bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene Silencing of laccase 1 Induced by Double-Stranded RNA in Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius 1775) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Suggests RNAi as a Potential New Biotechnological Tool for Bruchid’s Control
Authors: Segers Arnaud , Carpentier Joachim , Francis Frédéric , Caparros Megido Rudy
Published: February 2023

Bruchids are the most important pests of leguminous seeds in the world. In this study, the focus was done on Callosobruchus maculatus, a serious pest of Vigna unguiculata seeds. As no efficient control methods preventing collateral effects on beneficials currently exist, this study investigated whether RNA interference (RNAi) could provide a new biotechnological and selective tool for bruchids control. Three principal objectives were followed including (i) the identification of all RNAi machinery core components and a key protein to silence in C. maculatus genome (c.f., dicer-2, argonaute-2, R2D2, and laccase 1), (ii) the identification of suitable reference gene for RT-qPCR analyses, and (iii) the micro-injection of dsRNA coding for laccase 1 to adults of C. maculatus to assess gene expression levels by RT-qPCR and potentially related mortalities. Phylogenetical analyses performed from transcriptomic information successfully identified all necessary proteins in the RNAi mechanism and also the open reading frame of laccase 1 in C. maculatus. A new reference gene was identified (i.e., alpha-tubuline 1) and coupled with glutiathone S transferase for RT-qPCR analyses. Double-stranded RNAs coding for laccase 1 and green fluorescent protein (control) were produced and 400 ng of each dsRNA were micro-injected into C. maculatus adults. RT-qPCR analyses revealed a stable significant decrease in laccase 1 expression in about 80% of adults treated with laccase 1 dsRNA after three days post-injection. No significant mortalities were observed which is probably related to the non-exposure of adults to anti-nutritional factors that are usually regulated by laccase. Further research should focus either on the feeding larval stage which is directly exposed to anti-nutritional factors, or on other target genes to induce dead phenotypes. This study is the first gene silencing report on a bruchid species and supports RNAi as a potential future method of control.
Low-Cost Robot for Agricultural Image Data Acquisition
Authors: Vasconcelos Gustavo José Querino , Costa Gabriel Schubert Ruiz , Spina Thiago Vallin , Pedrini Helio
Published: February 2023

More sustainable technologies in agriculture are important not only for increasing crop yields, but also for reducing the use of agrochemicals and improving energy efficiency. Recent advances rely on computer vision systems that differentiate between crops, weeds, and soil. However, manual dataset capture and annotation is labor-intensive, expensive, and time-consuming. Agricultural robots provide many benefits in effectively performing repetitive tasks faster and more accurately than humans, and despite the many advantages of using robots in agriculture, the solutions are still often expensive. In this work, we designed and built a low-cost autonomous robot (DARob) in order to facilitate image acquisition in agricultural fields. The total cost to build the robot was estimated to be around $850. A low-cost robot to capture datasets in agriculture offers advantages such as affordability, efficiency, accuracy, security, and access to remote areas. Furthermore, we created a new dataset for the segmentation of plants and weeds in bean crops. In total, 228 RGB images with a resolution of 704 × 480 pixels were annotated containing 75.10% soil area, 17.30% crop area and 7.58% weed area. The benchmark results were provided by training the dataset using four different deep learning segmentation models.
Modeling the Adaptation of Agricultural Production to Climate Change
Authors: Xiao Dengpan , Shi Wenjiao
Published: February 2023

Climate change and its impacts on agricultural production and food security are a significant source of public concern around the world [...]
Selenium Biofortification: Strategies, Progress and Challenges
Authors: Danso Ofori Prince , Asante-Badu Bismark , Zhang Zezhou , Song Jiaping , Wang Zhangmin , Yin Xuebin , Zhu Renbin
Published: February 2023

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and animals. Its necessity for plants is still under examination. Due to the contradictory nature of Se and its significance, it has received much interest in recent years. Se deficiency can be harmful to humans, yet almost a billion people are deficient. Its deficiency has been associated with cancers, impairment of organs, and a number of other ailments. The biofortification of plants and livestock is a guaranteed practice to increase human selenium consumption. Strategies such as foliar spraying, the direct application of Se in plants and Se feed, and injections in livestock have been employed. Se biofortification has been shown to have additional beneficial effects in plants and livestock. In plants, it has been reported to mitigate different types of stress and increase yield. In animal biofortification, Se has been shown to reduce the detrimental effects of ailments and promote healthy growth. Se biofortification, nevertheless, confronts a number of difficulties. For instance, the bulk of biofortified products must be prepared before consumption, lowering the Se concentration. The objective of this review is to convey the current understanding of the Se biofortification of plants and animals, as well as its difficulties, taking into account both the detrimental consequences of Se deficiency and benefits of Se biofortification.
Evaluation of the Usefulness of Fermented Liquid Organic Formulations and Manures for Improving the Soil Fertility and Productivity of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)
Authors: Rathore Gitanjli , Kaushal Rajesh , Sharma Vivek , Sharma Gargi , Chaudhary Shikha , Dhaliwal Salwinder Singh , Alsuhaibani Amnah Mohammed , Gaber Ahmed , Hossain Akbar
Published: February 2023

The practice of incorporating organic manures and fermented liquid biofertilizers of different origins and compositions can supply valuable nutrients to the soil. To ascertain the effect of fermented liquid organic nutrient formulations (FLONFs) on the rhizospheric microbial population, growth characteristics, nutritional status, and yield of brinjal, a field experiment was conducted in consecutive seasons in 2017 and 2018. Fermented liquid biofertilizers (panchagavya and jeevamrut) were prepared and applied along with organic manures to brinjal plants in ten treatment combinations in three replications. The treatment (T4) involving the combined use of organics and FLONFs contributed significantly to the soil dehydrogenase enzyme activity (4.9 mg TPF h−1 g−1 soil), phosphatase enzyme activity (25.5 mmoles PNP h−1 g−1 soil), and urease enzyme activity (0.27 mg NH4+ g−1 soil). The mean bacterial count, fungal count, and actinomycete levels were 203.3 × 108 cfu g−1, 4.34 × 103 cfu g−1, and 3.41 × 102 cfu g−1 soil, respectively, along with a mean soil microbial biomass of carbon value of 66.1 mg g−1 soil. The brinjal yield was maximal under treatment T4 with values of 389.2 q ha−1 and 153.7 q ha−1 for 2017 and 2018, respectively. As a result, for higher yields and soil longevity, the combination of organics and FLONFs can be advocated.
UAV-Based Wireless Data Collection from Underground Sensor Nodes for Precision Agriculture
Authors: Holtorf Lucas , Titov Igor , Daschner Frank , Gerken Martina
Published: February 2023

In precision agriculture, information technology is used to improve farm management practices. Thereby, productivity can be increased and challenges with overfertilization and water consumption can be addressed. This requires low-power and wireless underground sensor nodes for monitoring the physical, chemical and biological soil parameters at the position of the plant roots. Three ESP32-based nodes with these capabilities have been designed to measure soil moisture and temperature. A system has been developed to collect the measurement data from the sensor nodes with a drone and forward the data to a ground station, using the LoRa transmission standard. In the investigations of the deployed system, an increase in the communication range between the sensor node and the ground station, from 300 m to 1000 m by using a drone, was demonstrated. Further, the decrease in the signal strength with the increasing sensor node depth and flight height of the drone was characterized. The maximum readout distance of 550 m between the sensor node and drone was determined. From this, it was estimated that the system enables the readout of the sensor nodes distributed over an area of 470 hectares. Additionally, analysis showed that the antenna orientation at the sensor node and the drone influenced the signal strength distribution around the node due to the antenna radiation pattern. The reproducibility of the LoRa signal strength measurements was demonstrated to support the validity of the results presented. It is concluded that the system design is suitable for collecting the data of distributed sensor nodes in agriculture.
Munsell Soil Colour Classification Using Smartphones through a Neuro-Based Multiclass Solution
Authors: Pegalajar M. C. , Ruiz L. G. B. , Criado-Ramón D.
Published: February 2023

Colour is a property widely used in many fields to extract information in several ways. In soil science, colour provides information regarding the chemical and physical characteristics of soil, such as genesis, composition, and fertility, amongst others. Thus, accurate estimation of soil colour is essential for many disciplines. To achieve this, experts traditionally rely on comparing Munsell colour charts with soil samples, which is a laborious process. In this study, we proposed using artificial neural networks to catalogue soil colour with a two-step classification. Firstly, the hue variable is estimated, and then the remaining two coordinates, value and chroma. Our experiments were conducted using three different, common cameras (one digital camera and two mobile phones). The results of our tests showed a 20% improvement in classification accuracy using the lowest-quality camera and an average accuracy of over 90%.
Effects of Different Soil Water and Heat Regulation Patterns on the Physiological Growth and Water Use in an Apple–Soybean Intercropping System
Authors: Wang Lisha , Wang Ruoshui , Luo Chengwei , Dai Houshuai , Xiong Chang , Wang Xin , Zhang Meng , Xiao Wan
Published: February 2023

In this study, a typical apple–soybean intercropping system was used to analyze the effects of different soil water and heat regulation modes on the spatial distribution of the soil water content (SWC), photosynthetic physiological characteristics, and growth. Three maximum irrigation levels [50% (W1), 65% (W2), and 80% (W3) of field capacity (FC)] and two mulching intervals [from seedling to podding stage (M1) and during the full stage (M2) of soybeans] were tested. The results showed that the SWC of W3M2 was the highest, while the W2M1 and W1M2 treatments used more deep soil water. Irrigation increased the chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis, and transpiration rate of leaves in the agroforestry system. In addition, the net photosynthetic rate of leaves under the W2 irrigation level increased after mulch removal in the later growth stage. At W1 and W2 irrigation levels, the soybean yield of half-stage mulching was 0.85–15.49% higher than that of full-stage mulching. Multiple regression analysis showed that grain yield under the W3M2 treatment reached the maximum value of the fitting equation. The photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, and grain yield under W2M1 reached 71–86% of the maximum value of the fitting equation, with the largest soil plant analysis development value. To effectively alleviate water competition in the apple–soybean intercropping system, our results suggest adoption of the 80% FC upper irrigation limit (W3) combined with soybean M2 treatment in young apple trees–soybean intercropping system during water abundant years. In addition, adoption of the 65% FC upper irrigation limit (W2) combined with the soybean M1 treatment in water deficit years could effectively improve soil water, heat environment, and promote growth.
Effects of the CDC10 (Septin 7) Gene on the Proliferation and Differentiation of Bovine Intramuscular Preadipocyte and 3T3-L1 Cells
Authors: Cheng Zixuan , Li Xihe , Bao Siqin , Yamada Takahisa , Cao Guifang , Liu Jianfeng , Chen Aorigele , Tong Bin
Published: February 2023

Intramuscular fat content and marbling affecting meat quality are important economic traits in beef cattle. CDC10 (cell division cycle 10 or Septin 7), a member of the septin family involved in cellular proliferation, was considered as a functional and positional candidate gene for beef marbling. In a previous study, we revealed that the expression levels of CDC10 were also positively correlated with marbling scores in Japanese Black cattle. However, the regulatory mechanism of the CDC10 gene on IMF deposition in cattle remains unclear. In the present study, flow cytometry, EdU proliferation assays, and Oil Red O staining results showed that overexpression of CDC10 could promote the differentiation of bovine intramuscular preadipocyte (BIMP) and 3T3-L1 cells, whereas knockdown of CDC10 resulted in the opposite consequences. Furthermore, quantitative PCR and Western blotting results showed that overexpression of CDC10 could promote the expression levels of adipogenic marker genes PPARγ and C/EBPα at both mRNA and protein levels in BIMP and 3T3-L1 cells, whereas knockdown of CDC10 resulted in the opposite consequences. Our results provide new insights into the regulatory roles of CDC10 in adipocytes in animals.
On-Barn Forecasting Beef Cattle Production Based on Automated Non-Contact Body Measurement System
Authors: Gritsenko Svetlana , Ruchay Alexey , Kolpakov Vladimir , Lebedev Svyatoslav , Guo Hao , Pezzuolo Andrea
Published: February 2023

The main task of selective breeding is to determine the early productivity of offspring. The sooner the economic value of an animal is determined, the more profitable the result will be, due to the proper estimation of high and low productive calves and distribution of the resources among them, accordingly. To predict productivity, we offer to use a systematic assessment of animals by using the main genetic parameters (correlation coefficients, heritability, and regression) based on data such as the measurement of morphological characteristics of animals, obtained using the automated non-contact body measurement system based on RGB-D image capture. The usefulness of the image capture system lies in significant time reduction that is spent on data collection and improvement in data collection accuracy due to the absence of subjective measurement errors. We used the RGB-D image capture system to measure the live weight of mother cows, as well as the live weight and body size of their calves (height at the withers, height in the sacrum, oblique length of the trunk, chest depth, chest girth, pastern girth). Cows and cattle of black-and-white and Holstein breeds (n = 561) were selected as the object of the study. Correlation analysis revealed the main indices for the forecast of meat productivity—live weight and measurements of animals at birth. Calculation of the selection effect is necessary for planning breeding work, since it can determine the value of economically beneficial traits in subsequent generations, which is very important for increasing the profitability of livestock production. This approach can be used in livestock farms for predicting the meat productivity of black-and-white cattle.
Ultrasonography of Pregnancy in Murciano-Granadina Goat Breed: Fetal Growth Indices and Umbilical Artery Doppler Parameters
Authors: Ramírez-González David , Poto Ángel , Peinado Begoña , Almela Laura , Navarro-Serna Sergio , Ruiz Salvador
Published: February 2023

The evolution of some fetal growth indices and arterial blood flow parameters in the umbilical cord of the embryos and fetuses of primiparous pregnant goats of Murciano-Granadina breed were analyzed by ultrasonography. Weekly ultrasonographic sessions took place from 18- to 125-days post-breeding. Fetal measures were carried out by ultrasound B-mode. This mode was used to take a series of measurements in the embryo/fetus throughout pregnancy: crown-rump length (CRL, from 24-days post-mating -dpm- to 61 dpm), trunk diameter (TD, 24–34 dpm), biparietal diameter (BPD, 28–125 dpm) and eye orbit diameter (EOD, 75–125 dpm). Spectral Doppler was used to study blood flow from umbilical artery. Different blood flow parameters were obtained as follows: Arterial Pulse, Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End Diastolic Velocity (EDV), Mean Velocity (MV), Systolic velocity/Diastolic velocity Ratio (S/D), Pulsatility Index (PI) and Resistance Index (RI). In this study, the umbilical cord was first noticed between 32- and 35-days post-breeding. However, these umbilical arterial blood flow parameters were not conclusive (positive S/D ratios and RI < 1) until 65–80 days of pregnancy. The explanation to these results could be that vascular development related to umbilical arteries elasticity and diameter is not good enough in early pregnancy. Therefore, these vessels have already acquired their appropriate characteristics in order to allow blood flow parameters and Doppler index measures from only 2.5 months of pregnancy. This is the first time that a detailed study of fetal growth indices and umbilical artery flow rates in fetuses from Murciano-Granadina goats has been performed throughout virtually the entire duration of gestation. In conclusion, the evolution of the fetal growth indices in this breed has determined that the umbilical artery velocimetric parameters (PSV, EDV, MV) increase significantly and the AP, S/D, PI and RI indices decrease significantly throughout the analyzed pregnancy period.
Biological Activities of Ruthenium NHC Complexes: An Update
Authors: Catalano Alessia , Mariconda Annaluisa , Sinicropi Maria Stefania , Ceramella Jessica , Iacopetta Domenico , Saturnino Carmela , Longo Pasquale
Published: February 2023

Ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes have unique physico-chemical properties as catalysts and a huge potential in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, exhibiting a variety of notable biological activities. In this review, the most recent studies on ruthenium NHC complexes are summarized, focusing specifically on antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. Ruthenium NHC complexes are generally active against Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Listeria monocytogenes and are seldom active against Gram-negative bacteria, including Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli and fungal strains of Candida albicans. The antiproliferative activity was tested against cancer cell lines of human colon, breast, cervix, epidermis, liver and rat glioblastoma cell lines. Ruthenium NHC complexes generally demonstrated cytotoxicity higher than standard anticancer drugs. Further studies are needed to explore the mechanism of action of these interesting compounds.
Inhibitory Activity of Essential Oils of Mentha spicata and Eucalyptus globulus on Biofilms of Streptococcus mutans in an In Vitro Model
Authors: Landeo-Villanueva Guillermo Ernesto , Salazar-Salvatierra María Elena , Ruiz-Quiroz Julio Reynaldo , Zuta-Arriola Noemi , Jarama-Soto Benjamín , Herrera-Calderon Oscar , Pari-Olarte Josefa Bertha , Loyola-Gonzales Eddie
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory activity of the commercially available essential oils of Mentha spicata (spearmint) and Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) on Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 biofilms in vitro, emulating dental plaque conditions. The composition of the essential oils (EOs) was determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), with the main metabolites being Carvone (57.93%) and Limonene (12.91%) for Mentha spicata and 1,8-Cineole (Eucalyptol) (65.83%) for Eucalyptus globulus. The inhibitory activity was evaluated using the methods of agar-well diffusion and colorimetric microdilution. The inhibition halos were 18.3 ± 0.47 mm and 27.0 ± 0.82 mm, and the MICs were 1.8484 mg/mL and 1.9168 mg/mL for the EOs of Mentha spicata and Eucalyptus globulus, respectively. The activity against the biofilms was evaluated on a substrate of bovine enamel pieces using a basal mucin medium (BMM) in anaerobic conditions with daily sucrose exposition cycles in order to emulate oral cavity conditions. The EOs were applied in a concentration of 0.5% in a sterile saline vehicle with 1% polysorbate 20. After 72 h of cultivation, a significant reduction was observed (p < 0.001%) on the biofilm biomass, which was evaluated by its turbidity in suspension and using a count of the recoverable organisms with regards to the control. The effects of the Eos were not significantly distinct from each other. The EOs showed antimicrobial activity against both the Streptococcus mutans planktonic and biofilm cultures. Thus, EOs may have great potential for the development of pharmaceutical and sanitary products for oral health.
The Impact of Za’atar Antioxidant Compounds on the Gut Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Disorders: Insights for Future Clinical Applications
Authors: Khalil Mohamad , Abdallah Hala , Razuka-Ebela Danute , Calasso Maria , De Angelis Maria , Portincasa Piero
Published: February 2023

Since the gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in host homeostasis and energy balance, changes in its composition can be associated with disease states through the promotion of immune-mediated inflammatory disorders and increasing intestinal permeability, ultimately leading to the impairment of intestinal barrier function. Za’atar is one of the most popular plant-based foods in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Za’atar is a mixture of different plant leaves, fruits, and seeds and contains hundreds of antioxidant compounds, especially polyphenols, and fiber, with pre-clinical and clinical evidence suggesting health-promoting effects in cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Za’atar compounds have also been studied from a gastrointestinal perspective, concerning both gut microbiota and gastrointestinal diseases. Antioxidants such as Za’atar polyphenols may provide beneficial effects in the complex interplay between the diet, gut microbiota, and intestinal permeability. To our knowledge, no studies have reported the effects of the whole Za’atar mixture, however, based on the pre-clinical studies published on components and single compounds found in Za’atar, we provide a clinical overview of the possible effects on the gastrointestinal tract, focusing mainly on carvacrol, rosmarinic acid, gallic acid, and other polyphenols. We also cover the potential clinical applications of Za’atar mixture as a possible nutraceutical in disorders involving the gastrointestinal tract.
Recent Advances in Cellular Signaling Interplay between Redox Metabolism and Autophagy Modulation in Cancer: An Overview of Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Interventions
Authors: Rahman Md. Ataur , Ahmed Kazi Rejvee , Haque Farzana , Park Moon Nyeo , Kim Bonglee
Published: February 2023

Autophagy is a fundamental homeostatic process in which certain cellular components are ingested by double-membrane autophagosomes and then degraded to create energy or to maintain cellular homeostasis and survival. It is typically observed in nutrient-deprived cells as a survival mechanism. However, it has also been identified as a crucial process in maintaining cellular homeostasis and disease progression. Normal cellular metabolism produces reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species at low levels. However, increased production causes oxidative stress, which can lead to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and cancer. It was recently shown that maintaining redox equilibrium via autophagy is critical for cellular responses to oxidative stress. However, little is understood about the molecular cancer processes that connect to the control of autophagy. In cancer cells, oncogenic mutations, carcinogens, and metabolic reprogramming cause increased ROS generation and oxidative stress. Recent studies have suggested that increased ROS generation activates survival pathways that promote cancer development and metastasis. Moreover, the relationship between metabolic programming and ROS in cancer cells is involved in redox homeostasis and the malignant phenotype. Currently, while the signaling events governing autophagy and how redox homeostasis affects signaling cascades are well understood, very little is known about molecular events related to autophagy. In this review, we focus on current knowledge about autophagy modulation and the role of redox metabolism to further the knowledge of oxidative stress and disease progression in cancer regulation. Therefore, this review focuses on understanding how oxidation/reduction events fine-tune autophagy to help understand how oxidative stress and autophagy govern cancer, either as processes leading to cell death or as survival strategies for maintaining redox homeostasis in cancer.
Food-Grade Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Exposure Alters Intestinal Microbial Populations, Brush Border Membrane Functionality and Morphology, In Vivo (Gallus gallus)
Authors: Cheng Jacquelyn , Kolba Nikolai , García-Rodríguez Alba , Marques Cláudia N. H. , Mahler Gretchen J. , Tako Elad
Published: February 2023

Among food additive metal oxide nanoparticles (NP), titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and silicon dioxide (SiO₂) are commonly used as food coloring or anti-caking agents, while zinc oxide (ZnO) and iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) are added as antimicrobials and coloring agents, respectively, and can be used as micronutrient supplements. To elucidate potential perturbations associated with NP consumption on gastrointestinal health and development, this in vivo study utilized the Gallus gallus (broiler chicken) intraamniotic administration to assess the effects of physiologically relevant concentrations of food-grade metal oxide NP on brush border membrane (BBM) functionality, intestinal morphology and intestinal microbial populations in vivo. Six groups with 1 mL injection of the following treatments were utilized: non-injected, 18 MΩ DI H2O; 1.4 × 10−6 mg TiO2 NP/mL, 2.0 × 10−5 mg SiO2 NP/mL, 9.7 × 10−6 mg ZnO NP/mL, and 3.8 × 10−4 mg Fe2O3 NP/mL (n = 10 per group). Upon hatch, blood, cecum, and duodenum were collected to assess mineral (iron and zinc) metabolism, BBM functional, and pro-inflammatory-related protein gene expression, BBM morphometric analysis, and the relative abundance of intestinal microflora. Food additive NP altered mineral transporter, BBM functionality, and pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression, affected intestinal BBM development and led to compositional shifts in intestinal bacterial populations. Our results suggest that food-grade TiO₂ and SiO₂ NP have the potential to negatively affect intestinal functionality; food-grade ZnO NP exposure effects were associated with supporting intestinal development or compensatory mechanisms due to intestinal damage, and food-grade Fe₂O₃ NP was found to be a possible option for iron fortification, though with potential alterations in intestinal functionality and health.
Comparison of the Effects between Tannins Extracted from Different Natural Plants on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Immunity, and Intestinal Flora of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Liu Song , Wang Kaijun , Lin Senzhu , Zhang Zhidan , Cheng Ming , Hu Shanshan , Hu Hongjie , Xiang Jun , Chen Fengming , Li Gonghe , Si Hongbin
Published: February 2023

In this study, four plant tannins, including AT (Acacia mearnsii tannin, 68%), CT (Castanea sativa tannin, 60%), QT (Schinopsis lorenzii tannin, 73%) and TT (Caesalpinia spinosa tannin, 50%) were added to broiler diets for 42 days to evaluate and compare their effects on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune performance and gut microbiota in broilers. The results showed that the supplementation of five tannins could increase the production of T-AOC, GSH-Px, SOD and CAT and reduce the production of MDA in the serum of broilers (p < 0.01), but the antioxidant effect of the AT group was lower than that of the other three groups (p < 0.01). All four tannins decreased the level of the pro-inflammatory factor IL-1β and increased the level of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 (p < 0.01). CT, QT and TT decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α (p < 0.01), while AT and CT increased the level of IL-2 in serum (p < 0.01). Supplementation with four tannins also increased the levels of IgG, IgM, IgA and sIgA in serum (p < 0.01) and the levels of ZO-1, claudin-1 and occludin in the jejunum (p < 0.01). The detection results of ALT and AST showed that CT, QT and TT decreased the concentrations of ALT and AST in serum (p < 0.01). The results of the gut microbiota showed that the abundance of Clostridia and Subdoligranulum increased, and the abundance of Oscillospiraceae decreased, compared to the control group after adding the four tannins to the diets (p > 0.05). In addition, CT, QT and TT decreased the abundance of Lactobacillus and increased the abundance of Bacteroides compared to the control group, while AT showed the opposite result (p > 0.05). Overall, our study shows that tannins derived from different plants have their own unique effects on broilers. AT and CT can promote broilers’ growth better than other tannins, CT has the best ability to improve immune and antioxidant properties, and QT and TT have the best effect on broilers’ liver protection.
Benefits and Synergies in Addressing Climate Change via the Implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in Greece
Authors: Kyriakopoulos Grigorios L. , Sebos Ioannis , Triantafyllou Eleni , Stamopoulos Dimitrios , Dimas Petros
Published: February 2023

This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the effects of climate change on Greek agriculture, by evaluating and refining the current policy measures and interventions to address them through the lens and funding opportunities of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027. To this end, we conducted a diagnostic analysis of the current strategic framework in Greece and provided policy recommendations around five key areas: education, consulting services, agri-food cooperation, coupling of innovation, and digitalization, as well as risk management on climate change. Overall, we found that the national strategic framework is consistent with the objectives and priorities of European policies regarding the environment and the climate, but targeted actions are needed to enable the management of the Greek agricultural sector while addressing the risks of climate change, environmental degradation, and the excessive use of natural resources. The findings highlight the importance of much-needed revisions in national strategic planning. We have suggested key interventions and actions for dealing with climate change with regards to Greek agriculture and the overarching goals of the new CAP to promote sustainability, knowledge, and innovation in the agri-food sector.
Digital Medical X-ray Imaging, CAD in Lung Cancer and Radiomics in Colorectal Cancer: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Porto-Álvarez Jacobo , Barnes Gary T. , Villanueva Alex , García-Figueiras Roberto , Baleato-González Sandra , Huelga Zapico Emilio , Souto-Bayarri Miguel
Published: February 2023

Computed tomography (CT) introduced medicine to digital imaging. This occurred in the early 1970s and it was the start of the digital medical imaging revolution. The resulting changes and improvements in health care associated with digital imaging have been marked, are occurring now, and are likely to continue into the future. Before CT, medical images were acquired, stored, and displayed in analog form (i.e., on film). Now essentially all medical images are acquired and stored digitally. When they are not viewed by computer, they are converted to an analog image to be seen. The application of computer algorithms and the processing of digital medical images improves the visualization of diagnostically important details and aids diagnosis by extracting significant quantitative information. Examples of this can be seen with CAD and radiomics applications in the diagnosis of lung and colorectal cancer, respectively. The objectives of this article are to point out the key aspects of the digital medical imaging revolution, to review its current status, to discuss its clinical translation in two major areas: lung and colorectal cancer, and to provide future directions and challenges of these techniques.
An Admission-Control-Based Dynamic Query Tree Protocol for Fast Moving RFID Tag Identification
Authors: Peng Jiabin , Zhang Lijuan , Fan Mingqiu , Zhao Nan , Lei Lei , He Qirui , Xia Jiangcheng
Published: February 2023

As one of the key techniques used in the perception layer of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), radio frequency identification (RFID) has been widely applied for object tracing, smart warehouse management, product line monitoring, etc. In most applications, conveyor belts are prevalently implemented to accelerate the sorting efficiency for goods management. However, in such a system, tags quickly go through the reader’s reading range resulting in constant changing of the tag set and limited participating time of moving tags. As a result, it poses more challenges to the tag identification problem in mobile systems than in traditional static applications. In this work, a novel admission-control-based dynamic query tree (ACDQT) protocol is proposed for fast-moving tag identification. In ACDQT, two main strategies are developed, i.e., multi-round admission control (MRAC) and dynamic query tree recognition (DQTR). In MRAC, the reading process of multiple rounds is analyzed, and the number of admitted tags in each round is optimized. Thus, the tag lost ratio is guaranteed, and the identification process can be effectively accelerated. In DQTR, colliding tags are grouped into multiple subsets with the help of consecutive colliding bits in tag responses. By constructing a dynamic query tree, the number of collision slots is greatly reduced, and the identification efficiency in a single round is improved significantly. With MRAC and DQTR, ACDQT can support higher tag flow rate in mobile systems than existing works. Both theoretical analyses and simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of ACDQT.
A Secure and Decentralized Authentication Mechanism Based on Web 3.0 and Ethereum Blockchain Technology
Authors: Petcu Adrian , Pahontu Bogdan , Frunzete Madalin , Stoichescu Dan Alexandru
Published: February 2023

Over the past decade, there has been significant evolution in the security field, specifically in the authentication and authorization part. The standard authentication protocol nowadays is OAuth 2.0-based authentication. This method relies on a third-party authentication service provider with complete control over the users’ data, which it can filter or modify at will. Blockchain and decentralization have generated much interest in recent years, and the decentralized web is considered the next significant improvement in the world wide web (also known as Web 3.0). Web3 authentication, also known as decentralized authentication, allows for the secure and decentralized authentication of users on the web. The use cases for this technology include online marketplaces, social media platforms, and other online communities that require user authentication. The advantages of Web3 authentication include increased security and privacy for users and the ability for users to have more control over their data. The proposed system implementation uses Ethereum as the blockchain and a modern web stack to enhance user interaction and usability. The solution brings benefits both to the private and the public sector, proving that it has the capability of becoming the preferred authentication mechanism for any decentralized web application.
Time Domain Analysis of NB-IoT Signals
Authors: Barellini Andrea , Bracci Barbara , Licitra Gaetano , Silvi Alberto Maria
Published: February 2023

The NB-IoT (NarrowBand-Internet of Things) radio technology is now widely implemented by mobile phone network operators to support the communication of IoT devices such as smart meters, insurance black boxes for cars, network connected waste bins, smart bicycles. In the present work, some LTE800 cells of different mobile phone network operators implementing the NB-IoT technology in the guard band mode have been investigated. The signals, consisting of a PRB (Physical Resource Block) 180 kHz wide, have been analyzed and characterized in the time domain by means of a narrow band instrumental chain equipped with a Rohde & Schwarz FSH8 spectrum analyzer. Time domain analysis allows us to identify, within the transmission frame, the position of the NB-IoT signaling channels such as the Narrowband Reference Signal (NRS), the primary (NPSS) and secondary (NSSS) synchronization signals and the broadcast channel (NPBCH), but, above all, to measure the power received during the transmission of the NRS. This value has been compared with that measured by the NB-IoT decoding module supplied on the same analyzer, in order to verify the equivalence of these measurement methods. This would allow use of a more diffuse and cheaper instrumentation rather than more expensive vector analyzers, currently required to assess electric fields due to the NB-IoT signals through the extrapolation techniques set by Italian CEI 211-7/E technical standard.
Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modeling Regarding Online Classes on the Reddit Platform: Educators versus Learners
Authors: Li Shanghao , Xie Zerong , Chiu Dickson K. W. , Ho Kevin K. W.
Published: February 2023

The world is witnessing an unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted all levels of online education, shaping future trends. However, this shift was so sudden and drastic that unrevealed puzzles exist regarding the public’s authentic opinion towards online classes, even though three years have passed. Many experts and policymakers have conducted qualitative and quantitative research to explore effective pedagogies, the satisfaction of different stakeholders, and factors influential on learners’ performance. However, scant studies have examined personal opinions and concerns toward online classes hidden behind people’s anonymous posts on social media. This research investigates the sentiments, concerns, and their variance with time regarding online classes by learners and educators on Reddit, which is a dominant social network among them. Data were collected via the official API from identified relevant subreddits and keyword search results across Reddit. Sentiment analysis was applied to reveal their emotions and their changes. Topic modeling was conducted to discover the concerns hidden in the posts. The results revealed the concerns about online classes, such as severe cheating behaviors, and showed doubts about previous strategies to solve disadvantages in online classes. In addition, the results verified the habitual difference and motivations of social media usage between educators and learners.
Metaheuristic Method for a Wind-Integrated Distribution Network to Support Voltage Stabilisation Employing Electric Vehicle Loads
Authors: Rehman Nasir , Mufti Mairaj-Ud Din , Gupta Neeraj
Published: February 2023

Distributed generation (DG) has been incorporated into the distribution networks and, despite the rising prevalence of electric vehicle (EV) loads that are uncertain and cause substantial challenges in their operation, it is necessary to enhance the voltage profile, reduce power losses, and consequently improve the stability of whole networks. The recently proposed beluga whale optimisation algorithm is explored in the optimisation framework to determine the most suitable size of wind turbine generating systems (WTGS), while the optimum placements are determined by minimising the placement index (P-Index) using the distribution load flow (DLF) method. The voltage stability factor (VSF) is employed to formulate the P-Index to enhance voltage sensitivity in distribution systems. The main purpose of this article is to assess the influence of voltage-dependent, uncertain ZIP-form EV loads in order to analyse their potential in the active and reactive power operations of the distribution network while retaining the system voltage within a specified limit by significantly reducing system losses and taking distribution network-level constraints into account. The efficacy of the methodology is validated on the standard IEEE-33 test system by formulating two performance indices to determine a significant enhancement in convergence characteristics and a reduction in system losses.
Application of Tensor Decomposition to Reduce the Complexity of Neural Min-Sum Channel Decoding Algorithm
Authors: Wu Qingle , Ng Benjamin K. , Liang Yuanhui , Lam Chan-Tong , Ma Yan
Published: February 2023

Channel neural decoding is very promising as it outperforms the traditional channel decoding algorithms. Unfortunately, it still faces the disadvantage of high computational complexity and storage complexity compared with the traditional decoding algorithms. In this paper, we propose that low rank decomposition techniques based on tensor train decomposition and tensor ring decomposition can be utilized in neural offset min-sum (NOMS) and neural scale min-sim (NSMS) decoding algorithms. The experiment results show that the proposed two algorithms achieve near state-of-the-art performance with low complexity.
Research on Multi-Physical Field Coupling Simulation of Local Electrochemical Machining
Authors: Yu Jian , Wang Dengyong
Published: February 2023

Casing is one of the most important components of an aircraft engine. However, due to its thin wall thickness and difficult-to-cut materials, it is difficult to process with a conventional mechanical method. Counter-rotating electrochemical machining (CRECM) is a special electrochemical machining method, which is very suitable for machining aircraft engine casing parts. However, for the convex structure with large surface height and a complex shape of the casing, is sometimes difficult for CRECM to obtain the desired design accuracy. Local electrochemical machining is proposed under this background, which is used for after-machining of the pre-shaped convex structure by CRECM. In order to predict the local electrochemical machining result accurately and improve the machining precision, this paper establishes a multi-physical field coupling simulation model of the local electrochemical machining considering the influence of gas–liquid two-phase flow and temperature field. The influence of a gas–liquid two-phase flow field and temperature field on the conductivity distribution were simulated and analyzed, the reason for simulation error with pure electric field and the influence of cathode end width L on machining accuracy was analyzed, and it was found that the gas–liquid two-phase flow field played a major role in the simulation results of local electrochemical machining. The experimental results show that there is a significant error between the pure electric field simulation results and the experimental results, and the multi-physical field coupling simulation results are basically consistent with the experimental results. The multi-physical field coupling simulation can predict the results of local electrochemical machining with high accuracy and has important significance for improving the precision of local electrochemical machining.
SAViP: Semantic-Aware Vulnerability Prediction for Binary Programs with Neural Networks
Authors: Zhou Xu , Duan Bingjie , Wu Xugang , Wang Pengfei
Published: February 2023

Vulnerability prediction, in which static analysis is leveraged to predict the vulnerabilities of binary programs, has become a popular research topic. Traditional vulnerability prediction methods depend on vulnerability patterns, which must be predefined by security experts in a time-consuming manner. The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has yielded new options for vulnerability prediction. Neural networks allow vulnerability patterns to be learned automatically. However, current works extract only one or two types of features and use traditional models such as word2vec, which results in the loss of much instruction-level information. In this paper, we propose a model named SAViP to predict vulnerabilities in binary programs. To fully extract binary information, we integrate three kinds of features: semantic, statistical, and structural features. For semantic features, we apply the Masked Language Model (MLM) pre-training task of the RoBERTa model to the assembly code to build our language model. Using this model, we innovatively combine the beginning token and the operation-code token to create the instruction embedding. For the statistical features, we design a 56-dimensional feature vector that contains 43 kinds of instructions. For the structural features, we improve the ability of the structure2vec network to obtain the characteristic of the network by emphasizing node self-attention. Through these optimizations, we significantly increase the accuracy of vulnerability prediction over existing methods. Our experiments show that SAViP achieves a recall of 77.85% and Top 100∼600 accuracies all above 95%. The results are 10% and 13% higher than those of the state-of-the-art V-Fuzz, respectively.
Real Stiffness and Fatigue Resistance of Stringer-to-Cross-Girder Connection of Riveted Steel Railway Bridges
Authors: Gocál Jozef , Vičan Josef , Jošt Jozef
Published: February 2023

Steel girder bridges with member decks belong to the most frequently used types of superstructures of old riveted steel railway bridges. During their service life, the bridge deck members are affected by escalating effects of the traffic loads that significantly exceed those for which they were originally designed. As a result, these structures are often subject to the increased effects of fatigue degradation. One of the typical cases of fatigue damage on steel riveted bridges is a fatigue crack in the web of the stringer at the point of its connection to the cross girder. Such a connection used to be considered to transmit the axial and shear forces only, and so no fatigue crack was expected to develop in this detail during the bridge service life. However, the relatively frequent occurrence of fatigue cracks indicates the incorrectness of this assumption. This article is divided into two parts. Firstly, the bending stiffness of the stringer-to-cross-girder connection with different structural arrangements is analysed. Theoretical and experimental analyses of fictitious steel superstructures as well as of a real superstructure of an existing steel riveted bridge were performed to clarify the real stiffness behaviour of this detail. The results of the analyses confirm the assumption of a certain bending stiffness of the observed connection. Subsequently, attention is paid to the fatigue resistance of the riveted stringer-to-cross-girder connection in terms of the use of European standards. The results of fatigue tests performed on specially prepared test samples are presented with the aim to define the fatigue detail category.