Search Results (177,808)

This study aimed to evaluate how adding whey protein and transglutaminase impacts the quality of fried instant noodles. This research focused on analyzing various quality characteristics of the noodles based on the type and quantity of additives used. In the study, the following samples were produced: a control sample without additives and samples with 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% of whey protein added, and 1 and 2% of transglutaminase were applied to each sample with whey protein addition. The following features were determined: fat content, water content, hydration time, hardness, adhesiveness, firmness, colour, browning index and a sensory evaluation of the macarons. The addition of whey protein, either alone or in combination with transglutaminase, reduced the fat content and increased the water content. The lowest fat content was obtained for the sample containing 5% whey protein and 2% transglutaminase (15.13%). The water content was observed in the range 2.53–3.72%. The hydration time of the instant noodles obtained increased with the use of more additives, but did not exceed 5 min in any of the samples tested. The use of additives affected the colour parameters and improved the textural properties of the noodles. Full article

In many cases, the etiopathogenesis of oral cavity diseases depends on the presence of variants in some genes. Being able to identify these variants defines the possibilities and limits of therapies. This multidisciplinary case describes several pathologies of the oral cavity in a young patient affected by type 1 diabetes. The patient presented with an impacted palatal canine. Further investigation revealed cervical root resorption of the upper right central incisor. Genetic testing was performed for interleukin, VDR receptor genes, and the evaluation of periodontopathogenic bacteria. The mutational analysis carried out for the VDR polymorphisms and the IL1A, IL1B, IL6, and IL10 polymorphisms showed the presence of pathogenetic variants. The results for bacterial load showed the presence of periodontal pathogenes. The first intervention was the intentional replantation of the incisor. The second intervention was the orthodontic recovery of the impacted canine, using light forces and a hybrid anchorage with a miniscrew. At the end of orthodontic treatment, a crack was found in the upper left first premolar, which was extracted. Throughout treatment, non-invasive periodontal interventions were performed periodically to control periodontal inflammation. This case is an example of the integration of genetic analyses into the multidisciplinary diagnostic pathway. Full article

In recent years, with the increase in work intensity and the more complex working environment in the construction industry, the problem of job burnout among construction workers has become increasingly prominent. Job burnout not only affects workers’ physical health and work efficiency, leading to more serious safety hazards, but also deeply affects the well-being of construction workers. This study adopts an alternative perspective to explore the impact of professional sports event attendance on construction workers’ job burnout and to analyze the mediating role of leisure spillover in this process. Through a questionnaire survey of construction workers, 641 data points were collected for empirical statistical analysis. The results of the study show that the attention of construction workers’ sports career events can effectively reduce job burnout, and that leisure spillover plays a partial mediating role in this process. This study verifies the positive role of sports career events in promoting construction workers’ mental health through empirical analysis and provides practical references for occupational health management and the mental health development of construction worker groups. Full article

Rural ecosystem health (REH) serves as an effective metric for assessing the damage degree and stability state within rural systems and their components. It reflects the interaction and the balance among rural subsystems, emphasizing the harmonious development of resources, agriculture, environment, economy, and society that are fundamental to sustainable rural development. Most regional-scale ecosystem health assessments primarily focus on either the natural state of the ecosystem or external disturbances affecting it, often neglecting human ecological systems characterized by economic and social dimensions. Taking Chongqing as an example, we established an improved REH assessment framework by integrating ecological integrity from the perspective of a social-economy-natural compound ecosystem. Furthermore, we innovatively incorporated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the formulation of the REH indicator system to quantitatively elucidate the spatiotemporal characteristics. The results indicated that: (1) The REH in Chongqing exhibited an evolutionary pattern characterized by a subsequent rise, maintaining values between 0.363–0.872 from 2000 to 2018. This trend reflected a distinct two-stage development characteristic, with the rural socio-economic subsystem contributing the most at 33.36%, followed closely by the rural environmental subsystem at 27.84%; (2) In 2018, the REH across the 36 districts and counties in Chongqing displayed spatial differentiation patterns described as “collapse in the west, high levels in the northeast, and localized surges”. The areas ranked from smallest to largest REH were metropolitan, western, southeastern, and northeastern areas; (3) Four levels (e.g., disease, single health, compound health, and comprehensive health) and twelve sub-levels of REH were defined using a dominant factors method. Finally, we analyzed the driving factors from four aspects of urbanization development: policy regulation, urban-rural factors flow, and regional differences. We also proposed differentiated planning and policies for sustainable rural development in Chongqing. Full article

Periodic changes in wellbore temperature and pressure caused by the cyclic injecting and producing of gas storage wells affect wellbore integrity. To explore the distribution and influencing factors of wellbore temperature and pressure during gas storage well injection-production processes, based on energy conservation, momentum theorem, and the transient heat transfer mechanism of the wellbore, a temperature and pressure coupling model for gas storage injection-production wellbores was established, and a piecewise iterative method was used to solve the model equations. Compared with the field data, the predicted relative errors of the wellhead temperature and pressure were 2.30% and 2.07%, respectively, indicating that the coupling model has a high predictive accuracy. The influences of the injection-production conditions, tubing diameter, and overall heat transfer coefficient on the wellbore temperature and pressure distributions were analyzed through an example. When the gas injection flow rate increased by 1.5 times, the bottomhole temperature decreased by 37%. Doubling the overall heat transfer coefficient resulted in a 10% rise in the bottomhole temperature. An increase of 0.3 times in the gas injection pressure led to a 31% increase in bottomhole pressure. With a 1.5-fold increase in the gas production flow rate, the wellhead temperature rose by 28%, and the wellhead pressure dropped by 20%. The research in this paper can serve as a guide for the optimization design and safe operation of gas storage wells. Full article

In order to achieve the goals of carbon neutrality and reduced carbon emissions, China is increasingly focusing on the development and utilization of renewable energy sources. Among these, ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) has the advantages of small periodic fluctuations and large potential reserves, making it an important research field. With the development of the “Maritime Silk Road”, the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea will see a growing demand for electricity, providing the potential for OTEC development in this region. Optimal site selection of OTEC power plants is a prerequisite for developing thermal energy provision, affecting both the construction costs and future benefits of the power plants. This study establishes a scientific evaluation model based on the decision-making frameworks of geographic information systems (GISs) and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, specifically the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for assigning weights, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to reclassify the factors, and weighted linear combination (WLC) to compute the suitability index. In addition to commonly considered factors such as temperature difference and marine usage status, this study innovatively incorporates geological conditions and maximum offshore distances of cold seawater based on cost control. The final evaluation identifies three suitable areas for OTEC development near the Xuande Atoll and the Yongle Atoll in the Xisha Sea Area, providing valuable insights for energy developers and policymakers. Full article

Camelids produce a special type of antibody, known as V_HHs, that has lost the V_L domain, providing a more optimised V_H domain. This particular highly stable antibody domain has interesting properties for biotechnological development. Ordinarily, those molecules possess only one disulphide bridge, but surprisingly, at least a quarter of these V_HHs have a second one. Curiously, this does not seem to be essential for the stability and the function of this domain. In an attempt to characterise precisely the role and impact of this disulphide bridge at the molecular level, several in silico mutants of a V_HH were created to disrupt this second disulphide bridge and those systems were submitted to molecular dynamics simulation. The loss of the second disulphide bridge leads to an increase in the flexibility of CDR1 and CDR3 and an unexpected rigidification of CDR2. Local conformational analysis shows local differences in the observed protein conformations. However, in fact, there is no exploration of new conformations but a change in the equilibrium between the different observed conformations. This explains why the interaction of V_HHs is not really affected by the presence or absence of this second bridge, but their rigidity is slightly reduced. Therefore, the additional disulphide bridge does not seem to be an essential part of V_HHs function. Full article

Lotus-type porous copper was fabricated using a continuous casting method in pressurized hydrogen and nitrogen gas atmospheres. This study evaluates the effects of process parameters, such as the hydrogen ratio, total pressure, and transference velocity, on the resulting pore structure. A continuous casting process was developed to facilitate the mass production of lotus-type porous copper. To achieve the desired porosity and pore diameter for large-scale manufacturing, a systematic evaluation of the influence of each process parameter was conducted. Lotus-type porous copper was produced within a hydrogen ratio range of 25–50%, a transference velocity range of 30–90 mm∙min⁻¹, and a total pressure range of 0.2–0.4 MPa. As a result, the porosity ranged from 36% to 55% and the pore size varied from 300 to 1500 µm, demonstrating a wide range of porosities and pore sizes. Through process optimization, it is possible to control the porosity and pore size. The hydrogen ratio and total pressure were found to primarily affect porosity, whereas the hydrogen ratio, transference velocity, and total pressure significantly influenced pore diameter. When considering these parameters together, porosity was most influenced by the hydrogen ratio, whereas the total pressure and transference velocity had a greater influence on pore diameter. Reducing the hydrogen ratio and increasing the transference velocity and total pressure reduced the pore diameter and porosity. This optimization of the continuous casting process enables the control of porosity and pore diameter, facilitating the production of lotus-type porous copper with the desired pore structures. Full article

A new type of laminated flooring decorated by resin impregnated paper (LWFWRIP) was designed, with the advantages of low formaldehyde emission, improved flame retardant, and high wear resistance. The structure of this new type of wood flooring is based on the ordinary laminated flooring, followed by a decorative layer of thin wood pieces, and then the transparent improved flame retardant, wear-resistant paper is added to the top. It is found that the hot-pressing temperature is the most significant factor affecting the adhesion of resin impregnated paper. The optimal hot-pressing parameters are selected as the hot-pressing pressure of 3.5 MPa, hot-pressing temperature of 180 °C, and hot-pressing time of 40 s. The new laminated flooring was improved with high flame retardant, high wear-resistant, combined with the conventional advantages of both solid wood composite flooring and reinforced wood flooring. The new laminated flooring decorated by resin impregnated paper has broad application prospects. Full article

Traditionally, “ancient villages” are communities that date back to a previous era, possess abundant traditional resources, and hold significant historical, social, cultural, ecological, and economic significance. This study examines the geographical and chronological development of 2957 traditional communities in the Yangtze River Basin and extensively employs GIS spatial analysis, geostatistical analysis, and historical literature review to study the evolution of the locations of traditional settlements under various factors. The study’s findings revealed that: (1) From a geographical standpoint, the traditional villages in the study area present a distribution state of “two cores, small aggregation, and many dispersions”. The two core clusters are located at the intersection of Hunan, Guizhou, and Chongqing provinces, where the natural geographical advantages attracted people from different dynasties to settle here. (2) From a temporal perspective, the quantity of traditional villages shows a growing trend, and the distribution center of each dynasty shows an east–west direction. Among them, the shift from the Song to the Yuan dynasties marked the period of greatest change in village distribution, which originated from the Song Dynasty’s quick economic growth. In addition, the village distribution was clustered in the eastern part of the country, adapting to the needs of commercial trade. When the Song Dynasty fell, the society was in turmoil, and the villages were transferred to the central region to avoid the war. The Yuan Dynasty also laid down the fundamental distribution pattern of conventional villages. (3) From the standpoint of choosing a village location, most of them are distributed in mountainous, hilly, and plain regions; the gentle slopes of 0°~15° are favored by people. Sufficient water sources, abundant precipitation, and a suitable climate are also necessary choices. (4) From the perspective of driving factors, traditional village distribution in the basin is impacted by historical, cultural, social, and ecological factors. Included among these, traditional village distribution is inversely connected with socio-economic variables. Under the interaction of two factors, the distribution will be more affected. To summarize, the complex human geographic factors together create the conventional village dispersal pattern, and examining these elements holds substantial practical importance for comprehending, safeguarding, and preserving traditional villages. Full article

Background/Objectives: The negative energy balance activaties of spontaneous lipolysis. This may promotes inflammation within the adipose tissue. The aim of the study was to explain the development of inflammation during increased lactogenesis. It was hypothesized that lipolysis contributes synthesis of interleukin-6 and plasminogen. Methods: The study was in production conditions carried out using Holstein-Friesian cows. The period studied covered time of early lactation. Results: Up to the peak of lactation, milk yield strongly influenced the rate of loss of body condition. This had an impact on with the intensity of the release of the fatty acids. In both cases this relationships strengthened to the peak of production. Oobserved tendencies towards a decrease in the concentration of glucose and an increase in that of leptin. Loss of the body condition and the release of NEFA were were influencing to affect the blood concentrations of interleukin-6 and plasminogen. We have shown that IL-6 has a relatively strong correlation with the NEFA. They correlate with IL-6 independently of EB influence. This may suggest independent associations between these variables, which could potentially be applied in practice. Conclusions: The NEFA release in the long term can increase the inflammatory response within adipose tissue and can intensify the release of interleukin-6 and plasminogen. It is likely that in the initial stage of lactogenesis, the inflammatory process developing within adipose tissue is physiologically justified. Our results can provide background to this little-described area of research. Full article

Wood surface treatment aims to improve or reduce the surface activity of wood by physical treatment, chemical treatment, biological activation treatment or other methods to achieve the purpose of surface modification. After wood surface modification, the paint film adhesion performance, gluing performance, surface wettability, surface free energy and surface visual properties would be affected. This article aims to explore the effects of different modification methods on the adhesion of wood coating films. Modification of the wood surface significantly improves the adhesion properties of the paint film, thereby extending the service life of the coating. Research showed that physical external force modification improved the hydrophilicity and wettability of wood by changing its surface structure and texture, thus enhancing the adhesion of the coating. Additionally, high-temperature heat treatment modification reduced the risk of coating cracking and peeling by eliminating stress and moisture within the wood. Chemical impregnation modification utilized the different properties of organic and inorganic substances to improve the stability and durability of wood. Organic impregnation effectively filled the wood cell wall and increased its density, while inorganic impregnation enhanced the adhesion of the coating by forming stable chemical bonds. Composite modification methods combined the advantages of the above technologies and significantly improved the comprehensive properties of wood through multiple modification treatments, showing superior adhesion and durability. Comprehensive analysis indicated that selecting the appropriate modification method was key for different wood types and application environments. Full article

This work aims to study the influence of the material and geometric parameters that characterize re-entrant hexagonal honeycomb auxetic structures in the maximum transverse static deflection of beams. In addition, this study considers the composition of the material through the thickness results from the mixture of a metallic phase and one of four different selected ceramics, using the exponential volume fraction law. The first-order shear deformation theory within an equivalent single-layer approach is used to assess the material and geometric parameters’ influence on the structures’ deflection. Considering this theoretical approach, the impact of the material and geometric parameters on the shear correction factors, calculated for each specific case, is also analyzed. The results allow us to conclude how the shear correction factors and the structures’ maximum static deflection are affected by the re-entrant hexagonal honeycomb auxetic cells’ aspect ratios, by the angle associated with the direction of the inclined members of the hexagonal cells and the use of materials with differentiated Poisson’s ratios. Full article

This study evaluates the economic benefits of meteorological information services (MISs) provided by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) in Taiwan, specifically for Taiwan’s capture fishery industry. Using the contingent valuation method (CVM) and conducting in-person interviews, we collected questionnaires from capture fishery practitioners nationwide to gather their subjective evaluations of the meteorological information services provided by the CWA. Based on these evaluations, we further investigated the respondents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the CWA’s meteorological information services. An empirical analysis of the bid function was conducted to identify the key factors influencing the respondents’ bidding behavior. The empirical findings indicate that the primary factors affecting bids include subjective perceptions (such as forecast accuracy ratings and the ratings of the impacts on fishing production), working location, fishing vessel tonnage, and fishing methods. The median WTP for Taiwanese capture fishery practitioners is Taiwan dollar (TWD) 2111.12 per person per year. Based on the number of capture fishery practitioners in Taiwan in 2019, the total annual economic value of applying MIS in coastal and offshore fisheries is estimated to be between TWD 376 million and TWD 496 million per year. Full article

Nanocellulose is considered a promising and sustainable biomaterial, with excellent properties of biorenewability with improved mechanical properties. As a unique natural biopolymer, it has been applied to many different industries, where efficient and environmentally friendly productions are in demand. For the first time, ferns from the class Polypodiopsida were used for the isolation of cellulose fibers, which was performed using a chemo-mechanical method. As chemical treatment plays a crucial role in the isolation of nanocellulose, it affects the efficiency of the extraction process, as well as the properties of the resulting nanocellulose. Therefore, mechanical fibrillation was performed via grinding, while the chemical process consisted of three different treatments: alkali treatment, bleaching, and acid hydrolysis. In three different experiments, each treatment was separately prolonged to investigate the differing properties of isolated nanocellulose. Structural analysis and morphological analysis were investigated by SEM, EDS, FT-IR, and DLS. The thermal stability of cellulose fibers was investigated by TGA/DSC. The morphology of obtained nanocellulose was confirmed via SEM analysis for all samples, with particles ranging from 20 nm up to 600 nm, while the most consistent sizes were observed for NC3, ranging from 20 to 60 nm. FT-IR spectra showed prominent absorption peaks corresponding to cellulose, as well as the absence of absorption peaks, corresponding to lignin and hemicellulose. The EDS confirmed the elemental purity of nanocellulose, while TGA/DSC indicated higher thermal stability of nanocellulose, compared to untreated fern, which started to degrade earlier than nanocellulose. Such characteristics with unique properties make nanocellulose a versatile biomaterial for the industrial production of cellulosic materials. Full article