bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hemostatic Dysfunction in Dogs Naturally Infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum—A Narrative Review
Authors: Willesen Jakob L. , Langhorn Rebecca , Nielsen Lise N.
Published: February 2022

This narrative review aims to describe Angiostrongylus vasorum-induced hemostatic dysfunction of dogs with emphasis on clinical and laboratory findings as well as potential therapeutic strategies for the bleeding patient. Canine angiostrongylosis (CA) is a disease with potentially high morbidity and mortality in endemic areas and with fatal outcome often associated with either severe respiratory compromise, pulmonary hypertension and right-sided heart failure, or hemostatic dysfunction with severe bleeding. The most common signs of hemorrhage are hematomas, petecchiation, ecchymoses, oral mucosal membrane bleeding and scleral bleeding, while intracranial and pulmonary hemorrhage are among the most severe. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying hemostatic dysfunction in these patients are presently researched. While the larval effect on platelets remains unknown, the parasite appears to induce dysregulation of hemostatic proteins, with studies suggesting a mixture of pro-coagulant protein consumption and hyperfibrinolysis. Importantly, not all dogs display the same hemostatic abnormalities. Consequently, characterizing the hemostatic state of the individual patient is necessary, but has proven difficult with traditional coagulation tests. Global viscoelastic testing shows promise, but has limited availability in general practice. Treatment of A. vasorum-infected dogs with hemostatic dysfunction relies on anthelmintic treatment as well as therapy directed at the individual dog’s specific hemostatic alterations.
Simultaneous Up-Conversion Based on a Co- & Counter-Directions SOA-MZI Sampling Mixer with Standard & Differential Modulation Modes
Authors: Termos Hassan , Mansour Ali , Nasser Abbass
Published: February 2022

Simulation and experimental performance analyses of simultaneous up-converted signals, for the first time, were investigated utilizing a semiconductor optical amplifier Mach–Zehnder interferometer (SOA-MZI) sampling mixer in co- and counter-directions for standard and differential modulation modes. An optical pulse source at a sampling frequency of fs = 15.6 GHz was used as a sampling signal. The IF signal channels carrying quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) data at frequencies fm were up-converted at different mixing frequencies up to 195.5 GHz. Using the Virtual Photonics Inc. (VPI) simulator, we realized mixed QPSK signals and studied their characteristics through a conversion gain and an error vector magnitude (EVM). Simulations of up mixing operated in a frequency range up to 158 GHz. For the standard modulation in the co-direction, the conversion gain decreased from 43.3 dB at the mixing frequency of 16.6 GHz to 21.8 dB at 157 GHz for the first channel and from 43 dB at 17.6 GHz to 21 dB at 158 GHz for the second channel. The use of the differential modulation principle improved the conversion gain by about 10 dB at 195.5 GHz compared to standard modulations in co- and counter-directions. The EVM reached, respectively, 15.5 and 17.5% for the differential modulation in both configurations, at the bit rate of 100 Gbit/s at 195.5 GHz. The benefit provided by the differential modulation was that EVM values were shifted by 20% for all channels in both configurations at 100 Gbit/s. In the real measurement, we confirmed that co-directional conversion exhibited a better performance than the counter-directional operation. In addition, the real mixed signal exhibited lower efficiency and quality in comparison with simulated signals due to the sensitivity of the receiver.
The Potential Roles of Unique Leaf Structure for the Adaptation of Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. in Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Hu Yanping , Zhang Huixuan , Qian Qian , Lin Gonghua , Wang Jun , Sun Jing , Li Yi , Jang Jyan-Chyun , Li Wenjing
Published: February 2022

Leaves are essential plant organs with numerous variations in shape and size. The leaf size is generally smaller in plants that thrive in areas of higher elevation and lower annual mean temperature. The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau is situated at an altitude of >4000 m with relatively low annual average temperatures. Most plant species found on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau have small leaves, with Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. being an exception. Here, we show that the large leaves of R. tanguticum with a unique three-dimensional (3D) shape are potentially an ideal solution for thermoregulation with little energy consumption. With the increase in age, the shape of R. tanguticum leaves changed from a small oval plane to a large palmatipartite 3D shape. Therefore, R. tanguticum is a highly heteroblastic species. The leaf shape change during the transition from the juvenile to the adult phase of the development in R. tanguticum is a striking example of the manifestation of plant phenotypic plasticity. The temperature variation in different parts of the leaf was a distinct character of leaves of over-5-year-old plants. The temperature of single-plane leaves under strong solar radiation could accumulate heat rapidly and resulted in temperatures much higher than the ambient temperature. However, leaves of over-5-year-old plants could lower leaf temperature by avoiding direct exposure to solar radiation and promoting local airflow to prevent serious tissue damage by sunburn. Furthermore, the net photosynthesis rate was correlated with the heterogeneity of the leaf surface temperature. Our results demonstrate that the robust 3D shape of the leaf is a strategy that R. tanguticum has developed evolutionarily to adapt to the strong solar radiation and low temperature on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau.
Photoactivated TiO2 Nanocomposite Delays the Postharvest Ripening Phenomenon through Ethylene Metabolism and Related Physiological Changes in Capsicum Fruit
Authors: Ghosh Arijit , Saha Indraneel , Fujita Masayuki , Debnath Subhas Chandra , Hazra Alok Kumar , Adak Malay Kumar , Hasanuzzaman Mirza
Published: February 2022

Capsicum is one of the most perishable fruit which undergo rapid loss of commercial value during postharvest storage. In this experiment our aim is to evaluate the effect of photoactivated TiO2 nano-particle complexed with chitosan or TiO2-nanocomposite (TiO2-NC) on extension self-life of Capsicum fruit and its effect on related morphological, physiological and molecular attributes at room temperature (25 °C). Initially, TiO2-NC coated fruits recorded superior maintenance of total soluble solids accumulation along with retention of firmness, cellular integrity, hydration, color etc. On the extended period of storage, fruit recorded a lower bioaccumulation of TiO2 in comparison to metallic silver over the control. On the level of gene expression for ethylene biosynthetic and signaling the TiO2-NC had more regulation, however, discretely to moderate the ripening. Thus, ACC synthase and oxidase recorded a significantly better downregulation as studied from fruit pulp under TiO2-NC than silver. On the signaling path, the transcripts for CaETR1 and CaETR2 were less abundant in fruit under both the treatment when studied against control for 7 d. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also correlated to retard the oxidative lysis of polyamine oxidation by diamine and polyamine oxidase activity. The gene expression for hydrolytic activity as non-specific esterase had corroborated the development of essential oil constituents with few of those recorded in significant abundance. Therefore, TiO2-NC would be reliable to induce those metabolites modulating ripening behavior in favor of delayed ripening. From gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis profile of all tested essential oil constituents suggesting positive impact of TiO2-NC on shelf-life extension of Capsicum fruit. Our results indicated the potentiality of TiO2-NC in postharvest storage those may connect ethylene signaling and ROS metabolism in suppression of specific ripening attributes.
Impact of Two Strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum on the Adaptation to Terminal Water Deficit of Two Cultivars Vicia faba
Authors: Amine-Khodja Ihsein Rokia , Boscari Alexandre , Riah Nassira , Kechid Maya , Maougal Rim Tinhinen , Belbekri Nadir , Djekoun Abdelhamid
Published: February 2022

Drought stress has become one of the most uncontrolled and unpredictable constraints on crop production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impacts of two different Rhizobium leguminosarum strains on terminal drought tolerance induction in two faba bean genotypes cultivated in Algeria, Aquadulce and Maltais. To this end, we measured physiological parameters—osmoprotectants accumulation, oxidative stress markers and enzyme activities—to assess the effect of R. leguminosarum inoculation on V. faba under terminal water deficiency conditions in greenhouse trials. Upregulation of anti-oxidative mechanisms and production of compatible solutes were found differentially activated according to Rhizobium strain. Drought stress resilience of the Maltais variety was improved using the local Rhizobium strain OL13 compared to the common strain 3841. Symbiosis with OL13 strain leads in particular to a much better production of proline and soluble sugar in nodules but also in roots and leaves of Maltais plant. Even if additional work is still necessary to decipher the mechanism by which a Rhizobium strain can affect the accumulation of osmoprotectants or cellular redox status in all the plants, inoculation with selected Rhizobium could be a promising strategy for improving water stress management in the forthcoming era of climate change.
The Assembly of Tropical Dry Forest Tree Communities in Anthropogenic Landscapes: The Role of Chemical Defenses
Authors: Bravo-Monzón Ángel E. , Montiel-González Cristina , Benítez-Malvido Julieta , Arena-Ortíz María Leticia , Flores-Puerto José Israel , Chiappa-Carrara Xavier , Avila-Cabadilla Luis Daniel , Alvarez-Añorve Mariana Yolotl
Published: February 2022

The effect of anthropogenic disturbance on plant community traits and tradeoffs remains poorly explored in tropical forests. In this study, we aimed to identify tradeoffs between defense and other plant functions related to growth processes in order to detect potential aboveground and edaphic environmental conditions modulating traits variation on plant communities, and to find potential assembly rules underlying species coexistence in secondary (SEF) and old-growth forests (OGF). We measured the foliar content of defense phytochemicals and leaf traits related to fundamental functions on 77 species found in SEF and OGF sites in the Jalisco dry forest ecoregion, Mexico, and we explored (1) the trait-trait and trait-habitat associations, (2) the intra and interspecies trait variation, and (3) the traits-environment associations. We found that phytochemical content was associated with high leaf density and leaf fresh mass, resulting in leaves resistant to drought and high radiation, with chemical and physical defenses against herbivore/pathogen attack. The phytochemicals and chlorophyll concentrations were negatively related, matching the predictions of the Protein Competition Model. The phylogenetic signal in functional traits, suggests that abundant clades share the ability to resist the harsh biotic and abiotic conditions and face similar tradeoffs between productive and defensive functions. Environmental filters could modulate the enhanced expression of defensive phytochemicals in SEF, while, in OGFs, we found a stronger filtering effect driving community assembly. This could allow for the coexistence of different defensive strategies in OGFs, where a greater species richness could dilute the prevalence of pathogens/herbivores. Consequently, anthropogenic disturbance could alter TDF ecosystem properties/services and functioning.
Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, Biological, and Nutritional Properties of Genus Crepis—A Review
Authors: Badalamenti Natale , Sottile Francesco , Bruno Maurizio
Published: February 2022

The genus Crepis L., included within the Asteraceae family, has a very wide distribution, expanding throughout the northern hemisphere, including Europe, northern Africa, and temperate Asia. This genus has a fundamental value from biodynamic and ecological perspectives, with the different species often being chosen for soil conservation, for environmental sustainability, and for their attraction towards pollinating species. Furthermore, various species of Crepis have been used in the popular medicine of several countries as medicinal herbs and food since ancient times. In most cases, the species is consumed either in the form of a decoction, or as a salad, and is used for its cardiovascular properties, as a digestive, for problems related to sight, for the treatment of diabetes, and for joint diseases. This literature review, the first one of the Crepis genus, includes publications with the word ‘Crepis’, and considers the single metabolites identified, characterised, and tested to evaluate their biological potential. The various isolated compounds, including in most cases sesquiterpenes and flavonoids, were obtained by extracting the roots and aerial parts of the different species. The secondary metabolites, extracted using traditional (solvent extraction, column chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography, preparative HPLC, vacuum liquid chromatography), and modern systems such as ultrasounds, microwaves, etc., and characterised by mono- and bi- dimensional NMR experiments and by HPLC-MS, have a varied application spectrum at a biological level, with antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antitumor, antiviral, antiulcer, phytotoxic, and nutritional properties having been reported. Unfortunately, in vitro tests have not always been accompanied by in vivo tests, and this is the major critical aspect that emerges from the study of the scientific aspects related to this genus. Therefore, extensive investigations are necessary to evaluate the real capacity of the different species used in food, and above all to discover what the different plants that have never been analysed could offer at a scientific level.
Opuntia ficus-indica Alleviates Particulate Matter 10 Plus Diesel Exhaust Particles (PM10D)—Induced Airway Inflammation by Suppressing the Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines
Authors: Lee Young-Sil , Yang Won-Kyung , Park Ye-Rin , Park Yang-Chun , Park In-Jae , Lee Geung-Joo , Kang Hyung-Sik , Kim Bong-Kyun , Kim Seung-Hyung
Published: February 2022

Particulate matter (PM) exposure may cause adverse health effects such as respiratory disorders. We evaluated the protective effects of various Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) extracts on airway inflammation associated with exposure to PM10D with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm (PM10) and diesel exhaust particles (DEP). BALB/c mice were exposed to PM10D via intranasal tracheal injection three times over a period of 12 days and various OFI extracts (water, 30% ethanolic, or 50% ethanolic extracts) were administered orally for 12 days. All OFI extracts suppressed neutrophil infiltration and the number of immune cells (CD3+/CD4+, CD3+/CD8+, and Gr-1+/CD11b) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lungs. OFI extracts decreased the expression of cytokines and chemokines, including chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL)-1, interleukin (IL)-17, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, cyclooxygenase-2, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1, and mucin 5AC, and inhibited IRAK-1, TNF-α, and CXCL-1 localization in BALF and lungs of mice with PM10D-induced airway inflammation. Serum asymmetric and symmetric dimethyl arginine levels were also decreased by OFI extracts treatment. Moreover, all OFI extracts restored histopathological damage in the trachea and lungs of mice with PM10D-induced airway inflammation. These results indicate that OFI extracts may be used to prevent and treat airway inflammation and respiratory diseases.
Developing Microbial Co-Culture System for Enhanced Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) Production Using Acid Pretreated Lignocellulosic Biomass
Authors: Saratale Rijuta Ganesh , Cho Si-Kyung , Kadam Avinash Ashok , Ghodake Gajanan Sampatrao , Kumar Manu , Bharagava Ram Naresh , Varjani Sunita , Nair Supriya , Kim Dong-Su , Shin Han-Seung , Saratale Ganesh Dattatraya
Published: February 2022

In the growing polymer industry, the interest of researchers is captivated by bioplastics production with biodegradable and biocompatible properties. This study examines the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production performance of individual Lysinibacillus sp. RGS and Ralstonia eutropha ATCC 17699 and their co-culture by utilizing sugarcane bagasse (SCB) hydrolysates. Initially, acidic (H2SO4) and acidified sodium chlorite pretreatment was employed for the hydrolysis of SCB. The effects of chemical pretreatment on the SCB biomass assembly and its chemical constituents were studied by employing numerous analytical methods. Acidic pretreatment under optimal conditions showed effective delignification (60%) of the SCB biomass, leading to a maximum hydrolysis yield of 74.9 ± 1.65% and a saccharification yield of 569.0 ± 5.65 mg/g of SCB after enzymatic hydrolysis. The resulting SCB enzymatic hydrolysates were harnessed for PHA synthesis using individual microbial culture and their defined co-culture. Co-culture strategy was found to be effective in sugar assimilation, bacterial growth, and PHA production kinetic parameters relative to the individual strains. Furthermore, the effects of increasing acid pretreated SCB hydrolysates (20, 30, and 40 g/L) on cell density and PHA synthesis were studied. The effects of different cost-effective nutrient supplements and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) with acid pretreated SCB hydrolysates on cell growth and PHA production were studied. By employing optimal conditions and supplementation of corn steep liquor (CSL) and spent coffee waste extracted oil (SCGO), the co-culture produced maximum cell growth (DCW: 11.68 and 11.0 g/L), PHA accumulation (76% and 76%), and PHA titer (8.87 and 8.36 g/L), respectively. The findings collectively suggest that the development of a microbial co-culture strategy is a promising route for the efficient production of high-value bioplastics using different agricultural waste biomass.
Ductility Enhancement of Sustainable Fibrous-Reinforced High-Strength Lightweight Concrete
Authors: Hosen Md. Akter , Shammas Mahaad Issa , Shill Sukanta Kumer , Al-Deen Safat , Jumaat Mohd Zamin , Hashim Huzaifa
Published: February 2022

To limit the cross-sectional size of concrete structures, high-strength, lightweight concrete is preferred for the design and construction of structural elements. However, the main drawback of high-strength, lightweight concrete is its brittleness over normal-weight concrete. The ductility of concrete is a crucial factor, which plays an important role when the concrete structures are subjected to extreme situations, such as earthquakes and wind. This study aims to improve the ductility of high-strength, lightweight concrete by incorporating steel fibers. The palm oil clinker (POC)-based, high-strength, lightweight concrete specimens reinforced with steel fibers were prepared and their ductility was systematically examined. POC was used as aggregates and supplementary cementitious materials. Steel fibers from 0–1.50% (by volume), with an increment of 0.5%, were used in the concrete mix. Compression ductility, displacement ductility and energy ductility were used as indicators to evaluate the enhancement of ductility. Moreover, the compressive strength, flexural strength, stress-strain behavior, modulus of elasticity, load-displacement characteristics, energy absorption capacity and deformability of the concrete samples were investigated. The compression ductility, displacement ductility and energy ductility indexes were found to be increased by up to 472%, 140% and 568% compared to the control specimens (concrete with 0% steel fibers), respectively. Moreover, the deformability and energy absorption capacity of the concrete were increased by up to 566% and 125%, respectively. Therefore, POC-based, high-strength, fibrous, lightweight concrete could perform better than conventional concrete under extreme loading conditions as it showed significantly higher ductility.
Surface Modification of Sulfur-Assisted Reduced Graphene Oxide with Poly(phenylene sulfide) for Multifunctional Nanocomposites
Authors: Choi Minsik , Kim Junghwan , Oh Yuna , Yu Jaesang , Kim Sung-Gi , Yoo Heejoun , Ryu Seongwoo , You Nam-Ho , Ku Bon-Cheol
Published: February 2022

The sulfur on the sulfur-assisted reduced graphene oxide (SrGO) surface provides the origin of poly(phenylene sulfide) PPS-grafting via SNAr mechanism. In-situ polymerization from sulfur on SrGO afforded surface modification of SrGO, resulting in enhanced dispersibility in PPS. The tensile strength, electrical and thermal conductivities, and flame retardancy of PPS-coated SrGO were efficiently enhanced using highly concentrated SrGO and masterbatch (MB) for industrial purposes. Three-dimensional X-ray microtomography scanning revealed that diluting MB in the PPS resin afforded finely distributed SrGO across the PPS resin, compared to the aggregated state of graphene oxide. For the samples after dilution, the thermal conductivity and flame retardancy of PPS/SrGO are preserved and typically enhanced by up to 20%. The proposed PPS/SrGO MB shows potential application as an additive for reinforced PPS due to the ease of addition during the extrusion process.
Recovery of N-Butanol from a Complex Five-Component Reactive Azeotropic Mixture
Authors: Bogataj Miloš , Kravanja Zdravko , Nemet Andreja
Published: February 2022

This paper proposes a concept of a process design for the separation and recovery of n-butanol from a five-component mixture, consisting of n-butanol, isobutanol, formaldehyde, water and methanol. The mixture is a common waste stream in the production of butylated amino resins; therefore, recovery of n-butanol is crucial to the efficiency of the process. The results show that up to 94% of the n-butanol present in the waste stream can be recovered. Under the studied conditions, 99.76% pure n-butanol can be obtained, while formaldehyde, water and methanol are present only in traces. The energy intensity of the process is estimated at 2.42 MJ/kg of purified n-butanol. The economic analysis of the process shows that the process is economically viable over a wide range of production capacities, as evidenced by high net present values and high return on investment values.
Effects of Novel Extraction Strategies on the Recovery of Phenolic Compounds and Associated Antioxidant Properties from Buckwheat Hull (Fagopyrum esculentum)
Authors: Noore Shaba , Joshi Akanksha , Kumari Bibha , Zhao Ming , O’Donnell Colm , Tiwari Brijesh Kumar
Published: February 2022

This study investigated the effects of novel extraction technologies, including ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), pulsed electric field (PEF), high-pressure processing (HPP), enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), and conventional extraction, on the recovery of phenolic compounds and associated antioxidant properties from buckwheat hull (Fagopyrum esculentum). Initially, twenty-four extraction strategies were investigated. Based on the results of the total phenolic content and antioxidant properties (DPPH and FRAP), twelve strategies (i.e., US (n = 2), PEF (n = 1), MW (n = 4), HPP (n = 4), and a control method) were selected for phenolic profiling carried out using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Forty-one phenolic compounds were identified in the extracts, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was also carried out on the treated residues to analyze the surface damage post-treatments. The results showed that samples treated with US (16.14 ± 0.06), PEF (9.94 ± 0.02), MW (12.63 ± 0.13), and HPP (21.76 ± 0.78) contained the highest total phenolic content (mg GAE/100 mg of DW). In the case of the antioxidant activities, the highest DPPH activities were obtained using HPP, MAE, and UAE, while no clear pattern was recorded in the case of FRAP activities. The highest DPPH and FRAP activities observed were 80.91 ± 0.22% and 23.98 ± 0.2 mg Trolox equivalents/100 mg, respectively. Additionally, the LC-MS results identified eleven different groups of phenolic compounds in buckwheat hull extracts, including anthocyanin, flavanol, flavanones, flavones, flavonol, phenolic acids, isoflavones, lignans, and quinones.
Stability Enhancement of Wind Energy Conversion Systems Based on Optimal Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage Systems Using the Archimedes Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Abdelbadie Heba T. K. , Taha Adel T. M. , Hasanien Hany M. , Turky Rania A. , Muyeen S. M.
Published: February 2022

Throughout the past several years, the renewable energy contribution and particularly the contribution of wind energy to electrical grid systems increased significantly, along with the problem of keeping the systems stable. This article presents a new optimization technique entitled the Archimedes optimization algorithm (AOA) that enhances the wind energy conversion system’s stability, integrated with a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) system that uses a proportional integral (PI) controller. The AOA is a modern population technique based on Archimedes’ law of physics. The SMES system has a big impact in integrating wind generators with the electrical grid by regulating the output of wind generators and strengthening the power system’s performance. In this study, the AOA was employed to determine the optimum conditions of the PI controller that regulates the charging and discharging of the SMES system. The simulation outcomes of the AOA, the genetic algorithm (GA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO) were compared to ensure the efficacy of the introduced optimization algorithm. The simulation results showed the effectiveness of the optimally controlled SMES system, using the AOA in smoothing the output power variations and increasing the stability of the system under various operating conditions.
Novel Global-MPPT Control Strategy Considering the Variation in the Photovoltaic Module Output Power and Loads for Solar Power Systems
Authors: Lu Shiue-Der , Lin Chang-Hua , Huang Liang-Yin , Lee Yu-Lin , Liu Hwa-Dong , Liao Pin-Chao , Gao Guo-Jyun , Hsu Chih-Ming
Published: February 2022

This research proposed a novel global maximum power point tracking (global-MPPT) algorithm. The proposed algorithm eliminates the perturbation and observation (P&O) technique disturbance problem that the power point will be stuck at the local peak power point under a partial shading condition (PSC). The proposed global-MPPT algorithm detects the photovoltaic module (PV-M) environment irradiance level by the relationship between the output power and voltage of the PV-M. In the proposed algorithm, the important parameter w is determined by the PV-M output power and irradiance level, which is also the compensation parameter that corresponds to the relationship of temperature. The proposed global-MPPT algorithm is aimed to predict the best duty cycle of the global-MPPT based on the irradiance level, parameter w, PV-M output voltage, and load, and then achieve the maximum power point (MPP) quickly and accurately. The measurement results under UIC and PSC verify that the proposed global-MPPT technique performs better than the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and P&O techniques. This research contributes to the proposed method that can find the global-MPP in time based on the irradiance level, temperature, and load.
Carcass Composition and Physicochemical Characteristics of Meat from Pork Chains Based on Native and Hybrid Pigs
Authors: Kušec Goran , Komlenić Miodrag , Gvozdanović Kristina , Sili Velimir , Krvavica Marina , Radišić Žarko , Kušec Ivona Djurkin
Published: February 2022

The purpose of the research was to investigate the carcass composition, meat quality and chemical composition of pigs from two pork chains for the production of traditional dry/cured products in Croatia. The trial involved 24 Black Slavonian barrows reared outdoors (NAT chain) and 24 PIC hybrid barrows kept under industrial conditions (INT chain); all animals were raised to 160 kg of live weight. After slaughter, carcass and meat quality traits were measured and samples for chemical composition were taken. After that, a full dissection of the carcasses was performed. The pigs from the INT pork chain had leaner carcasses, higher bone percentages, and lower fatness levels than the NAT carcasses. Pigs from the NAT chain exhibited a more desirable meat quality. No differences were found in moisture, and samples from the INT chain exhibited higher collagen and protein percentage. Muscles from the NAT chain had higher IMF and MUFA levels, and the SFA content was lower than in INT pork. Despite the superior carcass traits of the pigs from the INT chain, pigs from the NAT chain demonstrated better suitability for the production of dry/cured products.
Proactive Maintenance Model Using Reinforcement Learning Algorithm in Rubber Industry
Authors: Senthil Chandran , Sudhakara Pandian Ranjitharamasamy
Published: February 2022

This paper presents an investigation into the enhancement of availability of a curing machine deployed in the rubber industry, located in Tamilnadu in India. Machine maintenance is a major task in the rubber industry, due to the demand for product. Critical component identification in curing machines is necessary to prevent rapid failure followed by subsequent repairs that extend curing machine downtime. A reward in the Reinforcement Learning Algorithm (RLA) prevents frequent downtime by improving the availability of the curing machine at time when unscheduled long-term maintenance would interfere with operation, due to the occurrence of unspecified failure to a critical component. Over time, depreciation and degradation of components in a machine are unavoidable, as is shown in the present investigation through intelligent assessment of the lifespan of components. So far, no effective methodology has been implemented in a real-time maintenance environment. RLAs seem to be a more effective application when it is based on intelligent assessment, which encompasses the failure and repair rate used to calculate availability in an automated environment. Training of RLAs is performed to evaluate overall equipment efficiency (OEE) in terms of availability. The availability of a curing machine in the form of state probability is modeled in first-order differential-difference equations. RLAs maximize the rate of availability of the machine. Preventive maintenance (PM) rate for four modules of 16 curing machines is expressed in a transition diagram, using transition rate. Transition rate indicates the degree of PM and unplanned maintenance rates that defines the total availability of the four modules. OEE is expressed in terms of the availability of curing machines, which is related to performance and quality. The results obtained by RLA are promising regarding short-term and long-term efficiencies of OEE, which are 95.19% and 83.37%, respectively.
The Construction of Sacred Landscapes and Maritime Identities in the Post-Medieval Cyclades Islands: The Case of Paros
Authors: Vionis Athanasios K.
Published: February 2022

The Cyclades islands in the South Aegean initially attracted the attention of prehistorians approaching islands as ‘laboratories’ for the study of cultural development, examining the notions of ‘isolation’ and ‘connectivity’, or, more recently, by introducing new terminologies, such as ‘seascape’ and ‘islandscape’. The wealth of material remains of the post-medieval era in the Cyclades islands (e.g., ecclesiastical architecture, ceramics) and the textual record available (e.g., Ottoman tax registers, travellers’ accounts) provide fascinating evidence regarding the construction of sacred landscapes, self-expression, community, and maritime identities throughout the period of Ottoman domination. The main aim of this article is to examine the historical contingencies and the distribution of a vast number of rural churches, primarily as evidence for religious expression, in order to capture island dynamics and the formation of religious and community identities, as imprinted onto the sacred landscapes of the island of Paros. By shifting our focus from the imperial Ottoman to the local Cycladic, we come to appreciate islanders as decisive agents of their maritime identities, creating rituals and sacred spaces, sometimes beyond the strict borders of institutional religion.
Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin and Its Association to Cardiovascular Risk Factors in an Italian Adult Population Cohort
Authors: Buttari Brigitta , Riganò Rachele , Palmieri Luigi , Lo Noce Cinzia , Blankenberg Stefan , Zeller Tanja , Vannucchi Serena , Di Lonardo Anna , Gabbianelli Marco , Donfrancesco Chiara
Published: February 2022

Abnormal sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and sex hormone concentrations are the cause or the consequence of cardiometabolic diseases, however, the clinical correlates of SHBG is clearly less understood. In our study we investigate sex- and age-specific serum SHBG levels and their association with cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors and high-risk conditions in an adult cohort of Italian population. Data from 1176 men and 2236 women, aged 20–81 were analyzed and serum SHBG determined in stored samples using an immunoassay. SHBG concentrations, higher in women than in men in the younger age groups, exhibited a curvilinear increase with age in men and a U-shaped curve across the lifespan in women, with a decrease from the 2nd to the 6th decade of age and an increase after the 6th decade when SHBG concentrations were similar in both sexes. Low SHBG serum levels correlated with the traditional CVR factors diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, whereas high level of SHBG correlated with cholesterol HDL. These associations were more numerous in women than in men, in whom decreased with age. The sex- and age specific differences observed in our population-based cohort should be considered in establishing reference ranges and clinical cut-off points to improve CVR score charts and therapeutic approaches.
Recurrent Congenital Heart Block Due to Maternal Anti-Ro Antibodies: Successful Prevention of Poor Pregnancy Outcome with Hydroxychloroquine and Added Dexamethasone
Authors: Cimpoca-Raptis Brindusa , Ciobanu Anca Marina , Gica Nicolae , Scutelnicu Ana Maria , Bouariu Alexandra , Popescu Mihaela , Panaitescu Anca Maria
Published: February 2022

Autoimmune Congenital Heart Block (CHB) is an immune-mediated disease caused by transplacental passage of maternal circulating anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies which can bind to fetal cardiac tissue, damaging conduction tissues by inflammation and fibrosis. Approximately 2% of pregnancies with positive anti-Ro antibodies will be complicated by fetal atrioventricular block and the risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies is 10 times higher. We report a case of a clinically asymptomatic patient diagnosed with anti-Ro antibodies who had two pregnancies complicated by CHB with different outcomes. Despite preventive treatment with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) from 6 weeks of pregnancy onward, the fetus developed second to third degree CHB. Dexamethasone was added. The pregnancy evolved to near-term with persistent intermittent CHB. It is not clear how pregnancies with recurrent fetal CHB despite prophylaxis with HCQ should be managed and there is a need for controlled studies to answer the remaining questions in relation to this subject.
Towards Transferable Use of Terrain Ruggedness Component in the Geodiversity Index
Authors: Stojilković Borut
Published: February 2022

Geodiversity, as diversity of the abiotic environment, includes terrain ruggedness (or roughness), which is one of the essential parts of geodiversity evaluation. The terrain ruggedness index (R) represents the value of one of the main geodiversity components. The purpose of the study is to discuss the characteristics of R in the scope of geodiversity, and to show how R differs within two specific study areas if we study them using a data scale that covers both areas and only site-specific data. Hence, the main methods include geodiversity element mapping, calculating R based on either the study area or broader-scale data and discussing the differences that arise. The findings show that R should not be calculated only within individual study areas if the results among different study areas are to be compared; rather, it should first be calculated on a larger scale for the whole region in which we are about to compare the specific study areas. The applied value of these results is that such data are then suitable for calculating the geodiversity index (G) according to specific methodological steps and for further analyses.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Activity May Predict Disease Severity in Psoriasis
Authors: Bandeira Matilde , Gil Ângela , Santos Ana Carolina , Romão Vasco C. , Mascarenhas Mário Rui , Filipe Paulo , Fonseca João Eurico , Bicho Manuel
Published: February 2022

Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease, with many genetic risk factors, one of which seems to be the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism. ACE activity has been shown to be higher in psoriatic patients and it suggests an oxidative stress state, as seen in many cardiovascular disorders. We aimed to explore the association between ACE activity and polymorphisms and cardiovascular risk amongst psoriatic patients. We included 64 psoriatic patients and 1091 controls and compared ACE I/D polymorphism genotype and serum activity for both groups. ACE genotypes were similar in psoriatic patients and controls. Notably, serum ACE activity was higher in psoriatic patients (19.09 ± 2.86 U/mL) compared to controls (11.85 ± 0.40 U/mL), p = 0.015. Non-HDL cholesterol was significantly lower in II polymorphism (p = 0.037). Psoriatic activity (PASI) was associated with a higher cardiovascular risk estimated by lower HDL concentrations (r = −0.496, p = 0.007), and higher triglyceride levels (r = 0.421, p = 0.020) and TC/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios (r = 0.612, p < 0.001 and r = 0.437, p = 0.023, respectively). Patients with psoriasis have higher ACE activity levels, independent of ACE genotype. Moreover, disease activity correlated with cardiovascular risk. This could support the eventual role of ACE as a possible biomarker for disease severity and cardiovascular risk in psoriasis patients.
Text Mining for U.S. Pension De-Risking Analysis
Authors: Zhang Limin , Tian Ruilin , Chen Jun
Published: February 2022

In the past 30 years, as sponsors of defined benefit (DB) pension plans were facing more severe underfunding challenges, pension de-risking strategies have become prevalent for firms with DB plans to reduce pension-related risks. However, it remains unclear how pension de-risking activities affect firms’ performance, partially due to the lack of de-risking data. In this study, we develop a multi-phase methodology to build a de-risking database for the purpose of investigating impacts of firms’ pension risk transfer activities. We extract company filings between 1993 and 2018 from the SEC EDGAR database to identify different “de-risking” strategies that US-based companies have used. A combination of text mining, machine learning, and natural language processing methods is applied to the textual data for automated identification and classification of de-risking strategies. The contribution of this study is three-fold: (1) the design of a multi-phase methodology that identifies and extracts hidden information from a large amount of textual data; (2) the development of a comprehensive database for pension de-risking activities of US-based companies; and (3) valuable insights to companies with DB plans, pensioners, and practitioners in pension de-risking markets through empirical analysis.
Understanding Landslide Susceptibility in Northern Chilean Patagonia: A Basin-Scale Study Using Machine Learning and Field Data
Authors: Lizama Elizabet , Morales Bastian , Somos-Valenzuela Marcelo , Chen Ningsheng , Liu Mei
Published: February 2022

The interaction of geological processes and climate changes has resulted in growing landslide activity that has impacted communities and ecosystems in northern Chilean Patagonia. On 17 December 2017, a catastrophic flood of 7 × 106 m3 almost destroyed Villa Santa Lucía and approximately 3 km of the southern highway (Route 7), the only land route in Chilean Patagonia that connects this vast region from north to south, exposing the vulnerability of the population and critical infrastructure to these natural hazards. The 2017 flood produced a paradigm shift on the analysis scale to understand the danger to which communities and their infrastructure are exposed. Thus, in this study, we sought to evaluate the susceptibility of landslides in the Yelcho and Rio Frio basins, whose intersection represents the origin of this great flood. For this, we used two approaches, (1) geospatial data in combination with machine learning methods using different training configurations and (2) a qualitative analysis of the landscape considering the geological and geomorphological conditions through fieldwork. For statistical modeling, we used an inventory of landslides that occurred between 2008 and 2017 and a total of 17 predictive variables, which are geoenvironmental, climatological and environmental triggers derived from volcanic and seismic activity. Our results indicate that soil moisture significantly impacted spatial susceptibility, followed by lithology, drainage density and seismic activity. Additionally, we observed that the inclusion of climatic predictors and environmental triggers increased the average performance score of the models by up to 3–5%. Based on our results, we believe that the wide distribution of volcanic–sedimentary rocks hydrothermally altered with zeolites in the western mountains of the Yelcho and Rio Frio basin are highly susceptible to generating large-scale landslides. Therefore, the town of Villa Santa Lucia and the “Carretera Austral” (Route 7) are susceptible to new landslides coming mainly from the western slope. This requires the timely implementation of measures to mitigate the impact on the population and critical infrastructure.
Space-Based Displacement Monitoring of Coastal Urban Areas: The Case of Limassol’s Coastal Front
Authors: Fotiou Kyriaki , Kakoullis Dimitris , Pekri Marina , Melillos George , Brcic Ramon , Eineder Michael , Hadjimitsis Diofantos G. , Danezis Chris
Published: February 2022

In the last five years, the urban development of the city of Limassol has rapidly increased in the sectors of industry, trade, real estate, and many others. This exponentially increased urban development arises several concerns about the aggravation of potential land subsidence in the Limassol coastal front. Forty six Copernicus Sentinel-1 acquisitions from 2017 to 2021 have been processed and analyzed using the Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP) and the Stanford Method for Persistent Scatterers (StaMPS). A case study for the identification and analysis of the persistent scatterers (PS) in pixels in a series of interferograms and the quantity of the land displacements in the line of sight of the Limassol coastal front is presented in this research, with subsidence rates up to about (−5 to 4 mm/year). For the validation of the detected deformation, accurate ground-based geodetic measurements along the coastal area were used. Concordantly, considering that there is a significant number of skyscrapers planned or currently under construction, this study attempts a preliminary assessment of the impact these structures will pose on the coastal front of the area of Limassol.
Modeling and Inversion of Airborne and Semi-Airborne Transient Electromagnetic Data with Inexact Transmitter and Receiver Geometries
Authors: Chen Tao , Yang Dikun
Published: February 2022

Airborne and semi-airborne transient electromagnetic (TEM) surveys have high efficiency but may suffer from systematic errors due to the inexact shape, position, and orientation of the transmitter and receiver, which can deviate from the nominal design because of complex terrain, platform instability, or external forces. Without considering actual survey geometry, modeling and inversion can bias the interpretation of results. We develop a universal approach to layered earth capable of modeling arbitrarily complex transmitter and receiver geometry used in airborne and semi-airborne surveys. Our algorithm decomposes an airborne loop or grounded wire source to a set of x-, y-, or z-oriented electric dipoles. An arbitrarily oriented receiver coil is simulated by projecting three-component data to the actual direction of receiving. In airborne TEM, the transmitter loop and receiver coil are often bound together on a rigid frame and tilt during the flight. Our simulations and synthetic inversion show that such a tilt may reduce responses relative to the data obtained with the nominal geometry; an inversion without considering the tilt can underestimate near-surface conductivity. In semi-airborne TEM, the transmitter wire on the surface can be crooked, and the airborne receiver coil can also tilt. Our modeling shows that the simulated data can change significantly if the actual transmitter and receiver geometry does not exactly follow the nominal survey design; if not appropriately accounted for, such an error may distort the recovered conductivity model. Finally, the benefit of our algorithm is demonstrated by an airborne TEM field data inversion of groundwater problems with the tilt angle of the transmitter–receiver frame accurately modeled. Our work provides a tool for improving the resolution of airborne and semi-airborne TEM in near-surface conductivity characterization.
Accurate Real-Time Localization Estimation in Underground Mine Environments Based on a Distance-Weight Map (DWM)
Authors: Ren Zhuli , Wang Liguan
Published: February 2022

The precise localization of an underground mine environment is key to achieving unmanned and intelligent underground mining. However, in an underground environment, GPS is unavailable, there are variable and often poor lighting conditions, there is visual aliasing in long tunnels, and the occurrence of airborne dust and water, presenting great difficulty for localization. We demonstrate a high-precision, real-time, without-infrastructure underground localization method based on 3D LIDAR. The underground mine environment map was constructed based on GICP-SLAM, and inverse distance weighting (IDW) was first proposed to implement error correction based on point cloud mapping called a distance-weight map (DWM). The map was used for the localization of the underground mine environment for the first time. The approach combines point cloud frames matching and DWM matching in an unscented Kalman filter fusion process. Finally, the localization method was tested in four underground scenes, where a spatial localization error of 4 cm and 60 ms processing time per frame were obtained. We also analyze the impact of the initial pose and point cloud segmentation with respect to localization accuracy. The results showed that this new algorithm can realize low-drift, real-time localization in an underground mine environment.