bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Restoration Strategies on the Ion Distribution and Transport Characteristics of Medicago sativa in Saline–Alkali Soil
Authors: Yu Baole , Chen Lingling , Baoyin Taogetao
Published: December 2023

Studying the distribution and transport dynamics of cations in plants is crucial for understanding their response mechanisms to saline–alkali stress conditions. However, our current understanding of how restoration measures affect cation distribution and transport in plants is surprisingly limited. To address this gap, we conducted a split-plot experiment using Medicago sativa L. cv. “Zhongmu No. 1” to investigate the combined effects of biological and chemical restoration measures—with bio-fertilizer as the primary zone and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum and with humic acid as the secondary zone—on soil properties, plant growth, and the content, distribution, and transport of cations in plants. The results revealed that bio-fertilizers exhibited positive effects on the plant growth, yield, and translocation of key ionic components to leaves. On the contrary, FGD gypsum with humic acid reduced the soil’s pH level, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) while increasing the contents of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in the soil. The combination of bio-fertilizer, FGD gypsum, and humic acid increased the biomass and enhanced the translocation of Mg2+ to leaves. The distribution and transport of Mg2+ within the plant constituted pivotal elements for enhancing plant growth through restoration strategies. The application of bio-fertilizer, FGD gypsum, and humic acid reduced Na+ transport in M. sativa by enhancing the selective absorption of beneficial ions in leaves and by facilitating the transport of Ca2+ and Mg2+ from stems to the leaves. This, in turn, increases the salt tolerance of plants and promotes their growth. Our results offer new insights into the interactions among measures, soil, and plants in saline–alkali land restoration, providing practical solutions for the restoration of saline–alkali soil.
Effects of Manure-Based Nitrogen Substitution for Chemical Nitrogen Fertilizers on Economic Benefits and Water-Use Efficiency of Maize
Authors: Wang Xiaojuan , Tian Le , Xu Lulu
Published: December 2023

How to use nitrogen fertilizer is crucial for farmers in boosting crop yield and fostering sustainable agricultural development. We hypothesized that replacing the nitrogen (N) provided by mineral fertilizer with manure would enhance the soil water storage, increase water use efficiency (WUE), maintain maize yield, and improve economic benefits. We performed the experiment by replacing 0% (CK), 25% (M25), 50% (M50), 75% (M75), and 100% (M100) of mineral N fertilizer (225 kg ha–1) with an equivalent amount of N from manure during 2016–2019. M25 and M50 increased the soil water storage at 0–2 m depth after maize harvest, while M25 significantly decreased the evapotranspiration by 5.27–22.14% compared with CK. The replacement treatments significantly increased maize yield and WUE by 6.58–13.62% and 5.68–18.00%, respectively, during the fourth fertilization year. Meanwhile, the net benefits of the replacement treatments were significantly higher than that of CK in the year of higher precipitation and irrigation water. M75 significantly increased net benefits by 8.47–35.51% compared with CK. M75 had the highest comprehensive evaluation score. Thus, the study proposes a combination of 75% N from manure with 25% N from mineral fertilizer to achieve a high maize yield and benefits.
Crop Classification in Mountainous Areas Using Object-Oriented Methods and Multi-Source Data: A Case Study of Xishui County, China
Authors: Tian Xiangyu , Chen Zhengchao , Li Yixiang , Bai Yongqing
Published: December 2023

Accurate crop mapping can represent the fundamental data for digital agriculture and ecological security. However, current crop classification methods perform poorly in mountainous areas with small cropland field parcel areas and multiple crops under cultivation. This study proposed a new object-oriented classification method to address this issue, using multi-source data and object features to achieve multi-crop classification in mountainous areas. Firstly, a deep learning method was employed to extract cropland field parcels in mountainous areas. Subsequently, the fusion of multi-source data was carried out based on cropland field parcels, while object features tailored for mountainous crops were designed for crop classification. Comparative analysis indicates that the proposed classification method demonstrates exceptional performance, enabling accurate mapping of various crops in mountainous regions. The F1 score and overall accuracy (OA) of the proposed method are 0.8449 and 0.8502, representing a 10% improvement over the pixel-based random forest classification results. Furthermore, qualitative analysis reveals that the proposed method exhibits higher classification accuracy for smaller plots and more precise delineation of crop boundaries. Finally, meticulous crop mapping of corn, sorghum, rice, and other crops in Xishui County, Guizhou Province, demonstrates the significant potential of the proposed method in crop classification within mountainous scenarios.
A Novel, Efficient Method to Isolate Chicken Primordial Germ Cells from Embryonic Blood Using Cell Culture Inserts
Authors: Zhang Xia , Xian Rui , Fu Yingxiao , Dai Yanyan , Peng Rui
Published: December 2023

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) play a crucial role in preserving poultry genetic resources and conducting transgenic research. A system for the rapid isolation of PGCs from single chicken embryonic blood was established in this paper. We found that PGCs can migrate to the lower layer of chicken embryonic fibroblasts (CEFs) through pores smaller than their diameter, while blood cells cannot, when co-cultured with CEFs of passages two to three. Based on the characteristics of PGCs, we developed a new PGC isolation method (cell culture insert/CEF adhesion method) that utilizes a 3 μm cell culture insert and CEFs of passages two to three. Using this method, approximately 700 PGCs can be isolated from the blood of a single chicken embryo at Hamburger and Hamilton (H&H) stage 17 of development. The separation rate achieved was 87.5%, with a separation purity of 95%. The separation rate of this method was 41.4% higher than the common Percoll density gradient centrifugation method and 33.6% higher than lysis with ACK buffer. PGCs isolated from embryonic blood could proliferate 37-fold within 2 weeks when cultured in a feeder-free culture system. They also continued to express the SSEA-1 and DAZL proteins and retained the ability to migrate in vivo. Overall, PGCs separated using cell culture inserts/CEF adhesion method retain their stem cell characteristics and migration ability. PGCs also exhibit good proliferation efficiency, making them suitable for subsequent transgenic experiments or genetic resource preservation.
Gut Microbiome Analysis and Screening of Lactic Acid Bacteria with Probiotic Potential in Anhui Swine
Authors: Shao Ying , Wu Xiaoyan , Yu Zhaorong , Li Min , Sheng Tingting , Wang Zhenyu , Tu Jian , Song Xiangjun , Qi Kezong
Published: December 2023

With the widespread promotion of the green feeding concept of “substitution and resistance”, there is a pressing need for alternative products in feed and breeding industries. Employing lactic acid bacteria represents one of the most promising antimicrobial strategies to combat infections caused by pathogenic bacteria. As such, we analyzed the intestinal tract of Anhui local pig breeds, including LiuBai Pig, YueHei Pig, and HuoShou Pig, to determine the composition and diversity of intestinal microbiota using 16S rRNA. Further, the functionality of the pigs’ intestinal microbiota was studied through metagenomic sequencing. This study revealed that lactic acid bacteria were the primary contributors to the functional composition, as determined through a species functional contribution analysis. More specifically, the functional contribution of lactic acid bacteria in the HuoShou Pig group was higher than that of the LiuBai Pig and YueHei Pig. Subsequently, the intestinal contents of the HuoShou Pig group were selected for the screening of the dominant lactic acid bacteria strains. Out of eight strains of lactic acid bacteria, the acid-production capacity, growth curve, and tolerance to a simulated intestinal environment were assessed. Additional assessments included surface hydrophobicity, the self-aggregation capability, co-agglutination of lactic acid bacteria with pathogenic bacteria, and an in vitro bacteriostatic activity assay. Lactobacillus johnsonii L5 and Lactobacillus reuteri L8 were identified as having a strong overall performance. These findings serve as a theoretical basis for the further development of pig-derived probiotics, thereby promoting the application of lactic acid bacteria to livestock production.
Exploring Sound Emission of the Lizard Pristidactylus valeriae
Authors: Díaz Sebastián , Labra Antonieta
Published: December 2023

Lizards, except geckos, are generally considered voiceless organisms, although some species emit oral sounds. For most of these “vocal lizards”, however, there is almost no information on the characteristics of the sounds, precluding exploration of the functionality and evolution of the sounds. Pristidactylus are known as “grunter lizards” since individuals emit oral sounds under predation risk. We explored the characteristics of the sounds emitted by P. valeriae, recording 17 adults and 1 juvenile when they were threatened and captured by a predator. Only adults emitted sounds with open mouths and displayed aggressive postures, e.g., biting attempts. These sounds correspond to hisses, which lack amplitude or frequency modulation. The lizards emitted longer hisses when threatened than when captured by the predator, which may provide honest information on individuals’ ability to escape. In addition, males may experience higher distress during threats since their hisses had higher aggregate entropy than those of the females. Finally, hissing has been documented in four of the five Leiosauridae genera, the family to which Pristidactylus belongs, suggesting that sound emission is ancestral to the family.
Pain Assessment in Goat Kids: Focus on Disbudding
Authors: Kongara Kavitha , Singh Preet , Venkatachalam Dinakaran , Chambers John Paul
Published: December 2023

Farm animals are routinely subjected to painful husbandry procedures for various purposes. Goat kids are disbudded to improve goat welfare and to ensure safety of other livestock, farm personnel, attending veterinarians and for various other production and managemental procedures. Disbudding is commonly performed on dairy goat farms, in kids under 3 weeks of age. Many scientific studies reported physiological and behavioural changes indicating pain and distress following disbudding, and this can be a significant cause of welfare compromise in goat kids. Recognition and measurement of pain is important to treat and/or manage pain and distress following painful procedures. This review focuses on pain assessment in goat kids following disbudding, using both physiological and behavioural measures. As only a limited information is available on the topic of interest, relevant studies in other young farm animals have also been discussed to compare the status quo in goat kids.
Organic Ingredients as Alternative Protein Sources in the Diet of Juvenile Organic Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
Authors: Tefal Eslam , Jauralde Ignacio , Martínez-Llorens Silvia , Tomás-Vidal Ana , Milián-Sorribes María Consolación , Moyano Francisco Javier , Peñaranda David S. , Jover-Cerdá Miguel
Published: December 2023

The use of organic ingredients as a source of protein in aquaculture diets has gained significant attention due to the growing demand for organic seafood products. This study aimed to evaluate the potential for the use of organic ingredients as protein sources in the diet of juvenile organic seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). A total of 486 juvenile seabass with an average weight of 90 g were fed six diets containing varied organic proteins. The control group (CON) was fed a diet with conventional fishmeal from sustainable fisheries as the primary protein source. The other five groups were fed diets with different compositions: organic Iberian pig meal byproduct (IB diet), a combination of organic Iberian pig meal byproduct and insect meal (IB-IN diet), a mix of organic Iberian pig meal byproduct and organic rainbow trout meal byproduct (IB-TR diet), a blend of organic rainbow trout meal byproduct and insect meal (TR-IN), and a mixed diet containing all of these protein sources (MIX diet). Over a 125-day feeding trial, growth performance, feed utilisation, feed digestibility, and histological parameters were assessed. The results showed that the fish fed the control diet had the highest final weight and specific growth rate, followed by the fish fed the TR-IN and IB-TR diets. The IB-TR diet had the highest apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) for protein, while the TR-IN diet had the lowest. Histological analysis revealed that fish fed the control diet had the largest nucleus diameter and hepatocyte diameter. Use of IN seems to penalise performance in several ways. Fish fed diets containing insect meal grew less, and those diets had lower digestibility. Fish fed the TR and IB diets grew at rates near that of the control, and the feed had acceptable digestibility.
Inhibition of Cell Apoptosis by Apicomplexan Protozoa–Host Interaction in the Early Stage of Infection
Authors: Lian Liyin , Sun Qian , Huang Xinyi , Li Wanjing , Cui Yanjun , Pan Yuebo , Yang Xianyu , Wang Pu
Published: December 2023

Apicomplexan protozoa, which are a group of specialized intracellular parasitic protozoa, infect humans and other animals and cause a variety of diseases. The lack of research on the interaction mechanism between Apicomplexan protozoa and their hosts is a key factor restricting the development of new drugs and vaccines. In the early stages of infection, cell apoptosis is inhibited by Apicomplexan protozoa through their interaction with the host cells; thereby, the survival and reproduction of Apicomplexan protozoa in host cells is promoted. In this review, the key virulence proteins and pathways are introduced regarding the inhibition of cell apoptosis by the interaction between the protozoa and their host during the early stage of Apicomplexan protozoa infection. It provides a theoretical basis for the development of drugs or vaccines for protozoal diseases.
Interpretation of the Yak Skin Single-Cell Transcriptome Landscape
Authors: Zheng Qingbo , Ye Na , Bao Pengjia , Wang Tong , Ma Chaofan , Chu Min , Wu Xiaoyun , Kong Siyuan , Guo Xian , Liang Chunnian , Pan Heping , Yan Ping
Published: December 2023

The morphogenesis of hair follicle structure is accompanied by the differentiation of skin tissue. Mammalian coats are produced by hair follicles. The formation of hair follicles requires signal transmission between the epidermis and dermis. However, knowledge of the transcriptional regulatory mechanism is still lacking. We used single-cell RNA sequencing to obtain 26,573 single cells from the scapular skin of yaks at hair follicle telogen and anagen stages. With the help of known reference marker genes, 11 main cell types were identified. In addition, we further analyzed the DP cell and dermal fibroblast lineages, drew a single-cell map of the DP cell and dermal fibroblast lineages, and elaborated the key genes, signals, and functions involved in cell fate decision making. The results of this study provide a very valuable resource for the analysis of the heterogeneity of DP cells and dermal fibroblasts in the skin and provide a powerful theoretical reference for further exploring the diversity of hair follicle cell types and hair follicle morphogenesis.
Lipid-Centric Approaches in Combating Infectious Diseases: Antibacterials, Antifungals and Antivirals with Lipid-Associated Mechanisms of Action
Authors: Ostroumova Olga S. , Efimova Svetlana S.
Published: December 2023

One of the global challenges of the 21st century is the increase in mortality from infectious diseases against the backdrop of the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microorganisms. In this regard, it is worth targeting antibacterials towards the membranes of pathogens that are quite conservative and not amenable to elimination. This review is an attempt to critically analyze the possibilities of targeting antimicrobial agents towards enzymes involved in pathogen lipid biosynthesis or towards bacterial, fungal, and viral lipid membranes, to increase the permeability via pore formation and to modulate the membranes’ properties in a manner that makes them incompatible with the pathogen’s life cycle. This review discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each approach in the search for highly effective but nontoxic antimicrobial agents. Examples of compounds with a proven molecular mechanism of action are presented, and the types of the most promising pharmacophores for further research and the improvement of the characteristics of antibiotics are discussed. The strategies that pathogens use for survival in terms of modulating the lipid composition and physical properties of the membrane, achieving a balance between resistance to antibiotics and the ability to facilitate all necessary transport and signaling processes, are also considered.
Hypoxia Aggravates Neuron Ferroptosis in Early Brain Injury Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage via NCOA4-Meditated Ferritinophagy
Authors: Yuan Zixuan , Zhou Xiaoming , Zou Yan , Zhang Bingtao , Jian Yao , Wu Qi , Chen Shujuan , Zhang Xin
Published: December 2023

The occurrence of early brain injury (EBI) significantly contributes to the unfavorable prognosis observed in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). During the process of EBI, a substantial quantity of iron permeates into the subarachnoid space and brain tissue, thereby raising concerns regarding its metabolism. To investigate the role and metabolic processes of excessive iron in neurons, we established both in vivo and in vitro models of SAH. We substantiated that ferritinophagy participates in iron metabolism disorders and promotes neuronal ferroptosis using an in vivo model, as detected by key proteins such as ferritin heavy chain 1, glutathione peroxidase 4, autophagy related 5, nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4), LC3B, and electron microscopy results. By interfering with NCOA4 expression in vitro and in vivo, we confirmed the pivotal role of elevated NCOA4 levels in ferritinophagy during EBI. Additionally, our in vitro experiments demonstrated that the addition of oxyhemoglobin alone did not result in a significant upregulation of NCOA4 expression. However, simultaneous addition of oxyhemoglobin and hypoxia exposure provoked a marked increase in NCOA4 expression and heightened ferritinophagy in HT22 cells. Using YC-1 to inhibit hypoxia signaling in in vitro and in vitro models effectively attenuated neuronal ferroptosis. Collectively, we found that the hypoxic microenvironment during the process of EBI exaggerates iron metabolism abnormalities, leading to poor prognoses in SAH. The findings also offer a novel and potentially effective foundation for the treatment of SAH, with the aim of alleviating hypoxia.
Antioxidant Capacity, Inflammatory Response, Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Hu Sheep in Response to Dietary Soluble Protein Levels with Decreased Crude Protein Content
Authors: Zhang Xin , Zhang Zhenbin , Sun Yiquan , Liu Yang , Zhong Xinhuang , Zhu Jun , Yu Xiang , Lu Yue , Lu Zhiqi , Sun Xuezhao , Han Huanyong , Wang Mengzhi
Published: December 2023

Manipulating dietary nutrients, especially protein fractions, holds significance in enhancing the antioxidant capacity and immunity function of ruminants. This study investigated the impact of dietary adjustments in soluble protein (SP) levels, in conjunction with a reduction in crude protein (CP) content, on the antioxidant capacity, inflammatory response, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of sheep. This study had four dietary treatments, including a control diet (CON) adhering to NRC standards with a CP content of 16.7% on a dry matter basis and three diets with an approximately 10% reduction in CP content compared to CON with SP levels (% of CP) of 21.2 (SPA), 25.9 (SPB) and 29.4% (SPC), respectively. Thirty-two healthy male Hu sheep, with an initial live weight of 40.37 ± 1.18 kg and age of 6 months, were randomly divided into four groups to receive these respective diets. Our data revealed no significant differences in slaughter performance among treatments (p > 0.05), although low-protein treatments decreased the stomachus compositus index (p < 0.05). Compared with CON, as SP was adjusted to 21.2%, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and catalase (CAT) concentrations were decreased in the serum (p < 0.05), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) content was decreased in jejunum and ileum (p < 0.05), superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration was reduced in the duodenum (p < 0.05), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased in spleen and ileum (p < 0.05). On the other hand, pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8) contents were upregulated in the serum (p < 0.05), while immunoglobulin (IgA and IgM) contents were reduced in the duodenum (p < 0.05) with SP adjustments. Additionally, the SPB and SPC diets reduced the content of saturated fatty acids and increased the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared with CON (p < 0.05), along with retention in the tenderness and water-holding capacity of the longissimus lumborum muscle. In summary, reducing CP by 10% with an SP proportion of ~25–30% improved meat quality without compromising antioxidant capacity and immunity function, while lower SP levels had adverse effects.
A Multi-Modal Profiling Fraud-Detection System for Capturing Suspicious Airline Ticket Activities
Authors: Aras Mehmed Taha , Guvensan Mehmet Amac
Published: December 2023

Although the most widely studied datasets in fraud-detection systems belong to the banking sector, the aviation industry is susceptible to fraud activities that seriously harm airline companies. Therefore, big airline companies have started to purchase or develop their own fraud-detection systems in order to prevent their financial loss and prestige decline. Chronological order and temporal flow are intrinsically of high importance in fraud detection in the banking sector as well as in airline sale channels. Therefore, the transactions in the datasets used in fraud-detection systems should be evaluated not only according to the information they contain but also according to the past transactions they are linked to. One of the best ways to raise awareness about the connected past transactions to the fraud-detection system is to profile the data fields whose historical data is important and dynamically place these profiles on each transaction. In this study, we first draw the baseline, i.e., the first touch in this field, for fraud detection in aviation and then introduce a novel multi-modal profiling mechanism based on deep learning for the detection of fraudulent airline ticket activities. We achieved great success by feeding the new features obtained from those profiles into a deep neural network that is fine-tuned by adjusting the well-known hyperparameters regarding the aviation data. Thanks to the combination of profiling and deep learning, the F1 score of the proposed system reaches up to 89.3% and 93.2% in terms of quantity-based success and cost-based success, respectively.
Comparing Artificial Intelligence Algorithms with Empirical Correlations in Shear Wave Velocity Prediction
Authors: Khalilidermani Mitra , Knez Dariusz
Published: December 2023

Accurate estimation of shear wave velocity (Vs) is crucial for modeling hydrocarbon reservoirs. The Vs values can be directly measured using the Dipole Shear Sonic Imager data; however, it is very expensive and requires specific technical considerations. To address this issue, researchers have developed different methods for Vs prediction in underground rocks and soils. In this study, the well logging data of a wellbore in the Iranian Aboozar limestone oilfield were used for Vs estimation. The Vs values were estimated using five available empirical correlations, linear regression technique, and two machine learning algorithms including multivariate linear regression and gene expression programming. Those values were compared with the real Vs data. Furthermore, three statistical indices including correlation coefficient (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the applied techniques. The mathematical correlation obtained by the GEP algorithm delivered the most accurate Vs values with R2 = 0.972, RMSE = 0.000290, and MAE = 0.000208. Compared to the available empirical correlations, the obtained correlation from the GEP approach uses multiple parameters to estimate the Vs, thereby leading to more precise predictions. The new correlation can be used to estimate the Vs values in the Aboozar oilfield and other geologically similar reservoirs.
Research on a Comprehensive Evaluation Method of Train Anti-Slip System Performance
Authors: Zhou Gaowei , Qi Hongfeng , Yu Hao , Zhou Jiajun , Gao Fei
Published: December 2023

The quality of a train’s braking anti-slip control system has a significant impact on train safety and braking performance. Currently, there is no established standard evaluation method for anti-slip control systems, making it an important area of research in the academic community. This article comprehensively considers four key indexes: adhesive coefficient utilization rate, air consumption increase ratio, wheel slip work, and anti-slip valve action frequency. The evaluation system takes into account the influence of load layer and braking level, and proposes a comprehensive evaluation method for train anti-slip control based on multi-factor hierarchical analysis. A series of experiments were conducted using a semi-physical simulation test bench for anti-slip evaluation, aimed at comprehensively evaluating two different anti-slip control strategies. By applying the method proposed in this article, the above four indexes and their corresponding weights of two anti-slip control strategies under different conditions were calculated. Finally, the comprehensive evaluation result R1 of anti-slip control strategy 1 was calculated as 0.8389, while the comprehensive evaluation result R2 of anti-slip control strategy 2 was calculated as 0.7912. Based on the comprehensive evaluation results, it is evident that the anti-slip comprehensive evaluation method established in this article is comprehensive and scientific, with concise and clear evaluation results. This method carries certain reference significance for the design of future anti-slip evaluation methods.
Immediate Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Female Amateur Football Players: A Pilot Trial
Authors: Afán-Argüín Irene , Fernández-Morales Carlos , Espejo-Antúnez Luis , Albornoz-Cabello Manuel , León-Morillas Felipe , Cardero-Durán María de los Ángeles
Published: December 2023

We aimed to investigate the acute effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on muscle strength, thigh circumference, and knee joint reposition sense in female amateur football players, as well as to determine whether this procedure is safe. Methods: This was a pilot trial. Twenty female amateur football players were randomized into two groups: group 1 (n = 10) received a single NMES session; group 2 (n = 10) received NMES + BFR. The measured variables included maximal voluntary eccentric contraction (MVEC) and maximal voluntary concentric contraction (MVCC), thigh circumference, and knee joint reposition sense test. The type of electrical current used was TENS (symmetrical biphasic rectangular pulse, 350 μs, and 50 Hz), combined simultaneously with active knee extension (75 repetitions in 4 sets, 20% MVCC, 30 s rest between sets), for both groups. Group 2 had BFR added (80% of arterial occlusion pressure). Results: Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were obtained for thigh circumference in both groups. The comparison between groups did not show statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in MVEC, MVCC, thigh circumference, or the knee joint reposition sense test. Conclusions: Both the isolated NMES intervention and its combination with BFR induced immediate changes in thigh circumference without impairing the muscle strength or proprioceptive ability of the football players. However, these results should be interpreted with caution, and future studies including a control group and isolated BFR application are needed.
Analysis and Design of Infrared Search and Track System with Afocal Zoom Telescope
Authors: Qu Rui , Zhang Hongwei , Yang Lei , Chen Weining
Published: December 2023

The infrared search and track system (IRST) is a type of special electrical optical (EO) system that can be used in various scenarios to fulfill situation awareness, reconnaissance, and tracking of targets. We proposed a homogeneous coordinate transformation method to analyze the residual image wandering induced by the rotation of the scanning platform and the compensation fast steering mirror and help with the commonly trivial selection of the telescope magnification and the objective focal length. The analysis and simulation are carried out with specified IRST optics, which adopt a 640 × 512 array and 15 μm pitch detector, in a focal range of 60 mm~360 mm, and a scan speed of 360°/s to 60 °/s at 50 fps, and optical specifications are determined further. The presented optical system, with only three kinds of common infrared materials, works at 3.7 μm~4.8 μm, demonstrates good image performance and tolerance characteristics, and shows potential in manufacturing. Also, the resulting image wandering of 8 μm, less than a 0.6-pixel size, at an integral time of 16 ms, proves the correctness of the method and makes the scheme of considerable interest for electrical optical systems.
Strategies for Reducing Booming Noise Generated by the Tailgate of an Electric Sport Utility Vehicle
Authors: Kim Dongju , Jeon Sangmin , Lee Jeonga , Kwak Kyoungtaek , Cho Manhee , Lee Horyul , Kim Minsik , Chung Jintai
Published: December 2023

This article investigates the source of booming noise emanating from the tailgate of an electric sport utility vehicle (SUV), along with proposed strategies to mitigate it. This annoying low-frequency booming noise, which significantly impacts interior sound quality, is less perceptible in conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. However, this noise is more readily detected in electric SUVs, highlighting the necessity for focused measures to reduce it. This study involved the measurement of booming noises during on-road vehicle tests to pinpoint their origins. Additionally, ODSs were extracted from the tailgate vibration signals to gain insight into its dynamic behavior. Modal tests were conducted on the tailgate to determine its dynamic characteristics and compared with driving test results to reveal the mechanism responsible for tailgate-induced booming noise. It was established that such noise is primarily due to the tailgate modes, resulting from a combination of rigid body motion in the fore-aft direction and deformation in the central section of the panel. An analytical model of the tailgate was developed using commercial finite-element analysis software to propose measures for reducing booming noise. Experimental findings validated this model’s accuracy. Structural enhancements were implemented to enhance the panel stiffness and improve the connection between the vehicle and tailgate via bushings to reduce the booming noise resulting from tailgate motion. Under random force inputs, the analytical results demonstrated a 13.8% reduction in maximum deformation in the tailgate model in the improved structural configuration with increased panel stiffness. This study identifies the mechanism generating booming noise, establishes a practical and simple dynamic model, and proposes improvement measures aimed at reducing the booming noise.
Time-Varying Reliability Analysis of Multi-Cracked Beams Considering Maintenance Dependence
Authors: Gao Peng , Xie Liyang
Published: December 2023

Time-varying reliability models of multi-cracked beam structures are established in this paper, which provide a theoretical method for the safety evaluation of multi-cracked beam structures. The reliability models proposed in this paper consider the interaction between the complex statistical correlations between system parameters during system operation and maintenance correlations, which is a difficult problem in the time-varying reliability modeling that takes into account work mechanisms and maintenance behavior. In the proposed models, multiple cracked elements are regarded as a dependent series system. The stresses, crack extensions, and multiple failure modes between each element constitute the complex failure dependence of the system. The time-varying reliability models of a multi-cracked beam structure are established via the neural network method and failure dependence analysis. Moreover, the failure dependence coefficient is proposed to quantify the time-varying failure dependence. Based on the working principle of the beam structures and the maintenance mechanism for the cracked state of the beams, a time-varying system reliability mode considering the maintenance dependence is proposed. Furthermore, the maintenance dependence coefficient index is proposed to quantitatively measure the interaction between the maintenance dependence and the failure dependence. Finally, the validity of the model is verified through the Monte Carlo simulation method. In the numerical examples, the relationship between maintenance dependence and failure dependence is illustrated and the influences of the statistical characteristics of the maintenance characteristic parameters on the maintainability and failure dependence are analyzed.
Pearson-ShuffleDarkNet37-SE-Fully Connected-Net for Fault Classification of the Electric System of Electric Vehicles
Authors: Lu Quan , Chen Shan , Yin Linfei , Ding Lu
Published: December 2023

As the core components of electric vehicles, the safety of the electric system, including motors, batteries, and electronic control systems, has always been of great concern. To provide early warning of electric-system failure and troubleshoot the problem in time, this study proposes a novel energy-vehicle electric-system failure-classification method, which is named Pearson-ShuffleDarkNet37-SE-Fully Connected-Net (PSDSEF). Firstly, the raw data were preprocessed and dimensionality reduction was performed after the Pearson correlation coefficient; then, data features were extracted utilizing ShuffleNet and an improved DarkNet37-SE network based on DarkNet53; secondly, the inserted squeeze-and-excitation networks (SE-Net) channel attention were able to obtain more fault-related target information; finally, the prediction results of the ShuffleNet and DarkNet37-SE networks were aggregated with a fully connected neural network to output the classification results. The experimental results showed that the proposed PSDSEF-based electric vehicles electric-system fault-classification method achieved an accuracy of 97.22%, which is better than other classical convolutional neural networks with the highest accuracy of 92.19% (ResNet101); the training time is faster than the average training time of the comparative networks. The proposed PSDSEF has the advantage of high classification accuracy and small number of parameters.
An Optimized Hierarchal Cluster Formation Approach for Management of Smart Cities
Authors: Saleh Safa’a S. , Alansari Iman Sadek , Farouk Mohamed , Hamiaz Mounira Kezadri , Ead Waleed , Tarabishi Rana A. , Khater Hatem A.
Published: December 2023

A smart city is a metropolis technology that employs information technology with several internet of things (IoT) devices to enhance the quality of services for citizens, such as the traffic system, energy consumption, and waste collection. In fact, the quality of service (QoS) of these daily routine services are based on an assistive observation system. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs), as the key component of IoT, are used here to gather data into surveillance subsystems for supporting the decision making. To enhance the collected data management of the surveillance subsystems, many clustering techniques are introduced. The low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy protocol (LEACH) is a key clustering technique of WSN. However, this protocol has deterring limitations, especially in the cluster formation step, which negatively impacts the residual power of many nodes. In fact, a limited number of efforts that try to optimize the clustering formation step represent the main motivation of this work. Considering this problem, the current research proposes an optimized approach to enhance the cluster formation phase of LEACH. The proposed approach depends on the suitability of the residual energy in the nodes to cover the communication energy, with CHs (cluster heads) as a key factor when allocating the node clusters in the first competition. The remaining power and the density of CHs are employed to weigh the accepted CHs and adjust the optimized size of the clusters in the secondary competition. The third competition helps each cluster to select the optimal members from the candidate members according to the impact of each. The advantages and efficiency of the ICSI (intelligent cluster selection approach for IoT) are observed via the ratio of surviving nodes increasing by 21%, residual energy increasing in 32% of the nodes, and a 34% higher network lifetime.
PatentInspector: An Open-Source Tool for Applied Patent Analysis and Information Extraction
Authors: Petrakis Konstantinos , Georgiou Konstantinos , Mittas Nikolaos , Angelis Lefteris
Published: December 2023

Patent analysis is a field that concerns the analysis of patent records, for the purpose of extracting insights and trends, and it is widely used in various fields. Despite the abundance of proprietary software employed for this purpose, there is currently a lack of easy-to-use and publicly available software that can offer simple and intuitive visualizations, while advocating for open science and scientific software development. In this study, we attempt to fill this gap by offering PatentInspector, an open-source, public tool that, by leveraging patent data from the United States Trademark and Patent Office, is able to produce descriptive analytics, thematic axes and citation network analysis. The use and interpretability of PatentInspector is illustrated through a use case on human resource management-related patents, highlighting its functionalities. The results indicate that PatentInspector is a practical resource for conducting patent analytics and can be used by individuals with a limited or no background in coding and software development.
Research on Static and Dynamic Loading Performance of Geosynthetic Reinforced and Pile-Supported Embankment
Authors: Deng Yousheng , Zhao Huiling , Li Lingtao , Yao Zhigang , Li Long
Published: December 2023

Geosynthetic reinforced and pile-supported (GRPS) provide an economic and effective solution for embankments. To investigate the load-bearing mechanism of the GRPS embankment in loess, experimental and numerical studies under static and dynamic loading are carried out. The characteristics of soil arch effect and tensile membrane effect of GPRS embankment under static and dynamic loading are revealed by analyzing pile–soil stress ratio, tension of geogrid, and stress distribution of pile. The test results show that the pile–soil stress ratio under dynamic loading is reduced by 2.3 compared with static loading. In comparison to static load, the soil arching effect is attenuated under dynamic load, and the stronger the static load soil arching effect, the greater the degree of weakening under dynamic load. In addition, under dynamic loading, the tensioned membrane effect is still effective, but its enhancement is not as pronounced as under static loading. Furthermore, by using the finite element software, the numerical model is developed and validated with the experimental results. The parameter analysis of the load-bearing performance of the GRPS embankment is accomplished using the finite element model as well.
In-Depth Steel Crack Analysis Using Photoacoustic Imaging (PAI) with Machine Learning-Based Image Processing Techniques and Evaluating PAI-Based Internal Steel Crack Feasibility
Authors: Akbar Arbab , Lee Ja Yeon , Kim Jun Hyun , Jeong Myung Yung
Published: December 2023

Steel plays an indispensable role in our daily lives, permeating various products ranging from essential commodities and recreational gears to information technology devices and general household items. The meticulous evaluation of steel defects holds paramount importance to ensure the secure and dependable operation of the end products. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) emerges as a promising modality for structural inspection in the realm of health monitoring applications. This study incorporates PAI experimentation to generate an image dataset and employs machine learning techniques to estimate the length and width of surface cracks. Furthermore, the research delves into the feasibility assessment of employing PAI to investigate internal cracks within a steel sample through a numerical simulation-based study. The study’s findings underscore the efficacy of the PAI in achieving precise surface crack detection, with an acceptable root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.63 ± 0.03. The simulation results undergo statistical analysis techniques, including the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, to discern disparities between pristine samples and those featuring internal cracks at different locations. The results discern statistically significant distinctions in the simulated acoustic responses for samples with internal cracks of varying sizes at identical/different locations (p < 0.001). These results validate the capability of the proposed technique to differentiate between internal crack sizes and positions, establishing it as a viable method for internal crack detection in steel.
Fatigue Crack Growth Analysis in Modified Compact Tension Specimen with Varying Stress Ratios: A Finite Element Study
Authors: Alshoaibi Abdulnaser M.
Published: December 2023

In this study, the primary objective is to analyze fatigue crack propagation in linear elastic fracture mechanics using the SMART crack growth module in the ANSYS Workbench, employing the finite element method. The investigation encompasses several crucial steps, including the computation of stress intensity factors (SIFs), determination of crack paths, and estimation of remaining fatigue life. To thoroughly understand crack behavior under various loading conditions, a wide range of stress ratios, ranging from R = 0.1 to R = 0.9, is considered. The research findings highlight the significant impact of the stress ratio on the equivalent range of SIFs, fatigue life cycles, and distribution of deformation. As the stress ratio increases, there is a consistent reduction in the magnitude of the equivalent range of stress intensity factor. Additionally, a reciprocal relationship is observed between the level of X-directional deformation and the number of cycles to failure. This indicates that components experiencing lower levels of deformation tend to exhibit longer fatigue life cycles, as evidenced by the specimens studied. To verify the findings, the computational results are matched with the crack paths and fatigue life data obtained from both experimental and numerical sources available in the open literature. The extensive comparison carried out reveals a remarkable level of agreement between the computed outcomes and both the experimental and numerical results.
Design and Experiment of Grain Lifter for Sorghum Harvester
Authors: He Qinghao , Wang Qihuan , Geng Duanyang , Li Duanxin , Niu Lin , Ma Jie , Zhang Ce , Ming Jiarui , Ni Lei
Published: December 2023

In order to solve the problems of grain lifter in sorghum harvesting, such as ear loss and serious crop leakage loss, combined with the physical and mechanical characteristics of sorghum, the segmented and reverse spiral grain lifter for sorghum harvesting and cutting table was developed, and the design method of the main structural parameters of the grain lifter was determined. The comparative test of the working effect of the clasp showed that the working effect of the cutting table with the clasp was better than that without the clasp, which effectively reduced the harvest loss of the cutting table. By using Box–Behnken experimental design method, the influence law of forward speed, tilt angle, and rotation speed of grain lifter on the rate of ear loss and harvest loss in sorghum harvesting was investigated. The regression mathematical model and response surface of the rate of ear loss and harvest loss and analysis factors were established, and the optimal working parameters of the grain lifter were determined. The forward speed was 0.8 m/s, the tilt angle of the grain lifter was 28°, and the rotation speed of the grain lifter was 330 r/min. Under these conditions, the spike loss rate was 2.01, the leakage loss rate was 2.19, and the error with the theoretical value was less than 3%, which proved the rationality of the optimized combination parameters. In the harvest of crooked and fallen sorghum, the grain lifter can effectively reduce the loss of sorghum head drop and lodging leakage, ensure the reliability of the cutting table, and achieve low loss and efficient harvest of sorghum.
Assessment of Typical Meteorological Year Data in Photovoltaic Geographical Information System 5.2, Based on Reanalysis and Ground Station Data from 147 European Weather Stations
Authors: Kulesza Kinga , Martinez Ana , Taylor Nigel
Published: December 2023

The Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS) is a web application that provides free access to solar radiation and temperature data, typical meteorological year (TMY) data, and to photovoltaic performance assessment tools for any place in most parts of the world. The PVGIS was originally developed over 20 years ago, and since then, it has been under continuous development. At present, there are two versions of the PVGIS online—the older version 5.1 and the newest version 5.2. PVGIS 5.2 includes substantial improvements compared to the previous version, e.g., the update of the underlying data sets both in terms of quality, resolution, and geographical coverage and the extension of the time period used. This paper focuses on comparing the TMYs (and more specifically the TMY time series of air temperature), coming from both PVGIS 5.1 and 5.2, with the TMY produced on the basis of ground station meteorological data and with the ground station data itself. The results show that whereas overall the errors and biases for most locations are within the expected range (mean stationRMSE 4.27), these differences increase in places with complicated topography, e.g., in the Alps (maximum stationRMSE 9.50).