bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MORF2-mediated plastidial retrograde signaling is involved in stress response and skotomorphogenesis beyond RNA editing
Authors: Yapa Madhura M. , Doroodian Paymon , Gao Zhenyu , Yu Peifeng , Hua Zhihua
Published: March 2023

Retrograde signaling modulates the expression of nuclear genome-encoded organelle proteins to adjust organelle function in response to environmental cues. MULTIPLE ORGANELLAR RNA EDITING FACTOR 2 (MORF2) was initially recognized as a plastidial RNA-editing factor but recently shown to interact with GUN1. Given the central role of GUN1 in chloroplast retrograde signaling and the unviable phenotype of morf2 mutants that is inconsistent with many viable mutants involved in RNA editing, we hypothesized that MORF2 has functions either dosage dependent or beyond RNA editing. Using an inducible Clustered Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat interference (iCRISPRi) approach, we were able to reduce the MORF2 transcripts in a controlled manner. In addition to MORF2-dosage dependent RNA-editing errors, we discovered that reducing MORF2 by iCRISPRi stimulated the expression of stress responsive genes, triggered plastidial retrograde signaling, repressed ethylene signaling and skotomorphogenesis, and increased accumulation of hydrogen peroxide. These findings along with previous discoveries suggest that MORF2 is an effective regulator involved in plastidial metabolic pathways whose reduction can readily activate multiple retrograde signaling molecules possibly involving reactive oxygen species to adjust plant growth. In addition, our newly developed iCRISPRi approach provided a novel genetic tool for quantitative reverse genetics studies on hub genes in plants.
Biomass composite with exogenous organic acid addition supports the growth of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor ‘Dochna’) by reducing salinity and increasing nutrient levels in coastal saline–alkaline soil
Authors: Yang Ruixue , Sun Zhengguo , Liu Xinbao , Long Xiaohua , Gao Limin , Shen Yixin
Published: March 2023

Introduction

In coastal saline lands, organic matter is scarce and saline stress is high. Exploring the promotion effect of intervention with organic acid from biological materials on soil improvement and thus forage output and determining the related mechanism are beneficial to the potential cultivation and resourceful, high-value utilization of coastal mudflats as back-up arable land.

Method

Three exogenous organic acids [humic acid (H), fulvic acid (F), and citric acid (C)] were combined with four kinds of biomass materials [cottonseed hull (CH), cow manure (CM), grass charcoal (GC), and pine needle (PN)] and applied to about 0.3% of medium-salt mudflat soil. The salinity and nutrient dynamics of the soil and the growth and physiological differences of sweet sorghum at the seedling, elongation, and heading stages were observed under different treatments to screen for efficient combinations and analyze the intrinsic causes and influencing mechanisms.

Results

The soil salinity, nutrient dynamics, and forage grass biological yield during sweet sorghum cultivation in saline soils differed significantly (p < 0.05) depending on the type of organic acid–biomass composite applied. Citric acid–pine needle composite substantially reduced the soil salinity and increased the soil nutrient content at the seedling stage and improved the root vigor and photosynthesis of sweet sorghum by increasing its stress tolerance, allowing plant morphological restructuring for a high biological yield. The improvement effect of fulvic acid–pine needle or fulvic acid–cow manure composite was manifested at the elongation and heading stages.

Discussion

Citric acid–pine needle composite promoted the growth of saline sweet sorghum seedlings, and the effect of fulvic acid–pine needle composite lasted until the middle and late stages.
Plant-made vaccines against viral diseases in humans and farm animals
Authors: Su Hang , van Eerde André , Rimstad Espen , Bock Ralph , Branza-Nichita Norica , Yakovlev Igor A. , Clarke Jihong Liu
Published: March 2023

Plants provide not only food and feed, but also herbal medicines and various raw materials for industry. Moreover, plants can be green factories producing high value bioproducts such as biopharmaceuticals and vaccines. Advantages of plant-based production platforms include easy scale-up, cost effectiveness, and high safety as plants are not hosts for human and animal pathogens. Plant cells perform many post-translational modifications that are present in humans and animals and can be essential for biological activity of produced recombinant proteins. Stimulated by progress in plant transformation technologies, substantial efforts have been made in both the public and the private sectors to develop plant-based vaccine production platforms. Recent promising examples include plant-made vaccines against COVID-19 and Ebola. The COVIFENZ® COVID-19 vaccine produced in Nicotiana benthamiana has been approved in Canada, and several plant-made influenza vaccines have undergone clinical trials. In this review, we discuss the status of vaccine production in plants and the state of the art in downstream processing according to good manufacturing practice (GMP). We discuss different production approaches, including stable transgenic plants and transient expression technologies, and review selected applications in the area of human and veterinary vaccines. We also highlight specific challenges associated with viral vaccine production for different target organisms, including lower vertebrates (e.g., farmed fish), and discuss future perspectives for the field.
Association of mercury exposure with the serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level in Korean adults
Authors: Kim Kisok , Park Hyejin
Published: March 2023

Although there is evidence that mercury (Hg) exposure may be a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), few nationwide epidemiological researches have analyzed the association between blood Hg concentration and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level as a biomarker of CVD. The present population-based national study was performed with data from the 2016–2017 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In the total sample of 3,773 adults aged ≥20 years, the serum hs-CRP concentrations were 1.03 mg/L among participants in the lowest quartile of blood Hg level and 1.18 mg/L among those in highest quartile. The trend for the prevalence of a risky (>1.0 mg/L) hs-CRP level (moderate risk and high risk) was significantly related to an increased quartile blood Hg concentration. After adjustment for confounders, participants with the highest quartiles of blood Hg had increased odds of a risky (>1.0 mg/L) hs-CRP level (adjusted odds ratio = 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.77) compared with those with the lowest quartile of blood Hg. These findings demonstrate that a high blood Hg level increases the concentration of serum hs-CRP, a sensitive marker of chronic low-grade inflammation, and imply that the increased body burden associated with high blood Hg is a potential risk factor in the development of many inflammatory diseases, including CVD.
What shapes attitudes on gender roles among adolescents in Bangladesh
Authors: Streatfield Avita J. , Rahman Md Mahabubur , Khan Shusmita , Haider M. Moinuddin , Rahman Mizanur , Nahar Quamrun , Jamil Kanta
Published: March 2023

Background

In Bangladesh, large gender differentials exist in outcomes in almost all spheres of life, stemming from conservative norms and attitudes around gender. Adolescence is a crucial period for social-emotional learning that can shape gender norms and attitudes.

Objective

The aim of the paper is to investigate the extent to which adolescents hold egalitarian attitudes toward gender roles, and to examine the factors that influence egalitarian gender attitudes.

Methods

The paper uses data from a nationally representative sample survey of 7,800 unmarried girls and 5,523 unmarried boys ages 15–19 years. Adolescents were considered to have egalitarian attitudes on gender role if they disagreed with all the following four unequal gender role statements with regards to socio-economic participation, while respondents who agreed with any one of the four statements were considered to have non-egalitarian attitudes: (1) It is important that sons have more education than daughters, (2) Outdoor games are only for boys, not girls, (3) Household chores are for women only, not for men, even if the woman works outside the home, and (4) Women should not be allowed to work outside the home. Multivariable linear probability regression analysis was implemented to identify the factors shaping attitudes on gender roles.

Results

Unmarried girls and boys differ hugely in their views on gender roles regarding socio economic participation-girls were much more egalitarian than boys (58 vs. 19%). The multivariate linear probability model results show girls and boys who completed at least grade 10 were 31% points and 15% points more likely to have egalitarian views on gender roles respectively, compared to girls and boys with primary or less education. Having strong connection with parents is associated with having egalitarian views on gender roles among girls but not boys. Adolescents' individual attitude on gender role is highly associated with the views of their community peers for both girls and boys. Girls and boys who had participated in adolescent programs were 6–7% points more likely to have egalitarian attitude than those who were not exposed to these programs. Egalitarian views were also significantly higher, by 5% points among girls and 6% points among boys, who were members of social organizations compared to those who were not. Watching television had positive influence on egalitarian attitudes among girls but not among boys. To create a more egalitarian society, both men and women need to hold progressive attitudes toward gender roles. The interventions must be multilevel, influencing adolescents at the personal, interpersonal, communal, and societal levels.
Action learning and public health pedagogy: Student reflections from an experiential public health course
Authors: Pham Christine N. , Cunningham Shayna D. , Humphries Debbie L.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Applied practice experiences are essential components of the Masters of Public Health (MPH) curriculum. The objective of this study was to examine students’ perspectives on the skills and expertise they developed in an MPH course offering applied practice opportunities.

Methods

Of 236 students who took the course from 2008 to 2018, email addresses were obtained for 212 and 104 completed the consent form. Following consent, reflection essays were de-identified and analyzed using a rapid qualitative analysis approach. The essays addressed students’ learning experiences and application of the competencies for MPH programs set by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH). Deductive and inductive analytical lenses were used to identify the key lessons learned by each cohort of students. Semi-structured guides and matrixes for essay analysis were created using assignment instructions and CEPH competencies.

Results

Although the reflection paper assignment varied across the years, commonalities were observed in the student reflections. Key themes included turning theory into practice, navigating the complex environment of public health practice, skill building, critical self-reflection, challenges encountered, and elements that facilitated project success. Students reported developing practical skills, such as planning for independent research (e.g., preparing for institutional review board (IRB) submission, consulting with faculty and other experts), identifying realistic approaches for data extraction during chart reviews and analyses of electronic medical records, and disseminating findings for diverse stakeholders and audiences. Students also reported strengthening cross-cutting skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving that were useful for navigating power dynamics and balancing competing interests and expectations. Students explored their identity as public health professionals as they navigated the dynamics of public health practice.

Conclusion

The applied practice experience served as a valuable tool for knowledge and skills acquisition. Moreover, it served as an opportunity for students to engage with the unique organizational cultures of their respective community partners and to deepen their understanding the complexities of conducting meaningful community-engaged research.

Implications

This study demonstrates the utility of analyzing students’ critical self-reflections as a tool for exploring learning experiences when training future public health professionals. The findings can help educators design future applied practice experiences.
Identity, place narrative and biophilic urban development: Connecting the past, present and future for sustainable liveable cities
Authors: O'Sullivan Kate , Shirani Fiona , Hale Rachel , Pidgeon Nick , Henwood Karen
Published: March 2023

Urbanisation presents sustainability challenges for the natural environment, resources and ecological systems, whilst high levels of pollution and disconnect from the natural environment can adversely impact the health and wellbeing of urban residents. Rapid urbanisation can also curtail processes of placemaking, including place attachment and place identity, raising questions around the social sustainability and livability of cities into the future. With such concerns in mind, cities are increasingly called upon to develop in ways that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. Biophilic urbanism and biophilic design offer an approach to sustainable urban development. Such approaches propose incorporation of nature and green infrastructure within the city in order to positively affect human health and wellbeing, in addition to benefiting environmental, social and economic sustainability. This paper explores findings from community focus groups exploring perceptions of a proposed biophilic urban development in Wales, UK. Our research explored how community members understood and negotiated possible impacts of the development on the social, environmental and economic landscape of the city by drawing on their own emplaced experiences. Through gaining an understanding of community place identity and narrative as well as distinctive and defining place characteristics, connections and synergies are revealed between place-based attachment and principles of biophilia. This in turn can provide a trajectory of place transformation authentic to both community and place identity and which supports the aims of biophilic design. As a consequence, it is possible for biophilic design to not only be sustained by communities, but to become an integral element of place identity and place attachment, contributing to the sustainability of place through time.
Sustainable consumption, resonance, and care
Authors: Wahlen Stefan , Stroude Aurianne
Published: March 2023

Consumption is a key issue for more sustainable development. In our quest to understand the role of care for more sustainable consumption, we make use of the concept of resonance. Resonance assists in explaining the role of care for more sustainable consumption, emphasizing the relationships people have with the world. Through resonance, we add to debates on sustainable consumption that focus on the good life. Resonance describes a responsive mode of being-in-the-world and therefore depends on how we (passively) experience the world and how we (actively) appropriate or assimilate it. It is a reciprocal relationship between the individual and the world through which both are shaped. According to Hartmut Rosa, resonance as world relationship can be detected on three axes on which individuals relate to the world: (1) horizontal (people and politics), (2) diagonal (things), and (3) vertical (collective singulars such as nature, art, history, and religion). Using these axes as heuristic, we analyze solicited journaling method as well as in-depth interview data. Caring relationships can be detected along the three axes of resonance. Resonance thus helps to advance the characteristics of care as not limited to relationships between humans but also for things or collective singulars such as nature. Resonance also highlights how caring relationships support sustainable consumption in a positive way by focusing on its relational and reciprocal dimensions.
An exploration of sanitation-related decision-making, leadership, collective action, and freedom of movement among women in urban Tiruchirappalli, India
Authors: Doma Rinchen , Patrick Madeleine , Conrad Amelia , Ramanarayanan Vinod , Arun Srishty , Sinharoy Sheela S. , Caruso Bethany A.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Sanitation research in India has emphasized the disproportionate burden that unsafe and inadequate WASH can have on women and girls. However, there is a gap in research exploring women's agency in relation to their sanitation experiences, and agency is an integral domain of their empowerment.

Methods

Cognitive interviews related to sanitation and empowerment were conducted with women in three life stages in India to validate survey tools that measure urban sanitation and women's empowerment; this paper is a secondary thematic analysis of qualitative data generated from 11 cognitive interviews in Tiruchirappalli, India, that focus on agency, specifically the sub-domains of decision-making, leadership, collective action, and freedom of movement. Women had the freedom to move to and from sanitation facilities and initiatives, with no restrictions from household members.

Results

We observed differences at the household and community levels with women voicing more confidence, as well as the responsibility, to make sanitation-related decisions in the household than at the community level. Women mentioned strong trust and belief in women's sanitation-related leadership capabilities and support for women-led sanitation initiatives. However, many did not hold leadership positions themselves due to various limitations, from gendered responsibilities to women's lack of self-confidence. Women also discussed anecdotes of collectively working with other women toward improving the local sanitation environment.

Discussion

This analysis highlights the value of strong trust and confidence among women in their ability to make important sanitation-related decisions at all levels of society. Maintaining and strengthening trust in female community members and highlighting women-led groups' achievements in the sanitation space should be prioritized. Community spaces must incorporate provisions that encourage women to share sanitation-related opinions in an environment that respects their engagement. WASH programming must engage with authority figures, leaders, and officials when seeking to increase women's agency and involvement with sanitation-related issues.
In-Process Monitoring of Hobbing Process Using an Acoustic Emission Sensor and Supervised Machine Learning
Authors: Schiller Vivian , Klaus Sandra , Bilen Ali , Lanza Gisela
Published: March 2023

The complexity of products increases considerably, and key functions can often only be realized by using high-precision components. Microgears have a particularly complex geometry and thus the manufacturing requirements often reach technological limits. Their geometric deviations are relatively large in comparison to the small component size and thus have a major impact on the functionality in terms of generating unwanted noise and vibrations in the final product. There are still no readily available production-integrated measuring methods that enable quality control of all produced microgears. Consequently, many manufacturers are not able to measure any geometric gear parameters according to standards such as DIN ISO 21771. If at all, only samples are measured, as this is only possible by means of specialized, sensitive, and cost-intensive tactile or optical measuring technologies. In a novel approach, this paper examines the integration of an acoustic emission sensor into the hobbing process of microgears in order to predict process parameters as well as geometric and functional features of the produced gears. In terms of process parameters, radial feed and tool tumble are investigated, whereas the total profile deviation is used as a representative geometric variable and the overall transmission error as a functional variable. The approach is experimentally validated by means of the design of experiments. Furthermore, different approaches for feature extraction from time-continuous sensor data and different machine-learning approaches for predicting process and geometry parameters are compared with each other and tested for suitability. It is shown that structure-borne sound, in combination with supervised machine learning and data analysis, is suitable for inprocess monitoring of microgear hobbing processes.
Smart Framework for Quality Check and Determination of Adulterants in Saffron Using Sensors and AquaCrop
Authors: Kour Kanwalpreet , Gupta Deepali , Rashid Junaid , Gupta Kamali , Kim Jungeun , Han Keejun , Mohiuddin Khalid
Published: March 2023

Saffron is a rare and valuable crop that is only cultivated in specific regions with suitable topographical conditions. To improve saffron cultivation, it is crucial to monitor and precisely control the crop’s agronomic variables over at least one growth cycle to create a fully automated environment. To this end, agronomic variables in the Punjab region of India were analyzed and set points were calculated using third-order polynomial equations through the application of image processing techniques. The relationship between canopy cover, growth percentage, and agronomic variables was also investigated for optimal yield and quality. The addition of adulterants, such as turmeric and artificial colorants, to saffron is a major concern due to the potential for quality compromise and fraud by supply chain vendors. Hence, there is a need for devising an easy, reliable, and user-friendly mechanism to help in the detection of adulterants added to the saffron stigmas. This paper proposes an automated IoT-based saffron cultivation environment using sensors for determining set points of agronomical variables. In addition, a sensor-based chamber has been proposed to provide quality and adulteration checks of saffron and to eliminate product counterfeiting. The AquaCrop simulator was employed to evaluate the proposed framework’s performance. The results of the simulation show improved biomass, yield, and harvest index compared with the existing solutions in precision agriculture. Given the high value and demand for saffron, ensuring its purity and quality is essential to sustain its cultivation and the economic viability of the market.
Agricultural Land Use Changes as a Driving Force of Soil Erosion in the Velika Morava River Basin, Serbia
Authors: Srejić Tanja , Manojlović Sanja , Sibinović Mikica , Bajat Branislav , Novković Ivan , Milošević Marko V. , Carević Ivana , Todosijević Mirjana , Sedlak Marko G.
Published: March 2023

The erosion potential model was applied to estimate the soil erosion status of rural settlements during the years 1971 and 2011. We used univariate and bivariate local Moran’s I indices to detect and visualize the spatial clustering of settlements with respect to changes in erosion intensity and agricultural land use, as well as their mutual spatial correlation. The study area was differentiated into four statistically significant clusters using the calculated bivariate local Moran’s I indices. The statistical analysis examined the two largest clusters, i.e., the high–high and low–low clusters, and the results of the research indicate that the first four principal components explained 70.50% and 73.47% of the total variance, respectively. In the high–high cluster, the low rates of erosion reduction (average Index Z = 98) in the most significant types of rural settlements were determined according to demographic indicators (i.e., the higher population vitality and population density, the smaller share of the old population and the lower average age of the population) and the large proportion of arable land and Neogene sediments. In the low–low cluster, high erosion reduction rates were detected (average index Z = 64). In this cluster, the more statistically significant influence of natural conditions in combination with demographic–agrarian processes (i.e., the larger share of the old population, the higher average age of the population, the lower vitality index and deagrarization) were decisive factors in changing erosion intensity.
Identification of HIR, EDS1 and PAD4 Genes Reveals Differences between Coffea Species That May Impact Disease Resistance
Authors: Tavares Sílvia , Azinheira Helena , Valverde Javier , Muñoz-Pajares A. Jesus , Talhinhas Pedro , Silva Maria do Céu
Published: March 2023

Coffee, a widely consumed important agricultural product, is mainly produced from two species, Coffea arabica (Arabica coffee) and C. canephora (Robusta coffee). Timor Hybrid (HDT) is a population resulting from a natural cross between C. arabica and C. canephora. HDT derivatives have a high spectrum of resistance to different races of Hemileia vastatrix (Hv), the causal agent of coffee leaf rust. A RNAseq database, obtained from HDT832/2 leaves inoculated with Hv (Host Resistance) and Uromyces vignae (Uv, Nonhost Resistance), showed the presence of genes implicated in the hypersensitive response and salicylic acid pathway. Hypersensitive Induced Reaction (HIR) gene family, Enhanced Disease Susceptibility1 gene (EDS1), and Phytoalexin Deficient 4 (PAD4) gene are involved in host and nonhost resistance. Relative expression calculated by RT-qPCR was used to confirm and expand the transcriptome analysis. HDTHIR4, HDTEDS1, and HDTPAD4 showed the highest upregulation in response to Hv and Uv inoculation, confirming a similar trend in host and nonhost resistance in HDT. HIR and EDS1/PAD4 gene families were characterized for the first time in the three available Coffea genomes. HIR genes were quite conserved between Coffea species. Surprisingly, EDS1 and PAD4 genes revealed major differences in gene structure. The PAD4 predicted protein from C. arabica does not include both conserved domains of the EDS1/PAD4 family, and the EDS1 putative protein from C. canephora includes a formin domain unusual in the same protein family. The variability shown by EDS1/PAD4 gene family may impact the disease resistance response of Coffea species, which can be surveyed for the gene sequences that will produce a more resistant phenotype.
Changes in Soil Rhizobia Diversity and Their Effects on the Symbiotic Efficiency of Soybean Intercropped with Maize
Authors: Cheng Zeyu , Meng Lingbo , Yin Tengjiao , Li Ying , Zhang Yuhang , Li Shumin
Published: March 2023

It has been established that maize/soybean intercropping can improve nitrogen use efficiency. However, few studies have addressed how maize/soybean intercropping affects nitrogen-fixing bacterial diversity and N fixation efficiency of intercropped soybean. In this study, nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities, N fixation efficiency, and their relationships with soil properties under three nitrogen fertilization application rates (N0 0 kg/ha, N1 40 kg/ha, N2 80 kg/ha) were explored through field experiments. Nitrogen fixation and nitrogen-fixing bacteria diversity were assessed using 15N natural abundance, Illumina high-throughput sequencing, and nifH (nitrogen fixation) gene copies quantification in the rhizosphere soil of intercropped soybean. The results showed that nitrogen application rates significantly decreased the nitrogen-fixing bacteria diversity, nitrogen fixation efficiency, and nifH gene copies in the rhizosphere soil. Nitrogen fixation efficiency, nodule number, and dry weight of intercropped soybean were highest in the N0 treatment, and nitrogen fixation was the highest in the N1 treatment. The nitrogen-fixing efficiency in N0, N1, and N2 treatments increased by 69%, 59%, and 42% and the nodule number of soybean was 10%, 22%, and 21%, respectively, compared with monocultures. The soybean nitrogen-fixing bacteria diversity in intercropping under N0 and N1 treatments significantly increased compared with monocultures. There was a significant positive correlation between soil nifH gene copies and N fixation efficiency and a negative correlation with soil available nitrogen. Bradyrhizobium abundance in soybean rhizosphere soil decreased significantly with the increase in nitrogen application rates and was significantly correlated with soil AN (available nitrogen) and pH content in the soybean rhizosphere. These results help us to understand the mechanisms by which nitrogen use efficiency was improved, and nitrogen fertilizer could be reduced in legume/Gramineae intercropping, which is important to improve the sustainability of agricultural production.
Investigation of the Fluid Flow in a Large Ball Valve Designed for Natural Gas Pipelines
Authors: Ivancu Laurențiu-Ioan , Popescu Daniela
Published: March 2023

Natural gas pipeline networks used for long-distance transportation are expanding quickly, and the construction of special valves with large diameters has especially increased since 2022. The design and manufacturing of the flow control equipment is carried out on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the parameters required by the beneficiary. In this paper, results obtained by fluid flow simulation with SolidWorks2023 software for a 500 mm diameter trunnion ball valve lead to important information regarding how the fluid flow develops in the intermediary and fully closed positions. The large inner space of the ball allows the development of high-amplitude vortices; thus, the simulation demonstrates that the shut-on/off operation of large-diameter ball valves is mandatory to avoid fast destruction following partial opening. This paper also demonstrates why the metal–metal (MM) sealing with a double-piston effect (DPE) design for seats produces low leakage rates, including for the shut-off position; the pressure field reveals that few gas particles succeed in crossing the upstream sealing zone, and even fewer cross the downstream sealing zone. Additionally, the interpretation of the results explains and highlights the importance of using seats with a DPE design to achieve fire safety, which is required for natural gas pipeline applications.
Modeling Power Flows and Electromagnetic Fields Induced by Compact Overhead Lines Feeding Traction Substations of Mainline Railroads
Authors: Suslov Konstantin , Kryukov Andrey , Voronina Ekaterina , Fesak Ilia
Published: March 2023

The ongoing re-equipment of electric power systems is based on the use of smart grid technologies. Among the key tasks that are solved on this basis are increasing the capacity of power transmission lines, reducing losses, and improving power quality. To address these issues, one can use compact power transmission lines. Such lines are notable for their complex split-phase designs and close together placement of current-conducting parts, so as to keep the distance to a permissible minimum, which is achieved by the use of insulating spacers. This article reports the results of computer-aided simulations performed for a standard railroad power supply system, the traction substations of which were connected to 220 kV networks through compact overhead lines (COHLs). The purpose of the study was to calculate the values of quantitative metrics that measure power quality and energy efficiency as well as electromagnetic safety. Modeling was performed in the three-phase reference frame with the use of techniques and algorithms implemented in the Fazonord software package. We considered a power supply system with 25 kV overhead contact systems. It was assumed that the external network used three different designs of COHLs: with coaxial, linear, and sector-shaped arrangements of conductors. Based on the results obtained, we concluded that (1) when using COHLs, the voltages on bow collectors of electric rolling stock were stabilized and did not exceed permissible limits; (2) losses in the traction network were reduced; and (3) the parameters of power quality and electromagnetic safety conditions in external power supply systems of railroads were improved, if judged in terms of electric and magnetic field strengths. Out of the eight types of COHLs considered, compact lines with the three-segment and concentric arrangement of conductors had the best performance, and the use of COHLs with the vertical arrangement of conductors made it possible to reduce electric field strengths. However, the designs of such transmission lines are quite complex and entail higher construction costs.
The Detection of Nitrogen Saturation for Real-Time Fertilization Management within a Grassland Ecosystem
Authors: Naicker Rowan , Mutanga Onisimo , Peerbhay Kabir , Agjee Naeem
Published: March 2023

Unfettered agricultural activities have severely degraded vast areas of grasslands over the last decade. To rehabilitate and restore the productivity in affected grasslands, rangeland management practices still institute vast nitrogen-based fertilization regimes. However, excessive fertilization can often have damaging environmental effects. Over-fertilization can lead to nitrogen saturation. Although early indicators of nitrogen saturation have been documented, research detailing the near-real-time nitrogen saturation status of grasslands is required to better facilitate management protocols and optimize biomass production within degraded grasslands. Hence, the aim of this study was to discriminate nitrogen-saturated tropical grasses grown under a diverse fertilization treatment trial, using Worldview-3 satellite imagery and decision tree techniques. To accomplish this, nitrogen-saturated plots were first identified through specific physiological-based criteria. Thereafter, Worldview-3 satellite imagery (400–1040 nm) and decision tree techniques were applied to discriminate between nitrogen-saturated and -unsaturated grassland plots. The results showed net nitrate (NO3−-N) concentrations and net pH levels to be significantly different (α = 0.05) between saturated and non-saturated plots. Moreover, the random forest model (overall accuracy of 91%) demonstrated a greater ability to classify saturated plots as opposed to the classification and regression tree method (overall accuracy of 79%). The most important variables for classifying saturated plots were identified as: the Red-Edge (705–745 nm), Coastal (400–450 nm), Near-Infrared 3 (838–950 nm), Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index 3 (NDVI3). These results provide a framework to assist rangeland managers in identifying grasslands within the initial stages of nitrogen saturation. This will enable fertilization treatments to be adjusted in near-real-time according to ecosystem demand and thereby maintain the health and longevity of Southern African grasslands.
Nano Aerial Vehicles for Tree Pollination
Authors: Pinheiro Isabel , Aguiar André , Figueiredo André , Pinho Tatiana , Valente António , Santos Filipe
Published: March 2023

Currently, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are considered in the development of various applications in agriculture, which has led to the expansion of the agricultural UAV market. However, Nano Aerial Vehicles (NAVs) are still underutilised in agriculture. NAVs are characterised by a maximum wing length of 15 centimetres and a weight of fewer than 50 g. Due to their physical characteristics, NAVs have the advantage of being able to approach and perform tasks with more precision than conventional UAVs, making them suitable for precision agriculture. This work aims to contribute to an open-source solution known as Nano Aerial Bee (NAB) to enable further research and development on the use of NAVs in an agricultural context. The purpose of NAB is to mimic and assist bees in the context of pollination. We designed this open-source solution by taking into account the existing state-of-the-art solution and the requirements of pollination activities. This paper presents the relevant background and work carried out in this area by analysing papers on the topic of NAVs. The development of this prototype is rather complex given the interactions between the different hardware components and the need to achieve autonomous flight capable of pollination. We adequately describe and discuss these challenges in this work. Besides the open-source NAB solution, we train three different versions of YOLO (YOLOv5, YOLOv7, and YOLOR) on an original dataset (Flower Detection Dataset) containing 206 images of a group of eight flowers and a public dataset (TensorFlow Flower Dataset), which must be annotated (TensorFlow Flower Detection Dataset). The results of the models trained on the Flower Detection Dataset are shown to be satisfactory, with YOLOv7 and YOLOR achieving the best performance, with 98% precision, 99% recall, and 98% F1 score. The performance of these models is evaluated using the TensorFlow Flower Detection Dataset to test their robustness. The three YOLO models are also trained on the TensorFlow Flower Detection Dataset to better understand the results. In this case, YOLOR is shown to obtain the most promising results, with 84% precision, 80% recall, and 82% F1 score. The results obtained using the Flower Detection Dataset are used for NAB guidance for the detection of the relative position in an image, which defines the NAB execute command.
Effect of Ultrasonic, Thermal and Enzymatic Treatment of Mash on Yield and Content of Bioactive Compounds in Strawberry Juice
Authors: Radziejewska-Kubzdela Elżbieta
Published: March 2023

Strawberries are rich in bioactive compounds that may be of health importance. The technological process often significantly reduces the content of such compounds in the product. The study aimed to compare the effect of enzymatic, ultrasonic and thermal mash treatment on the content of ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of strawberry juice. In addition, the effect of increased temperature assisting ultrasonic mash treatment and the use of a vacuum for a short period to remove air from the mash during pectinolysis was investigated. A significant increase in the efficiency of juice pressing was obtained for enzymatic treatment (by 40%), thermal and thermosonication (16%). It was found that the applied methods yield different results depending on the tested compounds. In the case of anthocyanin, the most effective method was thermosonication, which contributed to a 40% increase in their content. The enzymatic and thermal methods resulted in a two-fold increase in the content of phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity of the juice from the treated mash (regardless of the method used) was significantly higher than samples from the untreated mash. A significant correlation (r = 0.77) was noted between antioxidant capacity and non-anthocyanin phenolic compound content in the tested juices.
Applying Deep Learning Methods for Mammography Analysis and Breast Cancer Detection
Authors: Prodan Marcel , Paraschiv Elena , Stanciu Alexandru
Published: March 2023

Breast cancer is a serious medical condition that requires early detection for successful treatment. Mammography is a commonly used imaging technique for breast cancer screening, but its analysis can be time-consuming and subjective. This study explores the use of deep learning-based methods for mammogram analysis, with a focus on improving the performance of the analysis process. The study is focused on applying different computer vision models, with both CNN and ViT architectures, on a publicly available dataset. The innovative approach is represented by the data augmentation technique based on synthetic images, which are generated to improve the performance of the models. The results of the study demonstrate the importance of data pre-processing and augmentation techniques for achieving high classification performance. Additionally, the study utilizes explainable AI techniques, such as class activation maps and centered bounding boxes, to better understand the models’ decision-making process.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Goaf Range in a Coal Mine with a Complex Terrain through CSAMT and an Activated-Carbon Method for Radon Measurement
Authors: Long Jianhui , Liu Jin , Zhang Sheng , Li Meiping
Published: March 2023

Underground goaves were left in many mining areas due to the continuous exploitation of coal resources. These mining areas seriously affect the production safety of the mines and the safety of life and property of the surrounding residents. Enormous safety hazards will be generated if the goaf range is not accurately controlled. In this study, we proposed a method for the detection of goaves in coal mines with a complex terrain by combining controlled source audio-frequency magnetotellurics (CSAMT) and an activated-carbon method for radon measurement. The disadvantage of failing to interpret goaf depth for the activated-carbon method for radon measurement was compensated by the advantage of the capability of goaf-depth sounding for CSAMT. Subsequently, the reference for CSAMT data was provided by the immunity of the activated-carbon method for radon measurement to the influences of terrain, earth electricity, and EMF. On this basis, the proposed method was employed to detect the goaf of Houjiagou Coal Mine in Liulin County, China, and obtained reliable detection results. The feasibility of the comprehensive geophysical prospecting method in the complex terrain was verified and it provides a new reference for the detection method of goaves with other conditions.
Challenges in IAQ for Indoor Spaces: A Comparison of the Reference Guideline Values of Indoor Air Pollutants from the Governments and International Institutions
Authors: Settimo Gaetano , Yu Yong , Gola Marco , Buffoli Maddalena , Capolongo Stefano
Published: March 2023

Since people spend most of their time inside buildings, indoor air quality (IAQ) remains a highlighted topic to ensure in the built environment to improve public health, especially for vulnerable users. To achieve a better indoor environment quality (IEQ), some countries’ governments or regional institutions have developed and published reference guideline values of various air pollutants to prevent the IAQ from becoming adverse to occupants. Beyond guidelines by World Health Organization (WHO), in some countries, there are specific institutional requirements on the IAQ, and others integrated it into the building regulation for the built environment. This paper is based on the literature research, summarized from previously conducted works by the authors, on the chemical reference values of IAQ-related regulations and guidelines published by several Governments or related institutions from various regions around the World. Despite these efforts at standardization and legislation, many indoor air quality monitoring activities conducted in several countries still fall short of the main indications produced. By comparing the reference values of 35 pollutants, both physical and chemical ones, which are proposed in documents from 23 regions included so far, the IAQ research and prevention actions on progress in different regions should be included in monitoring plans with guidelines/reference values in their current state. The outcome of the paper is to define the current trends and suggest some perspectives on the field of interest for improving the indoor air quality of generic spaces at an international level. It becomes evident that, at the global level, IAQ represents a complex political, social, and health challenge, which still suffers from the absence of a systematic and harmonized approach. This is not a new situation; the issue was raised more than 40 years ago, and despite efforts and a pandemic, the situation has not changed.
Radiological Protection in Industries Involving NORM: A (Graded) Methodological Approach to Characterize the Exposure Situations
Authors: Trevisi Rosabianca , Ampollini Marco , Bogi Andrea , Bucci Silvia , Caldognetto Elena , La Verde Giuseppe , Leonardi Federica , Luzzi Laura , Nuccetelli Cristina , Peroni Ilaria , Picciolo Francesco , Pratesi Gabriele , Trotti Flavio , Ugolini Raffaella , Venoso Gennaro , Pugliese Mariagabriella
Published: March 2023

The interest in radiation protection in industrial sectors involving Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) is increasingly growing. This is due also to the recent implementation of the European Council Directive 59/2013/Euratom which in Italy and in the other European Union Member States extends the field of application to industrial sectors never involved before. This paper reports main results of a research project on radiation protection in industries involving NORM carried out in Italy aimed to provide useful tools for stakeholders to comply new legal obligations. The project activities were mainly focused on different aspects relevant to the NORM involving industries, accounting for the positive list reported in the Italian law. Firstly, the inventory of the industries currently operating in Italy in order to identify the industrial sectors with an important radiological impact on population and workers was updated. Based on this information, a general methodology was elaborated taking into account a graded approach. The first phase consists in the identification and characterization of the most critical exposure scenarios and of the radiological content of NORMs involved in the different phases of the industrial processes. In the second phase calculation methods were developed for dose estimation for workers and members of public. These tools require the use of existing and well tested calculation codes, and the development of a dedicated user-friendly software.
TEC and ROTI Measurements from a New GPS Receiver at BOWEN University, Nigeria
Authors: Bolaji Olawale S. , Kaka Rafiat O. , Scales Wayne A. , Fashae Joshua B. , Peng Yuxiang , Rabiu A. Babatunde , Fadiji Joshua O. , Ojelade Aanuoluwapo
Published: March 2023

Scintillation and total electron content (TEC) are the two major examples of the top-side ionospheric parameters that are recorded differently by most Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. The new GPS sensor created by the Atmospheric and Space Technology Research Associates (ASTRA), Cornell University, and the University of Texas, Austin have capability to record scintillation and TEC fluctuations simultaneously. Hence, the Connected Autonomous Space Environment Sensor (CASES) from ASTRA is a software-defined GPS receiver with the dual frequency of L1 C/A and L2C codes for space-weather monitoring and can be remotely programmed via an internet source. The receiver employs numerous novel techniques that make it suitable for space-weather studies compared to other nearby GPS receivers, such as different methods for eliminating local clock effects, an advanced triggering mechanism for determining scintillation onset, data buffering to permit observation of the prelude to scintillation, and data-bit prediction and wipe-off for robust tracking. Moreover, the CASES hardware is made up of a custom-built dual frequency, a digital signal processor board, and a “single board computer” with an ARM microcontroller. We have used the CASES GPS receiver newly installed at Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria, to investigate the TEC and the rate of the TEC index (ROTI) around the equatorial region. Measurements of the TEC and ROTI showed similar variation trends in monthly, seasonal, and annual periods when compared to TEC and ROTI measurements from a nearby station, BJCO at Cotonou, Benin Republic. The newly installed GPS receiver looks promising for scientific use as it is the only one operational in Nigeria at the moment.