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide accumulated in the 11 varieties of apricots with a lack of chilling tolerance during storage were significantly higher than those in the remaining 10 varieties of apricots with chilling tolerance. In addition, the activities of ROS scavenging enzymes, represented by superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase, were significantly decreased in 11 varieties of apricots with a lack of chilling tolerance during storage. The contents of bioactive substances with ROS scavenging ability, represented by ascorbic acid, total phenols, carotenoids, and total flavonoids, also significantly decreased. The 10 varieties of apricots, of which Akeximixi and Suanmao are representative, were less affected by chilling injury because the production and removal of ROS were maintained at normal levels, avoiding the damaging effects of ROS accumulation in the fruit. In addition, the 10 apricot varieties with chilling tolerance during storage had higher sugar and acid contents after harvest. This could supply energy for physiological metabolism during cold storage and provide carbon skeletons for secondary metabolism, thus enhancing the chilling tolerance of the fruits. Based on the results of cluster analysis combined with the geographical distribution of the 21 fruit varieties, it was found that apricot varieties with chilling tolerance during storage were all from the northwestern region of China where diurnal temperature differences and rapid climate changes occur. In conclusion, maintaining the balance of ROS production and removal in apricots during cold storage is a key factor to enhance the storage tolerance of apricots. Moreover, apricots with higher initial glycolic acid and bioactive substance contents are less susceptible to chilling injury.
Aroma Perception of Limonene, Linalool and α-Terpineol Combinations in Pinot Gris Wine
Authors: Chigo-Hernandez Mildred Melina , Tomasino Elizabeth
Published: June 2023

Aromatic white wines contain monoterpenes that can alter aroma qualities based on their concentration and enantiomeric ratios. Limonene has been identified as a monoterpene that is used to differentiate monovarietal white wines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of limonene on aroma perception at different enantiomeric ratios. Its interaction with linalool and α-terpineol compounds was also investigated. Eighteen model wines were created with different ratios and/or concentrations of limonene and diverse concentrations of linalool and α-terpineol. Triangle tests, check-all-that-apply (CATA) and descriptive analysis were used to evaluate the aroma of the wines. Results show that different limonene ratios had no influence on wine aroma. Descriptive analysis showed that the addition of only limonene influenced citrus characteristics depending on the concentration. Linalool addition did not alter aroma quality when the limonene was at low concentrations, but it did change aroma perception at high limonene levels. α-Terpineol only altered the aroma of the wine at medium and high concentrations. At high concentrations, linalool and α-terpineol presented tropical aromas with some floral notes, irrespective of limonene levels. Depending on the desired aroma qualities of the wine, altering the monoterpene content resulted in very different aromatic wines.
Check Your Shopping Cart: DNA Barcoding and Mini-Barcoding for Food Authentication
Authors: Gorini Tommaso , Mezzasalma Valerio , Deligia Marta , De Mattia Fabrizio , Campone Luca , Labra Massimo , Frigerio Jessica
Published: June 2023

The molecular approach of DNA barcoding for the characterization and traceability of food products has come into common use in many European countries. However, it is important to address and solve technical and scientific issues such as the efficiency of the barcode sequences and DNA extraction methods to be able to analyze all the products that the food sector offers. The goal of this study is to collect the most defrauded and common food products and identify better workflows for species identification. A total of 212 specimens were collected in collaboration with 38 companies belonging to 5 different fields: seafood, botanicals, agrifood, spices, and probiotics. For all the typologies of specimens, the most suitable workflow was defined, and three species-specific primer pairs for fish were also designed. Results showed that 21.2% of the analyzed products were defrauded. A total of 88.2% of specimens were correctly identified by DNA barcoding analysis. Botanicals (28.8%) have the highest number of non-conformances, followed by spices (28.5%), agrifood (23.5%), seafood (11.4%), and probiotics (7.7%). DNA barcoding and mini-barcoding are confirmed as fast and reliable methods for ensuring quality and safety in the food field.
Paraprobiotics and Postbiotics—Current State of Scientific Research and Future Trends toward the Development of Functional Foods
Authors: Monteiro Shênia Santos , Schnorr Carlos Eduardo , Pasquali Matheus Augusto de Bittencourt
Published: June 2023

The potential of paraprobiotics and postbiotics to be used as beneficial agents for human health has caused an effort by the scientific community to gather information about the bioactivity of these compounds and production methods. Understanding the evolution of scientific research in this area of study is important to understand the future perspectives and the main bottlenecks of scientific and technological development involving these compounds. In this scenario, this review work used a bibliometric analysis tool intending to improve the scientific documentation, bringing information and communicating the results to the scientific community through the quantitative analysis of the current literature, available in one of the main databases, the Web of Science, also providing recent information on the evolution and future perspectives in the field of paraprobiotic and postbiotic development. The results of this study showed that the main studies discuss the bioactivity of these compounds. Concerning the development of functional foods, there is a need for extensive research on production methods and the interaction of these compounds with food. However, it concluded that much still needs to be studied to prove the claims of bioactivity, especially when used for the development of functional foods.
Why We Should Support Biofuel Production
Authors: Zuccaro Gaetano
Published: June 2023

We are currently in a dynamic phase of civilisation, in which the technological progress that has drastically altered our lives is accompanied by other historical events that forcibly affect and will affect future choices [...]
Comparative Electrokinetic Study of Alginate-Coated Colloidal Particles
Authors: Milkova Viktoria
Published: June 2023

Alginates are a family of natural polysaccharides with promising potential in biomedical applications and tissue regeneration. The design of versatile alginate-based structures or hydrogels and their stability and functionality depend on the polymer’s physicochemical characteristics. The main features of alginate chains that determine their bioactive properties are the molar ratio of mannuronic and glucuronic residues (M/G ratio) and their distribution along the polymer chain (MM-, GG-, and MG blocks). The present study is focused on investigating the influence of the physicochemical characteristics of alginate (sodium salt) on the electrical properties and stability of the dispersion of polymer-coated colloidal particles. Ultrapure and well-characterized biomedical-grade alginate samples were used in the investigation. The dynamics of counterion charge near the vicinity of adsorbed polyion is studied via electrokinetic spectroscopy. The results show that the experimental values of the frequency of relaxation of the electro-optical effect are higher compared to the theoretical ones. Therefore, it was supposed that polarization of the condensed Na+ counterions occurs at specific distances according to the molecular structure (G-, M-, or MG-blocks). In the presence of Ca2+, the electro-optical behavior of the particles with adsorbed alginate molecules almost does not depend on the polymer characteristics but was affected by the presence of divalent ions in the polymer layer.