bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of rootstock on the quality of sweet cherry fruits in the conditions of the Lower Volga region
Authors: Nikolskay OA , Solonkin A V , Kikteva E N
Published: November 2021

Sweet cherry is a thermophilic and whimsical crop that reacts painfully to unfavorable meteorological conditions, such as frost, drought or high humidity in the air and soil. At the same time, this crop requires a uniform supply of heat and moisture during the growing season. In the climatic conditions of the Volgograd region, stressful situations often arise that can partially or completely reduce the yield of fruit crops, especially those introduced to our region from other regions. To reduce the risk of losing the yield of fruit plantations, including sweet cherry, it is necessary to pay special attention to the choice of the variety, as well as the rootstock on which this variety is grafted. The publication presents the results of studying the influence of rootstocks on the qualitative and quantitative indicators of sweet cherry fruits, such as taste, weight, uniformity, color, and productivity. According to the results of the study in the field (in the garden), varietal-rootstock combinations were identified that have one-dimensional, crack-resistant, large fruits, while maintaining high and stable productivity. According to the results of research, it was found that the rootstock affects not only the strength of growth and the shape of the crown, but also the quality of the fruit. The most dependent of the studied varieties on the type of rootstock is Euphoria, the lowest weight of berries was observed on the rootstock VSL-1. At the same time, this rootstock has a higher percentage of resistance to cracking of the fruit. Based on the conducted research, it can be concluded that with the help of rootstock, it becomes possible to influence the quality indicators of fruits.
The combining ability of self-pollinated lines of the red beet(Beta vulgaris L)
Authors: Timakova L N , Khovrin A N , Dolgopolova M A
Published: November 2021

The proper choice of starting material determines the results of the selection. If the starting forms of plants are not fit for crossing and do not match the goals set or the soil and climate conditions available, any selection work may prove futile. The creation of new starting material is based on the study of the existing varieties and the selection of the best biotypes, as well as the assessment of a set of biological and economically valuable parameters of breeding. Inbreeding is the most widely used method of obtaining new starting material, especially homozygous lines, and it plays a key role in heterosis selection programs for the majority of agricultural crops. The use of beet heterosis allows for a significant increase in homogeneity, quality, and marketability of the produce. In 2018-2020, nine samples of red beet starting material were assessed. Using the polycross methods, we assessed the general combining ability of self-pollinated red beet lines across the parameters determining the commercial properties of this root crop: the proportion of the root crop top in its diameter, the share of leaves in the plant biomass, and regularity of shape and marketability. The subject matter of this work is the lines of red beet with round root crops. Research material includes the raw data from field measurements and records. We used the Kestrel F1 hybrid variety released for Central Russia. Field tests were carried out using the uniform procedures set out by the All-Russian Horticultural Research Institute - a branch of the Federal Research Center for Horticulture from Moscow Oblast. At the experimental locations, we used the agricultural practices typical of the region. Using the properties - the small proportion of the root crop top (42.1-47%) and the share of leaves in the biomass (24.1-27.5%), high regularity of root crop shape (up to 85.6%), and marketability (88.3-95.9%) - we determined the following lines: 506 I2, 507 I2.
Puree from apple and carrot refuse, boiled with starch syrup, in marshmallow technology
Authors: Perfilova OV , Blinnikova O M , Suhareva T N , Popova E I , Bryksina K V
Published: November 2021

For modern society, diseases associated with malnutrition are increasingly common. There is an urgent task of saturating the consumer market with products for a healthy diet, which are balanced in nutritional substances and contain essential nutrients, including confectionery. The article proves that in the production of marshmallows for solving this problem, it is possible to successfully use a puree from apple and carrot refuse, boiled with starch syrup. This technological solution improves organoleptic quality indicators and increases the content of flavonoids, beta-carotene and dietary fiber in the finished product.
Investigation of interrelations in chemical substances content of different fruit varieties
Authors: Butenko A I , Yu Akimov M , Zhbanova E V , Koltsov V A , Protasova N V
Published: November 2021

The main task of the investigation was to study the interrelations and to single out the sustainable clusters which reflect the content of different chemical substances in fruit, but have a tendency of slight correlation between each other. All these should become a base for definition of combination of fruits and berries containing a balanced set of useful compounds. It will help to make a composition of special food production. More than 170 fruit varieties of 13 fruit and berry like crops (apple, pear, apricot, plum, cherry, strawberry, black currant, red currant, viburnum, sea-buckhorn, honeysuckle) were studied for chemical indices content in their fruits and berries. The composition of chemical substances was chosen takng into account the specific features of all the investigated crops (dietary fiber, ascorbic acid, malic acid, citric acid, glucose, fructose, sucrose, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn). In order to study the correlation of the substances in the content, the principal component analysis was applied. As a result of the research, five clusters of the interrelated characters were singled out, these ones were linked to the first 5 the most important principal components. These components account for 78.23% of total variability of traits. The first component which accounts for 25.46% of total variability of traits is closely correlated with dietary fiber and organic acids content. The second component which accounts for 18.20% of total variability is closely connected with Ca, Fe, Zn content. The third component is correlated with Na, K, fructose and glucose contents.
Quick freezing of garden strawberries to obtain biologically active ingredients
Authors: Blinnikova O M , Novikova I M , Perfilova O V , Blinnikova D A
Published: November 2021

The results of the comparative analysis of the effectiveness of modern technologies for freezing strawberries showed their prospects and the need to use them to obtain biologically active ingredients of diets. The optimal mode of freezing of garden strawberries was established, which contributed to the greatest extent to the preservation of the original qualitative characteristics of berries - 35 °C below zero, followed by low-temperature storage at a temperature of 18 °C below zero. The authors established the correlation between the amount of juice loss and changes in the organoleptic characteristics of defrosted berries. The regression equations were obtained that characterized the change in cryoresistance and complex organoleptic assessment from the duration of low-temperature storage of frozen berries. The optimal shelf life of frozen berries was 12 months.
Increasing efficiency of honey extracting through innovative technology as exemplified by a small agricultural producer
Authors: Grekov A N , Grekova N S , Solomakhin M A , Lykhin D A , Levina M V
Published: November 2021

Honey and wax production in Russia is considered a traditional branch of agriculture, which enables to produce valuable biologically active food for the population and raw materials for the industry. Many sources speak for a rapid annual decrease in the number of bees. One of the factors in reducing the number of bees is a somewhat tough way of collecting honey, in which a small percentage of the hive dies. The paper discusses the possibility of using innovative Australian FlowHive technology designed to allow honey to flow down freely. With this technology, honey is extracted without disturbing the bees as in normal extraction. The pivotal technological secret of a FlowHive beehive is durable plastic mobile honeycombs. By turning a special knob, the vertical gaps are offset by one half of a cell, allowing the honey to flow down through the cells into a channel at the base of each frame and out into a collection vessel. The paper presents a set of data for calculating the effectiveness of innovative beehives in small agricultural production. It establishes that, once applied, innovative hives not only increase profits, but also decrease costs for basic production.
Investigating natural cooling of piled sugar beet
Authors: Zavrazhnov A I , Zazulya A N , Vedishchev S M , Tolstoshein S S , Koltsov S M
Published: November 2021

The paper examines the processes of natural cooling of a medium-storage pile containing 3,650 tons of sugar beets. Adiabatic cooling and related processes are established to have a predominant effect on reducing the temperature in the pile while in storage. Piled sugar beet is cooled due to some natural water evaporation from the surface of sugar beets, followed by moisture saturation of the outside air. Such cooling leads to an uncontrolled decrease in the quality of beets, which has negative implications during further processing. A formula is presented for calculating post-harvest yield loss in sugar beets piled with one slope being across the prevailing wind.
Technology of using herbal ingredients for whey sauce
Authors: Gracheva N A , Skorkina I A
Published: November 2021

The study aims to provide high-quality and nutritious food products. The use of processed products of curd whey and herbal ingredients, in particular parsnips, in the development of recipe-component solutions for new structured products is advisable, since it enables not only to expand the range but also to combine the valuable nutrient composition and unique properties of these components, obtain a product of high nutritional and biological value. The authors have developed a resource-saving technology and investigated the qualitative composition of fermented milk sauce.
Influence of drying methods on preservation of biologically active substances of garden strawberries being raw material for food enrichment
Authors: Novikova I M , Blinnikova O M , Eliseeva L G , Blinnikova D A
Published: November 2021

At present, the preservation of the consumer properties of berry products is an urgent problem. Use of fresh garden strawberries is limited by a short storage period and seasonality. Under optimal storage conditions in a normal atmosphere, the average shelf life of strawberries is from 2 to 9 days depending on the variety. To meet the needs of the population in garden strawberries and meet the physiological needs in a unique complex of biologically active substances, strawberries are subjected to different processing methods. Drying being a type of fruit and berry products processing has the following advantages: a significant increase in the shelf life of products, a decrease in the mass and storage volumes of dried berries, preservation of minerals, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, antioxidants, bioflavonoids and many biologically active compounds in berries. Modern drying technologies allow preserving the content of essential vitamins to its full extent. Comparison of two technologies for drying garden strawberries has established that vitamins and other biologically active substances are well preserved in berries. Berries dried by convective vacuum-impulse method (CVI) are recommended to be used for food enrichment.
Development of technological solutions for canning small-fruited tomatoes
Authors: Potapova A A , Rodikov S A
Published: November 2021

Small-fruited varieties of tomatoes have high taste and are significantly superior to large-fruited ones. The variety for the production of canned whole-fruit tomatoes primarily influences the shape and size of the fruit, shape index, ratio of the fruit parts, peel, pulp and seeds, peel condition, as well as the content of solids, carotenoids and their composition, which significantly affects the quality and color of the finished product. In this regard, the consumer and technological properties of 7 varieties of small-fruited tomatoes were studied. Based on the results obtained, a well-grounded conclusion was made that new varieties of small-fruited tomatoes are not inferior in terms of the studied indicators to large-fruited ones and can be recommended for expanding the range of a similar type of domestic canned production.
Biochemical value of berries of promising edible honeysuckle varieties for the production of functional food products
Authors: Kirina IB , Titova L V , Popova E I , Grigoreva L V , Khoroshkova Yu V
Published: November 2021

Lonicera edulis L. occupies a special place among sparsely distributed garden crops in the middle horticulture zone of Russia. The main advantages of the culture are its long maturation period, long fruiting period, high plasticity, value of the biochemical composition of berries. The paper presents experimental data on the biochemical composition of honeysuckle berries of the new generation introduced under the conditions of the Central Chernozem Region. Varieties with high levels of soluble dry substances, sugars, ascorbic acid, flavonols are noted. Prospects of obtaining functional food products using fresh honeysuckle fruits are considered. “Honeysuckle” fruit drink and low-calorie jams with high antioxidant activity are obtained.
Milk quality and its technological suitability for processing after the disinfection of the udder teats in cows
Authors: Filatova A V , Bibaeva Yu V , Nistratova M V , Kozlov S V , Molchanov A V , Krasnikov A V
Published: November 2021

Experiments on the study of preclinical evaluation of disinfectants based on chlorhexidine bigluconate hydrochloride / aloe tree oil (CGB aloe) and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride / eucalyptus oil (Teasfoam Supercow) showed their low hazard when exposed to warm-blooded animals. Disinfectants are assigned to the fourth hazard class according to GOST 12.1.007-76. The concentration of Staph. aureus, Strep. agalactiae was lower when teats were immersed in Teasfoam Supercow disinfectant solution before and after milking, compared to untreated teats. It is concluded that the application of CGB aloe is very efficient against Staph. aureus, Strep. Agalactiae, E. coli and Strep. uberis. Based on the results of scientific and economic experience, it can be concluded that controlled disinfection of the udder teats with a disinfectant CGB aloe before and after milking cows with high milk yield does not prevent udder teat hyperkeratosis in 2.4% of animals. In addition, subclinical mastitis is diagnosed in 12.1%; 3.3% of cows during the disinfection of the udder teats with Teasfoam Supercow were diagnosed hyperkeratosis of the udder teats. Another 12.9% of animals had subclinical mastitis. Udder teats of control animals were not disinfected. Udder hyperkeratosis was diagnosed in 5.4% of cows. Another 26.5% of the animals fell ill with subclinical mastitis. In cows, after controlled disinfection of the udder teats, an increase in milk production by 1-2 liters was observed. No color, taste or odor changes were observed in the milk. It has been proven that teats disinfection reduces the number of bacteria on the teats skin, improves the sanitary milk quality and its manufacturability.
Kefir and ayran – traditional fermented products of Russia
Authors: Kaledina M V , Popenko V P , Shevchenko N P , Chuev S A
Published: November 2021

The objective of this study was to determine antibacterial activity two traditional fermented milk products from Russia: kefir and ayran. Freshly prepared kefir and ayran was diluted 1/10 with nutrient broth and inoculated with pathogens (log10 5.5-6.5 initial) Escherichia coli EPEC 8621, VTEC 12900VT, Staphylococcus aureus 8632, Clostridia difficile 13832 and Salmonella Typhimurium LT2 and incubated for 24 h at 370C. Growth of all pathogens was suppressed by kefir and ayran with decrease in viable count below the initial value being seen in the cases of kefir and ayran vs Staphylococcus aureus and kefir vs Salmonella typhimurium. In addition, the influence of novel, potential prebiotics, lactitol and chitozan succinate, added to fermented products on antibacterial effect was studied. We concluded that both additives had no additional effect on the antibacterial activity of the fermented products.
Quality control in the production process of sunflower oil
Authors: Kleymenova N L , Nazina L I , Bolgova I N , Pegina A N , Orlovseva O A
Published: November 2021

The typical problem of vegetable oil processing is to ensure the consistency of the output quality. The one parameter that mostly affects quality is the presence of wax, which commands control at all stages of the process (refinement, odours removal, freezing). Statistical methods of analysis can be usefully applied to the improvement of vegetable oil processing, as demonstrated by this study. The authors in fact used statistical methods in order to: a) optimize parameters consistency, b) enhance process efficiency, c) improve economic performance and finally, d) assess process stability. The following statistical tools were used in the study: 1) Histograms, 2) Shewhart Charts, 3) Ishikawa Diagrams and, 4) Pareto Chart. A first major finding was that the occurrence of process flaws that would result in product rejection had a 5% probability of happening at all stages of the process. Moreover, the analysis of process stability with maps of average values and ranges leads to the finding that the process itself is statistically unstable. Finally, cause-and-effect relationships of influencing factors (such as the quality of feedstock) were investigated, thus determining the main causes of flaw in the production process. This leads to the definition of corrective actions, the effectiveness of which was then investigated and evaluated.
Formation of structural elements of spring wheat productivity based on foliar application
Authors: Muravyov A A
Published: November 2021

This article provides analyzes of data of long-term production experiments (2016-2020) conducted on peasant farm enterprise Makarenko E.I. located in Volokonovsky district of the Belgorod region. The outcomes of a comprehensive assessment of applying a growth regulator and liquid micronutrient fertilizers on the Prokhorovka spring wheat variety are presented. The available data enabled to draw conclusions concerning the positive effect of the studied growth regulators and liquid micronutrients on the length of the growing season of wheat plants, which on average tended to decrease the growing season of experimental options from 2 to 13 days. Options implying the treatment of seeds and vegetative plants of spring wheat benefited productivity. On average, the spike length was greater by one plant, the number of spikelets and grain content were better than in the control. On average, over five years, the yield in the experiment varied from 2.39 t/ha to 3.04 t/ha, the increments to the control varied from Nerthus Planta Peg – 0.14 t/ha or 5.8% to Polydon N+ – 0.65 t/ha or 27.1%.
Determining the temperature values on the surface of complex curvilinearly bent agricultural machine parts during the formation of powder coatings by thermal methods
Authors: Pukhov E V , Sidorenkov V L , Shchegolev I V
Published: November 2021

The development of modern technologies for the restoration and hardening of agricultural machine parts require the development of a mathematical apparatus that simulates the involved processes. For this purpose, the models should take into account the technological features of the process of hardening and restoration of machine parts, including: cleaning; determination of geometric indicators; surface preparation; choice of technology; subsequent machining of the resulting surface; surface quality control. One of the priority directions in the development of technologies for the restoration and hardening of parts is the formation of coatings on machine parts using powder materials applied by the gas-thermal method. One of the most important conditions for obtaining high-quality coatings is temperature control on the surface of the part. In this regard, it is of scientific interest to study the effect of the distance from the surface of the part to the flame nozzle when applying self-fluxing powder on the time-average temperature at the point of coating, the maximum temperature on the back side of the part, and the total power transferred to the part by the gas burner. This paper presents a mathematical model for determining the above-mentioned influence, and also presents the results obtained using a computer program. The novelty of the model is the ability to use it to study temperature values for complex curved-bent machine parts (crankshafts and camshafts of agricultural machines). To check the reliability of the dependences obtained, experiments were carried out and the convergence with theoretical developments was confirmed.
Substantiation of optimum relative humidity of slurry when applying the batch-type gravity flow system for its removal
Authors: Trifanov A V , Bazykin V I , Plaksin I E , Tikhonov E A , Grigorev I V
Published: November 2021

The batch-type gravity flow system for slurry removal is most commonly installed on the new and reconstructed pig farms. The newly designed system is characterized by the presence of plastic sewing pipes under each slurry-collecting canal. Such a system allows for complete automation of slurry removal and, under proper operation, mitigates the negative impact of pig farms on the environment through the lower annual output of slurry. The paper presents the calculation of the main design parameter of the system, such as the depth of slurry pits and the burial depth of longitudinal and transverse slurry collectors. Under the increase of pig manure humidity from 88% to 90%, the height of the residual layer decreases owing to lower manure shear stress in the part, where the manure moisture content increases. Under the relative humidity above 91%, the height of the residual layer in the pit increases rapidly due to the intensive stratification of slurry into fractions. Thus, the minimum height of the residual layer in the pit is achieved at the relative moisture content of 89-91%. Slurry should be accumulated in the pits to the 3/4 or 4/5 of the height (depth) of the pit. The accumulation period must be a multiple of the operating cycles of housing of various age and gender groups of pigs.
Recycling and disposal of gypsum-containing waste generated in the production of citric acid
Authors: Nikulicheva T B , Nikulin I S , Pilyuk E A , Voropaev V S , Alfimova N I , Nikulichev V B , Saenko M Yu
Published: November 2021

The cycle of citric acid production with the formation of gypsum-containing waste was considered and options for processing and utilization of citrogypsum were proposed. The methods obtained include: the use of citrogypsum in the production of building materials, the extraction of rare earth metals, as well as the creation of a high-quality organic-mineral fertilizer, during the creation of which it is possible to reduce the negative effect not only from the accumulation of citrogypsum, but also from manure stored in the filtration fields. In the future, the resulting fertilizer can be used for reclamation of technologically disturbed territories.
Review of microbiological analysis of water in meat, milk and fish production in the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia & Herzegovina) in the period 2018-2020
Authors: Golic B , Kalaba V , Ilic T , Sladojevic Z
Published: November 2021

Water is essential for life, and a satisfactory supply must be available to all. Improving access to safe drinking water can result in tangible benefits to health. This study analysed samples of water from meat, milk and fish production from Republic of Srpska (Bosnia & Herzegovina) sampled in the period 2018-2020. A total of 390 samples were examined. The aim of the study was to determine the microbiological status of water used in meat, milk and fish production in the republic, in order to identify the risks to food safety. Microbiological testing used methods BAS EN ISO 6222, BAS EN ISO 7899-2 and BAS EN ISO 9308-1/A1. The microbiological status of water used in the production of meat, milk and fish in the Republic of Srpska in the period 2018-2020 has significantly improved compared to previous years. It is important that the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the water is at a low level. However, there are concerns that almost one-fifth of the water comes from wells, which are not under constant surveillance. This is especially important given the possibility of well water contamination and consequent food contamination.
Wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) supercritical extract as antioxidant in precooked pork chops during chilled storage
Authors: Jokanovic M , Ivic M , Skaljac S , Tomovic V , Sojic B , Pavlic B , Ikonic P , Peulic T , Delic J
Published: November 2021

The effect of thyme supercritical extract on oxidative stability of precooked and cold-stored (at 4°C for 6 days) pork chops was analysed. Thyme extract was applied with a marinated process (SF1), or was introduced on the surface of the chops after cooking (SF2). Thyme extract in SF1 samples showed a significant protective effect towards oxidation of lipids during the cooking process. Both processes of thyme application showed potential for lipid oxidation inhibition throughout the refrigerate storage period of precooked pork chops, thus protecting colour and sensory characteristics of the samples. Finally, at the end of storage period, the lowest oxidative changes were determined for SF1chops.
Pork safety – challenges and opportunities
Authors: Karabasil Nedjeljko , Boskovic Tamara , Vasilev Dragan , Betic Nikola , Dimitrijevic Mirjana
Published: November 2021

As pork and pork products represent an important part of the diet, the issue of pork safety and quality has become more prominent. Food safety concerns are shaping consumers’ attitudes toward safe food. The farm and meat sectors aim at producing healthy animals in a protected environment, which is a key point for food/meat safety. The most common biological hazards in the pork production chain are Salmonella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Trichinella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii. These hazards are not detectable by conventional meat inspection, and measures rely on prevention or reduction of contamination along the production chain.
The presence of acrylamide in various type of food products from the Serbian market
Authors: Koricanac V , Jankovic S , Vranic D , Stankovic I , Nikolic D , Petrovic Z , Milicevic D
Published: November 2021

Acrylamide forms when some foods are prepared at temperatures usually above 120°C and in low moisture conditions, due to a Maillard reaction between certain amino acids, such as asparagine, and reducing sugars. Acrylamide is carcinogenic to experimental mice and rats, neurotoxic and probably also carcinogenic and genotoxic for humans. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of acrylamide in various groups of food products in which its formation is expected to occur during the production process. In the period December 2017 to March 2021, 529 samples of different types of food products were tested. Samples were collected from the Serbian market. Most of the tested foods, almost half of them (44%), were various types of biscuits. The presence of acrylamide was determined using LC-MS/MS accredited method, with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 50 µg kg-1and a limit of detection (LOD) of 25 µg kg-1. All samples from the snack product and waffle product groups contained acrylamide. Acrylamide was detected in almost all (98.98%) fine bakery products and biscuits (90.43%). In contrast, only 15.38% of bakery products contained acrylamide. Most of the tested foods contained acrylamide, 83.74% of them.
Domestic chicken omega 3 – a product for promoting human health
Authors: Sefer Dragan , Radulovic Stamen , Peric Dejan , Sefer Matija , Makivic Lazar , Grdovic Svetlana , Markovic Radmila
Published: November 2021

Literature data show that the relationship between two groups of polyunsaturated fatty acids in diet, omega 3 acids, whose basic representative is a-linolenic acid (C18: 3 n-3), and omega 6 acids, whose basic representative is linoleic acid (C18: 2 n-6), has a significant role in development of cardiovascular diseases in humans. The optimal ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids is around 4:1. In monogastric animals, the fatty acids in feed are absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract largely unchanged. This means the fatty acid profile of the animal’s diet directly reflects the fatty acid profile of the tissue. The daily intake of unsaturated fatty acids can be increased by an adequate animal nutrition strategy. Flaxseed contains ten times more unsaturated (32.26%) than saturated (3.66%) fatty acids. The largest amount of unsaturated fatty acids (about 70%) is a-linolenic acid (ALA), which is a precursor of the entire omega 3 series of fatty acids, and which makes flaxseed an ideal raw material for the production of a wide range of omega 3 enriched products. In order to obtain chicken meat rich in omega 3, an experiment was organized with a specific diet for broilers at fattening. Thanks to the designed animal feed, it was possible to get products (meat, breast, drumstick, liver, subcutaneous fat) with significantly higher amounts of omega 3 fatty acids compared to the same products obtained from broilers fed with conventional mixtures, or with almost the ideal ratio between omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids.
Nonlinear thermal vibration of a nanoplate attached to a cavity
Authors: Bai Yuhe , Liu Rumeng , Wang Lifeng
Published: November 2021

Dynamic problems of a nanocircular plate-cavity system are investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) method. A nonlinear plate model considering gas action is developed. The results of the MD simulation show that the helium atoms adsorb on the wall of the cavity at low temperature, resulting in a negative deflection of the molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) plate. As the temperature increases, the pressure in the cavity increases, leading to a gradual rise in the deflection of the plate. A nonlinear phenomenon of stiffness hardening is shown with increasing temperature. The nonlinear plate model can give a relatively good prediction compared with the results of MD simulations. The natural frequency of the plate is affected by temperature and the presence of gas in the cavity. The phenomenon of stiffness hardening and softening can be well simulated by the nonlinear plate model and MD method. The present study provides a reference for vibration experiments of two-dimensional nanostructures.
Additive manufacturing for fused deposition modeling of carbon fiber–polylactic acid composites: the effects of process parameters on tensile and flexural properties
Authors: Mishra Abhay , Srivastava Vivek , Gupta Nitin Kumar
Published: November 2021

In this paper the effect of process parameters on the tensile and flexural properties of carbon fiber–polylactic acid (CF-PLA) composites is analyzed. We used a commercially available fused deposition modeling (FDM) three-dimensional (3D) printer and CF-PLA. When there are a variety of processing parameters, especially when no linear processing parameters are defined, the exact factors required in the design of experiments (DOEs) is hard to research. Furthermore, a large number of samples are needed to discover the optimum processing parameters. The key effects of four processing parameters for the FDM process, i.e. layer height, infill density, printing speed and infill pattern, were examined in this work using the Taguchi DOE. The mechanical characteristics of the fabricated FDM components expressed the power of the processing parameters. We used the Taguchi L9 range of nine runs with three specimens each, so 54 different processes were used to make a total of 54 specimens. In comparison with the 3D computer-aided design model, the measurements of the manufactured specimens were tested according to the standards ASTM D638 and ASTM D790. Variance analysis (ANOVA) was generated using Design Expert tools in order to assess the importance of the variables and their interactions for tensile and flexural strength. After performing ANOVA we obtained the exact parameters for which the mechanical properties are highest.
Religion as a Basic Human Good
Authors: Howes Thomas D
Published: November 2021

For the sake of defending the political-ethical legitimacy of religious exemptions, this article analyzes what contemporary natural law theorists call the good of religion—harmony with the transcendent source of existence and meaning. This good serves as a principle in practical judgments, not as a premise in a deductive argument, but as an end of action. Practical familiarity and explicit understanding of this good can differ among individuals, and variations of such familiarity and understanding lead to differing practical judgments concerning what constitute reasonable choices in its pursuit. This in turn affects judgments of fairness concerning burdens on that same pursuit. It is optimal for judgments about religious exemptions to presuppose a more paradigmatic understanding of this good so that one can better assess what is really at stake in the minds of religious believers when their religious liberty is burdened. In making a case for a more paradigmatic understanding of religion, this article draws attention to existential data from which practical insight into the good of religion arises.
Positivism’s Implosion
Authors: Köpcke Maris
Published: November 2021

Kletzer’s recent book The Idea of a Pure Theory illustrates the incoherence of a legal theory’s methodological commitment to “purity,” and hence to independence from moral and empirical concerns. Unlike other self-styled “positivist” accounts that pay mere lip service to this methodological agenda, Kletzer helpfully spells it out and follows it through, to the point of expunging from his account anything bearing the resemblance of an argument from first principles. He associates moral with theological reasoning, and theological reasoning in turn with legal reasoning by appeal to validating criteria. But his account pays a high price for purity. The price is the account’s internal contradiction and inconsistency with a legal theory’s criteria of success. Reflection on Kletzer’s enterprise suggests that we have reason to reject a “pure” method in doing legal theory.
An expectation–maximization approach to quantifying protein stoichiometry with single-molecule imaging
Authors: Boonkird Artittaya , Nino Daniel F , Milstein Joshua N
Published: November 2021

Motivation

Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) is a super-resolution technique capable of rendering nanometer scale images of cellular structures. Recently, much effort has gone into developing algorithms for extracting quantitative features from SMLM datasets, such as the abundance and stoichiometry of macromolecular complexes. These algorithms often require knowledge of the complicated photophysical properties of photoswitchable fluorophores.

Results

Here, we develop a calibration-free approach to quantitative SMLM built upon the observation that most photoswitchable fluorophores emit a geometrically distributed number of blinks before photobleaching. From a statistical model of a mixture of monomers, dimers and trimers, the method employs an adapted expectation–maximization algorithm to learn the protomer fractions while simultaneously determining the single-fluorophore blinking distribution. To illustrate the utility of our approach, we benchmark it on both simulated datasets and experimental datasets assembled from SMLM images of fluorescently labeled DNA nanostructures.

Availability and implementation

An implementation of our algorithm written in Python is available at: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/milsteinlab/resources/Software/MMCode/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
Scalable inference of transcriptional kinetic parameters from MS2 time series data
Authors: Bowles Jonathan R , Hoppe Caroline , Ashe Hilary L , Rattray Magnus
Published: November 2021

Motivation

The MS2-MCP (MS2 coat protein) live imaging system allows for visualization of transcription dynamics through the introduction of hairpin stem-loop sequences into a gene. A fluorescent signal at the site of nascent transcription in the nucleus quantifies mRNA production. Computational modelling can be used to infer the promoter states along with the kinetic parameters governing transcription, such as promoter switching frequency and polymerase loading rate. However, modelling of the fluorescent trace presents a challenge due its persistence; the observed fluorescence at a given time point depends on both current and previous promoter states. A compound state Hidden Markov Model (cpHMM) was recently introduced to allow inference of promoter activity from MS2-MCP data. However, the computational time for inference scales exponentially with gene length and the cpHMM is therefore not currently practical for application to many eukaryotic genes.

Results

We present a scalable implementation of the cpHMM for fast inference of promoter activity and transcriptional kinetic parameters. This new method can model genes of arbitrary length through the use of a time-adaptive truncated compound state space. The truncated state space provides a good approximation to the full state space by retaining the most likely set of states at each time during the forward pass of the algorithm. Testing on MS2-MCP fluorescent data collected from early Drosophila melanogaster embryos indicates that the method provides accurate inference of kinetic parameters within a computationally feasible timeframe. The inferred promoter traces generated by the model can also be used to infer single-cell transcriptional parameters.

Availability and implementation

Python implementation is available at https://github.com/ManchesterBioinference/burstInfer, along with code to reproduce the examples presented here.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
DeepKG: an end-to-end deep learning-based workflow for biomedical knowledge graph extraction, optimization and applications
Authors: Li Zongren , Zhong Qin , Yang Jing , Duan Yongjie , Wang Wenjun , Wu Chengkun , He Kunlun
Published: November 2021

DeepKG is an end-to-end deep learning-based workflow that helps researchers automatically mine valuable knowledge in biomedical literature. Users can utilize it to establish customized knowledge graphs in specified domains, thus facilitating in-depth understanding on disease mechanisms and applications on drug repurposing and clinical research. To improve the performance of DeepKG, a cascaded hybrid information extraction framework is developed for training model of 3-tuple extraction, and a novel AutoML-based knowledge representation algorithm (AutoTransX) is proposed for knowledge representation and inference. The system has been deployed in dozens of hospitals and extensive experiments strongly evidence the effectiveness. In the context of 144 900 COVID-19 scholarly full-text literature, DeepKG generates a high-quality knowledge graph with 7980 entities and 43 760 3-tuples, a candidate drug list, and relevant animal experimental studies are being carried out. To accelerate more studies, we make DeepKG publicly available and provide an online tool including the data of 3-tuples, potential drug list, question answering system, visualization platform.

Availability and implementation

All the results are publicly available at the website (http://covidkg.ai/).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Catalyzing momentum in male contraceptive development
Authors: Nickels Logan M , Shane Kevin , Vahdat Heather L
Published: November 2021

Globally, nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Male contraceptives offer the potential to decrease unintended pregnancy and introduce contraceptive equity, but decades of research have yet to bring a novel product to market. New funding avenues from the philanthropic sector seek to stimulate research in male contraceptives through investments, grants, and support for trainees alongside other programs that encourage product development and ultimately commercialization. This Forum outlines the purpose of and funding opportunities provided by Male Contraceptive Initiative, a funding agency and non-profit focused on the advancement of non-hormonal, reversible contraceptive technologies for those who produce sperm.
Growth prediction model for abdominal aortic aneurysms
Authors: Ristl Robin , Klopf Johannes , Scheuba Andreas , Wolf Florian , Funovics Martin , Gollackner Bernd , Wanhainen Anders , Neumayer Christoph , Posch Martin , Brostjan Christine , Eilenberg Wolf
Published: November 2021

Background

The most relevant determinant in scheduling monitoring intervals for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is maximum diameter. The aim of the study was to develop a statistical model that takes into account specific characteristics of AAA growth distributions such as between-patient variability as well as within-patient variability across time, and allows probabilistic statements to be made regarding expected AAA growth.

Methods

CT angiography (CTA) data from patients monitored at 6-month intervals with maximum AAA diameters at baseline between 30 and 66 mm were used to develop the model. By extending the model of geometric Brownian motion with a log-normal random effect, a stochastic growth model was developed. An additional set of ultrasound-based growth data was used for external validation.

Results

The study data included 363 CTAs from 87 patients, and the external validation set comprised 390 patients. Internal and external cross-validation showed that the stochastic growth model allowed accurate description of the distribution of aneurysm growth. Median relative growth within 1 year was 4.1 (5–95 per cent quantile 0.5–13.3) per cent. Model calculations further resulted in relative 1-year growth of 7.0 (1.0–16.4) per cent for patients with previously observed rapid 1-year growth of 10 per cent, and 2.6 (0.3–8.3) per cent for those with previously observed slow growth of 1 per cent. The probability of exceeding a threshold of 55 mm was calculated to be 1.78 per cent at most when adhering to the current RESCAN guidelines for rescreening intervals. An online calculator based on the fitted model was made available.

Conclusion

The stochastic growth model was found to provide a reliable tool for predicting AAA growth.
Atypical dynamic functional network connectivity state engagement during social–emotional processing in schizophrenia and autism
Authors: Hyatt Christopher J , Wexler Bruce E , Pittman Brian , Nicholson Alycia , Pearlson Godfrey D , Corbera Silvia , Bell Morris D , Pelphrey Kevin , Calhoun Vince D , Assaf Michal
Published: November 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SZ) are separate clinical entities but share deficits in social–emotional processing and static neural functional connectivity patterns. We compared patients’ dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) state engagement with typically developed (TD) individuals during social–emotional processing after initially characterizing such dynamics in TD. Young adults diagnosed with ASD (n = 42), SZ (n = 41), or TD (n = 55) completed three functional MRI runs, viewing social–emotional videos with happy, sad, or neutral content. We examined dFNC of 53 spatially independent networks extracted using independent component analysis and applied k-means clustering to windowed dFNC matrices, identifying four unique whole-brain dFNC states. TD showed differential engagement (fractional time, mean dwell time) in three states as a function of emotion. During Happy videos, patients spent less time than TD in a happy-associated state and instead spent more time in the most weakly connected state. During Sad videos, only ASD spent more time than TD in a sad-associated state. Additionally, only ASD showed a significant relationship between dFNC measures and alexithymia and social–emotional recognition task scores, potentially indicating different neural processing of emotions in ASD and SZ. Our results highlight the importance of examining temporal whole-brain reconfiguration of FNC, indicating engagement in unique emotion-specific dFNC states.
Determination of Tafamidis Plasma Concentrations in Amyloidosis Patients with Glu89Gln Mutation by HPLC-UV Detection
Authors: Smerikarova Miglena , Bozhanov Stanislav , Maslarska Vania , Tournev Ivailo
Published: November 2021

Present study describes a high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of the potent kinetic stabilizer—Tafamidis in human plasma. It was approved for medical use in European Union in 2011. Ultra violet (UV) detection mode and isocratic elution of the mobile phase were set and made the analytical procedure fast and widely applicable. Chromatographic determination was performed on a Purospher® RP-18 column. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in water and acetonitrile in the ratio 42:58 v/v and the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min. All analyses were carried at a room temperature and the detector was set at 280 nm. Calibration curve over a range of 1.00–10.00 μM was constructed for the purposes of linearity method validation. The specificity and effectiveness of the developed method made it suitable for observation of patients’ plasma Tafamidis concentration with time and drug therapy monitoring.