Search Results (55)

Active distribution systems (ADS) are increasingly strained by rising energy demand and the widespread deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) and electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS), which intensify voltage deviations, power losses, and peak demand fluctuations. This study develops a coordinated optimization framework for Mobile Battery Energy Storage Systems (MBESS) and Dynamic Feeder Reconfiguration (DFR) to enhance network performance across technical, economic, and environmental dimensions. A Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III (NSGA-III) is employed to minimize six objectives the active and reactive power losses, voltage deviation index (VDI), voltage stability index (FVSI), operating cost, and CO₂ emissions while explicitly modeling the MBESS transportation constraints such as energy consumption and single-trip mobility within coupled IEEE 33-bus and 33-node transport networks, which provide realistic mobility modeling of energy storage operations. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is applied to select compromise solutions from Pareto fronts. Simulation results across six scenarios show that the coordinated MBESS–DFR operation reduces power losses by 27.8–30.1%, improves the VDI by 40.5–43.2%, and enhances the FVSI by 2.3–2.4%, maintaining all bus voltages within 0.95–1.05 p.u. with minimal cost (0.26–0.27%) and emission variations (0.31–0.71%). The MBESS alone provided limited benefits (5–12%), confirming that coordination is essential for improving efficiency, voltage regulation, and overall system sustainability in renewable-rich distribution networks. Full article

We develop a year-round, field-scale framework to retrieve soil moisture and map irrigation in an arid irrigation district where crop phenology and canopy dynamics undermine static, single-season approaches. However, the currently popular TVDI application is limited during non-growing seasons. To address this gap, we introduce a season-stratified TVDI scheme—based on the LST–EVI feature space with phenology-specific dry/wet edges—coupled with a non-growing-season inversion that fuses Sentinel-1 SAR and Landsat features and compares multiple regressors (PLSR, RF, XGBoost, and CNN). The study leverages 2023–2024 multi-sensor image time series for the Yichang sub-district of the Hetao Irrigation District (China), together with in situ topsoil moisture, meteorological records, a local cropping calendar, and district statistics for validation. Methodologically, EVI is preferred over NDVI to mitigate saturation under dense canopies; season-specific edge fitting stabilizes TVDI, while cross-validated regressors yield robust soil-moisture retrievals outside the growing period, with the CNN achieving the highest accuracy (test R² ≈ 0.56–0.61), outperforming PLSR/RF/XGBoost by approximately 12–38%. The integrated mapping reveals complementary seasonal irrigation patterns: spring irrigates about 40–45% of farmland (e.g., 43.39% on 20 May 2024), summer peaks around 70% (e.g., 71.42% on 16 August 2024), and autumn stabilizes near 20–25% (e.g., 24.55% on 23 November 2024), with marked spatial contrasts between intensively irrigated southwest blocks and drier northeastern zones. We conclude that season-stratified edges and multi-source inversions together enable reproducible, year-round irrigation detection at field scale. These results provide operational evidence to refine irrigation scheduling and water allocation, and support drought-risk management and precision water governance in arid irrigation districts. Full article

Understanding how endangered carnivores partition spatiotemporal distribution in human-dominated landscapes is pivotal for mitigating biodiversity loss in climate-sensitive boreal ecosystems. Here, we used kernel density data derived from a 16-month camera-trap survey (140 UVL7 cameras), cold single-season (November–April) occupancy models, and MaxEnt 3.4.4 to identify the effects of biotic interactions, anthropogenic disturbance, and environmental factors on the spatiotemporal distribution of the wolverine (Gulo gulo) in Beijicun National Nature Reserve, Heilongjiang Province, China. We found that wolverines exhibited crepuscular activity patterns using night-time relative abundance index (NRAI) = 50.29% with bimodal peaks (05:00–07:00, 13:00–15:00), with dawn activity predominant during the warm season (05:00–06:00) and a bimodal activity pattern in the cold season (08:00–09:00, 14:00–15:00). Temporal overlap with prey (overlap coefficient Δ = 0.84) and competitors (Δ = 0.70) was high, but overlap with human-dominated temporal patterns was low (Δ = 0.58). Wolverines avoided human settlements and major roads, preferred moving along forest trails and gentle slopes, and avoided high-altitude deciduous forests. Populations were mainly concentrated in southern Hedong and Qianshao Forest Farms, which are characterized by high habitat integrity, high prey densities, and minimal anthropogenic disturbance. These findings suggest that wolverines may influence boreal trophic networks, especially in areas with intact prey communities, competitors, and spatial refugia from human disturbances. We recommend that habitat protection and management within the natural reserve be prioritized and that sustainable management practices for prey species be implemented to ensure the long-term survival of wolverines. Full article

The ‘Annurca’ apple, an EU Protected Geographical Indication product, undergoes a mandatory post-harvest reddening in the ‘melaio’. This traditional practice enhances color and aroma but initiates detrimental textural degradation, creating a paradox where key quality attributes develop in conflict. This study aimed to characterize the sensory evolution of ‘Annurca’ apples during extended cold storage and its impact on consumer preference. A cohort of 551 untrained consumers evaluated the sensory profile at seven time points over a 221-day cold storage period. Multivariate data analyses were employed to identify preference drivers and define consumer segments. Consumer overall liking and market acceptability followed a significant non-linear, U-shaped trajectory, declining from an initial high (89.4% acceptability) to a minimum at day 159 (46.6% acceptability), before partially recovering. This trend inversely correlated with a peak in perceived mealiness, while hardness and crunchiness remained stable. Juiciness and aroma intensity were consistently identified as powerful positive liking drivers, whereas mealiness was the most significant and consistent negative driver. Sweetness’s importance as a preference driver significantly increased over storage time. Cluster analysis on highly rated samples revealed three distinct consumer preference profiles, challenging the traditional notion of a single ideal ‘Annurca’ apple. This study deconstructs the ‘melaio’ paradox, demonstrating that sensory evolution is a dynamic process defined by a trade-off between flavor development and textural decay. The findings provide a data-driven framework for optimizing the commercial strategy for this unique PGI cultivar, suggesting the need to mitigate mealiness and develop targeted marketing strategies for distinct consumer segments. Full article

Understanding the combined effects of edge width and cutter ring shape on the rock-breaking performance is critical for optimising disc cutter design. The intrusion test serves as an effective approach for investigating the rock-breaking mechanism of disc cutters. In this study, a two-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) model was established to simulate the intrusion process of a single disc cutter. Three commonly used disc cutter types were analysed: disc cutter with flat edge (FEDC), disc cutter with rounded edge (REDC) and disc cutter with alloy tooth (ATDC). The edge widths ranging from 10 mm to 24 mm were examined to assess their influence on rock crack propagation, stress distribution, cutting force and specific cutting energy. The FEDC and REDC exhibited face-contact extrusion breaking, whereas the ATDC was line-contact embedding breaking. The crack extension range, crack number, force chain intensity, stress distribution, rock-breaking force and specific cutting energy ranks are as follows: FEDC > REDC > ATDC. The ATDC generated a higher proportion of tensile cracks compared to the FEDC and REDC, though with fewer long cracks. The rock-breaking efficiency of the FEDC was lower, whereas the REDC and ATDC exhibited higher efficiency. With the increase in edge width, the force chain distribution became more concentrated, leading to greater internal rock damage, and the number and length of cracks increased significantly. Cracks initially expanded laterally at smaller edge widths but extended downward as edge width increased. The peak force and specific cutting energy increased with increasing edge width; the peak force at an edge width of 24 mm is approximately 3.5 times that of an edge width of 10 mm. The REDC is preferable in hard rock formations, and the ATDC is more effective in soft rock formations. The edge width should be determined based on rock properties and thrust capacity. Full article

Demand Side Management (DSM) plays a crucial role in modern energy systems, enabling more efficient use of energy resources and contributing to the sustainability of the power grid. This study examines DSM strategies within a multi-environment context encompassing residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, with a focus on diverse appliance types that exhibit distinct operational characteristics and user preferences. Initially, a single-objective optimization approach using Genetic Algorithms (GAs) is employed to minimize the total energy cost under a real Time-of-Use (ToU) pricing scheme. This heuristic method allows for the effective scheduling of appliance operations while factoring in their unique characteristics such as power consumption, usage duration, and user-defined operational flexibility. This study extends the optimization problem to a multi-objective framework that incorporates the minimization of CO₂ emissions under a real annual energy mix while also accounting for user discomfort. The Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) is utilized for this purpose, providing a Pareto-optimal set of solutions that balances these competing objectives. The inclusion of multiple objectives ensures a comprehensive assessment of DSM strategies, aiming to reduce environmental impact and enhance user satisfaction. Additionally, this study monitors the Peak-to-Average Ratio (PAR) to evaluate the impact of DSM strategies on load balancing and grid stability. It also analyzes the impact of considering different periods of the year with the associated ToU hourly schedule and CO₂ emissions hourly profile. A key innovation of this research is the integration of detailed, category-specific metrics that enable the disaggregation of costs, emissions, and user discomfort across residential, commercial, and industrial appliances. This granularity enables stakeholders to implement tailored strategies that align with specific operational goals and regulatory compliance. Also, the emphasis on a user discomfort indicator allows us to explore the flexibility available in such DSM mechanisms. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed multi-objective optimization approach in achieving significant cost savings that may reach 20% for industrial applications, while the order of magnitude of the trade-offs involved in terms of emissions reduction, improvement in discomfort, and PAR reduction is quantified for different frameworks. The outcomes not only underscore the efficacy of applying advanced optimization frameworks to real-world problems but also point to pathways for future research in smart energy management. This comprehensive analysis highlights the potential of advanced DSM techniques to enhance the sustainability and resilience of energy systems while also offering valuable policy implications. Full article

Efficient scheduling of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) within microgrids has emerged as a critical issue to ensure energy cost reduction, peak shaving, and battery health management. For ESS scheduling, both single-agent and multi-agent deep reinforcement learning (DRL) approaches have been explored. However, the former has suffered from scalability to include multiple objectives while the latter lacks comprehensive consideration of diverse user objectives. To defeat the above issues, in this paper, we propose a new DRL-based scheduling algorithm using a multi-agent proximal policy optimization (MAPPO) framework that is combined with Pareto optimization. The proposed model employs two independent agents: one is to minimize electricity costs and the other does charge/discharge switching frequency to account for battery degradation. The candidate actions generated by the agents are evaluated through Pareto dominance, and the final action is selected via scalarization-reflecting operator-defined preferences. The simulation experiments were conducted using real industrial building load and photovoltaic (PV) generation data under realistic South Korean electricity tariff structures. The comparative evaluations against baseline DRL algorithms (TD3, SAC, PPO) demonstrate that the proposed MAPPO method significantly reduces electricity costs while minimizing battery-switching events. Furthermore, the results highlight that the proposed method achieves a balanced improvement in both economic efficiency and battery longevity, making it highly applicable to real-world dynamic microgrid environments. Specifically, the proposed MAPPO-based scheduling achieved a total electricity cost reduction of 14.68% compared to the No-ESS case and achieved 3.56% greater cost savings than other baseline reinforcement learning algorithms. Full article

Xishu Gardens, an exemplary narrative of classical Chinese gardens, faces challenges in preserving its commemorative spatial structures while accommodating modern visitors’ needs. While trajectory analysis is critical, existing studies struggle to interpret multi-dimensional perception-preference data owing to spatiotemporal mismatches in multi-source datasets. This study adopted an improved Ward–K-medoids hybrid clustering algorithm to analyze 885 trajectory samples and 34,384 synchronized data points capturing emotional valence, cognitive evaluations, and dwell time behaviors via panoramic digital twins across three heritage sites (Du Fu Thatched Cottage, San Su Shrine, and Wangjiang Tower Park). Our key findings include the following: (1) Axial bimodal patterns: Type I high-frequency looping paths (27.6–68.9% recurrence) drive deep exploration, in contrast to Type II linear routes (≤0.5% recurrence), which enable intensive node coverage. (2) Layout-perception dynamics: single-axis layouts maximize behavioral engagement (DFTC), free-form designs achieve optimal emotional-cognitive integration (WTP), and multi-axis systems amplify emotional-cognitive fluctuations (SSS). (3) Spatial preference hierarchy: entrance and waterfront zones demonstrate dwell times 20% longer than site averages. Accordingly, the proposed model synchronizes Type II peak-hour throughput with Type I off-peak experiential depth using dynamic path allocation algorithms. This study underscores the strong spatial guidance mechanisms of Xishu Gardens, supporting tourism management and heritage conservation. Full article

Hematopoietic stem cells derived from bone marrow are known to induce tissue repair. Their mechanisms to induce liver regeneration are not clear and may have numerous adverse effects. We compared the regenerative potential of intact hematopoietic stem cells (iHSCs), their total RNA, and apoptotic hematopoietic stem cells (aHSCs) in liver damage. Male Wistar rats (n = 40 per group) experienced a 75% liver resection and received single intraperitoneal injections of saline (control group), iHSCs, aHSCs, or total RNA of iHSCs. We recorded animal survival, liver mass, blood markers of liver cell lysis and function (albumin, aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase), and liver histological features: mitotic index and expression of markers for proliferation and apoptosis (caspase-9, caspase-3, and Ki-67). We assessed the survival with the log-rank test and used Wilcoxon and t tests for the other parameters. Animals of all HSC- or RNA-treated groups survived until the end of the experiment with full blood marker recovery (p = 0.037). The liver mass enlarged mostly after apoptotic hematopoietic stem cells and total RNA. Mitotic index peaked in the group of total RNA with a lower but earlier increase for the aHSC group, and Ki-67 proliferation for the total RNA group was the highest (all the differences were significant with p values ˂ 0.05). We found the aHSCs and total RNA of iHSC group to be the most efficient for liver reparation. Total RNA from HSCs is preferred for further liver regeneration studies. Full article

The back squat (BS) is one of the most effective exercises for enhancing lower limb strength, but an unstable squat can increase shear forces in the lower back. Understanding how to assess the squat stability is useful for avoiding potential sports injury. During the BS, the trunk lean and center of pressure (COP) are relevant to squat safety, and these kinematics can be altered by elevating the heel. However, there is no relevant meta-analysis on the impact of different heel heights on squat stability. This study aims to bridge the gap in the literature by conducting a systematic review and network meta-analysis on how heel elevation affects squat stability. By quantifying the influence of different heel heights on key biomechanical parameters, such as the center of pressure deviation and ankle dorsiflexion, the study provides actionable insights for athletes, trainers, and clinicians. Fourteen articles were included, and the majority of these studies demonstrated that elevated heels (EHs) can reduce COP deviation and trunk lean. In addition, 25 mm heels may be the preferred option for squat stability in the AP direction when COP data and network meta-analysis are combined. However, in the ML direction, the capacity to maintain balance is rather questionable; when ankle peak dorsiflexion is combined, 8 mm heels have higher COP deviation values and 5 mm heels have lower COP deviation values. Regarding limitations, reliance on a single bias assessment tool (Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool) might not fully capture methodological variability across non-RCT studies. Future systematic reviews could consider using multiple bias assessment tools for robust assessment. Full article

Background: Carbohydrate mouth rinsing (CHOmr), a nutritional intervention for delaying fatigue and meeting the energy demands of soccer, and the motivational strategy of coach encouragement (CE) are widely recognized as effective approaches for enhancing athletic performance in soccer. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of CHOmr + CE, CHOmr, and CE on heart rate (HR) and kinematic profiles during four-a-side small-sided soccer games (SSGs). Methods: Twenty-four young soccer players (age: 17.2 ± 0.8 years) played six bouts of four-a-side SSGs with CHOmr + CE, CHOmr, or CE at 3-day intervals in a randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled, or crossover study design. The HR and kinematic responses were continuously recorded during all games. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in peak heart rate (HR_peak) (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.326, p = 0.723, η² = 0.014) and mean heart rate (HR_mean) (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.845, p = 0.436, η² = 0.035). No significant differences were found for distances in Zone 1 (p ≥ 0.05, F = 1.21, p = 0.306, η² = 0.050), Zone 4 (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.310, p = 0.735, η² = 0.013), Zone 5 (p ≥ 0.05, F = 1.02, p = 0.368, η² = 0.042), or Zone 6 (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.161, p = 0.211, η² = 0.055), nor acceleration (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.208, p = 0.137, η² = 0.083) and deceleration (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.790, p = 0.460, η² = 0.033). Similarly, although no significant differences were observed in the distance in Zone 3 (p ≥ 0.05, F = 3.12, p = 0.054, η² = 0.119) or repeated sprint distance (p ≥ 0.05, F = 2.96, p = 0.062, η² = 0.114), the CHOmr +CE group exhibited higher average values for these variables. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in the distance covered in Zone 2 (p ≤ 0.05, F = 3.89, p = 0.028, η² = 0.145), with the CHOmr +CE group performing better, as confirmed by the post-hoc analyses. Conclusions: Although our findings indicate that CE alone may influence kinematic profiles during SSGs, similar to CHOmr or its combination with CE, further research should explore the underlying mechanisms and potential contextual factors influencing these outcomes. Therefore, we suggest that coaches prefer CE because it is easy to implement. Full article

Acoustic emission, AE, belonging to a rubber-like deformation in a martensitic state after the stabilization aging of the stress-induced martensite (SIM aging) of Ni₅₁Fe₁₈Ga₂₇Co₄ single crystals in compression, were investigated. AE activity in the plateau regions of the stress–strain loop is due to a massive reorientation from the variants produced by SIM aging to the variants preferred by the compressive stress (perpendicular to the stress used in SIM aging) and vice versa. For unloading, the large AE activity just at the knee point of the stress–stain curve is attributed to the difficulty of the re-nucleation of the SIM aging-stabilized martensite variant. The amplitude, peak energy, and area of signals can be described by power-like distributions and the characteristic exponents are in good agreement with data obtained in other alloys. Power law cross-correlations between the energy, E, and amplitude, A, as well as between the area, S, and the amplitude, A, were also analyzed. It was found that the exponents are given by $3-\phi$ as well as $2-\phi$, respectively, with $\phi \cong 0.7.$ Normalized universal temporal shapes of avalanches (i.e., the ${\displaystyle \frac{U}{A}}$ versus ${\displaystyle \frac{t}{A^{1-\phi }}}$ plots, where U is the detected voltage) for a fixed area scale very well together. The tail of the normalized temporal shape decays more slowly than the theoretical prediction, which can be attributed to an intrinsic absorption of AE signals and/or to the overlap of sub-avalanches. Full article

Genetic differences typically cause differences in the structure and function of proteins in meat. The objective of this research was to examine the biochemical characteristics and functional behavior of proteins in fresh composite meat from Thai Ligor hybrid chicken (LC) and commercial broiler chicken (BC). The composite meat samples, which comprise minced breast and thigh without skin from 20 chicken carcasses in a 1:1 (w/w) ratio, were randomly selected for analysis using the completely randomized design (CRD). Results showed that BC meat exhibited higher ultimate pH after 24 h, Ca²⁺-ATPase activity, and trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble peptide content compared to LC meat (p < 0.05). While both meat types showed non-significant differences in reactive sulfhydryl (SH) levels (p > 0.05), LC meat exhibited higher hydrophobicity compared to BC meat (p < 0.05). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed a single transition peak in all samples. LC meat exhibited higher thermal stability than BC meat, with transition peaks at 91 °C and 81 °C, respectively, in non-sodium chloride (NaCl) treated samples. Samples treated with 2.5% NaCl exhibited transition peaks around 70 °C for BC and 79 °C for LC. LC meat showed higher storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) values than BC meat, suggesting a stronger gel-forming tendency. LC meat gels exhibited higher hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness, and a slightly lower pH (6.14 vs. 5.97) compared to BC meat gels (p < 0.05). LC meat gels displayed larger expressible moisture content (p < 0.05), although the value was approximately 6%. Compared to LC meat gels, BC meat gels appeared slightly whiter (p < 0.05). To compare the lipid oxidation of BC and LC meat gels day by day, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of gels stored at 4 °C in polyethylene bags were measured on Days 0, 4, and 8. Both BC and LC meat gels showed acceptable lipid oxidation-based rancid off-flavor after short-term storage at 4 °C, with TBARS values below 2 mg malondialdehyde (MDA) equivalent/kg on Day 8. Understanding these variations in biochemical properties and functional behavior can help optimize processing methods and produce meat products of superior quality that meet consumer preferences. Full article

Cyclic peptides have higher stability and better properties as therapeutic agents than their linear peptide analogues. Consequently, intramolecular click chemistry is becoming an increasingly popular method for the synthesis of cyclic peptides from their isomeric linear peptides. However, assessing the purity of these cyclic peptides by mass spectrometry is a significant challenge, as the linear and cyclic peptides have identical masses. In this paper, we have evaluated the analytical capabilities of energy-resolved mass spectrometry (ER MS) and mid-infrared microscopy (IR) to address this challenge. On the one hand, mixtures of both peptides were subjected to collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID MS/MS) experiments in an ion trap mass spectrometer at several excitation energies. Two different calibration models were used: a univariate model (at a single excitation voltage) and a multivariate model (using multiple excitation voltages). The multivariate model demonstrated slightly enhanced analytical performance, which can be attributed to more effective signal averaging when multiple excitation voltages are considered. On the other hand, IR microscopy was used for the quantification of the relative amount of linear peptide. This was achieved through univariate calibration, based on the absorbance of an alkyne band specific to the linear peptide, and through Partial Least Squares (PLS) multivariate calibration. The PLS calibration model demonstrated superior performance in comparison to univariate calibration, indicating that consideration of the full IR spectrum is preferable to focusing on the specific peak of the linear peptide. The advantage of IR microscopy is that it is linear across the entire working interval, from linear peptide molar ratios of 0 (equivalent to pure cyclic peptide) up to 1 (pure linear peptide). In contrast, the ER MS calibration models exhibited linearity only up to 0.3 linear peptide molar ratio. However, ER MS showed better performances in terms of the limit of detection, intermediate precision and the root-mean-square-error of calibration. Therefore, ER MS is the optimal choice for the detection and quantification of the lowest relative amounts of linear peptides. Full article

In light of Switzerland’s 2050 energy goals, the nation aims to boost its domestic hydroelectric output, notably focusing on small-scale hydroelectric power plants. Concurrently, there is an effort to renovate hydroelectric plants to make them more environmentally friendly, emphasizing ecological flow regulation to improve river conditions. This study explores the application of a non-proportional flow allocation method to better assess both ecological and economic outcomes. Unlike traditional fixed or proportional flow methods, this approach allows for a more dynamic balance between hydropower generation and riverine ecosystem health. This study focuses on two key species, brown trout and grayling. In particular, this work highlighted that trout are better suited for low-flow conditions (Weighted Usable Area, WUA, peaks below 1 m³/s), while grayling require significantly higher flows (WUA peaks over 4.5 m³/s). This disparity in habitat preferences raises concerns about the current reliance on single-species models, emphasizing the need for multi-species ecological assessment in future studies. When applied to a small hydropower plant in the Swiss Jura, the non-proportional flow method resulted in an improvement of ecological conditions of at least 37.7%, which consequently led to a reduction of the hydroelectric production of at least 10%. Through strategic upgrades to the facility (e.g., by minimizing hydraulic losses, implementing more efficient turbines, or incorporating photovoltaic panels over water channels), it is possible to simultaneously enhance both energy output and environmental sustainability. These findings suggest that non-proportional flow allocation holds significant potential for broader use in sustainable hydropower management, providing a pathway toward meeting both energy production and ecological conservation goals. Full article