bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Trade-Offs With Biodiversity and Crop Yield
Authors: Tripathi Hemant G. , Kunin William E. , Smith Harriet E. , Sallu Susannah Mary , Maurice Sixbert , Machera Suzan D. , Davies Rhiannon , Florence Mosha , Eze Samuel , Yamdeu J. H. Galani , Sait Steven Mark
Published: June 2022

Biophysical evaluations of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) often overlook the potential interactions with and implications for biodiversity and ecosystem services, which are important determinants of food system resilience and sustainability. Drawing on a case study in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania, we compare the impacts of CSA with other agricultural management practices on invertebrate pest and natural enemy diversity, and the associated effects on crop damage and crop yield. We found that the most common CSA practices in the region, terracing and trenching with live and compost mulches, provided the best outcomes for crop production, pest suppression and agricultural income. However, greater diversity of pests was observed when neighboring fields planted improved crop varieties, suggesting that the use of improved varieties by farmers creates increased vulnerability to pest damage among neighboring farmers that used local varieties. Also, greater natural enemy diversity was found when neighboring fields were either intercropped or left fallow highlighting spatial flows of ecosystem services between fields. Landcover heterogeneity was positively correlated with pest diversity, whilst landcover richness was positively associated with higher pest volume, highlighting the importance of landscape characteristics in pest and natural enemy dynamics. Finally, we found that crop damage was most severe when pest communities had low species richness, suggesting that a small number of key crop pests contribute to most yield losses. Our findings illustrate that those varied combinations of agricultural management practices lead to heterogeneous biodiversity outcomes and trade-offs, and highlight the importance of local management, neighborhood effects and landscape characteristics. CSA evaluations must therefore look beyond productivity as a measure for success, as trade-offs with invertebrate biodiversity, food production, and environmental sustainability often interact and feedback in complex and unexpected ways.
The Impact of Incorporating Multiple Best Practices on Live Outcomes for a Municipal Animal Shelter in Memphis, TN
Authors: Kreisler Rachael E. , Pugh Alexis A. , Pemberton Katie , Pizano Sara
Published: June 2022

Modern animal shelters are encouraged to adopt “best practices” intended to promote life-saving for the animals that enter their systems. While these best practices have been defined and widely promoted within the profession, few studies have tracked how making the recommended changes affects live release rates (LRR) and other shelter metrics. In 2017, the municipal animal shelter in Memphis, TN (Memphis Animal Services) implemented five new strategies and analyzed their resultant life-saving data. The interventions included managed strategic shelter intake, pet owner safety net, community cat return to field, transition of field services from punitive to assistive, and streamlined adoption and transfer protocols. The median LRR for cats prior to 2017 was 35% (IQR 22, 36). After the intervention, the LRR increased to a median of 92% (IQR 92, 94). The correlation between intake and euthanasia for cats prior to the intervention was significant (P < 0.001) and very strong (r = 0.982), while after there was no relationship (−0.165) and it was not significant (P = 0.791). The median LRR for dogs prior to 2017 was 25% (IQR 19, 48). After the intervention, the LRR increased to a median of 87% (IQR 86, 88). The correlation between intake and euthanasia for dogs prior to the intervention was significant (P < 0.001) and very strong (r = 0.991), while after there was a moderate relationship (−0.643) that was not significant (P = 0.242). The median LRR for kittens prior to 2017 was 34% (IQR 23, 38), which increased (P = 0.001) to 92% (IQR 91, 92) after intervention. The percent of kittens entering the shelter with an outcome of euthanasia decreased (P < 0.001), from a median of 59% (IQR 54, 73) to a median of 3% (IQR 1, 3). The median return to owner (RTO) rate for dogs increased (P = 0.007) from 10% (IQR 9, 11) to 13% (IQR 13, 13). Implementation of these best practices accelerated Memphis Animal Services' progress toward a live release rate of at least 90%, particularly for cats, dramatically decreased kitten euthanasia, increased the RTO rate for dogs and severed the historical correlation between euthanasia and intake.
Nationwide Monitoring of Antimicrobial-Resistant Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. Isolated From Diseased and Healthy Dogs and Cats in Japan
Authors: Furuya Yukari , Matsuda Mari , Harada Saki , Kumakawa Mio , Shirakawa Takahiro , Uchiyama Mariko , Akama Ryoko , Ozawa Manao , Kawanishi Michiko , Shimazaki Yoko , Sekiguchi Hideto
Published: June 2022

The Japanese Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (JVARM) was established for nationwide monitoring of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria isolated from animals. Here, antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. isolates from diseased and healthy dogs and cats was investigated. Isolates were collected from diseased dogs and cats and from healthy dogs and cats in 2018 to 2020. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined for 1873 E. coli and 1383 Enterococcus spp. isolates. E. coli isolates were most commonly resistant to nalidixic acid [diseased dog (DD), 62.1%; diseased cat (DC), 59.9%; healthy dog (HD), 23.5%; healthy cat (HC, 24.0%] and ampicillin (DD, 54.4%; DC, 64.1%; HD, 28.4%; HC, 25.2%), followed by ciprofloxacin (DD, 45.0%; DC, 44.0%; HD, 12.9%; HC, 10.4%). Enterococcus spp. isolates were most resistant to tetracycline (DD, 66.9%; DC, 67.8%; HD, 47.0%; HC, 52.0%), followed by erythromycin (DD, 43.2%; DC, 46.6%; HD, 27.8%; HC, 34.0%) and ciprofloxacin (DD, 27.9%; DC, 43.7%; HD, 9.7%; HC 12.9%). Only a few E. coli isolates were resistant to colistin and none were resistant to meropenem. Also, none of the Enterococcus spp. isolates we have tested were resistant to vancomycin. The significantly higher resistance rates of E. coli and Enterococcus spp. isolates from diseased, as opposed to healthy, dogs and cats against most of the tested antimicrobials indicates that the use of antimicrobials could select resistant E. coli and Enterococcus spp.
Effect of the Tea Tree Oil on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Serum Biochemical Indices, and Antioxidant Capacity in Finishing Pigs
Authors: Yang Tianyu , Feng Feifei , Zhan Kang , Ma Xiaoyu , Jiang Maocheng , Datsomor Osmond , Zhu Xinyu , Huo Yongjiu , Zhao Guoqi
Published: June 2022

The increased use of antibiotics continues to pose a threat to public health because of the increasing concern of antibiotic residue. Tea tree oil (TTO) is an extract of the Australian plantMelaleuca alternifoliawith anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, there is little information on TTO supplementation in the diet of finishing pigs. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of TTO supplemented diets on the growth performance, meat quality, serum biochemical indices, and antioxidant capacity of the finishing pigs. Our results showed that TTO supplementation increased (P< 0.05) the mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factors -I (IGFs-I), growth acceleration hormone (GH), and heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP), while the mRNA expression of myostatin gene (MSTN), and calpain-1 (CAST) decreased by the TTO supplementation, compared with the control group. In addition, TTO supplementation increased (P< 0.05) serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and IgM levels but decreased (P< 0.05) serum aspartate transaminase (AST) concentration, relative to the control group. In addition, we found that the live weight and intramuscular fat enhanced (P< 0.05) significantly, and muscle pH 24 min value, cooking loss, and shear force decreased (P< 0.05) dramatically in the TTO group. The TTO supplementation increased (P< 0.05) C18:2n6t concentration and decreased (P< 0.05) C12:0 and C16:0 concentration, relative to the control group. Dietary supplementation with TTO decreased (P< 0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased (P< 0.05) glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in serum. These results indicated that TTO supplementation could improve immunity and antioxidant, carcass traits, the nutritional value of pork, and the antioxidant capacity of finishing pigs. Therefore, TTO has potential positive effects as a feed additive in the pig industry.
The Cyclophilin-Dependent Calcineurin Inhibitor Voclosporin Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Replication in Cell Culture
Authors: Ogando Natacha S. , Metscher Erik , Moes Dirk Jan A. R. , Arends Eline J. , Tas Ali , Cross Jennifer , Snijder Eric J. , Teng Y. K. Onno , de Vries Aiko P. J. , van Hemert Martijn J.
Published: June 2022

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are at increased risk for a more severe course of COVID-19, due to their pre-existing comorbidity and immunosuppression. Consensus protocols recommend lowering immunosuppression in KTRs with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, but the optimal combination remains unclear. Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are cornerstone immunosuppressants used in KTRs and some have been reported to possess antiviral activity against RNA viruses, including coronaviruses. Here, we evaluated the effect of the CNIs tacrolimus, cyclosporin A, and voclosporin (VCS), as well as other immunosuppressants, on SARS-CoV-2 replication in cell-based assays. Unexpected, loss of compound due to plastic binding and interference of excipients in pharmaceutical formulations (false-positive results) complicated the determination of EC50 values of cyclophilin-dependent CNI’s in our antiviral assays. Some issues could be circumvented by using exclusively glass lab ware with pure compounds. In these experiments, VCS reduced viral progeny yields in human Calu-3 cells at low micromolar concentrations and did so more effectively than cyclosporin A, tacrolimus or other immunosuppressants. Although, we cannot recommend a particular immunosuppressive regimen in KTRs with COVID-19, our data suggest a potential benefit of cyclophilin-dependent CNIs, in particular VCS in reducing viral progeny, which warrants further clinical evaluation in SARS-CoV-2-infected KTRs.
Position Tracking for Multi-Channel Double-Crystal Monochromator Scanning Based on Iterative Learning Control
Authors: He Siyu , Lu Haolin , Feng Zhao , Xiao Xiaohui
Published: June 2022

As a core component of the X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS) system, the multi-channel double-crystal monochromator (DCM) can improve the time resolution of the system significantly. In contrast to the conventional single-channel DCM, the multi-channel DCM includes more pairs of crystals that are located separately in the master and slave motor axis with the same driving direction. However, a mismatched parallelism in the pitch direction, which can result from the manual mounting operation between the two separated crystals, directly affects the performance of the flux and the angular stability of the monochromatic beam. This poses a significant challenge to the precision position tracking of this system. In this paper, the mounting errors were translated into repetitive errors in the slave motor when the master motor was rotated at a constant velocity. Therefore, the iterative learning control (ILC) was considered in order to improve the tracking accuracy of the slave motor motion. The zero-magnitude error controller (ZMETC) was used to calculate the learning function to accelerate the convergence of the control inputs, and the convergence conditions of the control signal and error were also given. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, comparative experiments were performed on the motor motion platform. Experimental results indicated that the ILC effectively decreased the parallelism errors of the multi-channel DCM under various trajectories by comparing them with feedback controllers and the ZMETC, respectively.
Irrigation Increases Crop Species Diversity in Low-Diversity Farm Regions of Mexico
Authors: LaFevor Matthew C. , Pitts Aoife K.
Published: June 2022

Although agricultural intensification generally has homogenizing effects on landscapes that reduce crop diversity, the specific effects of different input strategies on crop diversity are unclear. This study examines the effects of irrigation inputs on crop species diversity in Mexico. We assess the richness and evenness diversity of 297 crop species across 2455 municipalities while controlling for environmental and socioeconomic factors and farm structural and functional characteristics. Using a quantile regression approach, we assess relationships across conditional quantiles of low-, medium-, and high-diversity farm regions. Results show irrigation level (% cropland irrigated) is a strong positive predictor of crop species richness and evenness diversity across all quantile regions. Moreover, the quantile effects of irrigation on evenness diversity are five times greater in low-diversity rather than high-diversity regions. With implications for agricultural water policy in Mexico, this study illustrates the potential benefits of sustainable irrigation expansion in water-rich but irrigation-poor farming regions. Specifically, by enhancing crop species diversity, carefully targeted irrigation expansion can support the transition to sustainable intensification.
Information Perception Method for Fruit Trees Based on 2D LiDAR Sensor
Authors: Wang Yong , Geng Changxing , Zhu Guofeng , Shen Renyuan , Gu Haiyang , Liu Wanfu
Published: June 2022

To solve the problem of orchard environmental perception, a 2D LiDAR sensor was used to scan fruit trees on both sides of a test platform to obtain their position. Firstly, the two-dimensional iterative closest point (2D-ICP) algorithm was used to obtain the complete point cloud data of fruit trees on both sides. Then, combining the lightning connection algorithm (LAPO) and the density-based clustering algorithm (DBSCAN), a fruit tree detection method based on density-based lightning connection clustering (LAPO-DBSCAN) was proposed. After obtaining the point cloud data of fruit trees on both sides of the test platform using the 2D-ICP algorithm, the LAPO-DBSCAN algorithm was used to obtain the position of fruit trees. The experimental results show that the positive detection rate was 96.69%, the false detection rate was 3.31%, and the average processing time was 1.14 s, verifying the reliability of the algorithm. Therefore, this algorithm can be used to accurately find the position of fruit trees, meaning that it can be applied to orchard navigation in a later stage.
Variation of Grain Yield, Grain Protein Content and Nitrogen Use Efficiency Components under Different Nitrogen Rates in Mediterranean Durum Wheat Genotypes
Authors: Ayadi Sawsen , Jallouli Salma , Chamekh Zoubeir , Zouari Inès , Landi Simone , Hammami Zied , Ben Azaiez Fatma , Baraket Mokhtar , Esposito Sergio , Trifa Youssef
Published: June 2022

Nitrogen (N) is a crucial nutrient for plant growth and development. To optimize agricultural environments, N fertilizers represent a critical tool to regulate crop productivity. The improvement of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) represents a promising tool that may enable cereal production to meet future food demand. Wheat reported contrasting behaviors in N utilization showing specific abilities depending on genotype. This study selected two landraces and two improved genotypes from Northern Africa to investigate grain yield (GY), grain protein content (GPC) and NUE. Plants were grown under three levels of N supply: 0, 75, 150 kg N ha−1 and for two consecutive years. Results reported a better NUE (0.40 kg kg N−1) obtained under 150 kg N ha−1, while N utilization efficiency (NUtE) showed a 13% increase using 75 kg N ha−1 compared with 150 kg N ha−1. Under low nitrogen rate (0 N), crop N supply (CNS) and N uptake efficiency (NUpE) were shown as determinant factors for improved genotypes GY (R2 = 0.72), while NUtE represented the most determinant component for GPC in landraces (R2 = 0.92). Multivariate regression models explained the dependence in GPC on NUE, NUpE, and NUtE. In conclusion, our results recognize GPC and NUtE as suitable selection traits to identify durum wheat with higher NUE.
Morpho-Metric and Specialized Metabolites Modulation of Parsley Microgreens through Selective LED Wavebands
Authors: Carillo Petronia , El-Nakhel Christophe , De Micco Veronica , Giordano Maria , Pannico Antonio , De Pascale Stefania , Graziani Giulia , Ritieni Alberto , Soteriou Georgios A. , Kyriacou Marios C. , Rouphael Youssef
Published: June 2022

Plant factories and high-tech greenhouses offer the opportunity to modulate plant growth, morphology and qualitative content through the management of artificial light (intensity, photoperiod and spectrum). In this study, three Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting systems, with blue (B, 460 nm), red (R, 650 nm) and mixed red + green-yellow + blue (RGB) light were used to grow parsley microgreens to understand how light quality could change the phenotype and the profile of secondary metabolites. Plants showed altered morphological characteristics and higher amounts of secondary metabolites under RGB LEDs treatment. The results demonstrated that microgreens under red light showed the highest fresh yield, petiole length, coumaric acid content but also the highest nitrate content. Plants under RGB light showed the highest dry matter percentage and highest content of total and single polyphenols content, while blue light showed the highest ascorbic acid and ABTS antioxidant activity. Moreover, microgreens under red light showed more compact leaves with less intercellular spaces, while under blue and RGB light, the leaves displayed ticker spongy mesophyll with higher percentage of intercellular spaces. Therefore, the specific spectral band was able to modify not only the metabolic profile, but also it could modulate the differentiation of mesophyll cells. Light quality as a preharvest factor helps to shape the final parsley microgreens product as a whole, not only in terms of yield and quality, but also from a morpho-anatomical point of view.
Effect of Molasses Application Alone or Combined with Trichoderma asperellum T-34 on Meloidogyne spp. Management and Soil Microbial Activity in Organic Production Systems
Authors: Expósito Alejandro , García Sergi , Giné Ariadna , Escudero Nuria , Herranz Sandra , Pocurull Miriam , Lacunza Albert , Sorribas Francisco Javier
Published: June 2022

The effect of molasses alone or combined with Trichoderma asperellum T34 Biocontrol® was assessed on Meloidogyne reproduction, disease severity, and density and activity of soil microorganisms in pot and field experiments. Firstly, molasses application at 1 mL m−2 was assessed in four different textured soils. Secondly, molasses application at 5, 10, 20, and 40 mL m−2, alone or combined with T34, was assessed in pot and field experiments at 10 mL m−2 in two different textured soils. The application of 1 mL m−2 of molasses was effective in reducing nematode reproduction in the loam textured soil but not in sandy clay loam, sandy loam, or clay loam textured soils. Increasing molasses dosage reduced the tomato dry shoot and fresh root weights, producing phytotoxicity at 40 mL m−2. The disease severity and nematode reproduction were reduced between 23% and 65% and 49% and 99%, respectively. In the field experiment, molasses applied at 10 mL m−2 reduced the disease severity and the nematode reproduction in the loam textured soil. The soil microbial density and activity did not increase in sites where the nematode reproduction and the disease severity were reduced by molasses application, irrespective of T34.
Sex-Specific Movement Responses of Reeves’s Pheasant to Human Disturbance: Importance of Body Characteristics and Reproductive Behavior
Authors: Lu Shuai , Liu Zhengxiao , Tian Shan , Song Kai , Hu Qian , Li Jianqiang , Xu Jiliang
Published: June 2022

Human disturbance has a strong impact on the movement of wild animals. However, it remains unclear how the movement patterns of the Reeves’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) respond to human disturbance in human-dominated landscapes. We tracked the movement of 40 adult individual Reeves’s Pheasants during the breeding season, and used the dynamic Brownian bridge motion model and kernel density estimation to analyze the diurnal movement patterns of Reeves’s Pheasants and their response to human presence. We analyzed the paths of Reeves’s Pheasants based on a partial least squares path model, considering habitat conditions, body characteristics, and reproductive behaviors. We found that males had two clear diurnal movement peaks, whereas reproductive and non-reproductive females did not show such movement peaks. Males shifted their movement peaks to earlier times in the day to avoid the presence peaks of humans. The correlation between human-modified habitat and the movement intensity of Reeves’s Pheasant differed between sexes. For males, the distance to forest paths had a positive correlation with their movement intensity through affecting body conditions. For females, the distance to forest paths and farmland had a negative correlation with their movement intensity through affecting habitat conditions and reproductive behaviors. Our study provides a scientific basis for the protection of the Reeves’s Pheasant and other related terrestrial forest-dwelling birds.
The Binding Landscape of Serum Antibodies: How Physical and Mathematical Concepts Can Advance Systems Immunology
Authors: Prechl József , Papp Krisztián , Kovács Ágnes , Pfeil Tamás
Published: June 2022

Antibodies constitute a major component of serum on protein mass basis. We also know that the structural diversity of these antibodies exceeds that of all other proteins in the body and they react with an immense number of molecular targets. What we still cannot quantitatively describe is how antibody abundance is related to affinity, specificity, and cross reactivity. This ignorance has important practical consequences: we also do not have proper biochemical units for characterizing polyclonal serum antibody binding. The solution requires both a theoretical foundation, a physical model of the system, and technology for the experimental confirmation of theory. Here we argue that the quantitative characterization of interactions between serum antibodies and their targets requires systems-level physical chemistry approach and generates results that should help create maps of antibody binding landscape.
Acetylome and Succinylome Profiling of Edwardsiella tarda Reveals Key Roles of Both Lysine Acylations in Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Fu Yuying , Zhang Lishan , Song Huanhuan , Liao Junyan , Lin Li , Jiang Wenjia , Wu Xiaoyun , Wang Guibin
Published: June 2022

The antibiotic resistance of Edwardsiella tarda is becoming increasingly prevalent, and thus novel antimicrobial strategies are being sought. Lysine acylation has been demonstrated to play an important role in bacterial physiological functions, while its role in bacterial antibiotic resistance remains largely unclear. In this study, we investigated the lysine acetylation and succinylation profiles of E. tarda strain EIB202 using affinity antibody purification combined with LC-MS/MS. A total of 1511 lysine-acetylation sites were identified on 589 proteins, and 2346 lysine-succinylation sites were further identified on 692 proteins of this pathogen. Further bioinformatic analysis showed that both post-translational modifications (PTMs) were enriched in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, pyruvate metabolism, biosynthesis, and carbon metabolism. In addition, 948 peptides of 437 proteins had overlapping associations with multiple metabolic pathways. Moreover, both acetylation and succinylation were found in many antimicrobial resistance (AMR) proteins, suggesting their potentially vital roles in antibiotic resistance. In general, our work provides insights into the acetylome and succinylome features responsible for the antibiotic resistance mechanism of E. tarda, and the results may facilitate future investigations into the pathogenesis of this bacterium.
Bioactive Components from Ampelopsis japonica with Antioxidant, Anti-α-Glucosidase, and Antiacetylcholinesterase Activities
Authors: Liang Jia-Hua , Lin Hsiang-Ru , Yang Chang-Syun , Liaw Chia-Ching , Wang I-Chou , Chen Jih-Jung
Published: June 2022

The dried root of Ampelopsis japonica (Thunb.) Makino (A. japonica.) is a traditional medicine used to treat fever, pain, and wound healing. It exhibits anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antityrosinase, and antimelanogenic activities. In this paper, we used different solvent extracts from the root of A. japonica to determine their antioxidant activity. Acetone extract showed relatively strong antioxidant properties by 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. In addition, these extracts also showed significant α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities. Acetone extract significantly inhibited α-glucosidase with an IC50 value of 8.30 ± 0.78 μg/mL, and ethanol extract remarkably inhibited AChE with an IC50 value of 37.08 ± 7.67 μg/mL. Using HPLC analysis and comparison with the chemical composition of various solvent extracts, we isolated seven active compounds and assessed their antioxidant, anti-α-glucosidase, and anti-AChE activities. Catechin (1), gallic acid (2), kaempferol (3), quercetin (4), resveratrol (6), and epicatechin (7) were the main antioxidant components in the root of A. japonica. According to the results of DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide radical scavenging assays, these isolates showed stronger antioxidant capacity than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Moreover, 1, 3, 4, euscaphic acid (5), 6, and 7 also expressed stronger anti-α-glucosidase activity than the positive control acarbose, and all the isolated compounds had a good inhibitory effect on AChE. Molecular docking models and hydrophilic interactive modes for AChE assays suggest that 1 and 5 exhibit unique anti-AChE potency. This study indicates that A. japonica and its active extracts and components may be a promising source of natural antioxidants, α-glucosidase, and AChE inhibitors.
Chemical Characterization of Taif Rose (Rosa damascena) Methanolic Extract and Its Physiological Effect on Liver Functions, Blood Indices, Antioxidant Capacity, and Heart Vitality against Cadmium Chloride Toxicity
Authors: Hamza Reham Z. , Al-Malki Njood A. , Alharthi Sarah , Alharthy Saif A. , Albogami Bander , El-Megharbel Samy M.
Published: June 2022

Exposure to cadmium chloride (CdCl2) causes an imbalance in the oxidant status of the body by triggering the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study investigated the effect of Rosa damascena (R. damascena) extract on oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity, and the injured cardiac tissue of male rats exposed to CdCl2. Forty male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: the vehicle control (1 mg/kg normal saline), the CdCl2-treated group (5 mg/kg), the R. damascena extract group (100 mg Kg), and the combination of CdCl2 and R. damascena extract group. Male rats exposed to CdCl2 showed multiple significant histopathological changes in the liver and heart, including inflammatory cell infiltration and degenerative alterations. Successive exposure to CdCl2 elevated the levels of hepatic and cardiac reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumour necrosis factor-alpha) (TNF-α) and interleukin -6 (IL-6) and decreased antioxidant defences. The extracts significantly increased the levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), whereas it dramatically decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and the mRNA of TNF-α and IL-6. R. damascena administration prevented liver and heart injury; suppressed excessive ROS generation, LPO, and inflammatory responses; and enhanced antioxidant defences. In addition, R. damascena upregulated the mRNA of TNF-α and IL-6 in CdCl2-administered male rats. In conclusion, R. damascena modulated the oxidative stress and inflammation induced by CdCl2. The hepatic and cardiac tissue damage and histopathological alterations resulting from the CdCl2-induced oxidative stress were counteracted by the administration of R. damascena extracts. R. damascena enhanced antioxidant defence enzymes in male rats.
Antiulcer Potential of Psidium guajava Seed Extract Supported by Metabolic Profiling and Molecular Docking
Authors: Shady Nourhan Hisham , Abdullah Hend Samy , Maher Sherif A. , Albohy Amgad , Elrehany Mahmoud A. , Mokhtar Fatma Alzahraa , Oraby Hesham Farouk , Shawky Ahmed M. , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan
Published: June 2022

One of the most severe human health problems is gastric ulceration. The main aim of our study is to explore the gastroprotective effect of the Psidium guajava seeds extract (PGE). Metabolic profiling based on LC-HRMS for the extract led to the dereplication of 23 compounds (1–23). We carried out a gastric ulcer model induced by indomethacin in male albino rats in vivo and the extract of PGE was investigated at a dose of 300 mg/kg in comparison to cimetidine (100 mg/kg). Furthermore, the assessment of gastric mucosal lesions and histopathology investigation of gastric tissue was done. It has been proved that Psidium guajava seeds significantly decreased the ulcer index and protected the mucosa from lesions. The antiulcer effect of Psidium guajava seed extract, which has the power of reducing the ensuing inflammatory reactions, can counteract the inflammation induced by indomethacin by the downregulation of relative genes expression (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). Moreover, PGE significantly downregulated the increased COX-2, TGF-β, and IGF-1 relative genes expression, confirming its beneficial effect in ulcer healing. Moreover, the possible PGE antioxidant potential was determined by in vitro assays using hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical scavenging and revealed high antioxidant potential. Additionally, on the putatively annotated metabolites, an in silico study was conducted, which emphasized the extract’s antiulcer properties might be attributed to several sterols such as stigmasterol and campesterol. The present study provided evidence of Psidium guajava seeds considered as a potential natural gastroprotective agent.
A Metamaterial Solution for Soundproofing on Board Ship
Authors: Kyaw Oo D’Amore Giada , Caverni Stefano , Biot Marco , Rognoni Giovanni , D’Alessandro Luca
Published: June 2022

The design of innovative metamaterials with robust and reliable performances is attracting increasing interest in shipbuilding, due to the potential and versatility of these materials. In particular, soundproofing is becoming an even more important characteristic, to ensure the comfort levels required by the standards on board ships. Thus, shipyards are constantly looking for innovative solutions to improve the insulation between environments, while respecting the safety regulations with which the materials on board must comply. In this study, an innovative solution called the Metasolution is designed and characterized, considering both the transmission loss (TL) and the fire resistance. The Metasolution is proven to be a valid substitute for the traditional honeycomb panels used on board for soundproofing. The TL of the innovative solution is increased, and the thickness is decreased, while maintaining the cost and the weight in line with the traditional solution. Moreover, the regulations regarding fire safety on board are satisfied.
Using Dynamic Pruned N-Gram Model for Identifying the Gender of the User
Authors: Ali Noaman M. , Alshahrani Abdullah , Alghamdi Ahmed M. , Novikov Boris
Published: June 2022

Organizations analyze customers’ personal data to understand and model their behavior. Identifying customers’ gender is a significant factor in analyzing markets that help plan the promotional campaigns, determine target customers and provide relevant offers. Several techniques were developed to analyze different types of data, including text, image, speech, and biometrics, to identify the gender of the user. The method of synthesis of the profile name differs from one customer to another. Using numerical substitutions of specific letters, known as Leet language, impedes the gender identification task. Moreover, using acronyms, misspellings, and adjacent names impose additional challenges. Towards this goal, this work uses the customers’ profile names associated with submitted reviews to recognize the customers’ gender. First, we create datasets of profile names extracted from the customers’ reviews. Secondly, we introduce a dynamic pruned n-gram model for identifying the gender of the user. It starts with data segmentation to handle adjacent parts, followed by data conversion and cleaning to fix the use of Leet language. Feature selection through a dynamic pruned n-gram model is the next step with the recurrent misspelling correction using fuzzy matching. We evaluate the proposed approach on the real data collected from active web resources. The obtained results demonstrate its validity and reliability.
Material Characteristics and Comparison of Silver Foil Glass Beads Excavated from the Tomb of King Muryeong in Korea
Authors: Kim Eun A , Kim Gyu Ho
Published: June 2022

This study investigated the comprehensive characteristics of silver foil beads excavated from the Tomb of King Muryeong, based on composition analysis of the foil and glass and morphological characterization. The major element components of metal foil and glass were investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). Trace elements were determined using LA-ICP-MS to constrain the source of the raw material. The morphological characteristics of the beads were recognized through an optical microscope. As a result of the analysis, the metal foil was detected as pure in both gold- and silver-colored glass beads. The chemical composition of the glass was determined as a soda glass, with Na+ acting as a flux and CaO added as a stabilizer to improve durability. It was confirmed that plant ash was used because MgO and K2O were found to contain more than 1.5%. Through trace element analysis, it was confirmed that the gold and silver-colored silver foil glass beads were made of plant ash glass using different materials. The content of Fe2O3 was significantly higher in the gold-colored silver foil glass beads than in the silver-colored silver foil glass beads. Therefore, it can be interpreted that the gold-colored silver foil glass beads excavated from the tomb of King Muryeong intentionally achieved the appearance of gold foil glass beads by controlling the color of the outer glass. The silver foil glass beads showed morphological differences according to the color of the outer glass. The gold-colored silver foil glass beads were manufactured as single or segment types, but the silver-colored silver foil glass beads were manufactured as segment types.
Performance Comparison of H.264 and H.265 Encoders in a 4K FPV Drone Piloting System
Authors: Benjak Jakov , Hofman Daniel , Knezović Josip , Žagar Martin
Published: June 2022

With the rapid growth of video data traffic on the Internet and the development of new types of video transmission systems, the need for ad hoc video encoders has also increased. One such case involves Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), widely known as drones, which are used in drone races, search and rescue efforts, capturing panoramic views, and so on. In this paper, we provide an efficiency comparison of the two most popular video encoders—H.264 and H.265—in a drone piloting system using first-person view (FPV). In this system, a drone is used to capture video, which is then transmitted to FPV goggles in real time. We examine the compression efficiency of 4K drone footage by varying parameters such as Group of Pictures (GOP) size, Quantization Parameter (QP), and target bitrate. The quality of the compressed footage is determined using four objective video quality measures: PSNR, SSIM, VMAF, and BRISQUE. Apart from video quality, encoding time and encoding energy consumption are also compared. The research was performed using numerous nodes on a supercomputer.
Preparation and Performance Enhancements of Low-Heat-Releasing Polyurethane Grouting Materials with Epoxy Resin and Water Glass
Authors: Mei Fanghua , Wang Shufen , Dong Xiaoyu , Ye Wujin , Ding Yunsheng
Published: June 2022

Polyurethane (PU) grouting materials possess excellent fluidity and strong injectability. However, the high heat release during the reaction process restricts its application. In this study, with the addition of water glass (WG), a prepolymer was prepared by epoxy resin reacted with isocyanate to form modified polyurethane. The effects of epoxy resin and water glass on the compressive properties, expansion rate, structure of the cell, and maximum reaction temperature of the grouting materials were also investigated. The results showed that the cell size of modified PU was smaller and more regular, the maximum reaction temperature of the modified PU was reduced to 89 °C, and the compressive strength and expansion rate went up to 0.27 MPa and 57, respectively. This investigation will expand the application of PU grouting materials in underground engineering.
TD-DNN: A Time Decay-Based Deep Neural Network for Recommendation System
Authors: Jain Gourav , Mahara Tripti , Sharma Subhash Chander , Agarwal Saurabh , Kim Hyunsung
Published: June 2022

In recent years, commercial platforms have embraced recommendation algorithms to provide customers with personalized recommendations. Collaborative Filtering is the most widely used technique of recommendation systems, whose accuracy is primarily reliant on the computed similarity by a similarity measure. Data sparsity is one problem that affects the performance of the similarity measures. In addition, most recommendation algorithms do not remove noisy data from datasets while recommending the items, reducing the accuracy of the recommendation. Furthermore, existing recommendation algorithms only consider historical ratings when recommending the items to users, but users’ tastes may change over time. To address these issues, this research presents a Deep Neural Network based on Time Decay (TD-DNN). In the data preprocessing phase of the model, noisy ratings are detected from the dataset and corrected using the Matrix Factorization approach. A power decay function is applied to the preprocessed input to provide more weightage to the recent ratings. This non-noisy weighted matrix is fed into the Deep Learning model, consisting of an input layer, a Multi-Layer Perceptron, and an output layer to generate predicted ratings. The model’s performance is tested on three benchmark datasets, and experimental results confirm that TD-DNN outperforms other existing approaches.
Numerical Simulation and Analytical Evaluation of the Collection Efficiency of the Particles in a Gas by the Wire-Plate Electrostatic Precipitators
Authors: Kılıç Muhsin , Mutlu Mustafa , Altun Ayşe Fidan
Published: June 2022

In this study, a numerical simulation model and an analytical method are introduced to evaluate the particle collection efficiency and transport phenomena in an electrostatic precipitator (ESP). Several complicated physical processes are involved in an ESP, including the turbulent flow, the ionization of gas by corona discharge, particles’ movement, and the displacement of electric charge. The attachment of ions charges suspended particles in the gas media. Then, charged particles in the fluid move towards the collection plate and stick on it. The numerical model comprises the gas flow, electrostatic field, and particle motions. The collection efficiency of the wire-plate type ESP is investigated for the particle diameter range of 0.02 to 10 µm. It is observed that electric field strengths and current densities show considerable variation in the solution domain. Meanwhile, changing supply voltage and charging wire diameters significantly affect the acquired charges on the electrostatic field and particle collecting efficiencies. Simultaneously, the distance between the charging and collecting electrodes and the main fluid inlet velocity has an important effect on the particle collection efficiency. The influence of the different ESP working conditions and particle dimensions on the performance of ESP are investigated and discussed.
k-Covariance: An Approach of Ensemble Covariance Estimation and Undersampling to Stabilize the Covariance Matrix in the Global Minimum Variance Portfolio
Authors: Tran Tuan , Nguyen Nhat , Nguyen Trung
Published: June 2022

A covariance matrix is an important parameter in many computational applications, such as quantitative trading. Recently, a global minimum variance portfolio received great attention due to its performance after the 2007–2008 financial crisis, and this portfolio uses only a covariance matrix to calculate weights for assets. However, the calculation process of that portfolio is sensitive with outliers in the covariance matrix, for example, a sample covariance matrix estimation or linear shrinkage covariance matrix estimations. In this paper, we propose the use of an undersampling technique and ensemble learning to stabilize the covariance matrix by reducing the impacts of outliers on the output of a covariance estimation. Experimenting on an emerging stock market using three performance metrics shows that our approach significantly improves the sample covariance matrix and also a linear shrinkage to the single-index model to a level of two shrinkage estimations, a shrinkage to identity matrix and shrinkage to constant correlation model.
A Deep Neural Network Technique for Detecting Real-Time Drifted Twitter Spam
Authors: Abdelwahab Amira , Mostafa Mohamed
Published: June 2022

The social network is considered a part of most user’s lives as it contains more than a billion users, which makes it a source for spammers to spread their harmful activities. Most of the recent research focuses on detecting spammers using statistical features. However, such statistical features are changed over time, and spammers can defeat all detection systems by changing their behavior and using text paraphrasing. Therefore, we propose a novel technique for spam detection using deep neural network. We combine the tweet level detection with statistical feature detection and group their results over meta-classifier to build a robust technique. Moreover, we embed our technique with initial text paraphrasing for each detected tweet spam. We train our model using different datasets: random, continuous, balanced, and imbalanced. The obtained experimental results showed that our model has promising results in terms of accuracy, precision, and time, which make it applicable to be used in social networks.
Green Forging of Titanium and Titanium Alloys by Using the Carbon Supersaturated SKD11 Dies
Authors: Ishiguro Shunsuke , Aizawa Tatsuhiko , Funazuka Tatsuya , Shiratori Tomomi
Published: June 2022

The carbon-supersaturated SKD11 punch was proposed as a green, or, a galling-free, long-life and low energy-consuming forging tool of pure titanium and β-titanium alloy that works with low friction and less work hardening and without galling. The reduction in thickness was increased up to 50% to investigate the friction process on the contact interface and the work-hardening behavior. The nitrogen-supersaturated SKD11 punch was utilized as a reference tool for this forging experiment. Three-dimensional finite element analysis was employed to derive the regression curve between the contact interface width and the friction coefficient. The friction coefficient was estimated in forging the pure titanium wires by using the regression curves. The work-hardening process was analyzed by the hardness mapping on the cross-section of forged wires. The SEM-EDX analysis on the contact interface proved that no adhesion of fresh metallic titanium and titanium oxide debris was seen on the interface between the carbon-supersaturated SKD11 punch and the titanium work. In particular, the work hardening is suppressed without shear localization in forging the β-titanium. Finally, the uniform carbon layer was derived from the supersaturated carbon solute from the punch matrix and wrought as a friction film on the contact interface to reduce the friction and the work hardening as well as suppress the chemical galling. This in situ carbon lubrication must be essential in green forging to highly qualify the titanium and titanium alloy products and to prolong the punch-and-die lives in practical operation.
A Pragmatic Perspective of the Initial Stages of the Contact Killing of Bacteria on Copper-Containing Surfaces
Authors: Sacher Edward
Published: June 2022

A consideration of the outer structures of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and of the surface contaminants present on Cu-containing substrates, has led to the identification of Cu2O as a potent antimicrobial. In the presence of adsorbed water, the hydrated form ionizes to CuI-O−, which is capable of degrading the protective polysaccharide layer of the outer lipopolysaccharide membranes of Gram-negative bacteria; it is equally capable of attacking the peptidoglycan lattices present in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This Perspective underlines the importance of CuI-O− in the early stages of contact killing, and points to information, still lacking, that would optimize contact killing and lead to broader applications in the therapeutic management of bacterial infections.
Performance Evaluation of the RANS Models in Predicting the Pollutant Concentration Field within a Compact Urban Setting: Effects of the Source Location and Turbulent Schmidt Number
Authors: Kavian Nezhad Mohammad Reza , Lange Carlos F. , Fleck Brian A.
Published: June 2022

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to accurately model and predict the dispersion of a passive scalar in the atmospheric wind flow field within an urban setting. The Mock Urban Setting Tests (MUST) experiment was recreated in this work to test and evaluate various modeling settings and to form a framework for reliable representation of dispersion flow in compact urban geometries. Four case studies with distinct source locations and configurations are modeled using Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations with ANSYS CFX. The performance of three widely suggested closure models of standard k−ε, RNG k−ε, and SST k−ω is assessed by calculating and interpreting the statistical performance metrics with a specific emphasis on the effects of the source locations. This work demonstrates that the overprediction of the turbulent kinetic energy by the standard k−ε counteracts the general underpredictions by RANS in geometries with building complexes. As a result, the superiority of the standard k−ε in predicting the scalar concentration field over the two other closures in all four cases is observed, with SST k−ω showing the most discrepancies with the field measurements. Additionally, a sensitivity study is also conducted to find the optimum turbulent Schmidt number (Sct) using two approaches of the constant and locally variable values.