bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trim Tab Flight Stabilisation System Performance Assessment under Degraded Actuator Speeds
Authors: Zajdel Albert , Krawczyk Mariusz , Szczepański Cezary
Published: May 2023

One of the areas involved in changing current aircraft into more electric ones is decreasing energy consumption by the aircraft’s automatic flight control. Therefore, some aircraft types have tested the possibility of controlling the flight in automatic mode or stabilising the flight with trimmers. Previous research on cost-effective and less electrical-energy-consuming automatic stabilisation systems for an aircraft resulted in constructing a laboratory model of the system. Such a feature is beneficial for initiatives like Future Sky, electric aircraft and aircraft stabilisation system retrofits. The system was developed using model-based design and next tuned and tested in model, pilot and hardware-in-the-loop simulations. The implementation of this system does not modify the pilot’s primary manual controls. Instead, the electrical trim system is used for automatic stabilisation or manual trimming, depending on the chosen operation mode. The paper presents the development process of the laboratory model of the system and its simulation under degraded actuator speeds. The results were the basis for its control performance assessment. First, the control performance measure was defined. Then the simulation scenarios that compare system behaviour in stabilisation mode after aerodynamic disturbance with three different trim tab actuator speeds were described. The performance measure is highly degraded by the slower actuator speeds, although altitude and heading are finally stabilised in all cases. Moreover, the performance of stabilisation in a lateral channel is less affected by the slowest actuator than in a longitudinal channel.
Effects of Peroral Microbiota Transplantation on the Establishment of Intestinal Microorganisms in a Newly-Hatched Chick Model
Authors: Qiu Kai , Cai Huiyi , Wang Xin , Liu Guohua
Published: May 2023

This study was carried out to compare gut microbial community composition, diversity, and function with and without microbiota transplantation in a newly-hatched chick model. Two hundred and forty newly-hatched Arbor Acre male broilers were assigned randomly to either a microbiota transplantation group or a control group (n = 120; 6 replicates per group, and 20 broilers per replicate). Both groups were fed a basal diet that met all nutritional requirements, composed of corn, soybean meal, cottonseed meal, vitamins, and minerals. The microbiota transplantation group was inoculated with the microbiota from the ceca of healthy adult chicks on day 1 and 2, respectively, over a trial period of 42 d. For both groups, the numbers of total bacteria, Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli, operational taxonomic unit partitioning and classification, taxonomic composition, comparative microbiota, and key bacterial species were identified by a 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. The results showed that Aestuariispira, Christensenella, Fervidicella, Gracilibacter, Haloferula, Mycoplasma, Novispirillum, and Pantoea were more abundant (p < 0.05) in the microbiota transplantation group than those in the control group. This indicates that microbiota transplantation could directly influence the abundances of specific bacterial taxa in the ileum and cecum of broilers. These findings provide insight into the modulation of gut health for patients with abnormal bowel function, which should be of great interest to researchers in the area of gastroenterology, applied microbiology, and animal sciences.
Effects of Ventilation Fans and Type of Partitions on the Airflow Speeds of Animal Occupied Zone and Physiological Parameters of Dairy Pre-Weaned Calves Housed Individually in a Barn
Authors: Zhao Wanying , Choi Christopher Y. , Du Xinyi , Guan Huiyuan , Li Hao , Shi Zhengxiang
Published: May 2023

Calves raised in barns are usually kept in individual pens separated by either solid or mesh partitions. To quantify the effects that the two types of partition have on airflow speed in an axial-ventilated-barn, the indoor environment of a calf barn was simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with validation accomplished by means of direct measurement. To ascertain the effects that two types of partition have on the physiological parameters and health of pre-weaned calves, 24 calves (3–11-day-olds) were selected, equally divided into four groups and sequestered as follows: calves placed in pens separated by solid partitions receiving “low-speed” or “high-speed” airflow; calves separated by mesh partitions receiving “low-speed” or “high-speed” airflow. The results of the CFD simulation showed that the percentage of airflow speed that exceeded 0.5 m s−1 at a height of 0.4 m above the floor of the animal occupied zone where calves were separated by mesh partitions was 88%, while the speed was 66–70% for calves separated by solid partitions. The duration of treatment provided to the calves in the MP-LA (mesh partitions and subjected to a low-speed airflow) and MP-HA (mesh partitions and subjected to a high-speed airflow) groups, were both lower than the SP-LA (solid partitions and subjected to a low-speed airflow) and SP-HA (solid partitions and subjected to a high-speed airflow) groups. We conclude that when the fan is operating, contact between calves separated by mesh partitions produces no negative impact on the health of calves; furthermore, this arrangement can provide a higher airflow speed than that delivered to calves raised in pens separated by solid partitions, especially to those calves in pens farther from the fans.
How to Successfully Orchestrate Content for Digital Agriecosystems
Authors: Treiber Maximilian , Theunissen Theresa , Grebner Simon , Witting Jan , Bernhardt Heinz
Published: May 2023

Since the 2000s, digital ecosystems have been affecting markets—Facebook and Uber being prominent examples. Looking at the agrisector, however, there is not yet a winner-takes-all solution in place. Instead, numerous digital agriplatforms have emerged, many of which have already failed. In the context of this study, it was revealed that reasons for such failures can be manifold, with one key challenge being the orchestration of platform content. Because, however, publicly available knowledge on this regard is limited, we decided to introduce a methodology for the evaluation of digital agriecosystem services, enabling providers to optimize their existing offering and to prioritize new services prior to implementation. By deploying our methodology to digital agriecosystems with two different application focuses (DairyChainEnergy—data agriecosystem on energy management for dairy farmers, and NEVONEX—IoT agriecosystem comprising digital services for agrimachinery), its applicability was proven. Providers of digital agriecosystems will benefit from applying this new methodology because they receive a structured decision-making process, which takes the most relevant success criteria (e.g., customer benefit, technical feasibility, and resilience) into account. Hence, a resulting prioritization of digital agriservices will guide providers in making the right implementation choices in order to successfully generate network effects on their digital agriecosystems.
Comparison of the Sorption of Cu(II) and Pb(II) by Bleached and Activated Biochars: Insight into Complexation and Cation–π Interaction
Authors: Zhao Jing , Wang Lin , Chu Gang
Published: May 2023

Attention has been paid to the application of biochar in the remediation of heavy metal contamination in soils. In this study, two modification methods, bleaching and activation, were used to enhance the biochar sorption of Cu(II) and Pb(II). Multiple techniques, including XPS, FTIR and 13C NMR, were applied to investigate the properties of bleached and activated biochars. Combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, structural changes in the biochars and the main mechanism of Cu(II) and Pb(II) sorption were discussed after modification. The bleached biochar without non-condensed aromatic C possessed many oxygen-containing groups due to oxidation. In contrast, activation increased the specific surface area (SSA) and removed the carboxyl groups. Both modifications had an excellent effect on sorption by high-temperature biochars, especially the bleaching treatment. The bleached and activated biochars exhibited superior Pb(II) sorption compared with Cu(II) due to the larger electron cloud configuration of Pb(II). The significantly positive correlation of the Kd values with the COOH/C=O content indicated that the oxygen-containing groups were responsible for Cu(II) and Pb(II) sorption. The DFT calculation demonstrated a higher energy for the cation–π interaction than for the complexation for Cu(II) sorption, whereas the opposite case was observed for Pb(II) sorption. The complexation and cation–π interaction were the main mechanisms of Cu(II) and Pb(II) sorption. This study provides important guidance for the application of modified biochars in the sorption of heavy metals in the environment.
Effects of Source Strength and Sink Size on Starch Metabolism, Starch Properties and Grain Quality of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Wei Chenhua , Jiang Jingjing , Liu Chang , Fang Xinchi , Zhou Tianyang , Xue Zhangyi , Wang Weilu , Zhang Weiyang , Zhang Hao , Liu Lijun , Wang Zhiqin , Gu Junfei , Yang Jianchang
Published: May 2023

The source strength and sink demand as well as their interaction have been demonstrated to co-regulate the synthesis of starch and determine the grain quality, but the knowledge of the underlying physiological mechanisms is limiting. An indica variety, Yangdao 6, and a japonica variety, Jinxiangyu 1, were planted with three treatments, including normal growth plant (CK), leaf-cutting (LC) and spikelet-thinning (ST). The transcript levels of starch metabolic genes, physicochemical characteristics of starch and appearance, milling, cooking and tasting qualities of rice under different treatments were determined. The ST treatment increased the relative expression of genes related to the synthesis of short branch-chains of amylopectin (SSI, BEI, BEIIb) and amylose (GBSSI) and reduced the relative expression of medium-long to long branch-chains of amylopectin synthesis genes (SSIIa, SSIIIa, SSIIIb, ISA1). When comparing ST with the CK treatment, starch granules became smoother with higher contents of short branch-chains and lower ratios of medium-long and long branch-chains of amylopectin; the crystallinity and the value of 1045/1022 cm−1 was decreased; for pasting properties, the setback and pasting temperature were decreased; the peak viscosity, hot viscosity, breakdown and final viscosity were significantly increased. Meanwhile, the ST treatment improved the appearance, milling and cooking and tasting qualities. The opposite results were observed under the LC treatment. These results indicated that source strength and sink size would regulate expression levels of starch metabolic genes, which is pivotal for the contents of amylose and short/long branch chains ratio of amylopectin, thus changing the structure and physicochemical properties of starch and grain quality. Here, we speculated that the improved source strength in terms of higher leaf/canopy photosynthesis and small sink size, such as small panicle size, would be preferred traits in high grain quality rice breeding.
Assessment of Energy–Economy and Environmental Performance of Perennial Crops in Terms of Biogas Production
Authors: Bužinskienė Rita , Miceikienė Astrida , Venslauskas Kęstutis , Navickas Kęstutis
Published: May 2023

Biogas production plays an important role in the clean energy economy and is reducing the problems of the energy crisis. The main objective of the current study is to analyze environmental performance by using perennial energy crops in the agricultural sector. Perennial energy crops are neutral for carbon and can be used for electricity and heating, which may mitigate climate change as well. The purpose of this work was to investigate and compare the energy–economy effectiveness and environmental performance of the suitability of four perennial crops for biogas production. Environmental performance was analyzed using the method of the life cycle assessment. To identify the most environmentally sustainable perennial crops for biogas production, a comparative analysis was conducted on four different crops: Lucerne, Miscanthus, Switchgrass, and Reed canary grass. The results of the analysis showed that Lucerne and Miscanthus, during the first–sixth years period, have lower indirect energy input (from 15.2 to 3.2 GJ/ha and 15.6 to 3.2 GJ/ha) than Switchgrass (from 20.9 to 3.2 GJ/ha) and Reed canary grass (from 16.7 to 3.2 GJ/ha). However, the highest direct energy input was determined by Lucerne (from 15.7 to 1.6 GJ/ha), and Miscanthus (from 11.9 to 0.9 GJ/ha) compared to Switchgrass (from 7.4 to 1.8 GJ/ha) and Reed canary grass (from 8.1 to 1.6 GJ/ha). Additionally, the lowest result of the direct economy and indirect economy costs was determined by Lucerne (from 3.9 to 3.7 kEUR/ha (direct) and 9.9 to 2.1 kEUR/ha (indirect)) and by Miscanthus (from 2.4 to 4.9 kEUR/ha (direct) and 11.8 to 1.9 kEUR/ha (indirect)) compared to Switchgrass (5.9 to 5.7 kEUR/ha (direct) and 17.5 to 2.1 kEUR/ha (indirect)), and reed canary grass (from 5.3 to 4.9 kEUR/ha (direct) and 13.7 to 1.9 kEUR/ha (indirect), respectively. The assessment of environmental performance revealed that Reed canary grass and Miscanthus had a more pronounced impact on Acidification. In contrast, Lucerne and Switchgrass had a more significant impact on Eutrophication indicators. The crop cultivation of four perennial crops impacted the environment in various significant ways. Despite the varying environmental impacts of the four perennial crops, the analysis revealed that all of them have the potential to increase biogas production.
Mental Experiences in Wild Animals: Scientifically Validating Measurable Welfare Indicators in Free-Roaming Horses
Authors: Harvey Andrea M. , Beausoleil Ngaio J. , Ramp Daniel , Mellor David J.
Published: May 2023

The mental experiences of animals are what characterises their welfare status. The Five Domains Model for assessing welfare aligns with the understanding that physical and mental states are linked. Following measurement of indicators within each of the four physical/functional Domains (1. Nutrition; 2. Physical environment; 3. Health; and 4. Behavioural interactions), the anticipated negative or positive affective consequences (mental experiences) are cautiously inferred and assigned to Domain 5. Those inferences derive credibility from validated knowledge of the underlying systems of physiology, neurophysiology, neuroethology and affective neuroscience. Any indicators used for assessing welfare need to be scientifically validated. This requires, firstly, evidence of the links between a measurable/observable indicator and the physical/functional impact (in Domains 1 to 4), and secondly, a demonstrable relationship between the physical/functional impact and the mental experience it is inferred the indicators reflect (in Domain five). This review refers to indicators of physical/functional states in Domains 1 to 4, which have been shown to be measurable in free-roaming wild horses, and then evaluates the scientific evidence linking them to inferred mental experiences in Domain 5. This is the first time that the scientific evidence validating a comprehensive range of welfare indicators has been synthesised in this way. Inserting these indicators into the Five Domains Model enables transparently justifiable assessment and grading of welfare status in free-roaming horses.
Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Seafood-Borne Pathogens in Retail Seafood Sold in Malaysia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Odeyemi Omowale A. , Amin Muhamad , Dewi Fera R. , Kasan Nor Azman , Onyeaka Helen , Stratev Deyan , Odeyemi Olumide A.
Published: May 2023

The objective of this study was to examine the frequency and extent of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in seafood sold in Malaysia, using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach to analyze primary research studies. Four bibliographic databases were systematically searched for primary studies on occurrence. Meta-analysis using a random-effect model was used to understand the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in retail seafood sold in Malaysia. A total of 1938 primary studies were initially identified, among which 13 met the inclusion criteria. In the included primary studies, a total of 2281 seafoods were analyzed for the presence of antibiotic-resistant seafood-borne pathogens. It was observed that 51% (1168/2281) of the seafood was contaminated with pathogens. Overall, the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant seafood-borne pathogens in retail seafood was 55.7% (95% CI: 0.46–0.65). Antibiotic-resistant Salmonella species had an overall prevalence of 59.9% (95% CI: 0.32–0.82) in fish, Vibrio species had an overall prevalence of 67.2% (95% CI: 0.22–0.94) in cephalopods, and MRSA had an overall prevalence of 70.9% (95% CI: 0.36–0.92) in mollusks. It could be concluded that there is a high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant seafood-borne pathogens in the retail seafood sold in Malaysia, which could be of public health importance. Therefore, there is a need for proactive steps to be taken by all stakeholders to reduce the widespread transmission of antibiotic-resistant pathogens from seafood to humans.
Assessing the Antimicrobial Properties of Honey Protein Components through In Silico Comparative Peptide Composition and Distribution Analysis
Authors: Łyskowski Andrzej , Miłek Michał , Dżugan Małgorzata
Published: May 2023

The availability of reference proteomes for two honeybee species (Apis mellifera and Apis cerana cerana) opens the possibility of in silico studies of diverse properties of the selected protein fractions. The antimicrobial activity of honey is well established and related to its composition, including protein components. We have performed a comparative study on a selected fraction of the honey-related proteins, as well as other bee-secreted proteins, utilizing a publicly available database of established and verified peptides with antimicrobial properties. Using a high-performance sequence aligner (diamond), protein components with antimicrobial peptide sequences were identified and analyzed. The identified peptides were mapped on the available bee proteome sequences, as well as on model structures provided by the AlphaFold project. The results indicate a highly conserved localization of the identified sequences within a limited number of the protein components. Putative antimicrobial fragments also show high sequence-based similarity to the multiple peptides contained in the reference databases. For the 2 databases used, the lowest calculated percentage of similarity ranged from 30.1% to 32.9%, with a respective average of 88.5% and 79.3% for the Apis mellifera proteome. It was revealed that the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) site is a single, well-defined domain with potentially conserved structural features. In the case of the examples studied in detail, the structural domain takes the form of the two β-sheets, stabilized by α-helices in one case, and a six-β-sheet-only domain localized in the C-terminal part of the sequence, respectively. Moreover, no significant differences were found in the composition of the antibacterial fraction of peptides that were identified in the proteomes of both species.
Clostridioides difficile Infection in an Italian Tertiary Care University Hospital: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Medaglia Alice Annalisa , Mancuso Alessandro , Albano Chiara , Zinna Giuseppe , Pipitò Luca , Calà Cinzia , Immordino Rita , Rubino Raffaella , Bonura Silvia , Canino Baldassare , Calamusa Giuseppe , Colomba Claudia , Almasio Pier Luigi , Cascio Antonio
Published: May 2023

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, mostly in frail patients. Notification is not mandatory in Italy, and data on incidence, risk of death, and recurrence are lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine CDI incidence and risk factors for mortality and recurrence. The “ICD-9 00845” code in hospital-standardized discharged forms (H-SDF) and microbiology datasets were used to retrieve CDI cases at Policlinico Hospital, Palermo between 2013 and 2022. Incidence, ward distribution, recurrence rate, mortality, and coding rate were considered. The risk of death and recurrence was predicted through multivariable analysis. There were 275 CDIs, 75% hospital-acquired, the median time between admission and diagnosis was 13 days, and the median stay was 21 days. Incidence increased from 0.3 to 5.6% (an 18.7-fold increase) throughout the decade. Only 48.1% of cases were coded in H-SDF. The rate of severe/severe-complicated cases increased 1.9 times. Fidaxomicin was used in 17.1% and 24.7% of cases overall and since 2019. Overall and attributable mortalities were 11.3% and 4.7%, respectively. Median time between diagnosis and death was 11 days, and recurrence rate was 4%. Bezlotoxumab was administered in 64% of recurrences. Multivariable analysis revealed that only hemodialysis was associated with mortality. No statistically significant association in predicting recurrence risk emerged. We advocate for CDI notification to become mandatory and recommend coding CDI diagnosis in H-SDF to aid in infection rate monitoring. Maximum attention should be paid to preventing people on hemodialysis from getting CDI.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0229c Shows Ribonuclease Activity and Reveals Its Corresponding Role as Toxin VapC51
Authors: Kang Sung-Min
Published: May 2023

The VapBC system, which belongs to the type II toxin–antitoxin (TA) system, is the most abundant and widely studied system in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The VapB antitoxin suppresses the activity of the VapC toxin through a stable protein–protein complex. However, under environmental stress, the balance between toxin and antitoxin is disrupted, leading to the release of free toxin and bacteriostatic state. This study introduces the Rv0229c, a putative VapC51 toxin, and aims to provide a better understanding of its discovered function. The structure of the Rv0229c shows a typical PIN-domain protein, exhibiting an β1-α1-α2-β2-α3-α4-β3-α5-α6-β4-α7-β5 topology. The structure-based sequence alignment showed four electronegative residues in the active site of Rv0229c, which is composed of Asp8, Glu42, Asp95, and Asp113. By comparing the active site with existing VapC proteins, we have demonstrated the justification for naming it VapC51 at the molecular level. In an in vitro ribonuclease activity assay, Rv0229c showed ribonuclease activity dependent on the concentration of metal ions such as Mg2+ and Mn2+. In addition, magnesium was found to have a greater effect on VapC51 activity than manganese. Through these structural and experimental studies, we provide evidence for the functional role of Rv0229c as a VapC51 toxin. Overall, this study aims to enhance our understanding of the VapBC system in M. tuberculosis.
Feeding Yellow Worms to Meagre: Effects on Whole-Body Fatty Acid Profile and Hepatic and Intestine Oxidative Status
Authors: Guerreiro Inês , Castro Carolina , Serra Cláudia R. , Coutinho Filipe , Couto Ana , Peres Helena , Pousão-Ferreira Pedro , Corraze Geneviève , Oliva-Teles Aires , Enes Paula
Published: May 2023

This study aimed to determine the effects of dietary inclusion of Tenebrio molitor larvae (yellow worms) meal (TM) on meagre fish (Argyrosomus regius) whole-body fatty acids (FA) profile and hepatic and intestine oxidative status. For that purpose, fish were fed for 9 weeks a fishmeal-based diet (control) or diets including 10%, 20%, or 30% TM. With the increase in dietary TM level, whole-body oleic acid, linoleic acid, monounsaturated FA, and n−6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) increased while saturated FA (SFA), n−3 PUFA, n−3 long chain-PUFA, SFA:PUFA ratio, n3:n6 ratio, and FA retention decreased. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities increased and catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities decreased with dietary TM inclusion. Hepatic total and reduced glutathione were lower in fish fed 20% TM. Intestinal CAT activity and oxidized glutathione increased and GPX activity decreased with dietary TM inclusion. Intestine SOD, G6PDH, and GR activities increased and malondialdehyde concentration decreased in fish fed the diets with lower TM inclusion levels. Liver and intestine oxidative stress index and liver malondialdehyde concentration were unaffected by dietary TM. In conclusion, to avoid major whole-body FA changes or antioxidant status imbalances, it is recommended to limit TM to 10% inclusion in meagre diets.
Blood Plasma Calorimetric Profiles of Women with Preeclampsia: Effect of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Komsa-Penkova Regina , Krumova Sashka , Langari Ariana , Giosheva Ina , Gartcheva Lidia , Danailova Avgustina , Topalova Lora , Stoyanova Tanya , Strijkova Velichka , Savov Alexey , Todinova Svetla
Published: May 2023

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related disease with poor placentation and presents itself through hypertension and proteinuria. The disease is also associated with the oxidative modification of proteins in maternal blood plasma. In this work, we combine differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), capillary electrophoresis, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to evaluate the changes in the plasma denaturation profiles of patients with preeclampsia (PE) as compared with those of pregnant controls. Our results demonstrate that the last trimester of pregnancy substantially affects the main calorimetric characteristics of blood plasma from pregnant controls relative to nonpregnant women. These variations correlate well with the changes in protein levels determined by electrophoresis. DSC analysis revealed significant deviations in the plasma heat capacity profiles of preeclamptic patients from those of pregnant controls. These alterations are expressed mainly in a substantial reduction in albumin-assigned transitions and an upward shift in its denaturation temperature, lower calorimetric enthalpy changes, and a reduced ratio of heat capacity in the albumin/globulin-assigned thermal transitions, which are more pronounced in severe PE cases. The in vitro oxidation model shows that the alteration of PE thermograms is partly related to protein oxidation. AFM data detected numerous aggregate formations in the plasma of PE samples and fewer small ones in the pregnant controls, which are not found in healthy nonpregnant samples. These findings could serve as a basis for further investigations to reveal the possible relationship between albumin thermal stabilization, the increased inflammatory state and oxidative stress, and protein misfolding in preeclampsia.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of O6-Aminoalkyl-Hispidol Analogs as Multifunctional Monoamine Oxidase-B Inhibitors towards Management of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Hassan Ahmed H. E. , Kim Hyeon Jeong , Park Keontae , Choi Yeonwoo , Moon Suyeon , Lee Chae Hyeon , Kim Yeon Ju , Cho Soo Bin , Gee Min Sung , Lee Danbi , Park Jong-Hyun , Lee Jong Kil , Ryu Jong Hoon , Park Ki Duk , Lee Yong Sup
Published: May 2023

Oxidative catabolism of monoamine neurotransmitters by monoamine oxidases (MAOs) produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which contributes to neuronal cells’ death and also lowers monoamine neurotransmitter levels. In addition, acetylcholinesterase activity and neuroinflammation are involved in neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we aim to achieve a multifunctional agent that inhibits the oxidative catabolism of monoamine neurotransmitters and, hence, the detrimental production of ROS while enhancing neurotransmitter levels. Such a multifunctional agent might also inhibit acetylcholinesterase and neuroinflammation. To meet this end goal, a series of aminoalkyl derivatives of analogs of the natural product hispidol were designed, synthesized, and evaluated against both monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B). Promising MAO inhibitors were further checked for the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and neuroinflammation. Among them, compounds 3aa and 3bc were identified as potential multifunctional molecules eliciting submicromolar selective MAO-B inhibition, low-micromolar AChE inhibition, and the inhibition of microglial PGE2 production. An evaluation of their effects on memory and cognitive impairments using a passive avoidance test confirmed the in vivo activity of compound 3bc, which showed comparable activity to donepezil. In silico molecular docking provided insights into the MAO and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of compounds 3aa and 3bc. These findings suggest compound 3bc as a potential lead for the further development of agents against neurodegenerative diseases.
Alpha-Tocopherol Significantly Improved Squalene Production Yield of Aurantiochytrium sp. TWZ-97 through Lowering ROS levels and Up-Regulating Key Genes of Central Carbon Metabolism Pathways
Authors: Ali Memon Kashif , Liu Xiuping , Li Jiaqian , Zhu Xingyu , Sen Biswarup , Wang Guangyi
Published: May 2023

Media supplementation has proven to be an effective technique for improving byproduct yield during microbial fermentation. This study explored the impact of different concentrations of bioactive compounds, namely alpha-tocopherol, mannitol, melatonin, sesamol, ascorbic acid, and biotin, on the Aurantiochytrium sp. TWZ-97 culture. Our investigation revealed that alpha-tocopherol was the most effective compound in reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) burden, both directly and indirectly. Adding 0.7 g/L of alpha-tocopherol led to an 18% improvement in biomass, from 6.29 g/L to 7.42 g/L. Moreover, the squalene concentration increased from 129.8 mg/L to 240.2 mg/L, indicating an 85% improvement, while the squalene yield increased by 63.2%, from 19.82 mg/g to 32.4 mg/g. Additionally, our comparative transcriptomics analysis suggested that several genes involved in glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, TCA cycle, and MVA pathway were overexpressed following alpha-tocopherol supplementation. The alpha-tocopherol supplementation also lowered ROS levels by binding directly to ROS generated in the fermentation medium and indirectly by stimulating genes that encode antioxidative enzymes, thereby decreasing the ROS burden. Our findings suggest that alpha-tocopherol supplementation can be an effective method for improving squalene production in Aurantiochytrium sp. TWZ-97 culture.
Optimizing Dual Distribution Scheme in Pharmaceutical Cold Chain for Cost and Carbon Emissions Reduction
Authors: Shao Xulun , Lu Shichang
Published: May 2023

The reduction in comprehensive costs and carbon emissions in the process of trans-regional and multi-seasonal pharmaceutical cold chain logistics is a highly debated topic. To simultaneously address these issues, we propose a dual distribution method based on the vehicle routing problem (VRP), wherein either a refrigerated truck or van equipped with a refrigerated container is selected for drug delivery. To verify the effectiveness of this method, we design a comparison function to calculate the depletion of consumables and create a better distribution scheme for customer nodes in multiple temperature zones with various demands. To further optimize the model, we introduce the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) to establish a large-scale neighborhood search vehicle routing model. Additionally, we utilize the greedy algorithm and an upgraded nonlinear factor to accelerate convergence speed and enhance accuracy. Ultimately, our experiments demonstrate significant advantages over existing algorithms, while providing valuable insights into economical and environmentally friendly pharmaceutical cold chain logistics.
AI-Driven Recommendations: A Systematic Review of the State of the Art in E-Commerce
Authors: Necula Sabina-Cristiana , Păvăloaia Vasile-Daniel
Published: May 2023

Electronic commerce has a strong connection with recommendation processes. There are various forms of recommendations, ranging from virtual assistants to online suggestions made in real time. Different algorithms and technologies are utilized for each form, and the choice of technique is dependent on the task at hand. For instance, artificial intelligence may utilize deep learning or machine learning techniques. The type of data also plays a role in determining the techniques used. Predictive modeling is applied to textual data, while image data requires image processing followed by AI algorithms for prediction. This study aimed to investigate the extent to which artificial intelligence is utilized in recommender systems for electronic commerce, as well as the current and future trends in the field. This was achieved through a systematic literature review of scientific articles from the past decade, using WosViewer for data collection and the Bibliometrix R package for analysis. The findings demonstrate that artificial intelligence works in conjunction with other technologies, such as blockchain, virtual reality, and augmented reality, to enhance the consumer experience throughout the e-commerce process.
Influence of the Positive Pressure Ventilator Setting Distance in Front of the Doorway on the Effectiveness of Tactical Mechanical Ventilation in a Multistory Building
Authors: Kaczmarzyk Piotr , Warguła Łukasz , Krawiec Piotr , Janik Paweł , Noske Rafał , Klapsa Wojciech
Published: May 2023

Proper positioning of the positive pressure ventilator is an important aspect of conducting rescue operations. The purpose of this article was to determine the effect of the parameter of the distance of setting up a mobile fan (distance from 1 to 7 m) on the efficiency of implemented ventilation in a multistory building. The volumetric airflow rate was determined by measuring the flow velocity at 120 measurement points on the surface of the window opening (which served as the measurement plane) of a four-story building. Two positive pressure ventilators were tested (one was a conventional fan and the second a turbo type). The obtained volumetric airflow values ranged from 8591 to 15,656 m3/h, depending on the type of unit and positioning distance, respectively. The analysis performed in the article showed that the general guidelines for the distance of mobile fan positioning that are present in the literature may be inaccurate and outdated.
Revealing Fungal Diversity in Mesophilic and Thermophilic Habitats of Sewage Sludge Composting by Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Petkova Mariana , Shilev Stefan
Published: May 2023

The accumulation of sewage sludge is a severe problem in many countries. Its utilization through composting has the potential to become a widely applied technology. From this perspective, our study investigated the diversity of fungi in mesophilic and thermophilic habitats when composting biosolids, cow manure and wheat straw. It was conducted using a metagenomic approach and next-generation Illumina HiSeq2000 sequencing to reveal the fungal diversity. We found significantly enhanced microbial activity in the thermophilic phase. In contrast, the activity of enzyme β-glucosidase was 29% higher in the mesophilic zone. The range of α-diversity values was more pronounced in the mesophilic habitats than in the thermophilic habitats based on diversity indices. At the class level, the mesophilic fungi were represented by Sordariomycetes—58.7%, Pezizomycetes—15.1% and Agaricomycetes—12.3%, while the most abundant thermophilic fungi found were Sordariomycetes—39.5% and Pezizomycetes—9.8%. In the further clarification of genera diversity, it is striking that at 37.2 °C, Psathyrella was the most abundant with 35.91%, followed by Chaetomidium with 20.11%. Among the thermophiles, Thielavia and Mortierella were the most common. Further research on microbial diversity changes over time is needed to manage the metabolic processes in obtaining quality soil amendment.
A General Stable Control Method for R-Type Underactuated Robot with Three Different Initial Situations
Authors: Huang Zixin , Hou Mengyu , Hua Yong , Yu Chengsong , Wang Lejun
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we propose a general control method via the intelligent algorithm for a planar R-type underactuated robot. This control method solves the unified control problem of R-type underactuated manipulator. Meanwhile, the proposed method is also applicable to cases of nonzero initial velocity and interference rejection. Our total control program includes two stages. In the first stage, we design the trajectory based on the states of the actuated link, and then the controller is designed to track the planned trajectory to realize the objective of the actuated link. In the second stage, the trajectory with adjustable parameters is planned for the actuated link. Then, the adjustable parameters are calculated by the intelligent algorithm based on the underactuated constraints. Subsequently, the controller is designed to track the second trajectory to realize the objective of the actuated manipulator and the underactuated manipulator. Finally, the performance of the proposed method is verified through simulations.
Multi-Class Confidence Detection Using Deep Learning Approach
Authors: Mujahid Amna , Aslam Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Usman Ghani , Martinez-Enriquez Ana Maria , Haq Nazeef Ul
Published: May 2023

The advancement of both the fields of Computer Vision (CV) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) has enabled the development of effective automatic systems for analyzing human behavior. It is possible to recognize gestures, which are frequently used by people to communicate information non-verbally, by studying hand movements. So, the main contribution of this research is the collected dataset, which is taken from open-source videos of the relevant subjects that contain actions that depict confidence levels. The dataset contains high-quality frames with minimal bias and less noise. Secondly, we have chosen the domain of confidence determination during social issues such as interviews, discussions, or criminal investigations. Thirdly, the proposed model is a combination of two high-performing models, i.e., CNN (GoogLeNet) and LSTM. GoogLeNet is the state-of-the-art architecture for hand detection and gesture recognition. LSTM prevents the loss of information by keeping temporal data. So the combination of these two outperformed during the training and testing process. This study presents a method to recognize different categories of Self-Efficacy by performing multi-class classification based on the current situation of hand movements using visual data processing and feature extraction. The proposed architecture pre-processes the sequence of images collected from different scenarios, including humans, and their quality frames are extracted. These frames are then processed to extract and analyze the features regarding their body joints and hand position and classify them into four different classes related to efficacy, i.e., confidence, cooperation, confusion, and uncomfortable. The features are extracted using a combination framework of customized Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) layers with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) for feature extraction and classification. Remarkable results have been achieved from this study representing 90.48% accuracy with effective recognition of human body gestures through deep learning approaches.
An Intuitionistic Fuzzy-Rough Set-Based Classification for Anomaly Detection
Authors: Mazarbhuiya Fokrul Alom , Shenify Mohamed
Published: May 2023

The challenging issues of computer networks and databases are not only the intrusion detection but also the reduction of false positives and increase of detection rate. In any intrusion detection system, anomaly detection mainly focuses on modeling the normal behavior of the users and detecting the deviations from normal behavior, which are assumed to be potential intrusions or threats. Several techniques have already been successfully tried for this purpose. However, the normal and suspicious behaviors are hard to predict as there is no precise boundary differentiating one from another. Here, rough set theory and fuzzy set theory come into the picture. In this article, a hybrid approach consisting of rough set theory and intuitionistic fuzzy set theory is proposed for the detection of anomaly. The proposed approach is a classification approach which takes the advantages of both rough set and intuitionistic fuzzy set to deal with inherent uncertainty, vagueness, and indiscernibility in the dataset. The algorithm classifies the data instances in such a way that they can be expressed using natural language. A data instance can possibly or certainly belong to a class with degrees of membership and non-membership. The empirical study with a real-world and a synthetic dataset demonstrates that the proposed algorithm has normal true positive rates of 91.989% and 96.99% and attack true positive rates of 91.289% and 96.29%, respectively.
Sand Sedimentation Mechanism in and around the Railway Culvert and Its Structural Optimization of Sediment Reduction
Authors: Xu Jiangang , Huang Ning , Dun Hongchao , Shi Guangtian , Zhang Xiaoan
Published: May 2023

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a railway culvert was established based on the two-phase flow theory to investigate wind-blown sand transport and sand sedimentation in and around a railway culvert. Then the flow field and the accumulation distribution of sand particles were analyzed through numerical simulation. The results show that the flow field around the culvert can be divided into deceleration, acceleration, and vortex areas. The curve of the horizontal wind speed along the central axis of the culvert had a W shape, indicating a significant increase in the wind speed inside the culvert. A large amount of sand accumulated at the culvert inlet because of the wing walls. The sand volume fraction in the culvert decreased with an increase in the inflow velocity, and there was almost no sand sedimentation when the inflow velocity was greater than 20 m/s. Three reasons for the sand accumulation in the culvert included the deflection by the wing walls, subgrade blocking, and a low inflow velocity. Based on the simulation results, straight and protruding culverts were designed to minimize sand accumulation. The straight culvert exhibited better performance than the protruding culvert and is recommended for use in railways. This work can provide theoretical support for designing railway culverts that minimize or prevent wind-blown sand accumulation.
Deep Learning for Sarcasm Identification in News Headlines
Authors: Ali Rasikh , Farhat Tayyaba , Abdullah Sanya , Akram Sheeraz , Alhajlah Mousa , Mahmood Awais , Iqbal Muhammad Amjad
Published: May 2023

Sarcasm is a mode of expression whereby individuals communicate their positive or negative sentiments through words contrary to their intent. This communication style is prevalent in news headlines and social media platforms, making it increasingly challenging for individuals to detect sarcasm accurately. To mitigate this challenge, developing an intelligent system that can detect sarcasm in headlines and news is imperative. This research paper proposes a deep learning architecture-based model for sarcasm identification in news headlines. The proposed model has three main objectives: (1) to comprehend the original meaning of the text or headlines, (2) to learn the nature of sarcasm, and (3) to detect sarcasm in the text or headlines. Previous studies on sarcasm detection have utilized datasets of tweets and employed hashtags to differentiate between ordinary and sarcastic tweets depending on the limited dataset. However, these datasets were prone to noise regarding language and tags. In contrast, using multiple datasets in this study provides a comprehensive understanding of sarcasm detection in online communication. By incorporating different types of sarcasm from the Sarcasm Corpus V2 from Baskin Engineering and sarcastic news headlines from The Onion and HuffPost, the study aims to develop a model that can generalize well across different contexts. The proposed model uses LSTM to capture temporal dependencies, while the proposed model utilizes a GlobalMaxPool1D layer for better feature extraction. The model was evaluated on training and test data with an accuracy score of 0.999 and 0.925, respectively.
Case Study of Remodelling the As-Built Documentation of a Railway Construction into the BIM and GIS Environment
Authors: Bartonek Dalibor , Bures Jiri , Vystavel Ondrej , Havlicek Radomir
Published: May 2023

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a modern approach to managing the process of preparation, realization and operation of building objects including their documentation throughout their life cycle, based on database agenda platform. The aim of our research is to analyze and innovate existing engineering procedures with the aim: 1. to remodel the existing CAD documentation into BIM for the purpose of public procurement, 2. to provide guaranteed data to the IS of the Digital Map of Public Administration and 3. to provide data for the design of new railway structures or their reconstruction. The aim of the case study was to evaluate the effectiveness of remodelling the existing as-built documentation of a railway construction into a common BIM data environment (CDE), in which further subsequent construction agenda should be managed for the remaining period of its life cycle. Using the documentation for construction realization of the railway station Šumice, this 3D documentation was remodeled into the BIM data environment CDE and alternatively also into the 2D GIS environment. The BIM data standard developed by the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure was analyzed during the documentation reworking. An important parameter of the documentation rework was the use of a geodetic reference system fully compatible with the cadastral system in the Czech Republic. It turned out that the general data standard is only partially applicable for railway structures containing many special objects and many objects requiring individual classification. The remodelling of existing graphical data proved faster and more efficient in a GIS environment (layer oriented) compared to the need for 3D remodelling in a BIM CDE (object oriented). Experimental results have demonstrated the effectiveness of remodelling underground technical infrastructure objects, while the visible surface situation is often more effectively captured by current progressive bulk data acquisition technologies. In a CDE environment, existing as-built documentation data can be efficiently stored and administered and progressively, for the procurement and execution of construction, purposefully remodeled only to the extent required in BIM or converted into an exchangeable Digital Technical Map (DTM) format for public administration.
A Systematic Literature Review of the Hybrid Methodologies in Assessing Flood Indirect Impacts on Transportation
Authors: Jafari Shahdani Fereshteh , Matos José C. , Ribeiro Paulo
Published: May 2023

As there is a staggering increase in flooding worldwide, many countries have prioritized sustainability of their transportation sector through flood impact prediction to support the transition during flooding. As such, research regarding the flood impacts on transportation has dramatically increased in recent years. Hybrid methods play an important role in simulating the flood situation and its impacts on traffic networks. This article offers a systematic literature review of existing research which employ hybrid methods to assess the indirect impacts of flooding on transportation. In this study, 45 articles are reviewed systematically to answer 8 research questions regarding modeling the indirect impacts of flooding on transportation. The hybrid techniques observed in the existing literature are discussed and along with the main barriers to precise prediction of flooding’s indirect impacts on transportation, future research directions are also suggested.