bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Root Exudates of Fifteen Common Weed Species: Phytochemical Screening and Allelopathic Effects on T. aestivum L.
Authors: Akter Pervin , Ahmed A. M. Abu , Promie Fahmida Khanam , Haque Md. Enamul
Published: January 2023

Through allelopathic interactions, plants may either suppress competing species or promote those that may help them better adapt to their environment. The purpose of this research was to determine how the root exudates of 15 common weeds affected the germination of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Every other day, 15 seeds were dispersed over Petri dishes (with filter paper) and pots (with garden soil) and treated with 1 mL and 5 mL of aqueous root exudates, respectively. Distilled water had the highest germination rate at 86.33% and the lowest at 64.00% (p = 0.001) for Commelina benghalensis in the Petri dish containing root exudates. The seed germination percentage of the pot condition was the lowest, at 68.45% (p = 0.004), for Solanum nigrum, while the control was 87.23%. Similarly, the lowest shoot length, 12.01 cm (p = 0.0025) in Mikania micrantha, and the lowest root length of 2.17 cm (p = 0.0048) in Leucas aspera, were recorded, whereas the control was 19.13 cm and 3.46 cm, respectively, in Petri dishes. In addition, the lowest shoot and root growth were 9.72 cm (p = 0.0004) in Mikania micrantha and 4.34 cm (p = 0.0019) in Spilanthes acmella, while the control was at 20.13 cm and 6.42 cm, respectively, for pot culture. Furthermore, in seedlings, biomass studies of treated T. aestivum showed elevated malonaldehyde (MDA) levels in both Petri dishes and pot cultures. However, chlorophyll a and b levels, as well as those of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), are lower than in the control group. Both enzymes were elevated in pot cultures compared to those grown in Petri plates. The dry weight of T. aestivum seedlings cultivated in pots and Petri dishes demonstrated its considerable allelopathic influence. This research found that the root exudates of all the weeds studied could have the capacity to impede wheat seed germination as well as the development of wheat seedlings. These inhibitory effects were higher in Petri dishes than in pot cultures.
Soybean GmVIT1 Gene Confers Plant Tolerance to Excess Fe/Mn Stress
Authors: Li Tong , Zhang Xue-Meng , Gao Jia-Lu , Wang Ling , Si Liang , Shu Yong-Jun , Guo Chang-Hong , Lai Yong-Cai , Bi Ying-Dong , Guo Dong-Lin
Published: January 2023

Iron (Fe) and (Mn) are essential for the plant but are toxic when in excess. Vacuolar iron transporters (VITs) are involved in plant metal storage and detoxication. In this study, we screened two soybean cultivars (HN51 and SN37) with different responses to iron stress. From HN51 and SN37, we identified a new gene GmVIT1, for which expression is closely related to iron stress response by transcriptomic and quantitative analysis. We obtained GmVIT1 and GmVIT1 promoter from the iron deficiency-tolerant soybean variety Heinong51. Sequence analysis showed that GmVIT1 contained a conserved 170-residue VIT domain and localized at the tonoplast. Moreover, GmVIT1 is expressed in soybean leaves, stems, and roots. The expression of GmVIT1 was significantly induced by excessive Fe/Mn in leaves and stems. GUS assay showed that excess Fe/Mn enhanced GmVIT1 promoter activity. Furthermore, overexpression of GmVIT1 in Arabidopsis seedlings showed reduced phytotoxic effects induced by excess Fe/Mn stress, including yellowing in leaves, decreased chlorophyll content, and accumulated MDA. GmVIT1 overexpression in Arabidopsis showed relatively higher soluble sugar content and SOD, POD, and CAT activity. In addition, the ferric reductase activity in GmVIT1 overexpression in Arabidopsis decreased under excess Fe, while it increased under excess Mn. By integrating all these results, we found that GmVIT1 plays a vital role in plant response to excess Fe/Mn. The results showed that GmVIT1 was worthy of metal homeostasis mechanism research in plants and could be applied in the metal toxic-tolerance improvement in crops.
Evaluation of the Carry-Over Effect of the “Crop-Forcing” Technique and Water Deficit in Grapevine ‘Tempranillo’
Authors: Lavado Nieves , Uriarte David , Mancha Luis Alberto , Moreno Daniel , Valdés M. Esperanza , Prieto M. Henar
Published: January 2023

“Crop-forcing” is an effective technique to delay grape maturation to a period of lower temperatures, and in this way, improve grape quality. Because of the aggressiveness of this technique (removal of leaves and fruit to reinitiate a second vegetative cycle), it may affect the level of reserves and could provoke progressive vine exhaustion. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the short- and medium-term evolution of carbohydrate reserves in different plant organs and the effect of “crop-forcing” under different irrigation regimes on seasonal biomass production and its distribution. The study was carried out over a four years period (2017–2020), applying “crop-forcing” in three consecutive years (2017–2019) to the same vines on two different dates and using two irrigation strategies. The application of “crop-forcing” did not decrease root reserve levels in either the year of application or the following year, but did modify starch and soluble sugar levels in shoots and leaves in some moments of the vegetative cycle during the years of “crop-forcing” application. Total biomass production in terms of grams per vine was lower in the “crop-forcing” treatments and continued to be so when “crop-forcing” was no longer applied. The percentage of biomass in vegetative organs increased at the expense of productive organs.
Is It Possible to Predict the Timing of Mid−Season Drainage by Assessing Rice Canopy Light Interception?
Authors: Ma Hengyu , Feng Xiangqian , Yin Min , Wang Mengjia , Chu Guang , Liu Yuanhui , Xu Chunmei , Zhang Xiufu , Li Ziqiu , Chen Pince , Wang Danying , Chen Song
Published: January 2023

Mid−season drainage (MSD) is a widely used water management practice in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation. However, the timing of the initiation and termination of MSD is highly arbitrary and subjective, and a quantitative indicator is lacking in precision agronomic practice. In this study, datasets (91 cases) from previous field experiments were obtained and used to fit adjusted exponential growth models, incorporating rice canopy light interception (CLI) and tillering development dynamics. Different criteria for initiating and terminating MSD were developed based on CLI indicators. The results showed that the CLI indicator at 80% of the projected panicle could be used to predict the initiation of MSD; however, it was highly variable, depending on the growing season and rice cultivated variety. The values for Indica rice were 0.26 to 0.31 and 0.31 to 0.42 in the late and single seasons, respectively, while the values for Japonica rice were 0.15 to 0.29 and 0.23 to 0.33, respectively. In addition, the CLI values at 7 to 10 days prior to panicle initiation (PI) ranged from 0.77 to 0.87 and from 0.56 to 0.83 for the Indica and Japonica varieties, respectively, and were calculated to determine MSD termination. The CLI indicators for MSD were greatly dependent on the cultivated variety, growing season, and planting method. The results of the correlation study and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the differences in CLI values attributed to rice type and growing season were driven by the tillering and canopy characteristic traits, respectively. Therefore, the current parameters could provide a reference for subsequent field applications in specific areas, but further optimization is needed to increase their robustness. To evaluate the usefulness of the CLI indicator for determining MSD initiation and termination, a set of devices for monitoring canopy light interception and water level was developed, and an on-farm trial was carried out in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China in 2022. The field application demonstrated that MSD could be scheduled automatically based on the current system, and that the effect was consistent in practice.
Price Quality Cues in Organic Wine Market: Is There a Veblen Effect?
Authors: Simeone Mariarosaria , Russo Carlo , Scarpato Debora
Published: January 2023

Italian wine consumers show a progressive shift in favor of organic wine. Sustainability is an important driver for the emerging consumers who tend to adopt eco-friendly behaviors, avoiding food waste and respecting the environment. In this scenario, it is of interest to understand the profile of organic wine consumer, the cues that are used in the process and their impact on purchasing choice. The results from a regression on data from a sample survey showed that price is an important factor driving perceptions of organic wine quality. We found an asymmetry in the impact of price as a quality cue: while high prices may be in fact able to elicit a positive perception, low prices do not lead to non-positive perception necessarily. In addition, consumers who value sustainable consumption, have a vegan lifestyle, purchase their wine directly from wineries are more likely to have a positive perception of organic wine. Similarly, elder, educated consumers could have a higher probability to exhibit a positive perception of organic wine. This research shows that the Veblen effect can also exists for food markets in particular with the product with the greatest evocative charge, such as in the wine market.
The Improvement in Head Milled Rice Yield in Middle-Season Hybrid Rice: Evidence from a Case Study of Two Cultivars Released 18 Years Apart
Authors: Cao Jialin , Zhang Ruichun , Chen Jiana , Cao Fangbo , Liu Longsheng , Fang Shengliang , Zhang Ming , Huang Min
Published: January 2023

Head milled rice is the main form of rice for sale and consumption. However, previous studies on the yield change due to the development of new cultivars in rice generally focus on grain yield but few on head milled rice yield. In this study, field experiments were conducted in two years (2019 and 2020) to compare head milled rice yield and associated traits (grain yield, milled recovery traits, and shape and chalkiness traits of rice grains) between two middle-season hybrid rice cultivars released 18 years apart, i.e., Jingliangyou 1468 (JLY1468), a recently-released cultivar with high eating quality, and Liangyoupeijiu (LYPJ), an old cultivar with high grain yield. JLY1468 had higher head milled rice yield than LYPJ by 30% in 2019 and by 33% in 2020. The higher head milled rice yield in JLY1468 than in LYPJ was attributable to improvements in both grain yield, and head milled rice rate (HMRR). The improvement in HMRR in JLY1468 compared to LYPJ was mainly attributable to a reduction in chalkiness degree, which was associated with a decrease in rice grain size. The results of this study provide evidence for the improvement in head milled rice yield in middle-season hybrid rice with the development of new cultivars in recent years.
Augmented Behavioral Annotation Tools, with Application to Multimodal Datasets and Models: A Systematic Review
Authors: Watson Eleanor , Viana Thiago , Zhang Shujun
Published: January 2023

Annotation tools are an essential component in the creation of datasets for machine learning purposes. Annotation tools have evolved greatly since the turn of the century, and now commonly include collaborative features to divide labor efficiently, as well as automation employed to amplify human efforts. Recent developments in machine learning models, such as Transformers, allow for training upon very large and sophisticated multimodal datasets and enable generalization across domains of knowledge. These models also herald an increasing emphasis on prompt engineering to provide qualitative fine-tuning upon the model itself, adding a novel emerging layer of direct machine learning annotation. These capabilities enable machine intelligence to recognize, predict, and emulate human behavior with much greater accuracy and nuance, a noted shortfall of which have contributed to algorithmic injustice in previous techniques. However, the scale and complexity of training data required for multimodal models presents engineering challenges. Best practices for conducting annotation for large multimodal models in the most safe and ethical, yet efficient, manner have not been established. This paper presents a systematic literature review of crowd and machine learning augmented behavioral annotation methods to distill practices that may have value in multimodal implementations, cross-correlated across disciplines. Research questions were defined to provide an overview of the evolution of augmented behavioral annotation tools in the past, in relation to the present state of the art. (Contains five figures and four tables).
An Ethogram of the Reproductive Behaviour of the American Mink (Neovison vison) in Farmed Conditions
Authors: Seremak Beata , Wojciechowska Aleksandra , Pilarczyk Bogumiła , Tomza-Marciniak Agnieszka
Published: January 2023

Ethograms can serve as benchmarks against which abnormal animal behaviour can be identified, and then normal behaviour can be restored by appropriately modifying the environment in which an individual resides. The aim of the present study was to create an ethogram of the reproductive behaviour of American mink kept in farmed conditions. The research material consisted of 12 one-year-old male American mink, pearl coloured, selected randomly from among the varieties of coloured mink on the farm, and 60 two-year-old females. The animals participating in the study were grouped into two breeding sets, each consisting of 30 females and 6 males. Reproductive rituals included chasing the female, grasping her neck with the teeth, marking the local area, mounting the partner, and sniffing the neck, anal and genital areas. The copulation times recorded in this study varied greatly, ranging from several minutes to over two hours. The obtained results indicate that the American mink can express some natural reproductive behaviour in breeding conditions, which may also be an indicator of the welfare of these animals.
The Characterization and Differential Analysis of m6A Methylation in Hycole Rabbit Muscle and Adipose Tissue and Prediction of Regulatory Mechanism about Intramuscular Fat
Authors: Luo Gang , Ai Yaotian , Yu Lin , Wang Shuhui , Ren Zhanjun
Published: January 2023

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) widely participates in various life processes of animals, including disease, memory, growth and development, etc. However, there is no report on m6A regulating intramuscular fat deposition in rabbits. In this study, m6A modification of Hycole rabbit muscle and adipose tissues were detected by MeRIP-Seq. In this case, 3 methylases and 12 genes modified by m6A were found to be significantly different between muscle and adipose tissues. At the same time, we found 3 methylases can regulate the expression of 12 genes in different ways and the function of 12 genes is related to fat deposition base on existing studies. 12 genes were modified by m6A methylase in rabbit muscle and adipose tissues. These results suggest that 3 methylases may regulate the expression of 12 genes through different pathways. In addition, the analysis of results showed that 6 of the 12 genes regulated eight signaling pathways, which regulated intramuscular fat deposition. RT-qPCR was used to validate the sequencing results and found the expression results of RT-qPCR and sequencing results are consistent. In summary, METTL4, ZC3H13 and IGF2BP2 regulated intramuscular fat by m6A modified gene/signaling pathways. Our work provided a new molecular basis and a new way to produce rabbit meat with good taste.
Home Range of the Caspian Whipsnake Dolichophis caspius (Gmelin, 1789) in a Threatened Peri-Urban Population
Authors: Teffo Thabang Rainett , Katona Krisztián , Babocsay Gergely , Sós Endre , Halpern Bálint
Published: January 2023

Semi-natural environments within cities can provide habitats for vulnerable reptile species. Better understanding of their habitat use and home range sizes is important for their conservation. We investigated the spatial ecology of Caspian whipsnakes (Dolicophis caspius) in a peri-urban habitat in Budapest, Hungary. We used radiotelemetry to track five adult snakes and analyzed their microhabitat preferences, home range sizes and daily movements. The Caspian whipsnakes intensively utilized areas covered with woody vegetation, with a high density of hibernacula. The tracked snakes used an area of 40.15 ha during the activity period from spring to autumn, but for the winter, they withdrew to a central area of 1.75 ha, abundant in hibernacula. During the activity period the individual home range sizes varied between 6.1 and 15.5 ha, estimated using the minimum convex polygon (MCP); however, for the entire datasets of the individuals, the adaptive kernel method gave the highest mean (13.8 ha), while the LoCoH-R yielded the smallest home ranges (5.19 ha). We found that the average daily displacement for the different individuals ranged between 12.6 and 36.6 m during their main activity season. In the study area, the whipsnakes currently have enough space for foraging, but the restricted spatial distribution of hibernacula, which is mainly available in the central dry rocky forest and partly in the shrubby areas, can limit the extent of the suitable habitat. Human activities and anthropogenic disturbances, especially around hibernacula, may exert pressure on this peri-urban snake population.
Pharmacological Treatment of Perianal Gland Tumors in Male Dogs
Authors: Brodzki Adam , Łopuszyński Wojciech , Brodzki Piotr , Głodkowska Katarzyna , Knap Bartosz , Gawin Paulina
Published: January 2023

The presence of androgen (AR) and estrogen (ER) receptors has been demonstrated both in normal perianal (hepatoid) glands and in perianal tumors. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between the expression of AR and ER in perianal gland tumors and the effectiveness of antihormonal treatment. The study was performed on 41 male dogs with neoplastic lesions of the anal region. Histopathological evaluation of the lesions revealed 24 adenomas, 12 epitheliomas, and five carcinomas. Treatment was administered orally with tamoxifen at a dose of 1 mg/kg BW and cyproterone acetate at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Tumor diameters were measured regularly with calipers and recorded in millimeters starting with the measurement before treatment, and then after 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of therapy. The results show that hepatoid adenomas that are characterized by high expression of AR and ER receptors respond positively to antihormonal therapy, resulting in complete tumor regression. For locally malignant hepatoid epitheliomas and carcinomas with low expression of AR and ER receptors, antihormonal therapy makes it possible to reduce the size of the tumor, but does not make it possible to cure it completely.
Genome Evolution and the Future of Phylogenomics of Non-Avian Reptiles
Authors: Card Daren C. , Jennings W. Bryan , Edwards Scott V.
Published: January 2023

Non-avian reptiles comprise a large proportion of amniote vertebrate diversity, with squamate reptiles—lizards and snakes—recently overtaking birds as the most species-rich tetrapod radiation. Despite displaying an extraordinary diversity of phenotypic and genomic traits, genomic resources in non-avian reptiles have accumulated more slowly than they have in mammals and birds, the remaining amniotes. Here we review the remarkable natural history of non-avian reptiles, with a focus on the physical traits, genomic characteristics, and sequence compositional patterns that comprise key axes of variation across amniotes. We argue that the high evolutionary diversity of non-avian reptiles can fuel a new generation of whole-genome phylogenomic analyses. A survey of phylogenetic investigations in non-avian reptiles shows that sequence capture-based approaches are the most commonly used, with studies of markers known as ultraconserved elements (UCEs) especially well represented. However, many other types of markers exist and are increasingly being mined from genome assemblies in silico, including some with greater information potential than UCEs for certain investigations. We discuss the importance of high-quality genomic resources and methods for bioinformatically extracting a range of marker sets from genome assemblies. Finally, we encourage herpetologists working in genomics, genetics, evolutionary biology, and other fields to work collectively towards building genomic resources for non-avian reptiles, especially squamates, that rival those already in place for mammals and birds. Overall, the development of this cross-amniote phylogenomic tree of life will contribute to illuminate interesting dimensions of biodiversity across non-avian reptiles and broader amniotes.
Feeding Management and Albendazole Pharmacokinetics in Pigs
Authors: Ignacio Alvarez Luis , Valentina Chiappetta , Lucila Moriones , Paula Dominguez , Candela Cantón , Carlos Lanusse , Laura Ceballos
Published: January 2023

Albendazole (ABZ) is a methylcarbamate benzimidazole anthelmintic used to control gastrointestinal parasites in several animal species and humans. The type of diet has been identified as a major determinant for ABZ pharmacokinetics in different animal species and humans. The work described here assesses the pattern of the absorption and the systemic availability of ABZ and its metabolites after its oral administration to pigs under different feed management plans. Eighteen pigs (5 months old, local ecotype breeds) were distributed into three experimental groups. In the fasting group, the animals fasted for 8 h prior to treatment. In the pellet + oil and pellet groups, the animals were fed ad libitum with a commercial pelleted-based diet with or without the addition of soya oil. An ABZ suspension was orally administered at 10 mg/kg. Blood samples were taken over the 48 h post-treatment. The plasma samples were analyzed by HPLC. Under the described experimental conditions, the ingestion of the pellet-based diet with or without the soya oil before ABZ treatment did not significantly (p < 0.05) modify the plasma disposition kinetics of the ABZ sulfoxide (ABZSO, the main ABZ metabolite) compared to that observed in the fasting pigs. Both ABZ metabolites (ABZSO and ABZ sulphone) reached similar peak concentrations and systemic exposures in all the experimental groups regardless of the feeding management. However, the addition of oil to the pelleted food enhanced the pattern of ABZ absorption, which was reflected in the higher (p < 0.05) concentration profiles of the active ABZSO metabolite measured between 12 and 48 h post-treatment compared to the pigs fed with the pelleted food alone. Although this effect may not be therapeutically relevant after ABZ administration as a single oral dose, the overall impact of the type and feeding conditions when ABZ is supplemented with food for several days should be cautiously evaluated.
Effects of Iron Supplementation on Metabolism in Calves Receiving Whole Milk
Authors: Budny-Walczak Anna , Śpitalniak-Bajerska Kinga , Szołtysik Marek , Pogoda-Sewerniak Krystyna , Kupczyński Robert
Published: January 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding a protein–iron complex (PIC) to calves. Specifically, the aim was to understand how it influences productive performance and indicators of iron metabolism, hematology and biochemical and parameters during feeding with whole milk before weaning. The study was carried out on 20 Polish Holstein Friesian calves. The calves were then divided into a control group (CON), fed with full milk (n = 10), and an experimental group (MFe), who received a PIC additive in milk at 16 g/day (n = 10). In order to determine the production parameters, the calves were weighed at the beginning (i.e., on the 7th day of life) and at the end of the experiment (42nd day of life) using an electronic platform scale. Production parameters such as average weight gain (AWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and growth rate (GR) were assessed. Blood was collected from an external jugular vein (vena jugularis externa) on the 7th, 14th, 28th, and 42nd days of life. The mean daily gains in body weight (ADG), growth rate (GR), and the feed conversion ratio were highest in the experimental group, MFe. Therefore, it can be concluded that the addition of a protein–iron complex entailed a significant impact on the iron metabolism indicators in the MFe experimental group.
Repellency and Toxicity of Eight Plant Extracts against the Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis
Authors: Ren Liyun , Chong Juang Horng
Published: January 2023

We investigated the repellency and toxicity of eight plant extracts containing celangulin, cnidium lactone, matrine, nicotine, pyrethrins, rotenone, stemonine and veratrine against the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande; Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Flowers treated with 0.05% nicotine, pyrethrins, stemonine and rotenone harbored fewer western flower thrips in two- and multiple-choice repellency bioassays. When evaluated at concentrations varying from 0.005% to 0.1% in two-choice repellency bioassays, pyrethrins and rotenone were most repellent at 0.01% to 0.1%, and nicotine was most repellent at 0.025%. Mortality was 76% with 0.1% nicotine at 48 h, 78% with 0.5% stemonine at 72 h, and 100% with 0.1% pyrethrins and 0.5% rotenone at 48 h after contact with fresh (<1-d-old) residue. Effective residue age was 1 d for nicotine, pyrethrins and rotenone, and 5 d for stemonine in aged residual toxicity bioassays. Celangulin, cnidium lactone, matrine and veratrine did not provide sufficient repellency and toxicity. Stemonine had inconsistent results. Therefore, additional evaluation of its potential as a botanical insecticide will be needed. When sprayed onto whole plants, plant extracts containing nicotine, pyrethrins, rotenone and stemonine caused unacceptable damage to flowers, suggesting that the final formulation will need to be modified to improve crop safety.
Comparison of Match Load and Wellness between Friendly and World Cup Matches in Elite Female Soccer Players
Authors: Villaseca-Vicuña Rodrigo , Perez-Contreras Jorge , Zabaloy Santiago , Merino-Muñoz Pablo , Valenzuela Luis , Burboa Jair , Gonzalez-Jurado Jose Antonio
Published: January 2023

(1) Objetive: Compare the internal load (ILO), external load (ELO) and wellness (WS) between official preparation friendly matches (FM) and France 2019 women world cup (WWC) matches in female soccer players. (2) Methods: Ten field players of the Chilean national football team (age 27 ± 3.4 years, height 162.8 ± 4.32 cm, weight 60.5 ± 4.6 kg, fat percentage 24.7 ± 1.62% and muscle percentage 49.2 ± 1.63%) participated in the study. Participants were compared across three FM before the world cup and three matches of the group stages in the WWC in June 2019. Both, ELO and ILO were recorded using GPS (Catapult Sports®, 10 Hz) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE), respectively. In addition, wellness was analyzed via personal questionnaire at 24 and 48 h after match. The intra subject difference was analyzed with a Student’s t-test for related samples. (3) Results: Moderate differences were observed between WWC and FM for total and relative total distance covered [TD and TDr, respectively] (p = 0.025, ES = −0.74 and p = 0.017, ES = −0.6). In addition, a non-significant (p = 0.088; ES = −0.43) larger high-intensity distance (HSR) was also found for WWC. Likewise, greater RPE was observed in WWC (p = 0.001; ES = −1.50) when compared to FM. Finally, significantly better wellness scores were shown for FM at stress ST24h, fatigue FT48h, and muscle pain MS48h (p = 0.038; ES = 0.72, p = 0.066; ES = 0.71; and p = 0.63; ES = 0.77) when compared to WWC matches. (4) Conclusion: It was concluded that ELO and ILO were greater at WWC soccer matches, whereas WS scores were better for FM. Moreover, ILO measures (i.e., TD, HSR and TDr) were greater in WWC, which could be at least in part, be the reason behind the differences in the values reported in the wellness questionnaires at 24 and 48 h after the match.
Stability Analysis of Filled-Slope Reinforced by Frame with Prestressed Anchor-Plates under Static Action
Authors: Zhang Jun , Li Weili , Ye Shuaihua
Published: January 2023

Because of the current situation where the stability research of filled-slope reinforced by a frame with prestressed anchor-plates lags behind the actual engineering application, based on the ultimate balance theory, the calculation formulas of stability factor under the four arc slip surface of filled-slopes reinforced by a frame with prestressed anchor-plates are derived by using the improved Bishop method; the corresponding search method of the most dangerous slip surface is given and the calculation formulas of the pullout force of anchor-plates are improved. Based on two examples, the stability results calculated by the proposed algorithm are compared with those calculated by PLAXIS 3D and GeoStudio 2012 finite element software, and the following conclusions are drawn. (1) The improved pullout force of anchor-plates takes into account the friction of the front and rear surface of the anchor-plate and the effect of cohesion of fill soil in the passive earth pressure on the front end of the anchor-plate, which makes the force of the anchor-plate more complete. (2) The stability factor of example 1 calculated by this method differs from the results simulated by PLAXIS 3D and GeoStudio 2012 by 4.6% and 7.1%, respectively; the stability factor of example 2 calculated by this method differs from the results simulated by PLAXIS3D and GeoStudio 2012 by 3.2% and 4.5%, respectively, which can meet the engineering requirements. (3) The stability analysis method of filled-slope reinforced by a frame with prestressed anchor-plates that is proposed is reasonable and suitable for any arc slip surface in the filled-slope reinforced by a frame with prestressed anchor-plates, and it provides some guiding values for the design of practical engineering.
Single Image Reflection Removal Based on Residual Attention Mechanism
Authors: Guo Yubin , Lu Wanzhou , Li Ximing , Huang Qiong
Published: January 2023

Affected by shooting angle and light intensity, shooting through transparent media may cause light reflections in an image and influence picture quality, which has a negative effect on the research of computer vision tasks. In this paper, we propose a Residual Attention Based Reflection Removal Network (RABRRN) to tackle the issue of single image reflection removal. We hold that reflection removal is essentially an image separation problem sensitive to both spatial and channel features. Therefore, we integrate spatial attention and channel attention into the model to enhance spatial and channel feature representation. For a more feasible solution to solve the problem of gradient disappearance in the iterative training of deep neural networks, the attention module is combined with a residual network to design a residual attention module so that the performance of reflection removal can be ameliorated. In addition, we establish a reflection image dataset named the SCAU Reflection Image Dataset (SCAU-RID), providing sufficient real training data. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves a PSNR of 23.787 dB and an SSIM value of 0.885 from four benchmark datasets. Compared with the other most advanced methods, our method has only 18.524M parameters, but it obtains the best results from test datasets.
Tool Failure Analysis and Multi-Objective Optimization of a Cutting-Type Energy-Absorbing Structure for Subway Vehicles
Authors: Gao Qianchen , Xiao Shoune , Wang Xiaorui , Wang Mingmeng , Zhu Tao
Published: January 2023

This paper aims to provide essential guidance for the crashworthiness design of cutting energy-absorbing structures for subway vehicles. By investigating tool failure with experiment and numerical approaches, a new energy-absorbing tube structure was proposed and optimized to improve the crashworthiness and reliability of the cutting energy-absorption structure. The impact test results revealed that multiple failure modes occurred in the tool. Mechanical wear occurs mainly in the middle of the cutting edge, while the tool’s tip failure is primarily due to thermal wear. Impact forces were no longer stable due to tool failure. The simulation results of the established tool-tube thermal–structural coupling finite element model were consistent with the tests. The temperature distribution indirectly validated the failure modes in different tool areas. By eliminating the tearing-type fracture mode, the proposed new structure effectively reduced the high temperature of the tool’s tip, better maintained the uniform temperature of the cutting edge, and smoothed changing of the cutting force. Finally, the Kriging surrogate model and NSGA-II algorithm were utilized to obtain the tool’s minimum steady-state temperature (STT) and maximum mean average cutting force (MCF). The optimal solution determined by the minimum distance method is STT = 514 K, MCF = 131 kN.
Dynamic Simulation Analysis of the Working Process of the Picking Mechanism of a Sugarcane Leaf Cutting and Returning Machine
Authors: Ye Zilong , Wang Yuxing , Tang Yanqin , Qiu Zhiguo , Luo Wenhui , Ren Guofeng , Zhao Qingxu
Published: January 2023

Leaf–device interaction can effectively be modeled with a finite element model when proper finite element model parameters are applied. In order to investigate the contact mechanism of picking up sugarcane leaf during the operation of a sugarcane leaf cutting and returning machine, a geometric solid model of sugarcane leaf picking was established. A finite element numerical model to analyze the large deformation problem of flexible bodies was developed in LS-DYNA to simulate the picking process of the returning machine. A dynamic simulation of the sugarcane leaf-picking process was carried out to obtain the change of stress field and the motion posture of the sugarcane leaf and the elastic teeth. The picking process of the picking mechanism, the change in posture of the sugarcane leaves, the change in stress on the sugarcane leaf, the change in the bending angle of the sugarcane leaf and the change in stress on the elastic teeth were analyzed in detail. The results showed that the picking process can be divided into four stages: picking, lifting, pushing and retrieving. The posture changes of sugarcane leaf are “C”, logarithmic curve, wavy shape and “V”, in turn. During the picking process, the sugarcane blade showed some breakage, the sugarcane vein remained intact, and the elastic teeth did not fail. During the whole picking cycle, the maximum Von Mises stress of the blade, vein and elastic teeth were 22.8 MPa, 17.5 MPa and 900 MPa, respectively. An evaluation criterion of bending angle was creatively put forward to measure the bending deformation of leaves. The trend in the sugarcane leaf bending angle shows that it is largely variable, gradually decreasing, fluctuating and increasing with interval fluctuations. The working process of the picking mechanism was observed through a quick camera experiment. Comparing the experiment with the simulation, the changing trend of the simulation data and experimental data was generally similar. The experimental and simulation values of the average sugarcane leaf bending angle were 27° and 19°, respectively. The relative error of the average bending angle was 29.6%. It was concluded that the developed finite element model is substantial and could be applied to optimize and improve the picking mechanism. In addition, some references were provided for the contact mechanism between the picking mechanism and the sugarcane leaf.
Analysis and Determination of the Lateral Distance Parameters of Vehicles When Overtaking an Electric Bicycle from the Point of View of Road Safety
Authors: Ivanišević Tijana , Trifunović Aleksandar , Čičević Svetlana , Pešić Dalibor , Simović Sreten , Zunjic Aleksandar , Duplakova Darina , Duplak Jan , Manojlovic Uros
Published: January 2023

Recent years have witnessed an increasing number of electric bicycles on the roads and a rise in the number of road crashes involving e-bicyclists. There are various causes of road crashes involving e-bicyclists. Out of the total number of fatalities in traffic, bicyclists account for 9% in the Republic of Serbia. Road crashes occurring when motor vehicles overtake bicyclists make up 13% of the total number of road crashes involving bicyclists. Having in mind the above-mentioned, an experimental study has been conducted in order to analyze whether the use of helmets and reflective vests, different vehicle categories, and the speed of electric bicycles affect the lateral distance when overtaking e-bicycles. This research analyzed the lateral distance of 1228 vehicles overtaking an e-bicyclist. There are statistically significant differences in the lateral distance when overtaking an e-bicycle regarding helmet use, different vehicle categories overtaking the e-bicycle, and different speeds of the e-bicycle. The results showed that a faster speed of an e-bicycle led to a shorter lateral distance when overtaking it and that SUV drivers (along with motorcycle drivers) had the shortest lateral distance when overtaking e-bicycles.
Logogram VR: Treadmill-Coupled VR with Word Reflective Content for Embodied Logogram Learning
Authors: Kim Gwangbin , An Eunsol , Kim SeungJun
Published: January 2023

A logogram is a type of writing system in which each character represents a word. Compared to segmental scripts where the alphabets reflect sounds, learning logograms are disengaging, since each character is not linked to its pronunciation. This paper presents Logogram VR, a virtual reality edutainment game that uses a treadmill and controllers to teach Hanja, which uses logograms. Hanja is a traditional Korean language writing system comprising over 8000 Chinese characters. The system leverages the logogram’s feature that each letter stands for each vocabulary item, as an embodied learning strategy. Specifically, it incorporates each character’s meaning into the VR learning environment, accompanied by gamified actions using a treadmill and VR controllers. We evaluated the system with 33 participants to test its overall usability, while determining the desirable playtime and number of characters for the further enhancement of it. We demonstrated and assessed the system with 125 visitors at an exhibition to disseminate it and verify the results with a wider population sample. The user studies revealed that the system provides a playful experience for learning Hanja without severe motion sickness. The differences in age groups showed that the embodiment approach utilizing meanings and actions in VR may be an effective logogram edutainment strategy, particularly among adolescents.
Enhancing Digital Twins of Semi-Automatic Production Lines by Digitizing Operator Skills
Authors: Lago Alvarez Angela , Mohammed Wael M. , Vu Tuan , Ahmadi Seyedamir , Martinez Lastra Jose Luis
Published: January 2023

In recent years, Industry 4.0 has provided many tools to replicate, monitor, and control physical systems. The purpose is to connect production assets to build cyber-physical systems that ensure the safety, quality, and efficiency of production processes. Particularly, the concept of digital twins has been introduced to create the virtual representation of physical systems where both elements are connected to exchange information. This general definition encompasses a series of major challenges for the developers of those functionalities. Among them is how to introduce the human perspective into the virtual replica. Therefore, this paper presents an approach for incorporating human factors in digital twins. This approach introduces a methodology to offer suggestions about employee rotations based on their previous performance during a shift. Afterward, this method is integrated into a digital twin to perform human performance assessments to manage workers’ jobs. Furthermore, the presented approach is mainly comprised of a human skills modelling engine and a human scheduling engine. Finally, for demonstrating the approach, a simulated serial single-product manufacturing assembly line has been introduced.
Extraction of Broken Interlocking Tibial Nails: A Review of Surgical Techniques and Practical Management
Authors: Roman Mihai Dan , Fleacă Sorin Radu , Mohor Cosmin Ioan , Bacila Ciprian , Bratu Dan , Teodoru Adrian , Bocea Bogdan-Axente , Boicean Adrian Gheorghe
Published: January 2023

Breakage of tibial interlocking nails is a rare complication and is associated with tibial nonunion. The distal part of a broken tibial nail is difficult to extract and can be a real challenge. Preoperative planning is important, as the retrieval techniques of broken implants are not routine operations. There are various techniques and instruments described by different authors with none being uniformly successful. Therefore, surgeons should know as many methods as possible to choose the most suitable one. Minimally invasive retrieval techniques should be favored because of their reduced morbidity, while fenestration extraction methods should be used as the second intention. Cannulated intramedullary nails are more prone to benefitting from minimally invasive retrieval techniques than solid ones. This paper reviews and describes the present techniques used to extract the distal part of broken tibial nails, to serve as a quick guide for surgeons who need it.
Identifying Energy Inefficiencies Using Self-Organizing Maps: Case of A Highly Efficient Certified Office Building
Authors: Talei Hanaa , Benhaddou Driss , Gamarra Carlos , Benhaddou Mohamed , Essaaidi Mohamed
Published: January 2023

Living and working in comfort while a building’s energy consumption is kept under control requires monitoring a system’s consumption to optimize the energy performance. The way energy is generally used is often far from optimal, which requires the use of smart meters that can record the energy consumption and communicate the information to an energy manager who can analyze the consumption behavior, monitor, and optimize energy performance. Given that the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are the largest electricity consumers in buildings, this paper discusses the importance of incorporating occupancy data in the energy efficiency analysis and unveils energy inefficiencies in the way the system operates. This paper uses 1-year data of a highly efficient certified office building located in the Houston area and shows the power of self-organizing maps and data analysis in identifying up to 4.6% possible savings in energy. The use of time series analysis and machine-learning techniques is conducive to helping energy managers discover more energy savings.
Evaluation of the Failure Rate and Clinical Efficacy of Orthodontic Brackets Indirect Bonding with Computer-Aided Transfer Jig System: An In Vivo Study
Authors: Bai Jin , Lee Hye-Jin , Kim Seong-Hun
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the failure rates and relevant factors of bonded orthodontic brackets with a computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM)-based 3D-printed indirect bonding jig system (IDBS) using 2531 natural teeth selected from 99 orthodontic patients. Ceramic self-ligating brackets and metal tubes were used in this study. Proportion analysis was used to calculate the total bracket re-bonding rate and respective proportions of bonding failure and position error. Crossover frequency analysis was used to analyze the total bracket re-bonding, bonding failure, and position error rates in different tooth positions of the maxilla and mandible. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between dependent variables (age, sex, treatment stage, skeletal divergence, and tooth position) and the bracket bonding failure rate. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to test the difference between the maxilla and mandible for each variable. The total bracket re-bonding rate was 22.64%, and the bonding failure rate and position error rates accounted for 15.09% and 7.55%, respectively. The bonding failure rate was higher in the mandibular teeth than in the maxillary teeth (p < 0.05). Anterior teeth had a higher position error rate, and mandibular anterior teeth had a higher bonding failure rate. The accuracy of IDBS was higher in the premolars and molars. Sex, age, and treatment stage were affected by IDBS. Patients with hyperdivergent skeletal patterns had higher rates of bracket bonding failure. The results of this study can provide practical guidelines for placing brackets with 3D-printed IDBS on the entire dentition to ensure the precision and accuracy of their use during orthodontic treatments.
Numerical Analysis of the Kinematic Accuracy of the Hermetic Harmonic Drive in Space Vehicles
Authors: Pacana Jacek , Siwiec Dominika , Pacana Andrzej
Published: January 2023

The unfriendly-for-humans environment of space causes automatic or remotely controlled vehicles and devices to be used for its research. In robot and manipulator control systems, and also in mechanisms adjusting antennas and photovoltaic panels, the hermetic harmonic drive can be used. A special advantage of this type of gear is the ability to transfer power to an isolated space separated by physical barriers from external influences. Therefore, the purpose was to design gears that will allow achieving the highest kinematic precision for control systems by simultaneously maintaining their hermetics. The article presented an analysis of the kinematic accuracy of harmonic hermetic drives powered by four different types of wave generators. The generators used differed in construction but also caused other deformations of the flexspline. The calculation of angular displacement was prepared in the computer program Abaqus. The simulations were performed on virtual models of a complete harmonic hermetic drive using the finite element method (FEM). The results from the analysis allow the most favorable solution to be applied to the Mars rover drive or spacecraft control system. It was determined for which of the wave generators the kinematic accuracy is the highest and how high the backlash exists for the reversing rotation. Finally, the proposed design will allow one to increase the accuracy of the working movements and control of space vehicles while ensuring a minimal influence of the external ambient.
Multi-Layered and Homogenized Models for In-Plane Guided Wave Excitation, Sensing, and Scattering in Anisotropic Laminated Composites
Authors: Eremin Artem A. , Golub Mikhail V. , Fomenko Sergey I. , Evdokimov Alexander A. , Nets Polina A.
Published: January 2023

The numerical evaluation of elastic guided wave (EGW) phenomena is an important stage in the development and configuration of ultrasonic-based non-destructive testing/structural health monitoring (NDT/SHM) systems. To reduce the computational costs, which are typical for EGW simulations in laminated composite structures, and to make the corresponding parametric analysis possible, the latter could be treated by employing an effective single-layer model with homogenized anisotropic material properties. The present study investigates the applicability of such an approach to simulate EGW excitation, propagation, scattering, and sensing in laminate composite structures, which are among the typical problems for ultrasonic-based NDT/SHM. To this end, two homogenized models have been implemented: the well-known static long-wave homogenization approach and the advanced Lamb wave homogenization method, where the effect of angular and frequency dispersion of EGWs is taken into account. To illustrate their performance, in-plane elastic guided wave excitation and sensing with surface-mounted piezoelectric transducers as well as wave scattering by a T-shaped stringer in cross-ply symmetric anisotropic laminates are examined by employing a recently developed semi-analytical hybrid approach. The limits of the applicability of both homogenized models are demonstrated and discussed via the comparison with the multi-layered model. The general conclusion from the obtained results is that only a qualitative, although computationally efficient, description of the EGW phenomena in the considered composites can be achieved using single-layer models.