Effects of Layering Milling Technology on Dough Properties of Highland Barley and Bread Qualities

Highland barley (Qingke) is rich in nutrients and has the nutrient composition of “three highs and two lows,” which are high vitamin, high soluble dietary fiber, high β-glucan, low fat, and low sugar. In this paper, it was proposed to remove the layers of different ratios with different peeling rates. Then, different peeled highland barley was milled into flour and added to bread flour in the same proportion to make wheat-highland barley bread. The results showed that the removal of the cortex of highland barley flour was beneficial to its fermentation characteristics, the comprehensive capacity of gas production and gas holding has been improved, and the maximum fermentation height and retention coefficient were both at QK2-35%, while the gas production at QK4-35% is higher than other samples. From QK0-35% to QK5-35%, the  significance of the highland barley bread increased, from 56.31 to 70.88. The results showed that choosing QK4-35% as the best peeling rate of highland barley flour blends could not only retain the nutritional value of highland barley bread but also optimize the quality of bread to a certain extent, which could attract consumers and has a good development prospect

Interpretable Deep Reinforcement Learning with Imitative Expert Experience for Smart Charging of Electric Vehicles

Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) is a promising candidate for realizing online complex system optimal control because of its high computation efficiency. However, the interpretability and reliability problems limit its engineering application in smart grid energy management. This paper for the first time designs a novel imitative learning framework to provide a reliable solution for computation-efficient grid-connected electric vehicles (GEVs) charging management in smart grids. The optimal strategies are derived by a priors optimization model based on vehicle-to-grid (V2G) cost-benefit analysis. With better interpretability and ensured optimality, the derived strategies are used to construct an experience pool for configuring the learning environment. Then, a novel imitative learning mechanism is designed to facilitate the knowledge transfer between expert experience and reinforcement learning model. Further, a novel dual actor-imitator learning network to enable flexible scheduling of V2G power of GEVs. With the dual network structure, the expert experience can be effectively utilized to enhance the training efficiency and performance of the DRL-based V2G coordinator. The effectiveness of the developed method in improving V2G benefit and mitigating battery aging is validated on a demonstrative microgrid in the UK.</p

Factoring Electrochemical and Full-Lifecycle Aging Modes of Battery Participating in Energy and Transportation Systems

Transportation electrification emerges as a pivotal strategy to realize deep decarbonization for many countries, and the central part of this is battery. However, a key challenge often overlooked is the impact of battery aging on the economy and longevity of electric vehicles (EVs). To address this issue, the paper proposes a novel battery full-life degradation (FLD) model and energy management framework that substantially improves the overall economic efficiency of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). In the first stage, battery electrochemical aging features are modeled by learning cell fading rate under various healthy states, capitalized on the Stanford experimental open dataset. Accordingly, a lifecycle degradation model is then developed considering various operational conditions and aging stages to quantitatively assess the effects of depth of discharge, C-rate, state of health, and state of charge. In the second stage, battery electrochemical aging features are integrated into vehicle energy management so that batteries under different fading rates can be flexibly utilized during whole lifecycles. The proposed methods are validated on a practical UK distribution network and a hybrid vehicles hardware-in-the-loop platform. With the proposed methods, EV users can make informed decisions to optimize energy usage and prolong the lifespan of vehicle BESS, thereby fostering a more sustainable and efficient transportation infrastructure.</p

Factoring Electrochemical and Full-Lifecycle Aging Modes of Battery Participating in Energy and Transportation Systems

Transportation electrification emerges as a pivotal strategy to realize deep decarbonization for many countries, and the central part of this is battery. However, a key challenge often overlooked is the impact of battery aging on the economy and longevity of electric vehicles (EVs). To address this issue, the paper proposes a novel battery full-life degradation (FLD) model and energy management framework that substantially improves the overall economic efficiency of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). In the first stage, battery electrochemical aging features are modeled by learning cell fading rate under various healthy states, capitalized on the Stanford experimental open dataset. Accordingly, a lifecycle degradation model is then developed considering various operational conditions and aging stages to quantitatively assess the effects of depth of discharge, C-rate, state of health, and state of charge. In the second stage, battery electrochemical aging features are integrated into vehicle energy management so that batteries under different fading rates can be flexibly utilized during whole lifecycles. The proposed methods are validated on a practical UK distribution network and a hybrid vehicles hardware-in-the-loop platform. With the proposed methods, EV users can make informed decisions to optimize energy usage and prolong the lifespan of vehicle BESS, thereby fostering a more sustainable and efficient transportation infrastructure.</p

Extraction of Flavonoids from Corn Silk and Biological Activities In Vitro

When harvesting corn, corn silk was discarded as waste, including the compounds isolated and identified from corn silk such as flavonoids, sterols, alkaloids, polysaccharides, organic acids, volatile oils, trace elements, and multivitamins. It not only pollutes the environment but also wastes resources. In this paper, extraction methods commonly used for extracting flavonoids from corn silk were reviewed, such as reagent method, enzymatic method, microwave, supercritical CO2 extraction, ultrasonic, and microwave-assisted ultrasonic. Flavonoids are natural antioxidants and have application value in scavenging free radicals, inhibiting bacteria, and regulating blood lipids. The in vitro biological activities of flavonoids from corn silk extracted by different extraction methods were also compared

Effects of Layering Milling Technology on Dough Properties of Highland Barley and Bread Qualities

Highland barley (Qingke) is rich in nutrients and has the nutrient composition of “three highs and two lows,” which are high vitamin, high soluble dietary fiber, high β-glucan, low fat, and low sugar. In this paper, it was proposed to remove the layers of different ratios with different peeling rates. Then, different peeled highland barley was milled into flour and added to bread flour in the same proportion to make wheat-highland barley bread. The results showed that the removal of the cortex of highland barley flour was beneficial to its fermentation characteristics, the comprehensive capacity of gas production and gas holding has been improved, and the maximum fermentation height and retention coefficient were both at QK2-35%, while the gas production at QK4-35% is higher than other samples. From QK0-35% to QK5-35%, the L∗ significance of the highland barley bread increased, from 56.31 to 70.88. The results showed that choosing QK4-35% as the best peeling rate of highland barley flour blends could not only retain the nutritional value of highland barley bread but also optimize the quality of bread to a certain extent, which could attract consumers and has a good development prospect

Plasma Depolymerization of Chitosan in the Presence of Hydrogen Peroxide

Abstract: The depolymerization of chitosan by plasma in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was investigated. The efficiency of the depolymerization was demonstrated by means of determination of viscosity-average molecular weight and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The structure of the depolymerized chitosan was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), ultraviolet spectra (UV) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that chitosan can be effectively degradated by plasma in the presence of H2O2. The chemical structure of the depolymerized chitosan was not obviously modified. The combined plasma/H2O2 method is significantly efficient for scale-up manufacturing of low molecular weight chitosan

Preparation and Physicochemical Properties of Cyperus esculentus Starch from its Tubers Using Ultrasound-assisted Alkali Method

Cyperus esculentus tubers are rich in starch, oil, protein, dietary fiber, and other nutrients. Ultrasonic treatment can reduce the combination of starch, protein, and dietary fiber in C. esculentus tubers during extraction of C. esculentus starch, thereby improving the extraction yield and shortening of the extraction time. In this study, the extraction yield of C. esculentus starch was 92.2% using ultrasound-assisted alkali method. The microstructure analysis showed that the granule characteristics of C. esculentus starch and other starches were similar. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that C. esculentus starch possessed an A-type crystal structure. The onset temperature of gelatinization endotherm and peak temperature of gelatinization of C. esculentus starch were only lower than those of sweet potato starch, and higher than other starches, which is 67.9 °C. The content of resistance starch (RS) (11.0%) in C. esculentus starch was the highest among the six starches. As an underutilized resource, C. esculentus is a new crop with high quality, high yield, and high comprehensive utilization value. Its aerial parts can be used as feed, green manure, and its underground parts can be edible and oily. C. esculentus starch can be a valuable source to develop into new functional food

Bioavailability and Bioactivity of Alkylresorcinols from Different Cereal Products

Cereal products are the most important dietary source for energy intake and several bioactive compounds with high concentrations in the bran and the germ. Different cereal products provide a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals, namely, phenolic acids, carotenoids, tocopherols, alkylresorcinols, benzoxazines, phytosterols, and lignans. The bioactive substance alkylresorcinols (ARs) present in the whole cereal can inhibit enzyme activity, prevent bacterial or fungal infection, reduce cholesterol absorption, prevent cancer, and resist oxidation. In this paper, we discussed the biological activity of ARs in whole cereal products. Understanding the effects of processing on cereal phytochemicals will help us to develop improved processes for processing cereal foods with higher retention rates of bioactive compounds

Preparation and Characteristics of Starch Esters and Its Effects on Dough Physicochemical Properties

As a recyclable natural material, starch is an important raw material in food and other fields. The native starch by esterification could improve the performance of the original starch and expand its range of application. This article reviews the preparation process of acetylated distarch adipate, starch sodium octenylsuccinate, starch acetate, hydroxypropyl starch, and starch phosphate and research into the influence of starch esters on dough. At the same time, it forecasts the trend of starch esters and application prospect in the future research