bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of reclaimed urban wastewater for the production of hydroponic barley forage: water characteristics, feed quality and effects on health status and production of lactating cows
Authors: Ceci Luigi , Cavalera Maria Alfonsa , Serrapica Francesco , Di Francia Antonio , Masucci Felicia , Carelli Grazia
Published: November 2023

The safety of reclaimed urban wastewater (RUW) for the production of hydroponic barley forage (HBF) was evaluated in terms of effluent and forage characteristics, as well as the health and performance of lactating cows. The study was conducted on a dairy farm equipped with two hydroponic chambers producing approximately 620 kg/d of HBF as fed. For experimental purposes, HBF was produced using RUW collected from an aqueduct plant processing urban wastewater in a membrane bioreactor treatment chain. A feeding trial was carried out with HBF derived from RUW. Sixty lactating cows were randomly assigned to two balanced groups fed a standard total mixed ration (TMR) or a TMR in which 10 kg of HBF replaced 1 kg of oat hay and 0.5 kg of maize. The experimental period lasted 7 weeks, including a 2-week adaptation period, during which each cow underwent a physical examination, BCS scoring, blood sampling for a complete blood count and biochemical panel, recording of body weight and milk yield and quality, including fatty acid composition and heavy metal content. Ruminal pH was continuously monitored by reticulorumen boluses, and nutrient digestibility and N balance were determined at week 7. RUW showed an acceptable microbial load and an overall good quality as irrigation water, even though the supply of N and P did not influence the yield and quality of HBF. The characteristics of HBF reflected the quality of RUW supplied to the hydroponic chambers and no anomalous components (i.e., high ion concentration) were found. Feeding RW-derived HBF to lactating cows had no major positive or negative effects on animal health and production, including milk quality, ruminal pH, in vivo digestibility, and N balance. The use of RUW under the conditions tested appears to be safe for the health status of lactating cows and the quality of the milk obtained. Overall, the results do not reveal any major limitations for the use of tertiary wastewater as irrigation water for the hydroponic production of forage barley, so that a wider use of wastewater in hydroponic systems seems realistic.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Their Cardiovascular Adverse Effects
Authors: Paluri Ravi Kumar , Pulipati Yochitha , Regalla Dileep Kumar Reddy
Published: November 2023

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have reshaped and have become a well-established treatment modality for multiple advanced-stage malignancies. ICIs block the immune system regulatory checkpoints, namely CTLA-4 and PD-1/PDL1, which provokes excess immune response against self-antigens. Immune modulation with ICIs can result in diverse immune-related adverse events targeting organ systems. Several cases of ICI-related cardiotoxicity were reported, while the actual incidence was likely underestimated due to heterogeneous clinical presentation. These include, but are not limited to, myocarditis, pericarditis, atherosclerosis, and arrhythmia. EKG, Troponin, Echocardiogram (TTE), and Cardiac MRI (CMRI) are indispensable diagnostic tools to aid in the management of cardiac adverse effects. Herein, we review the ICI-mediated cardiovascular adverse events, diagnosis, treatment strategies, and reintroduction of ICIs post-cardiotoxicity.
Prevention of Oncogenic Gammaherpesvirinae (EBV and HHV8) Associated Disease in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Authors: Atamna Alaa , Yahav Dafna , Hirzel Cédric
Published: November 2023

Long-term risk for malignancy is higher among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients compared to the general population. Four non-hepatitis viruses have been recognized as oncogenic in SOT recipients—EBV, cause of EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases; human herpes virus 8 (HHV8), cause of Kaposi sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman disease; human papilloma virus, cause of squamous cell skin cancers, and Merkel cell polyomavirus, cause of Merkel cell carcinoma. Two of these viruses (EBV and HHV8) belong to the human herpes virus family. In this review, we will discuss key aspects regarding the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases in SOT recipients associated with the two herpesviruses.
A Narrow-Down Approach Based on Machine Learning for Indoor Localization
Authors: Umair Sahibzada Muhammad Ahmad , Arslan Tughrul
Published: November 2023

Over the past decade, the demand and research for indoor localization have burgeoned and Wi-Fi fingerprinting approach has been widely considered because it is cheap and accessible. However, most existing methods lack in terms of positioning accuracy and high computational complexity. To cope with these issues, we formulate a two-stage, coarse and accurate positioning narrow-down approach (NDA). Furthermore, a three-step source domain refinement (SDR) scheme that involves outlier removal, stable AP’s weight enhancement, and a data averaging technique by applying the K-means clustering algorithm is also proposed. The collaboration of SDR scheme with the training data selection, area division, and overlapping schemes reduces the computational complexity and improves coarse positioning accuracy. The effect of the proposed SDR scheme on the performance of the support vector machine (SVM) and random forest algorithms is also presented. In the final/accurate positioning phase, a set of lightweight neural networks (DNNs), trained on different sub-areas, predict the user’s location. This approach significantly increases positioning accuracy while reducing the online computational complexity at the same time. The experimental results show that the proposed approach outperforms the best solutions presented in the literature.
Predicting the Remaining Useful Life of Light Aircraft Structural Parts: An Expert System Approach
Authors: Gerhardinger David , Domitrović Anita , Krajček Nikolić Karolina , Ivančević Darko
Published: November 2023

This paper introduces an expert system approach for predicting the remaining useful life (RUL) of light aircraft structural components by analyzing operational and maintenance records. The expert system consists of four modules: knowledge acquisition, knowledge base, inference, and explanation. The knowledge acquisition module retrieves data from mandatory records, such as aircraft logbooks and mass and balance sheets. The knowledge base stores specific remaining useful lives (SRULs) for different load profiles that are determined using numerical strength analysis. The inference module utilizes the Palmgren-Miner rule to estimate the accumulated fatigue damage of the structural component based on the input data and the knowledge base. Lastly, the explanation module links the accumulated damage to the maintenance program and suggests the appropriate maintenance action. The Cessna 172R main landing gear leg is utilized as a case study, demonstrating the variance of RUL depending on the operating conditions. The objective of this approach is to enhance light aircraft maintenance decision making and advance operational safety.
The Impact of Genotype on Chemical Composition, Feeding Value and In Vitro Rumen Degradability of Fresh and Ensiled Forage of Native Maize (Zea mays L.) from Mexico
Authors: Alvarado-Ramírez Edwin Rafael , Ballesteros-Rodea Gilberto , Salem Abdelfattah Zeidan Mohamed , Reyes-Hernández José , Herrera-Corredor Camelia Alejandra , Hernández-Meléndez Javier , Limas-Martínez Andrés Gilberto , López-Aguirre Daniel , Rivas-Jacobo Marco Antonio
Published: November 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the genotype on the chemical composition, feeding value and in vitro rumen degradability of fresh and ensiled forage of four native maize varieties (Amarillo, Olotillo, Tampiqueño and Tuxpeño) from Tamaulipas, Mexico, and a commercial hybrid, as well as the stability and aerobic deterioration of the silage. In all genotypes, fresh forage consisted of whole plants of maize that were harvested when the grain reached a milky-mass state, and silage was fresh forage chopped and ensiled in plastic bags, where it fermented for 120 days. The hybrid presented the highest content (p < 0.05) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), ether extract, non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFCs) and starch, as well as the lowest content (p < 0.05) of fibers (NDF and ADF), acid detergent lignin and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs). Furthermore, the hybrid and Amarillo genotypes obtained the lowest pH and ammoniacal nitrogen content (p < 0.05), intermediate values (p < 0.05) of lactic and butyric acid, and the lowest and highest acetic acid content (p < 0.05), respectively. Although OM did not differ (p > 0.05) between states of the forage, the fresh forage presented a higher (p < 0.05) content of DM, crude protein, NDF, ADF, WSCs, pH and butyric acid in all genotypes, while the rest of the parameters were higher (p < 0.05) in the silage. However, Amarillo obtained the highest feeding value (p < 0.05) in terms of DM intake, relative forage value, digestible energy, metabolizable energy and rumen degradability (DM, NDF and ADF), and between states of the forage, ensiled obtained the highest feeding value (p < 0.05). During the aerobic exposure, the Amarillo and hybrid silage showed greater (p < 0.05) stability (>38 h), and less (p < 0.05) deterioration, pH increase and loss of DM and OM, while Tuxpeño obtained less stability and greater deterioration. In conclusion, the genotype did influence the chemical composition of fresh and ensiled forage, which affected the feeding value and in vitro rumen degradability, and the Amarillo and hybrid genotypes presented the best values in the evaluated parameters.
Optimal Plant Density Improves Sweet Maize Fresh Ear Yield without Compromising Grain Carbohydrate Concentration
Authors: Ye Delian , Chen Jiajie , Yu Zexun , Sun Yanfang , Gao Wei , Wang Xiao , Zhang Ran , Zaib-Un-Nisa  , Su Da , Atif Muneer Muhammad
Published: November 2023

It is crucial to synergistically improve the yield and quality of sweet maize by implementing precise and strategic planting methods. However, a comprehensive understanding of how increasing plant density affects the sweet maize fresh ear yield, grain-filling rate, and grain carbohydrate concentration is not fully understood. Thus, a field experiment was performed using a split-plot design in Southeast China in 2021 and 2022, involving four sweet maize varieties (MT6855 and WT2015 were compact-type varieties, XMT10 and YZ7 were flat-type varieties) and three plant densities (D1: 4.5 plants m−2; D2: 6.0 plants m−2; and D3: 7.5 plants m−2). The results showed that an increasing plant density markedly increased the fresh ear yield of sweet maize varieties (MT6855 and WT2015) over the two years. However, it did not influence the fresh ear yield of XMT10 and YZ7. Across all four varieties in 2021 and 2022, the increasing plant density decreased the sweet maize filled ear length, while it did not affect the grain soluble solid concentration and grain residue ratio. The sweet maize grain weight, the maximum grain-filling rate, and the mean grain-filling rate decreased significantly with the increase in planting density across all four varieties. However, plant density did not significantly affect the grain soluble sugar, sucrose, fructose, and starch concentrations across different varieties at most stages during the grain filling. The current study also found that the sweet maize fresh ear yield was dramatically positively correlated with ears ha−1, grains per ear, grain-filling rate, and grain starch concentration but negatively correlated with the bare plant rate. Notably, a parabolic relationship existed between the fresh ear yield and 100-grain weight. These findings suggest that optimizing the plant density, particularly with compact-type varieties, can improve the sweet maize fresh ear yield without decreasing its quality.
Thyreophagus tauricus sp. n., a New Subcortical Mite Species (Acari: Acaridae), with a COX1 DNA Sequence Analysis of Several Economically Important Species of Thyreophagus
Authors: Klimov Pavel B. , Kolesnikov Vasiliy B. , Khaustov Vladimir A. , Khaustov Alexander A.
Published: November 2023

As part of a survey of the subcortical astigmatic mites of Crimea, we discovered a new sexual acarid species, Thyreophagus tauricus sp. n. This species was cultured in the laboratory to correlate the adult and deutonymphal stages. Using specimens obtained by these rearing experiments, we provide a detailed description of Th. tauricus (light microscopy, SEM) based on females, males and heteromorphic deutonymphs. Furthermore, to facilitate molecular identification, the entire COX1 gene was also sequenced for this and three other Palearctic species reared in the lab as pure cultures. Adults of Th. tauricus sp. n. are distinct among all other species of the genus by the presence of flattened, button-shaped or minute spiniform setae s III and IV, which are well-developed spiniform in all other known species of Thyreophagus. Heteromorphic deutonymphs of Th. tauricus are distinct from all other species of Thyreophagus by the presence of well-developed setae cm on the dorsal part of the subcapitular remnant (absent all other species). Th. tauricus is morphologically very similar to Th. corticalis; however, COX1 K2P distances between these two species were large, 19.8%. COX1 K2P distances between Th. tauricus and other species (Th. entomophagus, Th. “entomophagus” NC 066986.1, Th. calusorum, Th. corticalis) ranged between 20.1 and 24.3%. We show that the GenBank sequence of Th. “entomophagus” from China (NC 066986.1) was probably misidentified.
Cross-Sectional Survey of Horse Owners to Assess Their Knowledge and Use of Biosecurity Practices for Equine Infectious Diseases in the United States
Authors: White Nathaniel , Pelzel-McCluskey Angela
Published: November 2023

Horses are transported in the United States more than any other livestock species and co-mingle at various events; therefore, they are considered to be at an increased risk for infectious disease transmission. The fragmented movement of horses combined with numerous sites of co-mingling makes tracing the potential spread of a disease outbreak a necessary part of an infection control plan, both locally and nationally. The cross-movement of personnel with horses and the persistence of endemic diseases make biosecurity implementation an ongoing challenge. Although many of the risks for infection are known, there is limited documentation about the usefulness of prospective control measures. The objective of this survey was to determine horse owners’ understanding and knowledge of biosecurity practices for preventing infectious diseases in the United States. Questions covered owner demographic information, including horse use which was divided into 10 categories as follows: Pleasure/Trail Riding, Lessons/School, Western Show, English Show, Breeding, Farm/Ranch, Retired, Racing, Driving and Other. The survey was distributed by sending requests to a list of horse owner organizations, which then sent emails to their members. The email request described the survey and provided a website link to start the survey. A total of 2413 responses were collected. Analysis of the results included cross-tabulation to identify significant differences in biosecurity knowledge and awareness by horse use. Significant differences by horse use were identified for vaccination, biosecurity planning, use of isolation, disease risk, monitoring for diseases, co-mingling of horses, sanitation, medical decision making and health record requirements for horse events. In summary, the results suggest that most owners are not highly concerned about the risk of disease or the use of biosecurity. There are several biosecurity applications and techniques which can be increased and will benefit horse health and welfare. These include reliance on temperature monitoring, isolation of new horses at facilities, risks of horse mingling, entry requirements such as vaccination and health certificates at events, and an emphasis on having biosecurity plans for facilities and events where horses co-mingle. The information from this study will be used to create tools and information that horse owners and veterinarians can use to implement appropriate biosecurity practices for different types of horse uses and events.
Association of SLIT3 and ZNF280B Gene Polymorphisms with Wool Fiber Diameter
Authors: Yue Lin , Lu Zengkui , Guo Tingting , Liu Jianbin , Yuan Chao , Yang Bohui
Published: November 2023

The SLIT3 gene encodes a secreted protein, and the ZNF280B gene is a member of the transcription factor family. Both genes have multiple biological functions. This study was conducted to investigate the association between SLIT3 and ZNF280B gene polymorphisms and wool fiber diameter and to determine potential molecular marker sites for breeding sheep with fine wool. We used Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR to type the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci in the SLIT3 and ZNF280B genes within 1081 Alpine Merino sheep and associated these SNPs with wool fiber diameter. The results revealed one SNP in SLIT3 and ZNF280B, which were each related to sheep fiber diameter. The wool fiber diameters of sheep with the CC genotype in SLIT3 g.478807C>G and AA genotype in ZNF280B g.677G>A were the smallest and differed significantly from the diameters of other genotypes (p < 0.05). These results suggest potential molecular marker sites for fine-wool sheep breeding.
Antimicrobial Activity of Novel Ni(II) and Zn(II) Complexes with (E)-2-((5-Bromothiazol-2-yl)imino)methyl)phenol Ligand: Synthesis, Characterization and Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Al-Qadsy Inas , Saeed Waseem Sharaf , Al-Owais Ahmad Abdulaziz , Semlali Abdelhabib , Alrabie Ali , Al-Faqeeh Lena Ahmed Saleh , ALSaeedy Mohammed , Al-Adhreai Arwa , Al-Odayni Abdel-Basit , Farooqui Mazahar
Published: November 2023

In order to address the challenges associated with antibiotic resistance by bacteria, two new complexes, Ni(II) and Zn(II), have been synthesized using the conventional method based on Schiff base ligand (E)-2-((5-bromothiazol-2-yl) imino) methyl) phenol. The Schiff base ligand (HL) was synthesized using salicylaldehyde and 5-(4-bromophenyl)thiazol-2-amine in both traditional and efficient, ecologically friendly, microwave-assisted procedures. The ligand and its complexes were evaluated by elemental analyses, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and magnetic susceptibility. The ligand and its complexes were tested for antibacterial activity against three Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212) and three Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603). The findings demonstrate the potent activity of the ligand and its complexes against selective bacteria but the Ni(II) complex with MIC values ranging from 1.95 to 7.81 µg/mL outperformed all other compounds, including the widely used antibiotic Streptomycin. Furthermore, the docking study provided evidence supporting the validity of the antimicrobial results, since the Ni complex showed superior binding affinity against to E. coli NAD synthetase, which had a docking score (−7.61 kcal/mol).
Antioxidants of Non-Enzymatic Nature: Their Function in Higher Plant Cells and the Ways of Boosting Their Biosynthesis
Authors: Rudenko Natalia N. , Vetoshkina Daria V. , Marenkova Tatiana V. , Borisova-Mubarakshina Maria M.
Published: November 2023

Plants are exposed to a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses leading to increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells. ROS are capable of oxidizing proteins, pigments, lipids, nucleic acids, and other cell molecules, disrupting their functional activity. During the process of evolution, numerous antioxidant systems were formed in plants, including antioxidant enzymes and low molecular weight non-enzymatic antioxidants. Antioxidant systems perform neutralization of ROS and therefore prevent oxidative damage of cell components. In the present review, we focus on the biosynthesis of non-enzymatic antioxidants in higher plants cells such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C), glutathione, flavonoids, isoprenoids, carotenoids, tocopherol (vitamin E), ubiquinone, and plastoquinone. Their functioning and their reactivity with respect to individual ROS will be described. This review is also devoted to the modern genetic engineering methods, which are widely used to change the quantitative and qualitative content of the non-enzymatic antioxidants in cultivated plants. These methods allow various plant lines with given properties to be obtained in a rather short time. The most successful approaches for plant transgenesis and plant genome editing for the enhancement of biosynthesis and the content of these antioxidants are discussed.
Prompt Language Learner with Trigger Generation for Dialogue Relation Extraction
Authors: Kim Jinsung , Kim Gyeongmin , Son Junyoung , Lim Heuiseok
Published: November 2023

Dialogue relation extraction identifies semantic relations between entity pairs in dialogues. This research explores a methodology harnessing the potential of prompt-based fine-tuning paired with a trigger-generation approach. Capitalizing on the intrinsic knowledge of pre-trained language models, this strategy employs triggers that underline the relation between entities decisively. In particular, diverging from the conventional extractive methods seen in earlier research, our study leans towards a generative manner for trigger generation. The dialogue-based relation extraction (DialogeRE) benchmark dataset features multi-utterance environments of colloquial speech by multiple speakers, making it critical to capture meaningful clues for inferring relational facts. In the benchmark, empirical results reveal significant performance boosts in few-shot scenarios, where the availability of examples is notably limited. Nevertheless, the scarcity of ground-truth triggers for training hints at potential further refinements in the trigger-generation module, especially when ample examples are present. When evaluating the challenges of dialogue relation extraction, combining prompt-based learning with trigger generation offers pronounced improvements in both full-shot and few-shot scenarios. Specifically, integrating a meticulously crafted manual initialization method with the prompt-based model—considering prior distributional insights and relation class semantics—substantially surpasses the baseline. However, further advancements in trigger generation are warranted, especially in data-abundant contexts, to maximize performance enhancements.
A Spectral Method Algorithm for Modeling the Dispersion of Non-Axisymmetric Modes in Fluid-Filled Elastic Tubes
Authors: Gao Zirong , Li Qi , Tang Rui , Shang Dajing
Published: November 2023

In order to design a low-noise water-filled pipeline system, it is necessary to obtain knowledge of the dispersion characteristics of axial propagation modes in different water-filled elastic tubes. In this work, an algorithm is developed based on the spectral method, which has previously been used to solve the dispersion of axisymmetric modes in cylindrical structures but has not yet been applied to non-axisymmetric modes. The algorithm can obtain the dispersion characteristics, modal displacement, and stress distribution of axial propagation modes in a fluid-filled elastic multi-layer tube. The algorithm behaves well both at low and ultrasonic frequencies, and it is suitable for any tube dimensions, wall thickness and layers. The results of a water-filled PMMA tube obtained using the spectral method algorithm were verified using a COMSOL simulation, while the dispersion curves of the same tube from the literature were found to be missing some low-order modes. In addition, the dispersion curves of a water-filled three-layer tube are given. The spectral method algorithm has the advantages of fast calculation speed, less computational resources consumed, accurate results, and no modal omission.
Integrated Earthquake Catalog III: Gakkel Ridge, Knipovich Ridge, and Svalbard Archipelago
Authors: Vorobieva Inessa A. , Gvishiani Alexei D. , Shebalin Peter N. , Dzeboev Boris A. , Dzeranov Boris V. , Sergeeva Natalia A. , Kedrov Ernest O. , Barykina Yuliya V.
Published: November 2023

This paper represents the final part of a series of studies aimed at creating the most reliable and representative earthquake catalog covering the Russian and European Arctic. The earthquake catalog of the Gakkel and Knipovich ridges, as well as the Svalbard Archipelago with a unified magnitude scale, was formed based on the combination of four regional Russian catalogs and the ISC catalog. The merging of catalogs was carried out using the modification of the author’s methodology, which allowed for the identification of records in different datasets related to the same seismic event. The modification was introduced due to significant changes over time in the source catalogs. The unified proxy moment magnitude scale was formed based on regression analysis of the different magnitude estimates provided by various agencies. The integrated catalog included 17,922 earthquakes that occurred during the period 1962–2022. Analysis of the integrated catalog showed that the level of registration in the studied area significantly varies over space and time. Before 1995, the catalog contained only strong and moderate earthquakes, and the magnitude of complete registration Mc was 5.0 in the Gakkel Ridge, 4.7 in the Knipovich Ridge, and 4.5 in the Svalbard Archipelago. The number of recorded events increased in the period 1995–2011, and Mc decreased to 4.0 in the Gakkel and Knipovich ridges and to 2.8 in the Svalbard Archipelago. The best level of registration in the Svalbard Archipelago and the Knipovich Ridge was achieved after 2012, when Mc reached 1.7 and 2.8, respectively. In the Gakkel Ridge, despite a noticeable increase in the number of reported events from 2012, the magnitude of complete registration did not improve and was 4.0. The presented integrated earthquake catalog is intended for a wide range of studies of the seismic regime of the Arctic.
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Unsymmetrical 5-Phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles Containing Bis(carboxymethyl)amino Group
Authors: Łuczyński Marcin , Kudelko Agnieszka
Published: November 2023

New derivatives of 5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole substituted at position 2 with (bromomethyl)phenyl or bromoalkyl groups were obtained via microwave-assisted cyclodehydration of unsymmetrical N,N′-diacylhydrazines. Then, bromine-containing oxadiazoles were substituted with diisopropyl iminodiacetate, yielding the corresponding ester derivatives, which were subsequently hydrolyzed in an aqueous methanol solution. The cleavage of the ester group resulted in the formation of the appropriate 5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles bearing bis(carboxymethyl)amino groups in satisfactory yields. The structures of all products were confirmed by typical spectroscopic methods including 1H and 13C NMR, and HRMS.
Numerical Modelling Study of Subsurface Drainage of Permeable Friction Course Considering Road Geometric Designs
Authors: Huynh Thi My Dung , Huynh Van Hiep , Pham Minh Triet , Toledo Kyra Kamille A. , Nguyen Tan Hung
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the subsurface drainage of a permeable friction course (PFC) via two-dimensional finite element analysis. To achieve the scope, PFCs with equivalent water flow paths of length values of 10, 15, 20, and 30 m and slope values of 0.5%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% were modelled based on FEniCS and implemented entirely in Python programing language to extract the time for surface ponding according to a range of rainfall intensities. The results show that when the rainfall intensity and the length of equivalent water flow path of the PFC rose, the time for surface ponding decreased. For instance, with a rainfall intensity of 10 mm/h and a slope of 0.5%, when the length of equivalent water flow path increased by 20 m, the time for surface ponding dropped by 21 min. Moreover, when the slope of the equivalent water flow path and the thickness of the PFC increased, the time for surface ponding increased. For instance, with a rainfall intensity of 10 mm/h, and a PFC with an equivalent length of 10 m, when the slope increased by 16 times, the time for surface ponding increased more than two times. The current study highlights that the thickness of the PFC has the most influence on subsurface drainage. The findings of this study indicate that at high rainfall intensities, the subsurface drainage of a PFC is not sensitive to its geometric design. Further experimental investigations are needed to evaluate and validate the subsurface drainage of a PFC considering permeability, rutting, and environmental factors.
Analysis of Salts and Clays for Conservation of Porous Cultural Heritage
Authors: Thickett David
Published: November 2023

Soluble salts and clays are major intrinsic causes of degradation of porous cultural heritage materials. Identifying their presence and concentrations can allow environmental control to prevent decay before it is observed. Such control is often energy- and carbon-intensive and better targeted towards those objects that require it rather than a general approach. The use of poultices has been investigated to determine salt species and concentrations in stone to replace drilling samples. A non-invasive method using two types of moisture meter has been developed to map the conductivity of salt solutions in stone. Fourier transform and near-infrared spectroscopies have been investigated to non-invasively quantify the amount of muscovite clay in limestones without the need to take drilled samples. Salts can react with extrinsic acetic acid from display and storage environments, causing extensive damaging surface efflorescences. A rapid analytical procedure based on external reflectance Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) microscopy has been developed. This allows analysis of multiple salts on a cuneiform tablet surface. Analyses of soluble salts inside the tablets has indicated the sulphate-to-chloride ratio is a good predictor of whether mixed acetate efflorescences will occur on exposure.
Enhancing Predictive Expert Method for Link Prediction in Heterogeneous Information Social Networks
Authors: Wu Jianjun , Hu Yuxue , Huang Zhongqiang , Li Junsong , Li Xiang , Sha Ying
Published: November 2023

Link prediction is a critical prerequisite and foundation task for social network security that involves predicting the potential relationship between nodes within a network or graph. Although the existing methods show promising performance, they often ignore the unique attributes of each link type and the impact of diverse node differences on network topology when dealing with heterogeneous information networks (HINs), resulting in inaccurate predictions of unobserved links. To overcome this hurdle, we propose the Enhancing Predictive Expert Method (EPEM), a comprehensive framework that includes an individual feature projector, a predictive expert constructor, and a trustworthiness investor. The individual feature projector extracts the distinct characteristics associated with each link type, eliminating shared attributes that are common across all links. The predictive expert constructor then creates enhancing predictive experts, which improve predictive precision by incorporating the individual feature representations unique to each node category. Finally, the trustworthiness investor evaluates the reliability of each enhancing predictive expert and adjusts their contributions to the prediction outcomes accordingly. Our empirical evaluations on three diverse heterogeneous social network datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of EPEM in forecasting unobserved links, outperforming the state-of-the-art methods.
UAV Swarm Mission Planning and Load Sensitivity Analysis Based on Clustering and Optimization Algorithms
Authors: Yan Yongzhao , Sun Zhenqian , Hou Yueqi , Zhang Boyang , Yuan Ziwei , Zhang Guoxin , Wang Bo , Ma Xiaoping
Published: November 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms offer unique advantages for area search and environmental monitoring applications. For practical deployments, determining the optimal number of UAVs required for a given task and defining key performance metrics for the platforms and payloads are crucial challenges. This study aims to address mission planning and performance optimization for cooperative UAV swarm search scenarios. A new clustering algorithm is proposed, integrating enhanced clustering techniques with ant colony optimization, particle swarm optimization, and crow search optimization. This jointly optimizes and validates the UAV numbers and coordinated trajectories. Sensitivity analysis and indicator optimization further examine specific scenarios to quantify platform and sensor factors influencing search efficiency. Lastly, sensitivity analysis and performance indicator optimization are conducted in specific scenarios. The modular algorithmic components and modeling techniques established in this work lay a foundation for continued research into real−world mission−based swarm optimization.
Effects of Thymus quinquecostatus Celakovski on Allergic Responses in OVA-Induced Allergic Rhinitis Mice
Authors: Kang Sa-Haeng , Kim Dong-Gu , Kim Dong-Keun , Kwon Hyuck-Se , Lee Na-Young , Oh Hyun-Jeong , Yun Soon-Il , Jin Jong-Sik
Published: November 2023

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is defined allergic disease that is mediated by Th2 cells. Its incidence rate is showing a growing tendency worldwide. Research on traditional medicine for AR is also being increasingly conducted. Thymus quinquecostatus Celakovski (TQ) has been used as an important medicinal and aromatic plant in the world. The purpose of this study was to assess whether TQ can alleviate AR. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) to provoke AR. Mice were treated with ethanol extract of TQ at 10 or 100 mg/kg after the intranasal OVA challenge. Their clinical symptoms such as nasal rubbing and sneezing were significantly reduced in the ethanol extract group (10 or 100 mg/kg) compared to the OVA group. Serum levels of Th1 (TNF-α) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6) cytokines and IgE levels (both total and OVA-specific) were significantly reduced by administration of ethanol extract of TQ at 100 mg/kg. The thicknesses of the nasal septum and epithelium were significantly reduced by the administration of ethanol extract of TQ. These results suggest that TQ may inhibit early and late phases of AR reactions.
Zero-Shot Generative AI for Rotating Machinery Fault Diagnosis: Synthesizing Highly Realistic Training Data via Cycle-Consistent Adversarial Networks
Authors: Di Maggio Luigi Gianpio , Brusa Eugenio , Delprete Cristiana
Published: November 2023

The Intelligent Fault Diagnosis of rotating machinery calls for a substantial amount of training data, posing challenges in acquiring such data for damaged industrial machinery. This paper presents a novel approach for generating synthetic data using a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) with cycle consistency loss function known as cycleGAN. The proposed method aims to generate synthetic data that could effectively replace real experimental data. The generative model is trained to transform wavelet images of simulated vibrational signals into authentic data obtained from machinery with damaged bearings. The utilization of Maximum Mean Discrepancy (MMD) and Fréchet Inception Distance (FID) demonstrates a noteworthy resemblance between synthetic and real experimental data. Also, the generative model enables the synthesis of data that may have been entirely lacking from the experimental observation, indicating generative zero-shot learning capabilities. The efficacy of synthetic data in training diagnosis algorithms by means of Transfer Learning (TL) on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) has been demonstrated to be comparable to that of real data. The study has been validated by means of the test rig for medium-sized industrial bearings accessible at the Politecnico di Torino.
Automatic Measurement of Contact Stress and Connection Force of Interference Components by Ultrasound
Authors: He Xianrui , Wang Xingyuan , Xu Chonglin , Wang Yue
Published: November 2023

Tiny interference components play an important role in the aerospace and instrumentation fields. Contact stress and connection force are important factors in evaluating the reliability and service life of components. In this study, the ultrasonic method is used to measure the stress distribution and the connection force on the mating interface. Based on statistical microcontact theory, the virtual thin-layer model, and the asperity interaction model, the contact acoustic model is optimized. On this basis, the mapping relationship between contact stress and contact stiffness can be further obtained. This relationship was obtained by calibration experiments. Then, the stress distribution on the interface with two different structures, namely the uniform cylinder and the step cylinder, was measured and compared with the theoretical results of the thick-walled cylinder theory. The results show that the two have good consistency. Finally, based on the stress distribution, the connection force was calculated and compared with the experimental results. The results show that the ultrasonic measurement method can accurately measure the connection force, and the relative error is within 16%. Therefore, this study can provide a good method for the quality assessment of interference components.
Time-Series Characterization of Grassland Biomass Intensity to Examine Management Change at Two Sites in Germany Using 25 Years of Remote Sensing Imagery
Authors: Holmes Christopher M. , Pritsolas Joshua , Pearson Randall , Butts-Wilmsmeyer Carolyn , Schad Thorsten
Published: November 2023

In cultivated landscapes, grasslands are an important land use type for insect life. Grassland management practices can have a significant impact on insect ecology. For example, intense fertilization and frequent cutting can reduce the diversity and abundance of insects by destroying their habitat and food sources. Thus, the quality of grassland habitat for insect development depends on its management intensity. The intensification of grassland production is discussed as one factor contributing to the decline in insect biomass over recent decades. Characterizing grassland changes over time provides one piece to the larger puzzle of insect decline. We analyzed landscape-level trends in grassland biomass near Orbroich and Wahnbachtal in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, over a 25-year period. In both areas, pronounced insect biomass decline had been observed. More than 430 Landsat images were used. An image normalization process was developed and employed to ensure that observed changes over time were attributed to grassland changes and not systemic changes inherent within image time series. Distinct clusters of grassland parcels were identified based on intensity and temporal changes in biomass using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as an indicator. Cluster separability was confirmed using the Transform Divergence method. The results showed clusters having periods of distinct trends in vegetation biomass, indicating changes in grassland agronomic and/or management practices over time (e.g., fertilization, increased silage production). Changes in management practices coincided with regional trends in cultivation as documented by official statistics. We demonstrated the feasibility of using 100+ images over multiple decades to perform a long-term remote sensing analysis examining grassland change. These temporally expansive and spatially detailed trends of grassland change can be included as factors in the multi-variate analysis of insect decline. The methodology can be applied to other geographic areas. Such improved insights can support informed landscape design and cultivation patterns in relation to insect ecology and the broader context of biodiversity enhancement.
Combination of Host-Associated Rummeliibacillus sp. and Microbacterium sp. Positively Modulated the Growth, Feed Utilization, and Intestinal Microbial Population of Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)
Authors: Lee Su-Jeong , Kim So Hee , Noh Da-In , Lee Young-Sun , Kim Tae-Rim , Hasan Md Tawheed , Lee Eun-Woo , Jang Won Je
Published: November 2023

Two novel strains of Rummeliibacillus sp. and Microbacterium sp. were identified from the intestine of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and characterized in vitro as potential probiotics. Feeds without probiotic and with a 50:50 mixture of these two strains (1 × 108 CFU/g feed) were denoted as the control and Pro diets, respectively. Three randomly selected tanks (20 flounders/tank, ~11.4 g each) were used for each diet replication. After 8 weeks of feeding, the growth and feed utilization of the flounder in the Pro group improved (p < 0.05) compared to the control. Among four immune parameters, only myeloperoxidase activity was elevated in the Pro group. Serum biochemistry, intestinal microbial richness (Chao1), and diversity (Shannon index) remained unchanged (p ≥ 0.05), but phylogenetic diversity was enriched in the Pro fish intestine. Significantly lower Firmicutes and higher Proteobacteria were found in the Pro diet; the genus abundance in the control and Pro was as follows: Staphylococcus > Lactobacillus > Corynebacterium and Lactobacillus > Staphylococcus > Corynebacterium, respectively. Microbial linear discriminant scores and a cladogram analysis showed significant modulation. Therefore, the combination of two host-associated probiotics improved the growth and intestinal microbial population of flounder and could be supplemented in the Korean flounder industry.
An Evaluation of Suitable Habitats for Amur Tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in Northeastern China Based on the Random Forest Model
Authors: Gao Chunyu , Hong Yang , Sun Shiquan , Zhang Ning , Liu Xinxin , Wang Zheyu , Zhou Shaochun , Zhang Minghai
Published: November 2023

Amur tigers are at the top of the food chain and play an important role in maintaining the health of forest ecosystems. Scientific and detailed assessment of the habitat quality of Amur tigers in China is the key to maintaining the forest ecosystem and also addressing the urgent need to protect and restore the wild population of Amur tigers in China. This study used the random forest method to predict the potential habitat of Amur tigers in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces using animal occurrence sites and a variety of environmental variables. Random forests are a combination of tree predictors such that each tree depends on the values of a random vector sampled independently and with the same distribution for all trees in the forest. The generalization error for forests converges to a limit as the number of trees in the forest becomes large. The generalization error of a forest of tree classifiers depends on the strength of the individual trees in the forest and the correlation between them. The results showed that the AUC value of the test set was 0.955. The true skill statistic (TSS) value is 0.5924, indicating that the model had good prediction accuracy. Using the optimal threshold determined by the Youden index as the cutoff value, we found that the suitable habitat for Amur tigers in the field was approximately 107,600 km2, accounting for 16.3% of the total study areas. It was mainly distributed in the Sino-Russian border areas in the south of the Laoyeling Mountains at the junction of Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, the Sino-Russian border areas of Hulin–Raohe in the eastern part of the Wanda Mountains, and the Lesser Khingan Mountain forest region. The habitat suitability of the Greater Khingan Mountain and the plain areas connecting Harbin and Changchun was relatively low. Prey potential richness was the most critical factor driving the distribution of Amur tigers. Compared with their prey, the potential habitats for Amur tigers in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces were small in total areas, sporadically distributed, and had low continuity and a lack of connectivity between patches. This indicates that some factors may restrict the diffusion of the Amur tiger, whereas the diffusion of ungulates is less restricted. The Amur tigers in this area face a serious threat of habitat fragmentation, suggesting that habitat protection, restoration, and ecological corridor construction should be strengthened to increase population dispersal and exchange. We provide a reference for future population conservation, habitat restoration, construction of ecological migration corridors, and population exchange of Amur tigers.
Anatomy of the Female Koala Reproductive Tract
Authors: Pagliarani Sara , Palmieri Chiara , McGowan Michael , Carrick Frank , Boyd Jackson , Johnston Stephen D.
Published: November 2023

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), while being an iconic Australian marsupial, has recently been listed as endangered. To establish an improved understanding of normal reproductive anatomy, this paper brings together unpublished research which has approached the topic from two perspectives: (1) the establishment of an artificial insemination program, and (2) the definition of Chlamydia spp.-derived histopathological changes of the female koala urogenital system. Based on the presentation and histological processing of over 70 opportunistic specimens, recovered from wildlife hospitals in Southeast Queensland (Australia), we describe the gross and microanatomy of the koala ovary, oviduct, uteri, vaginal complex, and urogenital sinus during the interestrous, proliferative, and luteal phases of the reproductive cycle.
Pilot-Scale Fermentation of Pseudoalteromonas sp. Strain FDHY-MZ2: An Effective Strategy for Increasing Algicidal Activity
Authors: Zhong Yuying , Zheng Wenhuang , Shi Xinguo , Guo Yisong , Wang Qianqian , Lv Pin , Chen Jianfeng
Published: November 2023

The role of microorganisms in effectively terminating harmful algal blooms (HABs) is crucial for maintaining environmental stability. Recent studies have placed increased emphasis on bio-agents capable of inhibiting HABs. The bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. strain FDHY-MZ2 has exhibited impressive algicidal abilities against Karenia mikimotoi, a notorious global HAB-forming species. To augment this capability, cultures were progressively scaled from shake flask conditions to small-scale (5 L) and pilot-scale (50 L) fermentation. By employing a specifically tailored culture medium (2216E basal medium with 1.5% soluble starch and 0.5% peptone), under precise conditions (66 h, 20 °C, 450 rpm, 30 L/min ventilation, 3% seeding, and constant starch flow), a notable increase in algicidal bacterial biomass was observed; the bacterial dosage required to entirely wipe out K. mikimotoi within a day decreased from 1% to 0.025%. Compared to an unoptimized shake flask group, the optimized fermentation culture caused significant reductions in algal chlorophyll and protein levels (21.85% and 78.3%, respectively). Co-culturing induced increases in algal malondialdehyde and H2O2 by 5.98 and 5.38 times, respectively, leading to further disruption of algal photosynthesis. This study underscores the unexplored potential of systematically utilized microbial agents in mitigating HABs, providing a pathway for their wider application.