bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dry Rot Caused by the Complex Colletotrichum falcatum and Thielaviopsis paradoxa Emerges as a Key Stalk Disorder in Newly Expanded Sugarcane Plantations from Northwestern São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Silva Tatiane Carla , Moreira Silvino Intra , Felizardo Lucas Menezes , Martins Renan Milani , Suzuki Aline Namie , Faria Gláucia Amorim , Montanari Rafael , Ceresini Paulo Cezar
Published: October 2023

Sugarcane dry rot emerged as an important stalk disorder in newly expanded plantations in northwestern São Paulo, Brazil, under the current no-burning fully mechanical harvest policy gradually implemented in the past 20 years. This emergence was probably due to a considerable increase in both pathogen inocula and insect pest populations in sugarcane crop residues kept in the field. In this study, we surveyed the incidence of three stalk-related disorders in commercial sugarcane fields in six municipalities in northwestern São Paulo and the corresponding yield losses. The three stalk-related disorders surveyed were as follows: the red rot disease caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotricum falcatum, the spittlebug-induced shoot stunting, and the stem dry rot, which is associated with the simultaneous infection of C. falcatum and Thielaviopsis paradoxa, the pineapple set rot pathogen. Red rot disease was detected in 88.2% of the fields surveyed, while the spittlebug-induced shoot stunting disorder and the internal stem dry rot were found in 97.1% of the fields. Stem dry rot had the highest incidence and resulted in the highest yield losses. Total sugarcane yield losses were estimated at 20.1%, with an average of 14.2 (±3.8) t·ha−1 per field. The multiple regression model constructed to determine which of the three stem-related disorders contributed the most to total yield losses was not significant. Subsequently, the performance analyses of single-variable polynomial regression models indicated that the simple linear model was the best fit in terms of independently predicting sugarcane yield losses based on each stem-related disorder. Positive and significant correlations were only detected between sugarcane yield losses in t·ha−1 and the incidence of red rot disease or leafhopper-induced shoot stunting. We concluded that the stalk’s internal dry rot, as a disease complex associated with both C. falcatum and T. paradoxa, was the most important disorder in sugarcane fields in the northwest region of São Paulo state. A sustainable pest management program is needed to reduce the impact of all three stalk-associated disorders on regional sugarcane production.
Biotechnology of Nanofiber in Water, Energy, and Food Sectors
Authors: Prokisch József , Sári Daniella , Muthu Arjun , Nagy Antal , El-Ramady Hassan , Abdalla Neama , Dobránszki Judit
Published: October 2023

Natural resources including water, energy, and food have an increase in demand due to the global population increases. The sustainable management of these resources is an urgent global issue. These resources combined in a very vital nexus are called the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus. The field of nanotechnology offers promising solutions to overcome several problems in the WEF nexus. This review is the first report that focuses on the suggested applications of nanofibers in the WEF sectors. An economic value of nanofibers in WEF sectors was confirmed, which was mainly successfully applied for producing clean water, sustainable energy, and safe food. Biotechnological solutions of nanofibers include various activities in water, energy, and food industries. These activities may include the production of fresh water and wastewater treatment, producing, converting, and storing energy, and different activities in the food sector. Furthermore, microbial applications of nanofibers in the biomedicine sector, and the most important biotechnological approaches, mainly plant tissue culture, are the specific focus of the current study. Applying nanofibers in the field of plant tissue culture is a promising approach because these nanofibers can prevent any microbial contamination under in vitro conditions, but the loss of media by evaporation is the main challenge in this application. The main challenges of nanofiber production and application depend on the type of nanofibers and their application. Different sectors are related to almost all activities in our life; however, enormous open questions still need to be answered, especially the green approach that can be used to solve the accumulative problems in those sectors. The need for research on integrated systems is also urgent in the nexus of WEF under the umbrella of environmental sustainability, global climate change, and the concept of one’s health.
Role of Antioxidant Molecules in the Oxidative Stress Response Networks in the Tangerine Pathotype of Alternaria alternata
Authors: Liang Xingxing , Niu Qichen , Kong Jinchao , Zhao Xiaoyan , Zhang Bin , Li Lei , Jiao Chen , Gai Yunpeng
Published: October 2023

Antioxidant molecules play a crucial role in maintaining redox homeostasis, eliminating oxidative damage, and regulating pathogenesis in phytopathogenic fungi. These antioxidants function through a complex regulatory network involving enzymatic scavengers such as the superoxide dismutases (SODs), catalases, thioredoxins, and glutathiones, as well as non-enzymatic molecules. Specifically, the thioredoxin and glutathione systems (AaTrr1, AaTsa1, AaGpx3, and AaGlr1) mediated by NADPH oxidase represent vital thiol antioxidant systems utilized to regulate the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Alternaria alternata. This present study investigated the regulatory roles of AaBemA, a component of the fungal NADPH oxidase (Nox) complex, in the tangerine pathotype of A. alternata. Loss-of-function genetic analysis demonstrated that AaBemA is essential for the accumulation of cellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Mutant strains with defective AaBemA displayed higher sensitivity to H2O2 and the ROS-generating oxidant tert-butyl-hydroperoxide. These phenotypes closely resembled those previously observed in AaNoxB, AaTrr1, AaTsa1, AaGlr1, and AaYap1 mutants, suggesting a potential interconnection among them. Notably, the defective phenotype of ΔAaBemA could be restored through genetic complementation with wildtype AaBemA gene. Subcellular localization of a functional AaBemA fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene under confocal microscope revealed a widespread distribution of green fluorescence in the cytoplasm and cell membrane, indicating high expression of AaBemA during fungal growth in A. alternata. Intriguingly, inactivation of AaBemA did not affect the morphological phenotype and pathogenicity, indicating that the AaBemA is dispensable for the aforementioned phenotypes. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of ROS stress response, we sequenced the whole transcriptomes of A. alternata wildtype and ROS-sensitive mutants (ΔAaBemA, ΔAaNoxB, ΔAaGlr1, ΔAaTrr1, ΔAaTsa1, ΔAaYap1) which displayed considerable sensitivity to oxidants. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed significant influence on the gene-expression pattern of numerous genes related to glutathione metabolism, cellular oxidant detoxification, cellular response to abiotic stimulus, and cellular response to osmotic stress. The gene-expression data and pathways related to various essential metabolic processes and ROS tolerance enabled us to propose a NADPH oxidase-mediated regulatory network involving NADPH oxidase (AaNoxB, AaBemA), AaYap1, glutaredoxin (AaGPx3, AaGlr1), and thioredoxin systems (AaTrr1, AaTsa1) in responding to ROS stress in A. alternata.
The Changes in Cropland Pattern Enhanced Carbon Storage in Northwest China
Authors: Kong Junqia , Chen Longfei
Published: October 2023

Northwest China has experienced dramatic changes in agricultural land area in recent years. The effects of these changes on carbon storage are unknown, and this ambiguity hinders land development policies related to carbon emissions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of annual cropland changes (expansion and abandonment) during 2000 to 2020 on carbon storage in Northwest China by using land use data, carbon density data, and statistical yearbooks using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) method. The results indicated that the area of cropland increased by 1.47 × 106 ha from 2000 to 2020, in that the area of cropland expansion and abandonment are 3.58 × 106 and −2.11 × 106 ha, respectively. Cropland expansion was mainly from other land and grassland, and the conversion of cropland to grassland made up the largest proportion of cropland abandonment, followed by built-up land. The cropland changes resulted in a total carbon sequestration of 4.05 Tg (0.20 Tg C year−1), including a 17.66 Tg decrease and 21.71 Tg increase in carbon storage due to, respectively, cropland expansion and cropland abandonment, in which the conversion of forest to cropland (−8.60 Tg) and cropland to forest (11.16 Tg) were the main causes of the increase and decrease in carbon storage. Specifically, regional carbon storage due to cropland changes exhibited an increasing variation characteristic during 2000 to 2007, a gradually decreasing variation characteristics during 2007 to 2014, and fluctuated stabilization since then (during 2014 to 2020). In addition, the highest carbon emission was found in Xinjiang (−3.68 Tg), followed by Ningxia (−0.21 Tg) province, while Shanxi (3.44 Tg), Gansu (3.17 Tg) and Qinhai (1.33 Tg) had carbon accumulation. Overall, cropland changes acted as a carbon sink in Northwest China from 2000 to 2020. We suggest that the development of high-carbon-density lands or the conversion of low-carbon-density lands are critical to increasing future carbon sequestration due to cropland change.
Semantic Segmentation of Portuguese Agri-Forestry Using High-Resolution Orthophotos
Authors: Morais Tiago G. , Domingos Tiago , Teixeira Ricardo F. M.
Published: October 2023

The Montado ecosystem is an important agri-forestry system in Portugal, occupying about 8% of the total area of the country. However, this biodiverse ecosystem is threatened due to factors such as shrub encroachment. In this context, the development of tools for characterizing and monitoring Montado areas is crucial for their conservation. In this study, we developed a deep convolutional neural network algorithm based on the U-net architecture to identify regions with trees, shrubs, grass, bare soil, or other areas in Montado areas using high-resolution RGB and near-infrared orthophotos (with a spatial resolution of 25 cm) from seven experimental sites in the Alentejo region of Portugal (six used for training/validation and one for testing). To optimize the model’s performance, we performed hyperparameter tuning, which included adjusting the number of filters, dropout rate, and batch size. The best model achieved an overall classification performance of 0.88 and a mean intersection of the union of 0.81 on the test set, indicating high accuracy and reliability of the model in identifying and delineating land cover classes in the Montado ecosystem. The developed model is a powerful tool for identifying the status of the Montado ecosystem regarding shrub encroachment and facilitating better future management.
Ovary of Zebrafish during Spawning Season: Ultrastructure and Immunohistochemical Profiles of Sox9 and Myostatin
Authors: Mohamedien Dalia , Mokhtar Doaa M. , Abdellah Nada , Awad Mahmoud , Albano Marco , Sayed Ramy K. A.
Published: October 2023

This study sought to examine the ovarian cellular and stromal components of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) throughout the spawning season using light and electron microscopic tools. The ovaries of zebrafish showed oocytes in all stages of follicular development and degeneration (atresia). Six stages of oogenesis were demonstrated: oogonia, early oocytes, late oocytes, vacuolated follicles, the yolk globule stage (vitellogenesis), and mature follicles. The SOX9 protein was expressed in the ooplasm of the primary and previtellogenic oocytes and the theca cell layer of the mature follicles. Myostatin was expressed in the granulosa and theca cells. Many stem cells in the ovarian stroma expressed myostatin and SOX9. During the spawning season, the EM results indicated that the zona radiata increased in thickness and was crossed perpendicularly by pore canals that contained processes from both oocytes and zona granulosa. The granulosa cells contained many mitochondria, rER, sER, and vesicles. Meanwhile, the thecal layer consisted of fibroblast-like cells. Atretic follicles could be demonstrated that involved both oocytes and their follicular walls. Several types of cells were distinguished in the ovarian stroma, including mast cells, telocytes, lymphocytes, fibroblasts, endocrine cells, macrophages, adipocytes, dendritic cells, and steroidogenic (stromal) cells. The ovary of the zebrafish serves as a model to investigate follicular development.
Differences in Physiological Performance and Gut Microbiota between Deep-Sea and Coastal Aquaculture of Thachinotus Ovatus: A Metagenomic Approach
Authors: Li Shuangfei , Wang Shilin , Pan Cong , Luo Yanqing , Liang Shitong , Long Siru , Yang Xuewei , Wang Boyu
Published: October 2023

Aquaculture has become the fastest growing sector in global agriculture. The environmental degradation, diseases, and high density of mariculture has made for an inevitable shift in mariculture production from coastal to deep-sea areas. The influence that traditional coastal and emerging deep-sea farming environments exert on aquatic growth, immunity and gut microbial flora is unclear. To address this question, we compared the growth performance, physiological indicators and intestinal microbiological differences of deep-sea and coastal aquaculture in the Guangxi Beibu Gulf of China. The results showed that the growth performance and the complement of C3 and C4 (C3, C4), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lysozyme (LYS), these physiological and biochemical indicators in the liver, kidney, and muscle of Trachinotus ovatus (T. ovatus), showed significant differences under different rearing conditions. Metagenome sequencing analysis showed Ascomycota, Pseudomonadota, and Bacillota were the three dominant phyla, accounting for 52.98/53.32 (coastal/deep sea), 24.30/22.13, and 10.39/11.82%, respectively. Aligned against the CARD database, a total of 23/2 (coastal/deep-sea) antibiotic resistance genes were screened and grouped into 4/2 genotypes. It indicated that compared with deep-sea fish, higher biological oxygen levels (3.10 times), inorganic nitrogen (110.00 times) and labile phosphate levels (29.00 times) in coastal waters might contributed to the existence of eutrophication with antibiotic resistance. The results of the study can provide complementary data on the study of the difference between deep-sea farming and traditional coastal farming, serving as a reference to future in-depth work on the transformation of fisheries development and scientific standardization of deep-sea farming.
Nitrogen Utilization in Goats Consuming Buffelgrass Hay and Molasses-Based Blocks with Incremental Urea Levels
Authors: Torres-Cavazos Zaida , Rico-Costilla Daniela S. , Moreno-Degollado Gustavo , Hernández-Martínez Sara P. , Mendez-Zamora Gerardo , Ramos-Zayas Yareellys , Kawas Jorge R.
Published: October 2023

The use of goats for meat production faces challenges from environmental and nutritional factors. Urea is an affordable non-protein nitrogen source commonly utilized in ruminant nutrition. The objective of this study was to investigate nitrogen utilization in goats fed low-quality hay supplemented with molasses blocks containing urea. Twenty Anglo-Nubian doelings were individually housed in metabolic cages and provided with chopped Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) hay ad libitum. Goats were randomly assigned to four urea levels (0, 2, 4, and 6%; n = 5 per treatment) in molasses blocks for a duration of 30 days. A negative nitrogen balance (−2.458 g/day) was observed in doelings consuming blocks without urea, compared with a positive balance (0.895 g/d) for those consuming the 6% urea blocks. Block nitrogen intake significantly increased with urea level, but urea supplementation did not affect dry matter (DM) or neutral detergent fiber (NDFom) intake or digestibility. A minimum crude protein (CP) requirement of 8% for maintenance in doelings consuming low-quality forage with a urea-based supplement was determined through regression analysis between CP intake (% of DM) and N balance (r2 = 0.479; p < 0.002). The value of 8% of CP obtained in this study is similar to several previous studies reported in the literature, but in this case, the increments in CP came exclusively from urea. In this study, increasing the urea content of molasses blocks up to 6% significantly increased nitrogen intake, retention, and balance in goats. These results contribute to a better understanding of nitrogen utilization in goats fed low-quality hay with urea supplementation.
Impact of the Five-Year Intervention of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program on the Optimal Selection of Surgical Prophylaxis in a Hospital without Antibiotic Prescription Restrictions in Costa Rica: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Díaz-Madriz José Pablo , Zavaleta-Monestel Esteban , Villalobos-Madriz Jorge Arturo , Rojas-Chinchilla Carolina , Castrillo-Portillo Priscilla , Meléndez-Alfaro Alison , Vásquez-Mendoza Ana Fernanda , Muñoz-Gutiérrez Gabriel , Arguedas-Chacón Sebastián
Published: October 2023

This study aims to characterize the impact of the implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program (AMS) on the optimal selection of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in adult patients. This is a retrospective quasi-experimental study that compared the selection and duration of antibiotics for all surgical prophylaxis prescriptions over six months, both before (pre-AMS) and after a five-year intervention of AMS (post-AMS). In addition, data related to the consumption of antibiotics, adverse drug reactions, and surgical site infections throughout the years of the intervention were analyzed. The rate of appropriate selection of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical procedures improved to 80% during the post-AMS period. The percentage of optimal duration increased from 69.1% (N = 1598) in the pre-AMS period to 78.0% (N = 841) in the post-AMS period (p < 0.001). The consumption of ceftriaxone significantly decreased, while the use of cefazolin increased more than nine times. No severe adverse reactions or increases in surgical site infections were detected after the intervention. The implementation of an AMS in the surgical ward demonstrated a trend towards a positive overall impact on the selection and duration of prophylactic antibiotics for surgery, with positive results also observed in other variables associated with the prescription of these antibiotics.
Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Staphylococcus Isolated from Cows with Subclinical Mastitis: Do Strains from the Environment and from Humans Contribute to the Dissemination of Resistance among Bacteria on Dairy Farms in Colombia?
Authors: Rodríguez Martha Fabiola , Gomez Arlen Patricia , Ceballos-Garzon Andres
Published: October 2023

Staphylococcus is a very prevalent etiologic agent of bovine mastitis, and antibiotic resistance contributes to the successful colonization and dissemination of these bacteria in different environments and hosts on dairy farms. This study aimed to identify the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genotypes and phenotypes of Staphylococcus spp. isolates from different sources on dairy farms and their relationship with the use of antibiotics. An antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed on 349 Staphylococcus strains (S. aureus, n = 152; non-aureus staphylococci (NAS), n = 197) isolated from quarter milk samples (QMSs) from cows with subclinical mastitis (176), the teats of cows (116), the milking parlor environment (32), and the nasal cavities of milk workers (25). Resistance and multidrug resistance percentages found for S. aureus and NAS were (S. aureus = 63.2%, NAS = 55.8%) and (S. aureus = 4.6%, NAS = 11.7%), respectively. S. aureus and NAS isolates showed resistance mainly to penicillin (10 IU) (54.1% and 32.4%) and ampicillin (10 mg) (50.3% and 27.0%) drugs. The prevalence of AMR Staphylococcus was higher in environmental samples (81.3%) compared to other sources (52.6–76.0%). In S. aureus isolates, the identification of the blaZ (83.9%), aacAaphD (48.6%), ermC (23.5%), tetK (12.9%), and mecA (12.1%) genes did not entirely agree with the AMR phenotype. We conclude that the use of β-lactam antibiotics influences the expression of AMR in Staphylococcus circulating on dairy farms and that S. aureus isolates from the environment and humans may be reservoirs of AMR for other bacteria on dairy farms.
Comparison of Key Nutrient Content of Commercial Puppy Foods with Canine Dietary Requirements
Authors: Jacuńska Weronika , Biel Wioletta , Witkowicz Robert , Maciejewska-Markiewicz Dominika , Piątkowska Ewa
Published: October 2023

A balanced diet significantly impacts a dog’s development with regards to energy, growth, immunity, and overall health. Customizing a dog’s diet according to its age, size, and activity level is imperative for its welfare. Unbalanced diets can lead to nutritional deficiencies. This study assesses the key nutrient content of puppy diets that display information on EPA and DHA fatty acids. The diets fulfilled nutritional requirements for protein and fat according to the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) but varied in terms of levels of essential fatty acids. The nutrient levels in certain diets did not correspond to the label claims. None of the diets fulfilled the EPA and DHA claims, indicating an inconsistent ratio of n−6 to n−3. Additionally, trans fat such as C18:1 elaidic acid was present in all diets.
Gesture Recognition and Hand Tracking for Anti-Counterfeit Palmvein Recognition
Authors: Xu Jiawei , Leng Lu , Kim Byung-Gyu
Published: October 2023

At present, COVID-19 is posing a serious threat to global human health. The features of hand veins in infrared environments have many advantages, including non-contact acquisition, security, privacy, etc., which can remarkably reduce the risks of COVID-19. Therefore, this paper builds an interactive system, which can recognize hand gestures and track hands for palmvein recognition in infrared environments. The gesture contours are extracted and input into an improved convolutional neural network for gesture recognition. The hand is tracked based on key point detection. Because the hand gesture commands are randomly generated and the hand vein features are extracted from the infrared environment, the anti-counterfeiting performance is obviously improved. In addition, hand tracking is conducted after gesture recognition, which prevents the escape of the hand from the camera view range, so it ensures that the hand used for palmvein recognition is identical to the hand used during gesture recognition. The experimental results show that the proposed gesture recognition method performs satisfactorily on our dataset, and the hand tracking method has good robustness.
Impact Characteristics of a Bidirectional Pneumatic DTH Hammer for Unconsolidated Formations
Authors: Shi Yuanling , He Shuang , Li Conghui
Published: October 2023

With advantages of high efficiency and low cost, DTH hammer drilling has been highly applied in various drilling projects. When drilling in unconsolidated formations, it is prone to drilling accidents such as drilling tools sticking or burying. Thus, a bidirectional pneumatic DTH hammer is designed to drill boreholes using forward impact and release sticking drilling tools using backward impact. With a floating gas distribution mechanism, impact strokes of the DTH hammer piston can be changed when flat keys are in a different position of the key grooves on the gas distribution shaft. In drilling mode, the piston has a larger impact stroke and can impact the anvil at high speeds to drive the bit breaking rocks. When drilling tools become stuck, by changing to a smaller impact stroke, the piston can impact backward on the gas distribution valve to break rocks above the DTH hammer so sticking drilling tools can be released. According to the structure and working principle of the bidirectional pneumatic DTH hammer, a physical model based on the pneumatic transmission circuit is established; then, a simulation model is built with pneumatic transmission module components in software of SimulationX 4.1 student version. Piston velocities, displacements, and impact energy are analyzed, with main factors including piston mass, total weight of the DTH hammer, compressed air pressure, and backward impact stroke being considered. Analysis results show that working characteristics of the DTH hammer are fairly affected by piston mass and compressed air pressure. Based on the changing laws of the impact frequency, peak of impact velocity, and impact energy, a piston mass of 18 kg, total weight of 125 kg, gas source pressure of 2.2 MPa, and lifting distance of 60 mm for backward impact were recommended. To verify the performance of the bidirectional pneumatic DTH hammer, field experiments were carried out in the gravel stratums. The bidirectional DTH hammer was in good working condition and the maximum drilling rate can reach up to 1.5 m/min. By lifting the DTH hammer away from the bottom of the borehole and pumping compressed air, the DTH hammer piston could achieve a high frequency backward impact. There are no drilling tools’ sticking or burying accidents in the drilling experiments. The bidirectional pneumatic DTH hammer can effectively drill boreholes in loose formations and deal with drilling tools’ sticking or burying accidents.
Investigation of Load–Displacement Characteristics and Crack Behavior of RC Beam Based on Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis Using Concrete Damage Plasticity
Authors: Luu Xuan-Bach , Kim Seong-Kyum , Kim Woosuk
Published: October 2023

Crack patterns provide critical information about the structural integrity and safety of concrete structures. However, until now, there has been a lack of sufficient studies on using the Finite Element (FE) method to investigate the characteristics of the crack patterns of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Therefore, this study aims to develop an FE model to analyze the load–displacement and crack characteristics of a beam under a four-point bending test using the concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model that accounts for the influence of mesh size. The simulation results were validated against experimental results, including mesh convergence analysis, energy balance, load characteristics, and crack patterns. A parametric study was then conducted using this model to investigate the influence of the rebar’s diameter, number, and spacing on the RC beam’s load–displacement characteristics and crack behavior. The findings demonstrate that the FE model accurately simulates the working behavior of the RC beam, with a maximum deviation at a cracking load of 8.7% and crack patterns with a maximum deviation in the mean crack height of 12.1%. In addition, the results of the parametric study suggest that the rebar configuration significantly affects the RC beam’s loading carrying capacity. This study provides deeper insights into the use of FE modeling for analyzing the behavior of RC beams, which can be useful for designing and optimizing structures in civil engineering.
Hybrid Parallel Ant Colony Optimization for Application to Quantum Computing to Solve Large-Scale Combinatorial Optimization Problems
Authors: Ghimire Bishad , Mahmood Ausif , Elleithy Khaled
Published: October 2023

Quantum computing is a promising technology that may provide breakthrough solutions to today’s difficult problems such as breaking encryption and solving large-scale combinatorial optimization problems. An algorithm referred to as Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) has been recently proposed to approximately solve hard problems using a protocol know as bang–bang. The technique is based on unitary evolution using a Hamiltonian encoding of the objective function of the combinatorial optimization problem. The QAOA was explored in the context of several optimization problems such as the Max-Cut problem and the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). Due to the relatively small node-size solution capability of the available quantum computers and simulators, we developed a hybrid approach where sub-graphs of a TSP tour can be executed on a quantum computer, and the results from the quantum optimization are combined for a further optimization of the whole tour. Since the local optimization of a sub-graph is prone to becoming trapped in a local minimum, we overcame this problem by using a parallel Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm with periodic pheromone exchange between colonies. Our method exceeds existing approaches which have attempted partitioning a graph for small problems (less than 48 nodes) with sub-optimal results. We obtained optimum results for benchmarks with less than 150 nodes and results usually within 1% of the known optimal solution for benchmarks with around 2000 nodes.
Anomalistic Symptom Judgment Algorithm for Predictive Maintenance of Ship Propulsion Engine Using Machine Learning
Authors: Park Jinkyu , Oh Jungmo
Published: October 2023

Ships serve as crucial transporters of cargo and passengers in substantial volumes and operate for a long time; therefore, an efficient maintenance system is essential for economical and stable vessel operation. In this study, a machine learning based approach was developed that considers the rapidly changing load fluctuations on ships and large variability in normal operation data to apply predictive maintenance to the propulsion engines of ships. After acquiring propulsion engine data from the alarm monitoring system of a ship, data and maintenance items were analyzed to select the data that could determine the anomalistic symptoms of the propulsion engine. Further, the main engine condition criterion value was defined as the factor for anomalistic symptom prediction. An engine anomalistic symptom judgment algorithm that can be practically used for ship maintenance prediction was developed and verified using machine learning.
Optimizing Multimodal Scene Recognition through Mutual Information-Based Feature Selection in Deep Learning Models
Authors: Hammad Mohamed , Chelloug Samia Allaoua , Alayed Walaa , El-Latif Ahmed A. Abd
Published: October 2023

The field of scene recognition, which lies at the crossroads of computer vision and artificial intelligence, has experienced notable progress because of scholarly pursuits. This article introduces a novel methodology for scene recognition by combining convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with feature selection techniques based on mutual information (MI). The main goal of our study is to address the limitations inherent in conventional unimodal methods, with the aim of improving the precision and dependability of scene classification. The focus of our research is around the formulation of a comprehensive approach for scene detection, utilizing multimodal deep learning methodologies implemented on a solitary input image. Our work distinguishes itself by the innovative amalgamation of CNN- and MI-based feature selection. This integration provides distinct advantages and enhanced capabilities when compared to prevailing methodologies. In order to assess the effectiveness of our methodology, we performed tests on two openly accessible datasets, namely, the scene categorization dataset and the AID dataset. The results of these studies exhibited notable levels of precision, with accuracies of 100% and 98.83% achieved for the corresponding datasets. These findings surpass the performance of other established techniques. The primary objective of our end-to-end approach is to reduce complexity and resource requirements, hence creating a robust framework for the task of scene categorization. This work significantly advances the practical application of computer vision in various real-world scenarios, leading to a large improvement in the accuracy of scene recognition and interpretation.
Study of Natural Ventilation Strategies in the São Cristóvão Church in Lisbon Using a Multizone Airflow Model
Authors: Baltazar Luis G. , Alcobia João , Silva Hugo Entradas
Published: October 2023

Visitors have a significant impact on the indoor climate of buildings housing works of art, and the relationship between the number of visitors, the indoor air quality and the protection of exposed works of art is an important factor in the overall study of the indoor climate of heritage buildings without mechanical ventilation and/or air-conditioning systems. In view of these concerns and the lack of studies on natural ventilation in heritage buildings, this study aims to analyse the performance of natural ventilation in the São Cristóvão Church in Lisbon, Portugal. For the preparation of this study, an analysis of the natural ventilation of this church was carried out by creating a model in the CONTAM software, and the indoor air quality was analysed based on different international standards and guidelines for carbon dioxide levels and air flow rates (ACH). Estimating the current ventilation strategy, an average ACH of 0.75 h−1 was estimated during the time the church is open, and an ACH of 0.15 h−1 was estimated during the time the doors were closed. In a yearly analysis, an average ACH of 0.30 h−1 was obtained. These air exchange values guarantee EN 16798-1 category I air quality for 72% of the year and category II air quality for 18% of the year. Different natural ventilation strategies were analysed: (a) three scenarios exploring different cross ventilation scenarios; (b) a scenario assuming that the church is closed all year round; and (c) a scenario estimating an increase in the number of visitors, giving an idea of the variations in human pollutants and possible consequences. Taking into account the air infiltration and the fact that masses, an occasional situation with a high number of visitors, are always held just before the church closes, it is guaranteed that carbon dioxide levels will never exceed the limit of 350 ppm above the outdoor values imposed by EN-13779, registering a maximum of 291 ppm.
Radiomics in Gynaecological Imaging: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Franco Paolo Niccolò , Vernuccio Federica , Maino Cesare , Cannella Roberto , Otero-García Milagros , Ippolito Davide
Published: October 2023

Radiomics is an emerging field of research based on extracting mathematical descriptive features from medical images with the aim of improving diagnostic performance and providing increasing support to clinical decisions. In recent years, a number of studies have been published regarding different possible applications of radiomics in gynaecological imaging. Many fields have been explored, such as tumour diagnosis and staging, differentiation of histological subtypes, assessment of distant metastases, prediction of response to therapy, recurrence, and patients’ outcome. However, several studies are not robust, do not include validation cohorts, or lack reproducibility. On these bases, the purpose of this narrative review is to provide an overview of the most relevant studies in the literature on radiomics in gynaecological imaging. We focused on gynaecological malignancies, particularly endometrial, cervical, mesenchymal, and ovarian malignant pathologies.
Study on Mechanisms of NOx Formation and Inhibition during the Combustion of NH3/CH4 and NH3/CO Mixtures
Authors: Du Yongbo , Zong Siyu , Wang Chang’an , Wang Yongguan , Lyu Qiang , Da Yaodong , Che Defu
Published: October 2023

Ammonia is an ideal renewable, carbon-free fuel and hydrogen carrier, which produces nitrogen and water after complete combustion in the presence of oxygen. However, ammonia has low reactivity, slow flame-propagation speed, and carries risks of high nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Co-firing ammonia with an industrial by-product gas (with CH4 and CO being the main combustible materials) is a cost-effective and convenient method of improving the combustion characteristics of ammonia, but attention still needs to be paid to the NOx generation. Currently, the research on NOx formation during co-firing of ammonia with other fuel gases is still insufficient. In this study, a high-temperature furnace reaction system was used to investigate the NOx formation and inhibition mechanisms during the combustion of NH3/CH4 and NH3/CO mixtures. By varying the ammonia blending ratio, excess air coefficient (α), temperature, residence time, and fuel concentration, the key factors influencing NOx generation and inhibition were further analyzed. The results showed that when α was no less than 1, the production of NOx initially increased and then decreased with an increasing proportion of ammonia in the fuel gas. Within the temperature range of 900 °C to 1500 °C, the amount of NOx generated during the combustion of the mixed gas gradually decreased with the increase in temperature. Under the conditions of NH3/CH4 and NH3/CO, the emissions of NOx were higher than those during pure ammonia combustion.
Evaluation of Dimensional Stability and Occlusal Wear of Additively and Subtractively Manufactured Resin-Based Crowns after Thermomechanical Aging
Authors: Güven Mehmet Esad , Çakmak Gülce , Dönmez Mustafa Borga , Yilmaz Burak
Published: October 2023

The knowledge on the surface deviations and wear of recently introduced additively or subtractively manufactured materials indicated for definitive prosthesis is limited. The aim of this present study was to evaluate the external surface and mesiodistal width deviation and the occlusal surface wear of one additively manufactured composite resin (MS) and three subtractively manufactured resins (nanographene-reinforced polymethylmethacrylate (GR), conventional polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and reinforced composite resin (BC)) after thermomechanical aging. Molar-shaped crowns were fabricated in the tested materials and digitized with an intraoral scanner (CEREC Primescan; Dentsply Sirona, Bensheim, Germany). Each crown was subjected to thermomechanical aging and rescanned with the same scanner. A three-dimensional analysis software (Geomagic Control X v.2022.1; 3D Systems, Rock Hill, SC, USA) was used to calculate the deviations on the external surface, mesiodistal width, and wear on the occlusal surfaces of the tested crowns. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s tests (α = 0.05). MS had higher external surface deviations than PMMA and GR (p ≤ 0.038) and higher mesiodistal width deviations than PMMA and BC (p = 0.004). BC and GR had higher volume loss than PMMA (p ≤ 0.002). The additively manufactured composite resin was more prone to deviations, while reinforced composite resin had lower wear resistance than most of the tested materials.
Enhancing Methyl Orange Degradation with Laser-Generated ZnO and Ce-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles
Authors: Ajil Awras H. , Ahmed Naser M. , Yam F. K. , Zango Zakariyya Uba , Wadi Ismael A. , M. Binzowaimil Ayed , Aldaghri Osamah , Ibnaouf Khalid H. , Cabrera Humberto
Published: October 2023

The presence of Methyl Orange, a hazardous organic compound typically found in industrial wastewater, presents a significant environmental challenge, necessitating the development of effective strategies for its removal to mitigate adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health. In this work, we utilized 60-watt continuous-wave (CW) and high-power CO2 laser with 10.6 μm wavelength to synthesize Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) doped with 1% Cerium (Ce) as photocatalyst at standard laboratory conditions through Laser-Assisted Chemical Bath Synthesis (LACBS) technique. The synthesized nanostructures were thoroughly characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Subsequently, their efficiency in degrading Methyl Orange (MO) dye was evaluated under UV and sunlight irradiation. The findings revealed that the 1% Ce-doped ZnO sample exhibited enhanced photocatalytic efficiency under both UV and sunlight irradiation, as well as active adsorption capabilities in the absence of light. Notably, the most effective photodegradation performance was achieved under solar radiation, with an impressive 95% of MO dye degradation observed after just 90 min of exposure.
The Q-Tube-Assisted Green Sustainable Synthesis of Fused Azines: New Synthetic Opportunities via Innovative Green Technology
Authors: Al-Romaizan Abeer Nasser , Bawaked Salem M. , Saleh Tamer S. , Moustafa Mohamed Mokhtar M.
Published: October 2023

An efficient, economical, and green, sustainable synthesis of fused azines using Mg-Al hydrotalcite under a high-pressure Q-Tube reactor has been developed. This reaction proceeds through the aza-Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated ketone with different aminoazoles. This method offered excellent yields in a short reaction time that economically saved energy in addition to the protocol showing the reuse of the catalyst seven times without losing its catalytic activity.
Numerical Modeling of the Geotechnical and Structural Strengthening of Quay Structures with a Case Study
Authors: Bildik Selçuk
Published: October 2023

With developments in maritime trade, the need to increase port capacities has emerged. It is important that the reconstruction of such port structures be carried out without disrupting the activities of the existing port and without damaging the old structures. However, the reconstruction and strengthening of these structures require significant engineering work. Especially in the design of such structures, geotechnical and structural engineering theories and practices need to be considered together. The most important challenge in this type of engineering design is to ensure harmony in geotechnical and structural analyses. In this study, the strengthening of a port structure in Guinea is taken as a case study. First, the existing quay wall was evaluated, and then the geotechnical and structural design of the new structure to be built for capacity increase was discussed. A geotechnical design was made with the Plaxis 2D program, and the structural design was made with the Sap2000 program. The soil behavior was analyzed nonlinearly with the Plaxis program and was modeled with the same accuracy as the Sap2000 program. In addition, pile capacities were confirmed by loading tests performed on the piles. The results show that complex hybrid solutions consisting of reinforced and unreinforced piles can be modeled with the finite element method. As seen from this case study, the capacities of existing port structures can be safely increased, provided that necessary geotechnical precautions are taken.
Fake News Detection on Social Networks: A Survey
Authors: Shen Yanping , Liu Qingjie , Guo Na , Yuan Jing , Yang Yanqing
Published: October 2023

In recent years, social networks have developed rapidly and have become the main platform for the release and dissemination of fake news. The research on fake news detection has attracted extensive attention in the field of computer science. Fake news detection technology has made many breakthroughs recently, but many challenges remain. Although there are some review papers on fake news detection, a more detailed picture for carrying out a comprehensive review is presented in this paper. The concepts related to fake news detection, including fundamental theory, feature type, detection technique and detection approach, are introduced. Specifically, through extensive investigation and complex organization, a classification method for fake news detection is proposed. The datasets of fake news detection in different fields are also compared and analyzed. In addition, the tables and pictures summarized here help researchers easily grasp the full picture of fake news detection.
Calibration of Sliding Friction Coefficient in DEM between Different Particles by Experiment
Authors: Liu Pengcheng , Liu Jun , Gao Song , Wang Yue , Zheng Haowen , Zhen Mengyang , Zhao Futian , Liu Zheng , Ou Chen , Zhuang Ruihong
Published: October 2023

Granular materials are widely prevalent in nature and industry, and the discrete element method (DEM) is the most effective method for the mechanical analysis of granular materials. Because of the difficulty inherent in friction coefficient determination, the friction behavior of granular geomaterials has always been a difficult problem in DEM. In order to study the variation rules of the sliding friction coefficients in DEM, an experiment designed to determine the sliding friction coefficient between particles with different shapes and different contact forms and an experiment designed to determine the sliding friction coefficient between particles and different boundaries were proposed, and the experimental results were fitted. In order to verify the reliability of the experiments, the fitting results were embedded into DEM software, and several packing experiments and simulation experiments were carried out and compared. The simulated results are detailed and discussed with reference to the experimental results as part of this paper. The results indicate that the simulation results are highly consistent with the experimental results, and the sliding friction coefficient obtained by the proposed experiment is in accordance with that determined theoretically. The sliding friction coefficient determined by fitting according to the experimental results can determine the sliding friction coefficient in DEM simulation and improve the accuracy of simulation results.
Two-Stage Fusion-Based Audiovisual Remote Sensing Scene Classification
Authors: Wang Yaming , Liu Yiyang , Huang Wenqing , Ye Xiaoping , Jiang Mingfeng
Published: October 2023

Scene classification in remote sensing is a pivotal research area, traditionally relying on visual information from aerial images for labeling. The introduction of ground environment audio as a novel geospatial data source adds valuable information for scene classification. However, bridging the structural gap between aerial images and ground environment audio is challenging, rendering popular two-branch networks ineffective for direct data fusion. To address this issue, the study in this research presents the Two-stage Fusion-based Audiovisual Classification Network (TFAVCNet). TFAVCNet leverages both audio and visual modules to extract deep semantic features from ground environmental audio and remote sensing images, respectively. The audiovisual fusion module combines and fuses information from both modalities at the feature and decision levels, facilitating joint training and yielding a more-robust solution. The proposed method outperforms existing approaches, as demonstrated by the experimental results on the ADVANCE dataset for remote sensing audiovisual scene classification, offering an innovative approach to enhanced scene classification.