bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variables Associated With Successful Treatment Outcomes of Autistic Youth Enrolled in PEERS
Authors: McLeod Justin W. H. , McCrimmon Adam W.
Published: March 2022

This study sought to examine how certain variables of autistic youth who completed a formal social intervention program (PEERS) predicted social skill improvement post intervention. Specifically, this research aimed to determine if age, gender, emotional intelligence, intellectual ability, and/or autism symptomatology predicted social skill outcomes. Using extant data from parent and self-report batteries, change scores and multiple regressions were employed to examine which variables accounted for social skill improvement. Only intellectual ability (FSIQ), specifically perceptual reasoning, significantly predicted social skill outcomes based upon teen self-report, suggesting that autistic youth with specific cognitive profiles may be benefit more from PEERS. This research also exemplifies the heterogeneous nature of autism symptomology and the continued need for research examining social skill interventions. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
Lessons From Special Forces Operators for Elite Team Sports Training: How to Make the Whole Greater Than the Sum of the Parts
Authors: Pattyn Nathalie , Van Cutsem Jeroen , Lacroix Emilie , Van Puyvelde Martine , Cortoos Aisha , Roelands Bart , Tibax Veerle , Dessy Emilie , Huret Magali , Rietjens Gerard , Sannen Maarten , Vliegen Robert , Ceccaldi Jean , Peffer Jérémy , Neyens Ellen , Duvigneaud Nathalie , Van Tiggelen Damien
Published: March 2022

This methodology paper describes the design of a holistic and multidisciplinary human performance program within the Belgian Special Forces Group, the Tier 1 Special Operations unit of the Belgian Defense. Performance management approaches in the military draw heavily on sports science. The key component of the program design described here is its integrative nature, which team sports training might benefit from. The basic rationale behind the program was to bridge several gaps: the gap between physical and mental training; the gap between the curative or preventive medical approach and the performance enhancement approach; and the gap between individual and team training. To achieve this goal, the methodology of Intervention Mapping was applied, and a multidisciplinary team of training and care professionals was constituted with operational stakeholders. This was the first step in the program design. The second step took a year, and consisted of formal and informal consultations, participant observations and task analyses. These two first stages and their conclusions are described in the Method section. The Results section covers the next two stages (three and four) of the process, which aimed at defining the content of the program; and to test a pilot project implementation. The third stage encompassed the choice of the most relevant assessment and intervention tools for the target population, within each area of expertise. This is described extensively, to allow for replication. The fourth and last stage was to “test drive” the real-life integration and implementation of the whole program at the scale of a single team (8 individuals). For obvious confidentiality reasons, the content data will not be reported extensively here. Implications for wider-scale implementation and tie-back to sports team training are presented.
Nutrient Characterization in Soil Aggregate Fractions with Different Fertilizer Treatments in Greenhouse Vegetable Cultivation
Authors: Wang Jun , Dai Wei , Fang Kaikai , Gao Hui , Sha Zhimin , Cao Linkui
Published: March 2022

Fertilization affects the formation and stability of soil aggregate, as well as the nutrient status of soil aggregate. However, the potential effect of compost on soil aggregate and its nutrient characteristics is still unclear. In view of this, we conducted a greenhouse vegetable cultivation experiment to evaluate soil water-stable aggregate (WSA) and its stability indices and aggregate nutrient stoichiometry characteristics at 0 to 20 cm soil depth with four treatments: (1) no fertilizer (CK), (2) chemical fertilizer (CF), (3) organic fertilizer (OF), and (4) chemical fertilizer plus organic fertilizer (CO). The results showed that the proportion of the 2 to 0.25 mm fraction was the greatest, followed by 0.25 to 0.053 mm, which accounted for 41.83 to 49.53% and 28.60 to 31.88% by weight, respectively. The mean weight diameter (MWD) value and the proportion of the >0.25 mm fraction in the CF, OF, and CO treatments were significantly higher than in the CK treatment. Within the fertilization treatments, the MWD and the proportion of the >0.25 mm fraction in the CO were significantly higher than those in CF and OF. Among all the aggregates, the soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) contents were the highest in the fraction of 0.25 to 0.053 mm. The CF, OF, and CO treatments significantly increased the SOC, TN, and TP contents compared with the CK treatment. The SOC content of fractions >2 mm and 0.25 to 0.053 mm in the CO treatment was significantly higher than that of the CF and OF treatments, and the TN and TP contents in all the aggregates (except < 0.053 mm) were the highest in the CO treatment. The SOC, TN, and TP contents in the 2 to 0.25 mm and 0.25 to 0.053 mm components contributed greatly to the soil SOC, TN, and TP reserves. There was no noticeable difference in the nutrient stoichiometry of the soil aggregate between the different treatments. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the soil physicochemical factors, including SOC, TN, TP, and pH, significantly explained the stability of the soil aggregate. To summarize, chemical fertilizer combined with organic fertilizer positively affected the stability and nutrient accumulation of soil aggregates in greenhouse dryland.
The Impact of Agricultural Drought on Smallholder Livestock Farmers: Empirical Evidence Insights from Northern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Bahta Yonas T. , Myeki Vuyiseka A.
Published: March 2022

The Northern Cape Province of South Africa faces drought that limits human endeavours, and which explains the unpredictable progress in livestock production over time. This study evaluated the impact of agricultural drought on smallholder farming households’ resilience in the Northern Cape Province. Data from 217 smallholder livestock farmers were collected and analysed descriptively and with the Agricultural Drought Resilience Index (ADRI), and Household Food insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). This study found that most smallholder livestock farmers (79%) were not resilient to agricultural drought. Further, the findings revealed that agricultural drought significantly impacted resources, food security, and government policy. This implies that a lack of access to resources, food insecurity, and ineffective government policy affected already vulnerable smallholder livestock farmers coping with severe agricultural drought. This study is significant in providing policymakers and other stakeholders with evidence-based recommendations for developing strategies and implementing policies for improving the resilience of smallholder livestock farmers by improving access to resources, including access to land. They will be better able to deal with challenges that come their way if they become more resilient, resulting in reduced household loss. This study recommends that government and stakeholders enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers by supporting less resilient farmers. The government needs to work with stakeholders to improve access to land and funds to enhance farmers’ resilience. As a result, these policies can help smallholder farmers be more resilient in times of climatic shock.
Temperature Effects on the Shoot and Root Growth, Development, and Biomass Accumulation of Corn (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Walne Charles Hunt , Reddy Kambham Raja
Published: March 2022

Temperature is a critical environmental factor regulating plant growth and yield. Corn is a major agronomic crop produced globally over a vast geographic region, and highly variable climatic conditions occur spatially and temporally throughout these regions. Current literature lacks a comprehensive study comparing the effects of temperature on above versus below-ground growth and development and biomass partitioning of corn measured over time. An experiment was conducted to quantify the impact of temperature on corn’s early vegetative growth and development. Cardinal temperatures (Tmin, Topt, and Tmax) were estimated for different aspects of above- and below-ground growth processes. Plants were subjected to five differing day/night temperature treatments of 20/12, 25/17, 30/22, 35/27, and 40/32 °C using sun-lit controlled environment growth chambers for four weeks post-emergence. Corn plant height, leaves, leaf area, root length, surface area, volume, numbers of tips and forks, and plant component part dry weights were measured weekly. Cardinal temperatures were estimated, and the relationships between parameters and temperature within these cardinal limits were estimated using a modified beta function model. Cardinal temperature limits for whole plant dry weight production were 13.5 °C (Tmin), 30.5 °C (Topt), and 38 °C (Tmax). Biomass resources were prioritized to the root system at low temperatures and leaves at high temperatures. Root growth displayed the lowest optimum temperature compared to root development, shoot growth, and shoot development. The estimated cardinal temperatures and functional algorithms produced in this study, which include both above and below-ground aspects of plant growth, could be helpful to update crop models and could be beneficial to estimate corn growth under varying temperature conditions. These results could also be applicable when considering management decisions for maximizing field production and implementing emerging precision agriculture technology.
Energy Values of Brewer’s Grains and Olive Pomace Waste for Broiler Chickens Determined Using the Regression Method
Authors: Adams Carine Beatriz , Souza Otoniel , Agilar Jessica Cristina , Muller Geovana , Rodrigues Beatriz , Stefanello Catarina
Published: March 2022

Alternative ingredients can be adequately used in poultry feeds as long as the energy values and nutrient digestibility have been previously determined. For example, brewer’s grains and olive pomace waste, which are residues of the food industry, are potential ingredients of animal feed. This study was conducted to determine the metabolizable energy (ME), nitrogen-corrected ME (MEn), and ileal digestible energy (IDE) of brewer’s grains and olive pomace waste for broiler chickens using the regression method. From day 14 to 21, 280 Cobb 500 male broilers were fed 5 experimental diets with 8 replicates of 7 birds each. The broilers were fed a corn-soy reference diet (RD) and 4 test diets (TD), where TD consisted of brewer’s grains or olive pomace waste that partly replaced the energy sources in the RD at 10 or 20% and 7.5 or 15%, respectively. The total tract metabolizability and the apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, N, and energy as well as ME, MEn, and IDE were determined. The ME, MEn, and IDE values (kcal/kg) were 2935, 2785, and 2524 for brewer’s grains, respectively, whereas 1778, 1581, and 1394 (kcal/kg) were obtained for the olive pomace waste, respectively. This knowledge can provide useful information that helps to improve the inclusion of alternative ingredients in broilers diets and to formulate accurate feeds to meet broiler requirements.
Chemo-Blended Ag & Fe Nanoparticles Effect on Growth, Physiochemical and Yield Traits of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Authors: Jhanzab Hafiz Muhammad , Qayyum Abdul , Bibi Yamin , Sher Ahmad , Hayat Malik Tahir , Iqbal Javed , Qamar Maqsood , Elesawy Basem H. , Ismail Khadiga Ahmed , Gharib Amal F. , Askary Ahmad El
Published: March 2022

The application profile of nanotechnology is increasing due to its influential effects on the environment. Recently, this field has gained tremendous magnitude in the agriculture sector as a potential improving agent for plant growth, slow-release fertilizer, and targeted delivery of agrochemicals for sustainable crop productions. A study was designed with the aim to explore the potential effects of nanoparticles mixed with organic chemicals on the growth and physiochemical properties of wheat. Synthesized silver NPs and iron NPs were characterized through SEM and a particle analyzer, which confirmed the fine particles of a size < 20 nm. The application of chemo-blended NPs enhanced plant height, shoot and root biomass and leaf area. Chlorophyll (a, b) and total chlorophyll contents were promoted with an application of blended NPs. Chemo-blended nanoparticles promoted total soluble sugars, total free amino acid contents and total protein contents of wheat. Antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase were significantly promoted with blended NPs. Yield related attributes were also promoted in response to nanoparticles blended with organic chemicals. These results suggest that the application of chemo-blended NPs may increase plant growth and development through the improvement of the physiochemical properties of wheat.
Genetic Engineering Technologies for Improving Crop Yield and Quality
Authors: Ye Runle , Yang Xi , Rao Yuchun
Published: March 2022

Genetic engineering refers to the specific molecular biological modification of DNA sequences. With the rapid development of genetic engineering methods, especially the breakthroughs in guiding endonuclease technology, gene remodeling of crops has become simpler, more precise, and efficient. Genetic engineering techniques can be used to develop crops with superior traits such as high trace elements and high plant nutrients, providing an important tool to meet the needs of nearly 7.6 billion people in the world for crop yield and quality and to achieve sustainable development. This review first introduces transgenic technology and gene editing technology and analyzes the achievements in improving the efficiency of genetic transformation and regeneration in recent years. Then, it focuses on reviewing the applications of related genetic engineering technologies in improving the yield and quality of rice, maize, and wheat. In addition, the problems of genetic engineering technology in crop applications are discussed. The aim is to provide a reference for research on the development of genetic engineering technologies and the improvement of crop yield and quality.
Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum [Willd. ex Sprengel] Schumann) Fruit Development: Key Genes Involved in Primary Metabolism and Stress Response
Authors: Ferraz dos Santos Lucas , Santana Silva Raner José , Falcão Loeni Ludke , Alves Rafael Moyses , Marcellino Lucilia Helena , Micheli Fabienne
Published: March 2022

Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum [Willd. ex Sprengel] Schumann) seeds constitute the raw material for oil extraction and fabrication of cupulate (product similar to chocolate). However, fungal diseases such as witches’ broom caused by Moniliophthora perniciosa have interfered with the large-scale development of cupuassu plantations. Cupuassu genetic breeding programmes focus on a variety of biotechnological tools or approaches to select genes related to quality or resistance mechanisms. In this study, we used expression and interactomics analyses of preselected genes involved in fruit quality and/or resistance to better understand the molecular and physiological mechanisms associated with these plant processes. It was found that (i) resistant and susceptible cupuassu genotypes showed different pulp characteristics as well as gene expression patterns; (ii) monosaccharide and carbohydrate transport pathways were enhanced during fruit maturation; (iii) sugar accumulation participated in signal transduction associated with fruit development and stress response in maturing fruits; and (iv) maturing pulp and seeds showed increased phospholipid metabolism and translocation, as well as immune system activation. The TgSTP1, TgWRKY33, TgCZF1, and TgUBA1 genes in cupuassu and the orthologues of DIN10, CNI1, and TET8 identified by the interactomics approach may be good candidates for marker-assisted selection in breeding programmes focusing on both fruit quality and resistance/tolerance to biotic/abiotic stress.
A Phenomics and Metabolomics Investigation on the Modulation of Drought Stress by a Biostimulant Plant Extract in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Authors: Sudiro Cristina , Guglielmi Federico , Hochart Marie , Senizza Biancamaria , Zhang Leilei , Lucini Luigi , Altissimo Adriano
Published: March 2022

Biostimulants are gaining increasing interest because of their ability to provide a green and effective strategy towards sustainable crop production. Nonetheless, their mode of action remains often unknown. The object of this work was to unravel the mechanisms through which 4-Vita, a biostimulant plant extract, can mitigate drought stress in tomato. To this aim, tomato plants were treated with two foliar applications of 4-Vita and drought stress imposed to both treated and control plants. Phenomics investigations were coupled to mass spectrometric untargeted metabolomics, and raw data were elaborated by multivariate statistics and pathway analysis. The biostimulant elicited a broad reprogramming of the tomato’s secondary metabolism, including its phytohormones profile, corroborating an improved ability to cope with drought stress. A series of mechanisms could be identified in response to the biostimulant treatment under drought, pointing to the preservation of photosynthetic machinery functionality. The modulation of thylakoid membrane lipids, the increase in xanthins involved in ROS detoxification, and the modulation of chlorophylls synthesis could also be observed. Overall, a series of coordinated biochemical mechanisms were elicited by the biostimulant treatment, supporting the increased resilience to drought stress in tomato.
Comparison of Crop Yield Estimates Obtained from an Historic Expert System to the Physical Characteristics of the Soil Components—A Project Report
Authors: Rayburn Edward B. , Basden Tom
Published: March 2022

Crop yields vary due to soil type. Expected crop yields are reported in published soil surveys based on the knowledge of local conservation and extension professionals. Crop yields have increased over the years due to improved genetics and management. The objective of this project was to compare historic expected crop yields to soil physical characteristics and to update expected yields for West Virginia soils in the United States National Soils Information System (NASIS). Regression analysis found that soil physical characteristics explained 57 to 65% of the variation in corn and hay yields. Corn and hay yield regressions calculated from a regression data set predicted yields for crops on soils in a test data set without bias and with residual errors of 10 to 15%. Updated crop yields under good management on more productive soils were obtained by surveying farmers and variety trials conducted in West Virginia and surrounding states. The updated yields and relative historic yields were used proportionally to update expected crop yields by soil series. The updated yields were reviewed by local conservation professionals and adjusted as needed based on local experience. These updated yields are now being used as the expected crop yield for the West Virginia soil series in the NASIS.
Antibiotics and Therapeutic Agent Prescription in COVID-19 Management
Authors: Zayet Souheil , Klopfenstein Timothée
Published: March 2022

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, only few therapeutic options have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 with substantial evidence [...]
Genetic Diversity and Health Properties of Polyphenols in Potato
Authors: Rasheed Haroon , Ahmad Daraz , Bao Jinsong
Published: March 2022

Polyphenol is one of the most essential phytochemicals with various health benefits. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is known as a potential source of polyphenols, and also has health benefits in which phenolic acids, such as chlorogenic, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, sustainably play the most significant role. Almost every polyphenol contributes to various biological activities. In this review, we collected comprehensive information concerning the diversity of polyphenols in potatoes, and the effects of post-harvest processing and different cooking methods on the bioavailability of polyphenols. To achieve maximum health benefits, the selection of potato cultivars is necessary by choosing their colors, but various cooking methods are also very important in obtaining the maximum concentration of polyphenolic compounds. The health properties including major biological activities of polyphenols, such as antioxidant activity, anticarcinogenic activity, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-obesity activity, and antidiabetic activity, have also been summarized. All these biological activities of polyphenols in potatoes might be helpful for breeders in the design of new varieties with many health benefits, and are expected to play a vital role in both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.
Human iPSC- and Primary-Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells for Modeling Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Fisher Cody R. , Ebeling Mara C. , Geng Zhaohui , Kapphahn Rebecca J. , Roehrich Heidi , Montezuma Sandra R. , Dutton James R. , Ferrington Deborah A.
Published: March 2022

Primary cultures of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from human adult donors (haRPE) and induced pluripotent stem cell derived-RPE (iPSC-RPE) are valuable model systems for gaining mechanistic insight and for testing potential therapies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study evaluated the treatment response of haRPE and iPSC-RPE to oxidative stress and potential therapeutics addressing mitochondrial defects. haRPE and iSPC-RPE were derived from donors with or without AMD. Mitochondrial function was measured after treatment with menadione, AICAR, or trehalose and the response to treatment was compared between cell models and by disease status. In a subset of samples, haRPE and iPSC-RPE were generated from the same human donor to make a side-by-side comparison of the two cell models’ response to treatment. Disease-specific responses to all three treatments was observed in the haRPE. In contrast, iPSC-RPE had a similar response to all treatments irrespective of disease status. Analysis of haRPE and iPSC-RPE generated from the same human donor showed a similar response for donors without AMD, but there were significant differences in treatment response between cell models generated from AMD donors. These results support the use of iPSC-RPE and haRPE when investigating AMD mechanisms and new therapeutics but indicates that attention to experimental conditions is required.
Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Status in COVID-19 Outpatients: A Health Center-Based Analytical Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Golabi Sahar , Ghasemi Sheyda , Adelipour Maryam , Bagheri Reza , Suzuki Katsuhiko , Wong Alexei , Seyedtabib Maryam , Naghashpour Mahshid
Published: March 2022

The antioxidant system can be critical in reducing exacerbated inflammation in COVID-19. This study compared the antioxidant and inflammatory responses between COVID-19 outpatients and seemingly healthy individuals. This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 53 COVID-19 outpatients and 53 healthy individuals as controls. The serum concentrations of amyloid A (SAA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured and compared between COVID-19 patients and controls using the independent sample t-test before and after controlling for dietary supplement use. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression model, limited to COVID-19 patients, was used to evaluate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of disease symptoms on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 after the disease onset. Serum concentrations of SOD (p ≤ 0.001) and GPx (p = 0.001) were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in controls before adjustment for dietary supplement use. GPx remained significantly higher among COVID-19 patients than in controls after adjustment for all dietary supplements (p = 0.005). Moreover, serum concentrations of GPx (p = 0.003), SOD (p = 0.022), and TAC (p = 0.028) remained significantly higher among COVID-19 patients than in controls after adjustment for vitamin D supplementation. This study showed higher GPx in COVID-19 outpatients than in controls after adjustment for dietary supplement use. Moreover, elevated SOD, GPx, and TAC concentrations were shown in COVID-19 outpatients compared to controls after adjusting for vitamin D supplementation. These results may provide a useful therapeutic target for treating oxidative stress in COVID-19 disease, which may help ameliorate the pandemic.
Evaluation of Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Eleven Pistachio Cultivars (Pistacia vera L.) Cultivated in Andalusia
Authors: Moreno-Rojas José Manuel , Velasco-Ruiz Isabel , Lovera María , Ordoñez-Díaz José Luis , Ortiz-Somovilla Víctor , De Santiago Elsy , Arquero Octavio , Pereira-Caro Gema
Published: March 2022

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a nut with a good adaptability to the Mediterranean conditions of cultivation, specifically in the Andalusian region, becoming an emerging crop. Moreover, it has been getting attention in the past years for the great content of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. Although some studies have reported the polyphenolic profile of pistachios, most of them have analyzed the hull part, considered as a residue, and not the kernel which is the edible part. Therefore, characterization of eleven varieties of pistachios kernels cultivated in Andalusia and harvested in 2019 and 2020 was carried out by UHPLC-MS (ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry). The identification and quantification of 56 polyphenolic compounds was performed, being the hydroxybenzoic acids group the most abundant with a 71–86% of the total amount followed by flavan-3-ols group that accounted for 8–24%. Moreover, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid was the main compound in most of the varieties, followed by vanillic acid hexoside. Larnaka, Avdat, Aegina, and Mateur presented the highest amount of total polyphenols, while Kalehghouchi, Joley, Lost Hills, Kerman, and Golden Hills were the varieties with the lowest content. Regarding the harvest season, no significant differences (p < 0.01) were found in the total amount of polyphenols between 2019 and 2020. In addition, the antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), and ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) assays, showing a similar trend as that of the polyphenols.
Binding of Arsenic by Common Functional Groups: An Experimental and Quantum-Mechanical Study
Authors: Chillé Donatella , Mollica-Nardo Viviana , Giuffrè Ottavia , Ponterio Rosina Celeste , Saija Franz , Sponer Jiří , Trusso Sebastiano , Cassone Giuseppe , Foti Claudia
Published: March 2022

Arsenic is a well-known contaminant present in different environmental compartments and in human organs and tissues. Inorganic As(III) represents one of the most dangerous arsenic forms. Its toxicity is attributed to its great affinity with the thiol groups of proteins. Considering the simultaneous presence in all environmental compartments of other common functional groups, we here present a study aimed at evaluating their contribution to the As(III) complexation. As(III) interactions with four (from di- to hexa-) carboxylic acids, five (from mono- to penta-) amines, and four amino acids were evaluated via experimental methods and, in simplified systems, also by quantum-mechanical calculations. Data were analyzed also with respect to those previously reported for mixed thiol-carboxylic ligands to evaluate the contribution of each functional group (-SH, -COOH, and -NH2) toward the As(III) complexation. Formation constants of As(III) complex species were experimentally determined, and data were analyzed for each class of ligand. An empirical relationship was reported, taking into account the contribution of each functional group to the complexation process and allowing for a rough estimate of the stability of species in systems where As(III) and thiol, carboxylic, or amino groups are involved. Quantum-mechanical calculations allowed for the evaluation and the characterization of the main chelation reactions of As(III). The potential competitive effects of the investigated groups were evaluated using cysteine, a prototypical species possessing all the functional groups under investigation. Results confirm the higher binding capabilities of the thiol group under different circumstances, but also indicate the concrete possibility of the simultaneous binding of As(III) by the thiol and the carboxylic groups.
Spider Taylor-ChOA: Optimized Deep Learning Based Sentiment Classification for Review Rating Prediction
Authors: Banbhrani Santosh Kumar , Xu Bo , Lin Hongfei , Sajnani Dileep Kumar
Published: March 2022

The prediction of review rating is an imperative sentiment assessment task that aims to discover the intensity of users’ sentiment toward a target product from several reviews. This paper devises a technique based on sentiment classification for predicting the review rating. Here, the review data are taken from the database. The significant features, such as SentiWordNet-based statistical features, term frequency–inverse document frequency (TF-IDF), number of capitalized words, numerical words, punctuation marks, elongated words, hashtags, emoticons, and number of sentences are mined in feature extraction. The features are mined for sentiment classification, which is performed by random multimodal deep learning (RMDL). The training of RMDL is done using the proposed Spider Taylor-ChOA, which is devised by combining spider monkey optimization (SMO) and Taylor-based chimp optimization algorithm (Taylor-ChOA). Concurrently, the features are considered input for the review rating prediction, which determines positive and negative reviews using the hierarchical attention network (HAN), and training is done using proposed Spider Taylor-ChOA. The proposed Spider Taylor-ChOA-based RMDL performed best with the highest precision of 94.1%, recall of 96.5%, and highest F-measure of 95.3%. The proposed spider Taylor-ChOA-based HAN performed best with the highest precision of 93.1%, recall of 95.4% and highest F-measure of 94.3%.
Planning of High-Power Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles: A Review
Authors: Danese Alberto , Torsæter Bendik Nybakk , Sumper Andreas , Garau Michele
Published: March 2022

Electrification of mobility is paving the way in decreasing emissions from the transport sector; nevertheless, to achieve a more sustainable and inclusive transport system, effective and long-term planning of electric vehicles charging infrastructure will be crucial. Developing an infrastructure that supports the substitution of the internal combustion engine and societal needs is no easy feat; different modes of transport and networks require specific analyses to match the requirements of the users and the capabilities of the power grid. In order to outline best practices and guidelines for a cost-effective and holistic charging infrastructure planning process, the authors have evaluated all the aspects and factors along the charging infrastructure planning cycle, analysing different methodological approaches from scientific literature over the last few years. The review starts with target identification (including transport networks, modes of transport, charging technologies implemented, and candidate sites), second, the data acquisition process (detailing data types sources and data processing), and finally, modelling, allocation, and sizing methodologies. The investigation results in a decision support tool to plan high-power charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, taking into account the interests of all the stakeholders involved in the infrastructure investment and the mobility value chain (distributed system operators, final users, and service providers).
Categorization and Visualization of Issue Tickets to Support Understanding of Implemented Features in Software Development Projects
Authors: Ishizuka Ryo , Washizaki Hironori , Tsuda Naohiko , Fukazawa Yoshiaki , Ouji Saori , Saito Shinobu , Iimura Yukako
Published: March 2022

Background: In most software projects, new members must comprehend the features already implemented since they are usually assigned during the project period. They often read software documents (e.g., flowcharts and data models), but such documents tend not to be updated after they are created. Herein we focus on tickets issued because they are created as a project evolves and include the latest information of the implemented features. Aim: The purpose of this paper is to clarify the way of helping new members understand the implemented features of a project by using tickets. Methodology: We propose a novel method to categorize tickets by clustering and visualizing the characteristics of each category via heatmapping and principal component analysis (PCA). Our method estimates the number of categories and categorizes issue tickets (tickets) automatically. Moreover, it has two visualizations. Ticket lifetime visualization shows the time series change to review tickets quickly, while ticket feature visualization shows the relationships among ticket categories and keywords of ticket categories using heatmapping and PCA. Results: To evaluate the effectiveness of our method, we implemented a case study. Specifically, we applied our method to an industrial software development project and interviewed the project members and external experts. Furthermore, we conducted an experiment to clarify the effectiveness of our method compared with a non-tool-assist method by letting subjects comprehend the target project, which is the same as that of the case study. These studies confirm our method supports experts’ and subjects’ comprehension of the project and its features by examining the ticket category lifetimes and keywords. Implication: Newcomers during project onboarding can utilize tickets to comprehend implemented features effectively if the tickets are appropriately structured and visualized. Conclusions: The original contribution of this paper is the proposal of the project feature comprehension method by visualizing the multi-dimensional nature of requirements in an organized and structured way based on available tickets and the result of its application to the industrial project.
A Practical Model Study on the Mechanism of Clay Landslide under Static Loads: From the Perspective of Major Crack–Stress–Displacement
Authors: Hou Hengjun , Zhu Zhengwei , Wang Bo , Zhou Wenhao
Published: March 2022

Stability assessment of cracked clay slopes has been a research hotspot in geotechnical engineering in recent years. The assessment work should include crack initiation/development and stability evaluation. However, there has been no universal method for predicting crack evolution until now. In addition, scholars have paid little attention to the coupling relationship between the evolution of cracks and the progressive failure process of macroscopic clay slopes and have seldom studied the ubiquitous diagonal cracks in clay slopes. In this work, the stress mechanism for initiation and development of major cracks was derived based on unsaturated soil mechanics and critical state soil mechanics considering the tensile, compression, and shear properties of clay. The correctness of the proposed theory was verified by constructing a large-scale, arc-shaped slip surface clay slope model. In the model test, earth pressure cells and displacement gauge were employed to monitor development of stresses within the clay slope and horizontal displacement of the slope shoulder, respectively, under the set load sequence. The results showed that the stress mechanism proposed in this paper could judge not only vertical cracks but also diagonal cracks. Horizontal stresses near the primary crack appeared as a result of stress saltation. The locations and depths of the major cracks could be determined by analyzing the differences in horizontal stress between adjacent measuring points under the same load step. The development of major crack–horizontal stress–displacement had intrinsic consistency, and the initiation and development of major cracks aggravated changes in displacement and horizontal stresses. The perspective of major crack–stress–displacement is helpful to wholly grasp the progressive failure process of cracked clay slopes and provide a reference for prediction of clay landslides.
A Sensing Mechanism and the Application of a Surface-Bonded FBG Dynamometry Bolt
Authors: Liang Minfu , Fang Xinqiu , Chen Ningning , Xue Xiaomei , Wu Gang
Published: March 2022

In the present paper, a new type of surface-bonded fiber Bragg grating (FBG) dynamometry bolt is designed. It is assumed that the adhesive layer is a linear viscoelastic material and its creep mechanical behavior is expressed by the standard linear solid model. The shear strain transfer model of the surface-bonded FBG sensor is established. Additionally, the instantaneous and quasistatic strain transfer functions of the surface-bonded FBG sensor are obtained. The functions are validated by a uniaxial tensile test and a long-term constant-load tensile test. The test results show that the strain measured by the FBG sensor has a proportional relationship with the strain measured by the resistance strain gauge. Furthermore, under the fixed load for a long period of time, the strain of the FBG sensor has a tendency to drift and the strain reduction rate is about 40.5%. Finally, the field application is carried out in a mining area. It has been proved that the ground pressure online monitoring system based on the FBG sensing technology can successfully monitor the stress of the rock bolt.
Research on the Transmission Performance of a High-Temperature Magnetorheological Fluid and Shape Memory Alloy Composite
Authors: Chen Wenjian , Huang Jin , Yang Yan
Published: March 2022

To address the fact that the performance of magnetorheological fluid decreases with increasing temperature, a high-temperature magnetorheological fluid and shape memory alloy spring friction composite transmission method is proposed, and its transmission performance is shown to essentially maintain stability under high temperatures. We introduce a composite transmission method, performed a magnetic field finite element analysis, and present the equation of torque transmission of the composite. The results show that the amount of torque transferred by the magnetorheological fluid reached its maximum value at magnetic saturation, but decreased with increasing temperature, down to 33.41%, whereas the frictional torque generated by the shape memory alloy spring increased with increasing temperature. When the temperature reached 100 °C, the frictional torque effectively compensated for the decrease in the magnetorheological fluid’s performance.
Assessing the Homogeneity of Forage Mixtures Using an RGB Camera as Exemplified by Cattle Rations
Authors: Nikitin Evgeniy A. , Pavkin Dmitriy Y. , Izmailov Andrey Yu. , Aksenov Alexander G.
Published: March 2022

The article examines existing methods for assessing the homogeneity of feed mixes in the feed industry and agriculture. As an alternative to existing approaches, the authors offer a low-cost online technology to assess the homogeneity of feed. The feedstuff under study includes feed mixes for cattle or compound feed consisting of naturally-grown feed (green mass of freshly cut grass, haylage, corn silage, etc.) and concentrated components (grain milling, sunflower, and soybean meal). The proposed method based on an RGB camera, a diode lamp, filters, and software is approved by a preliminary study of the physical properties of feed mix components by Specim IQ hyperspectral camera and revealing characteristics of light absorption of each type of components (concentrated/natural origin). The article presents a method of processing a feed mix image fixed by an RGB camera through light filters using Matlab Image Processing Toolbox tools, namely, a Color Thresholder app and Image Region Analyzer app.
Low-Cost and High-Efficiency Electromechanical Integration for Smart Factories of IoT with CNN and FOPID Controller Design under the Impact of COVID-19
Authors: Hsu Chang-Hung , Cheng Shan-Jen , Chang Te-Jen , Huang Yi-Mei , Fung Chin-Ping , Chen Shih-Feng
Published: March 2022

This study proposes a design for unmanned chemical factories and implementation based on ultra-low-cost Internet of Things technology, to combat the impact of COVID-19 on industrial factories. A safety and private blockchain network architecture was established, including a three-layer network structure comprising edge, fog, and cloud calculators. Edge computing uses a programmable logic controller and a single-chip microcomputer to transmit and control the motion path of a four-axis robotic arm motor. The fog computing architecture is implemented using Python software. The structure is integrated and applied using a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a fractional-order proportional-integral-derivative controller (FOPID). In addition, edge computing and fog computing signals are transmitted through the blockchain, and can be directly uploaded to the cloud computing controller for signal integration. The integrated application of the production line sensor and image recognition based on the network layer was addressed. We verified the image recognition of the CNN and the robot motor signal control of the FOPID. This study proposes that a CNN + FOPID method can improve the efficiency of the factory by more than 50% compared with traditional manual operators. The low-cost, high-efficiency equipment of the new method has substantial contribution and application potential.
Application of Enzyme-Assisted Extraction for the Recovery of Natural Bioactive Compounds for Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Applications
Authors: Łubek-Nguyen Agnieszka , Ziemichód Wojciech , Olech Marta
Published: March 2022

Enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) involves the use of hydrolytic enzymes for the degradation of the cell wall or other cell components. This supports the diffusion of the solvent into the plant or fungal material, leading to easier elution of its metabolites. This technique has been gaining increasing attention, as it is considered an eco-friendly and cost-effective improvement on classical or modern extraction methods. Its promising application in improving the recovery of different classes of bioactive metabolites (e.g., polyphenols, carotenoids, polysaccharides, proteins, components of essential oil, and terpenes) has been reported by many scientific papers. This review summarises information on the theoretical aspects of EAE (e.g., the components of the cell walls and the types of enzymes used) and the most recent discoveries in the effective involvement of enzyme-assisted extraction of natural products (plants, mushrooms, and animals) for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.
Detecting Cryptojacking Web Threats: An Approach with Autoencoders and Deep Dense Neural Networks
Authors: Hernandez-Suarez Aldo , Sanchez-Perez Gabriel , Toscano-Medina Linda K. , Olivares-Mercado Jesus , Portillo-Portilo Jose , Avalos Juan-Gerardo , García Villalba Luis Javier
Published: March 2022

With the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies, which are an important part of day-to-day transactions over the Internet, the interest in being part of the so-called cryptomining service has attracted the attention of investors who wish to quickly earn profits by computing powerful transactional records towards the blockchain network. Since most users cannot afford the cost of specialized or standardized hardware for mining purposes, new techniques have been developed to make the latter easier, minimizing the computational cost required. Developers of large cryptocurrency houses have made available executable binaries and mainly browser-side scripts in order to authoritatively tap into users’ collective resources and effectively complete the calculation of puzzles to complete a proof of work. However, malicious actors have taken advantage of this capability to insert malicious scripts and illegally mine data without the user’s knowledge. This cyber-attack, also known as cryptojacking, is stealthy and difficult to analyze, whereby, solutions based on anti-malware extensions, blocklists, JavaScript disabling, among others, are not sufficient for accurate detection, creating a gap in multi-layer security mechanisms. Although in the state-of-the-art there are alternative solutions, mainly using machine learning techniques, one of the important issues to be solved is still the correct characterization of network and host samples, in the face of the increasing escalation of new tampering or obfuscation techniques. This paper develops a method that performs a fingerprinting technique to detect possible malicious sites, which are then characterized by an autoencoding algorithm that preserves the best information of the infection traces, thus, maximizing the classification power by means of a deep dense neural network.
An Analysis of Food Accessibility of Mountain Cities in China: A Case Study of Chongqing
Authors: He Yufeng , Pu Haixia , Liu Nianhua , Zhang Yongchuan , Sheng Yehua
Published: March 2022

Mountain cities are characterized by undulating terrain, complex road networks, and diverse road facilities, which makes accessing food more difficult than in cities with a flat terrain. This study proposes an enhanced two-step method based on the Baidu map service for the construction of supermarket–market–retail food sales architecture and for calculating food accessibility. The accessibility indices of seven major food categories (grains and oils, fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, milk, and eggs) were calculated considering the principle of the fairest walking routes in Chongqing. The correlations between food accessibility and house price and house age in Chongqing were explored through local Moran’s analysis and geographically weighted regression. The correlations illustrated the fairness of the distribution of food accessibility in Chongqing among the poor and rich. The experiments showed generally well-developed food accessibility in the main urban areas of Chongqing. However, accessibility to fresh fruits and vegetables lagged in newly built urban areas.
Pregnancy Achievement by Medical Assisted Reproduction Is Correlated to the G Protein-Coupled Receptor 30 mRNA Abundance in Human Spermatozoa
Authors: Pereira Sara C. , Esperança Inês F. , Pinto Soraia , Barros Alberto , Sousa Mário , Alves Marco G. , Oliveira Pedro F.
Published: March 2022

Estrogens, specifically 17β-estradiol (E2), play an important role in male health, including male fertility. The G protein-coupled receptor for estrogen 30 (GPR30) is essential for mediating the rapid non-genomic effects of E2 on a variety of testicular cells, including spermatozoa, although its molecular effects remain largely unknown. In this work, we hypothesized that the GPR30 mRNA abundance in spermatozoa could be correlated to sperm quality. Sperm GPR30 mRNA could also be carried into the oocyte, potentially impacting embryo development and the success of a pregnancy. For this study, 81 sperm samples were collected from couples seeking fertility treatment and undergoing medically assisted reproduction treatments (ART), following the World Health Organization guidelines. GPR30 mRNA abundance in spermatozoa was assessed with a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The resulting data show that there is no correlation between the abundance of the GPR30 transcript with paternal BMI, age, or sperm quality parameters. Interestingly, we observed that higher levels of GPR30 mRNA abundance in spermatozoa were related to the achievement of biochemical pregnancy and clinical pregnancy (p < 0.05) by couples undergoing treatment. These results highlight the role of the sperm’s RNA cargo in offspring development, suggesting that spermatozoa mRNA content can influence ART success.