bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Awareness, Motivation, and Fear towards Canine Blood Donation—A Survey of Dog Owners in Lithuania
Authors: Zakarevičiūtė Brigita , Juodžentė Dalia , Karvelienė Birutė , Riškevičienė Vita
Published: November 2021

The recruitment of canine blood donors remains a challenge, especially in countries where blood donation and veterinary medicine are still emerging medical fields. There are few previous studies that have discussed canine blood donation strategies, and the subject of fear and its influencing factors have not been investigated. The main purpose of our study was to investigate dog owners’ awareness, motivation, and fear regarding canine blood donation in order to improve donor recruitment strategies. We created a six-page questionnaire and submitted it to dog owners (n = 207) in person. Two-thirds of the respondents (65.7%) were not aware that canine blood donation exists in Lithuania. We did not find any factors that would significantly affect the motivation of respondents toward donation. We found an association between the fear of the owner and the health status of the owned dog (p = 0.008), as well as if their animal had needed urgent care in the past (p = 0.031). The fact that some participants were blood donors themselves did not affect their motivation, but they were 19.76% less afraid of canine blood donation (p = 0.001), as were respondents who were aware of canine blood donation (p = 0.004). In conclusion, the recruitment strategy should focus on the management of fear toward canine blood donation and the education of clients, and donor welfare must remain a priority.
Beta-Sitosterol Promotes Milk Protein and Fat Syntheses-Related Genes in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Liu Xinlu , Shen Jinglin , Zong Jinxin , Liu Jiayi , Jin Yongcheng
Published: November 2021

β-sitosterol, a phytosterol with multiple biological activities, has been used in the pharmaceutical industry. However, there are only a few reports on the use of β-sitosterol in improving milk synthesis in dairy cows. This study aimed to investigate the effects of β-sitosterol on milk fat and protein syntheses in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) and its regulatory mechanism. MAC-T cells were treated with different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, or 40 μM) of β-sitosterol, and the expression levels of milk protein and fat synthesis-related genes and proteins were analyzed. β-sitosterol at 0.1, 1, and 10 μM concentrations promoted the mRNA and protein expression of β-casein. β-sitosterol (0.1, 1, 10 μM) increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of signal transducer activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) of the JAK2/STAT5 and mTOR signaling pathways. It also stimulated the milk fat synthesis-related factors, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and stearyl CoA desaturase (SCD). β-sitosterol (0.1, 1, 10 μM) also significantly increased the expression of growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-related genes. Notably, the compound inhibited the expression of the negative regulator, the suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) at the two lower concentrations (0.1, 1 μM), but significantly promoted the expression at the highest concentration (30 μM). These results highlight the role of β-sitosterol at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 μM in improving milk protein and fat syntheses, regulating milk quality. Therefore, β-sitosterol can be used as a potential feed additive to improve milk quality in dairy cows.
Efficiency Analysis as a Tool for Revealing Best Practices and Innovations: The Case of the Sheep Meat Sector in Europe
Authors: Theodoridis Alexandros , Vouraki Sotiria , Morin Emmanuel , Rupérez Leticia Riaguas , Davis Carol , Arsenos Georgios
Published: November 2021

The slow adoption of innovations is a key challenge that the European sheep sector faces for its sustainability. The future of the sector lies on the adoption of best practices, modern technologies and innovations that can improve its resilience and mitigate its dependence on public support. In this study, the concept of technical efficiency was used to reveal the most efficient sheep meat farms and to identify the best practices and farm innovations that could potentially be adopted by other farms of similar production systems. Data Envelopment Analysis was applied to farm accounting data from 458 sheep meat farms of intensive, semi-intensive and extensive systems from France, Spain and the UK, and the structural and economic characteristics of the most efficient farms were analyzed. These best farmers were indicated through a survey, which was conducted within the Innovation for Sustainable Sheep and Goat Production in the Europe (iSAGE) Horizon 2020 project, the management and production practices and innovations that improve their economic performance and make them better than their peers.
Clinical Scores in Veterinary Medicine: What Are the Pitfalls of Score Construction, Reliability, and Validation? A General Methodological Approach Applied in Cattle
Authors: Buczinski Sébastien , Boccardo Antonio , Pravettoni Davide
Published: November 2021

Clinical scores are commonly used for cattle. They generally contain a mix of categorical and numerical variables that need to be assessed by scorers, such as farmers, animal caretakers, scientists, and veterinarians. This article examines the key concepts that need to be accounted for when developing the test for optimal outcomes. First, the target condition or construct that the scale is supposed to measure should be defined, and if possible, an adequate proxy used for classification should be determined. Then, items (e.g., clinical signs) of interest that are either caused by the target condition (reflective items) or that caused the target condition (formative items) are listed, and reliable items (inter and intra-rater reliability) are kept for the next step. A model is then developed to determine the relative weight of the items associated with the target condition. A scale is then built after validating the model and determining the optimal threshold in terms of sensitivity (ability to detect the target condition) and specificity (ability to detect the absence of the target condition). Its robustness to various scenarios of the target condition prevalence and the impact of the relative cost of false negatives to false positives can also be assessed to tailor the scale used based on specific application conditions.
Phytogenic Ingredients from Hops and Organic Acids Improve Selected Indices of Welfare, Health Status Markers, and Bacteria Composition in the Caeca of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Michalczuk Monika , Holl Elisabeth , Möddel Anne , Jóźwik Artur , Slósarz Jan , Bień Damian , Ząbek Katarzyna , Konieczka Paweł
Published: November 2021

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of phytogenic product-supplemented, organic acid-supplemented, and prebiotic-supplemented diets on the production results, antioxidative status, and selected welfare indices in broiler chickens. A total of 1155 one-day old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Group C, no additives; Group A, supplemented with phytogenic supplement (50% hop); and Group P, supplemented with 65% organic acids and their salts, and 30% prebiotic complex. Health condition and production results were monitored during the entire experiment. After 42 days, 10 birds from each dietary treatment group were selected for blood sampling and slaughter analysis. The results obtained revealed that over the whole feeding period, none of the investigated additives significantly affected broiler performance indices. However, feeding the birds treatment-A increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium in caecal digesta compared to the other treatments, whereas feeding treatment-P increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus compared to the control treatment. Overall, treatment-A was more effective at increasing relative abundance of Clostridia in birds at 42 days of age than treatment-P. Finally, there were no changes in blood levels of antioxidant indices or liver function indicators.
A High Plane of Nutrition Is Associated with a Lower Risk for Neonatal Calf Diarrhea on Bavarian Dairy Farms
Authors: Lorenz Ingrid , Huber Regina , Trefz Florian M.
Published: November 2021

In all bovine production systems, neonatal calf diarrhea remains worldwide an important issue of economic losses and animal welfare. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for neonatal calf diarrhea as a herd health problem on Bavarian dairy farms. For the purpose of this study, management factors related to calf health were retrospectively compared between 59 dairy farms with calf diarrhea as a herd problem with those of 18 control farms, where no veterinary treatment of calves for neonatal calf diarrhea took place for at least one year prior to the farm visit. A multivariable binary logistic regression analysis of management factors indicated that administration of 3 L or more of colostrum at the second feeding after birth (Odds ration [OR] = 0.21, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.05–0.89), ad libitum feeding of milk during the first week of life (OR = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.006–0.60), and administration of an iron containing preparation after birth (OR = 10.9, 95% CI = 1.25–95.6) were independently associated with the presence of a herd problem with neonatal diarrhea. Results of this study therefore suggest that a higher plane of nutrition is a protective factor with regard to the occurrence of neonatal diarrhea on Bavarian dairy farms. These findings support the establishment of ad libitum feeding programs in dairy calf rearing.
Nutritional and Functional Properties of Colostrum in Puppies and Kittens
Authors: Rossi Luciana , Lumbreras Ana Elena Valdez , Vagni Simona , Dell’Anno Matteo , Bontempo Valentino
Published: November 2021

The present review aims toward a better understanding of the nutrition of newborn puppies and kittens. The post-natal period is very sensitive in dogs and cats, as in other animal species. During the first two weeks of life, puppies and kittens are at high risk of dehydration, hypothermia, and hypoglycemia, as well as infectious diseases as they start to acquire the physiological functions of the adult. Neonatal hepatic glycogen storage is low, and newborns depend on colostrum intake to survive. Colostrum provides immunoglobulins and other important substances such as lipids and carbohydrates. Immunoglobulins are central to the immunological link that occurs when the mother transfers passive immunity. The mechanism of transfer varies among mammalian species, but in this review, we focused our attention on dogs and cats. Furthermore, there are components of colostrum which, although their presence is not absolutely necessary, play an important role in nutrition. These components have received considerable interest because of their presumed safety and potential nutritional and therapeutic effects both in humans and animals; however, unfortunately, there are few recent studies in companion animals. Here, we have gathered the published articles that describe studies involving different species of animals, emphasizing companion animals. In particular, the purpose of this narrative of the nutritional and functional proprieties of queens’ and bitches’ colostrum.
A Z-Linked E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Cs-rchy1 Is Involved in Gametogenesis in Chinese Tongue Sole, Cynoglossus semilaevis
Authors: Sun Yuxuan , Zhu Ying , Cheng Peng , Zhang Mengqian , Wang Na , Cui Zhongkai , Wei Min , Xu Wenteng
Published: November 2021

Ubiquitin ligase (E3) plays a versatile role in gonadal development and spermatogenesis in mammals, while its function in fish is little reported. In this study, a Z-chromosome linked ubiquitin ligase rchy1 in C. semilaevis (Cs-rchy1) was cloned and characterized. The full-length cDNA was composed of 1962 bp, including 551 bp 5′UTR, 736 bp 3′UTR, and 675 bp ORF encoding a 224-amino-acid (aa) protein. Cs-rchy1 was examined among seven different tissues and found to be predominantly expressed in gonads. In testis, Cs-rchy1 could be detected from 40 days post hatching (dph) until 3 years post hatching (yph), but there was a significant increase at 6 months post hatching (mph). In comparison, the expression levels in ovary were rather stable among different developmental stages. In situ hybridization showed that Cs-rchy1 was mainly localized in germ cells, that is, spermatid and spermatozoa in testis and stage I, II and III oocytes in ovary. In vitro RNA interference found that Cs-rchy1 knockdown resulted in the decline of sox9 and igf1 in ovarian cell line and down-regulation of cyp19a in the testicular cell line. These data suggested that Cs-rchy1 might participate in gonadal differentiation and gametogenesis, via regulating steroid hormone synthesis.
Changes in Browning Degree and Reducibility of Polyphenols during Autoxidation and Enzymatic Oxidation
Authors: Zhou Xuan , Iqbal Aamir , Li Jiaxing , Liu Chang , Murtaza Ayesha , Xu Xiaoyun , Pan Siyi , Hu Wanfeng
Published: November 2021

In the present study, the browning degree and reducing power of browning products of catechin (CT), epicatechin (EC), caffeic acid (CA), and chlorogenic acid (CGA) in autoxidation and enzymatic oxidation were investigated. Influencing factors were considered, such as pH, substrate species and composition, and eugenol. Results show that polyphenols’ autoxidation was intensified in an alkaline environment, but the reducing power was not improved. Products of enzymatic oxidation at a neutral pH have higher reducing power than autoxidation. In enzymatic oxidation, the browning degree of mixed substrates was higher than that of a single polyphenol. The reducing power of flavonoid mixed solution (CT and EC) was higher than those of phenolic acids’ (CA and CGA) in autoxidation and enzymatic oxidation. Eugenol activity studies have shown that eugenol could increase autoxidation browning but inhibit enzymatic browning. Activity test and molecular docking results show that eugenol could inhibit tyrosinase.
Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Degradation Behavior, and Implant Testing of Hot-Rolled Biodegradable ZKX500 Magnesium Alloy
Authors: Huang Ying-Ting , Hung Fei-Yi , Kuan Fa-Chuan , Hsu Kai-Lan , Su Wei-Ren , Lin Chia-Yen
Published: November 2021

Currently, orthopedic metallic implants are mostly made of stainless steel and titanium alloys. After healing, patients are usually required to undergo a secondary surgery for implant removal, which not only poses a medical risk but also costs medical resources. Magnesium-based biodegradable implants that can be absorbed by humans promote osteoblastic activity during the degradation and inhibit the formation of osteoclasts. Moreover, magnesium can be detected by X-ray, and this can help doctors to perform postoperative diagnosis and treatment, which is beneficial for patients. In this study, a ZKX500 Mg alloy bone plate was prepared through rolling. In addition to the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the hot-rolled ZKX500 Mg alloy, its in vitro corrosion behavior under different heat treatment conditions is discussed. A 6-month mini-pig implantation test was conducted using the fabricated ZKX500 Mg alloy bone plate and bone screws. The in vivo degradation mechanism and new bone formation were observed using computed tomography images. The pig recovered well, and the results can serve as an important reference for clinical applications. In addition, another important contribution of this study is that it can help the field of orthopedics to better understand the biodegradable magnesium alloy.
Fine-Grained Sentiment Analysis of Arabic COVID-19 Tweets Using BERT-Based Transformers and Dynamically Weighted Loss Function
Authors: Alturayeif Nora , Luqman Hamzah
Published: November 2021

The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has affected almost all of the countries of the world, and has had significant social and psychological effects on the population. Nowadays, social media platforms are being used for emotional self-expression towards current events, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The study of people’s emotions in social media is vital to understand the effect of this pandemic on mental health, in order to protect societies. This work aims to investigate to what extent deep learning models can assist in understanding society’s attitude in social media toward COVID-19 pandemic. We employ two transformer-based models for fine-grained sentiment detection of Arabic tweets, considering that more than one emotion can co-exist in the same tweet. We also show how the textual representation of emojis can boost the performance of sentiment analysis. In addition, we propose a dynamically weighted loss function (DWLF) to handle the issue of imbalanced datasets. The proposed approach has been evaluated on two datasets and the attained results demonstrate that the proposed BERT-based models with emojis replacement and DWLF technique can improve the sentiment detection of multi-dialect Arabic tweets with an F1-Micro score of 0.72.
Information Extraction from German Clinical Care Documents in Context of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Langnickel Lisa , Krockauer Kilian , Uebachs Mischa , Schaaf Sebastian , Madan Sumit , Klockgether Thomas , Fluck Juliane
Published: November 2021

Dementia affects approximately 50 million people in the world today, the majority suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The availability of long-term patient data is one of the most important prerequisites for a better understanding of diseases. Worldwide, many prospective, longitudinal cohort studies have been initiated to understand AD. However, this approach takes years to enroll and follow up with a substantial number of patients, resulting in a current lack of data. This raises the question of whether clinical routine datasets could be utilized to extend collected registry data. It is, therefore, necessary to assess what kind of information is available in memory clinic routine databases. We did exactly this based on the example of the University Hospital Bonn. Whereas a number of data items are available in machine readable formats, additional valuable information is stored in textual documents. The extraction of information from such documents is only applicable via text mining methods. Therefore, we set up modular, rule-based text mining workflows requiring minimal sets of training data. The system achieves F1-scores over 95% for the most relevant classes, i.e., memory disturbances from medical reports and quantitative scores from semi-structured neuropsychological test protocols. Thus, we created a machine-readable core dataset for over 8000 patient visits over a ten-year period.
Extraction Optimization and Valorization of the Cornelian Cherry Fruits Extracts: Evidence on Antioxidant Activity and Food Applications
Authors: Enache Iuliana Maria , Benito-Román Óscar , Coman Gigi , Vizireanu Camelia , Stănciuc Nicoleta , Andronoiu Doina Georgeta , Mihalcea Liliana , Sanz Maria Teresa
Published: November 2021

In this work, the optimization of two extraction methods, conventional CE and ultrasound-assisted UAE, to obtain extracts from cornelian cherry fruit with high antioxidant activity, which can be used to produce healthier jelly candies, is presented. In the CE process, the effects of temperature (30–50 °C), time (15–45 min), and hydroalcoholic mixtures (60–100% ethanol, v/v) were studied. The highest antioxidant activity (29.83 ± 0.85 mg TE/g dw) was found in the extracts obtained using 60% ethanol at 40 °C for 15 min. The UAE process led to comparable values of 26.60 ± 0.53 mg TE/g dw at 40% amplitude and pulsed sonication (5 s on and 5 s off) for 12.5 min. Under these experimental conditions, the specific energy consumed was 1.91 kJ/g. The vitamin C content and its inhibitory activity against metabolic enzymes were evaluated in extracts with different antioxidant activity. A significant inhibitory effect against carbohydrate-metabolism-associated enzymes was identified for all the tested extracts, with an inhibitory effect against α-glucosidase higher than 75%, but with a lower effect against α-amylase. The extract obtained by CE (60% ethanol, 40 °C, 15 min) provided the highest vitamin C content of 39.9 ± 1.2 mg ascorbic acid/100 g dw. Four variants of the healthier jelly candies were formulated, with a vitamin C content of 0.34 mg ascorbic acid/100 g dw in samples with agar-agar and 0.70 mg ascorbic acid/100 g dw in samples with gelatin.
Scale-Variant Flight Planning for the Creation of 3D Geovisualization and Augmented Reality Maps of Geosites: The Case of Voulgaris Gorge, Lesvos, Greece
Authors: Papadopoulou Ermioni-Eirini , Papakonstantinou Apostolos , Zouros Nikolaos , Soulakellis Nikolaos
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this paper was to study the influence of cartographic scale and flight design on data acquisition using unmanned aerial systems (UASs) to create augmented reality 3D geovisualization of geosites. The relationship between geographical and cartographic scales, the spatial resolution of UAS-acquired images, along with their relationship with the produced 3D models of geosites, were investigated. Additionally, the lighting of the produced 3D models was examined as a key visual variable in the 3D space. Furthermore, the adaptation of the 360° panoramas as environmental lighting parameters was considered. The geosite selected as a case study was the gorge of the river Voulgaris in the western part of the island of Lesvos, which is located in the northeastern part of the Aegean Sea in Greece. The methodology applied consisted of four pillars: (i) scale-variant flight planning, (ii) data acquisition, (iii) data processing, (iv) AR, 3D geovisualization. Based on the geographic and cartographic scales, the flight design calculates the most appropriate flight parameters (height, speed, and image overlaps) to achieve the desired spatial resolution (3 cm) capable of illustrating all the scale-variant details of the geosite when mapped in 3D. High-resolution oblique aerial images and 360° panoramic aerial images were acquired using scale-variant flight plans. The data were processed using image processing algorithms to produce 3D models and create mosaic panoramas. The 3D geovisualization of the geosite selected was created using the textured 3D model produced from the aerial images. The panoramic images were converted to high-dynamic-range image (HDRI) panoramas and used as a background to the 3D model. The geovisualization was transferred and displayed in the virtual space where the panoramas were used as a light source, thus enlightening the model. Data acquisition and flight planning were crucial scale-variant steps in the 3D geovisualization. These two processes comprised the most important factors in 3D geovisualization creation embedded in the virtual space as they designated the geometry of the 3D model. The use of panoramas as the illumination parameter of an outdoor 3D scene of a geosite contributed significantly to its photorealistic performance into the 3D augmented reality and virtual space.
Staircase Detection, Characterization and Approach Pipeline for Search and Rescue Robots
Authors: Sánchez-Rojas José Armando , Arias-Aguilar José Aníbal , Takemura Hiroshi , Petrilli-Barceló Alberto Elías
Published: November 2021

Currently, most rescue robots are mainly teleoperated and integrate some level of autonomy to reduce the operator’s workload, allowing them to focus on the primary mission tasks. One of the main causes of mission failure are human errors and increasing the robot’s autonomy can increase the probability of success. For this reason, in this work, a stair detection and characterization pipeline is presented. The pipeline is tested on a differential drive robot using the ROS middleware, YOLOv4-tiny and a region growing based clustering algorithm. The pipeline’s staircase detector was implemented using the Neural Compute Engines (NCEs) of the OpenCV AI Kit with Depth (OAK-D) RGB-D camera, which allowed the implementation using the robot’s computer without a GPU and, thus, could be implemented in similar robots to increase autonomy. Furthermore, by using this pipeline we were able to implement a Fuzzy controller that allows the robot to align itself, autonomously, with the staircase. Our work can be used in different robots running the ROS middleware and can increase autonomy, allowing the operator to focus on the primary mission tasks. Furthermore, due to the design of the pipeline, it can be used with different types of RGB-D cameras, including those that generate noisy point clouds from low disparity depth images.
Numerical Investigation of the Effects of the Beam Scanning Pattern and Overlap on the Temperature Distribution during the Laser Dopant Activation Anneal Process
Authors: Choi Donghyeok , Shin Joonghan
Published: November 2021

Laser thermal annealing (LTA) has played an important role in the fabrication of scaled semiconductor devices by reducing the heat budget of the dopant activation process. During the laser annealing of entire wafer areas, the beam scanning pattern and overlap ratio have significant effects on uniform heating during the process. In this study, a numerical simulation of the LTA process was carried out using a three-dimensional transient heat transfer model. The temperature distribution produced by different laser scan paths and beam overlap ratios was analyzed. Additionally, the behavior of the dopant (phosphorus) diffusion induced under the multipath and beam overlapping conditions was numerically investigated. According to the simulation result, a zig-zag pattern generated hot spots around the corner areas of the beam path due to the greater heat accumulation per unit area; however, a bidirectional pattern induced cold spots due to the absence of laser heating around the corner areas. It was also found that the maximum temperature reachable in the beam overlapped region was much lower than that obtained along the beam scanning path, and the most uniform heating could be obtained when the zig-zag pattern and a 50% overlap ratio were used. According to the dopant diffusion and concentration distribution predicted for the case of the zig-zag pattern and 50% overlap ratio, the difference in the dopant diffusion length was approximately thirty times within the scanned area.
Evolution of Seismic Site Classification According to the Criteria in Chilean Design Codes
Authors: Diaz-Segura Edgar Giovanny
Published: November 2021

Design codes establish seismic site classifications to determine the seismic demand of a structure according to the response of the soil foundation under the action of earthquake ground motions; the site classification can even condition the feasibility of a project. The occurrence of great earthquakes in Chile has tested its design codes, generating much information and experience regarding the seismic design of structures that have allowed researchers to identify variations in seismic demands according to the kind of ground foundation and to propose seismic site classification methods in Chilean regulations since the 1930s; countries in the vanguard of seismic design, such as the USA, Japan, and New Zealand, proposed methods even earlier. In this document, the evolution of methodologies for seismic site classification according to the criteria in Chilean codes is analysed from their implementation in the 1930s to the most recently proposed design code NCh 433, 2018–2021. Although the distinctive features of each country shape the criteria in their design codes, clear knowledge of the evolution of established criteria from their origins is considered an important tool that contributes to the better understanding, interpretation and application of the seismic site classification methodologies contained in a design code with better criteria. Likewise, the review indicates a distinct need to conduct a continuous evaluation of the classification criteria supported by records of new earthquakes, as well as by physical and numerical models that allow incorporating variables which condition the response of the terrain such as topography, lateral heterogeneities, and basic effects.
Seismic Ground Response Estimation Based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN)
Authors: Hong Seokgyeong , Nguyen Huyen-Tram , Jung Jongwon , Ahn Jaehun
Published: November 2021

One of the purposes of earthquake engineering is to mitigate the damages in buildings and infrastructures and, therefore, reduce the impact of earthquakes on society. Seismic ground response analysis refers to the process of evaluating the ground surface motions based on the bedrock motion. On the other hand, deep learning techniques have been developing fast, and they are establishing their application in the civil engineering field. This study proposes two convolutional neural network (CNN) models to estimate the seismic response of the surface based on the seismic motion measured at 100 m level beneath the surface, and selected the one which outperforms the other as the main model. The performances of the main model are compared with those of a physical software SHAKE2000. Twelve sites that include 100 earthquake datasets, whose moment magnitude is higher than 6 and PGA is higher than 0.1 g, were selected. In addition, the corresponding earthquake datasets are used for the CNN model. Whereas the conventional software overestimated the values of the amplitudes for most of the sites, the proposed CNN model predicts fairly well both the values of the amplitudes and the natural periods where responses amplify the most with few exceptions. The proposed model especially outperforms the conventional software when the natural periods range from 0.01 to 0.3 s. For specific sites, the average mean squared errors of the proposed model are even dozens of times lower than those of the conventional physical software.
Mini-Crack Detection of Conveyor Belt Based on Laser Excited Thermography
Authors: Zeng Fei , Zhang Sheng , Wang Tao , Wu Qing
Published: November 2021

For a belt conveyor, a belt with mini-cracks influences the safety of the operation of the belt conveyor devices significantly. The lumpy material rubbing against a belt with mini-cracks will lead to detrimental tears on the belt while the conveyor works at high speeds. In order to detect mini-cracks in a timely manner, before the occurrence of large tears, a new mini-crack detection method for conveyor belts based on laser excited thermography is proposed. A laser beam is applied to generate a heat wave on the belt surface, so the corresponding thermal images can be recorded by an infrared camera. Then, an algorithm for extracting and fusing the features of mini-crack belt’s thermal images is firstly proposed by using time sequence analysis. It could transform multiple sequential thermal images into a single thermal image according to the frame difference method, so that the infrared thermal response of the mini-crack over time could be recorded quickly. To reveal the features of mini-crack, the power function image enhancement algorithm is proposed. After that, the threshold segmentation and Hough transform algorithm are used to determine the size of the mini-crack. The experimental results show that the mini-cracks with length of 50–140 mm, width of 1–10 mm, and depth of 5 mm can be successfully detected, and the detection accuracy could reach 96%. The detection results of different sizes of mini-crack show that the laser excited thermography has high damage sensitivity (1 mm diameter mini-crack detection), high accuracy (96%), lower power consumption (15 W laser excitation), and high SNR (signal-to-noise ratio).
Dust Emission from Gobi under Different Dust Content Conditions: A Wind Tunnel Study atop the Mogao Grottoes
Authors: Liang Linhao , Zhang Weimin , Tan Lihai , Chen Shuyi
Published: November 2021

Dust emission from the Gobi desert is one of the major sources of global atmospheric aerosols. However, the main factors affecting dust emission from Gobi remain poorly understood. In this paper, field wind tunnel experiments were performed atop the Mogao Grottoes to determine the variation characteristics of the vertical dust flux (F) of particulate matter less than 10 μm (PM10) for Gobi surfaces with different dust content and wind speeds under external sand supply. The results demonstrate that F obeyed a power function with increasing friction velocity (U*), and increased exponentially with the increasing surface dust content (C). The index of n-value in the formula F∝U*n is taken in the range of 2.02–2.63 under the surface of 27.3–47.3% dust content (<100 µm), and the dust emission rate was significantly enhanced when the surface dust content exceeded approximately 37%. This study indicates that wind force is the primary dynamic condition affecting Gobi dust emission, and that surface dust content is a significant factor in determining the quantity of dust emission. Furthermore, the contribution of wind force to PM10 emission is greater than the surface dust content, and the higher the height, the greater the weight of friction velocity.
A Rare Case of Perrault Syndrome with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: Cochlear Implantation Treatment and Literature Review
Authors: Forli Francesca , Bruschini Luca , Franciosi Beatrice , Battini Roberta , Marinella Gemma , Berrettini Stefano , Lazzerini Francesco
Published: November 2021

Perrault syndrome (PRLTS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterised by ovarian failure in females and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in both genders. In the present paper we describe a child affected by PRLTS3, due to CLPP homozygous mutations, presenting auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) with bilateral progressive SNHL. This is the first case reported in the literature of an ANSD in PRLTS3. CLPP is a nuclear encoded mitochondrial protease directed at the mitochondrial matrix. It is encoded on chromosome 19. This protease participates in mitochondrial protein quality control by degrading misfolded or damaged proteins, thus maintaining the normal metabolic function of the cell. In PRLTS3, the peptidase activity of CLPP is suppressed. Neurological impairments involved in PRLTS3 suggest that the pathogenic mutations in CLPP might trigger a mitochondrial dysfunction. A comprehensive description of the clinical and audiological presentation, as well as the issues related to cochlear implant (CI) procedure and the results, are addressed and discussed. A brief review of the literature on this topic is also provided.
Kano Model Integration with Data Mining to Predict Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Al Rabaiei Khaled , Alnajjar Fady , Ahmad Amir
Published: November 2021

The Kano model is one of the models that help determine which features must be included in a product or service to improve customer satisfaction. The model is focused on highlighting the most relevant attributes of a product or service along with customers’ estimation of how the presence of these attributes can be used to predict satisfaction about specific services or products. This research aims to develop a method to integrate the Kano model and data mining approaches to select relevant attributes that drive customer satisfaction, with a specific focus on higher education. The significant contribution of this research is to solve the problem of selecting features that are not methodically correlated to customer satisfaction, which could reduce the risk of investing in features that could ultimately be irrelevant to enhancing customer satisfaction. Questionnaire data were collected from 646 students from UAE University. The experiment suggests that XGBoost Regression and Decision Tree Regression produce best results for this kind of problem. Based on the integration between the Kano model and the feature selection method, the number of features used to predict customer satisfaction is minimized to four features. It was found that ANOVA features selection model’s integration with the Kano model gives higher Pearson correlation coefficients and higher R2 values.
New Ciders Made by an Exhaustion Method: An Option to Val-Orise Subproducts from the Making of Ice Ciders
Authors: Pando Bedriñana Rosa , Picinelli Lobo Anna , Rodríguez Madrera Roberto , Suárez Valles Belén
Published: November 2021

Cryo-extraction (pressing of frozen apples), is one of the two freeze-enrichment systems allowed for the making of ice juices. Its ciders are often described as more complex and aromatic, however, the production yield is quite low. The Exhaustion method associated with the previous one proposes the valorisation of the discarded apple juice fractions for the making of new ciders. Three types of apple juices and three species of yeasts (S. bayanus, C6; S. cerevisiae, Levuline-CHP, and T. delbrueckii, Biodiva-TD291) have been used to evaluate the Exhaustion method. The ciders obtained were analysed for chemical and volatile composition as well as sensory characteristics. The yield (%) of the Exhaustion process ranged between 24 and 37%. The yeasts promoted the fermentation at different rates, providing ciders with alcoholic degrees between 9 and 12 (%v/v), and low volatile acidities. The yeast strain significantly influenced most of the parameters analysed, whereas the raw apple juice influenced the perception of the attributes fruity, apple and butter. Although the ciders produced by Exhaustion presented significantly lower concentrations of all the volatile compounds analysed than the corresponding ice ciders obtained by Cryo-extraction, the S. bayanus C6 and T. delbrueckii TD291 gave highly valued ciders from the sensory point of view.
Molecular Effects of Elongation Factor Ts and Trigger Factor on the Unfolding and Aggregation of Elongation Factor Tu Induced by the Prokaryotic Molecular Chaperone Hsp33
Authors: Keum Minho , Ito Dai , Kim Mi-Seong , Lin Yuxi , Yoon Kyeong-Hyeon , Kim Jihoon , Lee Sung-Hee , Kim Ji-Hun , Yu Wookyung , Lee Young-Ho , Won Hyung-Sik
Published: November 2021

Hsp33, a prokaryotic redox-regulated holding chaperone, has been recently identified to be able to exhibit an unfoldase and aggregase activity against elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) in its reduced state. In this study, we investigated the effect of elongation factor Ts (EF-Ts) and trigger factor (TF) on Hsp33-mediated EF-Tu unfolding and aggregation using gel filtration, light scattering, circular dichroism, and isothermal titration calorimetry. We found that EF-Tu unfolding and subsequent aggregation induced by Hsp33 were evident even in its complex state with EF-Ts, which enhanced EF-Tu stability. In addition, although TF alone had no substantial effect on the stability of EF-Tu, it markedly amplified the Hsp33-mediated EF-Tu unfolding and aggregation. Collectively, the present results constitute the first example of synergistic unfoldase/aggregase activity of molecular chaperones and suggest that the stability of EF-Tu is modulated by a sophisticated network of molecular chaperones to regulate protein biosynthesis in cells under stress conditions.
The Effects of Exercise Order on the Psychophysiological Responses, Physical and Technical Performances of Young Soccer Players: Combined Small-Sided Games and High-Intensity Interval Training
Authors: Arslan Ersan , Kilit Bulent , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Soylu Yusuf , Sögüt Mustafa , Badicu Georgian , Akca Firat , Gokkaya Mine , Murawska-Ciałowicz Eugenia
Published: November 2021

This study aimed to compare the order effects of combined small-sided games (SSGs) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the psychophysiological responses and physical and technical performances of young soccer players. Twenty-four soccer players (aged 14.63 ± 0.71 years) were randomly divided into SSGs + HIIT (n = 12) and HIIT + SSGs (n = 12) for 6 weeks. The SSGs consisted of two 4–16 min rounds of 2, 3, and four-a-side games with 2 min of passive resting, whereas the HIIT consisted of 6–10 min of high-intensity runs at varying intensities (from 90 to 100%). Pre-test and post-test elements included a 5–30 m sprint test, countermovement jump test, zigzag agility test with the ball and without the ball, repeated sprint ability test, speed dribbling ability test, three-corner run test, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1. Both combined training interventions produced similar improvements in physical performance and technical responses (p ≥ 0.05, d values ranging from 0.40 to 1.10). However, the combined HIIT + SSGs training produced meaningfully lower perceived exertion (p = 0.00, d = 2.98) and greater physical enjoyment (p = 0.00, d = 4.28) compared with the SSGs + HIIT intervention. Furthermore, the SSGs + HIIT group showed a higher training load than those from the HIIT + SSGs group for all weeks (p ≤ 0.05, d values ranging from 1.36 to 2.05). The present study’s results might be used by coaches and practitioners to design training programmes for youth soccer players.
Immunotoxins: From Design to Clinical Application
Authors: Kreitman Robert J. , Pastan Ira
Published: November 2021

The Special Issue of Biomolecules entitled “Immunotoxins, From Design to Clinical Application” contains seven reviews related to immunotoxins [...]
Low-Dose Metformin as a Monotherapy Does Not Reduce Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Tumor Burden in Mice
Authors: Bond Nicole L. Stott , Dréau Didier , Marriott Ian , Bennett Jeanette M. , Turner Michael J. , Arthur Susan T. , Marino Joseph S.
Published: November 2021

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) makes up 80–85% of lung cancer diagnoses. Lung cancer patients undergo surgical procedures, chemotherapy, and/or radiation. Chemotherapy and radiation can induce deleterious systemic side effects, particularly within skeletal muscle. To determine whether metformin reduces NSCLC tumor burden while maintaining skeletal muscle health, C57BL/6J mice were injected with Lewis lung cancer (LL/2), containing a bioluminescent reporter for in vivo tracking, into the left lung. Control and metformin (250 mg/kg) groups received treatments twice weekly. Skeletal muscle was analyzed for changes in genes and proteins related to inflammation, muscle mass, and metabolism. The LL/2 model effectively mimics lung cancer growth and tumor burden. The in vivo data indicate that metformin as administered was not associated with significant improvement in tumor burden in this immunocompetent NSCLC model. Additionally, metformin was not associated with significant changes in key tumor cell division and inflammation markers, or improved skeletal muscle health. Metformin treatment, while exhibiting anti-neoplastic characteristics in many cancers, appears not to be an appropriate monotherapy for NSCLC tumor growth in vivo. Future studies should pursue co-treatment modalities, with metformin as a potentially supportive drug rather than a monotherapy to mitigate cancer progression.
Efficacy of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors on Cognitive Function in Alzheimer’s Disease. Review of Reviews
Authors: Moreta Marta Pérez-Gómez , Burgos-Alonso Natalia , Torrecilla María , Marco-Contelles José , Bruzos-Cidón Cristina
Published: November 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia over the age of 65. It is estimated that 115.4 million people will be affected by AD by 2050. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) are the only available and approved treatment for AD. The aim of the present study was to analyse the evidence on the efficacy of the AChEI in the treatment of cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. For that purpose, a review of review of the systematic reviews (SRs) on this topic was carried out by Web of Science, PubMed, and The Cochrane Library, among others, were searched until 24 September 2021. Thirteen of the 1773 articles evaluated the efficacy of AChEI on cognitive function and/or general condition and/or behavioural disturbances of patients with mild to moderate AD. Methodological quality and risk of bias were rated using the ROBIS scale. The quality of the identified studies was high for nine of them, unclear for two, and finally only in two of the 13 studies did we detect low quality. Overall, AChEI showed very low efficacy in improving cognition in patients with mild to moderate AD. Better results were obtained in improving global state, with donepezil being the most effective treatment. No improvements in behavioural disturbances were found. Few high-quality reviews provide clear evidence of the effects of AChEI on cognition, global change, behaviour, and mortality. The data suggest that AChEI stabilize or slow cognitive deterioration, improving global status. In addition, data indicate that the use of AChEI decreases mortality in patients with mild to moderate AD. However, there is no evidence that they improve patient behaviour. Donepezil is the best therapeutic alternative at a dose of 10 mg/day.
The Potential of Naturalistic Eye Movement Tasks in the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review
Authors: Readman Megan Rose , Polden Megan , Gibbs Melissa Chloe , Wareing Lettie , Crawford Trevor J.
Published: November 2021

Extensive research has demonstrated that eye-tracking tasks can effectively indicate cognitive impairment. For example, lab-based eye-tracking tasks, such as the antisaccade task, have robustly distinguished between people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and healthy older adults. Due to the neurodegeneration associated with AD, people with AD often display extended saccade latencies and increased error rates on eye-tracking tasks. Although the effectiveness of using eye tracking to identify cognitive impairment appears promising, research considering the utility of eye tracking during naturalistic tasks, such as reading, in identifying cognitive impairment is limited. The current review identified 39 articles assessing eye-tracking distinctions between people with AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy controls when completing naturalistic task (reading, real-life simulations, static image search) or a goal-directed task involving naturalistic stimuli. The results revealed that naturalistic tasks show promising biomarkers and distinctions between healthy older adults and AD participants, and therefore show potential to be used for diagnostic and monitoring purposes. However, only twelve articles included MCI participants and assessed the sensitivity of measures to detect cognitive impairment in preclinical stages. In addition, the review revealed inconsistencies within the literature, particularly when assessing reading tasks. We urge researchers to expand on the current literature in this area and strive to assess the robustness and sensitivity of eye-tracking measures in both AD and MCI populations on naturalistic tasks.