bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soybean-MVS: Annotated Three-Dimensional Model Dataset of Whole Growth Period Soybeans for 3D Plant Organ Segmentation
Authors: Sun Yongzhe , Zhang Zhixin , Sun Kai , Li Shuai , Yu Jianglin , Miao Linxiao , Zhang Zhanguo , Li Yang , Zhao Hongjie , Hu Zhenbang , Xin Dawei , Chen Qingshan , Zhu Rongsheng
Published: June 2023

The study of plant phenotypes based on 3D models has become an important research direction for automatic plant phenotype acquisition. Building a labeled three-dimensional dataset of the whole growth period can help the development of 3D crop plant models in point cloud segmentation. Therefore, the demand for 3D whole plant growth period model datasets with organ-level markers is growing rapidly. In this study, five different soybean varieties were selected, and three-dimensional reconstruction was carried out for the whole growth period (13 stages) of soybean using multiple-view stereo technology (MVS). Leaves, main stems, and stems of the obtained three-dimensional model were manually labeled. Finally, two-point cloud semantic segmentation models, RandLA-Net and BAAF-Net, were used for training. In this paper, 102 soybean stereoscopic plant models were obtained. A dataset with original point clouds was constructed and the subsequent analysis confirmed that the number of plant point clouds was consistent with corresponding real plant development. At the same time, a 3D dataset named Soybean-MVS with labels for the whole soybean growth period was constructed. The test result of mAccs at 88.52% and 87.45% verified the availability of this dataset. In order to further promote the study of point cloud segmentation and phenotype acquisition of soybean plants, this paper proposed an annotated three-dimensional model dataset for the whole growth period of soybean for 3D plant organ segmentation. The release of the dataset can provide an important basis for proposing an updated, highly accurate, and efficient 3D crop model segmentation algorithm. In the future, this dataset will provide important and usable basic data support for the development of three-dimensional point cloud segmentation and phenotype automatic acquisition technology of soybeans.
Sustainable Strategies Based on Reused Leachates and Hydrogen Peroxide Supply to Fertigate Cordyline fruticosa var. ‘Red Edge’ Plants
Authors: Paniagua Fernando , Plaza Blanca María , Llanderal Alfonso , García-Caparrós Pedro , Lao María Teresa
Published: June 2023

Leachate reuse is a helpful tool that contributes to the sustainability of agricultural systems, but it requires previous disinfection. Hydrogen peroxide can be found among the disinfectants frequently applied in ecological production systems. Moreover, it can improve the oxygenation of the root system. The objective of this work was to study its effect on C. fruticosa plants fertigated with leachates. A split-plot design with six treatments, three without an H2O2 supply (S0) and three with an H2O2 supply dosage at 2% (SH2O2), was arranged: raw leachate from C. lanatus (L100), raw leachate from C. lanatus diluted with tap water until EC of 2.5 dS m−1 (LWD), and raw leachate from C. lanatus diluted with standard nutrient solution until EC of 2.5 dS m−1 (LNSD). The results produced data about the evolution of the nutrient and leachate solutions throughout the cultivation period. Morphological (height, leaf number, leaf area, total fresh weight, relative water status, and dry weight) and physiological (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, chlorophyll a+b, and proline) parameters were studied to reveal the plant response. The efficiency of nutrient utilization was higher with the LWD treatment, and water and nitrogen utilization efficiency decreased under the H2O2 supply. In conclusion, the reuse of diluted leachate is advised for nutritionally undemanding crops, such as C. fruticosa; moreover, the H2O2 supply improved tolerance to salinity and enhanced root growth and Red-Green-Blue (RGB) values.
Coupling Effect of Water and Soluble Organic Fertilizer on Yield and Quality of Panax notoginseng under Micro-Sprinkler Irrigation in Southwest China
Authors: Mu Tianqi , Yue Xiulu , Zang Zhennan , Wang Haidong , Liang Jiaping , Yang Qiliang , Guo Jinjin , Li Na , Liu Xiaogang , You Qi
Published: June 2023

The cultivation of Panax notoginseng has been plagued by a multitude of challenges, including recurrent diseases, suboptimal value, inadequate quality, and environmental degradation resulting from improper water and fertilizer management. To address these issues and improve the yield of P. notoginseng and its saponin content, this study endeavors to identify the optimal irrigation and fertilization levels in shaded environments in Yunnan Province in Southwest China. In this field experiment, three-year-old plants were tested to evaluate the effects of water, soluble organic fertilizers, and their combinations on plant growth, physiological parameters, yield, and saponin content. The experiment included 12 treatments with three types of irrigation (10 (W1), 15 (W2), and 20 (W3) mm), totaling 440, 660, and 880 mm, and four levels of the total amount of fertilization (F1 (60, total N 12.6, total P 5.5, and total K 10.5 kg ha−1), F2 (90, total N 18.9, total P 8.3, and total K 15.7 kg ha−1), F3 (120, total N 25.2, total P 11.0, and total K 20.9 kg ha−1), F4 (150, total N 31.5, total P 13.8, and total K 26.1 kg ha−1)). The randomized complete block design was used, with 36 plots in total and 3 replications. The study utilized the TOPSIS method to determine the most effective water and fertilizer management strategy for the growth and production of P. notoginseng. The assessment of yield, water and fertilizer productivity, and saponin content across all treatments revealed that the W3F3 treatment resulted in significant increases in the plant’s height, stem diameter, and net photosynthetic rate. Meanwhile, the W2F3 treatment exhibited the best root morphological traits. The W3F4 treatment effectively increased dry matter and transpiration. The combination of water and fertilization had a coupling effect that not only increased yield to 1400 kg ha−1 but also improved water–fertilizer productivity. The application of the W2F3 treatment resulted in a significant increase in the accumulation of active components, leading to a total P. notoginseng saponin (PNS) content of 24.94%. Moreover, the comprehensive index obtained through the TOPSIS model indicated that the W2F3 treatment outperformed other treatments. Therefore, this treatment can be considered a promising water and fertilizer model for P. notoginseng cultivation, which can enhance its yield, quality, and productivity while promoting sustainable green development.
Nitrogen Application Alleviates Impairments for Jatropha curcas L. Seedling Growth under Salinity Stress by Regulating Photosynthesis and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity
Authors: Yang Zhao , Tan Shuai , Yang Qiliang , Chen Shaomin , Qi Changmin , Liu Xiaogang , Liang Jiaping , Wang Haidong
Published: June 2023

Jatropha curcas L. is a promising bioenergy source, and its seedling stage is sensitive to salinity. Nitrogen application presents an effective strategy for alleviating the adverse consequences of salinity stress. However, the responses of plant growth and physiology of Jatropha curcas L. seedlings to nitrogen application under salinity stress remain unclear. As a result, a one-year greenhouse plot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of nitrogen application on the plant growth, antioxidant enzyme activity, and photosynthesis of Jatropha curcas L. seedlings under saline conditions. Experiment treatments consisted of three salinity stresses (mild salinity stress, S1: 2 g/kg; moderate salinity stress, S2: 4 g/kg; and severe salinity stress, S3: 6 g/kg), four nitrogen application rates (N0: 0 gN/plant; N1: 20 gN/plant; N2: 60 gN/plant; and N3: 100 gN/plant), and a control treatment (CK) which was without salinity stress and nitrogen application. The results showed that salinity stress substantially reduced plant growth of Jatropha curcas L. seedlings. As the salinity stress increased, the reduction in plant growth also increased. The S3 treatment had the lowest leaf area, leaf biomass, and total biomass, which decreased by an average of 70.4%, 66.3%, and 69.9%, respectively, compared to CK. Nitrogen application could compensate for these impairments of plant growth from salinity stress by promoting antioxidant enzyme activity and photosynthesis. As for mild and moderate salinity stresses, the maximum plant growth was found in the N3 treatment, with the maximum antioxidant enzyme activity, photosynthetic pigment, photosynthetic characteristic, and chlorophyll fluorescence. As for severe salinity stress, higher plant growth was found in N2 and N3 treatments, and there were no significant differences between N2 and N3 treatments. It also should be noted that the maximum photosynthetic characteristic and chlorophyll fluorescence were found in N2 treatment under severe salinity stress. In conclusion, nitrogen application could be an alternative strategy to improve the salinity tolerance of Jatropha curcas L. growth. The nitrogen application rate of 100 gN/plant could be recommended for low and moderate salinity stresses, while 60 gN/plant could be recommended for severe salinity stress. However, higher nitrogen application rate (>100 gN/plant) under mild and moderate salinity stress and the effects of reactive oxygen species under salinity stress should be further evaluated.
Application of Organic Fertilizers Optimizes Water Consumption Characteristics and Improves Seed Yield of Oilseed Flax in Semi-Arid Areas of the Loess Plateau
Authors: Xu Peng , Gao Yuhong , Cui Zhengjun , Wu Bing , Yan Bin , Wang Yifan , Wen Ming , Wang Haidi , Ma Xingkang , Wen Zedong
Published: June 2023

Organic fertilizers are an important source of nutrients for improving farmland fertility. To explore high-yield, efficient and green production technology for oilseed flax in dryland agricultural areas, a field split plot experiment was conducted in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau in northwest China from April to August in 2020 and 2021. The study compared and analyzed the effects of different nutrient sources and their application rates on water consumption characteristics, grain yield and water use efficiency of oilseed flax. The main plots were fertilizer types (sheep manure, chicken manure and chemical fertilizer), while the subplots were fertilizer application rates (sheep manure: S1-12,500 kg·hm−2 and S2-25,000 kg·hm−2; chicken manure: C1-5800 kg·hm−2 and C2-11,600 kg·hm−2; chemical fertilizer: F1-N 112.5 kg·hm−2, P 75 kg·hm−2, K 67.5 kg·hm−2 and F2-N 225 kg·hm−2, P2O5 150 kg·hm−2, K2O 135 kg·hm−2). The results showed that compared with chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers significantly increased the soil water storage capacity of the 0–160 cm soil layer during the whole growth period of oilseed flax and significantly reduced water consumption. During two growing seasons, the application of 25,000 kg·hm−2 sheep manure significantly reduced water consumption during the seedling-bud period and green fruit period-maturity period of oilseed flax by 16.13% and 23.19% compared with CK, respectively. Thousand-grain weight, yield and water use efficiency were significantly increased by 14.70%, 48.32% and 61.29%, respectively. These results indicate that the application of 25,000 kg·hm−2 sheep manure can significantly increase soil water storage capacity of the 0–160 cm soil layer, reduce water consumption during the whole growth period of oilseed flax and thus improve grain yield and water use efficiency of oilseed flax. It is a suitable fertilization technology for the high-yield, efficient and green production of oilseed flax in the semi-arid areas of northwest Loess Plateau.
How Are Warm-Season Pastures’ Nutritive Value and Fermentation Characteristics Affected by Open Pasture, Silvopasture, and Sward Herbage Maturity?
Authors: Ferreira Mariane Rodrigues , Cardoso Abmael da Silva , Andrade Marina Elizabeth Barbosa , Brito Thais Ribeiro , Ruggieri Ana Cláudia
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the forage mass and nutritional value (NV) of Guinea Massai grass (Megathyrsus maximus × Megathyrsus infestum) in an open pasture (OP) or the silvopastoral system (SPS) at different stages of development (SDs). The experimental design was completely randomized, with five replications. The treatments were distributed in a factorial scheme 2 × 4, corresponding to types of systems (OP and SPS) and four SD (vegetative stage—S1, pre-flowering—S2, full flowering—S3 and maturity after flowering—S4). There was no interaction of the system × stage of plant development in any of the variables evaluated. The production of forage mass and Guinea Massai grass morphological components did not differ (p > 0.05) between SPS and OP. However, they differed between the SDs (p ≤ 0.05), with an increasing linear effect for forage mass, percentage of the stem, and dead material, and decreasing for leaf percentage and leaf: stem ratio. Only protein content differed (p < 0.05) among the chemical composition variables between culture systems. The shading caused by the SPS did not decrease the forage mass, NV, and in vitro dry matter digestibility of Guinea Massai grass compared to the system in OP. The advance of the SD of Guinea Massai grass increases the forage mass, with higher proportions of morphological components of low NV, such as stem and dead material. Silvopastoral system of Guinea Massai grass and eucalyptus is effective to prolongate the grazing season, with a greater amount of green leaves in the sward and better NV, without compromising herbage mass production in the forage growing season.
Rare and Hungry: Feeding Ecology of the Golden Alpine Salamander, an Endangered Amphibian in the Alps
Authors: Centomo Emma , Roner Luca , Salvatori Marco , Pedrini Paolo , Romano Antonio
Published: June 2023

Amphibians are considered critical species in the nutrient flow within and across ecosystems, and knowledge on their trophic ecology and niches is crucial for their conservation. For the first time we studied the trophic ecology of the rare and endemic Salamandra atra aurorae in a mixed temperate forest in northern Italy. We aimed to define the realized trophic niche, investigate the prey selectivity and explore possible levels of individual specialization. In summer 2022 we obtained stomach contents from 53 salamanders by stomach flushing and prey availability using pitfall traps. We used the Costello graphical method to analyse the realized trophic niche, and the relativized electivity index to study prey selectivity. Our results show that the Golden Alpine salamander adopts a generalist feeding strategy with positive selection of few prey categories (e.g., Myriapoda, Hymenoptera except Formicidae). Food preference seems to be driven by size, movement ability and chitinization of the prey. A high degree of inter-individual diet variation, modularity and clustering was found, describing a scenario that can be framed in a Distinct Preference model framework. This study gives new insights on the trophic ecology of the Alpine salamander complex, whose subspecies appear to adopt similar feeding strategies.
Structural Changes in the Skeletal Muscle of Pigs after Long-Term Administration of Testosterone, Nandrolone and a Combination of the Two
Authors: Skoupá Kristýna , Bátik Andrej , Št’astný Kamil , Sládek Zbyšek
Published: June 2023

Anabolic steroid hormones (AASs) are used in most countries of the world to accelerate the growth of animals, increase the volume of their muscles and thereby increase meat production. However, there is a strict ban on the use of AASs in the fattening of all animals in all countries of the European Union, and there must therefore be effective methods of detection and control of these substances. Methods based on chromatography and mass spectrometry may no longer be completely effective when faced with new synthetic steroids of unknown chemical structures and low concentrations. Therefore, there is an effort to develop new methods of AAS detection, based primarily on the monitoring of biological changes at the level of gene expression or changes in metabolism or structure at the cellular level. More detailed knowledge of the mechanisms of action of AASs on tissues is essential for these methods, and histological changes are one of them. In this study, we report histological changes in muscle structure after AAS application, specifically in the size of muscle fibers, the amount of endomysium and the number of nuclei and satellite cells in muscle fibers. A pig model was also intentionally used for the study, as no such study has been carried out on this species, and at the same time, pork is one of the most consumed meats across Europe. The results of histology and fluorescent antibody labeling showed that AASs increased the diameter and surface area of muscle fibers and also significantly increased the number of satellite cells on the fiber surface. The evident correlations between the number of satellite cells, all nuclei and the diameters of muscle fibers between some experimental groups provide evidence that the selected histological parameters could be additional detection mechanisms for screening a large number of samples and indicate the possibility of the presence of AASs in pork meat in the future.
Differential Antimicrobial Effect of Three-Sized Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles as Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Agents against Plant Pathogens
Authors: Aldayel Munirah F. , El Semary Nermin , Adams David G.
Published: June 2023

Background: Massive fruit losses are caused by microbial pathogens of unknown identities. Therefore, ecofriendly biocontrol measures are well sought after, and biogenic silver nanoparticles are plausible candidates. Here we investigate the antimicrobial effect of three different sized AgNPs samples on those pathogens. Methodology: Identities of three local pathogenic bacteria were investigated using molecular methods. Three different-sized samples of silver nanoparticles were bio-synthesized in the external solution of a cyanobacterial culture, characterized, and used in antimicrobial bioassay. Results: The pathogens were identified as Erwinia pyrifoliae, Staphylococcus warneri, and Xanthomonas citri. UV-vis. and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the biosynthesis of AgNPs. and their three different sizes were confirmed using Scanning electron microscopy. Growth of bacterial pathogens was inhibited by all three samples of AgNPs, but the largest inhibition zone was for the smallest sized AgNPs against Staphylococcus warneri (1.7 cm). Discussion: The identity of the pathogens infecting different local fruits is reported for the first time. They belong to different bacterial lineages. The fact that biogenic AAgNPs were effective against all of them shows their broad-spectrum of antibacterial effect. Customized biosynthesis was successful in yielding different-sized AgNPs. The smaller the AgNPs, the stronger the antimicrobial impact. Conclusion: Local bacterial species infecting fruits are diverse. Customized biogenic AgNPs are effective broad-spectrum biocontrol agents against bacterial pathogens of local fruits and thereby help maintain food security and environmental sustainability.
Mobile Colistin Resistance (mcr) Gene-Containing Organisms in Poultry Sector in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Epidemiology, Characteristics, and One Health Control Strategies
Authors: Anyanwu Madubuike Umunna , Jaja Ishmael Festus , Okpala Charles Odilichukwu R. , Njoga Emmanuel Okechukwu , Okafor Nnenna Audrey , Oguttu James Wabwire
Published: June 2023

Mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes (mcr-1 to mcr-10) are plasmid-encoded genes that threaten the clinical utility of colistin (COL), one of the highest-priority critically important antibiotics (HP-CIAs) used to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant bacteria in humans and animals. For more than six decades, COL has been used largely unregulated in the poultry sector in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and this has led to the development/spread of mcr gene-containing bacteria (MGCB). The prevalence rates of mcr-positive organisms from the poultry sector in LMICs between January 1970 and May 2023 range between 0.51% and 58.8%. Through horizontal gene transfer, conjugative plasmids possessing insertion sequences (ISs) (especially ISApl1), transposons (predominantly Tn6330), and integrons have enhanced the spread of mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3, mcr-4, mcr-5, mcr-7, mcr-8, mcr-9, and mcr-10 in the poultry sector in LMICs. These genes are harboured by Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Salmonella, Cronobacter, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Shigella, Providencia, Aeromonas, Raoultella, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter species, belonging to diverse clones. The mcr-1, mcr-3, and mcr-10 genes have also been integrated into the chromosomes of these bacteria and are mobilizable by ISs and integrative conjugative elements. These bacteria often coexpress mcr with virulence genes and other genes conferring resistance to HP-CIAs, such as extended-spectrum cephalosporins, carbapenems, fosfomycin, fluoroquinolone, and tigecycline. The transmission routes and dynamics of MGCB from the poultry sector in LMICs within the One Health triad include contact with poultry birds, feed/drinking water, manure, poultry farmers and their farm workwear, farming equipment, the consumption and sale of contaminated poultry meat/egg and associated products, etc. The use of pre/probiotics and other non-antimicrobial alternatives in the raising of birds, the judicious use of non-critically important antibiotics for therapy, the banning of nontherapeutic COL use, improved vaccination, biosecurity, hand hygiene and sanitization, the development of rapid diagnostic test kits, and the intensified surveillance of mcr genes, among others, could effectively control the spread of MGCB from the poultry sector in LMICs.
Global Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Study of Helicobacter pylori: Comparison of Detection Tools, ARG and Efflux Pump Gene Analysis, Worldwide Epidemiological Distribution, and Information Related to the Antimicrobial-Resistant Phenotype
Authors: Alfaray Ricky Indra , Saruuljavkhlan Batsaikhan , Fauzia Kartika Afrida , Torres Roberto C. , Thorell Kaisa , Dewi Selva Rosyta , Kryukov Kirill A. , Matsumoto Takashi , Akada Junko , Vilaichone Ratha-korn , Miftahussurur Muhammad , Yamaoka Yoshio
Published: June 2023

We conducted a global-scale study to identify H. pylori antimicrobial-resistant genes (ARG), address their global distribution, and understand their effect on the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotypes of the clinical isolates. We identified ARG using several well-known tools against extensive bacterial ARG databases, then analyzed their correlation with clinical antibiogram data from dozens of patients across countries. This revealed that combining multiple tools and databases, followed by manual selection of ARG from the annotation results, produces more conclusive results than using a single tool or database alone. After curation, the results showed that H. pylori has 42 ARG against 11 different antibiotic classes (16 genes related to single antibiotic class resistance and 26 genes related to multidrug resistance). Further analysis revealed that H. pylori naturally harbors ARG in the core genome, called the ‘Set of ARG commonly found in the Core Genome of H. pylori (ARG-CORE)’, while ARG-ACC—the ARG in the accessory genome—are exclusive to particular strains. In addition, we detected 29 genes of potential efflux pump-related AMR that were mostly categorized as ARG-CORE. The ARG distribution appears to be almost similar either by geographical or H. pylori populations perspective; however, some ARG had a unique distribution since they tend to be found only in a particular region or population. Finally, we demonstrated that the presence of ARG may not directly correlate with the sensitive/resistance phenotype of clinical patient isolates but may influence the minimum inhibitory concentration phenotype.
Voltage Reference Realignment Cell Balance to Solve Overvoltage Caused by Gradual Damage of Series-Connected Batteries
Authors: Yun Sang-Sun , Kee Seok-Cheol
Published: June 2023

This paper analyzes the cause of electric vehicle battery fires. The fundamental cause is attributed to a low cell balance current, and it is proven that the variation in the battery’s internal voltage due to temperature change is the decisive reason for battery fires. In this paper, the authors studied a method of solving the problem by changing only the software of the existing Battery Management System (BMS) without changing the hardware. Batteries cannot be made with 100% capacity, resulting in voltage division. Cell balancing is performed to prevent such phenomena, but a low cell balance current prevents the proper operation of cell balancing. As a result, relatively small batteries, due to progressive degradation, have continuous voltage rise toward overvoltage. Subsequently, an additional voltage rise occurs as the chemical activity of the battery increases due to temperature rise. In this paper, a new cell balancing method is proposed to limit the aging process of cells with a relatively small capacity and peak voltage. In addition, it was validated through simulation using MATLAB R2019a.
Irrigation Scheduling in Processing Tomato to Save Water: A Smart Approach Combining Plant and Soil Monitoring
Authors: Carucci Federica , Gagliardi Anna , Giuliani Marcella Michela , Gatta Giuseppe
Published: June 2023

The gradual reduction of water reserves for irrigation has become a worldwide concern. To improve the irrigation of processing tomato, we conducted a study to evaluate a system that monitors both plant water status and soil moisture levels (PlaSoMan) compared to an evapotraspirometric method (IrriMan) and an empirical farmer’s management (FarMan) in a two-year field trial. The results showed that PlaSoMan saved around 30% and 7.5% of water, with a yield loss of only 10% and 2.5% compared to FarMan and IrriMan, respectively. Thus, PlaSoMan showed satisfactory irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) over the two years. Moreover, IrriMan and PlaSoMan had lower blue water requirement (BWR) values than FarMan. Finally, PlaSoMan reached the highest value of the yield quality indicator, which combined total yield and brix degree. Thus, the new system, which assesses both plant water status and soil moisture levels, appears to be associated with high-quality and water-friendly tomato production representing an efficient solution for areas with limited water resources.
Effect of H2O2 Treatment on Mechanical and Mechanochemical Properties of Fused Silica
Authors: Liu Xinqi , Yin Lingyu , He Hongtu , Ma Youze , Zheng Qiuju , Sun Laixi , Wang Fang , Yu Jiaxin , Cai Yong
Published: June 2023

The surface properties of fused silica (FS) change after H2O2 treatment, but the surface and subsurface damage behaviors and their mechanisms under various physical contact conditions have not been elucidated yet. This work investigated the effect of H2O2 treatment on mechanical and mechanochemical properties of FS surface. The results show that the hydrophilicity and adsorbed water film thickness of the FS surface increase with the concentration of H2O2 solution. The surface damage, nanowear, and subsurface deformation of FS caused by indentation increase with the concentration of H2O2 solution, while the nanohardness and reduced modulus decrease. Further analysis revealed that the water activity on the FS surface plays a critical role in reducing the mechanical and mechanochemical properties. In addition, the treatment with H2O2 solution on the FS surface shows a weakly corrosive effect, which implies the H2O2 treatment can be an alternative method to remove the surface defects on FS optics.
Guidance for Clinical Evaluation under the Medical Device Regulation through Automated Scoping Searches
Authors: Tang Fu-Sung Kim-Benjamin , Bukowski Mark , Schmitz-Rode Thomas , Farkas Robert
Published: June 2023

The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) in Europe aims to improve patient safety by increasing requirements, particularly for the clinical evaluation of medical devices. Before the clinical evaluation is initiated, a first literature review of existing clinical knowledge is necessary to decide how to proceed. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lacking the required expertise and funds may disappear from the market. Automating searches for the first literature review is both possible and necessary to accelerate the process and reduce the required resources. As a contribution to the prevention of the disappearance of SMEs and respective medical devices, we developed and tested two automated search methods with two SMEs, leveraging Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT). Both methods were tailored to the SMEs and evaluated through a newly developed workflow that incorporated feedback resource-efficiently. Via a second evaluation with the established CLEF 2018 eHealth TAR dataset, the more general suitability of the search methods for retrieving relevant data was tested. In the real-world use case setting, the BERT-based method performed better with an average precision of 73.3%, while in the CLEF 2018 eHealth TAR evaluation, the MeSH-based search method performed better with a recall of 86.4%. Results indicate the potential of automated searches to provide device-specific relevant data from multiple databases while screening fewer documents than in manual literature searches.
Advanced Research in Electronics: The Perspective of Women
Authors: Scandurra Graziella
Published: June 2023

In the past, electronic engineering has been considered a purely male research field and, although this situation has changed slightly, the male prevalence in both academic and professional fields is still marked [...]
An Evaluation of the Ramus Mandibular Asymmetry on the Panoramic Radiography
Authors: Hlatcu Andreea Raluca , Galan Elena , Milicescu Ștefan , Teodorescu Elina , Ionescu Ecaterina
Published: June 2023

This study is intended to focus on the evaluation of posterior vertical mandibular asymmetry by calculating the mandibular asymmetry index on the panoramic radiography in different types of malocclusions, considering the sexual dimorphism in children and adolescent patients and performing a comparative analysis between these groups. In this context, a cross-sectional study was conducted for a group of 214 patients (134 females and 80 males with a mean age of 9.5 ± 2 years). The asymmetry index was calculated for each patient according to the Habets method. The results were analyzed by using the independent Student t-test, ANOVA and Mann–Whitney U-test at the 95% confidence level (p < 0.05). The results of the analyses showed a statistically significant difference between males and females at the level of the condylar index (p = 0.023) and a significant difference in the unilateral posterior crossbite in the Mann–Whitney U test (p = 0.01). No statistically significant differences were found between males and females in the index of the mandibular ramus and condyle-plus-ramus. The highest value of the asymmetry index was recorded at the level of the condyle. We found higher values of asymmetry in Angle Class I malocclusions in all groups and in Class II/1 in the group of females.
Unknown Traffic Recognition Based on Multi-Feature Fusion and Incremental Learning
Authors: Liu Junyi , Wang Jiarong , Yan Tian , Qi Fazhi , Chen Gang
Published: June 2023

Accurate classification and identification of Internet traffic are crucial for maintaining network security. However, unknown network traffic in the real world can affect the accuracy of current machine learning models, reducing the efficiency of traffic classification. Existing unknown traffic classification algorithms are unable to optimize traffic features and require the entire system to be retrained each time new traffic data are collected. This results in low recognition efficiency, making the algoritms unsuitable for real-time application detection. To solve the above issues, we suggest a multi-feature fusion-based incremental technique for detecting unknown traffic in this paper. The approach employs a multiple-channel parallel architecture to extract temporal and spatial traffic features. It then uses the mRMR algorithm to rank and fuse the features extracted from each channel to overcome the issue of redundant encrypted traffic features. In addition, we combine the density-ratio-based clustering algorithm to identify the unknown traffic features and update the model via incremental learning. The cassifier enables real-time classification of known and unknown traffic by learning newly acquired class knowledge. Our model can identify encrypted unknown Internet traffic with at least 86% accuracy in various scenarios, using the public ISCX-VPN-Tor datasets. Furthermore, it achieves 90% accuracy on the intrusion detection dataset NSL-KDD. In our self-collected dataset from a real-world environment, the accuracy of our model exceeds 96%. This work offers a novel method for identifying unknown network traffic, contributing to the security preservation of network environments.
Rock Crack Types Identification by Machine Learning on the Sound Signal
Authors: Jiang Hao , Jiang Jianqing , Su Guoshao
Published: June 2023

Sound signals generated during rock failure contain useful information about crack development. A sound-signal-based identification method for crack types is proposed. In this method, the sound signals of tensile cracks, using the Brazilian splitting test, and those of shear cracks, using the direct shear test, are collected to establish the training samples. The spectrogram is used to characterize the sound signal and is taken as the input. To solve the small sample problem, since only a small amount of sound signal spectrogram can be obtained in our experimental test, pre-trained ResNet-18 is used as a feature extractor to acquire deep characteristics of sound signal spectrograms. Gaussian process classification (GPC) is employed to establish the recognizing model and to classify crack types using the extracted deep characteristics of spectrograms. To verify the proposed method, the tensile and shear crack development processes during the biaxial test are identified. The results show that the proposed method is feasible. Moreover, this method is used to investigate the tensile and shear crack development during the rockburst process. The obtained results are consistent with previous research results, further confirming the accuracy and rationality of this method.
Contour Mission Flight Planning of UAV for Photogrammetric in Hillside Areas
Authors: Hsieh Chia-Sheng , Hsiao Darn-Horng , Lin Di-Yi
Published: June 2023

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry is an effective method for acquiring terrain information. However, in hillside areas, the terrain is complex, and the altitude varies greatly. The mission flight is planned by using equal altitude; in the actual shooting, the geometry and resolution of the pixel within the same image or between adjacent images will be inconsistent due to the different shooting distances. The number and accuracy of point clouds are affected. We propose a contour mission flight plan method, which involves designing flight plans based on the existing digital elevation model (DEM) and the desired flight altitude. This method for aerial photography is more effective in maintaining a consistent ground shooting distance during image capture. Experiments were conducted using a simulated DEM and the undulating terrain of the Kaohsiung Liugui area in Taiwan to verify the effect of contour mission flight planning in the hillside area. The results show that, due to the significant variation of terrain in the hillside area, the use of a contour mission flight plan for aerial photography can be more consistent with the originally planned altitude but requires more planning and operating time. The minor height difference, higher overlap, and improved accuracy of the results show that contour mission planning can provide a suitable solution for UAVs in hillside areas.
Lithology and Porosity Distribution of High-Porosity Sandstone Reservoir in North Adriatic Using Machine Learning Synthetic Well Catalogue
Authors: Vukadin Domagoj , Čogelja Zoran , Vidaček Renata , Brkić Vladislav
Published: June 2023

Reservoir characterization on offshore fields often faces specific challenges due to limited or unevenly distributed well data. The object of this study is the North Adriatic poorly consolidated clastic reservoir characterized by high porosity. The seismic data indicate notable differences in reservoir quality spatially. The only two wells on the field drilled the best reservoir area. Seismic data, seismic reservoir characterization, and accurate integration with scarce well data were crucial. This paper demonstrates how the application of machine learning algorithms, specifically a Deep Forward Neural Network (DFNN), and the incorporation of pseudo-well data into the reservoir characterization process can improve reservoir properties prediction. The methodology involves creating different reservoir porosity and thickness scenarios using pseudo-well data, synthetic pre-stack seismic data generation, seismic inversion, and DFNN utilization to improve porosity prediction. This study also highlights the importance of lithology discrimination in the geological model to better constrain reservoir properties distribution in the entire reservoir volume. Facies probability analysis was utilized to define interdependence between litho–fluid classes established from the well data and acoustic impedance volume. Apart from the field well data, seismic inversion results, and DFNN porosity volume as main inputs, acknowledgments from the neighboring fields also had an important role.
Study on the Distribution Law of Crustal Stress in Fault Fracture Area
Authors: Fu He-Lin , Xu Wu , Wu Yi-Min
Published: June 2023

Determining crustal stress is crucial in the design and construction of underground engineering projects, particularly in fault fracture zones. This paper aims to identify the characteristic factors that influence the crustal stress of faults, including the difference in deformation characteristics between faults and ordinary formations (expressed by the elastic modulus ratio Er/Ef), the degree of fault fragmentation P, and the angle α between fault tendency and the principal stress direction. Numerical simulations are conducted to investigate the impact of these three factors on the magnitude and direction of the principal stress. Additionally, measured stress values from a specific tunnel are analyzed to validate the findings. The results demonstrate the crucial role of α in determining the increase or decrease of principal stress and the direction of the offset. When α is less than 45°, σ1 and σ3 within the fault experience an increase, while σ1 and σ3 in the ordinary surrounding rock area near the fault exhibit a slight decrease. Moreover, the σ1 direction inside the fault deviates towards the parallel fault, whereas σ1 near the outside slightly deviates towards the vertical fault. Conversely, when α is greater than 45°, the trend of principal stress is reversed. Er/Ef affects the magnitude of the principal stress change, with larger values resulting in more pronounced changes. P only affects the stress distribution inside the fault.
Neuroprotective Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training through Neuroplastic Changes in a Restraint Stress-Induced Depression Model
Authors: Hwang Dong-Joo , Um Hyun-Seob , Choi Dong-Hun , Cho Joon-Yong
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to analyze the neuroprotective effects of various exercise intensities in a mouse model of depressive behavior disorders. Seven-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were divided into a control group, depressive disorder group (RST), moderate-intensity sustained exercise group (RST_MICT), high-intensity sustained exercise group (RST_HICT), and high-intensity interval exercise group (RST_HIIT). The animal model was established by applying restraint stress (RST) at 2 h/day for 14 days. Behavioral function was better in all exercise groups, especially in the RST_HIIT group, than in the RST group. Factors related to brain-derived neurotrophic factor showed higher levels in the exercise groups than in the RST group. The levels of 4-hydroxynonenal, an oxidative stress index, were significantly lower in the exercise groups than in the RST group. Malondialdehyde levels were lower in the exercise groups than in the RST group, but the difference was not significant. The analysis of serotonin and corticosterone, indicators of depression, revealed positive results in the exercise groups. The neuroplasticity-related variables c-fos and glial fibrillary acidic protein were more positive in the RST_HIIT group than in the RST group. Thus, HIIT improved neuroplasticity, oxidative stress, and neurotrophic factors in the depressive disorder model, indicating its potential for preventing and treating depression.
Chemical Characterization of Atmospheric Aerosols in Monte Fenton, Punta Arenas, Chilean Southern Patagonia
Authors: Mansilla Gonzalo , Barja Boris , Godoi María Angélica , Cid-Agüero Pedro , Gorena Tamara , Cereceda-Balic Francisco
Published: June 2023

This work addresses the chemical characterization of atmospheric aerosols and precipitation in the period from May to November 2019 at Monte Fenton (53.16° S, 71.05° W, 612 m.a.s.l.), 9 km west of Punta Arenas, to study the contribution and distribution of emission sources and chemical enrichment. The main ions (Ca2+, Cl−, K+, Mg2+, Na+, NH4+, NO3− and SO42−) were studied using ion chromatography, and trace elements (Al, Br, Ca, Cl, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Se, Si, Ti, V and Zn) using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Ions concentration ranged from 5.0 × 10−1 to 2.9 × 104 mg/m3 for Ca2+ and Cl−, respectively; whilst the concentration of elements varied between 8.8 × 10−11 and 2.1 × 10−2 mg/m3, for crZn (crustal Zn) and Fe, respectively. The electrical conductivity (EC, mean = 32.5 µS/cm) and the pH (mean = 6.8), showed the atmosphere of the study site was relatively neutral compared to the standard pH for rain (or snow) without contamination (pH = 5.6), and presented relatively low levels of conductivity compared to the EC standards for distilled water (0.5 to 3 µS/cm) and seawater (30,000 to 60,000 µS/cm). The main contribution to aerosols in the atmosphere of Monte Fenton came from marine and lithospheric sources, followed by local anthropogenic sources such as burning firewood and/or urban waste for heating production, etc., that led to the enrichment of aerosols with high Fe, K, Mn and V content. The results of this study contribute to filling a gap in knowledge of the chemistry of atmospheric aerosols in Southern Patagonia.
On the Variability of In Situ Surface Layer Refractivity Measurements
Authors: Pastore Douglas M. , Yamaguchi Ryan T. , Wang Qing , Hackett Erin E.
Published: June 2023

Direct measurements of profiles of atmospheric properties near the ocean surface and within the marine atmospheric surface layer often contain a large degree of variability. The variability observed can be explained by numerous technical and natural reasons such as the temporal variability over the time span a profile is measured (unsteadiness in the mean), spatial variations (inhomogeneity), turbulent fluctuations, and measurement uncertainty. In this study, we explored the observed variability in vertical distributions of refractive index measured with a tethered-balloon-based marine atmospheric profiling system (MAPS). MAPS profiled the atmosphere from approximately 0.5 to 50 m, with instantaneous (order 1 s) measurements performed at each profiled altitude. To explore whether the observed scatter could be largely explained by (inertial-scale) turbulent fluctuations, we simulated refractive index fluctuations with a spectral-based turbulent refractive index fluctuation (TRIF) model. TRIF was optimized based on the MAPS measurements to determine a vertical length scale of the turbulence. The scales computed in the optimization were reasonable based on other estimates in the literature under similar conditions. However, finer-scale trends of the length scale with atmospheric stability did not match expectations, and thus the estimated length scales may be considered more as an order-of-magnitude estimate rather than an exact measurement of this scale. The ability to match the observed variability in the MAPS data using a turbulence model with a reasonable choice of vertical length scale suggests that the MAPS variability is dominated by physical processes such as turbulence rather than being primarily driven by measurement uncertainty.
Investigating the Effect of Fuel Moisture and Atmospheric Instability on PyroCb Occurrence over Southeast Australia
Authors: Ma Wenyuan , Wilson Caleb S. , Sharples Jason J. , Jovanoski Zlatko
Published: June 2023

The incidence of pyro-cumulonimbus (pyroCb) caused by extreme wildfires has increased markedly in Australia over the last several decades. This increase can be associated with a dangerous escalation of wildfire risk and severe stratospheric pollution events. Atmospheric and fuel conditions are important influences on pyroCb occurrence, but the exact causal relationships are still not well understood. We used the Continuous Haines Index (C-Haines) to represent atmospheric instability and the Fuel Moisture Index (FMI) to represent fuel moisture to provide better insight into the effects of atmospheric and fuel conditions on pyroCb occurrence over southeast Australia. C-Haines and FMI were related to the probability of pyroCb occurrence by employing a logistic regression on data gathered between 1980 and 2020. Emphasis is placed on investigating the independent effects and combined effects of FMI and C-Haines, as well as assessing their potential to predict whether a pyroCb develops over a fire. The main findings of this study are: (1) high C-Haines and low FMI values are representative of favorable conditions for pyroCb occurrence, but C-Haines can offset the effect of FMI—the addition of C-Haines to the logistic model muted the significance of FMI; (2) among the components of C-Haines, air temperature lapse rate (CA) is a better predictor of pyroCb occurrence than the dryness component (CB); (3) there are important regional differences in the effect of C-Haines and FMI on pyroCb occurrence, as they have better predictive potential in New South Wales than in Victoria.
Randomly Stopped Sums with Generalized Subexponential Distribution
Authors: Karasevičienė Jūratė , Šiaulys Jonas
Published: June 2023

Let {ξ1,ξ2,…} be a sequence of independent possibly differently distributed random variables, defined on a probability space (Ω,F,P) with distribution functions {Fξ1,Fξ2,…}. Let η be a counting random variable independent of sequence {ξ1,ξ2,…}. In this paper, we find conditions under which the distribution function of randomly stopped sum Sη=ξ1+ξ2+…+ξη belongs to the class of generalized subexponential distributions.