bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Point prevalence survey to assess antibiotic prescribing pattern among hospitalized patients in a county referral hospital in Kenya
Authors: Kamita Moses , Maina Michael , Kimani Racheal , Mwangi Robert , Mureithi Dominic , Nduta Cynthia , Gitaka Jesse
Published: October 2022

Antibiotic resistance causes higher morbidity and mortality and higher healthcare costs. One of the factors influencing the emergence of antibiotic resistance is the inappropriate use of antibiotics. Clinical practitioners’ incorrect prescription patterns and a disregard for antibiotic usage recommendations are the leading causes of this resistance. This study examined the antibiotic prescription patterns among hospitalized patients at the Kiambu Level 5 hospital (KL5) to find potential for hospital quality improvement. This study was conducted in July 2021, and all patients hospitalized on the study day were included. The information was extracted from patient medical records using a World Health Organization Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) instrument. Anonymized data was gathered, entered, and then SPSS version 26 was used for analysis. Among the 308 surveyed patients, 191 (62%) received antibiotic medication, and 60.1% of the total were female. The pediatric ward, which had an antibiotic prescription rate of 94.1%, had the highest rate of antibiotic usage, followed by the medical ward (69.2%) and gynecological ward (65.6%). Over 40% of antibiotic prescriptions had a prophylactic medical indication. Penicillin G was the most prescribed antibiotic for community-acquired infections (32.2%), followed by 3rd generation cephalosporins (27.6%) and aminoglycosides (17.2%). Based on the AWaRe classification, 57% of the prescribed antibiotics were in the Access class while 42% were in the Watch class. Incomplete site of indication, lack of a method of administration, and length of administration are some of the conformities that were missing in the medical records. This study shows that antibiotic prescription rates are high, particularly for young patients, and there is a higher risk of antibiotic misuse. The data makes a compelling justification for using antibiotic stewardship practices in Kenyan hospitals.
Racial capitalism and the US formula shortage: A policy analysis of the formula industry as a neocolonial system
Authors: Tomori Cecília , Palmquist Aunchalee E. L.
Published: October 2022

The U.S. is currently experiencing a formula shortage and an infant feeding crisis that began with a formula recall and the hospitalization of 4 infants, 2 of whom died. Since 1981, governments around the world have been calling for an end to blatant human rights violations made by the commercial milk formula (CMF) industry. These practices not only involve targeting nutritionally vulnerable populations of mothers and newborns to turn a profit, but also actively undermining the implementation of policies, legislation, and regulatory oversight that might compromise their accumulation of wealth. In this paper we analyze the 2022 formula-shortage-as-infant-feeding-crisis through the lens of the history of colonialism and critical theory in the anthropology of reproduction. First, we provide an overview of the colonial roots of the formula industry from a global perspective. We then focus on how the mechanisms of racial exploitation remain entrenched in the U.S. approach to infant feeding policies, regulation and investment, setting the stage for the current infant feeding crisis. Through our analysis of the 2022 infant feeding crisis we demonstrate how the multinational CMF industry perpetuates racial capitalism and racialized health inequities and disparities through its operations as a neocolonial enterprise. Finally, we offer policy interventions and potential solutions that are grounded in structural interventions for more equitable, anticolonial, antiracist infant feeding systems.
Pre-season body composition has minimal influence on in-season match availability, and match performance in female Australian Football League (AFLW) players
Authors: McCaskie Callum J. , Sim Marc , Newton Robert U. , Heasman Jarryd , Rogalski Brent , Hart Nicolas H.
Published: October 2022

This study examined the relationship between pre-season body composition, in-season match performance, and match availability in female players competing in the Australian Football League Women's (AFLW) competition. With the outlawing of body composition assessments as part of pre-draft player evaluations in the AFLW, this study seeks to examine whether this is justified. Twenty-two (n = 22) players had body composition assessed with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the beginning of the 2021 AFLW pre-season (whole-body and regional fat mass and lean soft-tissue mass [LSTM]). In-season match availability and match performance data (Coaches Score [CS], Champion Data Player Rank, average disposals, disposal and kicking efficiency) were collected throughout the 2021 competition. Pearson correlations were performed to assess if associations existed between body composition and in-season match performance and availability. A median split was performed to divide players into higher and lower performing groups for match performance variables. Two-sample independent t-tests were then used to assess differences between groups. No body composition characteristics could differentiate between in-season match availability groups (100% availability vs. <100% availability) or higher and lower performing groups for all match performance variables. Total leg LSTM asymmetry shared a moderate negative association with CS. Body composition may not be important for determining in-season match availability and performance in female AFLW players. Thus, the repercussions following the removal of pre-draft body composition assessments across the league may not be as significant as is currently perceived. Other physiological, biomechanical, or performance qualities are more variable and may mask the effect of body composition in these players. AFLW practitioners should prioritize the development of other important attributes, such as aerobic fitness, muscular strength and power, and technical skill.
The prognostic role of lymph node ratio in breast cancer patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A dose-response meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Jinzhao , Li Yifei , Zhang Weifang , Yang Chenhui , Yang Chao , Chen Liang , Ding Mingjian , Zhang Liang , Liu Xiaojun , Cui Guozhong , Liu Yunjiang
Published: October 2022

Background

As neoadjuvant chemotherapy is widely used in breast cancer patients, the lymph node ratio has not been fully validated as a prognostic indicator of breast cancer received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This study was conducted to investigate the prognostic value of lymph node ratio in breast cancer patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

Systematic searches were performed in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases until 15 December 2021 for studies on the association between lymph node ratio and the prognosis of breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Overall survival and disease-free survival were used as outcome events, and hazard ratio was chosen as the parameter to evaluate the correlation. The dose-response relationship was assessed by restricted cubic splines. In the subgroup analyses, which were used to explore potential heterogeneity among the included studies according to study region and sample size. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the stability of individual studies, and publication bias was determined with funnel plots, Begg’s test, and Egger's test. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata 15.1.

Results

A total of 12 studies with 4,864 patients were included in this meta-analysis. In this study, high lymph node ratio was significantly associated with decreased overall survival (HR: 4.74; 95%CI: 3.36–6.67; P < 0.001) and disease-free survival (HR: 4.77; 95%CI: 3.69–6.17; P < 0.001). Moreover, the dose-response meta-analysis showed a linear association between higher lymph node ratio and shorter overall survival and disease-free survival in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusions

The meta-analysis suggested that high lymph node ratio was significantly associated with short overall survival and disease-free survival in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Therefore, lymph node ratio is an independent predictive factor for the prognosis of breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which may better refine the cancer staging system.
Using probiotics to improve the utilization of chopped dried date palm leaves as a feed in diets of growing Farafra lambs
Authors: Hamdon Hatem A. , Kassab Ayman Y. , Vargas-Bello-Pérez Einar , Abdel Hafez Galal A. , Sayed Talaat A. , Farghaly Mohsen M. , Kholif Ahmed E.
Published: October 2022

The study determined the ability of three probiotics to improve the nutritional value of date palm leaves in diets of growing lambs. Twenty male Farafra lambs (26 ± 0.33 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four treatments (n= 6) and fed: a control or basal diet (C; 70% concentrate + 30% date palm leaves without additives) and supplemented with Bacillofort containing 2 × 1011CFU ofBacillus subtilis/g (BAC treatment), Lacotpro containing 1 × 1012CFU ofLactobacillus acidophilus/g (LAC treatment) or ZAD containing 6 × 108CFU ofR. albus/g (ZAD treatment) at 4 g of all additives for 150 days. As a result of this study, LAC improved (P< 0.05) growth performance and feed efficiency compared to control. Additives increased (P= 0.001) concentrations of albumin, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine, hemoglobin concentration and red blood cells and decreased (P= 0.001) globulin and urea-N. Additives increased hot carcass (P= 0.040) while BAC increasedLongissimus dorsi, meat and fat without affecting water holding capacity compared to other treatments. In the metabolism experiment, BAC increased the digestibility of crude protein, while BAC and ZAD increased the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber. Additives did not affect nitrogen (N) intake and urinary N; however, decreased fecal N and increased N balance compared to the control. BAC and ZAD increased ruminal volatile fatty acids concentration compared to the control. Based on our results, Lacotpro could be used to improve growth performance and feed efficiency, while Bacillofort could be used to improve meat quality of in lambs.
Intense Leisure Exploitation Influences on Horses Hormonal Reaction—Preliminary Study
Authors: Dąbrowska Izabela , Grzędzicka Jowita , Malin Katarzyna , Pawliński Bartosz , Mickiewicz Julia , Witkowska-Piłaszewicz Olga
Published: October 2022

Horses working with humans for recreational purposes are subjected to a variety of external factors that can have a negative impact on their well-being. There is an urgent need for unequivocal evidence from scientific studies to unify methods of welfare verification of working animals. The testosterone/cortisol ratio has recently been proposed as a marker of the propensity for social aggression as one of the stress reactions. In this study, we analyzed testosterone and cortisol blood concentration and ratio to evaluate the stress susceptibility of horses used for recreational purposes. The blood samples were collected from eleven (n = 11) standardbred horses (age 6–10; geldings–mares = 6:5) during the intense leisure exploitation and after the rest season. The cortisol concentration remained unchanged, whereas, despite the small study population, we observed higher testosterone levels during the horses’ intensive exploitation compared to the resting season (p > 0.09). Thus, the testosterone/cortisol ratio was increased during intensive exploitation. We conclude that recreational horseback riding is not an overly stressful activity for horses; however, it may lead to some behavioral abnormalities connected with high testosterone levels. However, more research is needed.
Classification of Oil Palm Fresh Fruit Bunches Based on Their Maturity Using Thermal Imaging Technique
Authors: Zolfagharnassab Shahrzad , Shariff Abdul Rashid Bin Mohamed , Ehsani Reza , Jaafar Hawa Ze , Aris Ishak Bin
Published: October 2022

The maturity of oil palm Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) is considered to be a significant factor that affects the profitability and salability of palm oil FFB. Typical methods of grading FFB consist of physical grading of fresh fruit, which is time-consuming and expensive, and the results are prone to human error. Therefore, this research attempts to formulate a thermal imaging method to indicate the precise maturity of oil palm fruits. A total of 297 oil palm FFBs were collected. The samples were divided into three groups: under-ripe, ripe, and over-ripe. Afterward, all the samples were scanned using a thermal imaging camera to calculate the real temperature of each sample. In order to normalize the measurement, the difference between the average temperature of the palm bunch and the ambient temperature (∆Temp) was considered as the main parameter. The results indicated that the mean ∆Temp of oil palm FFBs decreased consistently from under-ripe to over-ripe. The results of the ANOVA test demonstrated that the observed significance value was less than 0.05 in terms of ∆Temp, so there is a statistically significant difference in the means of all three maturity categories. It can be concluded that ∆Temp is a reliable index to classify the FFBs of oil palm. The classification analysis was conducted using the ∆Temp of the FFBs and its application as an index in Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Mahalanobis Discriminant Analysis (MDA), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Kernel Nearest Neighbor (KNN). The highest degrees of overall accuracy (99.1% and 92.5%) were obtained through the ANN method. This study concludes that thermal images can be used as an index of oil palm maturity classification.
Low-Cost Electronic Nose for Wine Variety Identification through Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Celdrán Agustin Conesa , Oates Martin John , Molina Cabrera Carlos , Pangua Chema , Tardaguila Javier , Ruiz-Canales Antonio
Published: October 2022

The aroma of wine is traditionally analyzed by sensory methods or by using gas chromatography; both analytical methodologies are slow and expensive and do not allow continuous monitoring. For this reason, interest in rapid methods has increased in recent times. Electronic noses (e-noses) stand out for their high sensitivity, speed, low cost, and little or no sample preparation. They present, however, low selectivity, which requires advance analytical methods to distinguish compounds. Here, we present a low-cost e-nose device for the analysis and identification of distinct varieties of wine. Chemical analysis data are compared to e-nose data through a principal component analysis (PCA) and a k-means clustering algorithm to establish relationships between varieties of wines and the e-nose classification capability. The results show that e-nose technology found significant differences between the analyzed samples, and furthermore, classifying the samples in accordance with the chemical analysis classification. The maximal accuracy obtained was 100% using the k-means algorithm for binary classification with N = 21 samples. Thus the potential of e-nose technology was shown in the wine industry for the identification and classification of wine varieties or quality.
Dynamics of Crop Evapotranspiration of Four Major Crops on a Large Commercial Farm: Case of the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry, New Mexico, USA
Authors: Djaman Koffi , Koudahe Komlan , Mohammed Ali T.
Published: October 2022

Crop evapotranspiration (ETa) is the main source of water loss in farms and watersheds, and with its effects felt at a regional scale, it calls for irrigation professionals and water resource managers to accurately assess water requirements to meet crop water use. On a multi-crop commercial farm, different factors affect cropland allocation, among which crop evapotranspiration is one of the most important factors regarding the seasonally or annually available water resources for irrigation in combination with the in-season effective precipitation. The objective of the present study was to estimate crop evapotranspiration for four major crops grown on the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) farm for the 2016–2010 period to help crop management in crop plant allocation based on the different objectives of the NAPI. The monthly and seasonal satellite-based ETa of maize, potatoes, dry beans, and alfalfa were retrieved and compared using the analysis of variance and the least significant difference (LSD) at 5% of significance. Our results showed the highly significant effects of year, months, and crops. The year 2020 obtained the highest crop ETa, and July had the most evapotranspiration demand, followed by August, June, September, and May, and the pool of April, March, February, January, December, and November registered the lowest crop ETa. Maize monthly ETa varied from 17.5 to 201.7 mm with an average seasonal ETa of 703.8 mm. The monthly ETa of potatoes varied from 9.8 to 207.5 mm, and their seasonal ETa averaged 600.9 mm. The dry bean monthly ETa varied from 10.4 to 178.4 mm, and the seasonal ETa averaged 506.2 mm. The alfalfa annual ETa was the highest at 1015.4 mm, as it is a perennial crop. The alfalfa monthly ETa varied from 8.2 to 202.1 mm. The highest monthly crop ETa was obtained in July for all four crops. The results of this study are very critical for cropland allocation and irrigation management under limited available water across a large commercial farm with multiple crops and objectives.
A Little Helper: Beneficial Bacteria with Growth-Promoting Mechanisms Can Reduce Asian Soybean Rust Severity in a Cell-Free Formulation
Authors: Buttrós Victor Hugo , Araújo Neílton Antônio Fiusa , D’Ávila Vinícius de Abreu , Pereira Maysa Mathias Alves , Melo Dirceu de Sousa , Pasqual Moacir , Dória Joyce
Published: October 2022

Growth-promoting bacteria are already used in sustainable agricultural systems in Brazil. The market is dominated by inoculants and biological pesticides, which do not reach the full potential of this tool in the agricultural sector. This study aimed to evaluate four bacterial strains for the presence of growth promotion mechanisms, as well as the reduction of Asian rust severity in soybean plants and its effects on three antioxidant enzymes during pathogenesis. The plants were treated using the bacterial cells and/or their biosurfactants before inoculation of the pathogen (IOP). Severity was measured based on a diagrammatic scale at 14, 18 and 21 days after IOP, and the activities of the enzymes SOD, CAT, and APX were evaluated 21 days after IOP. Treatments containing only bacterial cells were not efficient in reducing the severity, with losses of leaf area reaching 15%, while the addition of biosurfactants led to a result that is similar to the biofungicide, based on Bacillus subtilis (Serenade®). The presence of direct growth promotion mechanisms can be observed in all isolates, as well as the role of bacterial metabolites, especially lipopeptides, in the biological control of diseases and the modulation of the plant’s immune response.
Uniconazole and Adaptability of Transplantations by Enhancing the Competition Tolerance in a High Sowing Density of Rapeseed Blanket Seedlings
Authors: Zhou Xiangyu , Zhang Yu , Leng Suohu , Wang Zeyu , Gong Chenhu , Zuo Qingsong , Yang Guang
Published: October 2022

Having nursery rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) seedlings at a high density in a tray is an indispensable step to realizing mechanized transplanting for rapeseed. The reduction in seedling quality caused by high sowing density is one of the key factors affecting transplanting quality and yield. Uniconazole has been considered as a potential plant growth regulator to improve plant growth under diverse unfavorable circumstances. In two sowing densities (400 and 800 seeds per tray), an experiment was carried out between 2021 and 2022 to investigate the effects of uniconazole seed-coating treatments on pre-transplant and post-transplant seedling characteristics. The results demonstrate that uniconazole treatment can effectively reduce the high-density-induced reduction in seedling dry matter and leaf area, stem thinness, and stem and petiole overgrowth. Further evidence that uniconazole can improve seedling quality, enhance yield, and lessen yield loss due to high-density sowing was provided by yield at maturity. However, because of the uncontrolled growth during the late stage in the tray, the relative growth rate of seedlings after transplant in the transplant shock stage revealed that lower doses of uniconazole treatment have a negative effect on the seedling recovery. The results of principal coordinate analysis and partial correlation analysis proved that the yield and net assimilation rate were related to the improvement of seedling high-density tolerance by uniconazole treatment. Consequently, 500–750 mg L−1 uniconazole coating per 100 g of seeds in 5 mL is recommended by this study, considering the potential risk of seedling emergence and growth caused by an overdose of uniconazole treatment.
Impact of Mycorrhizal Fungi from Different Rhizospheric Soils on Fungal Colonization, Growth, and Chlorophyll Contents of Cenchrus ciliaris
Authors: Thind Sumaira , Chaudhary Muhammad Shafiq , Ditta Allah , Hussain Iqbal , Parveen Abida , Ullah Naseer , Mahmood Qaisar , Al-Ashkar Ibrahim , El-Sabagh Ayman
Published: October 2022

Mycorrhizae are symbiotic associations between fungi and plants and are primarily responsible for nutrient transfer and survival of both partners. The present study was conducted to explore the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizospheric soil of perennial grass species (Saccharum spontaneum, Saccharum bengalense, Setaria verticillata, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, and Typha angustata) around the district Layyah. In the subsequent experiment, the rhizospheric soils were used as inoculants, and their impact on mycorrhizal colonization in the plant and soil, and growth and physiological attributes, of Cenchrus ciliaris were investigated. The maximum hyphal, vesicles, arbuscules, dark septate endophytic and ectomycorrhizal colonization, and spore percentage were observed in the case of R-S5, i.e., rhizospheric soil, collected from Saccharum bengalense. However, the maximum (0.9310) Simpson’s index of diversity was observed in the case of R-S4, i.e., rhizospheric soil collected from Setaria verticillata. Different mycorrhizal fungal morphotypes scattered over three genera, i.e., Acaulospora, Glomus, and Scutellospora, were recorded both from rhizosphere and trap cultures. The application of spores from rhizospheric soil collected from S. bengalense (R-S5) caused the maximum increase in plant height (19.5%), number of leaves plant−1 (17.6%), leaf area (108.0%), and chlorophyll contents (29.4%) of Cenchrus ciliaris, compared to other treatments. In conclusion, the inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi significantly improves the mycorrhizal characteristics of Cenchrus ciliaris and its rhizospheric soil and ultimately enhances the growth and physiological parameters of Cenchrus ciliaris.
An Overview of the Potentialities of Antimicrobial Peptides Derived from Natural Sources
Authors: Dini Irene , De Biasi Margherita-Gabriella , Mancusi Andrea
Published: October 2022

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are constituents of the innate immune system in every kind of living organism. They can act by disrupting the microbial membrane or without affecting membrane stability. Interest in these small peptides stems from the fear of antibiotics and the emergence of microorganisms resistant to antibiotics. Through membrane or metabolic disruption, they defend an organism against invading bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi. High efficacy and specificity, low drug interaction and toxicity, thermostability, solubility in water, and biological diversity suggest their applications in food, medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry, and aquaculture. Nanocarriers can be used to protect, deliver, and improve their bioavailability effectiveness. High cost of production could limit their use. This review summarizes the natural sources, structures, modes of action, and applications of microbial peptides in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Any restrictions on AMPs’ large-scale production are also taken into consideration.
Staphylococcus lugdunensis Endophthalmitis: Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Chen Kuan-Jen , Sun Ming-Hui , Tsai Andrew S. H. , Sun Chi-Chin , Wu Wei-Chi , Lai Chi-Chun
Published: October 2022

Staphylococcus lugdunensis endophthalmitis is an uncommon intraocular infection with potentially visually devastating consequences. S. lugdunensis endophthalmitis have been reported following cataract surgery, trauma, intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents and dexamethasone implant. We report four cases of postoperative S. lugdunensis endophthalmitis after cataract extraction (three patients) and combined pars plana vitrectomy and cataract extraction (one patient). The onset of presentation of endophthalmitis was acute (within 2 weeks) in two patients, subacute (2 to 6 weeks) in one patient, and chronic (more than 6 weeks) in one patient. All patients had presenting visual acuity (VA) of hand motions or worse and were treated with pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotics. The final VA was 20/50 in two patients, 4/200 in one patient with pre-existing myopic maculopathy, and no light perception in one patient with retinal detachment. In antibiotic susceptibility testing, S. lugdunensis isolates were resistant to penicillin (3/4, 75%), but all were susceptible to vancomycin, oxacillin, teicoplanin, tigecycline, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. S. lugdunensis may be associated with acute or chronic endophthalmitis. Favorable visual outcomes can be achieved with prompt diagnosis and management.
An Area Recommendation Method Using Similarity Analysis for Play Patterns in MMORPG
Authors: Jo Yuyeon , Cui Shengmin , Joe Inwhee
Published: October 2022

Recently, game companies have been increasingly offering a variety of content in their games. The more this happens, the more players will need to consider what is best for them. Players who have played such a game may not find it difficult to play, but those who are not used to play may have a hard time finding content. Therefore, in this paper, we try to give a customized guide to players in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs). We compare the similarity of growth speeds and visited areas, and then utilize this information to recommend the most similar characters. In this work, the K-means algorithm is used for clustering based on location, the Euclidean distance is calculated to recommend similar characters with similar growth speeds. In addition, Jaccard Similarity is introduced to recommend similar characters with similar access areas. Finally, we propose a method to recommend suitable areas by applying the access speed to the recommended characters in the previous steps. Our method achieves Precision and Recall of 0.74 and 0.81, respectively, on the real-life PvE (Player VS Environment) dataset.
Practical Implementation of Recursive Subspace Identification on Seismically Excited Structures with Fixed Window
Authors: Huang Shieh-Kung , Chi Fu-Chung , Weng Yuan-Tao
Published: October 2022

As one of the most catastrophic natural disasters worldwide, earthquakes and their effect on structures are very important to structural health monitoring (SHM), particularly for the ones living around the Pacific ring of fire. In this regard, SHM techniques with real-time or online processing can be used to identify states of structures, track modal parameters, provide a warning message about damage, and help post-earthquake reconnaissance and rehabilitation. For instance, a recursive formulation based on subspace identification (SI) has been demonstrated that it is capable to track system changes. In this study, a recursive subspace identification (RSI) algorithm with a fixed window is proposed to investigate the time-varying dynamic characteristics under seismic excitations. Subsequently, some suggestion is described and discussed for practical implementation. For verifying the proposed algorithm, different datasets from full-scale experiments are applied to examine its applicability. In other words, the practicability of implementing RSI in real-time or online has been developed and examined in this paper.
Seismic Coherent Noise Removal of Source Array in the NSST Domain
Authors: Yu Minghao , Gong Xiangbo , Wan Xiaojie
Published: October 2022

The technique of the source array based on the vibroseis can provide the strong energy of a seismic wave field, which better meets the need for seismic exploration. The seismic coherent noise reduces the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the source array seismic data and affects the seismic data processing. The traditional coherent noise removal methods often cause some damage to the effective signal while suppressing coherent noise or cannot suppress the interference wave effectively at all. Based on the multi-scale and multi-direction properties of the non-subsampled Shearlet transform (NSST) and its simple mathematical structure, the seismic coherent noise removal method of source array in NSST domain is proposed. The method is applied to both the synthetic seismic data and the filed seismic data. After processing with this method, the coherent noise of the seismic data is greatly removed and the effective signal information is greatly protected. The analysis of the results demonstrates the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method on coherent noise attenuation.
Recent Advances in Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Technology
Authors: Rusu Bogdan-George
Published: October 2022

In recent years, plasma technology has presented an alternative in the processing and development of new materials [...]
Modeling and Experimental Study of the Dual Cylinder Fluid Inerter
Authors: Du Fu , Wang Chao , Nie Wei
Published: October 2022

The fluid inerter is a new mechanical element which has received great attention in the field of vibration reduction. However, due to the influence of secondary flow in the curved channel, the damping force is too large and the inertia force is relatively small, which limits the engineering applications of the single-cylinder fluid inerter. To eliminate the influence of secondary flow in the single-cylinder fluid inerter, this paper proposes a dual-cylinder fluid inerter that has a straight tube instead of the spiral pipe or spiral groove. We Analyze the working principle, derive conditions of free movement, establish the damping force and inertia force model, and prove the validity of the model through bench testing. Contrastingly, it is found that the maximum parasitic damping force is only 40.32% of the single-cylinder structure, but the inertia force increases to 180.96% of the single-cylinder structure. The proposed inerter greatly increases the proportion of inertia force, and provides a new scheme for engineering applications.
Spatial Variations in Microfiber Transport in a Transnational River Basin
Authors: Balla Alexia , Mohsen Ahmed , Gönczy Sándor , Kiss Tímea
Published: October 2022

Five countries share the catchment of the Tisza River (Central Europe). In most households electricity and water are available, and by washing synthetic clothes they can produce a large number of microfibers. However, in many sub-catchments of the river, the wastewater treatment is insufficient; therefore, microplastics (MP), especially plastic microfiber emissions into rivers, represent a problem. Our goal was to analyze the suspended sediment and microfiber transport at the low stage, making repeated (2021 and 2022) measurements in the Tisza River (946 km) at 26 sites across three countries. Water sampling was performed by pumping 1 m3 of water through sieves (90–200 µm). The mean MP transport in 2021 was 19 ± 13.6 items/m3, but it increased by 17% in 2022 (22.4 ± 14.8 items/m3). The most polluted sections were the Upper Tisza (Ukraine, Hungary) and the Lower Tisza (Serbia), where wastewater treatment is not satisfactory, whereas the Middle Tisza (Hungary) was less polluted. The tributaries increased the sediment and MP budget of the main river. Microfibers dominate (84–97%) the suspended MP transport, and thus it can be determined that they originated from wastewater. The MP transport was influenced by the availability of wastewater treatment plants, dams, tributaries, and mobilization of bottom sediments. At the low stage, no connection was found between the suspended sediment and MP particle transport.
Antimicrobial Activity of Cobalt (II)-Citrate against Common Foodborne Pathogens and Its Potential for Incorporation into Food Packaging Material
Authors: Rhoades Jonathan , Katsouda Vilelmini , Matsia Sevasti , Rogkotis Konstantinos , Taousani Stella , Kiriazidi Nonna , Salifoglou Athanasios , Likotrafiti Eleni
Published: October 2022

Novel antimicrobial compounds can be added to foods directly or incorporated into packaging materials in order to improve food safety and shelf life. One such potential antimicrobial compound is the bioinorganic complex Co(II)-citrate (NH4)4[Co(C6H5O7)2] (Co-cit). Its antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated in solution, both alone and in combination with existing preservatives. The antimicrobial activity of poly(lactic acid) films (PLA) with incorporated Co-cit (23.3% w/w) against L. monocytogenes was determined using culture medium and model foods (slices of turkey ham and smoked salmon). In nutrient broth, without preservatives, all four bacteria were significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited by 0.5 mM Co-cit, and L. monocytogenes and P. aeruginosa were the most sensitive. The addition of preservatives to the broth increased the antimicrobial activity of Co-cit in many cases, but not in a way that was consistent between the different bacteria investigated and was likely due to additional physiological stress exerted on the cells rather than any effect on the activity of the Co-cit itself. PLA films with Co-cit were bacteriostatic against L. monocytogenes on artificial media and on foods. However, in the latter case, the PLA film itself was the main contributor to the inhibition. Composite PLA-(Co-cit) films exhibited antimicrobial activity against foodborne bacteria and have potential application as active packaging materials to enhance food safety.
A Novel MEMS Capacitor with a Side Wall for High Tuning Ranges
Authors: Lee Kibum , Kim Jinho
Published: October 2022

These days, the market of wireless communications has developed dramatically. Thus, demand increased with respect to wireless communication terminals that consume less power. Consequently, integration technology for passive elements and circuit module development with respect to ‘Radio frequency systems’ using ‘Micro electro mechanical system’ is becoming a focused topic. Many researchers focused various perspectives in this field. The development of ultra-low operating voltage elements is required in voltage-tunable MEMS-type capacitors, but development for satisfying demands has not occurred. Among many studies, a capacitor with a high tuning range using carrier beams has been proposed by Barki-Kassem and others in 2006. In the proposed study, a high tuning range was generated using a carrier beam when the voltage was applied, passing through the pull-in point and exceeding the controllable range. However, these carrier beams are relatively inefficient because these are applied only in one location and not in several air gaps. Therefore, this study dealt with the optimization of a new MEMS capacitor concept, such as using a total of four beams and by applying a side wall instead of a single carrier beam compared to the previous study. Therefore, in this study, further steps were applied to existing research findings to optimize a new concept MEMS capacitor by applying the side wall instead of a carrier beam. The side wall is the same as the one used in the four-beam example.
Preliminary Study on the Influence of the Polyphenols of Different Groups on the Digestibility of Wheat Starch, Measured by the Content of Resistant Starch
Authors: Kwaśny Dominika , Borczak Barbara , Sikora Marek , Kapusta-Duch Joanna
Published: October 2022

The scientific goals of this research were to examine the impact of various polyphenols from different groups on resistant starch development. Wheat starch was tested, and the polyphenols were added to starch after its pasting in the amount suggested in the literature as optimal—10 mg, and at twice and half the optimal, i.e., 20 mg and 5 mg. The most frequently consumed and most frequently occurring compounds in food products were selected for the proposed research: (1) phenolic acids—p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid; (2) flavanones—hesperidin, naringenin; (3) flavanols—(+)catechin, epigallocatechin gallate; (4) flavonols—quercetin, kaempferol; (5) anthocyanins—cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside. As a result, either the dose or the kind of polyphenolic compound had a statistically significant influence on the wheat starch digestibility (p < 0.05). However the observed impact was dose-dependent, and interestingly, higher amounts of RS were found in the case of the lowest dose applied (5 mg—4.76% of starch gel; mean = 2.94 ± 1.23 g·100 g−1 dm) as compared to the other doses: 10 mg—9.09% of starch gel (mean = 1.58 g·100 g−1 dm) and 20 mg—16.66% of starch gel (mean = 1.51 ± 0.90 g·100 g−1 dm). Among all tested polyphenols added to wheat starch gels in an amount of 10 mg and 20 mg, epigallocatechin gallate was found to be the most effective compound (p < 0.05), while (+)catechin was most efficient in the dose of 5 mg (p < 0.05).
Physical Interpretation of Nanofluid (Copper Oxide and Silver) with Slip and Mixed Convection Effects: Applications of Fractional Derivatives
Authors: Bafakeeh Omar T. , Raza Ali , Khan Sami Ullah , Khan Muhammad Ijaz , Nasr Abdelaziz , Khedher Nidhal Ben , Tag-Eldin El Sayed Mohamed
Published: October 2022

A fractional model was developed for presenting the thermal assessment of nanoparticles in an inclined moving surface. Water was used as a base fluid, while the nanofluid utilized copper oxide and silver nanoparticles. The modification of the thermal model was further supported by mixed convection, magnetic force, and porous saturated space. Slip effects to the porous surface were also introduced. The fluctuation in temperature at different times was assumed by following the ramped thermal constraints. The fractional computations for the set of flow problems were performed with implementations of the Atangana–Baleanu (AB) and Caputo–Fabrizio (CF) analytical techniques. The integration process for such computations was achieved using the Laplace transformation. The comparative velocity and thermal analysis for the water and kerosene-oil-based nanofluid model is presented. The declining change in the velocity was observed due to the increase in the volume fraction of nanoparticles. It was observed that the increment in the temperature profile was more progressive for the kerosene oil and silver nanoparticle suspension.
The Study of Machine Learning Assisted the Design of Selected Composites Properties
Authors: Hrehova Stella , Knapcikova Lucia
Published: October 2022

One of the basic points of Industry 5.0 is to make the industry sustainable. There is a need to develop circular processes that reuse, repurpose, and recycle natural resources, and thus, reduce waste. This part can also include composite materials, which were used for some time in many areas. An essential feature of their applicability is the properties of these materials. The ratio of the individual components determines the properties of composite materials, and artificial intelligence machine learning (ML) techniques are already used to determine the optimal ratio. ML can be briefly described as computer science that uses existing data to predict future data. This approach is made possible by the current possibilities of collecting and analysing a large amount of data. It improves the chance of finding more variable influences (predictors) in the processes. These factors can be quantified more objectively; their mutual interactions can be identified, and, thanks to longer-term sampling, their future development behavior can be predictively modelled. The present article deals with the possibility of applying machine learning in predicting the absorption properties of composite material, which consists of a thermoplastic and matrix recycled polyvinyl butyral (PVB), obtained after recycling car glass windshields.
Determination of Aerodynamic Drag Coefficients of Longitudinal Finned Tubes of LNG Ambient Air Vaporizers Using CFD and Experimental Methods
Authors: Lisowski Filip , Lisowski Edward
Published: October 2022

This paper presents the results of numerical and experimental studies of wind action on longitudinal finned tubes of LNG ambient air vaporizers. The main objective of the study was to determine the aerodynamic drag coefficients for longitudinal finned tubes with different number of fins considering various directions of wind action. Numerical calculations were performed using CFD analysis, while experimental tests were carried out in a wind tunnel test stand. The obtained results indicate the variation of tube loads depending on the number of fins and the direction of wind action and can be used in the design of ambient air vaporizers.
Enhancing the LCO 18,650 Battery Charging/Discharging Using Temperature and Electrical Based Model
Authors: Al-Refai Abdullah , Alkhateeb Abedalrhman , Dalala Zakariya M.
Published: October 2022

Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in electric vehicles, embedded systems, and portable devices, including laptops and mobile phones. Electrochemical models are widely used in battery diagnostics and charging/discharging control, considering their high extractability and physical interpretability. Many artificial intelligence charging algorithms also use electrochemical models for to enhance operation efficiency and maintain a higher state of health. However, the parameter identification of electrochemical models is challenging due to the complicated model structure and the high count of physical parameters to be considered. In this manuscript, a comprehensive electrochemical lithium-ion battery model is proposed for the charging and discharging processes. The proposed model accounts for all dynamic characteristics of the battery, including the cell open-circuit voltage, cell voltage, internal battery impedance, charging/discharging current, and temperature. The key novelty of the proposed model is the use of simulated open-circuit voltage and simulated changes in entropy data instead of experimental data to provide battery voltage and temperature profiles during charging and discharging cycles in the development of the final model. An available experimental dataset at NASA for an LCO 18,650 battery was utilized to test the proposed model. The mean absolute error for the simulated charging cell voltage and temperature values were 0.05 V and 0.3 °C, compared with 0.14 V and 0.65 °C for the discharging profile. The simulation results proved the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed model, while simplicity was the key factor in developing the final model, as shown in the subsequent sections of the manuscript.
The Defensive Interactions of Prominent Infectious Protozoan Parasites: The Host’s Complement System
Authors: Rashidi Sajad , Mansouri Reza , Ali-Hassanzadeh Mohammad , Muro Antonio , Nguewa Paul , Manzano-Román Raúl
Published: October 2022

The complement system exerts crucial functions both in innate immune responses and adaptive humoral immunity. This pivotal system plays a major role dealing with pathogen invasions including protozoan parasites. Different pathogens including parasites have developed sophisticated strategies to defend themselves against complement killing. Some of these strategies include the employment, mimicking or inhibition of host’s complement regulatory proteins, leading to complement evasion. Therefore, parasites are proven to use the manipulation of the complement system to assist them during infection and persistence. Herein, we attempt to study the interaction´s mechanisms of some prominent infectious protozoan parasites including Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Trypanosoma, and Leishmania dealing with the complement system. Moreover, several crucial proteins that are expressed, recruited or hijacked by parasites and are involved in the modulation of the host´s complement system are selected and their role for efficient complement killing or lysis evasion is discussed. In addition, parasite’s complement regulatory proteins appear as plausible therapeutic and vaccine targets in protozoan parasitic infections. Accordingly, we also suggest some perspectives and insights useful in guiding future investigations.
Focusing on the Role of Natural Products in Overcoming Cancer Drug Resistance: An Autophagy-Based Perspective
Authors: Yao Jiaqi , Ma Chi , Feng Kaixuan , Tan Guang , Wen Qingping
Published: October 2022

Autophagy is a critical cellular adaptive response in tumor formation. Nutritional deficiency and hypoxia exacerbate autophagic flux in established malignancies, promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, and resistance to therapeutic interventions. Pro-survival autophagy inhibition may be a promising treatment option for advanced cancer. Furthermore, excessive or persistent autophagy is cytotoxic, resulting in tumor cell death. Targeted autophagy activation has also shown significant promise in the fight against tumor drug resistance. Several research groups have examined the ability of natural products (NPs) such as alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenols, and anthraquinones to serve as autophagy inhibitors or activators. The data support the capacity of NPs that promote lethal autophagy or inhibit pro-survival autophagy from being employed against tumor drug resistance. This paper discusses the potential applications of NPs that regulate autophagy in the fight against tumor drug resistance, some limitations of the current studies, and future research needs and priorities.
Changes to Urinary Proteome in High-Fat-Diet ApoE−/− Mice
Authors: Hua Yuanrui , Meng Wenshu , Wei Jing , Liu Yongtao , Gao Youhe
Published: October 2022

Cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis is an important pathological basis of cardiovascular disease, and its early diagnosis is of great significance. Urine bears no need nor mechanism to be stable, so it accumulates many small changes and is therefore a good source of biomarkers in the early stages of disease. In this study, ApoE-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet for 5 months. Urine samples from the experimental group and control group (C57BL/6 mice fed a normal diet) were collected at seven time points. Proteomic analysis was used for comparison within the experimental group and for comparison between the experimental group and the control group. The results of the comparison within the experimental group showed a significant difference in the urinary proteome before and after a one-week high-fat diet, and several of the differential proteins have been reported to be associated with atherosclerosis and/or as biomarker candidates. The results of the comparison between the experimental group and the control group indicated that the biological processes enriched by the GO analysis of the differential proteins correspond to the progression of atherosclerosis. The differences in chemical modifications of urinary proteins have also been reported to be associated with the disease. This study demonstrates that urinary proteomics has the potential to sensitively monitor changes in the body and provides the possibility of identifying early biomarkers of atherosclerosis.