bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Identification of Candidate Genes for Milk Production Traits in Korean Holstein Cattle
Authors: Kim Sangwook , Lim Byeonghwi , Cho Joohyeon , Lee Seokhyun , Dang Chang-Gwon , Jeon Jung-Hwan , Kim Jun-Mo , Lee Jungjae
Published: May 2021

We performed a genome-wide association study and fine mapping using two methods (single marker regression: frequentist approach and Bayesian C (BayesC): fitting selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a Bayesian framework) through three high-density SNP chip platforms to analyze milk production phenotypes in Korean Holstein cattle (n = 2780). We identified four significant SNPs for each phenotype in the single marker regression model: AX-311625843 and AX-115099068 on Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 14 for milk yield (MY) and adjusted 305-d fat yield (FY), respectively, AX-428357234 on BTA 18 for adjusted 305-d protein yield (PY), and AX-185120896 on BTA 5 for somatic cell score (SCS). Using the BayesC model, we discovered significant 1-Mb window regions that harbored over 0.5% of the additive genetic variance effects for four milk production phenotypes. The concordant significant SNPs and 1-Mb window regions were characterized into quantitative trait loci (QTL). Among the QTL regions, we focused on a well-known gene (diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1)) and newly identified genes (phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B), and anoctamin 2 (ANO2)) for MY and FY, and observed that DGAT1 is involved in glycerolipid metabolism, fat digestion and absorption, metabolic pathways, and retinol metabolism, and PDE4B is involved in cAMP signaling. Our findings suggest that the candidate genes in QTL are strongly related to physiological mechanisms related to the fat production and consequent total MY in Korean Holstein cattle.
Unveiling the Impact of Antibiotics and Alternative Methods for Animal Husbandry: A Review
Authors: Low Chuen Xian , Tan Loh Teng-Hern , Ab Mutalib Nurul-Syakima , Pusparajah Priyia , Goh Bey-Hing , Chan Kok-Gan , Letchumanan Vengadesh , Lee Learn-Han
Published: May 2021

Since the 1950s, antibiotics have been used in the field of animal husbandry for growth promotion, therapy and disease prophylaxis. It is estimated that up to 80% of the antibiotics produced by the pharmaceutical industries are used in food production. Most of the antibiotics are used as feed additives at sub-therapeutic levels to promote growth. However, studies show the indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens that threaten both animal health and human health, including vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). This scenario is further complicated by the slow progress in achieving scientific breakthroughs in uncovering novel antibiotics following the 1960s. Most of the pharmaceutical industries have long diverted research funds away from the field of antibiotic discovery to more lucrative areas of drug development. If this situation is allowed to continue, humans will return to the pre-antibiotics era and potentially succumb to huge health and economic consequences. Fortunately, studies investigating various alternatives to antibiotics use in livestock show promising results. These alternatives include the application of bacteriophages and phage derived peptidoglycan degrading enzymes, engineered peptides, egg yolk antibodies, probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics, as well as quorum quenching molecules. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the use of growth-promoting antibiotics and their impact on livestock and provide insights on the alternative approaches for animal husbandry.
Valorization of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) Pomace by Enzyme-Assisted Extraction: Process Optimization and Comparison with Conventional Solid-Liquid Extraction
Authors: Syrpas Michail , Valanciene Egle , Augustiniene Ernesta , Malys Naglis
Published: May 2021

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) pomace contains a significant amount of polyphenols and can serve as a basis for food additives, nutraceuticals, and functional foods. Although various techniques can be employed to recover bioactive fractions from berry pomaces, data on enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) of bilberry pomace are rather scarce. This study aimed to optimize critical EAE parameters using Viscozyme L to obtain a high-yield extract with enhanced antioxidant capacity. Central composite design and response surface methodology evaluating the effect of four independent variables, namely, pH, temperature, extraction time, and enzyme concentration on three responses, were employed to define optimal EAE conditions. Under the optimal conditions (pH: 4.5, temperature 46 °C, 1 h of extraction, and 2 active units (AU) of Viscozyme L/g of pomace), EAE yielded 56.15 g/100 g DW of the water-soluble fraction. Comparison with conventional maceration indicated that EAE, besides the yield, significantly increased the in vitro antioxidant capacity measured by the total phenolic content, ABTS, ORAC, and CUPRAC assays. Moreover, an increase was observed for the measured mono- and disaccharide as well as anthocyanin content. Overall, this study demonstrates the improved efficiency of EAE over conventional solid–liquid extraction to recover fractions with a higher yield and enhanced functional properties in a fast and sustainable manner.
Apigenin and Luteolin Regulate Autophagy by Targeting NRH-Quinone Oxidoreductase 2 in Liver Cells
Authors: Janda Elzbieta , Martino Concetta , Riillo Concetta , Parafati Maddalena , Lascala Antonella , Mollace Vincenzo , Boutin Jean A.
Published: May 2021

Dietary flavonoids stimulate autophagy and prevent liver dysfunction, but the upstream signaling pathways triggered by these compounds are not well understood. Certain polyphenols bind directly to NRH-quinone oxidoreductase 2 (NQO2) and inhibit its activity. NQO2 is highly expressed in the liver, where it participates in quinone metabolism, but recent evidence indicates that it may also play a role in the regulation of oxidative stress and autophagy. Here, we addressed a potential role of NQO2 in autophagy induction by flavonoids. The pro-autophagic activity of seven flavonoid aglycons correlated perfectly with their ability to inhibit NQO2 activity, and flavones such as apigenin and luteolin showed the strongest activity in all assays. The silencing of NQO2 strongly reduced flavone-induced autophagic flux, although it increased basal LC3-II levels in HepG2 cells. Both flavones induced AMP kinase (AMPK) activation, while its reduction by AMPK beta (PRKAB1) silencing inhibited flavone-induced autophagy. Interestingly, the depletion of NQO2 levels by siRNA increased the basal AMPK phosphorylation but abrogated its further increase by apigenin. Thus, NQO2 contributes to the negative regulation of AMPK activity and autophagy, while its targeting by flavones releases pro-autophagic signals. These findings imply that NQO2 works as a flavone receptor mediating autophagy and may contribute to other hepatic effects of flavonoids.
Universal Safety Design (USD) and Sustainability: Comparison of Guidelines between Universal Design (UD) and USD
Authors: Baek Seung-Yeon , Jeong Byung-Yong
Published: May 2021

Universal Design (UD) has contributed to enhancing the quality of life through design for all. This study aims to compare the users’ subjective scores for UD guidelines and Universal Safety Design (USD) guidelines. A questionnaire survey was performed to get information on the 165 users’ subjective scores for design guidelines implementing UD or USD. Results show that USD guidelines have extensibility in fairness, flexible work, and sustainability perspectives. UD guidelines show a low correlation coefficient with sustainability guideline of USD. In the results of the regression analysis, the guidelines of USD reflect the design concept of UD. Additionally, USD guidelines increase the design concept of sustainability. USD guidelines are expected to contribute to creating comfortable and safe environments for the disabled, the elderly, foreigners, and socially vulnerable groups. Additionally, it is expected to address discrimination at work.
Using a High-Power Fibre Laser to Cut Concrete
Authors: Nagai Kaori , Shimizu Kazuki
Published: May 2021

Concrete cutting at construction sites causes problems such as noise, vibration, and dust. In particular, during the demolition and renovation work on buildings in urban areas, protection against noise, vibration, dust, etc., is needed. Concrete cutting using a CO2 laser was investigated 20 years ago. However, this method had never used because the equipment is difficult to carry. In this study, we used a portable fibre laser, which is convenient to carry. Two types of concretes with different strengths were prepared for the experiment. High-strength concrete has never been used in similar research before. High-strength concrete is just only used for skyscrapers because of its high quality and costs. Furthermore, it has already been used for skyscrapers in Japan. It is for this reason that we chose to use it in this study. Irradiation measurements were conducted under various conditions using laser powers of 6 and 9 kW. It was confirmed that the cutting effectiveness of CO2 and fibre lasers was approximately identical for concretes with a thickness of 200 mm. Furthermore, the cutting effectiveness for the two concretes with different densities was almost the same. However, the situation after cutting was different because the vitrification of the cutting and glass formation progressed in low-density concrete and an explosion phenomenon occurred in high-density concrete, simultaneously. This study suggests that laser concrete cutting can be used as a solution when noise and dust are major problems.
Shellfish Chitosan Potential in Wine Clarification
Authors: Vendramin Veronica , Spinato Gaia , Vincenzi Simone
Published: May 2021

Chitosan is a chitin-derived fiber, extracted from the shellfish shells, a by-product of the fish industry, or from fungi grown in bioreactors. In oenology, it is used for the control of Brettanomyces spp., for the prevention of ferric, copper, and protein casse and for clarification. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine established the exclusive utilization of fungal chitosan to avoid the eventuality of allergic reactions. This work focuses on the differences between two chitosan categories, fungal and animal chitosan, characterizing several samples in terms of chitin content and degree of deacetylation. In addition, different acids were used to dissolve chitosans, and their effect on viscosity and on the efficacy in wine clarification were observed. The results demonstrated that even if fungal and animal chitosans shared similar chemical properties (deacetylation degree and chitin content), they showed different viscosity depending on their molecular weight but also on the acid used to dissolve them. A significant difference was discovered on their fining properties, as animal chitosans showed a faster and greater sedimentation compared to the fungal ones, independently from the acid used for their dissolution. This suggests that physical–chemical differences in the molecular structure occur between the two chitosan categories and that this significantly affects their technologic (oenological) properties.
Solving Non-Permutation Flow Shop Scheduling Problem with Time Couplings
Authors: Idzikowski Radosław , Rudy Jarosław , Gnatowski Andrzej
Published: May 2021

In this paper, a non-permutation variant of the Flow Shop Scheduling Problem with Time Couplings and makespan minimization is considered. Time couplings are defined as machine minimum and maximum idle time allowed. The problem is inspired by the concreting process encountered in industry. The mathematical model of the problem and solution graph representation are presented. Several problem properties are formulated, including the time complexity of the goal function computation and block elimination property. Three solving methods, an exact Branch and Bound algorithm, the Tabu Search metaheuristic, and a baseline Genetic Algorithm metaheuristic, are proposed. Experiments using Taillard-based problem instances are performed. Results show that, for the Tabu Search method, the neighborhood based on the proposed block property outperforms other neighborhoods and the Genetic Algorithm under the same time limit. Moreover, the Tabu Search method provided high quality solutions, with the gap to the optimal solution for the smaller instances not exceeding 2.3%.
NPU RGBD Dataset and a Feature-Enhanced LSTM-DGCN Method for Action Recognition of Basketball Players+
Authors: Ma Chunyan , Fan Ji , Yao Jinghao , Zhang Tao
Published: May 2021

Computer vision-based action recognition of basketball players in basketball training and competition has gradually become a research hotspot. However, owing to the complex technical action, diverse background, and limb occlusion, it remains a challenging task without effective solutions or public dataset benchmarks. In this study, we defined 32 kinds of atomic actions covering most of the complex actions for basketball players and built the dataset NPU RGB+D (a large scale dataset of basketball action recognition with RGB image data and Depth data captured in Northwestern Polytechnical University) for 12 kinds of actions of 10 professional basketball players with 2169 RGB+D videos and 75 thousand frames, including RGB frame sequences, depth maps, and skeleton coordinates. Through extracting the spatial features of the distances and angles between the joint points of basketball players, we created a new feature-enhanced skeleton-based method called LSTM-DGCN for basketball player action recognition based on the deep graph convolutional network (DGCN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) methods. Many advanced action recognition methods were evaluated on our dataset and compared with our proposed method. The experimental results show that the NPU RGB+D dataset is very competitive with the current action recognition algorithms and that our LSTM-DGCN outperforms the state-of-the-art action recognition methods in various evaluation criteria on our dataset. Our action classifications and this NPU RGB+D dataset are valuable for basketball player action recognition techniques. The feature-enhanced LSTM-DGCN has a more accurate action recognition effect, which improves the motion expression ability of the skeleton data.
Behavior Characteristics of Single Batter Pile under Vertical Load
Authors: Kim Jiseong , Yun Seong-Kyu , Kang Minsu , Kang Gichun
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this study is to grasp the behavior characteristics of a single batter pile under vertical load by performing a model test. The changes in the resistance of the pile, the bending moment, etc. by the slope of the pile and the relative density of the ground were analyzed. According to the results of the test, when the relative density of the ground was medium and high, the bearing capacity kept increasing when the angle of the pile moved from a vertical position to 20°, and then decreased gradually after 20°. The bending moment of the pile increased as the relative density of the ground and the batter angle of the pile increased. The position of the maximum bending moment came closer to the ground surface as the batter angle of the pile further increased, and it occurred at a point of 5.2~6.7 times the diameter of the pile from the ground surface.
Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) Coatings: Classification, Properties, and Applications
Authors: Rajak Dipen Kumar , Kumar Ashwini , Behera Ajit , Menezes Pradeep L.
Published: May 2021

DLC coatings have attracted an enormous amount of interest for science and engineering applications. DLC occurs in several different kinds of amorphous carbon materials. Owing to the extensive diversity in their properties, DLC coatings find applications in mechanical, civil, aerospace, automobile, biomedical, marine, and several other manufacturing industries. The coating life of DLC is predominately influenced by its constituent elements and manufacturing techniques. Numerous researchers have performed multiple experiments to achieve a robust understanding of DLC coatings and their inherent capabilities to enhance the life of components. In this review, a wide range of DLC coatings and their classification, properties, and applications are presented. Their remarkable performance in various applications has made DLC coatings a promising alternative over traditional solitary-coating approaches.
Two-Year Longevity of Posterior Zirconia Multi-Unit Fixed Dental Prostheses with Monolithic Occlusal Surface
Authors: Pahncke Elisabeth , Hahnel Sebastian , Schierz Oliver , Schmidt Michael Benno , Schmutzler Anne , Rauch Angelika
Published: May 2021

In this prospective clinical trial we observed the 2-year clinical performance of posterior tooth-supported multi-unit fixed dental prostheses (FDP) fabricated from zirconia with monolithic occlusal surfaces. Fifty multi-unit FDPs were inserted in 50 patients. After two years of clinical service, 43 restorations were reexamined as one patient had died and six patients were not available for recall. Two biological (root canal treatment: 12 and 14 months) and one technical (debonding: 12 months) complications occurred. According to the Kaplan–Meier analysis, the success rate was 93.7%, and the survival rate was 100%. The six patients who were not available for regular 2-year follow-up were examined after the official 2-year recall interval, and none of the FDPs presented complications or failures. Within the limitations of the current study, the use of multi-unit FDPs with monolithic occlusal surfaces fabricated from zirconia can be recommended for short-term use in the posterior area.
Electrical Characterization of Li-Ion Battery Modules for Second-Life Applications
Authors: Kehl Daniel , Jennert Torben , Lienesch Frank , Kurrat Michael
Published: May 2021

The reuse and repurposing of lithium-ion batteries for transportation in stationary energy systems improve the economic value of batteries. A precise suitability test at the beginning of the second life is therefore necessary. Common methods such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and current interrupt (CI) analysis, as well as capacity analysis, can be used for testing. In this paper, these methods are studied from the aspects of test duration, sensitivity and acquisition costs of the measuring instruments. For this purpose, tests are carried out on battery modules, which were used for transportation. It is shown that subtle differences are better detected with EIS and less accurately with the CI method. The test duration is fastest with the CI method, followed by EIS and the capacity test. Strongly aged modules are reliably detected with all methods.
Phototheranostics Using Erythrocyte-Based Particles
Authors: Hanley Taylor , Vankayala Raviraj , Lee Chi-Hua , Tang Jack C. , Burns Joshua M. , Anvari Bahman
Published: May 2021

There has been a recent increase in the development of delivery systems based on red blood cells (RBCs) for light-mediated imaging and therapeutic applications. These constructs are able to take advantage of the immune evasion properties of the RBC, while the addition of an optical cargo allows the particles to be activated by light for a number of promising applications. Here, we review some of the common fabrication methods to engineer these constructs. We also present some of the current light-based applications with potential for clinical translation, and offer some insight into future directions in this exciting field.
Multi-Functional MPT Protein as a Therapeutic Agent against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Kim Jae-Sung , Cho Euni , Mun Seok-Jun , Kim Sojin , Kim Sun-Young , Kim Dong-Gyu , Son Wooic , Jeon Hye-In , Kim Hyo-Keun , Jeong Young-Jin , Jang Sein , Kim Hyun-Sung , Yang Chul-Su
Published: May 2021

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), avoids the host immune system through its virulence factors. MPT63 and MPT64 are the virulence factors secreted by MTB which regulate host proteins for the survival and proliferation of MTB in the host. Here, we found that MPT63 bound directly with TBK1 and p47phox, whereas MPT64 interacted with TBK1 and HK2. We constructed a MPT63/64-derived multifunctional recombinant protein (rMPT) that was able to interact with TBK1, p47phox, or HK2. rMPT was shown to regulate IFN-β levels and increase inflammation and concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), while targeting macrophages and killing MTB, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the identification of the role of rMPT against MTB was achieved via vaccination in a mouse model. Taken together, we here present rMPT, which, by regulating important immune signaling systems, can be considered an effective vaccine or therapeutic agent against MTB.
Equivalent Behavioral Facilitation to Tactile Cues in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Kadlaskar Girija , Bergmann Sophia , McNally Keehn Rebecca , Seidl Amanda , Keehn Brandon
Published: May 2021

The alerting network, a subcomponent of attention, enables humans to respond to novel information. Children with ASD have shown equivalent alerting in response to visual and/or auditory stimuli compared to typically developing (TD) children. However, it is unclear whether children with ASD and TD show equivalent alerting to tactile stimuli. We examined (1) whether tactile cues affect accuracy and reaction times in children with ASD and TD, (2) whether the duration between touch-cues and auditory targets impacts performance, and (3) whether behavioral responses in the tactile cueing task are associated with ASD symptomatology. Six- to 12-year-olds with ASD and TD participated in a tactile-cueing task and were instructed to respond with a button press to a target sound /a/. Tactile cues were presented at 200, 400, and 800 ms (25% each) prior to the auditory target. The remaining trials (25%) were presented without tactile cues. Findings suggested that both groups showed equivalent alerting responses to tactile cues. Additionally, all children were faster to respond to auditory targets at longer cue–target intervals. Finally, there was an association between rate of facilitation and RRB scores in all children, suggesting that patterns of responding to transient phasic cues may be related to ASD symptomatology.
Identification of Putative Virulence Genes by DNA Methylation Studies in the Cereal Pathogen Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Tini Francesco , Beccari Giovanni , Marconi Gianpiero , Porceddu Andrea , Sulyok Micheal , Gardiner Donald M. , Albertini Emidio , Covarelli Lorenzo
Published: May 2021

DNA methylation mediates organisms’ adaptations to environmental changes in a wide range of species. We investigated if a such a strategy is also adopted by Fusarium graminearum in regulating virulence toward its natural hosts. A virulent strain of this fungus was consecutively sub-cultured for 50 times (once a week) on potato dextrose agar. To assess the effect of subculturing on virulence, wheat seedlings and heads (cv. A416) were inoculated with subcultures (SC) 1, 23, and 50. SC50 was also used to re-infect (three times) wheat heads (SC50×3) to restore virulence. In vitro conidia production, colonies growth and secondary metabolites production were also determined for SC1, SC23, SC50, and SC50×3. Seedling stem base and head assays revealed a virulence decline of all subcultures, whereas virulence was restored in SC50×3. The same trend was observed in conidia production. The DNA isolated from SC50 and SC50×3 was subject to a methylation content-sensitive enzyme and double-digest, restriction-site-associated DNA technique (ddRAD-MCSeEd). DNA methylation analysis indicated 1024 genes, whose methylation levels changed in response to the inoculation on a healthy host after subculturing. Several of these genes are already known to be involved in virulence by functional analysis. These results demonstrate that the physiological shifts following sub-culturing have an impact on genomic DNA methylation levels and suggest that the ddRAD-MCSeEd approach can be an important tool for detecting genes potentially related to fungal virulence.
Anodic Stripping Voltammetry with the Hanging Mercury Drop Electrode for Trace Metal Detection in Soil Samples
Authors: Xu Kequan , Pérez-Ràfols Clara , Marchoud Amine , Cuartero María , Crespo Gastón A.
Published: May 2021

The widely spread use of the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) for multi-ion analysis is primarily ascribed to the following reasons: (i) excellent reproducibility owing to the easy renewal of the electrode surface avoiding any hysteresis effect (i.e., a new identical drop is generated for each measurement to be accomplished); (ii) a wide cathodic potential window originating from the passive hydrogen evolution and solvent electrolysis; (iii) the ability to form amalgams with many redox-active metal ions; and (iv) the achievement of (sub)nanomolar limits of detection. On the other hand, the main controversy of the HMDE usage is the high toxicity level of mercury, which has motivated the scientific community to question whether the HMDE deserves to continue being used despite its unique capability for multi-metal detection. In this work, the simultaneous determination of Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ using the HMDE is investigated as a model system to evaluate the main features of the technique. The analytical benefits of the HMDE in terms of linear range of response, reproducibility, limit of detection, proximity to ideal redox behavior of metal ions and analysis time are herein demonstrated and compared to other electrodes proposed in the literature as less-toxic alternatives to the HMDE. The results have revealed that the HMDE is largely superior to other reported methods in several aspects and, moreover, it displays excellent accuracy when simultaneously analyzing Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ in such a complex matrix as digested soils. Yet, more efforts are required towards the definitive replacement of the HMDE in the electroanalysis field, despite the elegant approaches already reported in the literature.
Impaired Glucose-Insulin Metabolism in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Related to SARS-CoV-2 in Children
Authors: Calcaterra Valeria , Bosoni Pietro , Dilillo Dario , Mannarino Savina , Fiori Laura , Fabiano Valentina , Carlucci Patrizia , Di Profio Elisabetta , Verduci Elvira , Mameli Chiara , Pelizzo Gloria , Zoia Elena , Sacchi Lucia , Larizza Cristiana , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo
Published: May 2021

An interaction between metabolic glucose impairment and coronavirus disease 2019 is reported. The development of a severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) related to SARS-CoV-2 infection has been described. We evaluated the impact of MIS-C on glycemic patterns in pediatric patients. A group of 30 children and adolescents affected by MIS-C were considered; all patients were normal weight. Clinical and biochemical assessments, including surrogate markers of insulin resistance (IR) such as homeostasis model analysis-IR (HOMA-IR) and triglyceride–glucose (TyG) indexes, were recorded. Patients were also invited to undergo an intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM). HOMA-IR index was calculated in 18 patients (60%), of which 17 (94%) revealed a pathological value. TyG index was computed for all patients and pathological values were detected in all cases. In 15 patients, isCGM data were recorded on average for 9 days (±3 days). Overall, average glucose was 105 mg/dL (±16 mg/dL) and average time spent in the 70–180 mg/dL range (TIR) was 93.76%, with nearly 10% of glucose readings in the 141–180 mg/dL range; glycemic fluctuations over the hyperglycemic threshold were detected in four patients. Regular glucose monitoring may be useful to prevent metabolic imbalance and obtain a better outcome.
Feeding Problems in Typically Developing Young Children, a Population-Based Study
Authors: Sdravou Katerina , Fotoulaki Maria , Emmanouilidou-Fotoulaki Elpida , Andreoulakis Elias , Makris Giorgos , Sotiriadou Fotini , Printza Athanasia
Published: May 2021

Feeding problems have been estimated to occur in approximately 25–45% of normally developing children. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of feeding problems in typically developing young children in Greece. Child feeding behavior, parents’ feelings about their child’s feeding patterns, and parental feeding practices were also explored. Parents completed the Greek version of the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS). Data on 742 healthy, typically developing children aged two to seven years are presented. Overall, the majority of children in the sample showed high frequency of desirable mealtime behaviors and low frequency of undesirable mealtime behaviors. However, a significant proportion of the cohort presented with food neophobia and low consumption of vegetables. When applying test cut-off scores, it was found that 8.2% of the sample had abnormal Total Frequency Score (TFS) and 26.6% had abnormal Total Problem Score (TPS). The study showed that parent-reported feeding problems are quite common in children of typical development in Greece. Moreover, while the majority of the sample displayed a high frequency of favorable behaviors, specific child feeding behaviors are amenable to improvement.
Air Pollution and Climate Drive Annual Growth in Ponderosa Pine Trees in Southern California
Authors: Jenkins Hillary S.
Published: May 2021

The ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa, Douglas ex C. Lawson) is a climate-sensitive tree species dominant in the mixed conifer stands of the San Bernardino Mountains of California. However, the close proximity to the city of Los Angeles has resulted in extremely high levels of air pollution. Nitrogen (N) deposition, resulting from nitrous oxides emitted from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, has been recorded in this region since the 1980s. The impact of this N deposition on ponderosa pine growth is complex and often obscured by other stressors including climate, bark beetle attack, and tropospheric ozone pollution. Here I use a 160-year-long (1855–2015) ponderosa pine tree ring chronology to examine the annual response of tree growth to both N deposition and climate in this region. The chronology is generated from 34 tree cores taken near Crestline, CA. A stepwise multiple regression between the tree ring chronology and various climate and air pollution stressors indicates that drought conditions at the end of the rainy season (March) and NO2 pollution during the water year (pOct-Sep) exhibit primary controls on growth (r2-adj = 0.65, p < 0.001). The direct correlation between NO2 and tree growth suggests that N deposition has a positive impact on ponderosa pine bole growth in this region. However, it is important to note that ozone, a known stressor to ponderosa pine trees, and NO2 are also highly correlated (r = 0.84, p < 0.05). Chronic exposure to both ozone and nitrogen dioxide may, therefore, have unexpected impacts on tree sensitivity to climate and other stressors in a warming world.
The Hybrid Process of Low-Pressure Carburizing and Metallization (Cr + LPC, Al + LPC) of 17CrNiMo7-6 and 10NiCrMo13-5 Steels
Authors: Kowalczyk Paulina , Dybowski Konrad , Januszewicz Bartłomiej , Atraszkiewicz Radomir , Makówka Marcin
Published: May 2021

This paper presents the concept of modification of physicochemical properties of steels by simultaneous diffusion saturation with carbon and chromium or aluminum. The application of a hybrid surface treatment process consisting of a combination of aluminizing and low-pressure carburizing (Al + LPC) resulted in a reduction in the amount of retained austenite in the surface layer of the steel. While the use of chromium plating and low-pressure carburizing (Cr + LPC) induced an improvement in the corrosion resistance of the carburized steels. It is of particular importance in case of vacuum processes after the application of which the active surface corrodes easily, as well as in case of carburizing of low-alloy steel with nickel, where an increased content of retained austenite in the surface layer is found after carburizing.
Effect of Copper Addition on the AlCoCrFeNi High Entropy Alloys Properties via the Electroless Plating and Powder Metallurgy Technique
Authors: Hassan Mohamed Ali , Yehia Hossam M. , Mohamed Ahmed S. A. , El-Nikhaily Ahmed Essa , Elkady Omayma A.
Published: May 2021

To improve the AlCoCrFeNi high entropy alloys’ (HEAs’) toughness, it was coated with different amounts of Cu then fabricated by the powder metallurgy technique. Mechanical alloying of equiatomic AlCoCrFeNi HEAs for 25 h preceded the coating process. The established powder samples were sintered at different temperatures in a vacuum furnace. The HEAs samples sintered at 950 °C exhibit the highest relative density. The AlCoCrFeNi HEAs model sample was not successfully produced by the applied method due to the low melting point of aluminum. The Al element’s problem disappeared due to encapsulating it with a copper layer during the coating process. Because the atomic radius of the copper metal (0.1278 nm) is less than the atomic radius of the aluminum metal (0.1431 nm) and nearly equal to the rest of the other elements (Co, Cr, Fe, and Ni), the crystal size powder and fabricated samples decreased by increasing the content of the Cu wt%. On the other hand, the lattice strain increased. The microstructure revealed that the complete diffusion between the different elements to form high entropy alloy material was not achieved. A dramatic decrease in the produced samples’ hardness was observed where it decreased from 403 HV at 5 wt% Cu to 191 HV at 20 wt% Cu. On the contrary, the compressive strength increased from 400.034 MPa at 5 wt% Cu to 599.527 MPa at 15 wt% Cu with a 49.86% increment. This increment in the compressive strength may be due to precipitating the copper metal on the particles’ surface in the nano-size, reducing the dislocations’ motion, increasing the stiffness of produced materials. The formability and toughness of the fabricated materials improved by increasing the copper’s content. The thermal expansion has increased gradually by increasing the Cu wt%.
SiC3 as a Charge-Regulated Material for CO2 Capture
Authors: Zhang Haihui , Xiong Huihui , Liu Wei
Published: May 2021

The increasing CO2 emission rate is deteriorating the atmospheric environment, leading to global warming and climate change. The potential of the SiC3 nanosheet as a functioning material for the separation of CO2 from the mixture of CO2, H2, N2 and CH4 by injecting negative charges is studied by DFT calculations in this paper. The results show that in the absence of injecting negative charges, CO2 interacts weakly with the SiC3 nanosheet. While the interaction between CO2 and the SiC3 nanosheet can be strengthened by the injection of negative charges, the absorption mechanism of CO2 changes from physisorption to chemisorption when the injection of negative charges is switched on. H2/N2/CH4 are all physiosorbed on the SiC3 nanosheet with/without the injection of negative charges. The mechanism of CO2 adsorption/desorption on the SiC3 nanosheet could be tuned by switching on/off the injection of negative charges. Our results indicate that the SiC3 nanosheet can be regarded as a charge-regulated material for the separation of CO2 from the CO2/H2/N2/CH4 mixture.
Information Structures for Causally Explainable Decisions
Authors: Cox Louis
Published: May 2021

For an AI agent to make trustworthy decision recommendations under uncertainty on behalf of human principals, it should be able to explain why its recommended decisions make preferred outcomes more likely and what risks they entail. Such rationales use causal models to link potential courses of action to resulting outcome probabilities. They reflect an understanding of possible actions, preferred outcomes, the effects of action on outcome probabilities, and acceptable risks and trade-offs—the standard ingredients of normative theories of decision-making under uncertainty, such as expected utility theory. Competent AI advisory systems should also notice changes that might affect a user’s plans and goals. In response, they should apply both learned patterns for quick response (analogous to fast, intuitive “System 1” decision-making in human psychology) and also slower causal inference and simulation, decision optimization, and planning algorithms (analogous to deliberative “System 2” decision-making in human psychology) to decide how best to respond to changing conditions. Concepts of conditional independence, conditional probability tables (CPTs) or models, causality, heuristic search for optimal plans, uncertainty reduction, and value of information (VoI) provide a rich, principled framework for recognizing and responding to relevant changes and features of decision problems via both learned and calculated responses. This paper reviews how these and related concepts can be used to identify probabilistic causal dependencies among variables, detect changes that matter for achieving goals, represent them efficiently to support responses on multiple time scales, and evaluate and update causal models and plans in light of new data. The resulting causally explainable decisions make efficient use of available information to achieve goals in uncertain environments.
Economics of Waste Prevention: Second-Hand Products in Germany
Authors: Wilts Henning , Fecke Marina , Zeher Christine
Published: May 2021

Reuse is still seen as a “niche phenomenon” and consumers seem to waste economic opportunities linked to buying and selling second-hand products. For this reason, this paper focuses on incentives and barriers to sell and buy second-hand products, as indicated in the literature, and applies a theoretical framework of transaction costs to explain the existing consumption patterns. For this paper, a representative online survey was conducted in which 1023 consumers in Germany participated, age 16 and older. The data were analyzed for statistically significant deviations between different groups of economic actors selling or buying second-hand products. Results show that valuable unused products exist in households, but barriers such as uncertainties about the reliability of the buyer or the quality of the product hinder the transition into sustainable consumption. Different forms of transaction costs are important explanatory variables to explain why consumers nevertheless predominantly buy new products, although they are aware that second-hand would save money and make an individual contribution to climate protection.
Effects of Enhancement on Deep Learning Based Hepatic Vessel Segmentation
Authors: Survarachakan Shanmugapriya , Pelanis Egidijius , Khan Zohaib Amjad , Kumar Rahul Prasanna , Edwin Bjørn , Lindseth Frank
Published: May 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer with the liver being the most common site for cancer spread. A precise understanding of patient liver anatomy and pathology, as well as surgical planning based on that, plays a critical role in the treatment process. In some cases, surgeons request a 3D reconstruction, which requires a thorough analysis of the available images to be converted into 3D models of relevant objects through a segmentation process. Liver vessel segmentation is challenging due to the large variations in size and directions of the vessel structures as well as difficult contrasting conditions. In recent years, deep learning-based methods had been outperforming the conventional image analysis methods in the field of medical imaging. Though Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) have been proved to be efficient for the task of medical image segmentation, the way of handling the image data and the preprocessing techniques play an important role in segmentation. Our work focuses on the combination of different vesselness enhancement filters and preprocessing methods to enhance the hepatic vessels prior to segmentation. In the first experiment, the effect of enhancement using individual vesselness filters was studied. In the second experiment, the effect of gamma correction on vesselness filters was studied. Lastly, the effect of fused vesselness filters over individual filters was studied. The methods were evaluated on clinical CT data. The quantitative analysis of the results in terms of different evaluation metrics from experiments can be summed up as (i) each of the filtered methods shows an improvement as compared to unenhanced with the best mean DICE score of 0.800 in comparison to 0.740 for unenhanced; (ii) applied gamma correction provides a statistically significant improvement in the performance of each filter with improvement in mean DICE of around 2%; (iii) both the fused filtered images and fused segmentation give the best results (mean DICE score of 0.818 and 0.830, respectively) with the statistically significant improvement compared to the individual filters with and without Gamma correction. The results have further been verified by qualitative analysis and hence show the importance of our proposed fused filter and segmentation approaches.
A Self-Test, Self-Calibration and Self-Repair Methodology of Thermopile Infrared Detector
Authors: Zhou Kaiyue , Li Jia , Wang Weibing , Chen Dapeng
Published: May 2021

To improve the reliability and yield of thermopile infrared detectors, a self-test, self-calibration and self-repair methodology is proposed in this paper. A novel micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) infrared thermopile detector structure is designed in this method with a heating resistor building on the center of the membrane. The heating resistor is used as the stimuli of the sensing element on chip to achieve a self-test, and the responsivity related with ambient temperature can be calibrated by the equivalent model between electrical stimuli and physical stimuli. Furthermore, a fault tolerance mechanism is also proposed to localize the fault and repair the detector if the detector fails the test. The simulation results with faults simulated by the Monte Carlo stochastic model show that the proposed scheme is an effective solution to improve the yield of the MEMS thermopile infrared detector.
Turbulence of Capillary Waves on Shallow Water
Authors: Vladimirova Natalia , Vointsev Ivan , Skoba Alena , Falkovich Gregory
Published: May 2021

We consider the developed turbulence of capillary waves on shallow water. Analytic theory shows that an isotropic cascade spectrum is unstable with respect to small angular perturbations, in particular, to spontaneous breakdown of the reflection symmetry and generation of nonzero momentum. By computer modeling we show that indeed a random pumping, generating on average zero momentum, produces turbulence with a nonzero total momentum. A strongly anisotropic large-scale pumping produces turbulence whose degree of anisotropy decreases along a cascade. It tends to saturation in the inertial interval and then further decreases in the dissipation interval. Surprisingly, neither the direction of the total momentum nor the direction of the compensated spectrum anisotropy is locked by our square box preferred directions (side or diagonal) but fluctuate.
Better Animal Feeding for Improving the Quality of Ruminant Meat and Dairy
Authors: Delgado-Pertíñez Manuel , Horcada Alberto
Published: May 2021

The quality of meat and dairy products can be evaluated from the perspective of the farmer seeking high yields and profits or the consumer for whom sensory characteristics are the most important, although health and ethical aspects, such as animal welfare and the environmental impact of the production system, are increasingly becoming concerns worldwide [...]
Item Generation in the Development of an Interactive Nutrition Specific Physical Exam Competency Tool (INSPECT): A Qualitative Study Utilizing Technology-Based Focus Groups in the United States
Authors: Zechariah Sunitha , Lehman Leigh , Waller Jennifer L. , De Leo Gianluca , Stallings Judith , Gess Ashley J.
Published: May 2021

An alarming 30% to 50% prevalence rate of disease-related malnutrition among hospitalized patients compels the need for early diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) can utilize the nutrition-focused physical examination (NFPE) as one of the nutrition assessment criteria to accurately diagnose malnutrition. Although RDNs are striving to employ NFPE in practice, a lack of experience and adequate training impedes full utilization of this technique. This results in wide skill variations requiring continuous evaluation of RDNs’ NFPE competency. However, a standardized, validated competency tool is not widely available and hence this study aims to develop a standardized, interactive nutrition-specific physical exam competency tool (INSPECT). As a first step in the development of INSPECT, a qualitative, technology-based focus group approach with 7 content and practice experts was utilized to generate appropriate tool items. A total of 70 NFPE items under 9 areas including 12 items for muscle loss, 4 items for subcutaneous fat loss, 31 items for micronutrient deficiencies, 1 item for fluid status, 2 items for handgrip strength, 5 items for initial preparation, 4 items for bedside manner, 8 items for swallowing, and 3 items for abdominal evaluation were generated. This study successfully utilized technology-based focus groups to generate appropriate NFPE items for the competency tool development. Using the items, an initial version of INSPECT has been developed, which is presently being investigated for content and face validity. The final version will undergo field tests and will be examined for reliability, validity, and item-level psychometric properties.
Effects of Shoes That Can Be Tightened Using Wire and Dial on the Dynamic Balance Following Ankle Muscle Fatigue: A Crossover Study
Authors: Choi Im-Rak , Lee Jung-Hoon
Published: May 2021

Ankle muscle fatigue causes joint instability and increased postural sway, which triggers imbalance, leading to injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of wearing shoes that can be tightened using wire and dial (SWD) compared to being barefoot and wearing lace shoes of the slip-on type (LSS) on the dynamic balance of the ankle after muscle fatigue. Twenty-two healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Muscle fatigue in the ankle was induced using Biodex, an isokinetic equipment. The participants were randomly allocated to the barefoot, LSS, and SWD groups, and the dynamic balance immediately after inducing muscle fatigue in each participant was measured using BIORescue, the Y-Balance test, and the side-hop test. The results showed that after inducing ankle muscle fatigue, wearing SWD leads to a more significant increase in dynamic balance than barefoot and wearing LSS (p < 0.05). Hence, to improve the dynamic balance of the ankle after muscle fatigue, wearing SWD is suggested as it allows the tightening of the ankle and dorsum of the foot using the wire and dial.