bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Animal Welfare Assessment in 16 Zoos in South Korea Using the Modified Animal Welfare Assessment Grid
Authors: Ma Seung-Aee , Kang Hye-Jin , Lee Kyuyoung , Kim Sun-A. , Han Jin Soo
Published: April 2022

Various assessment tools that have been proposed thus far have disadvantages in that they are complex, time-consuming, non-objective, and not convenient for assessing multiple zoos. This study aimed to develop a simple, objective, and reliable welfare assessment tool, the modified Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG), that can be applied in South Korea, where there is no licensing system for zoos. The AWAG has four main sections: physical, psychological, environmental, and procedural. These four sections include 23 welfare factors like general conditions, behaviors, housing, and restraints, for which each individual or group of animals is given a score. The modified AWAG system was applied by converting the 10-point rating scale of the original AWAG to a 6-point Likert scale. Sixteen zoos in Korea were selected based on the zoos with the most animals. Three inspectors assessed the scores of each animal and then averaged the results. The total data surveyed included 16,065 items. Zoos were largely classified into four grades based on the size of the zoo, animal species, and operating organization. In a relatively short period of 14 days, all the zoos were successfully assessed. Despite the shortened and modified assessment tool, the inter-rater reliability among inspectors was 0.942 with high objectivity. The modified AWAG could identify welfare differences between grades of Korean zoos. There were large differences between zoos in most environmental sections and some zoos were evaluated as having inadequate welfare levels. The modified AWAG showed high usability and objectivity. In addition, it was possible to determine which environmental or procedural sections could potentially help improve physical and psychological scores. The modified AWAG is an objective method that could set the direction for the improvement of zoo welfare in the future.
Dentin Matrix Protein 1 Silencing Inhibits Phosphorus Utilization in Primary Cultured Tibial Osteoblasts of Broiler Chicks
Authors: Li Tingting , Geng Yanqiang , Hu Yun , Zhang Liyang , Cui Xiaoyan , Zhang Weiyun , Gao Feiyu , Liu Zongping , Luo Xugang
Published: April 2022

Three experiments were carried out in the present study to investigate whether dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) was involved in regulating phosphorus (P) metabolic utilization in primary cultured tibial osteoblasts of broiler chicks. Experiment 1 was conducted to select the optimal osteogenic inductive culture medium and the optimal induction time in primary cultured tibial osteoblasts of broiler chicks. In experiment 2, the siRNAs against DMP1 were designed, synthesized and transfected into primary cultured tibial osteoblasts of broiler chicks, and then the inhibitory efficiencies of siRNAs against DMP1 were determined, and the most efficacious siRNA was selected to be used for the DMP1 silencing. In experiment 3, with or without siRNA against DMP1, primary cultured tibial osteoblasts of broiler chicks were treated with the medium supplemented with 0.0, 1.0 or 2.0 mmol/L of P as NaH2PO4 for 12 days. The P metabolic utilization-related parameters were measured. The results showed that the osteogenic induced medium 2 and 12 days of the optimal induction time were selected; Among the designed siRNAs, the si340 was the most effective (P < 0.05) in inhibiting the DMP1 expression; DMP1 silencing decreased (P < 0.05) the expressions of DMP1 mRNA and protein, P retention rate, mineralization formation, alkaline phosphatase activity and bone gla-protein content in tibial osteoblasts at all of added P levels. It is concluded that DMP1 silencing inhibited P utilization, and thus DMP1 was involved in regulating P metabolic utilization in primary cultured tibial osteoblasts of broiler chicks, which provides a novel insight into the regulation of the P utilization in the bone of broilers, and will contribute to develop feasible strategies to improve the bone P utilization efficiency of broilers so as to decrease its excretion.
Evaluation of Biochemical and Physiological Changes in Sweet Corn Seeds under Natural Aging and Artificial Accelerated Aging
Authors: Wang Bo , Yang Ruichun , Ji Zhaoqian , Zhang Huaxing , Zheng Wenbo , Zhang Huihui , Feng Faqiang
Published: April 2022

Sweet corn seeds are sensitive to storage due to their low starch content and poor seed vigor. Therefore, it is important to understand their physiological and biochemical behavior during storage to prolong their longevity and prevent the loss of vigor. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the physiological and biochemical changes in sweet corn seeds during storage. Artificial accelerated aging and natural aging were applied to 19 inbred lines. We found that GP, GR and VI decreased as aging proceeded. The physiological and biochemical characteristics of seeds three days after artificial aging (AA3d) and eight months after natural aging (NA8M) were evaluated. The contents of GA, ABA, and malondialdehyde and amylase activity in AA3d and NA8M seeds showed significant differences among the lines, while the total protein and total starch content showed nonsignificant or small differences. We found significant differences among the lines and a nonsignificant difference between AA3d and NA8M seeds in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. A correlation analysis showed that the germination rate was significantly negatively correlated with the ABA content in AA3d seeds, while SOD was positively correlated with GR and GI in NA8M seeds. This study provides a useful catalog of physiological and biochemical changes in sweet corn seeds, offering insights for the future genetic improvement of sweet corn’s storage tolerance.
Influence of Mechanical Transplanting Methods and Planting Geometry on Grain Yield and Lodging Resistance of Indica Rice Taoyouxiangzhan under Rice–Crayfish Rotation System
Authors: Gao Hui , Li Yangyang , Zhou Yicheng , Guo Halun , Chen Linrong , Yang Qian , Lu Yao , Dou Zhi , Xu Qiang
Published: April 2022

Rice–crayfish rotation expanded rapidly in China, as it provides considerable profit and reduces pesticide application. This study investigated the impact of different mechanical transplanting methods and planting geometry on the yield and lodging resistance of an indica rice variety under a rice–crayfish rotation system in 2018 and 2019 in Hongze Lake district, using an excellent-quality variety Taoyouxiangzhan. Seedlings were mechanically transplanted using two mechanically transplanted carpet seedling (MTCS) with equal spacing (30 cm) at five spacings and mechanically transplanted pot seedling (MTPS) with wide and narrow rows (23 cm + 33 cm) at five spacings. The yield of MTPS was 8.3% higher across 2 years under the most optimum density than MTCS using the same density, mainly due to a significantly increased number of spikelets per panicle. Accompanied by the decrease in planting density, rice yield first increased and then decreased under each mechanically transplanting method, and reached the maximum in the A4 and B4 treatments (63.9 × 104 seedlings ha−1), respectively. Compared with MTCS, MTPS significantly increased the fresh weight of single stem, plant height, gravity center height, ear weight, length and area of the upper three leaves, so as to increase the bending moment at basal internodes by whole plant (WP), while it also increased the stem diameter, wall thickness and stem and leaf sheath dry weight per unit length of the second internode at the base, resulting in a significant increase in the force applied to break the base segment (F) and the bending moment of whole plant (M). The higher increase percentage in M than WP led to a decreased lodging index. The lodging index of both mechanically transplanting methods reduced with declined planting density in virtue of the improved breaking load of the basal internode, and it was primarily a result of increased stem diameter, wall thickness and plumpness of basal internode. The balance between the high yield and lodging resistance of Taoyouxiangzhan under a rice–crayfish rotation system can be realized at 63.9 × 104 seedlings ha−1, with MTCS at 15.7 cm plant spacing and MTPS at 16.8 cm. Generally, MTPS showed obvious advantages in yield and lodging resistance than MTCS.
Identification of Candidate Genes Regulating Carcass Depth and Hind Leg Circumference in Simmental Beef Cattle Using Illumina Bovine Beadchip and Next-Generation Sequencing Analyses
Authors: Bordbar Farhad , Mohammadabadi Mohammadreza , Jensen Just , Xu Lingyang , Li Junya , Zhang Lupei
Published: April 2022

Genome-wide association studies are a robust means of identifying candidate genes that regulate economically important traits in farm animals. The aim of this study is to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate genes potentially related to carcass depth and hind leg circumference in Simmental beef cattle. We performed Illumina Bovine HD Beadchip (~670 k SNPs) and next-generation sequencing (~12 million imputed SNPs) analyses of data from 1252 beef cattle, to which we applied a linear mixed model. Using a statistical threshold (p = 0.05/number of SNPs identified) and adopting a false discovery rate (FDR), we identified many putative SNPs on different bovine chromosomes. We identified 12 candidate genes potentially annotated with the markers identified, including CDKAL1 and E2F3, related to myogenesis and skeletal muscle development. The identification of such genes in Simmental beef cattle will help breeders to understand and improve related traits, such as meat yield.
Detection the eDNA of Batrachuperus taibaiensis from the Zhouzhi Heihe River Using a Nested PCR Method and DNA Barcoding
Authors: Ma Hongying , Zhang Han , Deng Jie , Zhao Hu , Kong Fei , Jiang Wei , Zhang Hongxing , Dong Xianggui , Wang Qijun
Published: April 2022

The Taibai stream salamander (Batrachuperus taibaiensis) is a recently described species of the genus Batrachuperus that occurs in the Zhouzhi Heihe River and is endangered in its native range. Here, we have established a method for water environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis of Batrachuperus using a series of optimizations. We have designed a specific set of primers for the genus Batrachuperus to amplify a 160 bp fragment of Cytb. The sequences were obtained from nested PCR on eDNA extracted from water samples, after which DNA barcoding was performed according to sequence analysis to determine the presence of the target species in the water. The method was validated using water from the Zhouzhi Heihe River with known B. taibaiensis populations and found that B. taibaiensis eDNA can move at least 150 m downstream from its point of origin. This study is the first to establish an optimal method for obtaining the eDNA of Batrachuperus from water samples, which provides a theoretical basis for resource investigation and the protection of B. taibaiensis in future research. It is also an example of the eDNA extraction of other species that live in similar waters and are less genetically diverse between species.
Effect of Lentinula edodes on Morphological and Biochemical Blood Parameters of Horses
Authors: Soroko Maria , Górniak Wanda , Zielińska Paulina , Górniak Aleksander , Śniegucka Karolina , Nawrot Karolina , Korczyński Mariusz
Published: April 2022

Shiitake mushrooms have been highly regarded as possessing enormous nutritive and medicinal values. No clinical studies have yet investigated the effect of shitake supplementation on the health of horses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of shiitake mushroom supplementation on the morphological and biochemical blood properties in horses. A total of 17 adult horses were divided into two groups: supplemented and control. The supplemented group was fed 60 g of shiitake mushrooms per day for 5 months. Blood samples were collected in five sessions. Blood morphological analysis showed higher levels of lymphocytes in session 3 and monocytes in session 4 in the supplemented group. In addition, basophils, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were elevated compared to the control group. Biochemical analysis showed that the shiitake mushrooms affected a large number of parameters. In particular, alkaline phosphatase was found to be the most sensitive to shitake mushroom supplementation, for which the statistical differences were significant for sessions 2, 4, and 5. Furthermore, calcium was found to be affected by supplementation only in session 4, and gamma-glutamyl transferase in session 2. In addition, the bilirubin and glucose levels were lower in the supplemented group, and the albumin/globulin ratio was higher compared to the control group. The differences between the supplement and the control group in various sessions suggest that shiitake mushrooms are a beneficial nutritional supplement for horses.
Effect of Two Soybean Varieties Treated with Different Heat Intensities on Ileal and Caecal Microbiota in Broiler Chickens
Authors: Hemetsberger Florian , Zwirzitz Benjamin , Yacoubi Nadia , Kneifel Wolfgang , Schedle Karl , Domig Konrad J.
Published: April 2022

Soybean products are of high importance for the protein supply of poultry. Heat treatment of soybeans is essential to ensure optimal digestibility because of intrinsic antinutritive factors typical for this feed category. However, excessive treatment promotes the Maillard reaction and reduces protein digestibility. Furthermore, Europe’s efforts are to decrease dependence on imports of soybean products and enlarge local production. This process will include an increase in the variability of soybean batches, posing great challenges to adequate processing conditions. Intrinsic soybean properties plus heat treatment intensity might be able to modulate the gut microbiota, which is of crucial importance for an animal’s health and performance. To assess the influence of heat treatment and soybean variety on gut microbiota, 2 soybean cakes from 2 varieties were processed at 110 °C or 120 °C and subsequently fed to 336 one-day-old broiler chickens. After 36 days, the animals were slaughtered, and the digesta of the ileum and caecum was collected. Next, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the extracted DNA revealed a high discrepancy between gut sections, but there were no differences between male and female birds. Significant differences attributed to the different soybean varieties and heat intensity were detected for certain bacterial taxa. However, no effect on specific families or genera appeared. In conclusion, the results indicated the potential of processing conditions and soybean variety as microbiota-modulating factors.
Can Bacteriophages Replace Antibiotics?
Authors: Skurnik Mikael
Published: April 2022

Increasing antibiotic resistance numbers force both scientists and politicians to tackle the problem, and preferably without any delay. The application of bacteriophages as precision therapy to treat bacterial infections, phage therapy, has received increasing attention during the last two decades. While it looks like phage therapy is here to stay, there is still a lot to do. Medicine regulatory authorities are working to deliver clear instructions to carry out phage therapy. Physicians need to get more practical experience on treatments with phages. In this opinion article I try to place phage therapy in the context of the health care system and state that the use phages for precision treatments will require a seamless chain of events from the patient to the phage therapy laboratory to allow for the immediate application of phages therapeutically. It is not likely that phages will replace antibiotics, however, they will be valuable in the treatment of infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria. Antibiotics will nevertheless remain the main treatment for a majority of infections.
New Drugs for the Treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections with Limited Treatment Options: A Narrative Review
Authors: Losito Angela Raffaella , Raffaelli Francesca , Del Giacomo Paola , Tumbarello Mario
Published: April 2022

P. aeruginosa is still one of the most threatening pathogens responsible for serious hospital-acquired infections. It is intrinsically resistant to many antimicrobial agents and additional acquired resistance further complicates the management of such infections. High rates of combined antimicrobial resistance persist in many countries, especially in the eastern and south-eastern parts of Europe. The aim of this narrative review is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the epidemiology, latest data, and clinical evidence on the current and new available drugs active against P. aeruginosa isolates with limited treatment options. The latest evidence and recommendations supporting the use of ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam, characterized by targeted clinical activity against a significant proportion of P. aeruginosa strains with limited treatment options, are described based on a review of the latest microbiological and clinical studies. Cefiderocol, with excellent in vitro activity against P. aeruginosa isolates, good stability to all β-lactamases and against porin and efflux pumps mutations, is also examined. New carbapenem combinations are explored, reviewing the latest experimental and initial clinical evidence. One section is devoted to a review of new anti-pseudomonal antibiotics in the pipeline, such as cefepime-taniborbactam and cefepime-zidebactam. Finally, other “old” antimicrobials, mainly fosfomycin, that can be used as combination strategies, are described.
Evaluation of a Frozen Micro-Agar Plates of MAPt Antibiotic Susceptibility Test for Enhanced Bioterror Preparedness
Authors: Rotem Shahar , Shifman Ohad , Aloni-Grinstein Ronit
Published: April 2022

There is an urgent need for rapid antibiotic susceptibility tests to improve clinical treatment and to support antibiotic stewardship, especially concerning the emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Nowadays this need is even more profound due to progress in synthetic biology procedures that may facilitate the malicious preparation of engineered antibiotic-resistant pathogens. We recently described a novel, rapid, simple, specific, and sensitive method named a Micro-Agar-PCR-test (MAPt) and showed its performance on clinical as well as environmental samples. The method does not require any isolation or purification steps and is applicable to a wide range of bacterial concentrations, thus allowing a short time to respond within a bioterror event (5–7 h for B. anthracis, 10–12 h for Y. pestis, and 16 h for F. tularensis). Ready-to-use reagents for this assay may add a level of preparedness. We examined the option of freezing pre-prepared MAPt agar plates and thawing them upon need. Our results show that adequate minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values are obtained with the use of thawed 6- and 12-month frozen agar plates. The ability to store MAPt micro-agar plates at −70 °C for a year, together with all other reagents required for MAPt, holds a great advantage for bioterror preparedness.
Extraction of Antioxidant Compounds from Onion Bulb (Allium cepa L.) Using Individual and Simultaneous Microwave-Assisted Extraction Methods
Authors: González-de-Peredo Ana V. , Vázquez-Espinosa Mercedes , Espada-Bellido Estrella , Ferreiro-González Marta , Carrera Ceferino , Barbero Gerardo F. , Palma Miguel
Published: April 2022

Despite the excellent beneficial properties that anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds give to the red onion bulbs, few articles have investigated modern extraction techniques or experimental designs in this field. For this reason, the present study proposes the development and optimization of alternative methods for the extraction of these compounds based on microwave-assisted extraction and the Box-Behnken experiment design. The optimal values for the extraction of total anthocyanins have been established at 62% methanol composition as a solvent, pH 2, 56 °C temperature, and 0.2:13 g:mL sample-solvent ratio. Regarding the extraction of total phenolic compounds, the optimal conditions have been established at 100% pure methanol as a solvent with pH 2, 57 °C temperature, and 0.2:8.8 g:mL sample-solvent ratio. Short extraction times (min), good recoveries (mg of bioactive compound g−1 of dry onion), and high repeatability and intermediate precision (coefficient of variation (%)) have been confirmed for both methods. Regarding total anthocyanins, the following results have been obtained: 2 min, 2.64 ± 0.093 mg of total anthocyanins g−1 of dry onion, and 2.51% and 3.12% for precision. Regarding phenolic compounds, the following results have been obtained: 15 min, 7.95 ± 0.084 mg of total phenolic compound g−1 of dry onion, and 3.62% and 4.56% for precision. Comparing these results with those of other authors and with those obtained in a previous study of ultrasound-assisted extraction, it can be confirmed that microwave-assisted extraction is a quantitative, repeatable, and very promising method for the extraction of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins, which offers similar and even superior results with little solvent expense, time, and costs.
Reliability Prediction Method for Low-Cycle Fatigue Life of Compressor Disks Based on the Fusion of Simulation and Zero-Failure Data
Authors: Chen Ruoqi , Chen Gaoxiang , Liu Xi , Ai Xing , Zhu Haiyan
Published: April 2022

Targeting reliability assessment problems with a small sample size and large amount of zero-failure data which appear in the life assessment tests of aero-engine compressor disks, a reliability assessment method and simulation test method were developed by fusing numerical simulation and zero-failure data based on the life reliability assessment method for zero-failure data. The developed method was verified by numerical examples, and further applied in the reliability analysis of compressor disks by combining the test and simulation results. The results indicated that fusing the test data with the simulation data increased the amount of information, improved the life prediction accuracy, and increased the lower confidence limit of the reliable life by 6.02% compared with the case where the test data alone were used.
Design of Multi-Functional Transmitarray with Active Linear Polarization Conversion and Beam Steering Capabilities
Authors: Lee In-Gon , Kim Jong-Yeong , Hong Ic-Pyo
Published: April 2022

This study designed a multi-functional reconfigurable transmitarray with switchable polarization and beam steering capabilities using only a PIN diode having ON/OFF switching ability. The simulation confirmed that the proposed architecture is capable of 2D beam scanning of up to ±45° for elevation and azimuth while maintaining or converting linear polarization when operating within the X-band. The performance was verified through a far-field beam pattern measurement using the near-field antenna measurement system by producing a transmitarray with an 8 × 8 unit cell arrangement. The maximum level of gain of the proposed architecture was confirmed to be 14.5 dBi, the sidelobe level was below 14.5 dBc, the polarization converting loss was below 1.28 dB, and the polarization isolation level was above 14.7 dB. It can be utilized for the design technique of a radar system demanding small size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) characteristics based on a simplified composition.
Optimization of Transmission X-ray Target for Intense Pulsed Electron Beam Accelerators
Authors: Yu Xiao , Zhang Shijian , Egorov Ivan Sergeevich , Zhao Jiangqi , Xiong Chang , Yan Sha , Tan Chang , Remnev Gennady Efimovich , Le Xiaoyun
Published: April 2022

X-ray sources based on pulsed electron accelerators stimulate the development of bremsstrahlung converter designs. The numerical optimization of transmission-type X-ray targets for maximum X-ray output by pulsed electron beams was carried out in the present work. The targets featured a combination of a heavy element (tungsten or molybdenum) X-ray conversion layer and a titanium membrane that served as the vacuum window, thermal shielding for converter heat, and an electron dump. The energy spectrum of the electron beam generated via explosive emission was analyzed via the space-charge effect, and was utilized for the source sampling algorithm for electron transportation simulation with a Monte Carlo method for X-ray emission analysis. It was revealed that the transmission photon intensity of a mono-material target is primarily affected by the thickness of the target, and there exists an optimal target thickness within which the photon fluence is restricted by insufficient electron stopping; when exceeded, the extra thickness of the X-ray converter target imposes absorption and attenuates the generated X-ray. Analysis on dual-layer targets proved that this optimized converter target thickness, combined with a proper titanium window, produces the highest X-ray photon emissions.
Evaluation of Structural and Functional Behavior of Battery Charger for Low/High-Frequency Motions in NPP
Authors: Jeong Young-Soo , Eem Seung-Hyun , Jeon Bub-Gyu , Park Dong-Uk
Published: April 2022

Earthquake damage to electrical systems degrades their performances and disrupts their normal functioning. Furthermore, it disrupts nuclear power plant (NPP) operations. NPPs in South Korea have been designed based on the Regulatory Guide 1.60 (RG 1.60) design spectra; however, the Gyeongju earthquakes in South Korea were of high frequency, with magnitudes of 5.1 and 5.8. Therefore, the seismic performances of electrical systems (high-frequency sensitive) must be evaluated to consider low- and high-frequency motions. In this study, to ensure the operation of NPPs in South Korea, the seismic performance and dynamic characteristics of the battery charger (BC) in the electrical subsystem were evaluated experimentally. Seismic tests of the BC were performed to consider low frequencies, high frequencies and a combination of both. The dynamic characteristics of the inside and outside of the cabinet, depending on the input motions, were evaluated and compared based on the tests. Moreover, the acceptance criteria for relay contact chatter were evaluated using the measured output signal during the seismic tests. From seismic test results, the peak acceleration of CRS at the top location (A6) was 1.31 times larger than that of UHS and 1.51 times than that of RG 1.60 and it increased rapidly with increasing PGA levels. Contact chatter was not observed under a peak acceleration of 3.4 g on the installed relay of the panel; however, the relay chatter for more than 2 ms dropped below the reference voltage 46 times. The major components of the electric cabinet were significantly affected by high-frequency motion.
How Does the Lumbopelvic Complex Cope with the Obstetrical Load during Standing? Ergonomic Aspects of Body Posture in Pregnant Women
Authors: Michnik Robert , Zadoń Hanna , Nowakowska-Lipiec Katarzyna , Forczek-Karkosz Wanda
Published: April 2022

Pregnancy induces numerous modifications in the musculoskeletal system of the female body. Since one of the essential roles of the lumbopelvic structure is to support mechanical loads in the upright position, this study was designed to simulate the response of this complex to the growing foetus in pregnant women. The authors hypothesized that posture (i.e., lordosis and muscle involvement) under pregnancy conditions might be adjusted to minimize the demands of the obstetrical load. The analysis of the load on the musculoskeletal system during gestation was made based on numerical simulations carried out in the AnyBody Modeling System. The pregnancy-related adjustments such as increased pelvic anteversion and increased lumbar lordosis enhance the reduction of muscle activation (e.g., erector spinae, transversus abdominis or iliopsoas), muscle fatigue and spinal load (reaction force). The results may help develop antenatal exercise programs targeting core strength and pelvic stability.
Perceptions on Regional Benefit of Airport Development and Operation
Authors: Song Ki-Han , Suh Wonho
Published: April 2022

Airport development and operation has a significant impact on local economy. However, the impact is assessed differently from different perspectives. In this paper, the authors investigated how the public think on the benefit of airport development and operation from a regional perspective. More specifically, the paper focuses on what the main factors are in public perceptions on the regional benefit of airport development and operation. The authors analyzed a survey collected in South Korea using structural equation models. The authors assigned five categories of perception factors and examined these factor relationships regarding the ripple effects caused by airport development and operation on each region. The five factors were “increased use in air transportation”, “increased exchange with other regions”, “regional economic benefit”, “regional development”, and “dis-benefit to the region”. The model was verified with structural equations and path analysis results for each factor. It was revealed that people perceive the increased use in air transportation and the increased exchange with other regions as bringing about the most significant ripple effects, followed by regional development and regional economic benefit in this order, according to the order of path groups. The results of this paper are expected to provide stakeholders’ perspectives and insights when planning airport development and operation.
Continuous Rotor Dynamics of Multi-Disc and Multi-Span Rotor: A Theoretical and Numerical Investigation on the Continuous Model and Analytical Solution for Unbalance Responses
Authors: Wang Aiming , Bi Yujie , Xia Yun , Cheng Xiaohan , Yang Jie , Meng Guoying
Published: April 2022

Continuous rotor dynamics remains stagnant. In this paper, aim at multi-span and multi-disc rotor-bearing system, the continuous rotor dynamic analysis method (CRDAM) is proposed. The force acting on the shaft by the rotating eccentric disc is simulated as a point force. The counterforce of bearing is also considered as a point force. The shaft is considered free-ended. A continuous rotor dynamic model is obtained and an analytical solution is proposed to express the unbalance response as function of the position, unbalance, support stiffness and damping. The proposed method is validated by numerical experiments in which unbalance responses obtained by it are compared with that obtained by the two classical methods the finite element method (FEM) and Ricatti method. The results indicate that the proposed method is applicable to calculating unbalance response of multi-disc and multi-span rotor. Moreover, it is closer to FEM than Ricatti and can be applied to actual high speed rotors. Among the three methods, the calculating speed of Ricatti is the fastest, CRDAM is the second fastest and FEM is the slowest. The proposed method, which solves the forward problems of the continuous rotor dynamics for the multi-disc and multi-span rotors, can provide theoretical basis for further studies on inverse problems such as identification of rotor unbalance and bearing stiffness and damping coefficients without test runs and external excitations.
Linking Short- to Medium-Term Beach Dune Dynamics to Local Features under Wave and Wind Actions: A Northern Portuguese Case Study
Authors: Bio Ana , Gonçalves José Alberto , Iglesias Isabel , Granja Helena , Pinho José , Bastos Luísa
Published: April 2022

Many coasts suffer from prevailing erosion, with them being particularly vulnerable to predicted climate change impacts, threatening coastal ecosystems, their services, infrastructures and populations. Understanding coastal morpho-sedimentary dynamics is thus essential for coastal management. However, coastal vulnerability may differ locally, depending on exposure/protection and local geological and morpho-hydrodynamical features, suggesting that a local approach to erosion risk assessment is needed to identify and understand local patterns. Digital elevation models of a 14 km long coastal stretch in northern Portugal that were extracted from aerial surveys obtained between November 2008 and February 2019 were analysed to quantify changes in shoreline position and sediment budgets, both for the whole study area and for distinct beach segments. The observed dynamics were subsequently analysed by considering prevailing wave and wind intensities and directions. Overall and during the decade analysed, the beach–dune system of the studied stretch slightly increased in volume (0.6%), although the shoreline retreated (by 1.6 m on average). Temporal variability in coastal dynamics was observed at all of the temporal scales considered—from seasons to 5-year periods—with them being related to variability in ocean and wind patterns. There was a trend from accretional to erosional conditions, with the first 5-year period showing a mean increase in the beach–dune system’s volume of 0.6% and a mean shoreline progradation of 1.5 m, followed by 5-years with 0.0% volume change and 3.1 m shoreline retreat. Locally, the dynamics were very variable, with shoreline dynamics ranging from 24.0 m regression to 51.5 m progradation, and sediment budgets from 213.8 m3 loss to 417.0 m3 gain, per segment and for the decade. Stretches with relatively stable morphologies and others with erosional or accretional trends were found, depending on the beach type, shoreline orientation and the presence of defence structures. Rocky beaches were the least dynamic and sandy beaches the most dynamic, with mean shoreline position changes of 0.0 m and −3.4 m, respectively, and mean sediment budgets of −1.1 m3 and −2.9 m3 per linear meter of coastline, respectively, for the studied decade. The observed dynamics showed how local conditions interacted with meteo-ocean conditions in shaping local morpho-sedimentary dynamics, stressing the importance of a local approach to coastal erosion monitoring and risk assessment.
Use of Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for DNA Identification on Recycled PET Composite Substrate
Authors: Dodi Gianina , Popescu Diana , Cojocaru Florina Daniela , Aradoaei Mihaela , Ciobanu Romeo Cristian , Mihai Cosmin Teodor
Published: April 2022

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has been extensively used in plastic pollution research, since it has the advantages of great simplicity, rapidity, and low cost, being widely employed in the fingerprint identification of molecular composition and structure. The present study evaluates attenuated total reflection (ATR)–FTIR spectroscopy as a sensitive and effective assay for the identification of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) isolated from experimental animals. Various composite materials based on recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the main component, along with high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and aluminum nanopowder obtained using an injection-molding machine, were used as substrate contaminants. The contamination was performed using quantified nucleic acid solution added in droplets to the clean, decontaminated samples, which were then dried and kept in a protective environment until the analysis. ATR–FTIR (with an FTIR spectrometer equipped with an ATR accessory) spectroscopy was used to analyze the bare composite materials’ substrates and the DNA-contaminated samples. To the best of our knowledge, the evaluation of PET packaging contamination with DNA species by FTIR has not been reported previously. This study demonstrated that FTIR spectroscopy could provide a rapid, sensitive, and reliable approach for screening of biochemical contaminants on composite materials based on recycled PET.
Detection of Yunnan Pine Shoot Beetle Stress Using UAV-Based Thermal Imagery and LiDAR
Authors: Wang Jingxu , Meng Shengwang , Lin Qinnan , Liu Yangyang , Huang Huaguo
Published: April 2022

Infestations of Tomicus spp. have caused the deaths of millions of Yunnan pine forests in Southwest China; consequently, accurate monitoring methods are required to assess the damage caused by these pest insects at an early stage. Considering the limited sensitivity of optical reflectance on the early stage of beetle stress, the potential of thermal infrared (TIR) can be exploited for monitoring forest health on the basis of the change of canopy surface temperature (CST). However, few studies have investigated the impact of the leaf area index (LAI) on the accuracy of TIR data-based SDR assessments. Therefore, the current study used unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV)-based TIR and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data to assess the capacity of determining the potential for using TIR data for determining SDR under different LAI conditions. The feasibility of using TIR for monitoring SDRs at the tree level and plot scales were analyzed using the relationship between SDR and canopy temperature. Results revealed that: (1) prediction accuracy of SDR from CST is promising at high LAI values and decreases quickly with LAI, and is higher at the single tree scale (R2 = 0.7890) than at the plot scale (R2 = 0.5532); (2) at either single tree or plot scale, a significant negative correlation can be found between CST and LAI (−0.9121 at tree scale and −0.5902 at plot scale); (3) LAI affects the transmission paths of sunlight and sensor, which mainly disturbs the relationship between CST and SDR. This article evaluated the high possibility of using TIR data to monitor SDRs at both tree and plot levels and assessed the negative impact of a low LAI (<1) on the relationship between temperature and SDR. Accordingly, when measuring forest health using TIR data, additional data sources are required to eliminate the negative impact of low LAIs and to improve the monitoring accuracy.
A Metagenetic Insight into Microbial Diversity of Spontaneously Fermented Polish Red Wines and an Analysis of Selected Physicochemical Properties
Authors: Kordowska-Wiater Monika , Pytka Monika , Stój Anna , Kubik-Komar Agnieszka , Wyrostek Jakub , Waśko Adam
Published: April 2022

Due to changes in climatic conditions in Poland interest in viticulture and wine production has considerably boosted. One of the worldwide trends in winemaking is use of indigenous strains of yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The aim of the study was to analyse the microbial diversity of Polish red wines and their key properties and combine them for better understanding of the processes responsible for creating the sensory attributes. Metagenetic analysis was used to characterise the bacterial and yeast diversity of wines produced by spontaneous fermentation of grapes of the Regent variety, which came from three vineyards: “Dom Bliskowice” (DB), “Małe Dobre” (MD), and “Winnica Janowiec” (WJ). Among bacteria, Tatumella ptyseos was the most abundant species in DB and WJ wines and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides was the most abundant in MD wine. Among yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was found in DB and WJ wines, Saccharomyces cariocanus in MD wine, and Hanseniaspora uvarum in all samples studied. Studied wines had statistically significantly different antioxidant capacities and distinct glucose, fructose, and lactic acid concentrations. The presence of acetic and lactic acid bacteria was positively related to the concentrations of acetic and lactic acid, respectively, while the lack of malic acid was indicative of malolactic fermentation. This knowledge may be useful in the development of unique local starter cultures for the production of wines with specific characteristics.
Temperature Load Mode of Bridge in Permafrost Region of Qinghai–Tibet Railway
Authors: Yan Bin , Cheng Ruiqi , Xie Haoran , Zhang Xiangmin
Published: April 2022

The Qinghai–Tibet railway is the plateau permafrost railway with the highest altitude and the longest line in the world. The natural conditions along the line are harsh, with many unfavorable factors such as low temperature, strong ultraviolet radiation, and large changes in daily temperature, resulting in frequent bridge damage. In order to study the bridge temperature field and its effect in the permafrost region of the Qinghai–Tibet railway, a long-term field test was carried out, and a calculation model of sunshine temperature field of concrete two-piece T-beam was established based on the principle of meteorology and heat transfer. On this basis, the beam temperature difference load mode, beam section temperature distribution law, and temperature effect were obtained. As revealed, the daily temperature difference of the Qinghai–Tibet railway bridge is large in winter, which is related to the ground’s effective radiation and surface reflectivity, and the maximum value has exceeded the current codes. The beam section temperature field shows “internal heat and external cold” in the morning and “internal cold and external heat” from noon to evening. Under the action of strong radiation and large temperature difference, bridge displacement occurs frequently, by which it is easy to cause damage to rail fasteners and bridge bearings. Based on the field test and finite element analysis, the bridge temperature difference load mode was proposed, which makes up for the deficiency that the relevant codes do not consider the plateau’s special climatic conditions and can provide a reference for the construction of plateau railways such as the Sichuan–Tibet railway.
Landslide Susceptibility Assessment Considering Landslide Volume: A Case Study of Yangou Watershed on the Loess Plateau (China)
Authors: Gao Hang , Zhang Xia
Published: April 2022

Because of the special geological conditions on the Loess Plateau, Landslide erosion is not only the main goal of prevention and control of geological disasters, but also an important erosion mode of soil and water loss in the basin. Thus, landslide susceptibility assessment before only considering landslide frequency is not far enough for a decision-maker. The study aims to consider both frequency and scale of landslides for a better landslide susceptibility evaluation. Taking the Yangou small watershed as an example, this study used a VR model, RIRA method, and the GIS method to comprehensively consider frequency and scale to analyze landslide susceptibility of the small watershed. Based on the detailed analysis of the existing literature, slope, elevation, NDVI, land-use, lithology, amount distant to road, amount distant to river, profile curvature, and rainfall as landslide are selected as the conditioning factors (CFs) of the landslide, to draw the sensitivity map. The map of landslide susceptibility was classified into five zones: very low, low, medium, high, and very high, and the cover areas occupy 6.90, 12.81, 12.83, 9.42, and 5.87 km2, respectively. A total of 60% of the landslide occurred in the zones of high and very high susceptibility, accounting for 87% of the total volume in the study area. The very high susceptibility is the area with a larger relief and along the river and road. The findings will help decision makers to formulate scientific comprehensive policies that take into account disaster prevention and soil conservation measures in specific regions.
Feasibility of DRNN for Identifying Built Environment Barriers to Walkability Using Wearable Sensor Data from Pedestrians’ Gait
Authors: Kim Hyunsoo
Published: April 2022

Identifying built environment barriers to walkability is the first step toward monitoring and improving our walking environment. Although conventional approaches (i.e., surveys by experts or pedestrians, walking interviews, etc.) to identify built environment barriers have contributed to improving the walking environment, these approaches may require time and effort. To address the limitations of conventional approaches, wearable sensing technologies and data analysis techniques have recently been adopted in the investigation of the built environment. Among various wearable sensors, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) can continuously capture gait-related data, which can be used to identify built environment barriers to walkability. To propose a more efficient method, the author adopts a cascaded bidirectional and unidirectional long short-term memory (LSTM)-based deep recurrent neural network (DRNN) model for classifying human gait activities (normal and abnormal walking) according to walking environmental conditions (i.e., normal and abnormal conditions). This study uses 101,607 gait data collected from the author’s previous study for training and testing a DRNN model. In addition, 31,142 gait data (20 participants) have been newly collected to validate whether the DRNN model is feasible for newly added gait data. The gait activity classification results show that the proposed method can classify normal gaits and abnormal gaits with an accuracy of about 95%. The results also indicate that the proposed method can be used to monitor environmental barriers and improve the walking environment.
Sperm Phosphoproteome: Unraveling Male Infertility
Authors: Serrano Rebeca , Garcia-Marin Luis J. , Bragado Maria J.
Published: April 2022

Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples worldwide of childbearing age, and in many cases the etiology of male infertility is unknown. The current standard evaluation of semen is insufficient to establish an accurate diagnosis. Proteomics techniques, such as phosphoproteomics, applied in this field are a powerful tool to understand the mechanisms that regulate sperm functions such as motility, which is essential for successful fertilization. Among the post-translational modifications of sperm proteins, this review summarizes, from a proteomic perspective, the updated knowledge of protein phosphorylation, in human spermatozoa, as a relevant molecular mechanism involved in the regulation of sperm physiology. Specifically, the role of sperm protein phosphorylation in motility and, consequently, in sperm quality is highlighted. Additionally, through the analysis of published comparative phosphoproteomic studies, some candidate human sperm phosphoproteins associated with low sperm motility are proposed. Despite the remarkable advances in phosphoproteomics technologies, the relatively low number of studies performed in human spermatozoa suggests that phosphoproteomics has not been applied to its full potential in studying male infertility yet. Therefore, further studies will improve the application of this procedure and overcome the limitations, increasing the understanding of regulatory mechanisms underlying protein phosphorylation in sperm motility and, consequently, in male fertility.
The Readthrough Isoform AQP4ex Is Constitutively Phosphorylated in the Perivascular Astrocyte Endfeet of Human Brain
Authors: Pati Roberta , Palazzo Claudia , Valente Onofrio , Abbrescia Pasqua , Messina Raffaella , Surdo Nicoletta Concetta , Lefkimmiatis Konstantinos , Signorelli Francesco , Nicchia Grazia Paola , Frigeri Antonio
Published: April 2022

AQP4ex is a recently discovered isoform of AQP4 generated by a translational readthrough mechanism. It is strongly expressed at the astrocyte perivascular endfeet as a component of the supramolecular membrane complex, commonly called orthogonal array of particles (OAP), together with the canonical isoforms M1 and M23 of AQP4. Previous site-directed mutagenesis experiments suggested the potential role of serine331 and serine335, located in the extended peptide of AQP4ex, in water channel activity by phosphorylation. In the present study we evaluated the effective phosphorylation of human AQP4ex. A small scale bioinformatic analysis indicated that only Ser335 is conserved in human, mouse and rat AQP4ex. The phosphorylation site of Ser335 was assessed through generation of phospho-specific antibodies in rabbits. Antibody specificity was first evaluated in binding phosphorylated peptide versus its unphosphorylated analog by ELISA, which was further confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis experiments. Western blot and immunofluorescence experiments revealed strong expression of phosphorylated AQP4ex (p-AQP4ex) in human brain and localization at the perivascular astrocyte endfeet in supramolecular assemblies identified by BN/PAGE experiments. All together, these data reveal, for the first time, the existence of a phosphorylated form of AQP4, at Ser335 in the extended sequence exclusive of AQP4ex. Therefore, we anticipate an important physiological role of p-AQP4ex in human brain water homeostasis.