bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emotional foundations of the market: Sympathy and self-interest
Authors: Bevilacqua Emiliano
Published: November 2022

Sociology shows the role of emotions in economic life. Sympathy and self-interest are crucial individual dispositions to explain the social behavior that shapes market institutions. Adam Smith emphasized the importance that sympathy has in the achievement of stability in social interactions that foster market society. On the other hand, Max Weber argued that disciplined self-interest is essential for the accumulation of capital. Although their analyses differed in some aspects, both Smith and Weber considered emotions to be the key to understanding the moral values that drive economic behavior. This paper will compare Smith's and Weber's theories of the relationship between emotions and the market. Finally, this paper will interpret sympathy and self-interest as the emotional foundations of the market, highlighting the fundamental role that emotions might have in economic analyses.
Q-methodology and farmers' decision-making
Authors: van Dijk Ruben , Intriago Zambrano Juan Carlo , Diehl Jan Carel , Ertsen Maurits W.
Published: November 2022

Despite extensive research on farmers' constraints and decisions, technology developers, policymakers and development organizations still encounter difficulties in relating policies to farmers' strategies. Often, the concept of ‘smallholders' is applied as explaining and predicting farmers' decisions—suggesting that specific strategies of farmers can be meaningfully related to their farm size. Our study into farmers' decision-making concerning water transport technologies in Malawi suggests that this way of grouping farmers in policy and development programs does not match actual decision strategies. Using Q-methodology (Q) as a method allowed us to find decision-making patterns without predefining variables that would influence decision-making. We found that farmers within a predefined smallholder group did not decide in the same ways. Furthermore, our results show that decision-making has a clear gender dimension. We argue that Q is able to capture the nuances of farmers' decision-making processes. As such, the methodology potentially provides a useful feed for policy and technology development.
The Relationship between Transformation Leadership, Job Satisfaction and Employee Motivation in the Tourism Industry
Authors: Vinh Nguyen Quang , Hien Luc Manh , Do Quang Hung
Published: November 2022

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between transformation leadership, job satisfaction, and employee motivation in the Vietnam tourism industry (VTI). In the study, data were collected from 207 respondents from different organizations related to the tourism industry, then partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for the analysis. The findings indicate that the paths between inspirational communication, personal recognition, supportive leadership, vision, and job satisfaction are highly significant. However, the intellectual stimulation does not positively affect job satisfaction. In addition, the path of job satisfaction and employee motivation is significant. This research also shows that only supportive leadership has a direct positive effect on employee motivation. The findings can be used as reference for tourism company managers to consult and improve their knowledge, skills, and leadership qualities.
Flame Anchoring of an H2/O2 Non-Premixed Flamewith O2 Transcritical Injection
Authors: Giacomazzi Eugenio , Cecere Donato , Arcidiacono Nunzio
Published: November 2022

The article is devoted to the analysis of the flame anchoring mechanism in the test case MASCOTTE C-60 RCM2 on supercritical hydrogen/oxygen combustion at 60 bar, with transcritical (liquid) injection of oxygen. The case is simulated by means of the in-house parallel code HeaRT in the three-dimensional LES framework. The cubic Peng–Robinson equation of state in its improved translated volume formulation is assumed. Diffusive mechanisms and transport properties are accurately modeled. A finite-rate detailed scheme involving the main radicals, already validated for high-pressure H2/O2 combustion, is adopted. The flow is analysed in terms of temperature, hydrogen and oxygen instantaneous spatial distributions, evidencing the effects of the vortex shedding from the edges of the hydrogen injector and of the separation of the oxygen stream in the divergent section of its tapered injector on the flame anchoring and topology. Combustion conditions are characterised by looking at the equivalence ratio and compressibility factor distributions.
Mixed-Sensitivity Control for Drag-Free Spacecraft Based on State Space
Authors: Liu Yuan , Jiang Changwu
Published: November 2022

This paper investigates a mixed-sensitivity control method for a class of drag-free spacecraft-needed frequency-separation control, which overcomes the coupled problem of a multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) system with multiple sensitive-axes and disturbances of actuators. Firstly, the relative dynamics equation is established based on the character of displacement error, which is separated by that test-mass (TMs) tracking ideal orbit with high-frequency displacement and cavity of spacecraft tracking TMs with low-frequency displacement. Secondly, the feedback gain matrix is obtained by the LMI/SDP, which is devised by a general system containing a weight function. Finally, the simulation results demonstrate the performance of the proposed method.
Bio-Inspired Self-Organized Fission–Fusion Control Algorithm for UAV Swarm
Authors: Zhang Xiaorong , Ding Wenrui , Wang Yufeng , Luo Yizhe , Zhang Zehao , Xiao Jing
Published: November 2022

Swarm control has become a challenging topic for the current unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm due to its conflicting individual behaviors and high external interference. However, in contrast to static obstacles, limited attention has been paid to the fission–fusion behavior of the swarm against dynamic obstacles. In this paper, inspired by the interaction mechanism and fission–fusion motion of starlings, we propose a Bio-inspired Self-organized Fission–fusion Control (BiSoFC) algorithm for the UAV swarm, where the number of UAVs in the sub-swarm is controllable. It solves the problem of swarm control under dynamic obstacle interference with the tracking function. Firstly, we establish the kinematic equations of the individual UAV and swarm controllers and introduce a fission–fusion control framework to achieve the fission–fusion movement of the UAV swarm with a lower communication load. Afterward, a sub-swarm selection algorithm is built upon the topological interaction structure. When a swarm is faced with different tasks, the swarm that can control the number of agents in a sub-swarm can accomplish the corresponding task with a more reasonable number of agents. Finally, we design a sub-swarm trapping algorithm with a tracking function for the dynamic obstacles. The simulation results show that the UAV swarm can self-organize fission sub-swarms to cope with dynamic obstacles under different disturbance situations, and successfully achieve the goal of protecting the parent swarm from dynamic obstacles. The experimental results prove the feasibility and effectiveness of our proposed control algorithm.
ZnO Nanoparticle Size-Dependent Effects on Swiss Chard Growth and Nutritional Quality
Authors: Miliauskienė Jurga , Brazaitytė Aušra , Sutulienė Rūta , Urbutis Martynas , Tučkutė Simona
Published: November 2022

Understanding the interactions between nanoparticles (NPs) and plants is crucial in comprehending the impact of nanotechnology on agriculture, with a focus on plant toxicity concerns and risks to human health. Zinc (Zn) belongs to the micronutrients with poor bioavailability, though this element is essential for the vital functions of plants. In this respect, this research estimated the impact of the size of zinc oxide NPs (ZnO NPs) applied by foliar application on biomass production and nutritional qualities in baby leaf Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla L. cv. Barese). Plants were grown hydroponically in controlled environment growth chambers, and exposed via foliar spray to varying particle sizes of ZnO NPs (18, 35–45, and 80–200 nm) at a concentration of 200 ppm. Control plants were sprayed with distilled water. The results revealed that ZnO NPs improved fresh and dry biomass, leaf area, favored leaf chlorophyll and flavonol indexes, and improved the total soluble protein content in Swiss chard. The total phenolic content and antioxidant properties depended more on different sizes of ZnO NPs in the solutions used for spraying plants. ZnO NPs significantly increased the accumulation of Zn and Fe in edible tissues. Still, the hazard quotient values of Zn and Fe were lower than 1, which supports the safe consumption of Swiss chard after ZnO NP treatment. In conclusion, these results revealed that ZnO NPs could be applied in Swiss chard production to improve yield, quality, and nutraceutical properties.
The Impact of Drought, Heat and Elevated Carbon Dioxide Levels on Feed Grain Quality for Poultry Production
Authors: Ledvinka Harris D. , Toghyani Mehdi , Tan Daniel K. Y. , Khoddami Ali , Godwin Ian D. , Liu Sonia Y.
Published: November 2022

Climate change has wide-reaching consequences for agriculture by altering both the yield and nutritional composition of grains. This poses a significant challenge for the poultry industry which relies on large quantities of high-quality feed grains to support meat and egg production. The existing literature shows that elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (eCO2), heat and drought overall reduce grain yield and quality. However, these results are inconsistent, with some studies reporting small or large decreases and others even indicating potential improvements. These variations may occur because many studies only investigate one climate factor at a time, without considering interactions between factors. Additionally, most studies investigate just one grain type, rather than comparing grains and their morphophysiological differences. The present review offers a novel approach by investigating how eCO2, heat and drought interactively affect both the yield and nutritional composition of four key animal feed grains: wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolour L. Moench). The photosynthetic pathway is a key determinant of a plant’s response to climate factors, so this review compares grains with both C3 photosynthesis (wheat and barley) and C4 photosynthesis (maize and sorghum). The present review found that eCO2 may promote starch synthesis in C3 grains of wheat and barley, thereby improving grain yield but diluting protein, lipid, vitamin and mineral concentrations. This potential yield improvement is further counteracted by heat and drought which limit the photosynthetic rate. Unlike wheat and barley, C4 photosynthesis is not CO2-limited, so neither the yield nor the nutritional quality of maize and sorghum are significantly affected by eCO2. On the other hand, heat stress and drought reduce photosynthesis in maize and sorghum and may offer minimal increases in nutrient concentrations. This review highlights that while eCO2 may increase the yield of wheat and barley grains, this effect (i) dilutes nutrient concentration, (ii) is counteracted by heat and drought, and (iii) does not benefit C4 grains maize and sorghum. An additional novel insight is offered by discussing how the impacts of climate change on animal feed production may be mitigated using alternative crop management practices, plant breeding, feed processing and enzyme supplementation.
Seasonal Characteristics of Agricultural Product Circulation Network: A Case Study in Beijing, China
Authors: Zhao Yibo , Cheng Shifen , Lu Feng
Published: November 2022

Agricultural product circulation is an appropriate way to optimize the distribution of agricultural resources and maintain food safety. The seasonality of agriculture leads to seasonal variations in agricultural product circulation. Previous studies constructed origin–destination networks based on annual statistics to investigate the static structure of agricultural product circulation networks from a single view, failing to capture the seasonal and multi-dimensional characteristics in agricultural product circulation. This study presents a multi-view analytical framework used to investigate the seasonal characteristics of an agricultural product circulation network. First, agricultural product circulation networks in different seasons were constructed with mass freight trajectory data through trajectory mining technology. Then, the seasonal characteristics of agricultural product circulation were, respectively, analyzed from a macro-view (networks), meso-view (edges) and micro-view (nodes). A case study was conducted in Beijing, China. It is argued that: (1) The presented method for extracting agricultural trip chains based on massive freight trajectories is feasible for the construction of agricultural product circulation networks. (2) The agricultural product circulation networks in four seasons exhibit an obvious hierarchical and radial structure. South China has a higher network density in winter and spring, whereas northeast and northwest China are the opposite. (3) A total of 80% of the linkage strength is concentrated, on average, in 35.3% of city-pairs in four seasons, where the agglomeration effect and hub status of the linking cities is more prominent in summer and autumn. (4) A total of 316 cities form Beijing agricultural product circulation networks, 48.1% of which are mainly served by Beijing agricultural product circulation in winter and spring, which is 2.7 times more than cities served in summer and autumn. These findings extend the scientific understanding of the agricultural product supply chain from a dynamic and multi-dimensional view, which provides essential information for optimizing sustainable agri-food systems and ensuring food security.
Biochar-Derived Smoke Waters Affect Bactrocera oleae Behavior and Control the Olive Fruit Fly under Field Conditions
Authors: Jesu Giovanni , Laudonia Stefania , Bonanomi Giuliano , Flematti Gavin , Germinara Salvatore Giacinto , Pistillo Marco , Giron David , Bézier Annie , Vinale Francesco
Published: November 2022

Bactrocera oleae is the key pest of olive production. Several attempts have been carried out over time to control it using biological solutions but with results rarely comparable to those obtained with chemical applications. The purpose of this work was to identify and test new compounds from samples of various Smoke Waters (SWs) for their effect on the fly, and given their low impact on the environment. SWs obtained from different feedstocks were used in in vitro and open field applications. SWs were shown to alter B. oleae fitness, acting on its microbiome, particularly on the presence and activity of the primary endosymbiont “Ca. Erwinia dacicola”, and also to affect the behavior of the adult flies, altering the attractiveness of the drupes susceptible to attack. The effects recorded were concentration-dependent and varied among repulsion, up to 87% towards females, indecision, up to 70% towards males, and attraction, comparable to fresh green olives, based on the starting materials. These responses were confirmed in electroantennography trials and during two-years of field trials carried out in South and Central Italy. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry highlighted the presence of compounds such as guaiacol and hydroquinone as potentially important for the observed activity. Principal Component Analyses confirmed the proximity among SWs obtained from similar feedstocks. In controlled conditions, females appear to be more sensitive to the SW treatments. Field trials have shown how the effects of SWs can lead depression of infestation levels obtainable with other well-known compounds, such as kaolin clay and isopropyl-myristate (repulsive), or pheromones (attractive).
Hoof Matters: Developing an Athletic Thoroughbred Hoof
Authors: Hobbs Sarah Jane , Curtis Simon , Martin Jaime , Sinclair Jonathan , Clayton Hilary M.
Published: November 2022

Conformation of the hooves and distal limbs of foals and factors influencing their morphological development have not been reported in detail for the Thoroughbred breed. In this paper we explore morphogenesis of the equine distal limb in Thoroughbred foals with emphasis on adaptations in response to weight bearing early in life that prepare the foal for an athletic career. Novel data from four studies are presented chronologically during key time periods to illustrate specific aspects of distal limb growth and adaptation. Dorsal epidermal thickness increased from 2.84 ± 0.41 mm in utero to 4.04 ± 1.10 mm by 4 months of age. The increase in thickness was accompanied by decreased tubular density, increased inter-tubular material, and an increase in number and size of tubules at the quarters, which provided a malleable hoof capsule to allow for skeletal growth. Between 4–6 months of age, the hoof widens, and higher loading on the medial side (>60%) vs. the lateral side (<40%) may be factors that influence mature asymmetric hoof shape. Shortly after 12 months-of-age, the dorsal hoof wall angle and dorsal parietal angle of the distal phalanx become parallel, thus optimizing the functional capacity of the hoof capsule in the weanling Thoroughbred.
Effects of Paratuberculosis Vaccination at Different Ages in a Dairy Goat Herd: A 2-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Fernández Miguel , Royo Marcos , Fuertes Miguel , Arteche-Villasol Noive , Ferreras M. Carmen , Benavides Julio , Pérez Valentín
Published: November 2022

Vaccination could be considered as an effective method for paratuberculosis control, although controversial, with a need for investigation in some aspects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vaccination, depending on the age of the animals, on their immune response, the reduction of paratuberculosis cases, mortality and culled animals in a commercial dairy herd. Goats from three different ages were immunized with the inactivated Gudair® vaccine. Peripheral antibody and IFN-γ output were evaluated for 21 months post-vaccination (mpv) and intradermal skin tests (IDSTs) for tuberculosis, with avian- and bovine-purified protein derivatives (PPD), were carried out at 6 and at 18 mpv to evaluate the humoral and cellular immune peripheral responses, respectively. The number of dead or culled animals, regardless of the reason, was also monitored and the causes of death determined by pathological examination. A significant increase in the production of IFN-γ was observed in all the vaccinated groups when the blood samples were stimulated with avian PPD, from 3 mpv to 18 mpv, and with bovine PPD, between 3 and 21 mpv. Moreover, serum antibody levels increased between 3 and 21 mpv in all vaccinated groups. The highest levels were found in animals vaccinated at 5 months, and the lowest in adult individuals. No positive reactants to tuberculosis were found by intradermal skin test. No animal losses associated with clinical paratuberculosis were detected in any of the groups. The number of total culled animals was significantly lower in the vaccinated than in the unvaccinated groups, especially on 1.5-month-old vaccinated kids. These results suggest that vaccination of paratuberculosis, especially in young animals, could induce heterologous protection.
Transcriptome Mining to Identify Molecular Markers for the Diagnosis of Staphylococcus epidermidis Bloodstream Infections
Authors: Brás Susana , França Angela
Published: November 2022

Bloodstream infections caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis are often misdiagnosed since no diagnostic marker found so far can unequivocally discriminate “true” infection from sample contamination. While attempts have been made to find genomic and/or phenotypic differences between invasive and commensal isolates, possible changes in the transcriptome of these isolates under in vivo-mimicking conditions have not been investigated. Herein, we characterized the transcriptome, by RNA sequencing, of three clinical and three commensal isolates after 2 h of exposure to whole human blood. Bioinformatics analysis was used to rank the genes with the highest potential to distinguish invasive from commensal isolates and among the ten genes identified as candidates, the gene SERP2441 showed the highest potential. A collection of 56 clinical and commensal isolates was then used to validate, by quantitative PCR, the discriminative power of the selected genes. A significant variation was observed among isolates, and the discriminative power of the selected genes was lost, undermining their potential use as markers. Nevertheless, future studies should include an RNA sequencing characterization of a larger collection of isolates, as well as a wider range of conditions to increase the chances of finding further candidate markers for the diagnosis of bloodstream infections caused by S. epidermidis.
COVID-19 Mixed Impact on Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities: A Qualitative Study in UK-Based Hospitals
Authors: Khan Sidra , Bond Stuart E. , Bakhit Mina , Hasan Syed Shahzad , Sadeq Ahmed A. , Conway Barbara R. , Aldeyab Mamoon A.
Published: November 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a well-known global threat due to the subsequent increase in antimicrobial usage. Several antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies have been implemented to curb irrational prescribing and reduce the AMR burden. However, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has enormously impacted the healthcare system and jeopardized public health, causing millions of deaths globally. Our semi-structured qualitative study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on AMS activities in the UK hospitals. Seventeen interviews were conducted with health care professionals who were part of AMS teams (consultant medical microbiologists, infectious disease consultants, antimicrobial pharmacists). Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. An inductive thematic framework was adopted to analyse and create the themes. After agreement of the hierarchical framework definition, all transcripts were coded accordingly. Four main themes and 15 sub-themes were identified. These main themes were: (1) AMS activities or strategies before and during the pandemic; (2) challenges to implementing AMS activities before and during the pandemic; (3) information from public authorities on AMS during the pandemic; and (4) new AMS activities/strategies adopted during the pandemic. Staff vacancies, redeploying of AMS staff to other duties and meeting the burden related to the COVID-19 and lack of resources were the most frequently identified contributing factors to withheld AMS activities during the pandemic. However, modifications to the hybrid working environment, i.e., remote or flexible working, allowed for resumption of AMS activities including virtual ward rounds, virtual meetings and other activities. Further research needs to assess the impact of the hybrid delivery system on AMS activities.
Synergistic Interaction of Caspofungin Combined with Posaconazole against FKS Wild-Type and Mutant Candida auris Planktonic Cells and Biofilms
Authors: Balla Noémi , Kovács Fruzsina , Balázs Bence , Borman Andrew M. , Bozó Aliz , Jakab Ágnes , Tóth Zoltán , Kobaissi Ola , Majoros László , Kovács Renátó
Published: November 2022

Candida auris is a potential multidrug-resistant pathogen able to cause biofilm-associated outbreaks, where frequently indwelling devices are the source of infections. The number of effective therapies is limited; thus, new, even-combination-based strategies are needed. Therefore, the in vitro efficacy of caspofungin with posaconazole against FKS wild-type and mutant Candida auris isolates was determined. The interactions were assessed utilizing the fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs), the Bliss model, and a LIVE/DEAD assay. Planktonic minimum inhibitory concentrations (pMICs) for the caspofungin–posaconazole combination showed a 4- to 256-fold and a 2- to 512-fold decrease compared to caspofungin and posaconazole alone, respectively. Sessile minimum inhibitory concentrations (sMICs) for caspofungin and posaconazole in combination showed an 8- to 128-fold and a 4- to 512-fold decrease, respectively. The combination showed synergy, especially against biofilms (FICIs were 0.033–0.375 and 0.091–0.5, and Bliss cumulative synergy volumes were 6.96 and 32.39 for echinocandin-susceptible and -resistant isolates, respectively). The caspofungin-exposed (4 mg/L) C. auris biofilms exhibited increased cell death in the presence of posaconazole (0.03 mg/L) compared to untreated, caspofungin-exposed and posaconazole-treated biofilms. Despite the favorable effect of caspofungin with posaconazole, in vivo studies are needed to confirm the therapeutic potential of this combination in C. auris-associated infections.
Update on the Management of Surgical Site Infections
Authors: Pinchera Biagio , Buonomo Antonio Riccardo , Schiano Moriello Nicola , Scotto Riccardo , Villari Riccardo , Gentile Ivan
Published: November 2022

Surgical site infections are an increasingly important issue in nosocomial infections. The progressive increase in antibiotic resistance, the ever-increasing number of interventions and the ever-increasing complexity of patients due to their comorbidities amplify this problem. In this perspective, it is necessary to consider all the risk factors and all the current preventive and prophylactic measures which are available. At the same time, given multiresistant microorganisms, it is essential to consider all the possible current therapeutic interventions. Therefore, our review aims to evaluate all the current aspects regarding the management of surgical site infections.
Deep Transfer Learning Enables Robust Prediction of Antimicrobial Resistance for Novel Antibiotics
Authors: Ren Yunxiao , Chakraborty Trinad , Doijad Swapnil , Falgenhauer Linda , Falgenhauer Jane , Goesmann Alexander , Schwengers Oliver , Heider Dominik
Published: November 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become one of the serious global health problems, threatening the effective treatment of a growing number of infections. Machine learning and deep learning show great potential in rapid and accurate AMR predictions. However, a large number of samples for the training of these models is essential. In particular, for novel antibiotics, limited training samples and data imbalance hinder the models’ generalization performance and overall accuracy. We propose a deep transfer learning model that can improve model performance for AMR prediction on small, imbalanced datasets. As our approach relies on transfer learning and secondary mutations, it is also applicable to novel antibiotics and emerging resistances in the future and enables quick diagnostics and personalized treatments.
Synergistic Action of Cinnamomum verum Essential Oil with Sertraline
Authors: Barbarossa Alexia , Sblano Sabina , Rosato Antonio , Carrieri Antonio , Corbo Filomena , Clodoveo Maria Lisa , Fracchiolla Giuseppe , Carocci Alessia
Published: November 2022

Cinnamomum verum L. essential oil (CEO), commonly known as Ceylon cinnamon or cinnamon tree, is regarded as one of the most employed essential oils in the field of aromatherapy. It is usually applied externally as astringent, antipruritic, rubefacient, and anti-septic agent. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo research have demonstrated its numerous pharmacological effects, including the potentiality for treating neuralgia, myalgia, headache, and migraine. Several pieces of research also corroborated its significant antiviral and antimicrobial properties. Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, caryophyllene, cinnamyl acetate, and cinnamic acid are the most representative compounds that are generally found in greater quantities in CEO and play a pivotal role in determining its pharmacological activities. Due to the global antibiotic resistance scenario and the dwindling amount of funding dedicated to developing new antibiotics, in recent years research has concentrated on exploring specific economic approaches against microbial infections. In this context, the purpose of this study was the investigation of the synergistic antibacterial activities of commercially available and chemically characterized CEO in combination with sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), whose repositioning as a non-antibiotic drug has been explored over the years with encouraging results. In vitro effects of the titled combination were assessed toward a wide panel of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The antimicrobial efficacy was investigated by using the checkerboard microdilution method. The interesting preliminary results obtained suggested a synergistic effect (fractional inhibitory index, FICI < 0.5) of sertraline in combination with CEO, leading to severe growth inhibition for all bacterial species under investigation.
Ageing and Low-Level Chronic Inflammation: The Role of the Biological Clock
Authors: Colombini Barbara , Dinu Monica , Murgo Emanuele , Lotti Sofia , Tarquini Roberto , Sofi Francesco , Mazzoccoli Gianluigi
Published: November 2022

Ageing is a multifactorial physiological manifestation that occurs inexorably and gradually in all forms of life. This process is linked to the decay of homeostasis due to the progressive decrease in the reparative and regenerative capacity of tissues and organs, with reduced physiological reserve in response to stress. Ageing is closely related to oxidative damage and involves immunosenescence and tissue impairment or metabolic imbalances that trigger inflammation and inflammasome formation. One of the main ageing-related alterations is the dysregulation of the immune response, which results in chronic low-level, systemic inflammation, termed “inflammaging”. Genetic and epigenetic changes, as well as environmental factors, promote and/or modulate the mechanisms of ageing at the molecular, cellular, organ, and system levels. Most of these mechanisms are characterized by time-dependent patterns of variation driven by the biological clock. In this review, we describe the involvement of ageing-related processes with inflammation in relation to the functioning of the biological clock and the mechanisms operating this intricate interaction.
Modulation of Lipid Profile and Lipoprotein Subfractions in Overweight/Obese Women at Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases through the Consumption of Apple/Berry Juice
Authors: Habanova Marta , Holovicova Maria , Scepankova Hana , Lorkova Marta , Gazo Jan , Gazarova Martina , Pinto Carlos A. , Saraiva Jorge A. , Estevinho Leticia M.
Published: November 2022

Polyphenol-rich foods protect the cellular systems of the human body from oxidative damage, thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the effect of phenolic-rich apple/berry juice (chokeberry, blueberry, and cranberry) on lipidemic profiles in overweight/obese women. The 6 week single-arm pre–post intervention study involved 20 women (mean age 52.95 ± 5.8 years, body mass index ≥25 kg/m2, and ≥1 CVD risk factors) consuming 300 mL/day of the apple/berry juice. Lipid profile, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions assessed using Lipoprint® electrophoresis, and other parameters related to cardiovascular risk (C-reactive protein, glucose, blood pressure) were analyzed before and again after the intervention in the monitored group of women. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased from 1.30 ± 0.29 to 1.55 ± 0.32, magnesium from 0.85 ± 0.03 to 0.90 ± 0.05, and total antioxidant status from 1.68 ± 0.08 to 1.81 ± 0.10. The LDL/HDL ratio significantly decreased from 3.40 ± 0.99 to 2.66 ± 0.63 mmol/L, and the glucose from 5.50 ± 0.72 to 5.24 ± 0.74 mmol/L. However, the hs-CRP did not change significantly. Women with atherogenic subfractions LDL3-7 at baseline (n = 6) showed a significant reduction from 0.45 ± 0.19 to 0.09 ± 0.07 mmol/L. Overweight/obese women may benefit from apple/berry juice as part of a healthy lifestyle to improve their lipid profile, and thus, contribute to cardiovascular health.
Roles of Normal Stress, Roughness, and Slip Displacement in the Stability of Laboratory Fault in a Sandstone
Authors: Sun Wenming , Li Yingchun , Wu Xiaotian , Tang Chun’an
Published: November 2022

Unstable slip of a fault block is considered to be the main cause of shallow earthquakes. However, the underlying mechanism of the stability-to-instability transition of faults has not been fully understood. Here, we used the stiffness ratio, which is the ratio between the shear stiffness of the fault subjected to direct shear and the critical stiffness to evaluate the fault stability degree from stable to unstable slip, and examined the effects of normal stress, roughness, and slip displacement on the fault stability. Our experimental results show that with the increase in slip displacement, the shear stiffness change in stable slip mainly includes four stages, namely “rapid increase–keep unchanged–slow increase–rapid decrease”, and unstable slip tends to occur in the last two stages. This process of shear stiffness change is accelerated by the increase in normal stress and the decrease in fault roughness. Our study reveals that fault stability over slip is mutually dictated by asperity interlocking and wear-induced gouge. Asperity interlocking controls fault stability when the gouge amount is low, whereas the fault gouge prevails with the increased wear of the fault surface since the gouge generated during slip can participate in the subsequent friction process. Thus, we infer that the stable–unstable transition of fault over slip is a spontaneous process due to the interplay of asperity interlocking and wear-induced gouge lubrication.
MSDeveloper: A Variability-Guided Methodology for Microservice-Based Development
Authors: Kuruoglu Dolu Betul , Cetinkaya Anil , Kaya M. Cagri , Nazlioglu Selma , Dogru Ali H.
Published: November 2022

This article presents a microservice-based development approach, MSDeveloper (Microservices Developer), employing variability management for product configuration through a low-code development environment. The purpose of this approach is to offer a general-purpose environment for the easier development of families of products for different domains: a domain-oriented development environment is suggested, where domain developers and product developers can utilize the environment as a software ecosystem. Thus, genericity is offered through supporting different domains. A domain is populated with feature and process models and microservices in a layered architecture. Feature models drive the product configuration, which affects the process model and the microservice layer. An experimental study was conducted to validate the applicability of the approach and the usability of the development environment. Students from different courses were assigned system modeling projects where they utilized helper tools supporting the provided methodology. Furthermore, professional software developers were consulted about this recommended domain-oriented development environment. Feedback from student projects and professionals’ remarks are analyzed and discussed.
An Object Detection and Localization Method Based on Improved YOLOv5 for the Teleoperated Robot
Authors: Chen Zhangyi , Li Xiaoling , Wang Long , Shi Yueyang , Sun Zhipeng , Sun Wei
Published: November 2022

In the traditional teleoperation system, the operator locates the object using the real-time scene information sent back from the robot terminal; however, the localization accuracy is poor and the execution efficiency is low. To address the issues, we propose an object detection and localization method for the teleoperated robot. First, we improved the classic YOLOv5 network model to produce superior object detection performance and named the improved model YOLOv5_Tel. On the basis of the classic YOLOv5 network model, the feature pyramid network was changed to a bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN) network module to achieve the weighted feature fusion mechanism. The coordinate attention (CA) module was added to make the model pay more attention to the features of interest. Furthermore, we pruned the model from the depth and width to make it more lightweight and changed the bounding box regression loss function GIOU to SIOU to speed up model convergence. Then, the YOLOv5_Tel model and ZED2 depth camera were used to achieve object localization based on the binocular stereo vision ranging principle. Finally, we established an object detection platform for the teleoperated robot and created a small dataset to validate the proposed method. The experiment shows that compared with the classic YOLOv5 series network model, the YOLOv5_Tel is higher in accuracy, lighter in weight, and faster in detection speed. The mean average precision (mAP) value of the YOLOv5_Tel increased by 0.8%, 0.9%, and 1.0%, respectively. The model size decreased by 11.1%, 70.0%, and 86.4%, respectively. The inference time decreased by 9.1%, 42.9%, and 58.3%, respectively. The proposed object localization method has a high localization accuracy with an average relative error of only 1.12%.
Micro-Computed Tomography with 3D Image Analysis to Reveal Firing Temperature Effects on Pore Systems in Archaeological and Ethnographic Ceramics
Authors: Reedy Chandra L. , Reedy Cara L.
Published: November 2022

Understanding the firing regimes of archaeological ceramics reveals clues about the history of technological developments, but current methods for determining firing history have limitations. We experimented with non-destructive micro-CT combined with 3D image analysis to collect data on 42 pore variables, hypothesizing that pore systems are affected by ceramic firing temperatures. Analysis of variance showed that 26 of the variables are significantly related to firing temperature. Total volume porosity (open and closed pores) goes down with increased firing temperature, as does the fraction of pores accessible to a surface. Maximum pore volume, maximum and standard deviation of pore surface area, and pore elongation measures all decrease with higher firing temperatures while shape factors indicating greater sphericity increase. Pore connectivity measures decrease with higher firing temperatures, and variation in pore and connection lengths increases. The highest fired ceramics have low connection tortuosity. Three-dimensional image analysis of micro-CT data can augment existing methods of archaeothermometry, and since many pore characteristics impact the functional properties of ceramics (density, durability, mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, permeability, and diffusion), firing temperature studies of pore systems can inform wider archaeological ceramics research.
Multi-Point Interaction of Partially Conductive Cracks with Sweep Frequency Eddy Currents in Electromagnetic Non-Destructive Evaluation
Authors: Smetana Milan , Gombarska Daniela , Janousek Ladislav , Vaverka Filip
Published: November 2022

An investigation of real corrosion cracks that can be partially conductive in electromagnetic non-destructive evaluation using sweep-frequency eddy-current frequency-response analysis is carried out in this study. A new approach incorporating innovative solutions is proposed. The goal was to increase the probability of detection of real corrosion cracks in contrast to the conventional sweep-frequency method that is based on single-point signal detection. The proposed procedure was tested on real material specimens where differential responses were gained from real corrosion cracks. Seven austenitic steel plate specimens having corrosion cracks were inspected. Eddy-current responses due to the material cracks were sensed, while a multi-point approach was used for this purpose. The presented unique results clearly showed that the detection ability of a fixed probe driven with sweep-frequency excitation signal could be increased when the multi-point detection is used, and the gained signals are further mathematically processed.
Artificial Intelligence, Sensors and Vital Health Signs: A Review
Authors: Junaid Sahalu Balarabe , Imam Abdullahi Abubakar , Shuaibu Aliyu Nuhu , Basri Shuib , Kumar Ganesh , Surakat Yusuf Alhaji , Balogun Abdullateef Oluwagbemiga , Abdulkarim Muhammad , Garba Aliyu , Sahalu Yusra , Mohammed Abdullahi , Mohammed Yahaya Tanko , Abdulkadir Bashir Abubakar , Abba Abdullah Alkali , Kakumi Nana Aliyu Iliyasu , Alazzawi Ammar Kareem
Published: November 2022

Large amounts of patient vital/physiological signs data are usually acquired in hospitals manually via centralized smart devices. The vital signs data are occasionally stored in spreadsheets and may not be part of the clinical cloud record; thus, it is very challenging for doctors to integrate and analyze the data. One possible remedy to overcome these limitations is the interconnection of medical devices through the internet using an intelligent and distributed platform such as the Internet of Things (IoT) or the Internet of Health Things (IoHT) and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML). These concepts permit the integration of data from different sources to enhance the diagnosis/prognosis of the patient’s health state. Over the last several decades, the growth of information technology (IT), such as the IoT/IoHT and AI, has grown quickly as a new study topic in many academic and business disciplines, notably in healthcare. Recent advancements in healthcare delivery have allowed more people to have access to high-quality care and improve their overall health. This research reports recent advances in AI and IoT in monitoring vital health signs. It investigates current research on AI and the IoT, as well as key enabling technologies, notably AI and sensors-enabled applications and successful deployments. This study also examines the essential issues that are frequently faced in AI and IoT-assisted vital health signs monitoring, as well as the special concerns that must be addressed to enhance these systems in healthcare, and it proposes potential future research directions.
Performance Investigation of Linearly Arranged Circular, Circular Planer, Rectangular, and Concentric Circular Antenna Arrays Using Robust NVL Techniques
Authors: Rahaman Imteaz , Jafor Md. Shakiul , Singh Narinderjit Singh Sawaran , Haque Md Ashraful , Biswas Antar Kumar , Rahman Md Afzalur , Zakariya M Azman B , Abro Ghulam E Mustafa , Sarker Nayan
Published: November 2022

In this research, linearly arranged circular antenna array (LCAA), linearly arranged circular planer antenna array (LCPAA), linearly arranged rectangular antenna array (LRAA), and linearly arranged concentric circular antenna array (LCCAA) are analyzed using robust techniques. These four antenna arrays are briefly investigated to evaluate their beam width performance, ability to detect a false signal, and SINR power pattern performances. Robust techniques—fixed diagonal loading (FDL), optimal diagonal loading (ODL), variable diagonal loading (VDL), and new variable loading (NVL) techniques—are applied, and the NVL technique is found to be superior and provides the best performance with the proposed LCCAA beamformer. With an SINR of 40.45 dB, 40.29 dB, 40.18 dB, and 39.99 dB for 0°, 1°, 2°, and 3° disparity angles, respectively, and output powers of −0.019 dB, −0.076 dB, and −0.171 dB for 1°, 2°, and 3° disparity angles, respectively, LCCAA beamformers using the NVL technique outperform other beamformers with different robust approaches.
A Pragmatic Approach to Modeling Combinations of Plant Operational States in Multi-Unit Nuclear Power Plant Probabilistic Safety Assessment
Authors: Kim Dong-San , Park Jin Hee
Published: November 2022

One of the technical challenges in multi-unit probabilistic safety assessment (MUPSA) is dealing with numerous combinations of plant operational states (POSs) for each nuclear power plant unit. Since the number of possible combinations of POSs increases exponentially with the number of units, it is impractical to develop separate MUPSA models and assess the risk for each POS combination. This paper proposes a pragmatic approach to modeling combinations of POSs for each reactor unit in MUPSA involving up to 10 reactor units. This approach does not focus on selecting representative POS combinations but rather on screening out non-risk-significant accident sequences in a stepwise manner according to the model quantification results. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by application to cases with four different numbers of units. As a result, in the 2-, 4-, and 6-unit cases, the site and multi-unit core damage frequency (CDF) due to a multi-unit loss of offsite power initiating event are successfully calculated without screening out any accident sequences for each unit. In the 10-unit case, the quantification fails without screening, but it succeeds after reducing the model size by about 43% via the exclusion of the accident sequences in each integrated single-unit model with a CDF contribution of less than 0.1%. The results show that the minimal cut sets obtained in each case cover many POS combinations and that most non-risk-significant POS combinations can be truncated by the cutoff value of 1E-14/yr. In addition, comparing the quantification results according to the stepwise screening criteria shows that the proposed approach can effectively reduce the computational burden in MUPSA without losing much accuracy or realism.
Lateral Oscillation Characteristics of Vehicle Trajectories on the Straight Sections of Freeways
Authors: Ding Rui , Pan Cunshu , Dai Zhenhua , Xu Jin
Published: November 2022

The lateral oscillations of vehicle trajectories are a significant cause of collisions. There is a dearth of research, however, on the oscillatory behaviors of vehicles driving on straight sections of freeways. This study aimed to investigate the effects of vehicle type, lane position, and speed on oscillation behavior and to propose quantitative indicators to explain lateral oscillation characteristics. Based on these characteristics, a more appropriate lane width can be determined. First, the k-means algorithm was performed to cluster the vehicles into three categories: passenger cars, medium-large cars, and extra-large trucks. Then, statistical methods such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis were employed to elaborate on the speed distribution, lateral amplitude (LA), and distance traveled within the oscillation cycle (DTOC) for various vehicle types. The results show that different types of vehicles have different lateral oscillation tendencies. The LA and DTOC for passenger cars are generally more extensive than for medium-large cars and extra-large trucks, and their oscillation patterns are the most complicated. The vehicle trajectory oscillation pattern varies significantly for different lane positions and speeds, but speed is the dominant influencing factor. The naturalistic driving dataset from German freeways served as the foundation for this study. These results can assist road engineers in better understanding the behavioral characteristics of vehicle trajectory oscillations and designing safer freeways.