bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aerodynamic Damping of the Tubed Vortex Reducer in an Axial Compressor Disk Cavity
Authors: Fang Mingchang , Wang Yanrong , Jiang Xianghua , Tan Peng
Published: January 2023

The tubed vortex reducer in the axial compressor can destroy the vortex in the disk cavity, by a thin-walled tube, to reduce the total pressure loss. The tube may suffer from vibration problems, such as flutter and forced vibration, which are closely related to aerodynamic damping. In this paper, the energy method and the influence coefficient method are used to study the aerodynamic damping of the tube. Based on the modal characteristics, steady and unsteady flow characteristics of the tube, the first and second modes with lower frequencies and greater vibration risk are selected as the analysis objects. The energy method is used to calculate the aerodynamic damping of the tube with different amplitudes, which shows that the results approximately meet the linear assumption and are accurate. The results obtained by the influence coefficient method show that the aerodynamic influence between adjacent tubes is very small, and the effect of inter-tube phase angle on the aerodynamic damping can be ignored. Finally, it is found that the effect of structural coupling caused by the support ring on the aerodynamic damping of the tube is mainly reflected in two aspects: frequency reduction and tube mode coupling.
Molecular Detection and Analysis of Blast Resistance Genes in Rice Main Varieties in Jiangsu Province, China
Authors: Qi Zhongqiang , Du Yan , Yu Junjie , Zhang Rongsheng , Yu Mina , Cao Huijuan , Song Tianqiao , Pan Xiayan , Liang Dong , Liu Yongfeng
Published: January 2023

Rice blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is one of the most destructive rice diseases worldwide. Using resistant rice varieties is the most cost-effective way to control the disease, and it is crucial to analyze the resistance level and the resistance genes distribution of the main varieties. In this study, we collected 119 rice main varieties in Jiangsu province and evaluated the resistance to leaf and panicle blast and found that indica rice was more resistant to rice blast than japonica rice. Moreover, we detected the distribution of 14 resistance genes (R genes) in the 119 varieties. The distribution frequencies of three R genes, Pish, Pit, and Pia, were higher than 80%, and the Pigm had the lowest distribution frequency (1.68%), followed by Pi2 (15.18%) and Pi5, Piz-t (24.37%). Combined with the multiple stepwise regression and the resistance contribution rate, eight major R genes Pita, Pi5, Pi9, Pib, Pb1, Pikm, Piz-t, and Pi2 significantly affected the resistance of rice, and we also found that six gene combinations with 100% resistance contribution rate could effectively increase the resistance of rice varieties. In summary, monitoring the resistance level of rice varieties and analyzing their resistance genes were beneficial for rice resistance breeding.
Phosphate Management for High Soybean and Maize Yields in Expansion Areas of Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: Gotz Lenir Fátima , Holzschuh Marquel J. , Vargas Vitor P. , Teles Ana Paula B. , Martins Mayara M. , Pavinato Paulo Sergio
Published: January 2023

The low phosphorus (P) availability is considered one of the most limiting factors for suitable crop production in Brazilian Cerrado areas. We aimed to define the best P fertilizer management for maximum soybean and maize grain yield and minimum soil P adsorption in new agricultural areas. Two experiments were carried out in a Hapludox (pH 5.0) over six years. The first experiment evaluated five P fertilizer management (correction and maintenance): correction and maintenance at furrow; correction incorporated and maintenance at furrow; correction at furrow and maintenance broadcasted; correction and maintenance broadcasted; gradual correction (five years) and maintenance at furrow. The second experiment evaluated doses of P2O5: 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 kg ha−1 year−1 applied at furrow or broadcasted. The P correction incorporated (0–20 cm) and maintenance at furrow resulted in higher yield and soil labile P. The yield increased up to 250 kg ha−1 of P2O5, and soil P fractions linearly increased, independent of application mode. Thus, the best P management would be full correction incorporated in bulk soil and maintenance at furrow; initial P correction (up to 250 kg ha−1 of P2O5) is essential in new Cerrado areas. These results are useful for orientating P management decisions in new sustainable agricultural systems.
Emissions from Managed Agricultural Soils in Context of Consumption of Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilisers in Selected EU Countries
Authors: Řezbová Helena , Slaboch Josef , Mach Jiří
Published: January 2023

In addition to industry, transport, and waste management, the agricultural sector is also a major emitter of CO2 emissions. This article focuses on CO2 equivalent emissions from soil in the context of mineral nitrogen fertiliser management. The methodology itself consists of several successive phases, the first of which is to determine basic statistical characteristics for all EU countries, primarily in terms of mineral nitrogen fertiliser consumption, but also in terms of the area of crops grown. EU countries with similar cropping patterns were selected for comparison so that the results could be compared. The results show that there are quite significant differences in CO2 equivalent emissions between countries under similar conditions. At the same time, the values of the marginal increment of CO2 emissions as a function of mineral nitrogen fertiliser consumption were calculated. On the basis of the results of the selected countries, an upper limit in terms of CO2 emissions per hectare of arable land was also determined, and recommendations were made from a national perspective. The emissions themselves can be seen as a negative production externality that is not accounted for in the market mechanism and can thus also distort the price of agricultural production. The methodology used in this paper can be used to set an upper limit on CO2 emissions from soil due to the use of mineral nitrogen fertilisers and can then be used as an indicator for regulating and defining future agricultural policy instruments within the EU, where the objective is to reduce the level of CO2 emissions.
Simulation of Soil Water and Salt Balance in Three Water-Saving Irrigation Technologies with HYDRUS-2D
Authors: Jia Yanhui , Gao Wei , Sun Xiulu , Feng Yayang
Published: January 2023

Mulch drip irrigation (MDI) technology can effectively solve the problem of insufficient temperature accumulation during the pre-fertility period and facilitate the efficient supplementation of water and fertilizer during the fertility period in spring corn planting. Moreover, this local MDI technology also has impacts on the farmland environment. To investigate the effect of drip irrigation technology on the water and salt environment of farmland, a field study on corn cultivation was carried out at West Liaohe Plain. In addition, the water and salt dynamics of the farmland were simulated using HYDRUS-2D for mulch drip irrigation (MDI), shallowly buried drip irrigation (SBDI), and sprinkler irrigation (SI), with variable rainfall and initial salt content. The results showed that the distribution of and variation in water and salt in the soil were similar under MDI and SBDI. The change near the drip tape was mainly affected by irrigation, while the water and salt in the soil between drip tapes were correlated with irrigation and rainfall. The amount of salt in the topsoil (5 cm) increased with a decrease in rainfall. With an initial EC = 480 μs/cm (soil salt content 0.1%), the salinity of the topsoil under MDI was significantly higher than that under SBDI and SI within two years. The topsoil salinity was similar for all three irrigation technologies with increasing operating life, reaching a relatively stable state, and much lower than the salinity determination threshold of 480 μs/cm. Given the current conditions of rainfall, soil, buried depth, and mineralization in the West Liaohe Plain, the risk of secondary salinization is minimal if irrigation management is reasonable. This study provides data to support the application of drip irrigation technology in the Western Liaohe Plain.
A Trace Mineral Injection before Joining and Lambing Increases Marking Percentages and Lamb Weights on Diverse Farms in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Gonzalez-Rivas Paula A. , Lean Graham R. , Chambers Michael , Liu Jerry
Published: January 2023

This study was conducted on five commercial farms across Victoria, Australia, between September 2018 and November 2019, where the TM status of ewes was within normal ranges before joining. Mix breed ewes (n = 1484) were randomly allocated to receive either nil treatment (Control) or two injections of an ITM product containing zinc (40 mg/mL), manganese (10 mg/mL), selenium (3 mg/mL), and copper (10 mg/mL); 0.2 mL per 10 kg BW (Multimin® plus Copper for Sheep, Virbac (Australia) Pty Ltd., Milperra, NSW, Australia) 30 days before the start of joining and 30 days before the start of lambing. Approximately 90 days after joining, pregnancy status and conception rate were determined by ultrasound. The marking rate was determined approximately four weeks after the end of lambing, and lamb weights were determined at weaning (12 weeks after the end of lambing). In all farms, ITM treatment did not affect the conception rate. The average conception rate was 156 ± 11.0% (p > 0.05). The marking rate of ITM ewes was 9% higher than control ewes (95% Confidence Interval 3–21%). Lambs born to ITM ewes were 2.31 kg heavier at weaning than lambs born to control ewes (p < 0.001). Although not significant, ewe mortality across farms was 1.3% lower in the ITM group than in the control group. On average, ewes treated with ITM pre-joining and pre-lambing produced more and heavier lambs that represent an extra AU$ 2338 per 100 ewes net benefit for the producer. These results help to understand strategic TM supplementation for animal health, performance and farm profitability beyond the treatment of clinical deficiencies.
Staphylococcus microti Strains Isolated from an Italian Mediterranean Buffalo Herd
Authors: Ambrosio Monica , Nocera Francesca Paola , Garofalo Francesca , De Luca Pasquale , Grinberg Alex , De Martino Luisa
Published: January 2023

S. microti is a new species among non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) frequently found in bovine milk samples and associated with subclinical mastitis (SCM). The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of S. microti in 200 composite milk samples and 104 milking parlor surface swabs collected at a buffalo farm in Southern Italy to define its presence in milk and a milking parlor environment. The samples were inoculated onto different agar plates, and the isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. The strains identified as S. microti (54/304 samples, 17.8%) were collected, and their purified genomic DNA was subjected to PCR amplification and whole 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Furthermore, their phenotypic resistance profiles were evaluated by a disk diffusion method, and the genotypic characterization of the tetracycline resistance was performed for the tetM and tetK genes by multiplex PCR. Four and forty-seven S. microti isolates from milk samples of lactating animals with subclinical mastitis (SCM) and intramammary infection (IMI), respectively, and three isolates from milking parlor surfaces were recovered. The genomic DNA was purified from the bacterial isolates, and the amplification and sequencing of the 16S gene further supported the proteomic identification as S. microti. No clinical mastitis was detected in the herd during the study period. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed a worrisome 100% resistance to tetracyclines, genotypically mediated by the tetM gene for all strains. This study highlights that S. microti may be commonly isolated from dairy buffalo milk and milking parlor equipment. Its association with SCM or IMI remains to be established.
Loci Associated with Negative Heterosis for Viability and Meat Productivity in Interspecific Sheep Hybrids
Authors: Zlobin Alexander S. , Volkova Natalia A. , Zinovieva Natalia A. , Iolchiev Baylar S. , Bagirov Vugar A. , Borodin Pavel M. , Axenovich Tatiana I. , Tsepilov Yakov A.
Published: January 2023

Negative heterosis can occur on different economically important traits, but the exact biological mechanisms of this phenomenon are still unknown. The present study focuses on determining the genetic factors associated with negative heterosis in interspecific hybrids between domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and argali (Ovis ammon). One locus (rs417431015) associated with viability and two loci (rs413302370, rs402808951) associated with meat productivity were identified. One gene (ARAP2) was prioritized for viability and three for meat productivity (PDE2A, ARAP1, and PCDH15). The loci associated with meat productivity were demonstrated to fit the overdominant inheritance model and could potentially be involved int negative heterosis mechanisms.
A Comparison of the Plumage Condition of Three Egg-Laying Poultry Genotypes Housed in Non-Cage Systems
Authors: Sokołowicz Zofia , Dykiel Magdalena , Topczewska Jadwiga , Krawczyk Józefa , Augustyńska-Prejsnar Anna
Published: January 2023

The study covered a total of 810 hens in 3 groups (housing systems) of 270 hens each. The plumage condition of laying hens raised in various types of alternative housing systems, i.e., in deep litter (B), free-range (FR), and organic systems (O), was assessed at 20, 36, and 56 weeks of age. The indoor stocking density was 6 hens/m2. The study included hens of the native Green-legged Partridge breed (Z-11), Rhode Island Red (R-11) hens covered by a genetic resource protection program, and hybrids of Hy-Line Brown. The plumage of the head, neck, back, tail, and abdomen was assessed on a 5-point scale. The assessment of individual hens' plumage was calculated as the sum of the scores of the head, neck, back, tail and abdomen and could range from 0 (no cover) to 20 points (full plumage). The type of alternative housing system implemented and the age of the laying hens had an effect on the plumage status of all body parts assessed (p < 0.05), while the genotype had an effect on the condition of the neck, back, and tail plumage (p < 0.05). In both the FR and O systems, the plumage status was similar and superior to that in B (p < 0.05). As the age of the birds increased, the condition of the hens' plumage deteriorated. The better state of the plumage in FR and O than in B may indicate improved levels of welfare in housing systems with access to outside runs.
Comparative Research on Intestinal Functions of Wild and Cultured Hemibarbus maculatus in Jialing River
Authors: Wu Bangyuan , Lei Hong , Zhen Jie , Zhao Limin , Song Baolin , Zeng Yu
Published: January 2023

Hemibarbus maculatus is a common economic fish in the midstream and downstream of the Jialing River. In order to resolve the difficulties in aquacultural cultivation, we tested the intestinal and liver digestive function of wild and cultured Hemibarbus maculatus. Histological methods and special biochemical staining methods were used to compare the differences of morphological structure, goblet cells, argyrophil cells, lymphocytes and Na+/K+ATPase in the intestine, and the morphological structure, glycogen and lipid in the liver between the two kinds of Hemibarbus maculatus. The results showed that higher amount of fat was found to attached to the gut, lower Na+/K+ATPase vitality in the foregut and hidgut (p < 0.01) and lower number of goblet cells in the hindgut (p < 0.01) of the cultured Hemibarbus maculatus when compared to the wild ones. The number of the argyrophilic cells did not show significant differences between the two kinds, but the number of lymphocytes was significantly lower in the segments of gut in cultured. This suggests the absorptive function and intestinal immunity are weaker in the cultured Hemibarbus maculatus. In addition, more glycogen and lipid were found in the liver of cultured fishes, which indicates the decreased digestive function of the cultured Hemibarbus maculatus. In conclusion, the intestinal digestion, absorption and lymphocytes level of the wild are generally better than those of the cultured, and more hepatic lipopexia and glycogen are present in the cultured ones. Future aquacultural activities should consider these changes when facing pragmatic problems.
Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Spirulina platensis on the Immune System, Intestinal Bacterial Microbiome and Skin Traits of Mink
Authors: Iatrou Anna Maria , Michailidou Sofia , Papadopoulos Georgios A. , Afaloniati Hara , Lagou Maria K. , Kiritsi Maria , Argiriou Anagnostis , Angelopoulou Katerina , Poutahidis Theofilos , Fortomaris Paschalis
Published: January 2023

The impact of dietary inclusion of Spirulina platensis on the immune system, intestinal microbiome and skin of mink was investigated. Forty-eight animals were equally separated into four groups. Groups B and D were control animals, while groups A and C had their feed supplemented daily with 100 mg/kg of body weight Spirulina. Mink in groups A and B were descended from dams supplemented with spirulina during their reproductive period, while those in groups C and D were descended from dams fed the control diets. Fur growth rate and quality were graded semi-quantitatively. Fecal microbiome analysis, skin thickness histomorphometry, immunohistochemical labeling and counts of immune cells in the colon, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen and quantitative gene expression analysis of cytokines in the colon were performed. Skin thickness, fur growth rate and skin quality were similar among groups (p > 0.05). However, differences were observed among groups concerning the relative and differential abundance of bacterial species. Tgf-β expression was lower in group A, whereas IL-β1 was lower in group C compared to group B (p < 0.05). Group D had significantly lower numbers of inflammatory cells in the colon and mesenteric lymph nodes. The results revealed that Spirulina decreased indices of subclinical inflammation in mink gut, while differences in the bacterial communities among groups were observed.
The Triterpenoid CDDO-Methyl Ester Redirects Macrophage Polarization and Reduces Lung Tumor Burden in a Nrf2-Dependent Manner
Authors: Moerland Jessica A. , Leal Ana S. , Lockwood Beth , Demireva Elena Y. , Xie Huirong , Krieger-Burke Teresa , Liby Karen T.
Published: January 2023

The NRF2/KEAP1 pathway protects healthy cells from malignant transformation and maintains cellular homeostasis. Up to 30% of human lung tumors gain constitutive NRF2 activity which contributes to cancer cell survival and chemoresistance, but the effects of NRF2 activation in immune cells within the tumor microenvironment are underexplored. Macrophages can promote cancer progression or regression depending on context, and NRF2 activation affects macrophage activity. The NRF2 activator CDDO-Methyl ester (CDDO-Me or bardoxolone methyl) reprogrammed Nrf2 wild-type (WT) tumor-educated bone marrow-derived macrophages (TE-BMDMs) from a tumor-promoting to a tumor-inhibiting phenotype, marked by an increase in M1 markers TNFα, IL-6, and MHC-II and a decrease in the tumor-promoting factors VEGF, CCL2, and CD206. No changes were observed in Nrf2 knockout (KO) TE-BMDMs. CDDO-Me decreased tumor burden (p < 0.001) and improved pathological grade (p < 0.05) in WT but not Nrf2 KO A/J mice. Tumor burden in Nrf2 KO mice was 4.6-fold higher (p < 0.001) than in WT mice, irrespective of treatment. CDDO-Me increased the number of lung-infiltrating macrophages in WT mice but lowered CD206 expression in these cells (p < 0.0001). In summary, Nrf2 KO exacerbates lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice, and CDDO-Me promotes an Nrf2-dependent, anti-cancer macrophage phenotype.
Bibliometric and Visual Analysis of the Scientific Literature on Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS) for Pain Treatment
Authors: Monaco Federica , Coluccia Sergio , Cuomo Arturo , Nocerino Davide , Schiavo Daniela , Pasta Gilda , Bifulco Francesca , Buonanno Pasquale , Riccio Vittorio , Leonardi Marianna , Perri Francesco , Ottaiano Alessandro , Sabbatino Francesco , Vittori Alessandro , Cascella Marco
Published: January 2023

Background: Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) is a minimally invasive peripheral neuromodulation approach implemented against chronic neuropathic and mixed pain. This bibliometric study aims to quantitatively evaluate the output of PENS for pain treatment in the scientific literature. The main purpose is to stimulate research in the field and bridge potential scientific gaps. Methods: Articles were retrieved from the Web of Science (WOS) database. The search key term was “percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (All Fields) and pain (All Fields)”. Year of publication, journal metrics (impact factor and quartile, Q), title, document type, topic, and citations were extracted. The join-point regression was implemented to assess differences in time points for the publication output. The software tool VOSviewer (version 1.6.17) was used for the visual analysis. Results: One thousand three hundred and eighteen articles were included in the knowledge visualization process. A linear upward trend for annual new publications was found. Almost two-thirds of the documents were published in top-ranked journals (Q1 and Q2). The topic “efficacy” was prevalent (12.81%). Concerning article type, the search strategy yielded 307 clinical investigations (23.3%). Articles were cited 36,610 times with a mean of 42.4 citations per article. Approximately one-half of the articles were cited less than 23 times in a range of 21 years. The semantic network analysis for keywords found eight clusters. The analysis of collaborative efforts among researchers showed five thematic clusters including 102 authors with a minimum of five documents produced in collaborations. Most partnerships involved the United States, England, and Germany. Conclusions: despite the upward trend in the number of publications on the subject and the publication of articles in top-ranked journals, there is a need to increase scientific collaborations between researchers and institutions from different countries.
NegoSim: A Modular and Extendable Automated Negotiation Simulation Platform Considering EUBOA
Authors: Ebrahimnezhad Arash , Fujita Katsuhide
Published: January 2023

In recent years, the research community has become increasingly interested in automated negotiation. It has been used in real-world systems such as autonomous vehicle transportation systems, smart grids, and e-commerce. Considering the broad range of applications, automated negotiation is of great use and interest to engineers, developers, and industry-focused researchers. Therefore, some researchers have developed platforms for automated negotiation. However, these systems do not provide complete control over the development of various protocols or analytic tools. This paper introduces NegoSim, a new negotiation simulator that introduces a new negotiation framework called EUBOA, though it also works on the well-known BOA framework. NegoSim is completely modular, with different APIs allowing users full control over developing and modifying automated negotiation agents, different assessments, protocols, and utility spaces, as well as the ability to create or modify different GUIs. NegoSim also includes predefined agents, protocols, utility space, and analytic tools, making it an ideal platform for researchers.
A New Insight into Reliability Data Modeling with an Exponentiated Composite Exponential-Pareto Model
Authors: Liu Bowen , Ananda Malwane M. A.
Published: January 2023

It is observed that, for some of the data in engineering and medical fields, the hazard rates increase to a high peak at the beginning and quickly decrease to a low level. In the context of survival analysis, such a hazard rate is called a upside-down bathtub hazard rate. In this paper, we investigated the properties of a model named exponentiated exponential-Pareto distribution. The model was recently proposed and applied to insurance data. We demonstrated that the model has upside-down bathtub-shaped hazard rates with specific choices of parameters. The theoretical properties such as moments, survival functions, and hazard functions were derived. The parameter estimation procedures were also introduced. We then briefly discussed the goodness-of-fit tests of the model with the simulations. Finally, we applied the model to a specific time-to-event data set along with a comparison of the performances with previous existing models. When compared to previous proposed models, the exponentiated exponential-Pareto model demonstrated good performance when fitting to such data sets.
Research on Fault Activation and Its Influencing Factors on the Barrier Effect of Rock Mass Movement Induced by Mining
Authors: Guo Yanhui , Luo Luo , Wang Chuangye
Published: January 2023

For the study of the driving forces behind fault activation and its influencing factors on the barrier effect of rock mass movement under the influence of mining, the discrete element numerical simulation software 3DEC was used for the analysis of the impact on the distance to mining area from fault, the buried depth of the upper boundary of the fault, the dip angle of fault, the size of the mining area and the thickness of the fault zone respectively. The results show that the mining areas are closer to the fault as distances decrease, the burial depth of the upper boundary of the fault increases, and the size of the mining area increases, the fault is easier to activate, and fault activation has a stronger barrier impact on displacement field and stress field propagation. When the fault is cut into the goaf, the difference of rock displacement in both directions of the fault increases when the dip of the fault increases, and the fault is more susceptible to instability and activation. The barrier strength grows with the increase of the thickness of the fault fracture zone. The results of this study have important implications for the guard against and control of deep mining-related fault activation disasters.
Calculation and Characterization of Air Void in Mortar of the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Based on CT Scanning and Image Analysis Methods
Authors: Shu Li-Heng , Ni Fu-Jian , Jiang Ji-Wang , Zhao Zi-Li , Guo Zhao-Yuan
Published: January 2023

The air void content is one of the most important volumetric properties of asphalt matrixes, such as asphalt mixtures or mortars, because it can greatly affect the performance of the matrix. At the mixture level, there are standardized methods for measuring the air void content, which is an important design parameter of a mixture. However, at the mortar scale, no unified method has been proposed to determine the air void content corresponding to the asphalt mixture. Therefore, this research aims to, first, characterize the air void distribution within the mortar of an asphalt mixture and then develop an updated theoretical method for calculating the air void content of asphalt mortar. The internal structures of air voids from three commonly used asphalt mixtures with different gradations were captured using an industrial CT scanning technique and then morphologically characterized using the image analysis method. Three-dimensional models of the air voids were reconstructed, and the air void content calculated from the CT images was also verified by density tests. The scanning results show that the air void content and air void size fit the cumulative Weibull curve. The results show that the nominal maximum particle size (NMPS) of mortar and the mixture air void content were the main parameters that affected the mortar’s air voids. The mortar air void content had linear relationships with both the mixture air void content and the mixture asphalt aggregate ratio. The mortar air void content was more sensitive to the NMPS of the asphalt mixture compared with the air void content or asphalt aggregate ratio of the mixture. This research provides a quantitative method to calculate the air void content of asphalt mortar within a mixture, which may help in the matrix design of mortar.
TKIFRPM: A Novel Approach for Topmost-K Identical Frequent Regular Patterns Mining from Incremental Datasets
Authors: Rehman Saif Ur , Khan Muhammad Altaf , Nabi Habib Un , Ali Shaukat , Alnazzawi Noha , Khan Shafiullah
Published: January 2023

The regular frequent pattern mining (RFPM) approaches are aimed to discover the itemsets with significant frequency and regular occurrence behavior in a dataset. However, these approaches mainly suffer from the following two issues: (1) setting the frequency threshold parameter for the discovery of regular frequent patterns technique is not an easy task because of its dependency on the characteristics of a dataset, and (2) RFPM approaches are designed to mine patterns from the static datasets and are not able to mine dynamic datasets. This paper aims to solve these two issues by proposing a novel top-K identical frequent regular patterns mining (TKIFRPM) approach to function on online datasets. The TKIFRPM maintains a novel synopsis data structure with item support index tables (ISI-tables) to keep summarized information about online committed transactions and dataset updates. The mining operation can discover top-K regular frequent patterns from online data stored in the ISI-tables. The TKIFRPM explores the search space in recursive depth-first order and applies a novel progressive node’s sub-tree pruning strategy to rapidly eliminate a complete infrequent sub-tree from the search space. The TKIFRPM is compared with the MTKPP approach, and it found that it outperforms its counterpart in terms of runtime and memory usage to produce designated topmost-K frequent regular pattern mining on the datasets following incremental updates.
Force of Intermaxillary Latex Elastics from Different Suppliers: A Comparative In Vitro Study
Authors: Dubovská Ivana , Ličková Barbora , Voborná Iva , Urbanová Wanda , Koťová Magdalena
Published: January 2023

The main characteristic of orthodontic intermaxillary elastics is the generated force. Therefore, it is necessary to know the exact properties of elastics for clinical use and their force degradation over time. Methods: A total of 500 latex elastics of the type 3/16” Medium from the manufacturers Dentaurum, American Orthodontics, 3M, Ortho Organizers, and G&H Orthodontics were tested; 100 elastics from each. The force was measured with a force meter at time 0 and at 2, 8, 24, and 48 h. Elastics were stored being stretched three times on a 3D-printed board in an incubator at 37 °C and under controlled humidity. Shapiro–Wilk normality tests, ANOVA tests, and Bonferroni post hoc tests were used. Results: The mean initial force among the manufacturers ranged from 1.109 N to 1.550 N, with Dentaurum elastics being the closest to the declared force of 1.255 newton. The greatest force degradation occurred during the first two hours; the decrease in force within 24 h ranged from 20% to 33% among the manufacturers. The maximum decrease was observed for American Orthodontics elastics. The smallest decrease occurred between 2 and 8 h for 3M, and between 24 and 48 h for Ortho Organizers. Conclusion: Intermaxillary 3/16” Medium elastics measured in vitro differ in initial force and force degradation among individual manufacturers. The attending clinician must be aware of the basic parameters of the elastics when recommending them to patients, and measuring the initial force directly in the patient’s mouth with a force meter might be helpful.
3D Facial Plastic Surgery Simulation: Based on the Structured Light
Authors: Rao Zhi , Sun Shuo , Li Mingye , Ji Xiaoqiang , Huang Jipeng
Published: January 2023

The 3D quantitative analysis of facial morphology is of importance in plastic surgery (PS), which could help surgeons design appropriate procedures before conducting the surgery. We propose a system to simulate and guide the shaping effect analysis, which could produce a similar but more harmonious face simulation. To this end, first, the depth camera based on structured light coding is employed for facial 3D data acquisition, from which the point cloud data of multiple facial perspectives could be obtained. Next, the cascade regression tree algorithm is used to extract the esthetic key points of the face model and to calculate the facial features composed of the key points, such as the nose, chin, and eyes. Quantitative facial esthetic indexes are offered to doctors to simulate PS. Afterward, we exploit a face mesh metamorphosis based on finite elements. We design several morphing operators, including augmentation, cutting, and lacerating. Finally, the regional deformation is detected, and the operation effect is quantitatively evaluated by registering the 3D scanning model before and after the operation. The test of our proposed system and the simulation of PS operations find that the measurement error of facial geometric features is 0.458 mm, and the area is 0.65 mm2. The ratings of the simulation outcomes provided by panels of PS prove that the system is effective. The manipulated 3D faces are deemed more beautiful compared to the original faces respecting the beauty canons such as facial symmetry and the golden ratio. The proposed algorithm could generate realistic visual effects of PS simulation. It could thus assist the preoperative planning of facial PS.
Broadband DOA Estimation by Exploiting DFT Extrapolation
Authors: Shin Euiho , Chung Young-seek , Kim Seonkyo , Park Cheolsun , Oh Jungsuek
Published: January 2023

This study proposes broadband direction (DOA) estimation through discrete Fourier transform (DFT) extrapolation. We used DFT extrapolation in the lower band and extended the sampled data to reduce the beam width in the spectral domain and improved the accuracy of the estimated DOA. The sampled data with a length of 12 were extrapolated to 36 by the addition of 12-element virtual arrays to 12 real arrays on both sides. The average RMSEs of the estimated DOAs were measured throughout the wide frequency band. To verify the validity of the proposed algorithm, we demonstrated that the RMSE obtained from the broadband DOA estimation for multiple signals of interest (SOIs) was reduced in the extrapolated array. It was demonstrated that the proposed algorithm can broaden the frequency band at which a fixed number of array can estimate the DOA accurately.
Evaluation of the Efficacy of Probiotics Domiciliary Protocols for the Management of Periodontal Disease, in Adjunction of Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy (NSPT): A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Butera Andrea , Folini Elisa , Cosola Saverio , Russo Gianluca , Scribante Andrea , Gallo Simone , Stablum Giulia , Menchini Fabris Giovanni Battista , Covani Ugo , Genovesi Annamaria
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Periodontitis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease induced by a dysbiosis between the host and oral microbiota, which can compromise the host’s immune defenses and lead to the destruction of periodontal tissues. Despite the efficacy of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) as the gold standard of periodontal treatment, its application can produce lower results due to anatomical and microbiological limitations. This systematic literature review was performed to assess the long-term efficacy of the effects of probiotics as an adjunct to NSPT compared to the control groups with follow-up of clinical, microbiological and immunological outcomes. Materials and methods: A literature review was conducted, considering manuscripts published from November 2016 to February 2022. The research question was formulated following the population, intervention, comparison and outcome strategies. Randomized controlled trials (RCT), systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the periodontal efficacy of domiciliary probiotic therapy in an adjunct to the mechanical therapy were included. Results: Regarding clinical outcomes, there is a reduction in periodontal probing depth (PPD), clinical attachments level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BoP) and plaque index (PI) for the test groups compared to the control groups in a short-term period. No differences were generally observed in the following indices over a period of more than 3 months for most studies considered. Conclusions: Weak evidence suggests that the use of probiotics as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy treatment may be able to show improvements in periodontal clinical parameters for up to 3 months. However, a significant and large heterogeneity of studies, along with the absence of long-term microbiological and immunological data, preclude any definitive conclusions.
Comparison of Measurement Possibilities by Non-Invasive Reflectometric Sensors and Invasive Probes
Authors: Paśnikowska-Łukaszuk Magdalena , Wlazło-Ćwiklińska Magda , Zubrzycki Jarosław , Suchorab Zbigniew
Published: January 2023

The measurement of the moisture content of building materials is of key importance both in the process of building structures and in their subsequent operation. In engineering practice, indirect techniques of moisture measurement, mainly, resistance and capacitive, are the most popular. The main objective of this research work was to compare the classic TDR measurement technique to the non-invasive, surface TDR sensors. Moisture measurements were carried out on samples made of cellular concrete with density class of 400 and 600. These samples were moist to various degrees, from 0 to 69% (400 c.c.) and from 0 to 55 (600 c.c.). For each sample, five measurements were carried out. Both the RMSE and the expanded uncertainty values were more favorable for the TDR FP/mts probe and were consistent with the literature data. Compared to them, the measurement result for the 400 c.c. samples with the S1 probe was 154.6%, and that with the S2 probe was 87.03% of the values obtained with the invasive probe. When measuring the 600 c.c. samples, we found values of 122.16% for S1 and of 120.1% for S2 of those obtained with the invasive probe. The use of surface TDR sensors provided an easy and quick measurement without damaging the surface and structure of the tested material, as there was no need to introduce the probe actuators inside the tested material.
Reliability of the Polygraphic Home Sleep Test for OSA Determined by the Severity and Pattern Changes of Two Consecutive Examinations
Authors: Rozgonyi Renáta , Janszky József , Kovács Norbert , Faludi Béla
Published: January 2023

Diagnosis and effective treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) in adults is an important health priority. Home respiratory polygraphy is a cost-effective alternative to polysomnography in OSA. The aim of this study was to investigate the variability of two consecutive home respiratory polygraphic examinations by comparing the severity characteristics and pattern (supine dominant, continuous, etc.) variability. We examined 100 patients with clinically suspected OSA on two consecutive nights by home respiratory polygraphy. The correlation of time in bed (TIB), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and T90 of the two examinations were compared by the Pearson test. The severity ranks and nocturnal apnea patterns of the two periods were compared using Spearman and Wilcoxon tests. Pearson’s correlations represented a strong correlation of the AHI, ODI, and T90, but only moderate for TIB. The severity-specific correlation was the highest for AHI in the severe group. Out of 100 pairs of polygraphic examinations, 25 cases showed change in the severity ranking (decreased in 11, increased in 14); 15 cases showed a change in the polygraphic pattern (supine, non-supine, etc.), with severity change in 6 cases. Therapy change based on the second examination was initiated in 6 cases. Our results revealed a good intra-individual correlation between the severity grades of the two nights, with the highest value in the severe cases. In some cases, the nightly variation in the polygraphic pattern may explain the change in the severity. From a therapeutic point of view, the low number of severity changes between moderate and severe groups revealed good reliability.
Three-Dimensional Numerical Modeling of Artificially Freezing Ground in Metro Station Construction
Authors: Wang Bo , Hu Jun , Lin Xiaoqi , Zeng Hui
Published: January 2023

In this study, the engineering background of No. 2 complex connecting passage of Binhu Road Station/Jinhu Square Station of Nanning Metro Line 3 is investigated, where the artificial ground freezing technique is adopted. A three-dimensional finite element model is established to investigate the temperature development of the frozen soil curtain, with a simulation of the dynamic evolution of the frosted soil curtain. The finite element model is validated by comparing the overall trend of the measured temperature value and the resulting temperature value, which are roughly the same. According to the design scheme, the weakest part of the whole frozen soil curtain is the top of the bell mouth where the downhole tunnel intersects the connecting passage. It is recommended to make a row of smaller freezing holes to enhance the freezing effect in this area. The thickness of the frozen soil curtain reached 1.75 m or more, indicating that the whole frozen soil curtain meets the design requirements and shows the right features for excavation construction. After freezing for 40 days, the average thickness of the frozen soil curtain is 2.4 m, indicating that the freezing effect meets the design requirements. The project can be successfully carried out, which suggests that the underneath passage construction is feasible. As a result, the results of the numerical model are applicable for comparable projects using artificially freezing ground in metro station construction.
Research on Efficient Construction Paths for Intelligent Coal Mines in China from the Configuration Perspective
Authors: Yuan Xiaofang , Wu Yutong , Sun Linhui , Wang Xinping
Published: January 2023

The intelligent transformation of coal mines is an inevitable choice to promote the green transformation of energy and to achieve safety and efficiency in the industry. Exploring the path of its efficient construction is the key to realizing the construction of intelligent coal mines in China. To analyze the configuration paths for the efficient construction of intelligent coal mines, 17 typical coal-producing provinces in China were used as the research object of a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), and five conditional variables, namely research funds, technical talent, government importance degree, national demonstration, and basic resource support, were selected from four levels (technology, organization, environment, and resources) based on relevant national data from 2019–2021, and multiple configurations as well as multiple driving paths for the construction of intelligent coal mines were discussed. We found that there are three configuration paths that will enable the construction of intelligent coal mines: a technology-driven path under the government’s supervision, a path jointly driven by three-prongs, and a policy-driven path under the resource priority. The critical importance of the government is the common factor among the three driving modes. These research results can provide useful construction ideas for the construction of intelligent coal mines in different regions and enable provincial governments to carry out strategic combination actions according to local conditions to contribute to the efficient construction of intelligent coal mines and the green transformation of energy across the country.
Deep Image Clustering Based on Label Similarity and Maximizing Mutual Information across Views
Authors: Peng Feng , Li Kai
Published: January 2023

Most existing deep image clustering methods use only class-level representations for clustering. However, the class-level representation alone is not sufficient to describe the differences between images belonging to the same cluster. This may lead to high intra-class representation differences, which will harm the clustering performance. To address this problem, this paper proposes a clustering model named Deep Image Clustering based on Label Similarity and Maximizing Mutual Information Across Views (DCSM). DCSM consists of a backbone network, class-level and instance-level mapping block. The class-level mapping block learns discriminative class-level features by selecting similar (dissimilar) pairs of samples. The proposed extended mutual information is to maximize the mutual information between features extracted from views that were obtained by using data augmentation on the same image and as a constraint on the instance-level mapping block. This forces the instance-level mapping block to capture high-level features that affect multiple views of the same image, thus reducing intra-class differences. Four representative datasets are selected for our experiments, and the results show that the proposed model is superior to the current advanced image clustering models.
Road Scanner: A Road State Scanning Approach Based on Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Mihoub Alaeddine , Krichen Moez , Alswailim Mohannad , Mahfoudhi Sami , Bel Hadj Salah Riadh
Published: January 2023

The state of roads may sometimes be difficult to perceive due to intense climate conditions, absence of road signs, or simply human inattention, which may be harmful to both vehicles and drivers. The automatic monitoring of the road states represents a promising solution to warn drivers about the status of a road in order to protect them from injuries or accidents. In this paper, we present a novel application for data collection regarding road states. Our application entitled “Road Scanner” allows onboard users to tag four types of segments in roads: smooth, bumps, potholes, and others. For each tagged segment the application records multimodal data using the embedded sensors of a smartphone. The collected data concerns mainly vehicle accelerations, angular rotations, and geographical positions recorded by the accelerometer, the gyroscope, and the GPS sensor, respectively, of a user phone. Moreover, a medium-size dataset was built and machine learning models were applied to detect the right label for the road segment. Overall, the results were very promising since the SVM classifier (Support Vector Machines) has recorded an accuracy rate of 88.05%.
State-of-the-Art on Technological Developments and Adaptability of Prefabricated Industrial Steel Buildings
Authors: Khan Kashan , Chen Zhihua , Liu Jiadi , Javed Khadija
Published: January 2023

Compared to traditional onsite steel construction, prefabricated industrial steel construction (PFISC) saves time, money, and resources. It results in sustainable steel structures that use fewer resources and are better for the environment. Despite their advantages, the private sector favors creating high-rise buildings in an old-fashioned way. In order to encourage the adaptability of prefabricated industrial steel buildings (PFISBs) in high-rise structures, this study critically evaluates the adaptable solutions offered in the literature on the recent developments, structural performances, present difficulties, and future potential. In mid-rise and low-rise structures, PFISC is frequently used. In research and case studies, PFISBs have proven to perform admirably under various adverse conditions, including in the event of an earthquake, wind, blast, impact, fire, collapse, and long-term sustained loads. The use of potential research solutions, the “Top-down” strategy, and the resolving of problems such as the structural-based design guidelines, column stability, discontinuous vertical and horizontal diaphragms, cluster columns and beams effect, damage-free and innovative inter- and intra-modular connections, high strength-to-weight modules, numerical simulation, and transportation will help PFISBs to become more widely accepted in high-rise structures. Compared to other materials, steel has recently demonstrated great promise for the construction of PFISBs. Additionally, China plans to increase their PFISC to 30% by 2026, Australia to 15% by 2025, and North America to over 5% by 2023, proving that it is a reasonable response to future urbanization concerns.