bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Update and prognosis of Dermacentor distribution in Germany: Nationwide occurrence of Dermacentor reticulatus
Authors: Springer Andrea , Lindau Alexander , Probst Julia , Drehmann Marco , Fachet Katrin , Thoma Dorothea , Rose Vineer H. , Noll Madeleine , Dobler Gerhard , Mackenstedt Ute , Strube Christina
Published: November 2022

A considerable range expansion ofDermacentor reticulatushas been observed in several European countries, which is concerning in the light of its vector function for several pathogens, includingBabesia canisand tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The present study provides an update on the distribution ofDermacentorticks in Germany, using a citizen science approach. Ticks were collected by citizens from March 2020 to May 2021, and submitted along with information on the date and location of collection, potential hosts and details about the circumstances of discovery. In total, 3,292Dermacentorspecimens were received, of which 76.4% (2,515/3,292) were identified asD. reticulatusand 23.0% (758/3,292) asD. marginatus, while 0.6% (19/3,292) were too damaged for species-level identification.Dermacentor reticulatuswas received from all federal states of Germany. Maxent species distribution models predicted suitable environmental conditions forD. reticulatusthroughout Germany. Findings on the vegetation or on pastured animals without travel history confirmed the occurrence of this tick species as far north as the most northern German federal state Schleswig-Holstein. In contrast, the distribution ofD. marginatusstill appears to be limited to southwestern Germany, although the northward shift of the distribution limit observed in the preceding citizen science study, as compared with previous published distributions, was confirmed. This shift was also predicted by Maxent species distribution models, reflecting the broader distribution of the tick occurrence data contributed by citizens. MostD. reticulatusticks were found on dogs (1,311/1,960, 66.9%), whileD. marginatuswas mainly discovered on hoofed animals (197/621, 31.7%) and humans (182/621, 29.3%). Human tick bites were reported in 0.7% (14/1,960) of host-assignedD. reticulatusand 3.4% (21/621) of host-assignedD. marginatus. Further studies to investigate an increasing endemisation ofBabesia canisin Germany as well as the relevance ofD. reticulatusfor TBEV spread throughout the country, e.g., by traveling dogs, are urgently needed. In view of the activity ofD. reticulatusduring winter or the colder months, which complements that ofIxodes ricinus, a year-round tick protection of at least dogs is strongly recommended.
The influenza hemagglutinin stem antibody CR9114: Evidence for a narrow evolutionary path towards universal protection
Authors: Beukenhorst Anna L. , Frallicciardi Jacopo , Koch Clarissa M. , Klap Jaco M. , Phillips Angela , Desai Michael M. , Wichapong Kanin , Nicolaes Gerry A. F. , Koudstaal Wouter , Alter Galit , Goudsmit Jaap
Published: November 2022

Human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) that protect against all influenza A and B strains are considered the road to universal influenza vaccines. Based on publicly-available data, we analyze the mechanistic and structural basis of pan-influenza protection by CR9114, a hemagglutinin (HA) stem-reactive antibody that protects against influenza subtypes from groups A1, A2, and B. The mechanistic basis of CR9114’s universal protection is not limited to in vitro neutralization, as CR9114 also protects in vivo from strains that escape its neutralizing activity: some H2 strains and influenza B. Fusion inhibition, viral egress inhibition, and activation of Fc-mediated effector functions are key contributors to CR9114’s universal protection. A comparative analysis of paratopes – between CR9114 (pan-influenza protection) and structurally similar VH1-69 hmAb CR6261 (influenza A1 protection) – pinpoints the structural basis of pan-influenza protection. CR9114’s heterosubtypic binding is conferred by its ability to bind HA with multiple domains: three HCDR loops and FR3. In contrast to other VH1-69 hmAbs, CR9114 uses a long and polar side chain of tyrosine (Y) residues on its HCDR3 for crucial H-bonds with H3, H5, and B HA. The recognition of a highly conserved epitope by CR9114 results in a high genetic barrier for escape by influenza strains. The nested, hierarchical structure of the mutations between the germline ancestor and CR9114 demonstrates that it is the result of a narrow evolutionary pathway within the B cell population. This rare evolutionary pathway indicates an immuno-recessive epitope and limited opportunity for vaccines to induce a polyclonal CR9114-like response.
Finite-Time Tracking Control Based on Immersion and Invariance with Dynamically Scaling Factor for Agile Missiles
Authors: Li Jiaxun , Chen Xi , Niu Kang , Yu Jianqiao
Published: November 2022

A novel finite-time tracking control algorithm with disturbances observer is investigated for agile missiles in the presence of mismatched and matched disturbances. A finite-time disturbance observer with the continuous super-twisting algorithm is designed to quickly estimate the mismatched and matched disturbances. An adaptive law on the basis of immersion and invariance theory (I&I) is proposed to estimate the uncertainty of aerodynamics and compensate for the inaccuracy of modeling. An adaptive dynamic scaling factor supervised by a designed supervision factor is implemented. Moreover, a novel sliding mode controller is designed, and a barrier Lyapunov function (CTV-BLF) containing the system state constraints is constructed, which can guarantee that the violation of the constraint will not appear. The finite-time stability of the new proposition is proven via Lyapunov-based analysis. Comparative simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Measurement and Calibration of DEM Parameters of Soybean Seed Particles
Authors: Yan Dongxu , Yu Jianqun , Wang Yang , Sun Kai , Zhou Long , Tian Ye , Zhang Na
Published: November 2022

In discrete element method (DEM) simulations, accurate simulation parameters are very important. For ellipsoidal soybean seed particles, the rolling friction coefficient between seed particles (RFCP-P) and the rolling friction coefficients between seed particle and boundary (RFCP-B) are difficult to measure experimentally and therefore need to be calibrated. In this paper, soybean seed particles of three varieties with different sphericities were taken as the research objects. Through the simulation analysis of repose angle and self-flow screening, it was shown that the above two parameters needed to be accurately calibrated. In addition, the sensitivity of the RFCP-P and RFCP-B to the angle of repose was analyzed by simulating the repose angle test. The results showed that the RFCP-P had a significant effect on the test results of the repose angle, and the RFCP-B had little effect on the test results of the repose angle. Therefore, the RFCP-P was calibrated using a single-factor test of repose angle, and the RFCP-B was calibrated using the repose angle test with soybean particles mixed with organic glass spheres. The accuracy of the calibration parameters was verified by rotating cylinder test and self-flow screening test.
The Platonia insignis Mart. as the Promising Brazilian ‘Amazon Gold’: The State-of-the-Art and Prospects
Authors: Lima Simone Kelly Rodrigues , Coêlho Angélica Gomes , Lucarini Massimo , Durazzo Alessandra , Arcanjo Daniel Dias Rufino
Published: November 2022

Bacuri (Platonia insignis) is a monotype belonging to the Clusiaceae family. Of Amazonian origin, it is highly appreciated for fresh consumption, mainly due to its peculiar sensory characteristics. It is also widely used in the food industry, mainly in pulp (endocarp), used in the manufacture of beverages, jellies, and ice cream. Although the use of pulp is well established in the food sector, recently, research has turned attention to the use of other parts of the fruit and plant, especially in the therapeutics, cosmetics, and fuel sectors. Its bioactive components have been investigated for having important antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hypotensive, cardioprotective, antiepileptic, antileishmanial, and antifungal activities, among others, mainly attributed to the presence of compounds such as xanthones, terpenes, phenolics, and fatty acids. Thus, this study aimed to gather data on the species Platonia insignis Mart. through an integrative review of the agronomic, nutritional, physical–chemical characteristics and a technological prospection about its applications. The study showed that in the last ten years there has been a significant increase in the number of patents deposited, with the prospect that with the advancement of studies on their properties, results for application in the most diverse areas will prove increasingly viable and promising.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Leaf Rust Resistance at Seedling and Adult Plant Stages in a Global Barley Panel
Authors: Amouzoune Mariam , Rehman Sajid , Benkirane Rachid , Verma Swati , Gyawali Sanjaya , Al-Jaboobi Muamar , Verma Ramesh Pal Singh , Kehel Zakaria , Amri Ahmed
Published: November 2022

Barley leaf rust caused by Puccinia hordei (Ph) is one of the major limiting biotic stresses of barley production worldwide and causes yield losses of up to 60%. A diversity panel of 316 barley genotypes (AM2017) composed of released cultivars, advanced breeding lines and landraces was screened for Ph resistance at the seedling stage using two isolates (SRT-SAT and SRT-MRC), while the adult plant stage resistance screening was conducted at the disease hotspot location of Sidi Allal Tazi (SAT) for the cropping seasons of 2017 and 2019. The phenotypic responses were combined with 36,793 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the general linear model (GLM), mixed linear model (MLM), settlement of MLM under progressively exclusive relationship (SUPER), multiple-locus MLM (MLMM), fixed and random model circulating probability unification (FarmCPU), and Bayesian-information and linkage-disequilibrium iteratively nested keyway (BLINK) in GAPIT3, and MLM (K+Q), MLM (K+PCA), and GLM (Q) models in TASSEL to identify genomic regions linked to Ph resistance. Fourteen barley genotypes were resistant (R) at the seedling stage to both Ph isolates, SRT-SAT and SRT-MRC, and twelve genotypes were either resistant (R) or moderately resistant (MR) at the adult plant stage, whereas only one genotype was resistant at the seedling stage, and moderately resistant at the adult plant stage. The genome scan revealed 58 significant marker trait associations (MTA) among which 34 were associated with seedling resistance (SR) and 24 with adult plant resistance (APR). Common genomic regions conferring resistance to Ph were identified at both stages on chromosome 2H (106.53 cM and at 107.37 cM), and on chromosome 7H (126.7 cM). Among the 58 MTA identified, 26 loci had been reported in previous studies, while the remaining 32 loci were regarded as novel. Furthermore, the functional annotation of candidate genes (CGs) adjacent to 36 SNP markers with proteins involved in disease resistance further confirms that some of the SNP markers from our study could be associated with Ph resistance in barley. The resistant barley genotypes and some of the SNP markers from this study with high R2 and additive effects can be converted into high-throughput functional markers for accelerated selection and pyramiding of leaf rust resistance genes in North African barley germplasm.
Effect of Mounting Angle on Bending Subsoiling Tool–Soil Interactions Using DEM Simulations
Authors: Wang Xuezhen , Zhou Hao , Ji Jiangtao
Published: November 2022

Mechanical subsoiling is an effective practice to promote better water infiltration and crop root development. The bending subsoiling tool (BST) is a primary subsoiling tool and is used to remove soil compaction and restore soil productivity. In this study, a discrete element model was developed and validated using laboratory soil bin tests to investigate the effects of the mounting angle of the BST (5°–33°) on soil disturbance behaviors and draft forces. The results show that the upheaval, failure and fragmentation of soil was achieved by successive shearing, uplifting, extrusion, tension and turning actions from the cutting share and cambered shank of the BST. Increasing soil depths gave smaller soil disturbance ranges in lateral, forward and upward directions. With an increase in mounting angle, both the draft force and soil rupture distance ratio initially decreased and then increased, whereas the soil loosening efficiency initially increased and then decreased. Overall, increasing the mounting angle of the BST from 5° to 33° gave a greater soil surface flatness that increased rapidly when the mounting angle increased from 26° to 33°. Appropriately increasing mounting angle of the BST from 5° to 26° could lift more moist soil from the deep seed and middle layers (5.0–15.5% increase) into the shallow seed layer (depth of <50 mm) without seriously affecting the mixing of the deep layer and other layers. Considering both the soil disturbance characteristics and draft forces, a mounting angle of 26° appeared to outperform the other angles.
Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd. (Poaceae) Differentially Responds to Pre- and Post-Emergence Herbicides through Micro-Structural Alterations
Authors: Riaz Sidra , Basharat Sana , Ahmad Farooq , Hameed Mansoor , Fatima Sana , Ahmad Muhammad , Shah Syed , Asghar Ansa , El-Sheikh Mohamed , Kaushik Prashant
Published: November 2022

Herbicides are widely used to kill weeds and increase crop production all over the world. Nevertheless, some weeds show certain structural modifications in response to herbicide application that impart mostly partial or sometimes complete tolerance to these noxious plants. The present study was focused on morpho-anatomical modifications in the root, stem, and leaves of Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd. treated with different herbicides and to examine whether it possesses tolerance against herbicides. Two pre- and four post-emergence herbicides were applied to D. aegyptium at the recommended dose in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Pre-emergence herbicide Bromoxynil enhanced root growth (30%), leaves per plant (3%), and leaf fresh weight (17.2%). Increased stem epidermal thickness (100%) was the most notable feature among anatomical attributes. Post-emergence herbicides generally increased stem epidermal thickness 33–56%), leaf sheath thickness (5%), and root area in roots. Other modifications included increased sclerenchymatous thickness in the stem (133–255%), and epidermal thickness (100–200%) in the leaf blade. These characters assisted D. aegyptium to cope with herbicide toxicity. Collectively, pre-emergence herbicides more effectively controlled D. aegyptium compared with post-emergence herbicides.
Studies on the Yield and Chemical Composition of the Herb of Plants of the Genus Ocimum Depending on the Development Stage of the Plant
Authors: Zawiślak Grażyna , Walasek-Janusz Magdalena , Zalewska Ewa Dorota , Gruszecki Robert
Published: November 2022

The research aimed to present the possibility of cultivating selected plants of the genus Ocimum in central-eastern Poland and to assess the chemical composition of the obtained raw material, considering the development stage of the plant. The research object consisted of six selected plants from the genus Ocimum: Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum basilicum var. purpurescens, Ocimum basilicum × citrodorum, Ocimum basilicum ‘Cinnamon’, Ocimum basilicum ‘Siam Queen’, Ocimum basilicum var. minimum ‘Minette’. The herb was harvested on the following dates: mid-June (vegetative stage), mid-July (beginning of flowering), late July/early August (full flowering), end of August (late flowering). The research showed that plants of genus Ocimum sp. can be successfully introduced to cultivation in central-eastern Poland. The yield of these plants was at a high level (average yield of fresh herb—1.15 kg m−2 and average marketable yield—0.14 kg m−2). Plants of genus Ocimum sp. accumulated the least essential oil, flavonoids, and tannins in the vegetative stage (mean: essential oil—0.86%, flavonoids—0.60%, tannins—0.41%). The highest content of all tested secondary metabolites was found in the variety O. basilicum var. minimum “Minette”. The variability of the content of the analyzed compounds depending on the growth and flowering stage of the plants under study is diversified. For this reason, the date of harvesting raw materials from these plants should be selected individually to obtain a high-quality product.
Comparative Analysis of Pasture Soil Fertility in Semiarid Agro-Silvo-Pastoral Systems
Authors: Moral Francisco J. , Serrano João M. , Rebollo Francisco J. , Teixeira Ricardo F. M. , Domingos Tiago
Published: November 2022

Dryland pastures are usually on soils with a low fertility. However, a high spatial variability is apparent in pasture soils. In consequence, the application of inputs should be based on the particular characteristics of each field and their within-field variability. In this study, a comparative analysis of seven experimental fields (agro–silvo–pastoral ecosystems) in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula was performed using a probabilistic and objective model. Some soil properties (the texture, cation exchange capacity, soil apparent electrical conductivity, organic matter, nitrogen, potassium and slope) measured at six sampling locations in each field were consolidated in the model. It was verified that the data fit the model and, later, a ranking of all the sampling locations and, consequently, a ranking of all the experimental fields according to the pasture soil fertility was established. Moreover, another output of the model was a ranking of the soil properties according to their influence on the soil fertility: the topographical property, the slope, was the most influential as it is related to the level of other important soil properties, as the textural components. Two fields, Cubillos and Grous, had the highest overall soil fertility levels because the soil samples in these fields were very fertile. However, some samples in the other five fields were also in the group of the most fertile, denoting the existence of an important spatial variability within each field. The proposed method is a rational way to improve the efficiency of the use of fertilisers by adjusting them to the soil pasture fertility.
Effect of Tillage and Sowing Technologies Nexus on Winter Wheat Production in Terms of Yield, Energy, and Environment Impact
Authors: Saldukaitė-Sribikė Lina , Šarauskis Egidijus , Buragienė Sidona , Adamavičienė Aida , Velička Rimantas , Kriaučiūnienė Zita , Savickas Dainius
Published: November 2022

Crop production is considered one of the most important agricultural areas in the world, supplying humanity with raw food materials. However, intensive farming very often has a detrimental effect on the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate and assess the efficiency of strip tillage and a sowing machine as well as a direct sowing machine in differently prepared soils in terms of yield, energy, and environmental impact. The experiments were performed with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown using three different tillage techniques and two sowing machines. The results show that the inputs of diesel fuel, energy, and time are directly affected by the number and complexity of technological operations throughout the production chain. The highest inputs of diesel fuel, working time, and energy consumption were needed using conventional tillage technology with strip tillage and a sowing machine (CT–STS), amounting to 130.2 l ha−1, 6.65 h ha−1, and 18,349 MJ ha−1, respectively. The best yields were obtained using no tillage–direct sowing technology (NT–DS), where were reached 7.54 t ha−1. The lowest environmental impact was achieved in the winter wheat production system using NT–DS, where the CO2 emissions were as high as 15%, lower than those under conventional tillage–direct sowing (CT–DS) and CT–STS. The costs of winter wheat production can be reduced by up to 23.6%. The main conclusion regarding the use of strip tillage and sowing and direct sowing machines in traditional tillage technology is that energy and environmental indicators have deteriorated compared to no tillage, but no significant difference in winter wheat yields has been identified.
Local Factors Impact Accuracy of Garlic Tissue Test Diagnosis
Authors: Hahn Leandro , Parent Léon-Étienne , Feltrim Anderson Luiz , Rozane Danilo Eduardo , Ender Marcos Matos , Tassinari Adriele , Krug Amanda Veridiana , Berghetti Álvaro Luís Pasquetti , Brunetto Gustavo
Published: November 2022

The low productivity of garlic in Brazil requires more efficient nutritional management. For this, environmental and fertilization-related factors must be adjusted to a set of local conditions. Our objective was to provide an accurate diagnosis of the nutrient status of garlic crops in southern Brazil. The dataset comprised 1024 observations, 962 as field tests conducted during the 2015–2017 period to train the model, and 61 field observations collected during the 2018–2019 period to validate the model. Machine learning models (MLM) related garlic yield to managerial, edaphic, plant, and climatic features. Compositional data analysis (CoDa) methods allowed classification of nutrients in the order of limitation to yield where MLM detected nutrient imbalance. Tissue analysis alone returned an accuracy of 0.750 in regression and 0.891 in classification about the yield cutoff of 11 ton ha−1. Adding all features documented in the dataset, accuracy reached 0.855 in regression and 0.912 in classification. Local diagnosis based on MLM and CoDa and accounting for local features differed from regional diagnosis across features. Local nutrient diagnosis may differ from regional diagnosis because several yield-impacting factors are taken into account and benchmark compositions are representative of local conditions.
Causes of Mortality of Dairy Cattle Diagnosed by Complete Necropsy
Authors: Wilson David J. , Kelly Emma Jane , Gucwa Savannah
Published: November 2022

This retrospective case series summarized the primary causes of death in 857 dairy cattle necropsied from 2008 to 2019 at the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, from dairy farms in Utah (76%), Idaho (16%) or other states (8%), primarily in the U.S. Intermountain West. Of cattle with age provided, 74% matched with body weight based estimates for those with no age stated. Cattle ranged from fetuses at 60 days of gestation to 9 years old. Primary cause of mortality was diagnosed in 833 cattle (97%); no cause was evident in 24 cattle (3%). Sexes were female 620 (72%), male 214 (25%), not recorded 23 (3%). Seven diseases killed 80% of the animals: gastrointestinal disease (most enteritis/colitis) 318 (37%); pneumonia 166 (19%); abortion 96 (11%), peritonitis 30 (4%), omphalophlebitis (navel ill) 27 (3%), abomasitis 23 (3%), and metritis 23 (3%). Etiologic agents and specific causes varied with age categories of the animals. Young calves that died from dystocia, omphalophlebitis, or congenital abnormality often presented with no suspicion of those causes by the owners because of no external signs. Some important fatal diseases of adult dairy cows that are often diagnosed ante-mortem were diagnosed at necropsy with no suspicion by those submitting the carcasses: metritis, hardware disease, and displaced abomasum. Multicentric lymphoma was a relatively important cause of death in cows more than 4 years old. Despite use of a toxicology laboratory, toxicity was only diagnosed as causing 1% of the deaths across all ages of dairy cattle. There were numerous other causes of mortality diagnosed as well. Necropsy is a vital tool to diagnose causes of death in dairy cattle and can guide changes in management or preventive practices to reduce the rate of deaths in dairy herds.
Assessing Reproductive Performance to Establish Benchmarks for Small-Holder Beef Cattle Herds in South Africa
Authors: Nkadimeng Marble , Van Marle-Köster Este , Nengovhela Nkhanedzeni Baldwin , Ramukhithi Fhulufhelo Vincent , Mphaphathi Masindi Lotus , Rust Johannes Matthias , Makgahlela Mahlako Linah
Published: November 2022

Smallholder beef cattle farms in South Africa have had low reproductive performance, which has been associated with management practices. Considering current farm management practices, a multi-stage selection study was conducted to assess reproductive performance as defined by pregnancy rate, fetal and calf losses, calving interval and days open to benchmark reproductive performance. Data were collected twice, in autumn (March–May) for pregnancy diagnosis and in spring (September–November) for monitoring of confirmed pregnancies. Overall, 3694 cow records from 40 smallholder herds were collected during 2018 and 2019 breeding seasons from five provinces. The preferred 25th quartile described target performance and GLIMMIX procedure determined associations between management practices and performance. Smallholder farms on average recorded 50% pregnancy rate and 12% fetal and calf losses with 304 and 608 days open and calving interval, respectively. The derived target benchmarks for pregnancy rate, fetal and calf losses, days open and calving intervals in smallholder farms were 54%, 1.4%, 152 and 425 days, respectively. Reproductive performance was associated with no knowledge of body condition scoring before breeding, culling of old and non-productive cows, record keeping and low bull to cow ratio (p < 0.05). The performance benchmarks implied that industry averages may be improved if sustainable management services are provided through extension and advisory services.
Developing a Tool for Auditing the Quality of Antibiotic Dispensing in Community Pharmacies: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lambert Maarten , Benkő Ria , Chalkidou Athina , Lykkegaard Jesper , Hansen Malene Plejdrup , Llor Carl , Touboul Pia , Trečiokienė Indrė , Karkana Maria-Nefeli , Kowalczyk Anna , Taxis Katja
Published: November 2022

Background: The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control describes the community pharmacist as the gatekeeper to the quality of antibiotic use. The pharmacist has the responsibility to guard safe and effective antibiotic use; however, little is known about how this is implemented in practice. Aims: To assess the feasibility of a method to audit the quality of antibiotic dispensing in community pharmacy practice and to explore antibiotic dispensing practices in Greece, Lithuania, Poland, and Spain. Methods: The Audit Project Odense methodology to audit antibiotic dispensing practice was adapted for use in community pharmacy practice. Community pharmacists registered antibiotic dispensing on a specifically developed registration chart and were asked to provide feedback on the registration method. Results: Altogether, twenty pharmacists were recruited in four countries. They registered a total of 409 dispenses of oral antibiotics. Generally, pharmacists were positive about the feasibility of implementing the registration chart in practice. The frequency of checking for allergies, contraindications and interactions differed largely between the four countries. Pharmacists provided little advice to patients. The pharmacists rarely contacted prescribers. Conclusion: This tool seems to make it possible to get a useful picture of antibiotic dispensing patterns in community pharmacies. Dispensing practice does not seem to correspond with EU guidelines according to these preliminary results.
Gentamicin–Ascorbic Acid Encapsulated in Chitosan Nanoparticles Improved In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity and Minimized Cytotoxicity
Authors: Abdel-Hakeem Mohamed A. , Abdel Maksoud Ahmed I. , Aladhadh Mohammed Abdullah , Almuryif Khalid Abdulrahman , Elsanhoty Rafaat M. , Elebeedy Dalia
Published: November 2022

Nano-drug delivery is a promising tactic to enhance the activity and minimize the cytotoxicity of antimicrobial drugs. In the current study, chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) were used as a carrier for the delivery of gentamicin sulfate (GM) and ascorbic acid (AA). The particles were synthesized by ionotropic gelation method and characterized by FT-IR, Zeta potential, and transmission electron microscope imaging. The obtained particles were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity. The prepared particles (GM–AA–CSNPs) under the optimal condition of 4:1:1 of chitosan to drug ratio showed encapsulation efficiency and loading capacities of 89% and 22%, respectively. Regarding biological activities, GM–AA–CSNPs showed a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) than free gentamicin sulfate and GMCSNPs mixture without presenting cytotoxicity against normal cells (HSF). Moreover, the GM–AA–CSNPs did not exhibit hemolytic activity. These results highlight that the GM–AA–CSNPs are confirmed as a hopeful formula for future investigations on the development of antimicrobial preparations.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Two Pig Farms: Longitudinal Study of LA-MRSA
Authors: Golob Majda , Pate Mateja , Kušar Darja , Zajc Urška , Papić Bojan , Ocepek Matjaž , Zdovc Irena , Avberšek Jana
Published: November 2022

Pigs were identified as the most important reservoir of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA), mostly belonging to the emergent zoonotic clonal complex (CC) 398. Here, we investigated the presence of MRSA in sows and piglets over a period of several months in two pig farms (intensive farm A and family-run farm B). Isolates underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing, PCR characterization and spa typing. We collected 280 samples, namely 206 nasal swabs from pigs and 74 environmental samples from pig housings at 12 consecutive time points. A total of 120/161 (74.5%) and 75/119 (63.0%) samples were MRSA-positive in farms A and B, respectively. All isolates harbored mecA but lacked mecC and PVL-encoding genes. The identified spa types (t571, t034, t1250 and t898 in farm A, t1451 and t011 in farm B) were indicative of CC398. Antimicrobial resistance patterns (all multidrug resistant in farm A, 57.2% in farm B) depended on the farm, suggesting the impact of farm size and management practices on the prevalence and characteristics of MRSA. Due to the intermittent colonization of pigs and the high contamination of their immediate environment, MRSA status should be determined at the farm level when considering preventive measures or animal trade between farms.
Bioactive Components and Health Potential of Endophytic Micro-Fungal Diversity in Medicinal Plants
Authors: Muthukrishnan Sundaram , Prakathi Paranivasakam , Sivakumar Thangavel , Thiruvengadam Muthu , Jayaprakash Bindhu , Baskar Venkidasamy , Rebezov Maksim , Derkho Marina , Zengin Gokhan , Shariati Mohammad Ali
Published: November 2022

The endophytic fungi that reside inside medicinal plants have the potential to produce various pharmaco-potential bioactive compounds. The endophytic fungi Graminicolous helminthosporium, Bipolaris australiensis and Cladosporium cladosporioides were isolated from different medicinal plants. The GC-MS analysis of intra- and extracellular products of endophytic fungi revealed the presence of various bioactive metabolites, such as Anthracene, Brallobarbital, Benzo [h] quinolone, Ethylacridine, 2-Ethylacridine, Cyclotrisiloxane, 5 methyl 2 phenylindolizine, and 1,4-Cyclohexadien-1-one, etc. The phytochemical composition analysis of endophytic fungus extracts also revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, saponins, carbohydrates, glycosides, and proteins. The intra- and extracellular endophytic extracts exhibited strong antibacterial and antioxidant activity, which was screened with the agar-well diffusion method and DPPH, H2O2, and nitric oxide scavenging activity, respectively. The bioactive compounds identified in the endophytic extracts from GC-MS profiling served as ligands for molecular-docking analysis to investigate the anticancer potential against non-small cell lung carcinoma receptor EGFR. Molecular docking results showed that compounds, such as Brallobarbital, and 5 methyl 2 phenylindolizine had the lowest E- min values, which suggests that these compounds could be used in anticancer drug development. Thus, the isolated endophytic fungal species can be used to produce various bioactive compounds that could be used in novel drug development from natural sources and reduce the environmental burden of synthetic chemical drugs.
The Greening of Anthocyanins: Eco-Friendly Techniques for Their Recovery from Agri-Food By-Products
Authors: Lianza Mariacaterina , Marincich Lorenzo , Antognoni Fabiana
Published: November 2022

In recent years, several steps forward have been made toward a more sustainable approach for the extraction of bioactive compounds from plant materials based on the application of green extraction principles. It is currently recognized that waste and by-products deriving from agriculture and food industries still contain a wide array of high value-added substances, which can be re-used to obtain new products with various applications in the food, supplement, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Anthocyanins are a class of these valuable metabolites; they confer the red, violet, and blue color to fruits and vegetables, and scientific evidence has accumulated over the last few decades to support their beneficial effects on human health, in great part deriving from their powerful antioxidant capacity. This review provides a general overview of the most recent green procedures that have been applied for the recovery of anthocyanins from plant-derived wastes and by-products. The most widely used green solvents and the main sustainable techniques utilized for recovering this class of flavonoids from various matrices are discussed, together with the variables that mainly impact the extraction yield.
The Role of By-Products of Fruit and Vegetable Processing for the Dietary Treatment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Narrative Review
Authors: Tavares Isabela Ribeiro Grangeira , Pinheiro Vivian dos Santos , de Castro Patrícia Marques Lisboa Aroso , Reis Isabelle Barbosa , de Oliveira Gustavo Vieira , Alvares Thiago Silveira
Published: November 2022

Polyphenols-rich food has been utilized to induce a positive effect on human health. Considering that fruit and vegetable by-products (seeds, pomace, and peels) are sources of polyphenols, previous studies have investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with food by-products on cardiometabolic disorders, such as high fasting blood glucose, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Endothelial dysfunction has also been considered a cardiometabolic parameter, given that it precedes cardiovascular disease. However, there is a scarcity of narrative reviews reporting the effect of food by-product supplementation on cardiometabolic disorders in animal and human clinical trials. In this sense, the present narrative review aims to investigate the impact of fruit and vegetable by-product supplementation on cardiometabolic disorders in humans and animals, exploring the possible mechanisms whenever possible. Research articles were retrieved based on a search of the following databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using the following keywords and synonyms combined: (“fruit by-products” or “food waste” or “pomace” or “bagasse” or “seeds” or “waste products”) AND (“heart disease risk factors” or “endothelial dysfunction” or “atherosclerosis”). It was shown that fruit and vegetable by-products could efficiently improve cardiometabolic disorders in patients with chronic diseases, including hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. Such effects can be induced by the polyphenols present in food by-products. In conclusion, food by-product supplementation has a positive effect on cardiometabolic disorders. However, further studies investigating the effect of food by-products on cardiometabolic disorders in humans are still necessary so that solid conclusions can be drawn.
Application of Oyster Mushroom Cultivation Residue as an Upcycled Ingredient for Developing Bread
Authors: Moshtaghian Hanieh , Parchami Mohsen , Rousta Kamran , Lennartsson Patrik R.
Published: November 2022

Oyster mushroom (OM) cultivation generates residue that needs to be managed; otherwise, it will be converted into waste. One of the substrates for OM cultivation is the food industry by-product, e.g., a mixture of the brewer’s spent grain (BSG) and wheat bran. This study assesses the OM cultivation residue’s physical and nutritional characteristics as a potential upcycled food ingredient and also considers developing bread from this cultivation residue. The OM was cultivated in a mixture of 55% BSG and 45% wheat bran. After the OM harvest, the cultivation residue (mixture of BSG, wheat bran and mycelium) had a lighter colour and a pleasant aroma compared to the initial substrate. It contained protein (10.8%) and had high niacin (42.4 mg/100 g), fibre (59.2%) and beta-glucan (6.6%). Thiamine, riboflavin and pyridoxine were also present in the cultivation residue. The bread was developed from 50% cultivation residue and 50% wheat flour, and its scores for darkness, dryness, sponginess, sour taste, bitter aftertaste, and aromatic aroma differed from white bread (p-value < 0.05). However, its overall acceptability and liking scores were not significantly different from white bread (p-value > 0.05). Therefore, this OM cultivation residue can be used as a nutritious ingredient; nevertheless, product development should be further explored.
Poka Yoke Meets Deep Learning: A Proof of Concept for an Assembly Line Application
Authors: Martinelli Matteo , Lippi Marco , Gamberini Rita
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we present the re-engineering process of an assembly line that features speed reducers and multipliers for agricultural applications. The “as-is” line was highly inefficient due to several issues, including the age of the machines, a non-optimal arrangement of the shop floor, and the absence of process standards. The assembly line issues were analysed with Lean Manufacturing tools, identifying irregularities and operations that require effort (Mura), overload (Muri), and waste (Muda). The definition of the “to-be” line included actions to update the department layout, modify the assembly process, and design the line feeding system in compliance with the concepts of Golden Zone (i.e., the horizontal space more ergonomically and easily accessible by the operator) and Strike Zone (i.e., the vertical workspace setup in accordance to ergonomics specifications). The re-engineering process identified a critical problem in the incorrect assembly of the oil seals, mainly caused by the difficulty in visually identifying the correct side of the component, due to different reasons. Convolutional neural networks were used to address this issue. The proposed solution resulted to be a Poka Yoke. The whole re-engineering process induced a productivity increase that is estimated from 46% to 80%. The study demonstrates how Lean Manufacturing tools together with deep learning technologies can be effective in the development of smart manufacturing lines.
A Review on Distribution System State Estimation Algorithms
Authors: Fotopoulou Maria , Petridis Stefanos , Karachalios Ioannis , Rakopoulos Dimitrios
Published: November 2022

The modern energy requirements and the orientation towards Renewable Energy Sources (RES) integration promote the transition of distribution grids from passive, unidirectional, fossil fuel-based into active, bidirectional, environmental-friendly architectures. For this purpose, advanced control algorithms and optimization processes are implemented, the performance of which relies on the Distribution System State Estimation (DSSE). DSSE algorithms provide the Distribution System Operator (DSO) with detailed information regarding the network’s state in order to derive the optimal decisions. However, this task is quite complex as the distribution system has inherent unbalance issues, often faces lack of adequate measurements, etc. The purpose of this paper is to review the DSSE algorithms that a system can incorporate with emphasis on their particular requirements, the mathematical formulation of the problem, the analysis of the existing model-based and data-driven approaches and the recommended solutions regarding observability issues, bad data detection, and meter placement strategies. Furthermore, special attention is paid to DSSE applications, including the use cases where they can be deployed, the approaches that are usually followed, the integrated distributed power supply units, as well as their future trends and challenges, thus highlighting their business-related aspects.
Sensory Texture and Mastication Physics of Multi-Phase Meat Products
Authors: Oppen Dominic , Berger Lisa , Gibis Monika , Weiss Jochen
Published: November 2022

Food products often consist of several phases. Comminuted meat products, for example, are multiphase systems consisting of structured meat particles and unstructured batter-like substance. To develop and understand the processing of these products, it is important to understand the sensory and mechanical perception principles. To this end, two-phase food prototypes consisting of mixtures of ground beef and beef batter were prepared and subjected to sensory, texture, and oral processing analysis. The oral processing analysis focused on the biomechanical data of the chewing process, namely the kinematics of jaw movement and electromyographic activity. The ground meat served as the anisotropic phase and the meat dough as the isotropic phase. A significant increase in muscle activity, duration per bite, and occlusion time with increasing proportion of fibrous particles was demonstrated (p < 0.05). In contrast, a higher proportion of isotropic substance resulted in significantly higher amplitudes of jaw movement and faster jaw kinetics (p < 0.05). In mixed regimes, the system responded mainly according to the dominant phase, with sensory or mechanical response changing at a critical point. In combination with texture and sensory data, a holistic characterization of the food models could be performed.
A Point Crack Source Location Method without Velocity Information in Anisotropic Plates
Authors: Lim Dong Geon , Lee Won Gi , Kim Jaeseong , Kwon Hyeuknam
Published: November 2022

Locating cracks in a solid object using acoustic emission (AE) is useful both for detecting defects during safety monitoring and for basic laboratory studies of fractures. We developed an acoustic source location (ASL) method without the use of velocity information with AE in anisotropics plates, such as carbon fiber-reinforced polymers. Assuming that the propagation velocity of an unknown elastic wave is constant in anisotropic materials, the objective function to be minimized is defined based on the elliptic wavefront shape-based technique. The objective function is minimized using an iterative method, such as the gradient descent method. As a result of the numerical experiments and PLB testing on a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer plate, the method is accurate within 5% and is stable against noise.
Wideband Three-Dimensional Absorber Based on Notch-Slot Resonator with Lossy Coupled Microstrip Line
Authors: Yu Yufeng , Gong Dayong , Xie Guotai , Liu Qi , Peng Liang
Published: November 2022

A wideband three-dimensional (3D) absorber based on a notch-slot resonator is proposed in this paper. A lossy coupled microstrip line was applied to eliminate the reflection band of the original lossy notch-slot resonator, resulting in a wide absorption band. A single-polarized design was first proposed, and the operating principle was demonstrated. Then, a dual-polarized design was presented, fabricated and measured. To eliminate the undesirable resonances caused by the securing slits cut between the two adjacent unit cells, some shorting pins were introduced. The measured results show that the dual-polarized absorber exhibits an absorption band from 2.74 GHz to 11.08 GHz (120.69% fractional bandwidth), and it is also stable under the incident angles up to 40° for both TE and TM polarizations.
Analysis of the Influence of Structural Parameters on the Modes of a Gantry Machine Tool Crossbeam Based on Analytical Method
Authors: Lu Xi , Chen Yunwei , Sheng Xin
Published: November 2022

Modal analysis and structural parameters selection are essential in the structural design of the crossbeam of a gantry machine tool. In order to explore an efficient modal analysis method, the analytical method of modes of the beam with variable cross-section is derived based on the Euler beam theory and transfer matrix method. By dividing the machine tool crossbeam into 27 segments, the crossbeam modes are obtained analytically, which is validated by the finite element method. Compared with the FEM, the analytical method shows high efficiency. On this basis, the influence of various structural parameters, including bending stiffness and linear density, on the crossbeam mode is explored, and the sensitivity analysis is carried out. The results show that the first-order bending frequency of the crossbeam is mainly affected by the bending stiffness in the middle part of the crossbeam, followed by the linear density in the middle and end part. The first-order bending frequency of the crossbeam increases by increasing the bending stiffness in the middle part and decreasing the linear density of the crossbeam. The linear density both in the middle and end part has a great effect on the mode shape of the crossbeam. This study can provide a reference and method for structural design and modal analysis of machine tool crossbeams.
Mixup Based Cross-Consistency Training for Named Entity Recognition
Authors: Youn Geonsik , Yoon Bohan , Ji Seungbin , Ko Dahee , Rhee Jongtae
Published: November 2022

Named Entity Recognition (NER) is at the core of natural language understanding. The quality and amount of datasets determine the performance of deep-learning-based NER models. As datasets for NER require token-level or word-level labels to be assigned, annotating the datasets is expensive and time consuming. To alleviate efforts of manual anotation, many prior studies utilized weak supervision for NER tasks. However, using weak supervision directly would be an obstacle for training deep networks because the labels automatically annotated contain a a lot of noise. In this study, we propose a framework to better train the deep model for NER tasks using weakly labeled data. The proposed framework stems from the idea that mixup, which was recently considered as a data augmentation strategy, would be an obstacle to deep model training for NER tasks. Inspired by this idea, we used mixup as a perturbation function for consistency regularization, one of the semi-supervised learning strategies. To support our idea, we conducted several experiments for NER benchmarks. Experimental results proved that directly using mixup on NER tasks hinders deep model training while demonstrating that the proposed framework achieves improved performances compared to employing only a few human-annotated data.