bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Growth Regulators on In Vitro Micropropagation of Stahlianthus thorelii Gagnep
Authors: Van Yen Duong , Li Jing
Published: October 2022

Stahlianthus thorelii Gagnep is a plant belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, widely distributed in Asian countries like China, Thailand, India and Vietnam. In traditional oriental medicine, this plant is usually used to treat hemorrhage, heavy menstruation, poor digestion, rheumatism and bone/joint pain (tuberous roots). This research article presents the results of in vitro growth experiments on S.thorelii Gagnep using tubers as explants. The samples are grown in MS media enriched with BAP growth stimulant concentrations of 5.0 mg L−1 and a kinetin concentration of 4.0 mg L−1, yielding 5.55 ± 0.59 and 5.48 ± 0.87 shoots/explants, respectively. Once the plants reached a height of 3.0–4.0 cm, we inoculated 2.0–3.0 leaves with a MS rapid proliferation medium treated with BAP or NAA growth agents alone or in combination. The most shoots (7.54 ± 0.79 shoots/explants) were produced by the medium enhanced with 3.0 mg L−1 BAP and 0.5 mg L−1 NAA after 8 weeks of cultivation. The greatest root/shoot induction of 26.17 ± 1.5 was achieved with the medium that had been treated with 0.5 mg L−1 NAA and 0.5 mg L−1 IBA, which was prepared using the MS media that was administered alone or in combination with NAA and IBA for in vitro shoot rooting. Highest percentage of survival (100%) was observed when tissue cultured plantlets were acclimatized in soil:sand:compost (1:1:1).
Dynamic and Migration Characteristics of Soil Free Amino Acids in Paddy Soil Applied with Milk Vetch
Authors: Yang Jing , Lin Yi , Rensing Christopher , Zhang Liming , Zhou Biqing , Xing Shihe , Yang Wenhao
Published: October 2022

To explore the attribution factors and migration characteristics of free amino acids (FAAs) in paddy soils after green manure application during the entire growth period of rice. Amino acid analyzer, quantitative PCR, and high-throughput sequencing were used to analyze the effects of different application rates of milk vetch on FAAs in paddy soil under equal nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium conditions. Soil FAAs concentration at different growth stages was highest at the seedling stage and lowest at the tillering stage. The concentration of threonine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, and phenylalanine was most abundant during the growth period, accounting for 59.42–76.46% of the respective FAAs pool. The application of milk vetch was shown to increase the soil FAAs concentration, especially glutamic acid, which increased by 368.17–680.78%, but the excessive application had an inhibitory effect. Soil bacteria were critical factors affecting soil FAAs dynamics, among which Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Nitrospirae contributed 56.89% to the FAAs dynamics. FAAs displayed significant vertical profile characteristics, and the mobility of serine, glycine, and proline was high. Conclusively, the application of milk vetch was able to significantly change the concentration and composition of soil FAAs, which were affected by soil bacteria.
Weed Pressure, Nutrient Content, and Seed Yield in Field Grown Sulfonylurea-Resistant Camelina sativa and Brassica napus
Authors: Anderson James V. , Bigger Brant B. , Howatt Kirk , Mettler Joseph , Berti Marisol T.
Published: October 2022

Camelina [(Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz], an oilseed species of Brassicaceae, does not have approved herbicides for weed control, which limits its expansion as a commercial crop. To evaluate agronomic traits and ecosystem services of non-transgenic cultivars of sulfonylurea-resistant camelina and canola (Brassica napus L.), a field study was conducted near Fargo, North Dakota. Two replicated locations (NDSU and NW22) were set up in a randomized complete block design including four blocks of camelina, canola, and fallow per location. Camelina and canola were seeded (18 May) at 4.9 and 2.9 kg ha−1, respectively, using 19-cm row spacing. Data was collected mid- and late-season (29 June and 22 July 2020 respectively) for crop and weed stem count (no. m−2), biomass dry matter (kg m−2), and nutrient (N, P, K, S) content (kg ha−1), as-well-as final season (7 August) seed yield (kg ha−1) for camelina and canola treated with and without sulfonylurea. Using Prefer 90 (NIS) at 0.25% v/v, camelina was treated with thifensulfuron at 6.3 g a.i. ha−1, and canola was treated with thifensulfuron at 10.5 g a.i. ha−1 and tribenuron at 5.3 g a.i. ha−1. Sulfonylurea-resistant camelina and canola reduced late-season dry weight biomass of weeds by >75% and ≥60%, respectively, compared with fallow plots. Application of sulfonylurea herbicides to camelina or canola prior to mid-season analyses was not a significant factor (p ≤ 0.05) for reducing weed pressure and generally had little impact on altering crop biomass, seed yield, and nutrient retention. However, in some cases, herbicide treatment had an additive effect of reducing weed pressure over that of camelina or canola alone. Depending on the rotational cropping system, sulfonylurea-resistant camelina and canola should provide additional options for integrated weed management approaches and reducing nutrient leaching in the upper Midwest and northern Great Plains of the USA.
On the Changing Cool Season Affecting Rice Growth and Yield in Taiwan
Authors: Promchote Parichart , Wang Shih-Yu Simon , Yoon Jin-Ho , Johnson Paul G. , Creech Earl , Shen Yuan , Yao Ming-Hwi
Published: October 2022

In the subtropical climate of Taiwan, the cool season (January–June) is most productive for rice cultivation. However, the cool season also sees a large variability and weather impact on the crop. To assess the effect of winter monsoon variability and the warming climate, a common ORYZA(v3) model was used to derive the potential growth and yield of the japonica rice variety in different agro-climatological areas of Taiwan. The simulation was constructed for three planting dates (15 January, 30 January, and 14 February) in three time periods (1986–2005, 2006–2025, and 2026–2045) under a high-emission (RCP8.5) scenario, using a dynamically downscaled regional climate simulation data set (CORDEX). The result indicates that increased temperature during the early season significantly shortens the rice vegetative phase in all planting dates. Compared to the 1986 condition, rice maturation is projected to be 6–9 days and 7–11 days earlier by 2045 for the central-west and the north-east regions, respectively. In the future, decreased duration of crop growth will lead to a lowered yield, while increased CO2 can enhance rice yield by 8.5–18%. Rice yield is projected to decline by 3.3-to-10% during 2026–2045, offsetting the fertilizing effect of increasing CO2. Meanwhile, yield variability will increase in the future, due to more exposure to extremely low- and high-yield conditions. As such, a large yield reduction resulting from the increased variability (down to 34%) can offset the increased mean yield.
Floristic Diversity of Jabal Al-Ward, Southwest Tabuk Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Elkordy Ahmed , Nour Iman H. , Ellmouni Faten Y. , Al Shaye Najla A. , Al-Bakre Dhafer A. , EL-Banhawy Ahmed
Published: October 2022

Jabal Al-Ward is one of the Hijazi mountains situated between Al-Ulā and Al-Wajh, southwest Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia’s northwesterly border region. It is considered the highest mountain in this area and is enriched in wildlife. For the first time, the present research aimed to investigate the floristic composition, phytogeographical distribution, and plant diversity in Jabal Al-Ward. One hundred ninety-eight species representing 47 plant families have been identified. The Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae represented more than a third of the region’s floristic composition. The perennial species (53.5%) were dominant over the annuals (46.46%). This is a prominent feature in Jabal Al-Ward, where the perennial species may be more tolerant of climatic changeability than the annuals. Seven life form categories were found; therophytes (46.46%) showed to be the most common life form. In addition, there were four main phytogeographical groups: Mono-regional, Bi-regional, Pluri-regional, and Worldwide. The Mono-regional and Bi-regional categories had the highest participation, with 38.5% and 37.4%, respectively. Thirty-six species (18.2%) were found to be native to the Saharo-Arabian region. The Saharo-Arabian region was combined with eight more regions, including Saharo-Arabian/Sudano-Zambesian (12.6%), Irano-Turanian/Saharo-Arabian (9.1%), Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian (5.6%), Irano-Turanian/Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian (4.5%), Irano-Turanian/Saharo-Arabian/Sudano-Zambesian (2%), Euro-Siberian/Irano-Turanian/Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian and Saharo-Arabian/Sudanian (1% each), Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian/Sudano-Zambesian, and Irano-Turanian/Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian/Saharo-Zambesian (0.5% each). The current study demonstrated the highest species richness compared to earlier research on various locations in Tabuk Province. In future work, the species and endemic richness along elevation gradients should be studied in Jabal Al-Ward. As well as the IUCN status of each taxon, the DNA barcoding of endangered species will be of great significance if applied in the surveyed area.
Effect of Dietary Hemp Cake Inclusion on the In Vivo and Post Mortem Performances of Holstein Veal Calves
Authors: Arango Sheyla , Guzzo Nadia , Raffrenato Emiliano , Bailoni Lucia
Published: October 2022

Fifty-two male Holstein veal calves were divided into two homogeneous groups receiving two isoenergetic and isonitrogenous concentrates without (CTR group) or with 3% of hemp cake (HC group). The trial lasted for 171 days. All the calves were weighed five times during the trial. At slaughtering, carcasses were weighed and measured. Meat quality was determined on the Longissimus dorsi muscle. Average daily gain in the first period of the experiment (0–80 d) and dressing percentage and rump width of the carcasses were higher in HC group. Cooking weight losses and shear force were higher in the meat of the HC group while color parameters were similar in the two experimental groups. Unexpectedly, the alpha-linolenic acid content of meat was lower in the HC group. In conclusion, hemp cake can be considered an interesting ingredient in the concentrate used for the production of veal calves, but further studies will be needed to determine a suitable dosage in order to improve the nutritional quality of meat (i.e., the n-3 fatty acids content) without negative effects on physical characteristics.
Shared 6mer Peptides of Human and Omicron (21K and 21L) at SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Sites
Authors: Adiguzel Yekbun , Shoenfeld Yehuda
Published: October 2022

We investigated the short sequences involving Omicron 21K and Omicron 21L variants to reveal any possible molecular mimicry-associated autoimmunity risks and changes in those. We first identified common 6mers of the viral and human protein sequences present for both the mutant (Omicron) and nonmutant (SARS-CoV-2) versions of the same viral sequence and then predicted the binding affinities of those sequences to the HLA supertype representatives. We evaluated change in the potential autoimmunity risk, through comparative assessment of the nonmutant and mutant viral sequences and their similar human peptides with common 6mers and affinities to the same HLA allele. This change is the lost and the new, or de novo, autoimmunity risk, associated with the mutations in the Omicron 21K and Omicron 21L variants. Accordingly, e.g., the affinity of virus-similar sequences of the Ig heavy chain junction regions shifted from the HLA-B*15:01 to the HLA-A*01:01 allele at the mutant sequences. Additionally, peptides of different human proteins sharing 6mers with SARS-CoV-2 proteins at the mutation sites of interest and with affinities to the HLA-B*07:02 allele, such as the respective SARS-CoV-2 sequences, were lost. Among all, any possible molecular mimicry-associated novel risk appeared to be prominent in HLA-A*24:02 and HLA-B*27:05 serotypes upon infection with Omicron 21L. Associated disease, pathway, and tissue expression data supported possible new risks for the HLA-B*27:05 and HLA-A*01:01 serotypes, while the risks for the HLA-B*07:02 serotypes could have been lost or diminished, and those for the HLA-A*03:01 serotypes could have been retained, for the individuals infected with Omicron variants under study. These are likely to affect the complications related to cross-reactions influencing the relevant HLA serotypes upon infection with Omicron 21K and Omicron 21L.
Concerning Increase in Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Pathogenic Strains of Salmonella Isolated in Poultry Meat Products
Authors: Forgaciu Anca , Tabaran Alexandra , Colobatiu Liora , Mihaiu Romolica , Dan Sorin Daniel , Mihaiu Marian
Published: October 2022

Salmonella is considered to be one of the major foodborne pathogens associated with the consumption of contaminated poultry meat products. To the best of our knowledge this is the first extended research performed on a number of Salmonella strains isolated during 2011–2021 from poultry meat products in Romania. The aim of this study was to characterize the prevalence of pathogenic Salmonella serovars, antimicrobial susceptibility, and antimicrobial resistance genes in 112 Salmonella isolates recovered from raw poultry meat products. The results showed that Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium were the common serotypes (56%; 25%). Overall, the majority of the isolates were resistant to at least three tested antimicrobials. High resistance was observed for tetracycline (84%), nalidixic acid (78%), and ampicillin (78%) in pathogenic Salmonella isolated during the period 2016–2021. All the pathogenic Salmonella isolated during 2016–2021 tested positive to at least one resistance gene encoding for tetracycline resistance, with the tetA gene being the most prevalent (62%). In addition, 64% (24/37) of the Salmonella isolates carried at least one of the genes (blaCMY-2, blaSHV1, blaTEM1) that code for β-Lactams resistance. The findings in this study showed a high prevalence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella serovars in poultry meat products and a concerning increase of resistance patterns. The continuous occurrence of more resistant strains implies that effective measures should be strictly applied in this particular food chain in order to prevent their spread and guarantee microbial safety.
Effects of Dietary Coated Lysozyme on the Growth Performance, Antioxidant Activity, Immunity and Gut Health of Weaned Piglets
Authors: Xu Xiangfei , Huang Pan , Cui Xuemei , Li Xuefeng , Sun Jiaying , Ji Quanan , Wei Qiang , Huang Yee , Li Zhefeng , Bao Guolian , Liu Yan
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary coated lysozyme on growth performance, serum biochemical indexes, antioxidant activity, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal permeability, and the cecal microbiota in weaned piglets. In total, 144 weaned Large White × Landrace piglets were divided into six treatment groups, with 3 replicates and 8 piglets per replicate: CN, a basal diet; CL-L, CL-M, and CL-H, basal diet supplemented with 100, 150, 500 mg/kg coated lysozyme; UL, basal diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg lysozyme; and Abs, basal diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg guitaromycin for 6 weeks. Compared with the CN and UL diets, dietary CL-H inclusion increased the average daily gain (ADG) and decreased the feed/gain (F/G) ratio of piglets (p < 0.05). The addition of 500 mg/kg coated lysozyme to the diet significantly increased the total protein (TP) and globulin (Glob) plasma levels of weaned piglets (p < 0.05). Supplementation with 500 mg/kg coated lysozyme significantly increased the serum IgM concentration and increased lipase activity in the duodenum (p < 0.05). The addition of coated lysozyme and lysozyme significantly decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, while the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels all increased (p < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing results showed that CL-H treatment effectively improved the intestinal microbiome. The relative abundance of Terrisporobacter in the CL-H and CL-M groups was significantly lower than that in the other groups (p < 0.05). LEfSe analysis results showed that the relative abundance of Coprococcus_3 was higher in the CL-M treatment group. The marker species added to the CL-H treatment group was Anaerofilum. In summary, as a potential substitute for feed antibiotics, lysozyme is directly used as a dietary additive, which is inefficient. Therefore, we used palm oil as the main coating material to coat lysozyme. Lysozyme after coating can more effectively improve the growth performance of piglets by improving the intestinal flora, improving the activity of digestive enzymes, reducing the damage to intestinal permeability and oxidative stress in piglets caused by weaning stress, and improving the immunity of piglets.
Melatonin as an Antimicrobial Adjuvant and Anti-Inflammatory for the Management of Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection
Authors: Sutton S. Scott , Magagnoli Joseph , Cummings Tammy H. , Hardin James W.
Published: October 2022

Background: Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) is strongly associated with inflammation and has the potential to cause recurrent infections. Pre-clinical data suggest that melatonin has beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. This analysis examines the association between melatonin and the risk of recurrent CDI. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among patients with an inpatient diagnosis of CDI along with a positive C. difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test result. Patients were followed until the first study end point (death) or the first instance of recurrent infection. Propensity-score weighting was utilized accounting for confounding factors and weighted Cox models were estimated. Results: A total of 24,782 patients met the inclusion criteria, consisting of 3457 patients exposed to melatonin and 21,325 patients with no melatonin exposure. The results demonstrate that those exposed to melatonin were associated with a 21.6% lower risk of recurrent CDI compared to patients without melatonin exposure (HR = 0.784; 95% CI = 0.674–0.912). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate a decreased rate of recurrent CDI in patients exposed to melatonin. Further research on melatonin as an antimicrobial adjuvant and anti-inflammatory is warranted for the management of recurrent CDI.
The Antimicrobial Peptide AMP-17 Derived from Musca domestica Inhibits Biofilm Formation and Eradicates Mature Biofilm in Candida albicans
Authors: Sun Chaoqin , Zhao Xinyu , Jiao Zhenglong , Peng Jian , Zhou Luoxiong , Yang Longbing , Huang Mingjiao , Tian Chunren , Guo Guo
Published: October 2022

The biofilm formation of C. albicans represents a major virulence factor during candidiasis. Biofilm-mediated drug resistance has necessitated the search for a new antifungal treatment strategy. In our previous study, a novel antimicrobial peptide named AMP-17 derived from Musca domestica was confirmed to have significant antifungal activity and suppress hyphal growth greatly in C. albicans. In the current work, we aimed to investigate the antibiofilm property of AMP-17 in C. albicans and explore the underlying mechanism. An antifungal susceptibility assay showed that AMP-17 exerted a strong inhibitory efficacy on both biofilm formation and preformed biofilms in C. albicans. Furthermore, AMP-17 was found to block the yeast-to-hypha transition and inhibit the adhesion of biofilm cells with a reduction in cellular surface hydrophobicity. A morphological analysis revealed that AMP-17 indeed suppressed typical biofilm formation and damaged the structures of the preformed biofilm. The RNA-seq showed that the MAPK pathway, biosynthesis of antibiotics, and essential components of the cell were mainly enriched in the biofilm-forming stage, while the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), phenylamine metabolism, and propanoate metabolism were enriched after the biofilm matured. Moreover, the co-expressed DEGs in the two pairwise comparisons highlighted the terms of transmembrane transporter activity, regulation of filamentation, and biofilm formation as important roles in the antibiofilm effect of AMP-17. Additionally, qRT-PCR confirmed that the level of the genes involved in cell adhesion, filamentous growth, MAPK, biofilm matrix, and cell dispersal was correspondingly altered after AMP-17 treatment. Overall, our findings reveal the underlying antibiofilm mechanisms of AMPs in C. albicans, providing an interesting perspective for the development of effective antifungal agents with antibiofilm efficacy in Candida spp.
Pomegranate Extract Potentiates the Anti-Demineralizing, Anti-Biofilm, and Anti-Inflammatory Actions of Non-Alcoholic Mouthwash When Associated with Sodium-Fluoride Trimetaphosphate
Authors: Fernandes Gabriela Lopes , Vieira Ana Paula Miranda , Danelon Marcelle , Emerenciano Nayara Gonçalves , Berretta Andresa Aparecida , Buszinski Andrei Felipe Moreira , Hori Juliana Issa , Lima Mikhael Haruo Fernandes de , Reis Thaila Fernanda dos , Lima Jessica Aparecida de , Delbem Alberto Carlos Botazzo , Silva Sónia Carina Morais da , Barbosa Debora Barros
Published: October 2022

This study investigated the anti-caries and anti-inflammatory effects of mouthwash formulations containing Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel extract (PPE), sodium-trimetaphosphate, and low concentrations of fluoride. PPE was characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (ellagic acid and punicalagin). Total phenolics were quantified among formulations, and their stability was analyzed for 28 days. The formulation effects were evaluated as follows: (1) inorganic component concentration and reduced demineralization on bovine enamel blocks subjected to pH cycling; (2) anti-biofilm effect on dual-biofilms of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 treated for 1 and 10 min, respectively; and (3) cytotoxicity and production of inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). The formulation containing 3% PPE, 0.3% sodium-trimetaphosphate, and 225 ppm of fluoride resulted in a 34.5% surface hardness loss; a 13% (treated for 1 min) and 36% (treated for 10 min) biofilm reduction in S. mutans; a 26% (1 min) and 36% (10 min) biofilm reduction in C. albicans; absence of cytotoxicity; and anti-inflammatory activity confirmed by decreased interleukin-6 production in mouse macrophages. Thus, our results provide a promising prospect for the development of an alcohol-free commercial dental product with the health benefits of P. granatum that have been recognized for a millennium.
Review of the Mechanisms by Which Transcription Factors and Exogenous Substances Regulate ROS Metabolism under Abiotic Stress
Authors: Liu Peng , Wu Xiaolei , Gong Binbin , Lü Guiyun , Li Jingrui , Gao Hongbo
Published: October 2022

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are signaling molecules that regulate many biological processes in plants. However, excess ROS induced by biotic and abiotic stresses can destroy biological macromolecules and cause oxidative damage to plants. As the global environment continues to deteriorate, plants inevitably experience abiotic stress. Therefore, in-depth exploration of ROS metabolism and an improved understanding of its regulatory mechanisms are of great importance for regulating cultivated plant growth and developing cultivars that are resilient to abiotic stresses. This review presents current research on the generation and scavenging of ROS in plants and summarizes recent progress in elucidating transcription factor-mediated regulation of ROS metabolism. Most importantly, the effects of applying exogenous substances on ROS metabolism and the potential regulatory mechanisms at play under abiotic stress are summarized. Given the important role of ROS in plants and other organisms, our findings provide insights for optimizing cultivation patterns and for improving plant stress tolerance and growth regulation.
Steganalysis of Context-Aware Image Steganography Techniques Using Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Agarwal Saurabh , Kim Cheonshik , Jung Ki-Hyun
Published: October 2022

Image steganography is applied to hide some secret information. Occasionally, steganography is used for malicious purposes to hide inappropriate information. In this paper, a new deep neural network was proposed to detect context-aware steganography techniques. In the proposed scheme, a high-boost filter was applied to alleviate the high-frequency while retaining the low-frequency details. The high-boost image was processed by thirty SRM high-pass filters to obtain thirty high-boost SRM filtered images. In the proposed CNN, two skip connections were used to collect information from multiple connections simultaneously. A clipped ReLU layer was considered in spite of the general ReLU layer. In constructing the CNN, a bottleneck approach was followed for an effective convolution. Only a single global average pooling layer was used to retain the complete flow of information. SVM was utilized instead of the softmax classifier to improve the detection accuracy. In the experimental results, the proposed technique was better than the existing techniques in terms of the detection accuracy and computational cost. The proposed scheme was verified on BOWS2 and BOSSBase datasets for the HILL, S-UNIWARD, and WOW context-aware steganography algorithms.
Enhancing the Stability and Placement Accuracy of BIM Model Projections for Augmented Reality-Based Site Management of Infrastructure Projects
Authors: Yu Youngsu , Jeon Haein , Koo Bonsang
Published: October 2022

The utilization of Building Information Modeling (BIM) on-site has been limited due to the lack of an appropriate medium for visualizing and accessing models and project data intuitively in the field. AROS, an Augmented Reality-based site management system, was developed to allow the visual projection of BIM models and relevant data directly to field personnel. Detailed field experiments with inspection experts revealed specific issues with the stability and accurate placement of model projections in AROS. Projection stability was improved by reducing the number of triangle meshes of the model to relieve the need for processing power. Investigations revealed that simplification rates of 40% and 20% were optimal for rectilinear and curvilinear components, respectively. Projection placement was improved by implementing a hybrid of target anchoring methods. Specifically, ARWorldMap was used to add additional anchor points, which were identified from the topologies of the structure and surrounding planes. Post-evaluations demonstrated increased stability and reductions in displacement errors. The formalizations provide measures for using AR and BIM models when applying these technologies to large-scale civil infrastructure projects.
Road Extraction Based on Improved Convolutional Neural Networks with Satellite Images
Authors: He Lei , Peng Bo , Tang Dan , Li Yuxia
Published: October 2022

Deep learning has been applied in various fields for its effective and accurate feature learning capabilities in recent years. Currently, information extracted from remote sensing images with the learning methods has become the most relevant research area for its developed precision. In terms of developing segmentation precision and reducing calculation power consumption, the improved deep learning methods have received more attention, and the improvement of semantic segmentation architectures has been a popular solution. This research presents a learning method named D-DenseNet with a new structure for road extraction. The methods for the improvement are divided into two stages: (1) alternate the consecutive dilated convolutions number in the structure of the network (2) the stem block is arranged as the initial block. So, dilated convolution can obtain more global context information through the whole network. Further, the D-DenseNet restructures D-LinkNet by taking DenseNet as its backbone instead of ResNet, which can expand the receptive field and accept more feature information. The D-DenseNet is effective because of its 119 M model size and 57.96% IoU on the processing test data and 99.3 M modes size and 66.26% on the public dataset, which achieved the research objective for reducing model size and developing segmentation precision—IoU. The experiment indicates that the D-Dense block and the stem block are effective for developing road extraction, and the appropriate number of convolution layers is also essential for model evaluation.
Investigation of the Mechanical Behaviour of Lingulid Sandstone Emphasising the Influence from Pre-Existing Structural Defects, Part 1: Model Identification Based on Static Experiments
Authors: Forquin Pascal , Saadati Mahdi , Saletti Dominique , Lukic Bratislav , Schiaffini Frederico , Weddfelt Kenneth , Larsson Per-Lennart
Published: October 2022

A constitutive model able to describe both tensile damage and plastic deformation under confinement is a prerequisite to numerically simulate the behaviour of sandstone rock under an impact loading induced in a percussive drilling process. Therefore, model identification under both tensile and high confinement states is needed. In the present work, an experimental investigation was carried out in order to determine the mechanical properties of a sandstone rock for the purpose of advanced constitutive model identification. Different testing methods were used in quasistatic and dynamic loading regimes. This first part of the study is dedicated to static experiments, whereby three-point bend tests were first performed to evaluate the quasistatic tensile strength of the rock and its distribution by employing the Weibull statistics. Secondly, direct compression tests were conducted to evaluate the stiffness and strength in an unconfined condition. Afterwards, quasioedometric compression (QOC) tests were carried out in order to obtain the deviatoric and volumetric behaviours of the material as a function of the hydrostatic pressure (up to 375 MPa). In these QOC tests, the metallic confinement cell was instrumented with strain gauges to deduce the state of the stress and strain within the sample. A linear volumetric response along with a continuous increase of strength with the level of hydrostatic pressure was observed. This experimental work points out that, under unconfined loading (three-point bending and uniaxial compression), pre-existing structural defects play a major role leading to a highly scattered behaviour in terms of sample stiffness and ultimate applied load. On the other hand, under high confinement levels (QOC tests), beyond the nonlinear response of the curve foot, the influence from structural defects was observed to be small.
Intelligent Control of Robotic Arm Using Brain Computer Interface and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Arshad Jehangir , Qaisar Adan , Rehman Atta-Ur , Shakir Mustafa , Nazir Muhammad Kamran , Rehman Ateeq Ur , Eldin Elsayed Tag , Ghamry Nivin A. , Hamam Habib
Published: October 2022

The combination of signal processing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the robotics and automation industry by the deployment of intelligent systems and reducing human intervention. Reading human brain signal through electroencephalography (EEG) has provided a new direction of research that automate machines through the human brain and computer interface or Brain–Computer Interface (BCI). The study is also inspired by the same concept of intelligently controlling a robotic arm using BCI and AI to help physically disabled individuals. The proposed system is non-invasive, unlike existing technologies that provide a reliable comparison of different AI-based classification algorithms. This paper also predicts a reliable bandwidth for the BCI process and provides exact placements of EEG electrodes to verify different arm moments. We have applied different classification algorithms, i.e., Random Forest, KNN, Gradient Boosting, Logistic Regression, SVM, and Decision Tree, to four different users. The accuracy of all prescribed classifiers has been calculated by considering the first user as a reference. The presented results validate the novel deployment, and the comparison shows that the accuracy for Random Forest remained optimal at around 76%, Gradient Boosting is around 74%, while the lowest is 64% for Decision Tree. It has been observed that people have different activation bandwidths while the dominant frequency varies from person-to-person that causes fluctuations in the EEG dataset.
Reconstruction Optimization Algorithm of 3D Temperature Distribution Based on Tucker Decomposition
Authors: Liu Zhaoyu , Liu Shi , Zhang Yaofang , Yao Pengbo
Published: October 2022

For the purpose of solving the large temperature field reconstruction error caused by different measuring point arrangements and the problem that the prior dataset cannot be built due to data loss or distortion in actual measurement, a three-dimensional temperature profile reconstruction optimization algorithm is proposed to repair the empirical dataset and optimize the arrangement of temperature measuring points based on Tucker decomposition, the minimum condition number method, the greedy algorithm, and the hill climbing algorithm. We used the Tucker decomposition algorithm to repair the missing data and obtain the complete prior dataset and the core tensor. By optimizing the dimension of the core tensor and the number and position of the measuring points calculated by the minimum condition number method, the greedy algorithm, and the mountain climbing algorithm, the real-time three-dimensional distribution of the temperature field is reconstructed. The results show that the Tucker decomposition optimization algorithm could accurately complete the prior dataset, and compared with the original algorithm, the proposed optimal placement algorithm improves the reconstruction accuracy by more than 20%. At the same time, the algorithm has strong robustness and anti-noise, and the relative error is less than 4.0% and 6.0% with different signal-to-noise ratios. It indicates that the proposed method can solve the problem of building an empirical dataset and 3D temperature distribution reconstruction more accurately and stably in industry.
Vickers Hardness Value Test via Multi-Task Learning Convolutional Neural Networks and Image Augmentation
Authors: Cheng Wan-Shu , Chen Guan-Ying , Shih Xin-Yen , Elsisi Mahmoud , Tsai Meng-Hsiu , Dai Hong-Jie
Published: October 2022

Hardness testing is an essential test in the metal manufacturing industry, and Vickers hardness is one of the most widely used hardness measurements today. The computer-assisted Vickers hardness test requires manually generating indentations for measurement, but the process is tedious and the measured results may depend on the operator’s experience. In light of this, this paper proposes a data-driven approach based on convolutional neural networks to measure the Vickers hardness value directly from the image of the specimen to get rid of the aforementioned limitations. Multi-task learning is introduced in the proposed network to improve the accuracy of Vickers hardness measurement. The metal material used in this paper is medium-carbon chromium-molybdenum alloy steel (SCM 440), which is commonly utilized in automotive industries because of its corrosion resistance, high temperature, and tensile strength. However, the limited samples of SCM 440 and the tedious manual measurement procedure represent the main challenge to collect sufficient data for training and evaluation of the proposed methods. In this regard, this study introduces a new image mixing method to augment the dataset. The experimental results show that the mean absolute error between the Vickers hardness value output by the proposed network architecture can be 10.2 and the value can be further improved to 7.6 if the multi-task learning method is applied. Furthermore, the robustness of the proposed method is confirmed by evaluating the developed models with an additional 59 unseen images provided by specialists for testing, and the experimental results provide evidence to support the reliability and usability of the proposed methods.
Design of a Low-Cost, Low-Sidelobe-Level, Differential-Fed SIW Slot Array Antenna with Zero Beam Squint
Authors: Trinh Thai Van , Trinh-Van Son , Lee Kang-Yoon , Yang Youngoo , Hwang Keum Cheol
Published: October 2022

This paper presents a low-cost, low-sidelobe-level, differential-fed, substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW)-based slot array antenna with zero beam squint. The antenna consists of two identical six-way unequal power dividers (PDs) and a 6 × 16 slot array and is realized on a single-layer substrate. The six-way unequal PD provides tapered amplitude and in-phase excitation for six SIWs, and each of them has 16 radiating slots. The 1 × 16 linear slot array on each SIW is excited using a differential feed to avoid undesired beam squinting across its operating band. A two-way hybrid waveguide (WG)-to-SIW E-plane PD is developed to provide equal amplitude and out-of-phase excitation for two six-way unequal power dividers. Moreover, metallic decoupling walls are implemented between two adjacent linear slot arrays to reduce E-plane external mutual coupling. An antenna prototype is fabricated and experimentally verified. The fabricated antenna shows that the measured −10 dB reflection bandwidth is 7.15% (9.57–10.28 GHz), with the achieved gain ranging from 20.30 to 21.92 dBi. A stable boresight beam is observed over the entire operating band. Furthermore, at the designed frequency of 10 GHz, peak SLLs of −29.1 dB and −29.4 dB are achieved in the E- and H-plane, respectively.
Genetic Characterization in Familial Rotator Cuff Tear: An Exome Sequencing Study
Authors: Azzarà Alessia , Risi Ambrogioni Laura , Cassano Ilaria , Lintas Carla , Longo Umile Giuseppe , Denaro Vincenzo , Gurrieri Fiorella
Published: October 2022

Background: multiple gene variants seem to contribute to rotator cuff (RC) tear susceptibility. The aim of the study is to perform an exome sequencing analysis within a family to identify rare gene variants predisposing to the development of RC tear. Material and methods: the exome sequencing was conducted in a family consisting of four individuals, two healthy and the remaining ones with bilateral RC tears. Variants in common among the two affected subjects were selected, and those in common with the healthy subject and those with a frequency >1% were removed. The potential pathogenicity of the variants was investigated using the predictions of several in silico tools from VarSome. Results: the exome sequencing yielded approximately 600,000 variants per patient, subsequently filtered according to frequency <1% and absence of association with other diseases. Removing variants common with the healthy subject, 348 rare variants among 248 genes were identified. Based on the risk of damaging, three candidate genes for RC tear were found: COL23A1, EMILIN3, and HDAC10. Conclusion: this is the first whole-exome sequencing analysis within a family to explore genetic predisposition in RC tear. The results reveal the presence of common damaging variants among affected individuals in the COL23A1, EMILIN3, and HDAC10 genes.
Insulin-like Growth Factor-2 (IGF-2) in Fibrosis
Authors: Zhu Yuhan , Chen Lin , Song Binyu , Cui Zhiwei , Chen Guo , Yu Zhou , Song Baoqiang
Published: October 2022

The insulin family consists of insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2), their receptors (IR, IGF-1R and IGF-2R), and their binding proteins. All three ligands are involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, protein synthesis and metabolism due to their homologous sequences and structural similarities. Insulin-like growth factor 2, a member of the insulin family, plays an important role in embryonic development, metabolic disorders, and tumorigenesis by combining with three receptors with different degrees of affinity. The main pathological feature of various fibrotic diseases is the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) after tissue and organ damage, which eventually results in organic dysfunction because scar formation replaces tissue parenchyma. As a mitogenic factor, IGF-2 is overexpressed in many fibrotic diseases. It can promote the proliferation of fibroblasts significantly, as well as the production of ECM in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This review aims to describe the expression changes and fibrosis-promoting effects of IGF-2 in the skin, oral cavity, heart, lung, liver, and kidney fibrotic tissues.
Sequence Properties of an Intramolecular Interaction that Inhibits p53 DNA Binding
Authors: Gregory Emily , Daughdrill Gary W.
Published: October 2022

An intramolecular interaction between the p53 transactivation and DNA binding domains inhibits DNA binding. To study this autoinhibition, we used a fragment of p53, referred to as ND WT, containing the N-terminal transactivation domains (TAD1 and TAD2), a proline rich region (PRR), and the DNA binding domain (DBD). We mutated acidic, nonpolar, and aromatic amino acids in TAD2 to disrupt the interaction with DBD and measured the effects on DNA binding affinity at different ionic strengths using fluorescence anisotropy. We observed a large increase in DNA binding affinity for the mutants consistent with reduced autoinhibition. The ΔΔG between DBD and ND WT for binding a consensus DNA sequence is −3.0 kcal/mol at physiological ionic strength. ΔΔG increased to −1.03 kcal/mol when acidic residues in TAD2 were changed to alanine (ND DE) and to −1.13 kcal/mol when all the nonpolar residues, including W53/F54, were changed to alanine (ND NP). These results indicate there is some cooperation between acidic, nonpolar, and aromatic residues from TAD2 to inhibit DNA binding. The dependence of DNA binding affinity on ionic strength was used to predict excess counterion release for binding both consensus and scrambled DNA sequences, which was smaller for ND WT and ND NP with consensus DNA and smaller for scrambled DNA overall. Using size exclusion chromatography, we show that the ND mutants have similar Stokes radii to ND WT suggesting the mutants disrupt autoinhibition without changing the global structure.
Setting the Stage for Insulin Granule Dysfunction during Type-1-Diabetes: Is ER Stress the Culprit?
Authors: Makam Aishwarya A. , Biswas Anusmita , Kothegala Lakshmi , Gandasi Nikhil R.
Published: October 2022

Type-1-diabetes (T1D) is a multifactorial disorder with a global incidence of about 8.4 million individuals in 2021. It is primarily classified as an autoimmune disorder, where the pancreatic β-cells are unable to secrete sufficient insulin. This leads to elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). The development of T1D is an intricate interplay between various risk factors, such as genetic, environmental, and cellular elements. In this review, we focus on the cellular elements, such as ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress and its consequences for T1D pathogenesis. One of the major repercussions of ER stress is defective protein processing. A well-studied example is that of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), which is known to form cytotoxic amyloid plaques when misfolded. This review discusses the possible association between ER stress, IAPP, and amyloid formation in β-cells and its consequences in T1D. Additionally, ER stress also leads to autoantigen generation. This is driven by the loss of Ca++ ion homeostasis. Imbalanced Ca++ levels lead to abnormal activation of enzymes, causing post-translational modification of β-cell proteins. These modified proteins act as autoantigens and trigger the autoimmune response seen in T1D islets. Several of these autoantigens are also crucial for insulin granule biogenesis, processing, and release. Here, we explore the possible associations between ER stress leading to defects in insulin secretion and ultimately β-cell destruction.
A Systematic Review of Atopic Dermatitis: The Intriguing Journey Starting from Physiopathology to Treatment, from Laboratory Bench to Bedside
Authors: Radi Giulia , Campanti Anna , Diotallevi Federico , Martina Emanuela , Marani Andrea , Offidani Annamaria
Published: October 2022

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated skin disease with a complex pathophysiology and still represents a therapeutic challenge, owing to limited responses to available treatments. However, recent advances in the understanding of AD pathophysiology have led to the discovery of several new potential therapeutic targets, and research in the field of new molecules with therapeutic perspectives is boiling, with more than 70 new promising drugs in development. The aim of this systematic review is to provide the state of the art on the current knowledge concerning the pathophysiology of the disease and on novel agents currently being investigated for AD, and to highlight which type of evolution is going to take place in therapeutic approaches of atopic dermatitis in the coming years.
The Role of Extra-Operative Cortical Stimulation and Mapping in the Surgical Management of Intracranial Gliomas
Authors: Fountas Kostas N. , Brotis Alexandros , Paschalis Thanasis , Kapsalaki Eftychia
Published: October 2022

Background: Aggressive resection without compromising the patient’s neurological status remains a significant challenge in treating intracranial gliomas. Our current study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of extra-operative stimulation and mapping via implanted subdural electrodes with or without depth (EOCSM), offering an alternative approach when awake mapping is contraindicated. Methods: Fifty-one patients undergoing EOCSM for glioma resection in our institution formed the sample study of our current retrospective study. We assessed the effectiveness and safety of our approach by measuring the extent of resection and recording the periprocedural complications, respectively. Results: The mean age of our participants was 58 years (±9.4 years). The lesion was usually located on the left side (80.4%) and affected the frontal lobe (51.0%). EOCSM was successful in 94.1% of patients. The stimulation and electrode implantation procedures lasted for a median of 2.0 h and 75 h, respectively. Stimulation-induced seizures and CSF leakage occurred in 13.7% and 5.9% of our cases. The mean extent of resection was 91.6%, whereas transient dysphasia occurred in 21.6% and transient hemiparesis in 5.9% of our patients, respectively. Conclusions: Extraoperative stimulation and mapping constitute a valid alternative mapping option in glioma patients who cannot undergo an awake craniotomy.
Triangulation Method to Assess Indoor Environmental Conditions and Occupant Comfort and Productivity towards Low Energy Buildings in Malaysia
Authors: Al-Sabahi Mohammed Hatim , Ismail Muhammad Azzam , Alashwal Ali Mohammed , Al-Obaidi Karam M.
Published: October 2022

Saving energy and cutting costs without compromising indoor comfort conditions are challenging, especially in hot and humid regions such as Malaysia. This study explores a new approach to reducing energy consumption without compromising staff comfort in office buildings. This study aims to develop a method for lowering Building Energy Index (BEI) and maintaining acceptable indoor conditions while increasing productivity in office buildings. A developed triangulation method using Building Use Studies (BUS) for evaluating occupant satisfaction, physical measurements, and simulation modelling was implemented to measure indoor performance in an office building. The results indicated that enhancing six variables of building conditions managed to improve occupant satisfaction by 44%. Hence, the productivity of staff in the building increased by 16%. The findings demonstrated that a reduction of 3 h in the operating times of chillers while an increase in chillers’ temperature by 1.5 °C maintained an acceptable indoor environment and reduced the building’s BEI to 89.48 kWh/m2/year, with an energy saving of 21.51%, turning the case study into a low energy building.