bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Trade Flows of Ornamental Citrus Fruits and Other Rutaceae in the Mediterranean Basin and Potential for Xantomonas citri Introduction
Authors: Timpanaro Giuseppe , Cammarata Mariarita , Urso Arturo
Published: May 2020

In this study, we built a basic scenario for risk assessment of the introduction of Xantomonas citri (X. citri), an agent of bacterial citrus canker, through international trade activities. According to the international phytosanitary authority European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), X. citri is currently included in the European Union A1 list (quarantine pests not present in the area) of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). Therefore, at the moment, to counter the spread of X. citri, some pest-specific phytosanitary requirements are foreseen in the case of citrus fruit commercial activities. One possible introduction route is through some ornamental Rutaceae, which are widely cultivated in Mediterranean countries, where they are economically important and have a social impact on the employees involved and the related industries. To assess the risk of introducing X. citri, we distinguished the import and export territories and the type of import material, and formulated a basic hypothesis linked to the positive correlation between commercial dependence on citrus imports from countries of the Mediterranean Basin and potential risk of invasion.
Phosphorus Availability and Potential Environmental Risk Assessment in Alkaline Soils
Authors: Elbasiouny Heba , Elbehiry Fathy , El-Ramady Hassan , Brevik Eric C.
Published: May 2020

Soil phosphorus (P) is an essential element that is often limiting in ecosystems. Excessive use of P fertilizers has led to P loss from soil and introduction into the environment. However, the behavior and potential risk assessment of P in alkaline soils is not well studied. Therefore, soil sampling was performed in alkaline soils in the northern Nile Delta, Egypt. Three analytical procedures (i.e., Mehlich 3 (PM3), Olsen (POlsen), and Bray 1 (PBray) solutions) were used to evaluate P availability and potential environmental risk from P loss. Selected soil properties were determined using standard methods. Mean values of P extracted were in the order PM3 > Polsen > PBray, and were significantly correlated with each other. The PM3 was the highest in silt clay loam and lowest in sandy and loamy soils. To predict potential P loss from the soils, degree of P saturation (DPS), soil P storage capacity (SPSC), and P stability ratio (Psat) were calculated. Results showed the highest DPS was recorded in sandy textured soils, indicating that they have lower sorption capacity, whereas the SPSC was highest in silt clay textures; hence, it is likely they would act as a P sink. Psat was highest in sandy soils, which indicated a high risk for P leaching. Principal component analysis (PCA) performed on the data identified four principal components that described 83.8% of the variation between P and the studied soil parameters. The results indicated that silt was the critical soil characteristic associated with both P sorption and extractability in different textures of soil. The second component confirmed the positive association between the different soil P extraction methods (PM3, POlsen, and PBray).
Effects of Residue Returning on Soil Organic Carbon Storage and Sequestration Rate in China’s Croplands: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Xudong , He Cong , Liu Bingyang , Zhao Xin , Liu Yang , Wang Qi , Zhang Hailin
Published: May 2020

Crop residue returning (RR) is a promising option to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, which is linked to crop yield promotion, ecologically sustainable agriculture, and climate change mitigation. Thus, the objectives of this study were to identify the responses of SOC storage and sequestration rates to RR in China’s croplands. Based on a national meta-analysis of 365 comparisons from 99 publications, the results indicated that RR increased SOC storage by 11.3% compared to residue removal (p < 0.05). Theoretically, when combined with low nitrogen fertilizer input rates (0–120 kg N ha−1), single cropping system, paddy-upland rotation, lower mean annual precipitation (0–500 mm), alkaline soils (pH 7.5–8.5), other methods of RR (including residue chopping, evenly incorporating, and burying) or long-term use (>10 yrs), an increase in SOC storage under RR by 11.6–15.5% could be obtained. The SOC sequestration rate of RR varied from 0.48 (Central China) to 1.61 (Southwest China) Mg C ha−1 yr−1, with a national average value of 0.93 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. Higher SOC sequestration rates enhanced crop production. However, decreases in SOC sequestration rate were observed with increases in experimental durations. The phenomenon of “C saturation” occurred after 23 yrs of RR. Overall, RR can be used as an efficient and environmentally friendly and climate-smart management practice for long-term use.
An Evaluation of Kernel Zinc in Hybrids of Elite Quality Protein Maize (QPM) and Non-QPM Inbred Lines Adapted to the Tropics Based on a Mating Design
Authors: Mageto Edna K. , Lee Michael , Dhliwayo Thanda , Palacios-Rojas Natalia , San Vicente Félix , Burgueño Juan , Hallauer Arnel R.
Published: May 2020

Genetic improvement of maize with elevated levels of zinc (Zn) can reduce Zn deficiency among populations who rely on maize as a staple. Inbred lines of quality protein maize (QPM) and non-QPM with elevated Zn levels in the kernel have been identified. However, information about the optimal strategy to utilize the germplasm in breeding for high-Zn concentration is lacking. As a preliminary step, this study was conducted to ascertain the potential of QPM, non-QPM, or a combination of QPM and non-QPM hybrids for attaining desirable Zn concentration. Twenty elite inbreds, 10 QPM and 10 non-QPM, were crossed according to a modified mating design to generate hybrids, which were evaluated in four environments in Mexico during 2015 and 2016 in order to evaluate their merits as parents of hybrids. The highest mean values of Zn were observed when high-Zn QPM lines were crossed with high-Zn non-QPM lines. Hybrids with high Zn and grain yield were identified. General combining ability (GCA) effects for Zn concentration were more preponderant than specific combining ability (SCA) effects, suggesting the importance of additive gene action for the inheritance of Zn.
Production of Cellulose Nanofibers from Olive Tree Harvest—A Residue with Wide Applications
Authors: Sánchez-Gutiérrez Mónica , Espinosa Eduardo , Bascón-Villegas Isabel , Pérez-Rodríguez Fernando , Carrasco Elena , Rodríguez Alejandro
Published: May 2020

With the aim of identifying new sources to produce cellulose nanofibers, olive tree pruning biomass (OTPB) was proposed for valorization as a sustainable source of cellulose. OTPB was subjected to a soda pulping process for cellulose purification and to facilitate the delamination of the fiber in the nanofibrillation process. Unbleached and bleached pulp were used to study the effect of lignin in the production of cellulose nanofibers through different pretreatments (mechanical and TEMPO-mediated oxidation). High-pressure homogenization was used as the nanofibrillation treatment. It was observed that for mechanical pretreatment, the presence of lignin in the fiber produces a greater fibrillation, resulting in a smaller width than that achieved with bleached fiber. In the case of TEMPO-mediated oxidation, the cellulose nanofiber characteristics show that the presence of lignin has an adverse effect on fiber oxidation, resulting in lower nanofibrillation. It was observed that the crystallinity of the nanofibers is lower than that of the original fiber, especially for unbleached nanofibers. The residual lignin content resulted in a greater thermal stability of the cellulose nanofibers, especially for those obtained by TEMPO-mediated oxidation. The characteristics of the cellulose nanofibers obtained in this work identify a gateway to many possibilities for reinforcement agents in paper suspension and polymeric matrices.
Genetic Analysis of Leaf Traits in Small-Flower Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum × morifolium Ramat.)
Authors: Gao Kang , Song Xuebin , Kong Deyuan , Dai Silan
Published: May 2020

Leaf shape is an important quality trait of agronomic crops, and to control the law of genetic variation of leaf shape is of practical significance for improving the early identification and selection of agronomic crops. Variations in the leaf morphology of chrysanthemum cultivars are abundant, and previous studies have quantitatively defined and classified the leaf morphology of chrysanthemum; however, the genetic architecture of chrysanthemum leaves has not been elucidated to date. In this study, two pairs of F1 hybrid populations were constructed by using small-flower chrysanthemum varieties with differences in leaf traits, and the genetic variation rules of these important quantitative traits were further discussed based on the major gene and polygene mixed inheritance analyses. The results showed that the leaves in blade shape (LBS), leaf length/width is controlled by two pairs of additive-dominant major genes (B-1), the widest part length/leaf length is controlled by two completely dominant genes (B-5); in leaf lobe shape (LLS), the lobe length/vein length is controlled by one pair of additive dominant major genes (A-1); and the lobe length/lobe width is controlled by two pairs of additive dominant major genes (B-2). The heritability of major genes was greater than 30%. For the leaf petiole shape (LPS), the petiole length is controlled by a pair of additive-dominant major genes (A-1). The results showed that the leaf traits were mainly controlled by genetic factors. In addition, based on the high-density genetic map of one F1 hybrid population, it was found that 51 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were used to control the leaf traits, including two QTLs that controlled the LBS. There were 18 QTLs that controlled LLS. Moreover, the primary QTLs that controlled leaf width and lobe length were obtained. The results of this study may establish a theoretical foundation for the in-depth exploration of leaf-shape-related genes in chrysanthemum and may provide a reference for future research investigating leaf-shape genetics in other agronomic crops.
Minimizing Adverse Effects of Pb on Maize Plants by Combined Treatment with Jasmonic, Salicylic Acids and Proline
Authors: Sofy Mahmoud R. , Seleiman Mahmoud F. , Alhammad Bushra A. , Alharbi Basmah M. , Mohamed Heba I.
Published: May 2020

Lead (Pb) is a toxic heavy metal (HM) that harms plant growth and productivity. Phytohormones, such as jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA), and osmoprotectants, such as proline (Pro), play an important role in the physiological and biochemical processes of plants. We investigated the effect of exogenous applications of JA, SA, Pro, and their combination on Pb-stress tolerance in maize as well as their effect on physiological, biochemical, and yield traits. Pb exposure severely affected maize plants, reducing growth, yield, photosynthetic pigments, and mineral (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) nutrients, as well as enhancing electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, osmolytes, and non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants. The application of JA, SA, Pro, and their combination enhanced plant growth and induced pigment biosynthesis, and decreased EL, MDA accumulation, and Pb concentration. All treatments enhanced Pro and total soluble sugar production, glutathione activity, ascorbic acid, phenol, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and mineral nutrients. JA, SA, and Pro application improved physiological processes directly or indirectly, thereby enhancing the ability of maize plants to overcome oxidative damage caused by Pb toxicity. The combination of JA, SA, and Pro was the most efficient treatment for maize plant growth and development, eliminating the negative consequences of Pb stress.
Effects of Root Temperature on the Plant Growth and Food Quality of Chinese Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra Bailey)
Authors: He Fang , Thiele Björn , Santhiraraja-Abresch Sharin , Watt Michelle , Kraska Thorsten , Ulbrich Andreas , Kuhn Arnd J.
Published: May 2020

Root temperature has long been considered an essential environmental factor influencing the plant’s physiology. However, little is known about the effect of root temperature on the quality of the food produced by the plant, especially that of horticultural crops. To fill this gap, two independent root cooling experiments (15 °C vs. 20 °C and 10 °C vs. 20 °C) were conducted in autumn 2017 and spring 2018 in hydroponics with Chinese broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra Bailey) under greenhouse conditions. The aim was to investigate the effect of root temperature on plant growth (biomass, height, yield) and food quality (soluble sugars, total chlorophyll, starch, minerals, glucosinolates). A negative impact on shoot growth parameters (yield, shoot biomass) was detected by lowering the root temperature to 10 °C. Chinese broccoli showed no response to 15 °C root temperature, except for an increase in root biomass. Low root temperature was in general associated with a higher concentration of soluble sugars and total chlorophyll, but lower mineral levels in stems and leaves. Ten individual glucosinolates were identified in the stems and leaves, including six aliphatic and four indolic glucosinolates. Increased levels of neoglucobrassicin in leaves tracked root cooling more closely in both experiments. Reduction of root temperature by cooling could be a potential method to improve certain quality characters of Chinese broccoli, including sugar and glucosinolate levels, although at the expense of shoot biomass.
Legume Cover Crop Effects on Temperate Sugarcane Yields and Their Decomposition in Soil
Authors: White Paul M. , Williams Gregory , Viator Howard P. , Viator Ryan P. , Webber Charles L.
Published: May 2020

Sugarcane is commercially produced on 340,000 ha in the US and is valued at over $1 billion US annually. Cultural practices that improve sugarcane sustainability are needed to maintain yields in fields with degraded soils. Historically, leguminous rotation crops provided organic matter and biologically fixed nitrogen (N) for subsequent sugarcane crops. Currently, sugarcane is usually grown as a monoculture with only a short, 6-month fallow period. The objective of these field studies was to determine how growing cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) and sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) as cover crops during fallow affected the yield of subsequent sugarcane crops. A companion laboratory study investigated the decomposition rate of cover crops in soil at different temperatures. Cowpea and sunn hemp production produced 12.8 t/ha dry matter and 250 kg N/ha. Cowpea generally improved plant cane yields, but the effects of sunn hemp varied. However, neither cowpea nor sunn hemp reduced cane or sucrose yields consistently, and mineral N additions may have a role in mitigating yield gains or losses. Based on laboratory data, the average half-life for cowpea and sunn hemp would be 3 months. Overall, using legume cover crops should be viewed as an important component of sustainable sugarcane practices.
Social Media Contexts Moderate Perceptions of Animals
Authors: Riddle Elizabeth , MacKay Jill R. D.
Published: May 2020

The rapid rise of social media in the past decade represents a new space where animals are represented in human society, and this may influence human perceptions, for example driving desire for exotic pet keeping. In this study, 211 participants (49% female) between the ages of 18 to 44 were recruited to an online survey where they viewed mock-up pages from a social media site. All participants saw the same image of a primate but were randomly assigned to a pro exotic pet keeping or anti exotic pet keeping narrative condition. When participants were presented with the anti narrative they perceived the animal to be more stressed (χ2 = 13.99, p < 0.001). In free text comments, participants expressed reservations in the face of a narrative they disagreed with in free text comments. Overall, this study found evidence to suggest that people moderate their discussions on human-animal interactions based on the social network they are in, but these relationships are complex and require further research.
Growth Performance and Carcass Quality in Broiler Chickens Fed on Legume Seeds and Rapeseed Meal
Authors: Biesek Jakub , Kuźniacka Joanna , Banaszak Mirosław , Kaczmarek Sebastian , Adamski Marek , Rutkowski Andrzej , Zmudzińska Anna , Perz Katarzyna , Hejdysz Marcin
Published: May 2020

The aim of this study was to compare the growth performance parameters, carcass quality, and meat traits in broiler chickens fed on diets containing legume seeds and rapeseed meal as an alternative to soybean meal. In this study, 448 male ROSS 308 chicks were divided into subgroups: a control group (I) fed on soybean meal (SBM), and six experimental groups II—rapeseed meal (RSM); III—white lupin (WY); IV—yellow lupin (YL); V—narrow-leaved lupin NLL; VI—pea (Pe); and VII—faba bean (FB). After 42 days of rearing, 10 birds from each group were slaughtered and dissected. The control group was characterized by better growth performance compared to the other groups. In addition, the European Broiler Index was lower in each experimental group compared to the SBM group. A lower dressing percentage was found only in the NLL group. The muscle content in birds from the RSM and FB groups was significantly higher than in the other groups, but the fat content was lower. Meat from SBM group was characterized by the highest protein content, but a reduced content of fat and water in the muscles. The most similar results were found between the control group and the FB group receiving a diet based on faba beans. Furthermore, lupins had a similar effect on the carcass traits when used in the diets. The quality of meat in broilers fed on faba beans with the addition of potato protein and brewers’ yeast was similar to that of those fed on soybean meal, because the antinutrients were the lowest in faba bean seeds. Faba beans are proposed as a possible alternative source of protein in poultry diets. Other legume seeds should be analyzed in future studies.
Strategies for the Improvement of Pet Health and Welfare in Portugal Based on a Pilot Survey on Husbandry, Opinion, and Information Needs
Authors: Prata Joana Correia
Published: May 2020

Pets are present in half of the homes across Portugal. However, little is known about the husbandry, opinion, and information needs of Portuguese pet owners. Thus, the objective of this work was to clarify this information providing the basis for suggesting potential improvements. Responses were collected through an online survey, including inhabitants from different regions of Portugal (n = 111). Cats and dogs are the most popular pets and the majority are adopted, fed commercial diets, live indoors, are vaccinated, dewormed, and treated for external parasites, and occasionally visit the veterinary practice. Portuguese owners are interested in improving their pet’s health, and would like to learn more about welfare, health assessment, and diet from veterinarians. However, microchip and municipal registration are often overlooked. Lack of adoption from animal shelters as well as expectations over the cost of veterinary practice were other difficulties identified in this study. Strategies for the improvement of pet health and welfare in Portugal were proposed as improving the perception of the value and importance of veterinary care, reducing the number of lost and abandoned pets, and improving awareness and education. Thus, Portuguese stakeholders and authorities must take the required measures to improve these issues.
Relationship between Bone Stability and Egg Production in Genetically Divergent Chicken Layer Lines
Authors: Jansen Simon , Baulain Ulrich , Habig Christin , Weigend Annett , Halle Ingrid , Scholz Armin Manfred , Simianer Henner , Sharifi Ahmad Reza , Weigend Steffen
Published: May 2020

Impaired animal welfare due to skeletal disorders is likely one of the greatest issues currently facing the egg production industry. Reduced bone stability in laying hens is frequently attributed to long-term selection for increased egg production. The present study sought to analyse the relationship between bone stability traits and egg production. The study comprised four purebred layer lines, differing in their phylogenetic origin and performance level, providing extended insight into the phenotypic variability in bone characteristics in laying hens. Data collection included basic production parameters, bone morphometry, bone mineral density (BMD) and bone breaking strength (BBS) of the tibiotarsus and humerus. Using a multifactorial model and regression analyses, BMD proved to be of outstanding importance for bone stability. Only for the tibiotarsus were morphometric parameters and the bone weight associated with BBS. Within the chicken lines, no effect of total eggshell production on BBS or BMD could be detected, suggesting that a high egg yield itself is not necessarily a risk for poor bone health. Considering the complexity of osteoporosis, the estimated genetic parameters confirmed the importance of genetics in addressing the challenge of improving bone strength in layers.
Effect of Two Nutritional Strategies to Balance Energy and Protein Supply in Fattening Heifers on Performance, Ruminal Metabolism, and Carcass Characteristics
Authors: Arias Rodrigo A. , Guajardo Gonzalo , Kunick Stefan , Alvarado-Gilis Christian , Keim Juan Pablo
Published: May 2020

Latin America is an important contributor to the worldwide beef business, but in general, there are limited studies considering strategies to reduce nitrogen contamination in their production systems. The study’s goal was to assess the effect of two nutritional strategies to balance energy and protein supply in fattening heifers on performance, ruminal metabolism, and carcass characteristics. A total of 24 crossbred heifers (initial body weight ’BW ’of 372 ± 36 kg) were used to create two blocks (based on live weight) of two pens each, that were equipped with individual feeders. Within each block, half of the animals were assigned to a diet based on tabular Crude Protein (CP) requirements denominated Crude Protein Diet ‘CPD’ but without a ruminal degradable protein balance. The other half received a diet denominated Metabolizable Protein Diet ‘MPD’, formulated with the metabolizable protein system, balanced for the ruminal degradable protein. Both diets had the same ingredients and as well as similar synchrony indexes (0.80 and 0.83, respectively). For nitrogen concentration in feces and urine as well as microbial crude protein synthesis, a total of 12 heifers (three per pen) were randomly selected to collect samples. The dataset was analyzed as a randomized complete block design with a 5% significance. No diet × time interaction was observed for Average Daily Gain ’ADG’ (p = 0.89), but there was an effect of the time on ADG (p ≤ 0.001). No differences were observed neither for final weight, dry matter intake ’DMI’, and feed conversion rate (p > 0.05). Heifers fed with CPD showed greater cold carcass weight (p = 0.041), but without differences in ribeye area, backfat thickness, pH, dressing %, and marbling (p > 0.05). Differences between diets were observed for the in vitro parameters as well as for the Total Volatile Fatty Acids ’VFA’ and NH3 (p < 0.05). Total N concentrations (urine + feces) of heifers fed with MDP was lower than in those fed with the CPD (p < 0.01), but no differences were observed in microbial protein, purine derivatives, and creatinine (p > 0.05). We conclude that the combination of synchrony and the metabolizable protein system achieve greater efficiency in the use of nitrogen, without negatively affecting animals’ performance or the quality of the carcass.
Discontinuation of Glycopeptides in Patients with Culture Negative Severe Sepsis or Septic Shock: A Propensity-Matched Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kim Yong Chan , Kim Jung Ho , Ahn Jin Young , Jeong Su Jin , Ku Nam Su , Choi Jun Yong , Yeom Joon-Sup , Park Yoon Soo , Song Young Goo , Kim Ha Yan
Published: May 2020

Implementation of antibiotic stewardship is difficult in patients with sepsis because of severity of disease. We evaluated the impact of glycopeptide discontinuation (GD) in patients with culture negative severe sepsis or septic shock who received glycopeptides as initial empiric antibiotic therapy at admission. We conducted a single center retrospective cohort study between January 2010 and March 2018. GD was defined as discontinuation of initial empiric glycopeptides on availability of culture results, revealing the absence of identified pathogens. In 92 included patients, the leading causes of sepsis were pneumonia (34.8%) and intra-abdominal infection (23.9%); 28-day mortality and overall mortality were 14% and 21%, respectively. Glycopeptides were discontinued in 42/92 patients. After propensity score matching, baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the GD and non-GD (GND) groups. GND was associated with development of acute kidney injury (OR 5.54, 95% CI 1.49–20.6, P = 0.011). GD did not increase the 7-day, 14-day, and 28-day mortality compared with GND. The length of hospital stay was shorter in the GD group than in GND group (16.33 ± 17.11 vs. 25.05 ± 14.37, P = 0.082), though not statistically significant. GD may be safe and reduce adverse events of prolonged antibiotic use in patients with culture negative severe sepsis or septic shock receiving glycopeptides as initial empiric antibiotic therapy.
Discovery of GLO1 New Related Genes and Pathways by RNA-Seq on A2E-Stressed Retinal Epithelial Cells Could Improve Knowledge on Retinitis Pigmentosa
Authors: Donato Luigi , Scimone Concetta , Alibrandi Simona , Nicocia Giacomo , Rinaldi Carmela , Sidoti Antonina , D’Angelo Rosalia
Published: May 2020

Endogenous antioxidants protect cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related deleterious effects, and an imbalance in the oxidant/antioxidant systems generates oxidative stress. Glyoxalase 1 (GLO1) is a ubiquitous cellular enzyme involved in detoxification of methylglyoxal (MG), a cytotoxic byproduct of glycolysis whose excess can produce oxidative stress. In retinitis pigmentosa, one of the most diffuse cause of blindness, oxidative damage leads to photoreceptor death. To clarify the role of GLO1 in retinitis pigmentosa onset and progression, we treated human retinal pigment epithelium cells by the oxidant agent A2E. Transcriptome profiles between treated and untreated cells were performed by RNA-Seq, considering two time points (3 and 6 h), after the basal one. The exposure to A2E highlighted significant expression differences and splicing events in 370 GLO1 first-neighbor genes, and 23 of them emerged from pathway clustered analysis as main candidates to be associated with retinitis pigmentosa. Such a hypothesis was corroborated by the involvement of previously analyzed genes in specific cellular activities related to oxidative stress, such as glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, glycolysis, axo-dendritic transport, lipoprotein activity and metabolism, SUMOylation and retrograde transport at the trans-Golgi network. Our findings could be the starting point to explore unclear molecular mechanisms involved in retinitis pigmentosa etiopathogenesis.
Special Issue on “Optics for AI and AI for Optics”
Authors: Wei Jinlong , Yi Lilin , Giacoumidis Elias , Cheng Qixiang , Tao Lau Alan
Published: May 2020

We live in an era of information explosion and digital revolution that has resulted in rapid technological developments in different aspects of life [...]
Viscoelastic Finite Line Contact of Thin Bonded Layered Solids of Low Elastic Modulus
Authors: Votsios Vasilis , Johns-Rahnejat Patricia , Rahnejat Homer
Published: May 2020

A new finite element-based contact mechanics analysis of layered viscoelastic solids of low elastic modulus is presented. The methodology is based on the Maxwell viscoelastic element, with stress relaxation taken into account by the Prony series’ representation of the bulk and shear material moduli. Simultaneous solutions for deviatoric and volumetric stresses were obtained under instantaneous elastic and subsequent viscoelastic relaxation, at multiples of the relaxation time of a Highly Filled Carbon Polymer (HFCP) layer. The results of the analysis were validated by a constructed, multi-layered sandwich sensor comprising the HFCP sensing elements covered by a protective silicone rubber surface of very low elastic modulus. The combined numerical-experimental approach, and the validated viscoelastic layered contact mechanics represent the original contribution of this paper, not hitherto reported in literature.
A Multiplex PCR-Based Next Generation Sequencing-Panel to Identify Mutations for Targeted Therapy in Breast Cancer Circulating Tumor Cells
Authors: Franken André , Rivandi Mahdi , Yang Liwen , Jäger Bernadette , Krawczyk Natalia , Honisch Ellen , Niederacher Dieter , Fehm Tanja , Neubauer Hans
Published: May 2020

Targeted therapy has become the preferred approach to treat most cancers, including metastatic breast cancer. Using liquid biopsies, which can act as a dynamic diagnostic tool, is an appealing concept to identify effective therapies. In order to identify mutations from circulating tumor cells (CTCs) on single cell level, we have developed a multiplex PCR-based next generation sequencing-panel. The CTCs were enriched using the CellSearch system and isolated by micromanipulation followed by whole genome amplification of their DNA. Afterwards, mutation hotspot regions in the PIK3CA, the ESR1, the AKT1, and the ERBB2 genes were amplified and barcoded. Sequencing was performed on a MiSeq system. The assay was validated with cells from various cell lines displaying the expected mutations. Mutations that provide the basis for potential targeted therapies were detected in 10 out of 13 patients in all analyzed genes. In four patients, mutations in more than one gene were observed—either in the same cell or in different cells, suggesting the presence of different tumor cell clones, which might be targeted with combination therapies. This assay is a time and cost effective tool to investigate the most relevant genomic positions indicative for targeted therapies in metastatic breast cancer. It can support therapy decision to improve the treatment of cancer patients.
A Series of Vertical Deflections, a Promising Traffic Calming Measure: Analysis and Recommendations for Spacing
Authors: Pérez-Acebo Heriberto , Ziółkowski Robert , Linares-Unamunzaga Alaitz , Gonzalo-Orden Hernán
Published: May 2020

Traffic calming measures (TCM) are placed in urban areas to improve road safety, and among them, vertical TCMs are widely employed. Many researches are focused on the influence of the geometry of each measure on speed reduction, but it is demonstrated that drivers forget its effect and speed up after it. Therefore, placing consecutive TCMs can help to maintain a safe area. However, scarce literature can be found about the adequate spacing between them. Hence, the aim of this paper is to analyze the adequate distance between TCMs. Various streets with variable distances and different vertical TCMs were evaluated in Poland and Spain, including raised crosswalks, raised intersections, speed humps and speed cushions. The intermediate point between two TCMs was selected as the place where the maximum speed is achieved. Results showed that there was a good correlation between the speeds at intermediate points and the distance between TCMs, with a determination coefficient around 0.80. For an 85th percentile of the speed under 50 km/h, a maximum distance of 200 m between TCMs is recommended, and for a value of 40 km/h, 75 m.
How Pre-Harvest Inactivated Yeast Treatment May Influence the Norisoprenoid Aroma Potential in Wine Grapes
Authors: Crupi Pasquale , Santamaria Marika , Vallejo Fernando , Tomás-Barberán Francisco A. , Masi Gianvito , Caputo Angelo Raffaele , Battista Fabrizio , Tarricone Luigi
Published: May 2020

Carotenoids are important secondary metabolites in wine grapes and play a key role as potential precursors of aroma compounds (i.e., C13-norisoprenoids), which have a high sensorial impact in wines. There is scarce information about the influence of pre-harvest inactivated yeast treatment on the norisoprenoid aroma potential of grapes. Thus, this work aimed to study the effect of the foliar application of yeast extracts (YE) to Negro Amaro and Primitivo grapevines on the carotenoid content during grape ripening and the difference between the resulting véraison and maturity (ΔC). The results showed that β-carotene and (allE)-lutein were the most abundant carotenoids in all samples, ranging from 60% to 70% of total compounds. Their levels, as well as those of violaxanthin, (9′Z)-neoxanthin, and 5,6-epoxylutein, decreased during ripening. This was especially observed in treated grapes, with ΔC values from 2.6 to 4.2-fold higher than in untreated grapes. Besides this, a principal components analysis (PCA) demonstrated that lutein, β-carotene, and violaxanthin and (9′Z)-neoxanthin derivatives principally characterized Negro Amaro and Primitivo, respectively. Thereby, the YE treatment has proved to be effective in improving the C13-norisoprenoid aroma potentiality of Negro Amaro and Primitivo, which are fundamental cultivars in the context of Italian wine production.
Analysis and Design of a New Linear Vibration Motor Used to Reduce Magnetic Flux Leakage in In-Vehicle Infotainment
Authors: Jiang Zhi-Xiong , Park Ki-Hong , Kim Jun-Hyung , Jiang Yuan-Wu , Xu Dan-Ping , Hwang Sang-Moon
Published: May 2020

Linear vibration motors are becoming more popular for use in haptic applications owing to their better performance. However, a permanent magnet with a large volume causes massive magnetic flux leakage, which can be harmful to passengers with a cardiac pacemaker or an implantable-cardioverter defibrillator. The magnetic flux leakage is calculated using the 3D finite element method, which can also be applied to obtain the force factor. Then, the displacement and impedance are obtained to check the performance of the linear vibration motor by utilizing the finite element method. A prototype of a linear vibration motor is analyzed and verified based on the experimental results. Based on the analysis methods, three new designs are proposed to reduce the magnetic flux leakage to within 50 G. The final design shows a 93.07% reduction of the magnetic flux leakage while maintaining the same performance as the prototype. To verify the validity of the analysis results, three experimental results were obtained: the magnetic flux leakage, displacement, and impedance. The experimental results are in good agreement with the analysis results.
Experiment Study of the Failure Mechanism and Evolution Characteristics of Water–Sand Inrush Geo-Hazards
Authors: Liu Qi , Liu Bo
Published: May 2020

Water–sand inrush disasters are frequently encountered during underground engineering construction in karst terrain. The objective of this paper is to study the failure mechanism and evolution characteristics of water–sand inrush caused by the instability of filling medium in karst cavity, as well as the impacts of soil compactness, hydraulic pressure and confining pressure on the instability process. In response to this purpose, a stress-controlled seepage test apparatus in consideration of particle loss was designed, and a series of seepage tests were performed correspondingly. The test results indicate that: (1) Based on the nonlinear feature analysis of water-outflow pattern, the water–sand inrush process can be divided into the “slow flow” stage, “transition flow” stage and “pipe flow” stage by Transition Point I, II. (2) The decreasing soil compactness and increasing hydraulic pressure both exponentially facilitate the seepage-erosion process by increasing the particle-erosion ability; the increasing confining pressure extends the “slow flow” stage and shortens the duration of the “transition flow” stage, ultimately advancing the occurrence of the “pipe flow” stage; the existence of critical hydraulic pressure for the seepage-erosion progress is confirmed, the occurrence of the “pipe flow” stage is significantly advanced once the hydraulic pressure over the critical value. (3) The particle loss caused by the seepage-erosion process is the internal mechanism of water–sand inrush, the variation characteristics of water-outflow pattern are crucial external manifestations correspondingly. Therefore, with the monitoring of water-outflow pattern variation tendency as indicators, the critical status of water–sand inrush can be near-real-time identified, which offers experimental foundation for the early warning and forecast of the occurrence of water–sand inrush.
Classification of Tactile and Motor Velocity-Evoked Hemodynamic Response in Primary Somatosensory and Motor Cortices as Measured by Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Hozan Mohsen , Greenwood Jacob , Sullivan Michaela , Barlow Steven
Published: May 2020

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging technique in studying cerebral hemodynamics; however, consensus on the analysis methods and the clinical applications has yet to be established. In this study, we demonstrate the results of a pilot fNIRS study of cerebral hemodynamic response (HR) evoked by pneumotactile and sensorimotor stimuli on the dominant hand. Our goal is to find the optimal stimulus parameters to maximally evoke HR in the primary somatosensory and motor cortices. We use a pulsatile pneumatic array of 14 tactile cells that were attached to the glabrous surface of the dominant hand, with a patterned stimulus that resembles saltation at three distinct traverse velocities [10, 25, and 45 cm/s]. NIRS optodes (16 sources; 20 detectors) are bilaterally and symmetrically placed over the pre-and post-central gyri (M1 and S1). Our objective is to identify the extent to which cerebral HR can encode the velocity of the somatosensory and/or motor stimuli. We use common spatial pattern for feature extraction and regularized-discriminant analysis for classifying the fNIRS time series into velocity classes. The classification results demonstrate discriminatory features of the fNIRS signal from each distinct stimulus velocity. The results are inconclusive regarding the velocity which evokes the highest intensity of hemodynamic response.
Directly Printed Hollow Connectors for Microfluidic Interconnection with UV-Assisted Coaxial 3D Printing
Authors: Xu Qianwen , Lo Jeffery , Lee Shi-Wei
Published: May 2020

Effective and reliable interconnections are crucial for microfluidics to connect with the macro world. Current microfluidic interfaces are still bulky, expensive, or with issues of clogging and material limitation. In this study, a novel ultraviolet (UV)-assisted coaxial three-dimensional (3D) printing approach was proposed to fabricate hollow microfluidic connectors with advantages of rapid prototyping, fixture-free, and materials compatible. An assembled coaxial nozzle was designed to enable co-flow extrusion, where the inner flow (water) served as the sacrificial layer and the outer flow (adhesive) was cured for shell formation. Furthermore, a converged UV-LED light source was attached to the coaxial nozzle for UV curing of adhesives. UV rheological characterizations were performed to study the UV curing kinematics, and the gelation time was employed to describe the state transition behaviors of UV curable adhesives used in the study. To explore requirements for successful hollow connectors direct printing, processing criteria such as co-flow regime and pre-cure time were investigated. The hollow connectors with an inner channel diameter of ~150 μ m and a height of 5 mm were successfully printed on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and glass substrate. The integration feasibility of the proposed method was also demonstrated by the presented microfluidic device with printed hollow connectors.
Role of 4-Hexylresorcinol in the Field of Tissue Engineering
Authors: Kim Jwa-Young , Seok Hyun
Published: May 2020

4-hexylresorcinol (4-HR), as a derivative of phenolic lipids, has biological and pharmacological properties that are beneficial when used with a biomaterial. It has antimicrobial and antiseptic activity and can thus prevent contamination and infection of biomaterials. 4-HR suppresses the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway related to osteoclast differentiation. The suppression of NF-κB increases the bone formation marker and contributes to new bone formation. The tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by macrophages and suppressed by 4-HR. Suppression of TNF-α decreases osteoclast activity and promotes wound healing. 4-HR increases the vascular endothelial growth factor and has an anti-thrombotic effect. When incorporated into silk vascular patches, it promotes endothelium wound healing. Recently, 4-HR has exhibited biological properties and has been successfully incorporated into various biomaterials. Consequently, it is a useful pharmacological chemical that can be used with biomaterials in the field of tissue engineering.
Comparing the Quality and Speed of Sentence Classification with Modern Language Models
Authors: Fiok Krzysztof , Karwowski Waldemar , Gutierrez Edgar , Reza-Davahli Mohammad
Published: May 2020

After the advent of Glove and Word2vec, the dynamic development of language models (LMs) used to generate word embeddings has enabled the creation of better text classifier frameworks. With the vector representations of words generated by newer LMs, embeddings are no longer static but are context-aware. However, the quality of results provided by state-of-the-art LMs comes at the price of speed. Our goal was to present a benchmark to provide insight into the speed–quality trade-off of a sentence classifier framework based on word embeddings provided by selected LMs. We used a recurrent neural network with gated recurrent units to create sentence-level vector representations from word embeddings provided by an LM and a single fully connected layer for classification. Benchmarking was performed on two sentence classification data sets: The Sixth Text REtrieval Conference (TREC6)set and a 1000-sentence data set of our design. Our Monte Carlo cross-validated results based on these two data sources demonstrated that the newest deep learning LMs provided improvements over Glove and FastText in terms of weighted Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) scores. We postulate that progress in LMs is more apparent when more difficult classification tasks are addressed.
Comparative Study of Movie Shot Classification Based on Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Bak Hui-Yong , Park Seung-Bo
Published: May 2020

The shot-type decision is a very important pre-task in movie analysis due to the vast information, such as the emotion, psychology of the characters, and space information, from the shot type chosen. In order to analyze a variety of movies, a technique that automatically classifies shot types is required. Previous shot type classification studies have classified shot types by the proportion of the face on-screen or using a convolutional neural network (CNN). Studies that have classified shot types by the proportion of the face on-screen have not classified the shot if a person is not on the screen. A CNN classifies shot types even in the absence of a person on the screen, but there are certain shots that cannot be classified because instead of semantically analyzing the image, the method classifies them only by the characteristics and patterns of the image. Therefore, additional information is needed to access the image semantically, which can be done through semantic segmentation. Consequently, in the present study, the performance of shot type classification was improved by preprocessing the semantic segmentation of the frame extracted from the movie. Semantic segmentation approaches the images semantically and distinguishes the boundary relationships among objects. The representative technologies of semantic segmentation include Mask R-CNN and Yolact. A study was conducted to compare and evaluate performance using these as pretreatments for shot type classification. As a result, the average accuracy of shot type classification using a frame preprocessed with semantic segmentation increased by 1.9%, from 93% to 94.9%, when compared with shot type classification using the frame without such preprocessing. In particular, when using ResNet-50 and Yolact, the classification of shot type showed a 3% performance improvement (to 96% accuracy from 93%).
From Laboratory Tests to the Ecoremedial System: The Importance of Microorganisms in the Recovery of PPCPs-Disturbed Ecosystems
Authors: Molina María Carmen , Bautista Luis Fernando , Catalá Myriam , de las Heras María Rosa , Martínez-Hidalgo Pilar , San-Sebastián Jon , González-Benítez Natalia
Published: May 2020

The presence of a wide variety of emerging pollutants in natural water resources is an important global water quality challenge. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are known as emerging contaminants, widely used by modern society. This objective ensures availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, according to the 2030 Agenda. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) do not always mitigate the presence of these emerging contaminants in effluents discharged into the environment, although the removal efficiency of WWTP varies based on the techniques used. This main subject is framed within a broader environmental paradigm, such as the transition to a circular economy. The research and innovation within the WWTP will play a key role in improving the water resource management and its surrounding industrial and natural ecosystems. Even though bioremediation is a green technology, its integration into the bio-economy strategy, which improves the quality of the environment, is surprisingly rare if we compare to other corrective techniques (physical and chemical). This work carries out a bibliographic review, since the beginning of the 21st century, on the biological remediation of some PPCPs, focusing on organisms (or their by-products) used at the scale of laboratory or scale-up. PPCPs have been selected on the basics of their occurrence in water resources. The data reveal that, despite the advantages that are associated with bioremediation, it is not the first option in the case of the recovery of systems contaminated with PPCPs. The results also show that fungi and bacteria are the most frequently studied microorganisms, with the latter being more easily implanted in complex biotechnological systems (78% of bacterial manuscripts vs. 40% fungi). A total of 52 works has been published while using microalgae and only in 7% of them, these organisms were used on a large scale. Special emphasis is made on the advantages that are provided by biotechnological systems in series, as well as on the need for eco-toxicological control that is associated with any process of recovery of contaminated systems.