bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
[NiFe]-(Oxy)Sulfides Derived from NiFe2O4 for the Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Tetzlaff David , Alagarasan Vasanth , Simon Christopher , Siegmund Daniel , junge Puring Kai , Marschall Roland , Apfel Ulf-Peter
Published: January 2022

The development of noble-metal-free electrocatalysts is regarded as a key factor for realizing industrial-scale hydrogen production powered by renewable energy sources. Inspired by nature, which uses Fe- and Ni-containing enzymes for efficient hydrogen generation, Fe/Ni-containing chalcogenides, such as oxides and sulfides, received increasing attention as promising electrocatalysts to produce hydrogen. We herein present a novel synthetic procedure for mixed Fe/Ni (oxy)sulfide materials by the controlled (partial) sulfidation of NiFe2O4 (NFO) nanoparticles in H2S-containing atmospheres. The variation in H2S concentration and the temperature allows for a precise control of stoichiometry and phase composition. The obtained sulfidized materials (NFS) catalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with increased activity in comparison to NFO, up to −10 and −100 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of approx. 250 and 450 mV, respectively.
Social Capital in Energy Enterprises: Poland’s Case
Authors: Jędrych Elżbieta , Klimek Dariusz , Rzepka Agnieszka
Published: January 2022

Social capital is currently perceived as one of the basic factors of economic development and economic success of enterprises. However, while there is already much research on social capital in enterprises, there has been little such research in the energy industry. The aim of the publication is to fill the gap in this regard. The basic question that the authors try to answer is whether there is a higher level of capital in energy companies compared to other industries, and if so, what the reasons are for this. Apart from answering this question, the authors present their own method of measuring the level of this capital. The first part of the article presents the results of a study on the level of social capital in Polish energy companies, whereas the second part compares the levels of social capital in energy companies and industrial companies in other sectors. According to the study, energy companies generally have higher levels of social capital than companies in other industries. It has been found, however, that individual forms of capital that comprise social capital differ. The most significant differences were observed in relational capital, followed by cognitive capital at a lower value and structural capital at the lowest. The survey also revealed that there is a difference in social capital levels among the researched professional groups: management, administration, and production.
Sizing, Optimization, and Financial Analysis of a Green Hydrogen Refueling Station in Remote Regions
Authors: Kavadias Kosmas A. , Kosmas Vasileios , Tzelepis Stefanos
Published: January 2022

Hydrogen (H2) can be a promising energy carrier for decarbonizing the economy and especially the transport sector, which is considered as one of the sectors with high carbon emissions due to the extensive use of fossil fuels. H2 is a nontoxic energy carrier that could replace fossil fuels. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) can decrease air pollution and reduce greenhouse gases when H2 is produced from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and at the same time being accessible through a widespread network of Hydrogen Refueling Stations (HRSs). In this study, both the sizing of the equipment and financial analysis were performed for an HRS supplied with H2 from the excess electrical energy of a 10 MW wind park. The aim was to determine the optimum configuration of an HRS under the investigation of six different scenarios with various numbers of FCEVs and monthly demands, as well as ascertaining the economic viability of each examined scenario. The effect of the number of vehicles that the installation can refuel to balance the initial cost of the investment and the fuel cost in remote regions was investigated. The results showed that a wind-powered HRS could be a viable solution when sized appropriately and H2 can be used as a storage mean for the rejected wind energy. It was concluded that scenarios with low FCEVs penetration have low economic performance since the payback period presented significantly high values.
Assessing Feature Importance for Short-Term Prediction of Electricity Demand in Medium-Voltage Loads
Authors: Armano Giuliano , Pegoraro Paolo Attilio
Published: January 2022

The design of new monitoring systems for intelligent distribution networks often requires both real-time measurements and pseudomeasurements to be processed. The former are obtained from smart meters, phasor measurement units and smart electronic devices, whereas the latter are predicted using appropriate algorithms—with the typical objective of forecasting the behaviour of power loads and generators. However, depending on the technique used for data encoding, the attempt at making predictions over a period of several days may trigger problems related to the high number of features. To contrast this issue, feature importance analysis becomes a tool of primary importance. This article is aimed at illustrating a technique devised to investigate the importance of features on data deemed relevant for predicting the next hour demand of aggregated, medium-voltage electrical loads. The same technique allows us to inspect the hidden layers of multilayer perceptrons entrusted with making the predictions, since, ultimately, the content of any hidden layer can be seen as an alternative encoding of the input data. The possibility of inspecting hidden layers can give wide support to researchers in a number of relevant tasks, including the appraisal of the generalisation capability reached by a multilayer perceptron and the identification of neurons not relevant for the prediction task.
Effects of Plateau Environment on Combustion and Emission Characteristics of a Plateau High-Pressure Common-Rail Diesel Engine with Different Blending Ratios of Biodiesel
Authors: Jia Guohai , Tian Guoshuai , Zhang Daming
Published: January 2022

Taking a plateau high-pressure common-rail diesel engine as the research model, a model was established and simulated by AVL FIRE according to the structural parameters of a diesel engine. The combustion and emission characteristics of D, B20, and B50 diesel engines were simulated in the plateau atmospheric environment at 0 m, 1000 m, and 2000 m. The calculation results show that as the altitude increased, the peak in-cylinder pressure and the cumulative heat release of diesel decreased with different blending ratios. When the altitude increased by 1000 m, the cumulative heat release was reduced by about 5%. Furthermore, the emission trend of NO, soot, and CO was to first increase and then decrease. As the altitude increased, the mass fraction of NO emission decreased. As the altitude increased, the mass fractions of soot and CO increased. Additionally, when the altitude was 0 m and 1000 m, the maximum temperature, the mass fraction of OH, and the fuel–air ratio of B20 were higher and more uniform. When the altitude was 2000 m, the maximum temperature, the mass fraction of OH, and the fuel–air ratio of B50 were higher and more uniform. Lastly, as the altitude increased, the maximum combustion temperature of D and B20 decreased, and combustion became more uneven. As the altitude increased, the maximum combustion temperature of B50 increased, and the combustion became more uniform. As the altitude increased, the fuel–air ratio and the mass fractions of OH and NO decreased. When the altitude increased, the soot concentration increased, and the distribution area was larger.
Evolution of Solar Energy in Chile: Residential Opportunities in Arica and Parinacota
Authors: Moraga-Contreras Claudia , Cornejo-Ponce Lorena , Vilca-Salinas Patricia , Estupiñan Edgar , Zuñiga Alejandro , Palma-Behnke Rodrigo , Tapia-Caroca Héctor
Published: January 2022

Chile has set itself to achieve Greenhouse Gas emission neutrality, with at least 70% of electricity coming from renewable energy sources by 2050. To this end, institutional and regulatory frameworks have been improved, resulting in significant progress in medium and large-scale projects. However, solar energy production at residential level and its surplus injection to all distribution networks has been very limited. This paper analyzes the evolution of the regulatory energy policies in Chile in order to contrast it with an economic evaluation of residential projects. The analysis focuses on the city of Arica, one of the highest potential regions in terms of solar energy within the country. There, a particularly low penetration of residential solar energy usage has been observed. Based on the current situation, projections are made for Arica in 2050, through the identification of barriers and opportunities on a residential scale development. According to some recommendations, there is the need to design policies that take into account the particular characteristics of each region within the country.
Analysis of Air Pollution around a CHP Plant: Real Measurements vs. Computer Simulations
Authors: Cichowicz Robert , Dobrzański Maciej
Published: January 2022

This study examines the concentrations of air pollution in the vicinity of a combined heat and power plant (CHP) and a communication route, using computer modeling of pollutant dispersion and spatial analysis based on real measurements in the city of Łódź, Poland, Europe. The research takes into account the concentrations of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1.0) and gaseous pollutants (SO2 and VOC) in winter and summer. The spatial distribution of pollutants is discussed, including the presence of areas with increased accumulations of pollutants. Because atmospheric air has no natural boundaries, when analyzing any location, not only local sources of pollution, but also background pollution, should be analyzed. A clear difference was observed between the concentrations of pollutants in the summer and winter seasons, with significantly higher concentrations in the winter (heating) period. The impacts of road transport, individual heating systems, and combined heat and power plants were also assessed. Computer calculations confirmed that road transport accounted for the largest share of both PM and SO2 emissions. The CHP plant was responsible for the smallest percentage of dust emissions and was the next largest producer of SO2 emissions. The share of the total emissions from the individual sources were compared with the results of detailed field tests. The numerical analysis of selected pollution sources in combination with the field analysis shows that the identified pollution sources included in the analysis represent only a part of the total observed pollutant concentrations (suggesting that other background sources account for the rest).
Agent-Based Modelling of Urban District Energy System Decarbonisation—A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Akhatova Ardak , Kranzl Lukas , Schipfer Fabian , Heendeniya Charitha Buddhika
Published: January 2022

There is an increased interest in the district-scale energy transition within interdisciplinary research community. Agent-based modelling presents a suitable approach to address variety of questions related to policies, technologies, processes, and the different stakeholder roles that can foster such transition. However, it is a largely complex and versatile methodology which hinders its broader uptake by researchers as well as improved results. This state-of-the-art review focuses on the application of agent-based modelling for exploring policy interventions that facilitate the decarbonisation (i.e., energy transition) of districts and neighbourhoods while considering stakeholders’ social characteristics and interactions. We systematically select and analyse peer-reviewed literature and discuss the key modelling aspects, such as model purpose, agents and decision-making logic, spatial and temporal aspects, and empirical grounding. The analysis reveals that the most established agent-based models’ focus on innovation diffusion (e.g., adoption of solar panels) and dissemination of energy-saving behaviour among a group of buildings in urban areas. We see a considerable gap in exploring the decisions and interactions of agents other than residential households, such as commercial and even industrial energy consumers (and prosumers). Moreover, measures such as building retrofits and conversion to district energy systems involve many stakeholders and complex interactions between them that up to now have hardly been represented in the agent-based modelling environment. Hence, this work contributes to better understanding and further improving the research on transition towards decarbonised society.
Energy-Positive Disintegration of Waste Activated Sludge—Full Scale Study
Authors: Zubrowska-Sudol Monika , Sytek-Szmeichel Katarzyna , Krawczyk Piotr , Bisak Agnieszka
Published: January 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mechanical disintegration of waste activated sludge (WAS) on full scale anaerobic digestion, considering the possibility of obtaining a positive energy balance. The results showed that an increase in energy density (εL) used in disintegration was accompanied by an increase in the release of organic compounds from sludge (SCOD increased from 211 ± 125 mg O2/L for εL = 0 kJ/L to 6292 ± 2860 mgO2/L for εL = 180 kJ/L). Some of them were volatile fatty acids. The percentage share of WAS subject to disintegration was also documented as a crucial parameter affecting the efficiency of biogas production. An increase in the value of this parameter from 25% to 100%, even at much lower εL used in disintegration (therefore with much smaller amounts of organic compounds released from sludge flocs) resulted in an increase in biogas production. Conducting disintegration of the entire stream of WAS directed to the fermentation tank at εL 30 kJ/L resulted in an increase in biogas production by 14.1%. Such a surplus would allow production of approximately 360 kWh/d net electricity. Mechanical disintegration of thickened WAS therefore may be an economically justifiable strategy for the intensification of anaerobic sludge stabilisation.
Preparation, Properties and Application of Gel Materials for Coal Gangue Control
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqiang , Pan Yuanyuan
Published: January 2022

In order to solve the problem of the spontaneous combustion of coal gangue, a coal gangue fire-extinguishing material of gel–foam was developed. The foaming agent was screened by the Waring blender method with varying foam amounts, and the superabsorbent foam stabilizer was synthesized by free radical polymerization. Moreover, the gel–foam was used in a spontaneous combustion of coal gangue mountain field practice. The results showed that when the mass fraction of sodium dodecyl sulfonate and coconut oil amide propyl betaine was 0.6% and 4:6, the foaming amount was as high as 1500 mL. When the mass ratio of chitosan to acrylic acid was 1:6, the neutralization degree was 80%, the cross-linking agent was 0.8%, and the initiator was 0.01%, the water absorption of the synthesized superabsorbent foam stabilizer reached 476 mL/g. The synthesized gel–foam was tested in a spontaneous combustion coal gangue hill in a certain area, and no reburning sign was found within one month.
Energy Security in Danger? A Comparative Analysis of Oil and Copper Supply
Authors: Mróz Maciej
Published: January 2022

This study aims to examine energy security in terms of crude oil and copper supply. While oil remains the leading energy commodity globally, copper is crucial for many new technologies, foremost for RES. Therefore, both oil and copper are extremely important for current and future energy security. This article contains a bivariate methodological approach to a comparative analysis of oil and copper supply: determining supply security with an Index of security of supply, and examines price stability with generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) models. This research provides evidence that there are many differences but also significant similarities between these two completely different commodities in terms of both supply security and price stability. Facing the future for RES, significant demand may cause a threat to energy security on a previously unknown scale. Therefore this instability, both supply- and price-related, appears to be the main threat to future energy security.
Adaptive Laboratory Evolution for Multistress Tolerance, including Fermentability at High Glucose Concentrations in Thermotolerant Candida tropicalis
Authors: Phommachan Koudkeo , Keo-oudone Chansom , Nurcholis Mochamad , Vongvilaisak Nookhao , Chanhming Mingkhuan , Savanhnaly Vanhnavong , Bounphanmy Somchanh , Matsutani Minenosuke , Kosaka Tomoyuki , Limtong Savitree , Yamada Mamoru
Published: January 2022

Candida tropicalis, a xylose-fermenting yeast, has the potential for converting cellulosic biomass to ethanol. Thermotolerant C. tropicalis X-17, which was isolated in Laos, was subjected to repetitive long-term cultivation with a gradual increase in temperature (RLCGT) in the presence of a high concentration of glucose, which exposed cells to various stresses in addition to the high concentration of glucose and high temperatures. The resultant adapted strain demonstrated increased tolerance to ethanol, furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural at high temperatures and displayed improvement in fermentation ability at high glucose concentrations and xylose-fermenting ability. Transcriptome analysis revealed the up-regulation of a gene for a glucose transporter of the major facilitator superfamily and genes for stress response and cell wall proteins. Additionally, hydropathy analysis revealed that three genes for putative membrane proteins with multiple membrane-spanning segments were also up-regulated. From these findings, it can be inferred that the up-regulation of genes, including the gene for a glucose transporter, is responsible for the phenotype of the adaptive strain. This study revealed part of the mechanisms of fermentability at high glucose concentrations in C. tropicalis and the results of this study suggest that RLCGT is an effective procedure for improving multistress tolerance.
Fly Ash as an Ingredient in the Contaminated Soil Stabilization Process
Authors: Banaszkiewicz Kamil , Marcinkowski Tadeusz , Pasiecznik Iwona
Published: January 2022

Fly ash is the main by-product of coal combustion characterized by a large specific surface area. In addition to oxides, it also contains unburned coal and trace elements. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of using fly ash from pit-coal combustion (CFA) for the treatment of benzene-contaminated soil (S). The CFA was used as a mixture with Portland cement (PC) (70% PC + 30% CFA). The soil was treated with a PC-CFA mixture in amounts of 40, 60, and 80% of soil mass. During the process, the concentration of benzene was monitored with the flame-ionization detector. Produced monoliths (S+(PC-CFA)x) were tested for compressive strength and capillary water absorption. The experiment confirmed that the PC-CFA mixture limited benzene emission. The highest reduction in benzene concentration (34–39%) was observed for samples treated with the PC-CFA mixture in an amount of 80% (S+(PC-CFA)80). The average compressive strength of monoliths S+(PC-CFA)40, S+(PC-CFA)60, and S+(PC-CFA)80 was 0.57, 4.53, and 6.79 MPa, respectively. The water absorption values were in the range of 15–22% dm.
A Proportional Digital Controller to Monitor Load Variation in Wind Turbine Systems
Authors: Gibergans-Báguena José , Buenestado Pablo , Pujol-Vázquez Gisela , Acho Leonardo
Published: January 2022

Monitoring the variation of the loading blades is fundamental due to its importance in the behavior of the wind turbine system. Blade performance can be affected by different loads that alter energy conversion efficiency and cause potential safety hazards. An example of this is icing on the blades. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to propose a proportional digital controller capable of detecting load variations in wind turbine blades together with a fault detection method. An experimental platform is then built to experimentally validate the main contribution of the article. This platform employs an automotive throttle device as a blade system emulator of a wind turbine pitch system. In addition, a statistical fault detection algorithm is established based on the point change methodology. Experimental data support our approach.
An Adaptive Load Frequency Control for Power Systems with Renewable Energy Sources
Authors: Mokhtar Mohamed , Marei Mostafa I. , Sameh Mariam A. , Attia Mahmoud A.
Published: January 2022

The frequency of power systems is very sensitive to load variations. Additionally, with the increased penetration of renewable energy sources in electrical grids, stabilizing the system frequency becomes more challenging. Therefore, Load Frequency Control (LFC) is used to keep the frequency within its acceptable limits. In this paper, an adaptive controller is proposed to enhance the system performance under load variations. Moreover, the proposed controller overcomes the disturbances resulting from the natural operation of the renewable energy sources such as Wave Energy Conversion System (WECS) and Photovoltaic (PV) system. The superiority of the proposed controller compared to the classical LFC schemes is that it has auto tuned parameters. The validation of the proposed controller is carried out through four case studies. The first case study is dedicated to a two-area LFC system under load variations. The WECS is considered as a disturbance for the second case study. Moreover, to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed controller, the dynamic performance is compared with previous work based on an optimized controller in the third case study. Finally in the fourth case study, a sensitivity analysis is carried out through parameters variations in the nonlinear PV-thermal hybrid system. The novel application of the adaptive controller into the LFC leads to enhance the system performance under disturbance of different sources of renewable energy. Moreover, a robustness test is presented to validate the reliability of the proposed controller.
Application of Activated Carbon Adsorbents Prepared from Prickly Pear Fruit Seeds and a Conductive Polymer Matrix to Remove Congo Red from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Lahreche Saadia , Moulefera Imane , El Kebir Abdelkader , Sabantina Lilia , Kaid M’hamed , Benyoucef Abdelghani
Published: January 2022

The present work was aimed to evaluate the adsorption properties of activated carbons based on prickly pear seeds (PPS) and conductive polymer matrix based on polyaniline (PANI) for the removal of anionic Congo red (CR) dye from aqueous solutions. The adsorbent was prepared by polymerization of aniline in the presence of activated PPS by phosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) methods. The adsorption kinetics were studied using UV-visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy. The characterization data suggest that the adsorption of the Congo red dye is enhanced because PANI chain molecules, which are especially accountable for removal through π–π interaction and H–bonding with the CR, are adsorbed/tethered onto the acid-activated PPS (PPSH), and thus surmount the mass transfer limitation by being best exposed to the CR-adsorbed molecule. The adsorption kinetics follows the pseudo-second order process. The correlation coefficients (R2) for Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin showed that the adsorption values obey Freundlich and Tempkin isotherm models. Moreover, the isotherm was most accurately described by the Freundlich model, and the maximum removal percentage was calculated to be 91.14% under optimized conditions of pH 6.6, 1 g/L of adsorbent dosage, and an initial CR dye concentration of 20 mg·L−1. Importantly, the hybrid adsorbent exhibited the highest adsorption capacity (80.15%) after five cycles of the adsorption–desorption process. Thermodynamic parameters, such as entropy changes, enthalpy changes and Gibbs free energy, were also evaluated. These results indicated that the PANI matrix can generally be better utilized for the removal of Congo red dye when appropriately dispersed on the surface of suitable support materials. These results provide a new direction to promote the separable adsorbents with increasing performance for adsorption of dye impurities from wastewater.
Whole Wheat Crackers Fortified with Mixed Shrimp Oil and Tea Seed Oil Microcapsules Prepared from Mung Bean Protein Isolate and Sodium Alginate
Authors: Gulzar Saqib , Nilsuwan Krisana , Raju Navaneethan , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: January 2022

Shrimp oil (SO) rich in n-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin, mixed with antioxidant-rich tea seed oil (TSO), was microencapsulated using mung bean protein isolate and sodium alginate and fortified into whole wheat crackers. SO and TSO mixed in equal proportions were emulsified in a solution containing mung bean protein isolate (MBPI) and sodium alginate (SA) at varied ratios. The emulsions were spray-dried to entrap SO-TSO in MBPI-SA microcapsules. MBPI-SA microcapsules loaded with SO-TSO showed low to moderately high encapsulation efficiencies (EE) of 32.26–72.09% and had a fair flowability index. Two selected microcapsules with high EE possessed the particle sizes of 1.592 and 1.796 µm with moderate PDI of 0.372 and 0.403, respectively. Zeta potential values were −54.81 mV and −53.41 mV. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images indicated that microcapsules were spherical in shape with some shrinkage on the surface and aggregation took place to some extent. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses of samples empirically validated the presence of SO-TSO in the microcapsules. Encapsulated SO-TSO showed superior oxidative stability and retention of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to unencapsulated counterparts during storage of 6 weeks. When SO-TSO microcapsules were fortified in whole wheat crackers at varying levels (0–10%), the crackers showed sensorial acceptability with no perceivable fishy odor. Thus, microencapsulation of SO-TSO using MBPI-SA as wall materials could be used as an alternative carrier system, in which microcapsules loaded with PUFAs could be fortified in a wide range of foods.
Improvements in the Procedures to Encapsulate Diverse Bioactive Compounds
Authors: Antequera Teresa , Solomando Juan Carlos , Pérez-Palacios Trinidad
Published: January 2022

Published articles within the “Microencapsulation of Bioactive Compounds: Techniques and Applications” special issue have been mainly focused on the evaluation of variables affecting the encapsulation of healthy compounds, aiming to achieve accurate quality properties in the encapsulates [...]
Tissue-Specific Content of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in (n-3) Deficiency State of Rats
Authors: Kulkarni Amruta , Zhao Ai , Yang Baoru , Zhang Yumei , Linderborg Kaisa M.
Published: January 2022

The dietary intake of fatty acids (FAs) affects the composition and distribution of FAs in the body. Here, a first-generation (n-3)-deficiency study was conducted by keeping young (age 21 ± 2 days) Sprague–Dawley male rats on a peanut-oil-based diet for 33 days after weaning in order to compare the effect of mild (n-3)-deficiency on the lipid composition of different organs and feces. Soybean-oil-based diet was used as a control. The plasma FA levels corresponded to FAs levels in the organs. Lower docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content was detected in the plasma, brain, testis, visceral fat, heart, and lungs of the (n-3)-deficient group, whereas the DHA content of the eye and feces did not differ between the experimental groups. The DHA content of the brains of the (n-3)-deficient group was 86% of the DHA content of the brains of the (n-3)-adequate group. The DHA level of the organs was affected in the order of visceral fat > liver triacylglycerols > lung > heart > liver phospholipids > testis > eye > brain, with brain being least affected. The low levels of (n-3) FAs in the liver, brain, eye, heart, and lung were offset by an increase in the (n-6) FAs, mainly arachidonic acid. These results indicate that, in rats, adequate maternal nutrition during pregnancy and weaning does not provide enough (n-3) FAs for 33 days of an (n-3)-deficient diet. Results of this study can be used also to evaluate the conditions needed to reach mild (n-3) deficiency in the first generation of rats and to evaluate the feasibility to collect data from a variety of organs or only selected ones.
The Effects of Storage Time and Environmental Storage Conditions on Flour Quality, Dough Rheology, and Biscuit Characteristics: The Case Study of a Traditional Italian Biscuit (Biscotto di Prato)
Authors: Cappelli Alessio , Bini Andrea , Cini Enrico
Published: January 2022

Many types of baked goods are firmly rooted in the food habits of many people in different countries. Although there have been great strides in improving milling, kneading, and baking, given the lack of essential studies, further steps forward need to be taken to understand the effects of storage time and environmental storage conditions, thus motivating this work. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of storage time, using one-way ANOVA, and environmental storage conditions (environmental temperature and humidity), using MOLS analysis, on flour composition, dough rheology, and biscuit characteristics. Seven levels of storage time were tested: T0 (control), T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6. The results showed that flour storage time significantly increased dough tenacity (P) and curve configuration ratio (P/L), and decreased the biscuit volume (best at T0). However, 2–3 weeks of storage highlighted a significant increase in deformation energy (W), an essential alveograph parameter that is closely correlated to the technological success of leavened products. This optimum found for W might be considered as a great stride in understanding the effects of storage time, confirming that wheat flour can reach its optimal performance after two-three weeks of storage, in particular for W. Moreover, this information could be useful, not only for biscuits production, but also for bread and bakery products (and, thus, the entire bakery industry). MOLS analysis highlighted that dough rheology and biscuit characteristics are mainly affected by flour composition (primarily from starch content) rather than environmental storage parameters. In conclusion, to optimize the biscuit characteristics, it is necessary to use flours with a low content of damaged starch by selecting the most suitable milling technique and carefully managing the operative parameters.
Effect of Hempseed Cake (Cannabis sativa L.) Incorporation on the Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Reconstructed Potato Chips
Authors: Feng Xiaoyu , Sun Guoxiao , Fang Zhongxiang
Published: January 2022

Hempseed (Cannabis sativa L.) cake is a by-product after cold-pressing of oil from the hempseed, which is rich in protein and fiber. This study investigated the effect of hempseed cake incorporation on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of reconstructed potato chips. Varying levels of hempseed cake (0, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) were added, and the results showed that the addition of hempseed cake at 20% level significantly increased the protein and total dietary fiber content from 2.74 ± 0.62 g/100 g to 9.66 ± 0.28 g/100 g and from 2.76 ± 0.31 g/100 g to 13.57 ± 0.42 g/100 g, respectively. In addition, a 20% reduction in lipid content was observed in the 20% hempseed cake addition group. Furthermore, lightness value (L*) was significantly reduced from 72.23 ± 1.22 to 46.40 ± 1.76, while the hardness was enhanced with a higher level of hempseed cake supplementation in the potato chips sample. Compared with the control (no hempseed cake), the supplement of 20% cake increased the total phenolic content from 0.19 ± 0.01 to 0.26 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g. The ABTS radical scavenging rate was also significantly enhanced with the increased levels of hemp cake. However, the peroxide value and TBARS results showed that the addition of hempseed cake accelerated the lipid oxidation in the sample, possibly due to the highly unsaturated fatty acid residues in the hempseed cake. The results suggested that more research is needed for the incorporation of hempseed cake in potato chips.
Design of Saline Gel Coil for Inner Heating of Electrolyte Solution and Liquid Foods under Induced Electric Field
Authors: Zhang Lingtao , Liu Fan , Wang Ting , Wu Shilin , Jin Yamei , Yang Na , Xu Xueming
Published: January 2022

As an emerging electrotechnology, induced electric field has attracted extensive attention in the development of innovative heat treatment equipment. In this study, a resistance heating unit based on induced electric field was built for inner heating of aqueous electrolyte solutions as well as liquid foods, such as vinegar. NaCl solutions and liquid foods with different conductivity were used to investigate the thermal effect and temperature rise of samples. Saline gel composed of 3% agar powder and 20% NaCl acted as a coil of conductor for inducing high-level output voltage. The utilization of the saline gel coil significantly improved the power conversion efficiency of the heating unit as well as the heating rate. The results revealed that duty cycle and applied frequency had immediate impact on the efficiency of inner heating. Additionally, the rate of temperature rise was proportional to the conductivity of the sample. The temperature of 200 mL NaCl solution (0.6%) increased from 25 °C to 100 °C in 3 min at 40% duty cycle and 60 kHz of applied frequency, and it was a circulating-flow process. The maximum temperature rise of black vinegar was 39.6 °C in 15 s at 60 kHz and 60% duty cycle, while that of white vinegar was 32.2 °C in 30 s under same conditions, whereas it was a continuous-flow process. This novel heating system has realized the inner heating of liquid samples.
Physiological Response of an Oil-Producing Microalgal Strain to Salinity and Light Stress
Authors: Ju Zhihao , Feng Tingting , Feng Jia , Lv Junping , Xie Shulian , Liu Qi
Published: January 2022

By separating and extracting algae from the collected water samples, an oil-producing diatom strain was obtained. Microscopic observation of the strain revealed that its morphological characteristics were highly similar to those of the genus Cyclotella. The cloning of 18S rDNA and phylogenetic analysis showed that the algae were clustered with Cyclotella menegheniana with a high support rate, indicating that the alga was C. menegheniana. The fatty acid content of the alga was determined and found to be mainly C14, C16, and C18 fatty acids, which were in accordance with the relevant standards for edible oil. In this study, different gradient levels of salinity and light were set to investigate the culture and bioactive substance production of C. menegheniana. The results showed that the best growth condition was achieved when the salinity was 15 g·L−1, and its biomass and oil content were the highest at 0.27 g·L−1 and 21%, respectively. The final biomass was the highest when the light intensity was 2000 Lux and the oil content was 18.7%. The results of the study provided a basis for the large-scale production of edible oils and biodiesel.
Concentration of Pro-Health Compound of Sorghum Grain-Based Foods
Authors: Frankowski Jakub , Przybylska-Balcerek Anna , Stuper-Szablewska Kinga
Published: January 2022

More than 35% of the world sorghum seed production is a human food source. The main ingredient of fully ripe sorghum grains is starch. Sorghum does not contain gluten, and it is also a rich source of antioxidant compounds other than vitamins or macro- and microelements, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and sterols. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity and the content of selected bioactive compounds, i.e., total phenolic acids, total flavonoids, and total phytosterols, as well as determination of the qualitative and quantitative profile of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and phytosterols in various food products, the basic ingredient of which was sorghum grain. It was found that antioxidant activity is related to the total phenolic compounds content. The ABTS•+ ranged from 319 to 885 µmol TROLOX/kg. However, white sorghum grain flour contained almost two times more polyphenols than red sorghum grain flour. The FPA ranged from 224 in raw pasta to 689 mgGAE/100 g in white sorghum grain. During this study, the quantitative profile of selected polyphenols in grain flour, wafers, pasta, and cookies containing sorghum grain was also investigated, as well as the content of 11 selected phenolic acids. Total content of the latter ranged from 445 to 2850 mg/kg. Phytosterols such as beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol were found in all the analyzed products. Based on this research, it was investigated that the products containing sorghum grains can be classified as functional food.
Influence of Endogenous Factors of Food Matrices on Avidin—Biotin Immunoassays for the Detection of Bacitracin and Colistin in Food
Authors: Burkin Maksim A. , Galvidis Inna A. , Eremin Sergei A.
Published: January 2022

(Strept)avidin–biotin technology is frequently used in immunoassay systems to improve their analytical properties. It is known from clinical practice that many (strept)avidin–biotin-based tests provide false results when analyzing patient samples with a high content of endogenous biotin. No specific investigation has been carried out regarding possible interferences from avidin (AVI) and biotin (B7) contained in food matrices in (strept)avidin–biotin-based immunoanalytical systems for food safety. Two kinds of competitive ELISAs for bacitracin (BT) and colistin (COL) determination in food matrices were developed based on conventional hapten–protein coating conjugates and biotinylated BT and COL bound to immobilized streptavidin (SAV). Coating SAV–B7–BT and SAV–B7–COL complexes-based ELISAs provided 2- and 15-times better sensitivity in BT and COL determination, corresponding to 0.6 and 0.3 ng/mL, respectively. Simultaneously with the determination of the main analytes, these kinds of tests were used as competitive assays for the assessment of AVI or B7 content up to 10 and 1 ng/mL, respectively, in food matrices (egg, infant milk formulas enriched with B7, chicken and beef liver). Matrix-free experiments with AVI/B7-enriched solutions showed distortion of the standard curves, indicating that these ingredients interfere with the adequate quantification of analytes. Summarizing the experience of the present study, it is recommended to avoid immunoassays based on avidin–biotin interactions when analyzing biosamples containing these endogenous factors or enriched with B7.
SIMLR: Machine Learning inside the SIR Model for COVID-19 Forecasting
Authors: Vega Roberto , Flores Leonardo , Greiner Russell
Published: January 2022

Accurate forecasts of the number of newly infected people during an epidemic are critical for making effective timely decisions. This paper addresses this challenge using the SIMLR model, which incorporates machine learning (ML) into the epidemiological SIR model. For each region, SIMLR tracks the changes in the policies implemented at the government level, which it uses to estimate the time-varying parameters of an SIR model for forecasting the number of new infections one to four weeks in advance. It also forecasts the probability of changes in those government policies at each of these future times, which is essential for the longer-range forecasts. We applied SIMLR to data from in Canada and the United States, and show that its mean average percentage error is as good as state-of-the-art forecasting models, with the added advantage of being an interpretable model. We expect that this approach will be useful not only for forecasting COVID-19 infections, but also in predicting the evolution of other infectious diseases.
Some Novel Fractional Integral Inequalities over a New Class of Generalized Convex Function
Authors: Sahoo Soubhagya Kumar , Tariq Muhammad , Ahmad Hijaz , Kodamasingh Bibhakar , Shaikh Asif Ali , Botmart Thongchai , El-Shorbagy Mohammed A.
Published: January 2022

The comprehension of inequalities in convexity is very important for fractional calculus and its effectiveness in many applied sciences. In this article, we handle a novel investigation that depends on the Hermite–Hadamard-type inequalities concerning a monotonic increasing function. The proposed methodology deals with a new class of convexity and related integral and fractional inequalities. There exists a solid connection between fractional operators and convexity because of its fascinating nature in the numerical sciences. Some special cases have also been discussed, and several already-known inequalities have been recaptured to behave well. Some applications related to special means, q-digamma, modified Bessel functions, and matrices are discussed as well. The aftereffects of the plan show that the methodology can be applied directly and is computationally easy to understand and exact. We believe our findings generalise some well-known results in the literature on s-convexity.
The Interstellar Medium of Dwarf Galaxies
Authors: Henkel Christian , Hunt Leslie K. , Izotov Yuri I.
Published: January 2022

Dwarf galaxies are by far the most numerous galaxies in the Universe, showing properties that are quite different from those of their larger and more luminous cousins. This review focuses on the physical and chemical properties of the interstellar medium of those dwarfs that are known to host significant amounts of gas and dust. The neutral and ionized gas components and the impact of the dust will be discussed, as well as first indications for the existence of active nuclei in these sources. Cosmological implications are also addressed, considering the primordial helium abundance and the similarity of local Green Pea galaxies with young, sometimes protogalactic sources in the early Universe.
Mechanically Strong and Tailorable Polyimide Aerogels Prepared with Novel Silicone Polymer Crosslinkers
Authors: Zhang Zhongxin , Deng Yurui , Lun Zhiyi , Zhang Xiao , Yan Mingyuan , He Pan , Li Caihong , Pan Yuelei
Published: January 2022

Polyimide (PI) aerogels were prepared using self-designed silicone polymer cross-linkers with multi-amino from low-cost silane coupling agents to replace conventional small-molecule cross-linkers. The long-chain structure of silicone polymers provides more crosslinking points than small-molecule cross-linkers, thus improving the mechanical properties of polyimide. To investigate the effects of amino content and degree of polymerization on the properties of silicone polymers, the different silicone polymers and their cross-linked PI aerogels were prepared. The obtained PI aerogels exhibit densities as low as 0.106 g/cm3 and specific surface areas as high as 314 m2/g, and the maximum Young’s modulus of aerogel is up to 20.9 MPa when using (T-20) as cross-linkers. The cross-linkers were an alternative to expensive small molecule cross-linkers, which can improve the mechanical properties and reduce the cost of PI aerogels.
“The World Had Forgotten about Us”: Heterotopian Resistance in Richard Flanagan’s Wanting and Lloyd Jones’s Mister Pip
Authors: Wadoux Charlotte
Published: January 2022

This article explores how the different forms of heterotopias present in Richard Flanagan’s Wanting (2008) and Lloyd Jones’s Mister Pip (2006) articulate problematic identity politics and cultural memory. In Wanting, the collocation of Mathinna’s story with that of the lost Franklin expedition offers a form of reclaiming. This article argues that Flanagan’s novel moves from heterotopias of deviation to a crisis heterotopia, displacing and debunking the compensation function of the colonial heterotopia to highlight the crushing of Aboriginal identity. This shifting heterotopia is doubled by Mathinna’s heterotopic carceral body, that is, body as confined space, which qualifies the act of reclaiming. In Mister Pip, heterotopias concern cultural memory as the island of Bougainville, secluded from the rest of the world, turns into the repository of the villagers’ culture juxtaposed with the reading of Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations (1860–1861). This article argues that Jones’s creation of a palimpsestic heterotopia allows him to resist Eurocentric views as well as to actualize postcolonial concepts. Jones’s novel calls for a dynamic appropriation of literature. Matilda’s ‘Pacific version’ of Pip’s story reflects the cracks in the Victorian and contemporary exploitations of the island. Readers’ immersions in these heterotopias do not provide an escape from but a thoughtful commitment to the past.
From Crisis to Compensation: Reinventing Identity and Place in the Sideshow and the Laboratory
Authors: Ioannidou Elisavet
Published: January 2022

Examining the ambivalent place of the sideshow and the laboratory within Victorian culture and its reimaginings, this essay explores the contradiction between the narratively orchestrating role and peripheral location of the sideshow in Leslie Parry’s Church of Marvels (2015) and the laboratory in NBC’s Dracula (2013–2014), reading these neo-Victorian spaces as heterotopias, relational places simultaneously belonging to and excluded from the dominant social order. These spaces’ impacts on individual identity illustrate this uneasy relationship. Both the sideshow and the laboratory constitute sites of resignification, emerging as “crisis heterotopias” or sites of passage: in Parry’s novel, the sideshow allows the Church twins to embrace their unique identities, surpassing the limitations of their physical resemblance; in Dracula, laboratory experiments reverse Dracula’s undead condition. Effecting reinvention, these spaces reconfigure the characters’ senses of belonging, propelling them to places beyond their confines, and thus projecting the latter’s heterotopic qualities onto the city. Potentially harmful, yet opening up urban space to include identities which are considered aberrant, these relocations envision the city as a “heterotopia of compensation”: an alternative, possibly idealized, space that reifies the sideshow’s and the laboratory’s attempts to achieve greater extroversion and visibility for their liminal occupants, thus fostering neo-Victorianism’s outreach efforts to support the disempowered.