bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internet Addiction in Socio-Demographic, Academic, and Psychological Profile of College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Authors: Gavurova Beata , Ivankova Viera , Rigelsky Martin , Mudarri Tawfik
Published: June 2022

Internet addiction is a serious problem among young adults that requires increased attention, especially at a time of distance learning during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of the study was to assess the relationships between internet addiction and selected socio-demographic, study-related, and psychological characteristics of college students. Internet addiction was measured using the Internet Addiction Test both overall and in its individual subscales (Salience, Excessive Use, Neglect Work, Anticipation, Lack of Control, and Neglect Social Life). The selected characteristics represented (1) socio-demographic profile (gender, age, residence, family), (2) academic profile (housing during the semester, form of study), and (3) psychological profile (depressive symptoms—the Patient Health Questionnaire, stress—the Perceived Stress Scale, anxiety symptoms—the Generalized Anxiety Disorder). Data collection took place during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 at Czech and Slovak colleges, with 1,422 students from the Czech Republic and 1,677 students from Slovakia participating in the research. The analytical processes were carried out through descriptive analysis, non-parametric difference analysis, and multiple negative binomial regression. Mild internet addiction was found in 387 (27.2%) Czech and 452 (27.0%) Slovak students. Moderate internet addiction was identified in 49 (3.4%) students from the Czech Republic and in 100 (6.0%) students from Slovakia. Two (0.1%) Czech and three (0.2%) Slovak students reported severe internet addiction. Increased likelihood of internet addiction overall, as well as in most individual subscales, was found particularly among male students and students who lived away from home during the semester. Depressive symptoms and stress could also be considered significant predictors in both countries. These results are important for the development of effective strategies and prevention programs, as Internet addiction may be a serious problem in the future, given the current times. When assessing internet addiction among college students, it would also be appropriate to evaluate the individual internet addiction subscales and their specifics.
Trainable Communication Systems Based on the Binary Neural Network
Authors: Che Bo , Li Xinyi , Chen Zhi , He Qi
Published: June 2022

End-to-end learning of the communication system regards the transmitter, channel, and receiver as a neural network-based autoencoder. This approach enables joint optimization of both the transmitter and receiver and can learn to communicate more efficiently than model-based ones. Despite the achieved success, high complexity is the major disadvantage that hinders its further development, while low-precision compression such as one-bit quantization is an effective solution. This study proposed an autoencoder communication system composed of binary neural networks (BNNs), which is based on bit operations and has a great potential to be applied to hardware platforms with very limited computing resources such as FPGAs. Several modifications are explored to further improve the performance. Experiments showed that the proposed BNN-based system can achieve a performance similar to that of the existing neural network-based autoencoder systems while largely reducing the storage and computation complexities.
Cross-Sectional Analysis of Oral Healthcare vs. General Healthcare Utilization in Five Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Susarla Sita Manasa , Trimble Margaret , Sokal-Gutierrez Karen
Published: June 2022

Oral health is integral to overall health and is often neglected, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Oral disease, including untreated dental caries, affects nearly 3.5 billion people globally, contributing to poor health and quality of life. To examine the relationship between the utilization of general healthcare and oral healthcare, we conducted an exploratory cross-sectional study of first-visit interview data collected from a convenience sample of 3,422 low-income mothers and 4,324 children aged 6 months through 6 years participating in a community-based oral health and nutrition program in five LMICs (Ecuador, El Salvador, India, Nepal, and Vietnam) from 2006–2015. We used descriptive and exploratory association analysis to identify patterns of oral healthcare utilization for mothers and children compared to medical care utilization, specifically maternal prenatal care and child immunizations. Overall, 89.6% of the mothers had received prenatal care for at least one child, but only 76.4% had ever received dental care and 50% were currently suffering from oral health symptoms, primarily oral pain. Mothers who received prenatal care were significantly more likely to have accessed dental care compared to those who had not received prenatal care (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 2.06, 3.32). Overall, 95.4% of the children had current immunizations, but only 30.1% had ever received dental care, and 32.4% were currently suffering from oral pain. Children whose immunizations were up-to-date were more likely to have received dental care, with a significant association in Ecuador (OR = 3.29, 95% CI: 2.06, 5.30). Compared to utilization of general healthcare, oral healthcare was under-utilized by mothers and children in our sample from five LMICs. Integration of prevention- and treatment-oriented oral healthcare into primary medical care services, particularly prenatal care and child immunizations, could help increase access to oral healthcare and improve women's and children's oral health.
The Impact of Over-The-Counter Lactic Acid Containing Vaginal Gels on the Integrity and Inflammatory State of the Vaginal Epithelium in vitro
Authors: Tyssen David , Hearps Anna C. , Guntur Kalyani , Masson Lindi , Cook Simon , Moulton Simon E. , Ravel Jacques , Bradshaw Catriona S. , Ayehunie Seyoum , Tachedjian Gilda
Published: June 2022

The vaginal microbiome influences a wide range of health outcomes in women, where a microbiome dominated by Lactobacillus spp. is considered optimal and associated with reduced risk of pre-term birth and acquisition of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Conversely, replacement of lactobacilli by non-optimal bacteria leads to the development of bacterial vaginosis, which is associated with increased risk of these outcomes. Lactobacilli produce the metabolite lactic acid (LA) which is a potent antibacterial and antiviral agent. The potential therapeutic benefits of LA have prompted the development of numerous over-the-counter LA-containing gels for use in the vagina, although a comprehensive analysis of the impact of these formulations on the cervicovaginal epithelium and pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine responses, has not been assessed. Here, we evaluated the properties of 11 over-the-counter gels, including 9 containing LA, marketed for use in the vagina. Ten of the 11 gels had an osmolality greater than vaginal fluid from women with Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota (370 ± 40 mOsmol/kg in women with Nugent score 0–3), with six gels that were hyperosmolal >2,000 mOsmol/kg. Using a reconstructed primary cell model of the vaginal epithelium, we found hyperosmolal gels had a detrimental impact on epithelial barrier integrity, resulting in substantial cellular toxicity (<10% viability as compared to untreated cells) and reduced epithelial barrier integrity [≈30% of untreated cells, assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER)]. Treatment of vaginal tissues with most of the gels elicited the production of pro-inflammatory factors including IL-1α (8 of 11) and IL-1β (10 of 11) which are associated with heightened risk of HIV acquisition in vivo. The majority of the OTC gels elicited moderate tissue damage as determined by histology. The detrimental effects of these gels on the human vaginal epithelium in vitro may predict compromised epithelial barrier integrity and genital inflammation in vivo, which has implications for sexual and reproductive health. This study highlights the importance of evaluating the impact of intravaginal products on the integrity and inflammatory status of the mucosal epithelium to avoid unfavorable off target effects.
The Impacts of Climate Change
Authors: Hartley Andrew J. , Tandon Ayesha
Published: June 2022

Global warming has already caused our planet to heat up by around 1°C. This warming is causing a huge range of impacts. For example, heat waves are becoming more severe and affecting humans and animals; in some places, rivers are flooding more frequently due to heavy rainfall; droughts in other parts of the world are affecting crops. These changes can have a huge effect on people, making it difficult to grow food, find shelter, and avoid dangerous weather such as storms and heat waves. Many people have needed to leave their homes to search for safer places to live because the climate has changed so much. While all countries are affected by climate change, different countries face different impacts. By understanding these impacts and how vulnerable people are to climate changes, it is much easier to prepare for future changes and protect against them.
CongoFlux – The First Eddy Covariance Flux Tower in the Congo Basin
Authors: Sibret Thomas , Bauters Marijn , Bulonza Emmanuel , Lefevre Lodewijk , Cerutti Paolo Omar , Lokonda Michel , Mbifo José , Michel Baudouin , Verbeeck Hans , Boeckx Pascal
Published: June 2022

The Congo basin is home to the second-largest tropical forest in the world. Therefore, it plays a crucial role in the regional water cycle, the global carbon cycle and the continental greenhouse gas balance. Yet very few field-based data on related processes exist. In the wake of global change, there is a need for a better understanding of the current and future response of the forest biome in this region. A new long-term effort has been set up to measure the exchange of greenhouse gasses between a humid lowland tropical forest in the Congo basin and the atmosphere via an eddy-covariance (EC) tower. Eddy-covariance research stations have been used for decades already in natural and man-made ecosystems around the globe, but the natural ecosystems of Central Africa remained a blind spot. The so-called “CongoFlux” research site has been installed right in the heart of the Congo Basin, at the Yangambi research center in DR Congo. This introductory paper presents an elaborated description of this new greenhouse gas research infrastructure; the first of its kind in the second-largest tropical forest on Earth.
Numerical Tool for Calculating Birefringence in Mirror-Substrates for Gravitational-Wave Detectors
Authors: Zeidler Simon
Published: June 2022

The influence of birefringence on rays entering and exiting a non-isotropic medium is a complex process that depends on its dielectric tensor, the orientation and geometry of the medium, the surrounding material, and the inclination of the incident ray. Thus, when aiming for a calculation of the effects, many parameters need to be taken into account while simplifications are generally not applicable. Moreover, the complexity of the general issue makes it almost impossible to find an analytical solution for backward calculations of stress-birefringence from polarization measurements. In this paper, a report is given on the formulation of a birefringence ray-tracing program in Python for the convenient evaluation of optical effects inside uniaxial crystals under stress. The aim thereby is to have an easily applicable tool that can be used in interferometer commissioning for current and future gravitational-wave detectors. Results from test simulations using realistic parameters for a sapphire mirror as used in the gravitational-wave detector KAGRA are implemented and show the capabilities of this tool.
A Statistical Study of Magnetopause Boundary Layer Energetic Electron Enhancements Using MMS
Authors: Chepuri S. N. F. , Jaynes A. N. , Baker D. N. , Mauk B. H. , Cohen I. J. , Leonard T. , Turner D. L. , Blake J.B. , Fennel J.F. , Phan T. D.
Published: June 2022

We took a survey of boundary layer (or low-latitude boundary layer) crossings by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. Out of 250 total crossings, about half showed enhancements of high-energy (>30 keV) electrons in the FEEPS sensor and a little less than half of those energetic electron events had whistler-mode waves present. Energetic electron enhancements were more likely to be present at magnetic local times closer to noon and at distances of less than about 20 Earth radii, but there was seemingly no correlation with magnetic latitude. For almost all of these events, the pitch angles of the FEEPS electrons were peaked at 90° or isotropic, not field-aligned. Most of the events for which we had data to make a determination showed either direct or indirect evidence of reconnection. Overall, energetic electron enhancements are a fairly common occurrence and there appears to be some connection between whistler waves, energetic electron enhancements, and reconnection, whether it is a direct link or some other process affecting all of them.
Replacement of Fish Oil With Groundnut Oil for Developing Sustainable Feeds for Labeo rohita Fingerling
Authors: Siddiqua Kazi Sabnam , Khan Mukhtar A.
Published: June 2022

Groundnut oil (GO) is one of the most widely available vegetable oils (VOs) in India and throughout the world, with a global production of 6.12 million metric tons in the year 2020–2021. GO contains phytochemicals and antioxidants with a longer shelf life. Because of these benefits, GO can produce durable, low-cost, and sustainable aquaculture feeds. To evaluate the nutritional efficacy and possibility of replacing fish oil (FO) with GO, this experiment was carried out to test the effects of partial or total substitution of dietary FO by GO on the growth performance, carcass composition, antioxidant capacity, lysozyme activity, muscle fatty acid composition, and filet nutritional quality in Labeo rohita fingerling. Induced bred healthy rohu fingerlings (4.84 ± 0.13 g) were fed six isonitrogenous (400 g kg−1) and isolipidic (97 g kg−1) casein- and gelatin-containing purified diets, wherein the FO was gradually replaced by 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% GO. Fishes were stocked randomly in triplicate groups of 30 fish per tank and fed at 08:00, 12:00, and 16:00 h to apparent satiety for 8 weeks. The results showed that FO replacement with GO did not affect the growth but decreased the eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels, and n-3/n-6 ratio in the muscle of rohu fingerlings. The antioxidant capacity and lysozyme activity improved up to 60% replacement of FO with GO in diet and then declined (P > 0.05) upon further inclusion of GO in diets. Although the atherogenicity, thrombogenicity indices, and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic (H/H) ratio did not change significantly among all the muscle samples, the highest filet lipid quality (FLQ) value was found in fish receiving a 100% FO diet. Further inclusion of dietary GO decreased the filet H/H ratio and FLQ value. In summary, replacing FO with GO at a higher level had negative consequences on the filet nutritional quality of rohu fingerlings. Therefore, FO can be replaced by GO in formulated feeds to a level of 60% without hampering the growth, antioxidant capacity, and lysozyme activity and to avoid degrading the nutritional quality of fish filet.
Effect Analysis of Preoperative Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Combined With Intraoperative Immersion in Reducing Perioperative Blood Loss of One Stage Posterior Thoracolumbar Tuberculosis
Authors: Zheng Bowen , Zheng Boyv , Niu Huaqing , Wang Xiaobin , Lv Guohua , Li Jing , Wang Jingyu
Published: June 2022

Background

To investigate the efficacy and safety of preoperative intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) combined with intraoperative immersion in reducing perioperative blood loss in one-stage posterior thoracolumbar tuberculosis.

Methods

All patients were divided into four groups: Group A received an intravenous drip of TXA before surgery, group B received multiple local immersions during the operation, group C received an intravenous drip combined with multiple local immersions, and the control group (group CG) were not treated with TXA during the same period. The total blood loss (TBL), intraoperative blood loss (IBL), hidden blood loss (HBL), postoperative drainage volume, maximum hemoglobin drop value (max Hb drop), liver and kidney function, coagulation indexes, blood transfusion rate, hospital stay and incidence of complications were compared among the four groups.

Results

TBL, IBL, HBL, max Hb drop, POD1 drainage, and POD2 drainage in group A, group B, and group C were significantly lower than those in group CG. TBL, IBL, HBL and max Hb drop were group C < group A < group B < group CG. The drainage volume of group C was significantly lower than that of the other groups. There was no significant difference in blood coagulation index (PT, D-D) or liver and kidney function (ALT, Cr) among the four groups. There was no difference in postoperative hospital stay between group A and group B, but it was significantly lower in group C than in the other three groups. All patients achieved satisfactory bone graft fusion at the last follow-up.

Conclusion

Preoperative intravenous drip of TXA combined with intraoperative multiple immersion can effectively reduce perioperative blood loss while not increasing the risk of thrombosis without affecting liver and kidney function, coagulation function or tuberculosis prognosis.
Key Performance Indicators Used by Dairy Consultants During the Evaluation of Reproductive Performance in a First Visit
Authors: Armengol Ramon , Fraile Lorenzo , Bach Alex
Published: June 2022

Reproduction plays a fundamental role in the profitability of dairy farms. Consultants use key performance indicators (KPI) to monitor the reproductive performance of the farms. They must decipher between the most suitable ones to face two different scenarios that may need the analysis of different parameters: (1) approach in a first visit, and (2) routine visits. Forty-nine consultants specialized in dairy reproduction from 21 countries responded to an online survey conducted to determine the most suitable parameters in a first visit approach. The survey was comprised of 190 questions, 178 of them rated from 0 (irrelevant) to 10 (maximum importance) points. The questions were divided into 5 sections: (1) consultant and farm model, (2) general data of the farm, (3) cow reproduction, (4) postpartum and metabolic disease, and (5) heifer reproduction. The median, interquartile range, minimum and maximum values, and 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined for each question. Afterward, a multivariate analysis, using between-group linkage via Ward's hierarchical clustering was conducted to generate clusters of consultants according to their response pattern. Lastly, a Chi-square test was conducted to assess the association between the years of experience of the consultant and farm size within the clusters generated in each section of the questionnaire. Most of the consultants considered 27 parameters to be highly important to analyze during the first visit. Consultants use several KPIs (in variable quantitative range) to evaluate any of the presented sections. Moreover, consultants preferred parameters focused on heat detection, fertility, and pregnancy achievement regarding the production cycle of a dairy cow. Consultants also showed high interest in obtaining a general overview of milk production, farming efficiency, and the heifer rearing process; but the farm size and the years of experience of the consultant influenced the type and number of parameters chosen as KPI. The parameters rated with the highest importance (rate 10) that could be considered for an easy, fast, and universal first visit to assess the reproductive status were: first service conception rate, overall pregnancy rate, and 21d pregnancy rate for cows, and age at first calving for heifers.
The Effects of Fenugreek Extract on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Indexes, Immunity and NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Broiler
Authors: Huang Hui , Wang Xia , Yang Ling , He Wenxiang , Meng Tiantian , Zheng Ke , Xia Xin , Zhou Yingjun , He Jianhua , Liu Chunming , Zou Shengwen , Xiao Dingfu
Published: June 2022

In order to study the regulation of Fenugreek seed extract (FSE) on the immunity of broilers, and explore the appropriate amount of FSE in broilers' production, 1-day-old yellow feather broilers with a total of 420 birds were randomly allocated into seven treatments. Each treatment had six replicates, with 10 birds per replicate. The two control groups were the basic fodder group fed with basal diet and the bacitracin zinc group added 30 mg/kg bacitracin zinc to the basal diet. Experimental groups included five levels of FSE (50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg FSE to the basal diet, respectively). The pre-test period was 7 days and the formal test lasted for 56 days. The results showed that the average daily gain (ADG) of 50 and 800 mg/kg FSE groups was significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the feed to gain ratio (F/G) of FSE groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) compared with the basic fodder and the bacitracin zinc groups. Compared with the basic fodder group, the serum total cholesterol (TC) content in the FSE groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) content of 50, 100, and 800 mg/kg FSE groups was significantly lower than that of the basic fodder group (P < 0.05). Compared with the basic fodder and bacitracin zinc groups, the serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) content of 100 and 200 mg/kg FSE groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the bacitracin zinc group, the serum interleukins (IL-1, IL-10) content of 400 mg/kg FSE group were significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05), and the serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) content of 100 and 200 mg/kg FSE groups was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the basic fodder group, the lower doses (0–400 mg/kg) of FSE had no significant effect on the mRNA expression of toll-like receptors 4/ myeloid differentiation factor 88/ nuclear factor-κB (TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB) signaling pathways (P > 0.05). The 800 mg/kg FSE treatment group significantly increased the expression levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) mRNA in the spleen of broilers (P < 0.05). The zinc bacitracin group significantly increased the expression levels of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) mRNA (P ≤ 0.05). The results showed that FSE could promote the secretion of immunoglobulins, regulate the body's cytokines, and have a positive effect on immunity in broilers. Furthermore, the recommended supplement of FSE is 100 mg/kg in the broiler diet.
Clustering for Automated Exploratory Pattern Discovery in Animal Behavioral Data
Authors: Menaker Tom , Monteny Joke , de Beeck Lin Op , Zamansky Anna
Published: June 2022

Traditional methods of data analysis in animal behavior research are usually based on measuring behavior by manually coding a set of chosen behavioral parameters, which is naturally prone to human bias and error, and is also a tedious labor-intensive task. Machine learning techniques are increasingly applied to support researchers in this field, mostly in a supervised manner: for tracking animals, detecting land marks or recognizing actions. Unsupervised methods are increasingly used, but are under-explored in the context of behavior studies and applied contexts such as behavioral testing of dogs. This study explores the potential of unsupervised approaches such as clustering for the automated discovery of patterns in data which have potential behavioral meaning. We aim to demonstrate that such patterns can be useful at exploratory stages of data analysis before forming specific hypotheses. To this end, we propose a concrete method for grouping video trials of behavioral testing of animal individuals into clusters using a set of potentially relevant features. Using an example of protocol for testing in a “Stranger Test”, we compare the discovered clusters against the C-BARQ owner-based questionnaire, which is commonly used for dog behavioral trait assessment, showing that our method separated well between dogs with higher C-BARQ scores for stranger fear, and those with lower scores. This demonstrates potential use of such clustering approach for exploration prior to hypothesis forming and testing in behavioral research.
Identification of Pulmonary Infections With Porcine Rotavirus A in Pigs With Respiratory Disease
Authors: Nelsen April , Lager Kelly M. , Stasko Judith , Nelson Eric , Lin Chun-Ming , Hause Ben M.
Published: June 2022

While rotavirus (RV) is primarily known to cause gastroenteritis in many animals, several epidemiological studies have shown concurrent respiratory symptoms with fecal and nasal virus shedding. However, respiratory RV infections have rarely been investigated. By screening clinical samples submitted for diagnostic testing, porcine rotavirus A (RVA) was detected by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) in 28 out of 91 (30.8%) lungs obtained from conventionally reared pigs with respiratory signs. Among the positive cases, intensive RVA signals were mainly localized in alveolar macrophages (n = 3) and bronchiolar epithelial cells (n = 1) by RNAscope®in situ hybridization (ISH). The signals of RVA in bronchiolar epithelial cells were verified by ISH with different probes, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, additional cases with RVA ISH-positive signals in alveolar macrophages (n = 9) and bronchial epithelial cells (n = 1) were identified by screening 120 archived formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded lung samples using tissue microarrays. Overall, our study showed a high frequency of RVA detection in lungs from conventional pigs with respiratory disease. Further research is needed to determine if RVA infection in the respiratory epithelium correlates with nasal shedding of rotavirus and its contribution to respiratory disease.
Multi-Omics Analysis of the Microbiome and Metabolome Reveals the Relationship Between the Gut Microbiota and Wooden Breast Myopathy in Broilers
Authors: Kang Kelang , Zhou Nanxuan , Peng Weishi , Peng Fang , Ma Mengmeng , Li Liwei , Fu Fuyi , Xiang Shuhan , Zhang Haihan , He Xi , Song Zehe
Published: June 2022

Wooden breast (WB) is a widely prevalent myopathy in broiler chickens. However, the role of the gut microbiota in this myopathy remains largely unknown, in particular the regulatory effect of gut microbiota in the modulation of muscle metabolism. Totally, 300 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were raised until 49 days and euthanized, and the breast filets were classified as normal (NORM), mild (MILD), or severe wooden breast (SEV). Birds with WB comprised 27.02% of the individuals. Severe WB filets had a greater L* value, a* value, and dripping loss but a lower pH (P < 0.05). WB filets had abundant myofiber fragmentation, with a lower average myofiber caliber and more fibers with a diameter of <20 μm (P < 0.05). The diversity of the intestinal microflora was decreased in birds with severe WB, with decreases in Chao 1, and observed species indices. At the phylum level, birds with severe WB had a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (P = 0.098) and a decreased abundance of Verrucomicrobia (P < 0.05). At the species level, gut microbiota were positively correlated with 131 digesta metabolites in pathways of glutamine and glutamate metabolism and arginine biosynthesis but were negatively correlated with 30 metabolites in the pathway of tyrosine metabolism. In plasma, WB induced five differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), including anserine and choline, which were related to the severity of the WB lesion. The microbial-derived metabolites, including guanidoacetic acid, antiarol, and (2E)-decenoyl-ACP, which entered into plasma were related to meat quality traits and myofiber traits. In summary, WB filets differed in gut microbiota, digesta, and plasma metabolites. Gut microbiota respond to the wooden breast myopathy by driving dynamic changes in digesta metabolites that eventually enter the plasma.
An SSHC Interface Circuit for Energy Harvesting of Piezoelectric Flags
Authors: Chen Yuansheng , Tong Lichen , Du Jianzhou , Ji Hongli , Zhao Pengcheng
Published: June 2022

Piezoelectric flags have functions of both classic flags and energy harvesting, and are becoming a new research focus. Interface circuits that convert wind energy to electrical energy are the key component of piezoelectric flags. A new structure for piezoelectric flags was designed to generate vibration by wind induction. After theoretical analysis, only SEH (standard energy harvesting) and SSHC (synchronized switch-harvesting-on capacitors) interface circuits were found suitable for piezoelectric flags. Simulation in Multisim was performed to compare SEH and SSHC in different load resistance. Experiments were carried out using different wind speeds. The on-time and delay-time of each switch were controlled by the proposed control algorithm. Both simulation and experimental results indicate that the output voltage with SSHC is higher than the output voltage with SEH. When the resistance is 1700 kΩ and the wind speed is 24 m/s, the output power of SSHC can be increased by 45.63% compared with the SEH circuit.
Resilient Multi-Source Integrated Navigation Method for Aerospace Vehicles Based on On-Line Evaluation of Redundant Information
Authors: Kang Jun , Xiong Zhi , Wang Rong , Hua Bing
Published: June 2022

Aerospace vehicle navigation systems are equipped with multi-source redundant navigation sensors. According to the characteristics of the above navigation system configuration, building a resilient navigation framework to improve the accuracy and robustness of the navigation system has become an urgent problem to be solved. In the existing integrated navigation methods, redundant information is only used for backup. So, it cannot use the redundant navigation information to improve the accuracy of the navigation system. In this paper, a resilient multi-source fusion integrated navigation method based on comprehensive information evaluation has been proposed by combining of qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis in information theory. Firstly, this paper proposes a multi-layer evaluation framework of redundant information and carries out quantitative analysis of redundant information with the information disorder analysis theory to improve the reliability of the navigation system. Secondly, a navigation output effectiveness evaluation system has been established to analyze the output of heterogeneous navigation subsystems qualitatively to improve the fusion accuracy. Finally, through the mutual correction of multi-level information evaluation results, the error decoupling between the output parameters of heterogeneous navigation sensors has been realized to improve the robustness of the system. The experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper can adaptively allocate and adjust the weight of navigation information at all levels, realize the “non-stop” work of the navigation system and enhance the resilient of the navigation architecture. The navigation accuracy is improved compared with the existing multi-source fusion algorithm, which reflects the reliability and robustness of this algorithm.
Growing Triticum aestivum Landraces in Rotation with Lupinus albus and Fallow Reduces Soil Depletion and Minimises the Use of Chemical Fertilisers
Authors: Almeida-García Fernando , Lago-Olveira Sara , Rebolledo-Leiva Ricardo , González-García Sara , Teresa Moreira María , Ruíz-Nogueiras Benigno , Pereira-Lorenzo Santiago
Published: June 2022

In north-western Spain, the cultivation of wheat landraces represents the pillar of quality Galician bread; today, a minimum of 25% Galician flour is required to produce bread under the auspices of the Protected Geographical Indication “Pan Galego”. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the rotation of two wheat landraces—‘Carral’ and ‘Caaveiro’—with lupin (sweet Lupinus albus), together with a fallow period, on crop yield and quality, as well as the environmental benefits of rotations over conventional monoculture systems. After the different agricultural activities, twelve agronomic parameters were analysed at the end of the third year. For the environmental analysis, the Life Cycle Assessment methodology was applied. The results showed a positive influence of rotation systems on wheat yield and quality parameters, reporting higher specific weight and lower impurities compared to monoculture. No significant differences were observed between wheat rotation and monoculture in other parameters related to baking quality, such as protein, wet gluten, baking strength (W), elasticity (L), tenacity (P), and swelling (G). However, soil quality influenced wheat quality independently of rotation, and higher organic matter and lower phosphorus produced higher W and P, respectively. Moreover, rotation had a positive effect on yield, up to 62% when fallow preceded wheat, and in reducing diseases, pests, and weeds. Finally, in terms of environmental performance, the best results were identified when lupin preceded wheat due to lower fertiliser application. In this regard, the worst profiles corresponded to the scenarios based on monoculture for both wheat landraces.
Effects of Organic Maize Cropping Systems on Nitrogen Balances and Nitrous Oxide Emissions
Authors: Winkhart Felizitas , Mösl Thomas , Schmid Harald , Hülsbergen Kurt-Jürgen
Published: June 2022

Silage maize cultivation is gaining importance in organic farming, and thus its environmental and climate impacts. The effects of digestate fertilization in combination with different catch crops and tillage intensities in maize cultivation are investigated in a long-term field experiment in southern Germany. The tested variants are (a) maize after winter rye, plowed, unfertilized and (b) fertilized with biogas digestate, (c) maize after legume-rich cover crop mixture, mulch seeding, fertilized with digestate, and (d) maize in a white clover living mulch system, fertilized with digestate. Over three years (2019 to 2021), crop yields and N balance were analyzed, N2O emissions were measured in high temporal resolution using the closed chamber method, and soil moisture, ammonium, and nitrate contents were continuously determined. Maize dry matter yields ranged from 4.2 Mg ha−1 (variant a, 2021) to 24.4 Mg ha−1 (variant c, 2020) depending on cropping intensity and annual weather conditions. Despite relatively high nitrogen fertilization with digestate, the N balances were negative or nearly balanced; only in 2021 did the N surplus exceed 100 kg ha−1 (variant b and c) due to low yields. In maize cultivation, relatively low N2O-N emissions (1.0 to 3.2 kg ha−1) were measured in the unfertilized variant (a), and very high emissions in variant b (5.6 to 19.0 kg ha−1). The sometimes extremely high N2O emissions are also due to soil and climatic conditions (high denitrification potential). The experimental results show that cover crops, living mulch, and reduced tillage intensity in silage maize cultivation can reduce N2O emissions, improve nitrogen balance and increase maize yields.
A Review of Prospective Biocontrol Agents and Sustainable Soil Practices for Bulb Mite (Acari: Acaridae) Management
Authors: Palevsky Eric , Konopická Jana , Rueda-Ramírez Diana , Zemek Rostislav
Published: June 2022

Mites of the genus Rhizoglyphus (Acari: Acaridae) are serious pests of plants belonging to the orders Liliales and Asparagales such as onions, garlic, lilies, and tulips. Their control by synthetic pesticides is becoming problematic as a result of resistance development in these mites and environmental and health issues. New pest control methods thus need to be developed. This review provides an overview of studies related to bulb mite management. Entomopathogenic fungi and generalist predatory mites are prospective agents for biological control of these pests while entomopathogenic nematodes and the metabolites of their symbiotic bacteria seems to be less effective. There are, however, many more organisms in the soil that might play important roles in biological control of bulb mites as well as other soil pests of these bulbous plants. Therefore, a holistic approach based on the understanding of food webs in the soil environment and their ecological services is essential for developing effective control of bulb mites. For the rehabilitation and conservation of soil biodiversity supporting these ecosystem services, emphasis must be placed on sustainable soil management (e.g., ensuring green coverage, minimal soil disturbance and high content of organic matter).
Trait Selection for Yield Improvement in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica Beauv.) under Climate Change in the North China Plain
Authors: Zhang Wenying , Wang Bianyin , Liu Binhui , Chen Zhaoyang , Lu Guanli , Ge Yaoxiang , Bai Caihong
Published: June 2022

Weather factors and drought could impact the yield of foxtail millet, and varieties with traits that could alleviate the negative effects of deteriorating weather factors in the future should be developed. A total of 25 foxtail millet varieties were evaluated in experiments from 2016 to 2020 under well-watered (WW) and water-stressed (WS) treatments. Future climate change might favor an increased temperature that impedes grain yield, so varieties with characters that are less sensitive to temperature change are preferred. Varieties with a high panicle dry-weight per plant, thousand grain weight, leaf area and water productivity in deep soil layer usually gave better grain production under both water treatments. Under the WW treatment, low grain abortion rate, optimal chlorophyll and canopy temperature and more roots in the upper soil layer could favor a high yield and drought resistance. Under the WS treatment, varieties with a high harvest index, low rate of water loss and more roots in the upper soil layer usually produced a high yield.
Development of Enumerative and Binomial Sequential Sampling Plans for Monitoring Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera Erebidae) in Mediterranean Oak Forests
Authors: Mannu Roberto , Olivieri Maurizio , Cocco Arturo , Lentini Andrea
Published: June 2022

Lymantria dispar is the main threat to Mediterranean forests. Sampling methods used for monitoring the pest population density are generally very time-consuming for practical purposes, such as the delimitation of infested areas for control programs. Enumerative and binomial sequential sampling plans were developed using data collected in cork oak forests in Sardinia (Italy). The Taylor’s power law (TPL) was used to evaluate the degree of aggregation of L. dispar egg masses among trees and to develop enumerative sampling plans at precision levels of 0.10 and 0.25 using the Green’s method. Furthermore, binomial plans were computed by Wald’s sequential probability ratio test. Lymantria dispar egg masses on trees were significantly aggregated and the degree of aggregation was similar in all population development phases. Overall, only 31 cork oak trees are to be monitored at the economic damage threshold of 2.5 egg masses/tree with a precision level of 0.25. Binomial sequential sampling plans also required lower sampling sizes (26.9–31.4 trees) than conventional sampling plans. Enumerative and binomial sampling plans could represent suitable methods for sampling L. dispar egg masses in Mediterranean forests, with the practical advantage of lower cost and time consumption than standard sampling plans.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Decompensated Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review on Safety and Efficacy
Authors: Hong Annie S. , Tun Kyaw Min , Hong Jenny M. , Batra Kavita , Ohning Gordon
Published: June 2022

Background and Aims: Due to increasing knowledge of the “gut–liver axis”, there has been growing interest regarding the use of fecal microbiota transplant in the management of chronic liver disease. There are limited data available and current guidelines are mostly based on expert opinions. We aim to perform the first systematic review investigating safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplant particularly among high-risk decompensated cirrhosis patient populations. Methods: Literature search was performed using variations of the keywords “fecal microbiota transplant” and “cirrhosis” on PubMed/Medline from inception to 3 October 2021. The resulting 116 articles were independently screened by two authors. In total, 5 qualifying studies, including 2 randomized control trials and 3 retrospective case series, were found to meet established eligibility criteria and have adequate quality of evidence to be included in this review. Results: Of the total 58 qualifying patients, there were 2 deaths post fecal microbiota transplant, 1 of which could not rule out being related (1.7%). Among the remaining 56 participants, 8 serious adverse events were reported, of which 2 could not rule out being related (3.6%). The success rate of fecal microbiota transplantation in treating recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection among patients with decompensated cirrhosis was 77.8%. The success rate when used as investigational treatment for hepatic encephalopathy was 86.7%, with multiple studies reporting clinically significant improvement in encephalopathy testing scores. Conclusions: We found a marginally higher rate of deaths and serious adverse events from fecal microbiota transplant in our patient population compared with the average immunocompetent population, where it was previously found to have 0 deaths and SAE rate of 2.83%. The efficacy when used for recurrent C.difficile infection was 77.8% and 87% in the decompensated cirrhotic and general populations, respectively. Studies on efficacy in novel treatment of hepatic encephalopathy have been promising. This study concludes that fecal microbiota transplant use in decompensated cirrhosis patients should be used with caution and preferably be limited to research purposes until better data are available.
Ultrasound-Assisted Aqueous Extraction of Chlorogenic Acid and Cynarin with the Impact of Inulin from Burdock (Arctium lappa L.) Roots
Authors: Chen Yuan , Su Jing-Yi , Yang Chun-Yao
Published: June 2022

The ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction of chlorogenic acid (CGA) and cynarin with the impact of inulin from burdock (Arctium lappa L.) roots was investigated. Three extraction modes, ultrasound at 40 kHz/300 W (U-40), ultrasound at 120 kHz/300 W (U-120), and shaking at 120 rpm (S-120), were compared. The effects of process parameters on the extraction of polyphenols, CGA, cynarin, inulin, and antioxidant activity using U-40 were evaluated. In 10 min, 50 °C, and 1/30 (g/mL-water) of solid-to-liquid ratio, the order of CGA content in the dried burdock root powder (DBR) was U-40 (484.65 μg/g-DBR) > U-120 (369.93 μg/g-DBR) > S-120 (176.99 μg/g-DBR), while the order of cynarin content in DBR was U-120 (376.47 μg/g-DBR) > U-40 (341.54 μg/g-DBR) > S-120 (330.44 μg/g-DBR), showing the selective extraction of CGA and cynarin between using 40 and 120 kHz of ultrasound. The profiles of increase and then decrease in free CGA and cynarin concentrations against time revealed their degradation, including their interactions with the abundant inulin. The kinetic model, considering extraction followed by degradation, was proposed to describe the variations of free CGA and cynarin against time. This study provides an effective method using water to extract CGA, cynarin, and inulin from burdock roots.
Effects of Barranca yajiagengensis Powder in the Diet of Trachinotus ovatus on the Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Immunity and Morphology of the Liver and Intestine
Authors: Zhao Wei , Cui Xin , Wang Zi-Qiao , Yao Rong , Chen Meng-Die , Gao Bao-Yan , Zhang Cheng-Wu , Niu Jin
Published: June 2022

Barranca yajiagengensis, a novel filamentous microalga, can accumulate lutein under high-light and low-nitrogen conditions. It is well known that lutein has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of including lutein-rich B. yajiagengensis powder in the diet of Trachinotus ovatus on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity, liver, and intestinal morphology. For this aim, three experimental diets containing 0% (BY0), 1% (BY1), and 5% (BY5) B. yajiagengensis powder were formulated for six-week feeding trials. The results indicated that growth performance, feed utilization, and intestinal morphology were not affected by different diet treatments. Fish fed with the BY5 diet promoted antioxidant ability by activating the Nrf2-ARE signal pathway and enhancing antioxidant enzymes activities. Furthermore, the BY5 diet improved non-specific immunity and antibacterial ability by activating lysozymes and the complement system and increasing the nitric oxide (NO) content and total nitric oxide synthase activity. Dietary B. yajiagengensis supplementation improved the liver morphology and exerted hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, as a natural source of lutein, B. yajiagengensis has the potential as a safe and non-toxic immunostimulant for T. ovatus. A diet supplemented with 5% B. yajiagengensis is recommended to improve the growth, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and liver health of T. ovatus.
Apple Pomace as Valuable Food Ingredient for Enhancing Nutritional and Antioxidant Properties of Italian Salami
Authors: Grispoldi Luca , Ianni Federica , Blasi Francesca , Pollini Luna , Crotti Silvia , Cruciani Deborah , Cenci-Goga Beniamino Terzo , Cossignani Lina
Published: June 2022

Nowadays, food fortification with bioactive compounds deriving from agri-food waste is of great interest all over the world. In this work, apple pomace (AP), the most abundant by-product of apple juice manufacturing, was characterised by chemical, chromatographic and spectrophotometric analyses. AP showed valuable antioxidant activity, due to the presence of phenolic compounds (8.56 mg gallic acid equivalents/g), including quercetin-3-O-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-arabinofuranoside, and phloridzin. Dried AP, at 7% and 14%, was added to pork meat to produce Italian salami, then subjected to 25 days of ripening. Physicochemical, colorimetric and microbiological analyses were carried out at days 0, 5, 11, 19 and 25, while nutritional and sensory evaluations were performed at the end of the ripening. The overall acceptability was slightly higher for 7% AP compared to 14% AP sample, and generally the replacement of a percentage of meat with apple pomace allowed the production of salami with sensory properties comparable to those obtained with classic recipes. The improved fibre and phenol content, together with the lower fat and calories, represent the most interesting characteristics of fortified salami. The results confirm that the addition of AP represents a valid approach to adding healthy compounds to salami.