bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Turning Waste into Wealth: Utilizing Trichoderma’s Solid-State Fermentation to Recycle Tea Residue for Tea Cutting Production
Authors: Meng Zhen , Xiang Shuangshuang , Wang Xue , Zhang Jian , Bai Guoxin , Liu Hongjun , Li Rong , Shen Qirong
Published: March 2024

Trichoderma is a widely recognized plant-growth-promoting fungus that has been extensively utilized in various agricultural applications. However, research on the economic production of Trichoderma spores and their effects on tea cuttings must be further advanced. In this study, T. guizhouense NJAU 4742 (NJAU 4742) emerged as a growth-promoting strain for tea cuttings, and the spore-production conditions of NJAU 4742 attained through solid-state fermentation (SSF) using tea residues were optimized. In a pot experiment, nursery substrates containing different concentrations of NJAU 4742 spores were tested for their influence on tea cutting growth and the rhizosphere fungal community. The optimal conditions for spore yield were determined as a 7:3 (w/w) ratio of tea residue to rice bran, a material thickness of 3 cm, an inoculum concentration of 15% (v/w), and an incubation time of 4 days, resulting in a spore count of 1.8 × 109 CFU/g. Applying NJAU 4742 spore products significantly increased the biomass of tea cuttings and influenced the fungal community composition. Moreover, higher concentrations of NJAU 4742 spores yielded better growth performance, and applying nursery substrate with 1.0 × 107 CFU/mL spores was the most economically viable option. Notably, among the top ten fungal genera with the highest relative abundance, Trichoderma showed a positive correlation with the fresh weight of tea cuttings, while the others exhibited a negative correlation. Overall, utilizing tea residue for SSF to produce NJAU 4742 was a feasible approach, and the application of NJAU 4742 spores enhanced the growth of tea cuttings by increasing the relative abundance of Trichoderma.
Smart Strategies and Technologies for Sustainability and Biodiversity in Herbaceous and Horticultural Crops
Authors: Frasconi Christian , Fontanelli Marco , Antichi Daniele
Published: March 2024

Current trends in modern farming systems are moving in the direction of technical solutions for improving the sustainability and biodiversity of agroecosystems [...]
Supplementation with Astragalus Root Powder Promotes Rumen Microbiota Density and Metabolome Interactions in Lambs
Authors: Shao Pengyang , Sha Yuzhu , Liu Xiu , He Yanyu , Wang Fanxiong , Hu Jiang , Wang Jiqing , Li Shaobin , Chen Xiaowei , Yang Wenxin , Chen Qianling , Gao Min
Published: March 2024

The gut microbiota is highly symbiotic with the host, and the microbiota and its metabolites are essential for regulating host health and physiological functions. Astragalus, as a feed additive, can improve animal immunity. However, the effects of Astragalus root powder on the rumen microbiota and their metabolites in lambs are not apparent. In this study, thirty healthy Hu sheep lambs with similar body weights (17.42 ± 2.02 kg) were randomly selected for the feeding experiment. Lambs were fed diets supplemented with 0.3% Astragalus root powder, and the rumen microbiota density and metabolome were measured to determine the effects of Astragalus on the health of lambs in the rumen. The results showed that the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens (Bf), Ruminococcus flavefaciens (Rf), Succiniclasticum (Su), and Prevotella (Pr) in the rumen was increased in the Astragalus group (p < 0.01), and metabolic profiling showed that the metabolites, such as L-lyrosine and L-leucine, were upregulated in the Astragalus group (p < 0.01). KEGG functional annotation revealed that upregulated metabolites were mainly enriched in the pathways of amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and bile secretion in the Astragalus group, and downregulated metabolites were enriched in the pathways of methane metabolism and other pathways. Correlation analysis revealed that butyric acid was positively correlated with Roseburia and Blautia (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with Desulfovibrio (p < 0.05). Thus, by analyzing the interactions of Astragalus root powder with the density of rumen microorganisms and their metabolites in lambs, it was shown that Astragalus root powder could improve the structure of rumen microbiota and their metabolites and then participate in the regulation of amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, immune metabolism, and other pathways to improve the efficiency of energy absorption of the lambs.
Deciphering Estrus Expression in Gilts: The Role of Alternative Polyadenylation and LincRNAs in Reproductive Transcriptomics
Authors: Liu Mingzheng , Chen Jiahao , Zhang Chunlei , Liu Shuhan , Chao Xiaohuan , Yang Huan , Muhammad Asim , Zhou Bo , Ao Weiping , Schinckel Allan P.
Published: March 2024

The fertility rate and litter size of female pigs are critically affected by the expression of estrus. The objective of this study was to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of estrus expression by analyzing the differential expression of genes and long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNA), as well as the utilization of alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites, in the vulva and vagina during the estrus and diestrus stages of Large White and indigenous Chinese Mi gilts. Our study revealed that the number of differentially expressed genes (DEG) in the vulva was less than that in the vagina, and the DEGs in the vulva were enriched in pathways such as “neural” pathways and steroid hormone responses, including the “Calcium signaling pathway” and “Oxytocin signaling pathway”. The DEGs in the vagina were enriched in the “Metabolic pathways” and “VEGF signaling pathway”. Furthermore, 27 and 21 differentially expressed lincRNAs (DEL), whose target genes were enriched in the “Endocrine resistance” pathway, were identified in the vulva and vagina, respectively. Additionally, we observed that 63 and 618 transcripts of the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) were lengthened during estrus in the vulva and vagina, respectively. Interestingly, the genes undergoing APA events in the vulva exhibited species-specific enrichment in neural or steroid-related pathways, whereas those in the vagina were enriched in apoptosis or autophagy-related pathways. Further bioinformatic analysis of these lengthened 3′-UTRs revealed the presence of multiple miRNAs binding sites and cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE) regulatory aspects. In particular, we identified more than 10 CPEs in the validated lengthened 3′-UTRs of the NFIX, PCNX4, CEP162 and ABHD2 genes using RT-qPCR. These findings demonstrated the involvement of APA and lincRNAs in the regulation of estrus expression in female pigs, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying estrus expression in pigs.
Exploring the Effects of Robertsonian Translocation 1/29 (Rob (1;29)) on Genetic Diversity in Minor Breeds of Spanish Berrenda Cattle via Genome-Wide Analysis
Authors: González-Cano Rafael , González-Martínez Ana , Ramón Manuel , González Serrano Miriam , Moreno Millán Miguel , Rubio de Juan Alejandro , Rodero Serrano Evangelina
Published: March 2024

Most of the previous studies on the genetic variability in Spanish “Berrenda” breeds have been carried out using DNA microsatellites. The present work aimed to estimate the genetic diversity, population structure, and potential genetic differences among individuals of both Berrenda breeds and groups based on the presence of the Robertsonian chromosomal translocation, rob (1;29). A total of 373 samples from animals belonging to the two breeds, including 169 cases diagnosed as rob (1;29)-positive, were genotyped using an SNP50K chip. The genetic diversity at the breed level did not show significant differences, but it was significantly lower in those subpopulations containing the rob (1;29). Runs of homozygosity identified a region of homozygosity on chromosome 6, where the KIT (KIT proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase) gene, which determines the typical spotted coat pattern in both breeds, is located. The four subpopulations considered showed minor genetic differences. The regions of the genome that most determined the differences between the breeds were observed on chromosomes 4, 6, 18, and 22. The presence of this Robertsonian translocation did not result in sub-structuring within each of the breeds considered. To improve the reproductive performance of Berrenda breeds, it would be necessary to implement strategies considering the involvement of potential breeding stock carrying rob (1;29).
AhR Activation Ameliorates Intestinal Barrier Damage in Immunostressed Piglets by Regulating Intestinal Flora and Its Metabolism
Authors: Wu Xiaomei , Zhang Yalei , Ji Mengyao , Yang Wen , Deng Tanjie , Hou Guanyu , Shi Liguang , Xun Wenjuan
Published: March 2024

The primary factor leading to elevated rates of diarrhea and decreased performance in piglets is immunological stress. The regulation of immune stress through the intestinal flora is a crucial mechanism to consider. In total, 30 weaned piglets were randomly allocated to five groups: the basal diet group (Control), basal diet + lipopolysaccharides group (LPS), basal diet + 250 μg/kg 6-Formylindolo [3,2-b] carbazole + LPS group (FICZ), basal diet + 3mg/kg Cardamonin + LPS group (LCDN), and basal diet + 6mg/kg Cardamonin + LPS group (HCDN/CDN). The results showed that compared with those of the LPS group, the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin; claudin-1) in the FICZ group was significantly increased, and the mRNA levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). HCDN treatment had a better effect on LPS-induced intestinal barrier damage in this group than it did in the LCDN group. HCDN treatment leads to a higher villus height (VH), a higher ratio of villi height to crypt depth (V/C), higher tight junction proteins (ZO-1; occludin), and higher short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In addition, correlation analyses showed that Succinivibrio was positively correlated with several SCFAs and negatively correlated with prostaglandin-related derivatives in the FICZ group and CDN group (p < 0.05). In summary, Cardamonin alleviates intestinal mucosal barrier damage and inflammatory responses by regulating the intestinal microbiota and its metabolism.
Scolopax rusticola Carrying Enterobacterales Harboring Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Authors: Gargano Valeria , Gambino Delia , Oddo Adriana Maria , Pizzo Mariangela , Sucato Arianna , Cammilleri Gaetano , La Russa Francesco , Di Pasquale Maria Liliana , Parisi Maria Giovanna , Cassata Giovanni , Giangrosso Giuseppe
Published: March 2024

The Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) belongs to those bird species that make systematic migratory flights in spring and autumn in search of favorable breeding and wintering areas. These specimens arrive in the Mediterranean Area from northeastern European countries during the autumn season. The purpose of this study was to assess whether woodcocks can carry antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) along their migratory routes. Although the role of migratory birds in the spread of some zoonotic diseases (of viral and bacterial etiology) has been elucidated, the role of these animals in the spread of antibiotic resistance has not yet been clarified. In this study, we analyzed the presence of beta-lactam antibiotic resistance genes. The study was conducted on 69 strains from 60 cloacal swabs belonging to an equal number of animals shot during the 2022–2023 hunting season in Sicily, Italy. An antibiogram was performed on all strains using the microdilution method (MIC) and beta-lactam resistance genes were investigated. The strains tested showed no phenotypic resistance to any of the 13 antibiotics tested; however, four isolates of Enterobacter cloacae and three of Klebsiella oxytoca were found to carry the blaIMP-70, blaVIM-35, blaNDM-5 and blaOXA-1 genes. Our results confirm the importance of monitoring antimicrobial resistance among migratory animals capable of long-distance bacteria spread.
Oral Antibiotics Alone versus Oral Antibiotics Combined with Mechanical Bowel Preparation for Elective Colorectal Surgery: A Propensity Score-Matching Re-Analysis of the iCral 2 and 3 Prospective Cohorts
Authors: Catarci Marco , Guadagni Stefano , Masedu Francesco , Sartelli Massimo , Montemurro Leonardo Antonio , Baiocchi Gian Luca , Tebala Giovanni Domenico , Borghi Felice , Marini Pierluigi , Scatizzi Marco ,   the Italian ColoRectal Anastomotic Leakage (iCral) Study Group
Published: March 2024

The evidence regarding the role of oral antibiotics alone (oA) or combined with mechanical bowel preparation (MoABP) for elective colorectal surgery remains controversial. A prospective database of 8359 colorectal resections gathered over a 32-month period from 78 Italian surgical units (the iCral 2 and 3 studies), reporting patient-, disease-, and procedure-related variables together with 60-day adverse events, was re-analyzed to identify a subgroup of 1013 cases (12.1%) that received either oA or MoABP. This dataset was analyzed using a 1:1 propensity score-matching model including 20 covariates. Two well-balanced groups of 243 patients each were obtained: group A (oA) and group B (MoABP). The primary endpoints were anastomotic leakage (AL) and surgical site infection (SSI) rates. Group A vs. group B showed a significantly higher AL risk [14 (5.8%) vs. 6 (2.5%) events; OR: 3.77; 95%CI: 1.22–11.67; p = 0.021], while no significant difference was recorded between the two groups regarding SSIs. These results strongly support the use of MoABP for elective colorectal resections.
Health Benefits of Electrolyzed Hydrogen Water: Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Living Organisms
Authors: Hu Di , Kabayama Shigeru , Watanabe Yasuyoshi , Cui Yilong
Published: March 2024

Molecular hydrogen, the smallest and lightest molecule, serves as an intense reducing agent. Its distinct characteristics, including minimal size and neutral charge, enhance bioavailability and facilitate significant biological effects. Previously considered physiologically inert, hydrogen has gained recognition as a powerful therapeutic agent, known for its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW), enriched with molecular hydrogen, demonstrates remarkable antioxidative capabilities, indicating potential benefits for various diseases. Inflammation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplify inflammation, leading to secondary oxidative stress and creating a crosstalk between ROS and inflammatory responses. This crosstalk contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of chronic diseases. EHW interrupts this crosstalk, reducing inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress across various disease models, suggesting therapeutic potential. EHW is also known for its anti-inflammatory effects, extending to pain management, as evidenced in models like sciatic nerve ligation and inflammatory pain. In an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) model, EHW effectively alleviates abdominal pain, mitigating 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced inflammation and oxidative stress, offering insights for clinical applications. Additionally, hydrogen selectively targets harmful radicals, and EHW intake helps balance stress-induced hormonal dysregulation, potentially easing disorders associated with chronic stress.
Effects of Ferulic Acid on Respiratory Metabolism, Oxidative Lesions, and Apoptotic Parameters in Gills and Red Blood Cells of Carp (Cyprinus carpio Var. Jian) Response to Copper
Authors: Li Huatao , Liu Haijing , Wu Siyue , Ai Chengyan , Yang Qi , Jia Jingting , Xu Xiao , Wu Min , Jiang Jun
Published: March 2024

In sustainable aquaculture systems, copper sulfate (CuSO4) is widely applied as a disinfectant to control parasitic infections and algal growth. However, aquatic organisms may suffer from exposure to excessive concentrations of Cu. Elevated Cu concentrations could activate damage to the respiratory functions of aquatic animals. Thus, this study explored the effects exerted by ferulic acid (FA) on respiratory metabolism, oxidation-related lesions, and the apoptosis parameters of the gills and red blood cells in copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O)-treated carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). When the 30-day feeding experiment was completed, the carp were exposed to 12.5 μM of Cu for 4 days. The results indicated that the Cu decreased the oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rates in the carp, reduced the metabolic- and antioxidant-related enzyme activities and glutathione levels in the carp, and enhanced the caspase activities and reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels in the gills of the carp. Moreover, in addition to the changes in the above parameters, the Cu decreased the cell numbers and hemoglobin concentrations and increased the phosphatidylserine exposure and cytochrome c levels in the red blood cells of the carp. These results demonstrate that Cu is capable of decreasing respiratory metabolism and increasing oxidation-related lesions and apoptosis inside the gills and red blood cells of the fish. However, dietary FA quenched the Cu-induced apoptosis and oxidative lesions by reversing the same biomarker indicators, thereby suppressing the Cu-induced decrease in respiratory metabolism. Thus, FA can be used as a suppressor of Cu stress in fish.
Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains Isolated from Sourdoughs Prepared with Different Flour Types
Authors: Urshev Zoltan , Doynova Dilyana , Prasev Ivan , Denkova-Kostova Rositsa , Koleva Anna , Denkova Zapryana , Goranov Bogdan , Kostov Georgi
Published: March 2024

Species identification is the first step in the examination of newly isolated microorganism strains, including the cases when they are intended for application in the development of probiotic preparations or starters for different food products. The thorough identification process of newly isolated strains combines the application of different physiological, biochemical, and molecular genetic methods. The aim of the present study was to identify the species-level lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains isolated from spontaneously fermented sourdoughs prepared from different flour types: Khorosan wheat, wheat, barley, buckwheat, spelled, spelt, and corn. Both classical phenotypic (cellular morphology characterization, and API 50 CHL) and molecular genetic methods (RAPD, ARDRA-analysis, 16S rDNA sequencing, and species-specific PCR) were applied. It was found that cultures with a short-rod morphology predominated among the 30 sourdough isolates. According to the RAPD profiles obtained, the isolates were divided into nine genotypes corresponding to nine genetically distinct strains. It was determined that individual sourdoughs made with different flour types shared cultures with a common genotype. The analysis of the physiological and biochemical profiles of the LAB isolates performed with the API 50 CHL system divided them into two groups according to their identification: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lp. plantarum) 1 and Levilactobacillus brevis (Lv. brevis) 3. According to the 16S rDNA restriction profile, the LAB isolates showed two profiles corresponding to the Lp. plantarum and Lv. brevis groups. 16S rDNA sequencing and a comparison of the partially read 16S rDNA sequences of the studied isolates confirmed that some of them belonged to the Lv. Brevis species, but did not provide sufficient evidence that the rest of the cultures belonged to the Lp. Plantarum species. The species-specific PCR clearly separated the isolates from the Lp. plantarum group into two groups: isolates of the Lp. plantarum species and isolates of the Lp. paraplantarum species. The summary of the results of the conducted polyphasic taxonomic study determined the investigated LAB strains isolated from spontaneously fermented sourdoughs as representatives of the Lv. brevis, Lp. plantarum ssp. paraplantarum, and Lp. paraplantarum species.
Tunable Perforated Panel Sound Absorbers for Variable Acoustics Room Design
Authors: Carbajo Jesús , Poveda-Martínez Pedro , Godinho Luís , Pereira Andreia , Gaspar Anna , Amado-Mendes Paulo , Mateus Diogo , Ramis Jaime
Published: March 2024

Variable acoustics systems are promising engineering developments for multi-purpose rooms and workspaces in many buildings. However, due to space requirements associated with most of the tuning devices used for that purpose, these solutions are hardly adopted in practice. In this work, two innovative tunable sound absorbers that cope with this drawback are proposed, one consisting of rotating perforated panels and the other being a panel with an iris-type aperture. Compared with conventional perforated panel sound absorbers, the designed solutions yield a variable open area ratio system, whose configuration allows tuning the absorption bandwidth without misusing space. To assess their sound absorption coefficient, impedance tube experiments were carried out following the standardized method described in ISO 10534-2 over specimens fabricated for this purpose using laser cutting and additive manufacturing technology. The results not only show their good sound absorption performance but also highlight their tuning capabilities. Complementarily, a model based on the ray tracing method was developed to evaluate the performance of these solutions in a case study room, for different occupancy levels, with the results supporting the previous assertions and revealing the improved intelligibility features when used in such scenarios. The proposed solutions, together with the prediction model, provide a feasible approach for the design and development of tunable sound absorbers in variable room acoustics.
A Comparative Study of IEEE 802.11bd and IEEE 802.11p on the Data Dissemination Properties in Dynamic Traffic Scenarios
Authors: Xue Shanzheng , Gong Siyuan , Li Xinyi
Published: March 2024

With the rapid deployment of intelligent transportation systems in real-life applications, both dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) and cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X), utilized to enable V2X communication, are undergoing extensive development to meet the quality of service (QoS) demands of advanced vehicular applications and scenarios. Compared to C-V2X, which lacks fully validated effective reliability, DSRC has undergone extensive field testing worldwide, ensuring its practicality. IEEE 802.11bd, as the next-generation V2X (NGV) standard within DSRC, is expected to greatly exceed the performance of its predecessor, 802.11p. However, existing studies mention that the ambient traffic environment will influence the performance of V2X due to the cyber-physical properties of V2X. To fully assess the advancements of NGV, this study presents a comparative analysis of IEEE 802.11bd and IEEE 802.11p, focusing on dynamic traffic conditions. Specifically, the technical advancements of the IEEE 802.11bd standard are first theoretically examined, emphasizing significant enhancements in aspects like modulation and coding schemes, coding rates, and channel coding. Subsequently, these critical technical enhancements are implemented in Veins, a simulation framework for the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), encompassing large-scale dynamic traffic scenarios. The simulation results indicate that the IEEE 802.11bd standard significantly enhances the data transfer rate compared to IEEE 802.11p, achieving a stable twofold increase. Furthermore, the data transmission latency is reduced by over half compared to IEEE 802.11p, while the data transmission reliability experiences a noteworthy 20% enhancement. Notably, the enhanced data transmission mode of the IEEE 802.11bd standard requires an increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Additionally, this research evaluates the data dissemination properties in the IoV and finds that the traffic volume has a limited impact on the data propagation speed.
The Spatiotemporal Variation in Biodiversity and Its Response to Different Future Development Scenarios: A Case Study of Guilin as an Internationally Renowned Tourist Destination in China
Authors: Lan Yanping , Zhang Kaiqi , Han Xiaowen , Chen Zizhen , Ling Ming , You Haotian , Chen Jianjun
Published: March 2024

The preservation of biodiversity is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and promoting the harmonious development of mankind and nature. To formulate a biodiversity conservation plan for Guilin in China and accurately evaluate the impact of conservation measures on regional biodiversity, this study combined the InVEST model (v 3.7.0), the GeoSOS-FLUS model (v 2.3), and the landscape pattern index, analyzing the spatiotemporal changes in biodiversity from 2000 to 2020 in Guilin and simulating biodiversity under different development scenarios in 2040. The results showed the following: (1) The biodiversity index in Guilin displayed a declining trend, with the average annual value decreasing from 0.875 in 2000 to 0.870 in 2020. The area experiencing a reduction in biodiversity was primarily concentrated around the city. (2) The biodiversity level of each district and county had a large spatiotemporal difference, with the overall distribution characteristics of “higher in the northwest, southwest, and east, and lower in the northeast, southeast and central”. (3) The biodiversity hotspots were identified as priority areas for conservation; woodland and wetland were effectively protected, and the expansion of construction land and arable land was limited under the ecological protection scenario compared with the natural development scenario. (4) The annual average value of the biodiversity index of Guilin could reach 0.872 in 2040 after the adoption of ecological conservation measures, which is 0.013 higher than the natural development scenario. The results of this study can provide guidance for the construction of a national sustainable development model city and land use planning in Guilin, as well as a scientific reference for the creation of biodiversity conservation policies.
The Influences of Agglomeration and Storage on the Thermal Properties and Stability of Fats in Infant Formulas
Authors: Ostrowska-Ligęza Ewa , Wirkowska-Wojdyła Magdalena , Brzezińska Rita , Piasecka Iga , Górska Agata
Published: March 2024

Agglomeration is a technological process that is widely applied to obtain powdered products with the appropriate shape and particle size and different physical characteristics and stabilities. The purpose of this research was to study the influences of the composition and storage of powdered infant formulas on their thermal behaviours, as analysed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); fatty acid compositions, as determined by gas chromatography; and water activity and water content. This study investigated the influence of the storage time (six months) at temperatures of 20–22 °C and air humidities of 42–45% on powder mixtures and agglomerates. The isotherms of the agglomerates presented a shape and course similar to those of the isotherms of the mixtures from which they were obtained. The agglomeration process affected the stability of the fatty acids in the stored powdered infant formulas. The composition of the fatty acids changed during the storage process. The thermal properties of the powdered infant formulas were not significantly influenced by agglomeration. The compositions of the mixtures and agglomerates influenced the shape and course of the DSC diagrams. Using the DSC method, it was determined whether the fat was a natural component of the powder or it was added in the form of fatty acid preparations. Differences were observed between the shape and course of the DSC curves (heating and cooling) obtained for fresh and 6-month-stored mixtures and agglomerates.
High-Frequency Surface Wave Radar Current Measurement Corrections via Machine Learning and Towed Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Integration
Authors: Xiong Zhaomin , Wei Chunlei , Yang Fan , Zhu Langfeng , Huang Rongyong , Wei Jun
Published: March 2024

This paper proposes an algorithm based on the long short-term memory (LSTM) network to improve the quality of high-frequency surface wave radar current measurements. In order to address the limitations of traditional high-frequency radar inversion algorithms, which solely rely on electromagnetic inversion and disregard physical oceanography, this study incorporates a bottom-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) and towed ADCP into LSTM training. Additionally, wind and tidal oceanography data were included as inputs. This study compared high-frequency radar current data before and after calibration. The results indicated that both towed and bottom-mounted ADCP enhanced the quality of HF radar monitoring data. By comparing two methods of calibrating radar, we found that less towed ADCP data input is required for the same high-frequency radar data calibration effect. Furthermore, towed ADCP has a significant advantage in calibrating high-frequency radar data due to its low cost and wide calibration range. However, as the location of the calibrated high-frequency radar data moves further away from the towing position, the calibration error also increases. This article conducted sensitivity studies on the times and different positions of using towed ADCP to calibrate high-frequency radar data, providing reference for the optimal towing path and towing time for future corrections of high-frequency radar data.
Device Position-Independent Human Activity Recognition with Wearable Sensors Using Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Mekruksavanich Sakorn , Jitpattanakul Anuchit
Published: March 2024

Human activity recognition (HAR) identifies people’s motions and actions in daily life. HAR research has grown with the popularity of internet-connected, wearable sensors that capture human movement data to detect activities. Recent deep learning advances have enabled more HAR research and applications using data from wearable devices. However, prior HAR research often focused on a few sensor locations on the body. Recognizing real-world activities poses challenges when device positioning is uncontrolled or initial user training data are unavailable. This research analyzes the feasibility of deep learning models for both position-dependent and position-independent HAR. We introduce an advanced residual deep learning model called Att-ResBiGRU, which excels at accurate position-dependent HAR and delivers excellent performance for position-independent HAR. We evaluate this model using three public HAR datasets: Opportunity, PAMAP2, and REALWORLD16. Comparisons are made to previously published deep learning architectures for addressing HAR challenges. The proposed Att-ResBiGRU model outperforms existing techniques in accuracy, cross-entropy loss, and F1-score across all three datasets. We assess the model using k-fold cross-validation. The Att-ResBiGRU achieves F1-scores of 86.69%, 96.23%, and 96.44% on the PAMAP2, REALWORLD16, and Opportunity datasets, surpassing state-of-the-art models across all datasets. Our experiments and analysis demonstrate the exceptional performance of the Att-ResBiGRU model for HAR applications.
An Urban Built Environment Analysis Approach for Street View Images Based on Graph Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Liu Changmin , Wang Yang , Li Weikang , Tao Liufeng , Hu Sheng , Hao Mengqi
Published: March 2024

Traditionally, research in the field of traffic safety has predominantly focused on two key areas—the identification of traffic black spots and the analysis of accident causation. However, such research heavily relies on historical accident records obtained from the traffic management department, which often suffer from missing or incomplete information. Moreover, these records typically offer limited insight into the various attributes associated with accidents, thereby posing challenges to comprehensive analyses. Furthermore, the collection and management of such data incur substantial costs. Consequently, there is a pressing need to explore how the features of the urban built environment can effectively facilitate the accurate identification and analysis of traffic black spots, enabling the formulation of effective management strategies to support urban development. In this study, we research the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong, with a specific focus on road intersections as the fundamental unit of our analysis. We propose leveraging street view images as a valuable source of data, enabling us to depict the urban built environment comprehensively. Through the utilization of models such as random forest approaches, we conduct research on traffic black spot identification, attaining an impressive accuracy rate of 87%. To account for the impact of the built environment surrounding adjacent road intersections on traffic black spot identification outcomes, we adopt a node-based approach, treating road intersections as nodes and establishing spatial relationships between them as edges. The features characterizing the built environment at these road intersections serve as node attributes, facilitating the construction of a graph structure representation. By employing a graph-based convolutional neural network, we enhance the traffic black spot identification methodology, resulting in an improved accuracy rate of 90%. Furthermore, based on the distinctive attributes of the urban built environment, we analyze the underlying causes of traffic black spots. Our findings highlight the significant influence of buildings, sky conditions, green spaces, and billboards on the formation of traffic black spots. Remarkably, we observe a clear negative correlation between buildings, sky conditions, and green spaces, while billboards and human presence exhibit a distinct positive correlation.
Multicast Routing Based on Data Envelopment Analysis and Markovian Decision Processes for Multimodal Transportation
Authors: Aljanabi Mohanad R. , Borna Keivan , Ghanbari Shamsollah , Obaid Ahmed J.
Published: March 2024

In the context of Iraq’s evolving transportation landscape and the strategic implications of the Belt and Road Initiative, this study pioneers a comprehensive framework for optimizing multimodal transportation systems. The study implemented a decision-making framework for multimodal transportation, combining data envelopment analysis (DEA) efficiency scores and a Markov decision process (MDP) to optimize transportation strategies. The DEA scores captured decision-making unit (DMU) performance in various aspects, while the MDP rewards facilitated strategic mode selection, promoting efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental considerations. Although our method incurs a total cost approximately 29% higher than MRMQoS, it delivers a nearly 26% reduction in delay compared to MCSTM. Despite MRMQoS yielding an 8.3% higher profit than our approach, our proposed scheme exhibits an 11.7% higher profit compared to MCSTM. In terms of computational time, our method achieves an average CPU time positioned between MCSTM and MRMQoS, with MCSTM showing about 1.6% better CPU time than our approach, while our method displays a 9.5% improvement in computational time compared to MRMQoS. Additionally, concerning CO2 emissions, the proposed model consistently outperforms other models across various network sizes. The percentage decrease in CO2 emissions achieved by the proposed model is 7.26% and 31.25% when compared against MRMQoS and MCSTM for a network size of 25, respectively.
Resilience in the Context of Cyber Security: A Review of the Fundamental Concepts and Relevance
Authors: Araujo Misael Sousa de , Machado Bruna Aparecida Souza , Passos Francisco Uchoa
Published: March 2024

Cyber resilience is a topic of extreme relevance to organizations in the most diverse segments of activity, where the concept of resilience presents nuance in its different dimensions, in addition to the need to recognize and distinguish the different stages that characterize the state of cyber resilience. Thus, the aim of this article is to understand the various concepts of cyber resilience in its different contexts and dimensions. To this end, bibliographic research was carried out through the process of indirect documentation in articles, books, and publications on the subject. The main stages of resilience were mapped, and an analysis was produced of how these stages have evolved over the years. Finally, an updated proposal for standing for the stages of cyber resilience was presented, based on the consolidation of proposals from the entire framework studied in this work. This review emphasizes the importance of cyber resilience and understanding the stages that characterize cyber resilience, highlighting the need for its further integration into the organizations in the most diverse segments of activity management.
Simultaneous SERS Detection of Multiple Amino Acids Using ZIF-8@AuNPs as Substrate: Classified with 1D Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Huang Mengping , Ma Shuai , He Jinrong , Xue Wei , Hou Xueyan , Zhang Yuqi , Liu Xiaofeng , Bai Heping , Li Ran
Published: March 2024

Amino acids found in minor coarse cereals are essential for human growth and development and play a crucial role in efficient and rapid quantitative detection. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) enables nondestructive, efficient, and rapid sample detection. Traditional SERS detection efficiency is constrained by the use of a single target. In this study, three different amino acids (cysteine, valine, and tryptophan) were detected simultaneously using a ZIF-8@AuNPs composite substrate. The linear range of detection was 10−3 to 10−1 M, with limits of detection (LODs) of 2.40 × 10−4 M, 2.24 × 10−4 M, and 1.55 × 10−4 M, respectively. Same linear ranges and LODs were achieved with a one-dimensional convolutional neural network method. Furthermore, this substrate enabled the effective detection of amino acids in millet and efficient detection of cysteine in health products. This study presents a novel method for simultaneous detection of multiple analytes.
Corrosion Behavior of Zn-Al-Mg-Si Coatings in Sulfur Dioxide-Containing Environment
Authors: Kania Henryk , Marek Anżelina
Published: March 2024

Zn-Al-Mg-Si coatings are an excellent alternative to conventional hot-dip galvanizing coatings. Their high corrosion resistance in corrosive environments containing chlorides and CO2 is well recognized. But sulfur dioxide is also an important stimulator of corrosion in the atmospheric environment. This article presents the results of microstructure (SEM/EDS/XRD) and corrosion behavior tests of Zn-Al-Mg-Si coatings obtained by a double hot-dip method on HSLA steel. The corrosion resistance of the coatings was determined in the sulfur dioxide test with general condensation of moisture (EN ISO 6988). In the corrosion test, Zn-Al-Mg-Si coatings showed twofold smaller weight loss compared to conventional hot-dip zinc coatings. It was found that the corrosion behavior of coatings was influenced by the structural components revealed in the outer layer: Al-rich dendritic and interdendritic areas with Zn/MgZn2 eutectic, MgZn2 intermetallic and Si precipitates and their electrochemical nature. The increase in corrosion resistance was caused by the formation of beneficial corrosion products: layered double hydroxides (LDHs) based on divalent Mg2+ and Zn2+ cations, trivalent Al3+ cations and SO42− anions, and zinc hydroxysulfate—Zn4SO4(OH)6∙5H2O. The presence of Si precipitates could cause pitting corrosion of coatings.
Aggregate Type and Concrete Age Effects on Anchor Breakout Performance: Large Database and Insights
Authors: Ninčević Krešimir , Guillet Thierry , Al Mansouri Omar , Wan-Wendner Roman
Published: March 2024

This contribution summarizes the largest available literature data collection on tensile and shear loaded anchor tests, obtained in two independent studies and performed by two different research groups. It was the objective of the two studies to investigate a possible effect that petrographically different coarse aggregate types may have on the tensile and shear load capacity for concrete breakout failure modes. In total, seven normal-strength and four high-strength concretes were tested at two different ages. Structural tests were performed on cast-in (tensile and shear tests) and post-installed adhesive anchors (shear tests). Parallel to the structural tests, each concrete was characterized in terms of compressive and tensile strength. Finally, the combined experimental data offer novel insights into the predictive quality of available design models for concrete cone capacity in tension and edge breakout in shear with respect to a potential aggregate effect. Systematic analyses indicate only minor aggregate effects after normalization by compressive strength (less than 7% difference between normalized values). However, the study reveals potential curing and concrete age effects where a 9% increase in predicted values is shown when concrete cures longer. The predictive equations remain conservative in comparison to all the investigated properties and their validity is shown in this study.
Bat Hibernation: In Groups or Individually?
Authors: Kłys Grzegorz , Ziembik Zbigniew , Makuchowska-Fryc Joanna
Published: March 2024

This study focuses on the hibernation behavior of the western barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus) in underground systems in Poland from 2006 to 2011, specifically during the peak hibernation months of December to February. The impact of climate parameters, namely temperature (T), humidity (Rh), and air flow velocity (v), on the clustering behavior of bats during hibernation was investigated. The climate parameters varied within specific ranges: T fluctuated between 6.0 and 12.4 °C, Rh ranged from 56.4 to 91.8%, and v varied from 0.01 to 1.17 m/s. The quantile linear regression method for statistical analysis of the results was employed. This study found that certain combinations of climate parameters influenced the grouping behavior of bats during hibernation. The model structural parameters revealed the following relationships: 1. An increase in the product of T and v led to an increase in the bats’ group size. 2. For pairs of variables such as T and Rh, and Rh and v, an increase in their product resulted in a decrease in the bats’ group size. 3. When considering the product of T, Rh, and v, a decrease in the bats’ group size was also observed.
NSGA–III–XGBoost-Based Stochastic Reliability Analysis of Deep Soft Rock Tunnel
Authors: Xu Jiancong , Sun Chen , Rui Guorong
Published: March 2024

How to evaluate the reliability of deep soft rock tunnels under high stress is a very important problem to be solved. In this paper, we proposed a practical stochastic reliability method based on the third-generation non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA–III) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). The proposed method used the Latin hypercube sampling method to generate the dataset samples of geo-mechanical parameters and adopted XGBoost to establish the model of the nonlinear relationship between displacements and surrounding rock mechanical parameters. And NSGA–III was used to optimize the surrogate model hyper-parameters. Finally, the failure probability was computed by the optimized surrogate model. The proposed approach was firstly implemented in the analysis of a horseshoe-shaped highway tunnel to illustrate the efficiency of the approach. Then, in comparison to the support vector regression method and the back propagation neural network method, the feasibility, validity and advantages of XGBoost were demonstrated for practical problems. Using XGBoost to achieve Monte Carlo simulation, a surrogate solution can be provided for numerical simulation analysis to overcome the time-consuming reliability evaluation of initial support structures in soft rock tunnels. The proposed method can evaluate quickly the large deformation disaster risks of non-circular deep soft rock tunnels.
The Numerical Analysis of Textile Reinforced Concrete Shells: Basic Principles
Authors: Vakaliuk Iurii , Scheerer Silke , Curbach Manfred
Published: March 2024

In the case of solid slabs made from reinforced concrete that are usually subjected to bending, large areas of the structure are stressed well below their load-bearing capacity or remain stress-free. Contrary to this are shell structures, which can bridge large spans with little material if designed well. To improve the efficiency of ceiling slabs, we want to utilize the shell load-bearing behaviour on a smaller scale by dissolving the solid interior accordingly. In order to be able to study a wide range of such constructions virtually, a parametric multi-objective simulation environment is to be developed in an ongoing research project, the basic analysis approaches of which are presented in this paper. In addition to the basic workflow and the programs used, the material models for TRC material compared and their calibration are described on the basis of tests on textile reinforced concrete (TRC) samples. Various material models were implemented within the commercially available software RFEM (Version 5.19). Laboratory tests on two different geometry solutions of TRC structures served to verify the models. The structures were selected in a way that differentiates between the bending and membrane actions to indicate the application fields for various approaches in the numerical modelling of TRC structures.
An Unsupervised Character Recognition Method for Tibetan Historical Document Images Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Wang Xiaojuan , Wang Weilan
Published: March 2024

As there is a lack of public mark samples of Tibetan historical document image characters at present, this paper proposes an unsupervised Tibetan historical document character recognition method based on deep learning (UD-CNN). Firstly, using the Tibetan historical document character component, the Tibetan historical document character sample data set is constructed for model-aided training. Then, the character baseline information is introduced, and a fine-grained feature learning strategy is proposed. For the samples above and below the baseline, the Up-CNN recognition model and Down-CNN recognition model are established. The convolution neural network model is trained and optimized for the samples above and below the baseline, respectively, to improve the recognition accuracy. The experimental results show that the proposed method obviously affects the unmarked character classification and recognition of real Tibetan historical document images. The recognition rate of Top5 can reach 92.94%, and the recognition rate of Top1 can be increased from 82.25% to 87.27% using the CNN model only.
Effect of Chlorhexidine Digluconate on Oral Bacteria Adhesion to Surfaces of Orthodontic Appliance Alloys
Authors: Gergeta Doria , Badnjevic Matea , Karleusa Ljerka , Maglica Zeljka , Spalj Stjepan , Gobin Ivana
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to analyse the effect of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX DG) mouthwash on the adhesion of oral bacteria to orthodontic appliances. The interactions of four bacteria (S. mutans, A. actinomycetemcomitans, S. oralis, and V. parvula) with two alloys (stainless steel [SS] and nickel-titanium [NiTi]) and three CHX DG solutions (commercial products Curasept and Perio Plus, and pure CHX DG, all with 0.12% active substance) were tested. The adhesive effect on the orthodontic wires was evaluated after 24 h for S. oralis and after 72 h for the other bacteria. The minimum bactericidal concentration of the solution for each bacterial strain was determined using the dilution method to test the antibacterial action. Salivary-pretreated orthodontic archwires were exposed to minimal bactericidal concentrations of solution and bacteria. Commercial antiseptic products, especially Perio Plus, showed a better inhibition of bacterial adhesion to both alloys than pure CHX DG solution (p < 0.05). A. actinomycetemcomitans was most inhibited in the adhesion of all bacteria by the CHX DG products. A greater inhibition of streptococci adherence was observed on SS, while that of A. actinomycetemcomitans was observed on NiTi. V. parvula inhibition was product-dependent. Although there were differences between the strains and the tested agents, it can be concluded that Perio Plus most effectively inhibited the adhesion of all tested bacteria to the SS and NiTi alloys. A. actinomycetemcomitans was most sensitive to all tested agents, while S. mutans showed the highest resistance. The effectiveness of the tested agents was better on NiTi alloys.