bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SMEs, Success, and Capital Startups: Evidence from the Service Sector in South Africa
Authors: Ogujiuba Kanayo K. , Olamide Ebenezer , Boshoff Estelle , Agholor Isaac , Ogujiuba Chinelo
Published: May 2023

Financing has been identified as a major stumbling block to the effective launch and long-term success of SMEs, particularly in emerging economies. However, little is known about the impact of capital startups on SMEs’ performance in South Africa. Thus, the aim of this article is to compare differences in business success for three different levels of Capital startups and to determine the impact of capital startups on SMEs’ performance. The analysis was premised on a two-tail hypothesis test that the average weights of the three groups are different. The Cronbach Alpha test and the test–re-test reliability approach on the survey instrument indicated values of 0.70 and 0.875, respectively. A one-way between-groups analysis of variance was conducted startup. There was a statistically significant difference at the p < 0.05 level in scores for the three groups (F (2, 477) = 12.967 p = 0.0000). Post hoc comparisons using the Tukey HSD test indicated that the mean scores for Group 1 (M = 19.93, SD = 6.343) were significantly different from Group 2 (M = 20.94, SD = 2.309) and Group 3 (M = 21.73, SD = 2.880). Despite reaching statistical significance, the actual difference in mean scores between the groups was quite small. The one-way ANOVA approach indicates that finance (startup capital) remains a significant impediment to the effective launch of service-providing SMEs. It is recommended that SMEs who want to raise startup capital must create a solid business plan or build a prototype to sell the idea. This will assist them in discussions with venture capitalists, angel investors, banks, or other financial institutions.
Prediction of Aircraft Surface Noise in Supersonic Cruise State
Authors: Zhang Xiaoguang , Dang Huixue , Li Bin
Published: May 2023

The aerodynamic noise of an aircraft leads to vibration fatigue damage to structures. Herein, a prediction method for aircraft surface noise under the comprehensive effect of mixed acoustic sources during flight, primarily surface aerodynamic, air intake, and tail nozzle jet noises, was studied. In the supersonic cruising state, the internal and external flow fields of the aircraft were solved using the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations to obtain the statistical average solution of the initial turbulence. The non-linear disturbance equation was used to obtain the surface acoustic load of the aircraft. The calculation results revealed that the main source of aircraft surface noise is aerodynamic noise. The sound pressure level on the fuselage increases gradually from front to rear along the aircraft, and the OASPL at the air intake and tail nozzle is relatively large. The jet noise has little effect on the sound pressure level at the front of the fuselage and only contributes to the OASPL at the tail nozzle of the fuselage. The intensity of pressure pulsations from the engine exhaust in the tail section is 93.3% of the total intensity of pressure pulsations.
Reducing Anion Nutrient Leaching Losses from a Short-Cycle Container-Grown Crop (Tagetes patula) Using Activated Aluminum
Authors: Abdi Damon E. , Blanchard Jennifer , Fields Jeb S. , Santos Leticia , Beasley Lily , Beasley Jeffrey
Published: May 2023

Short-cycle horticulture crops often rely on fertigation to provide immediately available nutrients. This practice poses an environmental threat when nutrients, particularly phosphorus, leach from containers and enter waterways. One method that could be used to reduce the loss of phosphorus and other key anions from horticultural crops is incorporating activated aluminum into container substrates. This study investigates the incorporation of three rates of activated aluminum into a pine bark substrate, and the effects this amendment may have on the container leachate nutrient content and the growth of a popular short-cycle crop (Tagetes patula, French marigold). The addition of activated aluminum reduced the cumulative mass of phosphorus in container leachate by 69–96% compared to a standard pine bark substrate. The growth index and subjective plant quality scores of Tagetes were equivalent between the activated aluminum-amended substrates and pine bark only substrates, in all cases, producing a salable, quality crop. This study demonstrates that incorporating activated aluminum into container substrates is an effective way to reduce phosphorus loss to the environment without sacrificing crop quality.
Enhancing Drought Tolerance and Water Productivity of Diverse Maize Hybrids (Zea mays) Using Exogenously Applied Biostimulants under Varying Irrigation Levels
Authors: Mansour Elsayed , El-Sobky El-Sayed E. A. , Abdul-Hamid Mohamed I. E. , Abdallah Eman , Zedan Abdeltawab M. I. , Serag Ahmed M. , Silvar Cristina , El-Hendawy Salah , Desoky El-Sayed M.
Published: May 2023

Water deficit is a decisive challenge that tremendously affects maize physiological functions and productivity. Hence, it is crucial to ameliorate its tolerance to drought stress, in particular under abrupt climate change and a growing population. The present study aimed to explore the influence of exogenously sprayed moringa seed extract (Moringa oleifera) and α-tocopherol on physio-biochemical, morphological, and yield attributes of six diverse maize hybrids under three irrigation levels in poor-fertility sandy soil. The applied irrigation regimes were based on estimated crop evapotranspiration (ET) using the FAO Penman–Monteith equation. A split–split plot arrangement with a randomized complete block design and three replicates was applied for different treatments. Irrigation levels (100% ET, 75% ET and 50% ET) were established in the main plots, while foliar applications (moringa extract and α-tocopherol) were located in subplots and the assessed hybrids (SC162, SC166, SC167, SC168, SC176, and SC178) in subsubplots. Mild (75% ET) and severe (50% ET) drought stress gradually reduced the gas exchange, photosynthetic efficiency, water relations, and yield traits compared with well-watered conditions (100% ET). However, foliar application of moringa seed extract or α-tocopherol was effective in reinforcing maize tolerance to drought stress by enhancing the accumulation of osmoprotectants, improving antioxidant enzymes, and decreasing levels of peroxidation of membrane lipids and electrolyte leakage compared to untreated control. These positive impacts were reflected in boosting yield traits and crop water productivity under water deficit conditions. The physiological and agronomic performance of the assessed maize hybrids considerably varied under water deficit conditions. The hybrids SC168, SC176, and SC178 exhibited the best performance under mild and severe drought conditions compared with the other hybrids. Consequently, the integration of exogenously applied moringa seed extract or α-tocopherol with tolerant maize hybrids such as SC168, SC176, and SC178 is an efficient approach to ameliorating drought tolerance under water-scarce conditions in arid environments.
S-nitrosylation of SlAPX Is Involved in Alleviating Oxidative Damage in Transgenic Tobacco under Nitrate Stress
Authors: Lv Chuntao , Liang Yuanlin , Wang Manqi , Li Kunzhi , Sun Xudong , Xu Huini
Published: May 2023

Nitric oxide (NO) modulates plant response by post-translationally modifying proteins, mainly through S-nitrosylation. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle participates in the removal of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). However, the relationship between S-nitrosylation and the role of tomato APX (SlAPX) under nitrate stress is still unclear. In this study, the enzyme activity, mRNA expression, and S-nitrosylation level of SlAPX were significantly increased in tomato roots after nitrate treatment. SlAPX protein could be S-nitrosylated by S-nitrosoglutathione in vitro, and APX activity was significantly increased after S-nitrosylation. The SlAPX overexpressed tobacco plants grew better than the wild type (WT) plants under nitrate stress. Meanwhile, the transgenic plants showed lower reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde content, higher APX, monodehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase activities, ascorbic acid/dehydroascorbic acid, and reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio, proline, and soluble sugar contents than those in the WT plants under nitrate treatment. Moreover, overexpressed transgenic seeds showed higher tolerance to methyl viologen induced oxidative stress compared with the WT. The NO accumulation and S-nitrosylation APX level were higher in transgenic plants than in WT plants after nitrate stress treatment. Our results provide novel insights into the mechanism of SlAPX modulation excess nitrate stress tolerance involving the S-nitrosylation modification.
Genome-Wide Association Analysis Identifies Genomic Regions and Candidate Genes for Growth and Fatness Traits in Diannan Small-Ear (DSE) Pigs
Authors: Liu Mei , Lan Qun , Yang Long , Deng Qiuchun , Wei Taiyun , Zhao Heng , Peng Peiya , Lin Xiaoding , Chen Yuhan , Ma Haiming , Wei Hongjiang , Yin Yulong
Published: May 2023

In the livestock industry, the growth and fatness traits are directly related to production efficiency and economic profits. As for Diannan small-ear (DSE) pigs, a unique indigenous breed, the genetic architecture of growth and fatness traits is still elusive. The aim of this study was to search the genetic loci and candidate genes associated with phenotypic traits in DSE pigs using GWAS based on the Geneseek Porcine 50K SNP Chip data. A total of 22,146 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in 265 DSE pigs and used for Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) analysis. Seven SNPs were found to be associated with back height, chest circumference, cannon bone circumference, and backfat thickness at the suggestive significance level. Based on gene annotation results, these seven SNPs were, respectively, mapped to the following candidate genes, VIPR2, SLC10A2, NUCKS1, MCT1, CHCHD3, SMOX, and GPR1, which are mainly involved with adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism, skeletal muscle development, and average daily weight gain. Our work offers novel insights into the genetic architecture of economically important traits in swine and may play an important role in breeding using molecular markers in the DSE breed.
Equine Behavioural and Physiological Responses to Auditory Stimuli in the Presence and Absence of Noise-Damping Ear Covers
Authors: Hole Clare , Murray Rachel , Marlin David , Freeman Paul
Published: May 2023

Despite numerous studies investigating responses to visual perception, there is limited research into how horses respond to different auditory stimuli. Although ‘noise-damping’ ear covers are frequently used on sport horses to minimise distraction from external auditory stimuli, the effectiveness of ear covers has not been established. This study aimed to (i) investigate the responses of horses to different sounds commonly present in a competition environment, and (ii) compare these responses in the presence and absence of ear covers. A total of 18 horses were presented with 5 sounds commonly heard in competition or stable environments both with and without ear covers, in a randomised order crossover design. Behavioural and heart rate responses were recorded. Responses were compared between sounds and with/without ear covers. Differences in physiological and behavioural responses to different complex auditory stimuli were shown. An overall difference in physiological and behavioural responses with and without ear covers was detected, although the only difference in heart rate between ear covers and no ear covers that individually achieved significance was the feed sound. These findings suggest that horses can discriminate sounds and alter their responses based on the individual stimulus, and these responses are reduced when wearing ear covers with varying effectiveness for different sounds.
Children’s Relationships with a Non-Vertebrate Animal: The Case of a Giant African Land Snail (Achatina fulica) at School
Authors: Hirschenhauser Katharina , Brodesser Lisa
Published: May 2023

Employing living animals in educational settings is popular and may assist learning. Human-animal relationships are considered fundamental for the effects of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) on successful learning. Key studies on AAI emphasize dogs, or other large-brained vertebrates, while AAI with non-vertebrate species is a yet rather unexplored field. However, bringing non-vertebrate species to school has ethical and practical advantages. In an exploratory study, we tested whether seven-years-old children would form caregiving relationships with a Giant African land snail (Achatina fulica). Prior to the survey, the snail had been kept inside a terrarium in the classroom for seven months. We employed a questionnaire for measuring children’s pet attachment to assess the children’s relationships with the snail. The observed relationship scores with the snail were intermediate to high and did not differ from same-aged children’s attachment scores with their dogs, cats, and rabbits. No differences due to gender were observed. Children potentially developed caregiving attitudes and empathy towards the snail, and thus, the presented results indicate potential benefits from employing a non-vertebrate species in educational settings, as well as for animal-assisted therapy. The specific features of A. fulica are discussed in the frame of human-animal interactions, learning, and anthropomorphism.
Ontogenetic Development of Sexual Dimorphism in Body Mass of Wild Black-and-White Snub-Nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti)
Authors: Li Yan-Peng , Huang Zhi-Pang , Yang Yin , He Xiao-Bin , Pan Ru-Liang , He Xin-Ming , Yang Gui-Wei , Wu Hua , Cui Liang-Wei , Xiao Wen
Published: May 2023

Sexual dimorphism exists widely in animals, manifesting in different forms, such as body size, color, shape, unique characteristics, behavior, and sound. Of these, body mass dimorphism is the most obvious. Studies of evolutionary and ontogenetic development and adaptation mechanisms of animals’ sexual dimorphism in body mass (SDBM), allow us to understand how environment, social group size, diet, and other external factors have driven the selection of sexual dimorphism. There are fewer reports of the ontogenetic development of sexual dimorphism in body mass in Rhinopithecus. This study explores the ontogenetic development pattern of SDBM in wild black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (R. bieti), and the causes resulting in extreme sexual dimorphism compared to other colobines. A significant dimorphism with a ratio of 1.27 (p < 0.001) appears when females enter the reproductive period around six years old, reaching a peak (1.85, p < 0.001) when males become sexually mature. After the age of eight, the SDBM falls to 1.78, but is still significant (p < 0.001). The results also indicate that males had a longer body mass growth period than females (8 years vs. 5 years); females in larger breeding units had a significantly higher SDBM than those in smaller ones (2.12 vs. 1.93, p < 0.01). A comparative analysis with other colobines further clarifies that Rhinopithecus and Nasalis, which both have multilevel social organization, have the highest degree of SDBM among all colobines. The large SDBM in R. bieti can be explained through Bergman’s and Rensch’s rules. Overall, environmental adaptation, a distinctive alimentary system, and a complex social structure contribute to R. bieti having such a remarkable SDBM compared to other colobines. In addition, we found that females’ choice for males may not be significantly related to the development of SDBM.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Takifugu obscurus Gills under Acute Hypoxic Stress
Authors: Zhang Huakun , Li Run , Wang Yaohui , Zhou Jinxu , Xu Hao , Gou Meng , Ye Jianhua , Qiu Xuemei , Wang Xiuli
Published: May 2023

Takifugu obscurus has relatively small gills and gill pores, leading to a relatively low respiratory capacity and increased vulnerability to low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels compared to other fish. To investigate the responses of T. obscurus to acute hypoxic stress, high-throughput-sequencing-based transcriptomic analyses were conducted here to assess the responses of T. obscurus gills to acute hypoxic stress. Three environmental conditions were compared including normoxia (DO: 7.0 ± 0.2 mg/L), hypoxic stress (DO: 0.9 ± 0.2 mg/L), and reoxygenation (4, 8, 12, and 24 h after return to normoxia) conditions to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) responsive to hypoxia. A total of 992, 877, 1561, 1412, and 679 DEGs were identified in the normoxia and reoxygenation for 4, 8, 12, and 24 h groups in comparison to the hypoxia groups, respectively. The DEGs were primarily associated with oxidative stress, growth and development, and immune responses. Further functional annotation enrichment analysis of the DEGs revealed that they were primarily related to cytokine–cytokine interactions, transforming growth factor β receptor (TGF-β), cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. These results provide new insights into the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of T. obscurus adaptations to hypoxic stress. Furthermore, these results provide a framework for future studies into the molecular mechanisms of hypoxia tolerance and the healthy culture of T. obscurus and other fish.
Integrating Individual Animal and Population Welfare in Zoos and Aquariums
Authors: DiVincenti Louis , McDowell Allen , Herrelko Elizabeth S.
Published: May 2023

Over the last 50 years, animal welfare science has advanced dramatically, especially in zoos and aquariums. A shifting focus from population-level welfare parameters such as reproductive success and longevity (macroscopic, big-picture concepts) to the subjective experience of individual animals (microscopic, focused concepts) has led to more effective animal welfare assessments and improvements in animal welfare. The interplay between individual animal and population welfare for captive animals is critical to the way zoos and aquariums operate to realize their welfare and conservation missions, especially when these missions conflict with one another. In this report, we explore the intersection of individual animal and population welfare in zoos and aquariums and how these two concepts may support one another or be in conflict.
Predicting Pregnancy Outcome in Dairy Cows: The Role of IGF-1 and Progesterone
Authors: Constantin Nicolae Tiberiu , Bercea-Strugariu Cezar Mihai , Bîrțoiu Dragoș , Posastiuc Florin Petrișor , Iordache Florin , Bilteanu Liviu , Serban Andreea Iren
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the link between insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), progesterone (PROG), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and glucose (GLU) and pregnancy probability after the first artificial insemination (AI) and during the first 100 days in milk (DIM), during the critical transition period. We determined levels of serum IGF-1, PROG, NEFA, BHB, and GLU in Holstein dairy cows via ELISA, using blood samples collected 7 days before parturition (DAP) until 21 days postparturition (DPP). The group was split into cows diagnosed pregnant at 100 DIM (PREG) and those that did not conceive at 100 and 150 DIM (NPREG). Serum IGF-1 and PROG median levels at 7 DAP were significantly higher in PREG vs. NPREG (p = 0.029), the only statistically significant differences across the subgroups. At 7 DAP, IGF-1 levels within the initial group showed a strong negative correlation with PROG (r = −0.693; p = 0.006), while for the PREG subgroup, the IGF-1 levels exhibited a very strong positive correlation with GLU (r = 0.860; p = 0.011) and NEFA (r = 0.872; p = 0.013). IGF-1 and PROG levels detected at 7 DAP may be useful to predict pregnancy at 100 DIM. The positive correlation of NEFA and GLU levels during the transition period demonstrates that the initial group is not in NEB; thus, the NEFA level was not a decisive factor for reproduction success.
Long-Term Course of Neural Autoantibody-Associated Psychiatric Disorders: Retrospective Data from a Specifically Immunopsychiatric Outpatient Clinic
Authors: Hansen Niels , Rentzsch Kristin , Hirschel Sina , Bartels Claudia , Wiltfang Jens , Malchow Berend
Published: May 2023

Background: Autoantibody-associated psychiatric disorders are a new terrain that is currently underrepresented considering immunopsychiatry’s potential importance for therapeutic aspects. The aim of our research was thus to present initial pilot data on the long-term clinical course of our patients in an outpatient clinic specializing in autoantibody-associated psychiatric disorders. Methods: Thirty-seven patients were examined clinically in our outpatient clinic at regular intervals over a 1.5-year period. We collected clinical data on their demographics, psychopathology, and cognition, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) data as well as the status of neural autoantibodies in blood and/or serum. Results: Our main finding was that affective, psychotic, and cognitive symptoms did not change significantly over the 1.5-year period, thus revealing no progression. We divided the entire cohort of autoantibody-positive patients (n = 32) into subgroups consisting of patients with dementia (n = 14), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 7), psychotic disorders (n = 6), and a CSF profile of Alzheimer’s disease (n = 6). Relying on established classification schemes, we identified the following percentages in our autoantibody-positive cohort: 28% with autoimmune encephalitis, 15% with autoimmune psychosis, and 63% with autoimmune psychiatric syndromes. Discussion: These initial pilot results suggest that autoantibody-associated diseases do not show a significantly progressive course in the long-term and are often characterized by impaired verbal memory recall when cognitive impairment progresses to dementia. These initial data need to be verified in larger cohorts. We believe that this pilot study underscores the importance of promoting such a specialized outpatient clinic to better characterize various aspects of autoantibody-mediated psychiatric disorders.
Beta-Lactam Dose Optimisation in the Intensive Care Unit: Targets, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Toxicity
Authors: Legg Amy , Carmichael Sinead , Chai Ming G. , Roberts Jason A. , Cotta Menino O.
Published: May 2023

Beta-lactams are an important family of antibiotics used to treat infections and are commonly used in critically ill patients. Optimal use of these drugs in the intensive care unit (ICU) is important because of the serious complications from sepsis. Target beta-lactam antibiotic exposures may be chosen using fundamental principles of beta-lactam activity derived from pre-clinical and clinical studies, although the debate regarding optimal beta-lactam exposure targets is ongoing. Attainment of target exposures in the ICU requires overcoming significant pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) challenges. For beta-lactam drugs, the use of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to confirm if the desired exposure targets are achieved has shown promise, but further data are required to determine if improvement in infection-related outcomes can be achieved. Additionally, beta-lactam TDM may be useful where a relationship exists between supratherapeutic antibiotic exposure and drug adverse effects. An ideal beta-lactam TDM service should endeavor to efficiently sample and report results in identified at-risk patients in a timely manner. Consensus beta-lactam PK/PD targets associated with optimal patient outcomes are lacking and should be a focus for future research.
In Vivo Evaluation of an Ivermectin and Allicin Combination Treatment for Eradicating Poultry Red Mite
Authors: Kang JeongWoo , Chae MyeongJu , Chae HyunYoung , Kwon YongKuk , Lee JiYoun , Hossain Md Akil
Published: May 2023

A safe and effective method for eradicating poultry red mite (PRM; Dermanyssus gallinae) is urgently needed, as existing treatments show a low efficacy or hazardous effects on chickens. We evaluated the efficacy of a combined treatment with ivermectin and allicin (IA) against PRMs in chickens and drug residues in non-target samples. The efficiency of PRM eradication by IA was compared with those of natural acaricides in vitro. Ivermectin (0.25 mg/mL) + allicin (1 mg/mL) (IA compound) was sprayed on isolator housing hens with PRMs. The PRM mortality rate, clinical symptoms, and ivermectin residue in hens were analyzed. IA showed the highest PRM-eradication efficacy among all tested compounds in vitro. The insecticidal rates of IA were 98.7%, 98.4%, 99.4%, and 99.9% at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of treatment, respectively. After inoculating PRMs, hypersensitivity, itching, and a pale-colored comb were observed in control animals, which were absent in treated hens. No clinical symptoms from IA and ivermectin residues were found in hens. IA effectively exterminated PRMs, demonstrating its potential for industrial use to treat PRMs.
Novel Hydrogen Sulfide Hybrid Derivatives of Keap1-Nrf2 Protein–Protein Interaction Inhibitor Alleviate Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Acute Experimental Colitis
Authors: Zhang Xian , Cui Keni , Wang Xiaolu , Tong Yuanyuan , Liu Chihong , Zhu Yuechao , You Qidong , Jiang Zhengyu , Guo Xiaoke
Published: May 2023

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology possibly associated with intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress. Molecular hybridization by combining two drug fragments to achieve a common pharmacological goal represents a novel strategy. The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway provides an effective defense mechanism for UC therapy, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) shows similar and relevant biological functions as well. In this work, a series of hybrid derivatives were synthesized by connecting an inhibitor of Keap1-Nrf2 protein–protein interaction with two well-established H2S-donor moieties, respectively, via an ester linker, to find a drug candidate more effective for the UC treatment. Subsequently, the cytoprotective effects of hybrids derivatives were investigated, and DDO-1901 was identified as a candidate showing the best efficacy and used for further investigation on therapeutic effect on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in vitro and in vivo. Experimental results indicated that DDO-1901 could effectively alleviate DSS-induced colitis by improving the defense against oxidative stress and reducing inflammation, more potent than parent drugs. Compared with either drug alone, such molecular hybridization may offer an attractive strategy for the treatment of multifactorial inflammatory disease.
The Impact of Resveratrol-Enriched Bread on Cardiac Remodeling in a Preclinical Model of Diabetes
Authors: Silva Andreia F. R. , Silva-Reis Rita , Ferreira Rita , Oliveira Paula A. , Faustino-Rocha Ana I. , Pinto Maria de Lurdes , Coimbra Manuel A. , Silva Artur M. S. , Cardoso Susana M.
Published: May 2023

The World Health Organization aims to stop the rise of diabetes by 2025, and diet is one of the most efficient non-pharmacological strategies used to prevent it. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural compound with anti-diabetic properties, and incorporating it into bread is a suitable way to make it more accessible to consumers as it can be included as part of their daily diet. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of RSV-enriched bread in preventing early type 2 diabetes cardiomyopathy in vivo. Male Sprague Dawley rats (3 weeks old) were divided into four groups: controls with plain bread (CB) and RSV bread (CBR), and diabetics with plain bread (DB) and RSV bread (DBR). Type 2 diabetes was induced by adding fructose to the drinking water for two weeks followed by an injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (40 mg/kg). Then, plain bread and RSV bread (10 mg RSV/kg body weight) were included in the rats’ diet for four weeks. Cardiac function, anthropometric, and systemic biochemical parameters were monitored, as well as the histology of the heart and molecular markers of regeneration, metabolism, and oxidative stress. Data showed that an RSV bread diet decreased the polydipsia and body weight loss observed in the early stages of the disease. At the cardiac level, an RSV bread diet diminished fibrosis but did not counteract the dysfunction and metabolic changes seen in fructose-fed STZ-injected rats.
Synthetic Biology and Control Theory: Designing Synthetic Biomolecular Controllers by Exploiting Dynamic Covalent Modification Cycle with Positive Autoregulation Properties
Authors: Xiao Yijun , Lv Hui , Wang Xing’an
Published: May 2023

The emerging field at the intersection of synthetic biology, network modelling, and control theory has grown in popularity in recent years. In this study, the aim is to design synthetic biomolecular controllers by exploiting the covalent modification cycle (CMC) enhanced with direct and indirect positive autoregulation (DPAR and IPAR). Two novel biomolecular controllers proposed, the Brink controller (BC) with DPAR (namely BC-DPAR) and the BC with IPAR (namely BC-IPAR), allow to (a) use fewer chemical reactions than purely designs based on dual chemical reaction networks (DCRNs), and (b) improve the stability of ultrasensitive response when designing biomolecular controllers. Following the conversion route from chemical reactions to DNA strand displacements, the integration of the two novel controllers and an enzymatic proteolysis model proposed aims to analyse the regulatory properties by exploring the tracking response of proteolysis products.
Effects of Naphthalene Application on Soil Fungal Community Structure in a Poplar Plantation in Northern Jiangsu, China
Authors: Xu Xuan , Cao Penghe , Wang Yuchao , Wu Wei , Guo Jiahuan , Sun Jiejie , Zou Xiaoming , Wang Weifeng , Ruan Honghua
Published: May 2023

The soil food web is essential for the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. The application of naphthalene is a commonly employed experimental treatment for expelling soil fauna to examine faunal effects on litter decomposition processes, for which is it assumed that naphthalene has negligible effects on soil microbial communities. An experiment was conducted to examine the potential soil-fauna-repellent effect of naphthalene application (100 g/m2/month, TR) on a soil fungal community during litter decomposition. The results showed that TR greatly suppressed the abundance and taxonomic richness of soil fauna by 83.7 ± 14.2% and 48.1 ± 17.2%, respectively, and reduced the rates of poplar leaf litter decomposition compared to the control (CK, without naphthalene treatment). Among the fungal communities, the abundance of Thelephorales in the TR soil was suppressed, while the abundance of Capnodiales was stimulated, although TR did not significantly alter the carbon and nitrogen content in the soil microbial biomass nor the diversity of soil fungal communities and the most abundant fungal phylum. Thus, both the suppressed soil arthropod abundance and altered soil fungal community might contribute to the observed slowdown in litter decomposition. These results suggest that naphthalene, as a soil fauna repellent, can alter the abundance of specific taxa in a soil fungal community, thereby impeding the effort to elucidate the contribution of soil fauna to ecosystem functioning (e.g., with respect to litter decomposition).
A Novel Spatiotemporal Analysis Framework for Air Pollution Episode Association in Puli, Taiwan
Authors: Yin Peng-Yeng
Published: May 2023

Air pollution has been a global issue that solicits proposals for sustainable development of social economics. Though the sources emitting pollutants are thoroughly investigated, the transportation, dispersion, scattering, and diminishing of pollutants in the spatiotemporal domain are underexplored, and the relationship between these activities and atmospheric and anthropogenic conditions is hardly known. This paper proposes machine learning approaches for the spatiotemporal analysis of air pollution episode associations. We deployed an internet of low-cost sensors for acquiring the hourly time series data of PM2.5 concentrations in Puli, Taiwan. The region is resolved into 10 × 10 grids, and each grid has an area size of 400 × 400 m2. We consider the monitored PM2.5 concentration at a grid as its gray intensity, such that a 10 × 10 PM2.5 image is obtained every hour or a PM2.5 video is obtained for a time span. We developed shot boundary detection methods for segmenting the time series into pollution episodes. Each episode corresponds to particular activities, such as pollution concentration, transportation, scattering, and diminishing, in different spatiotemporal ways. By accumulating the concentrations within the episode, we generate a condensed but effective representation for episode clustering. Three clustering approaches are proposed, ranging from histogram-, edge-, and deep-learning-based. The experimental results manifest that the episodes contained in the same cluster have homogeneous patterns but appear at different times in a year. This means that some particular patterns of pollution activities appear many times in this region that may have relations with local weather, terrain, and anthropogenic activities. Our clustering results are helpful in future research for causal analysis of regional pollution.
Flow-Induced Vibration Hybrid Modeling Method and Dynamic Characteristics of U-Section Rubber Outer Windshield System of High-Speed Trains
Authors: Yu Yizheng , Lv Pengxiang , Liu Xiao , Liu Xiang
Published: May 2023

The flow-induced vibration characteristic of the U-section rubber outer windshield structure of high-speed train is the key factor to limit its high-speed movement. Accurate and effective flow-induced vibration analysis of windshield structures is an important topic. In this paper, a hybrid modeling method for the analysis of flow-induced vibration of windshield structure is innovatively proposed for the U-section rubber windshield system of high-speed train. The method uses the external aerodynamic load obtained by aerodynamic simulation as the input condition of the flow-induced vibration model, and maps the aerodynamic load to the structural dynamics model characterized by the modal test data of the windshield structure. The flow-induced vibration model is established by means of modal superposition method and the time-domain response is effectively integrated by Runge Kutta method with variable step size. The results show that this method can effectively simulate the flow induced vibration of the wind baffle structure, and the real-time relationship between the aerodynamic load and the modal characteristics of the structure and the response of displacement and velocity can be obtained. On this basis, the comprehensive dynamic performance of the windshield system of high-speed trains at 400 km/h under external aerodynamic load is studied, that is, the force, displacement and velocity variation rules of the flexible structure are examined. It is determined that the displacement and velocity response curve of the measuring point near the lower side of the U-section rubber outer windshield is significantly higher than that of other parts. Moreover, the contribution of the first mode to the dynamic response of the structure is very obvious. This method provides an efficient calculation method for analyzing the flow-induced vibration characteristics of complex flexible structures.
A Safe Admittance Boundary Algorithm for Rehabilitation Robot Based on Space Classification Model
Authors: Tao Yong , Ji Yuanlong , Han Dongming , Gao He , Wang Tianmiao
Published: May 2023

Existing studies on rehabilitation robots are generally devoted to robot-assisted active rehabilitation training, which is conducive to facilitating muscle and nerve regeneration. However, human–robot interaction (HRI) requires imposing a limit on the workspace within which the robot operates, so as to ensure patient safety. A safe admittance boundary algorithm for a rehabilitation robot is proposed based on the space classification model which works by constructing a virtual boundary for the HRI workspace in the control layer. First, point cloud isodensification is performed for the workspaces within which the human body and the robot operate. Next, the nearest neighbor density is determined for the point cloud, and the space classification model is built on this basis. Finally, the space classification model is integrated with admittance control to derive the safe admittance boundary algorithm, which can be used for safety control. This algorithm is then subjected to space verification experiments and out–of–bounds experiments using a dynamic arm simulator (DAS). As indicated by the experimental results, when the side length of the voxel grid for voxel center filtering is set to 0.06 m, the accuracy of space definition is 98.40%. The average maximum response time for out–of–bounds behaviors is 165.62 ms. The safe admittance boundary algorithm can impose reasonable virtual constraints on the robot workspace, thereby improving HRI safety.
A Dual Integral Equation Approach for Evaluating the Shielding of Thick Circular Disks against a Coaxial Loop
Authors: Lovat Giampiero , Burghignoli Paolo , Araneo Rodolfo , Celozzi Salvatore
Published: May 2023

The electromagnetic interaction between a circular disk with finite conductivity and finite thickness and a coaxial circular loop of constant current is addressed here. The finite conductivity and thickness of the material disk lead to the adoption of suitable generalized boundary conditions, and the problem is thereby reduced to the solution of two sets of dual integral equations in the Hankel transform domain. Such equations are then solved by expanding the spectral unknowns in Neumann series of Bessel functions. An alternative formulation that is valid for purely conductive screens with no magnetic properties, which is computationally much faster, is proposed as well. The magnetic shielding effectiveness of the structure is studied in detail, pointing out its dependencies and possible critical situations.
λ-Factors for the Upper and Lower Bound Analyses of Base-Isolated Structures: Historical Review of Code Provisions for Elastomeric Bearings
Authors: Ragni Laura , Micozzi Fabio , Gioiella Laura , Castellano Maria Gabriella , Infanti Samuele , Dall’Asta Andrea
Published: May 2023

The seismic response of base-isolated structures is notably influenced by mechanical properties of isolation devices due to their essential role in structural behavior. Consequently, the variability of such properties should be accounted for in the design process. The current seismic codes prescribe a simplified approach based on structural analyses in two extreme situations resulting from the upper and lower bound design properties of bearings (upper and lower bound analyses). In the case that experimental data are not provided by manufacturers, seismic codes provide the so-called “property modification factors” or “λ-factors”, i.e., modification coefficients to be applied to the nominal dynamic properties of bearings to obtain their upper or lower design properties. The aim of this paper is to provide a historical review of values provided for such factors by the main seismic codes by highlighting the limits, as well as some clerical errors, present in some codes. In particular, the European seismic codes are illustrated in detail, i.e., the Eurocode for bridges (EN 1998-2) and product standard on anti-seismic devices (EN 15129). Both these codes account for different sources of variability, such as the bearings production and the environmental and behavioral effects. For all these effects, the same λ-factor values are provided by the two codes, deriving from the second version of the AASHTO guide specifications for seismic isolation of bridges (AASHTO 1999), which are based on limited and/or old data, especially for high damping rubber bearings (HDRBs), and were never updated in the successive versions. More recent standards are also illustrated, providing different perspectives that deserve attention, even though they require further investigations to be applied in the design practice.
Design and Test of Sowing Depth Measurement and Control System for No-Till Corn Seeder Based on Integrated Electro-Hydraulic Drive
Authors: Zhou Liming , Ma Yihua , Zhou Haiyan , Niu Kang , Zhao Bo , Wei Liguo , Bai Shenghe , Zheng Yuankun , Zhang Weipeng
Published: May 2023

An electro-hydraulic profiling mechanism has been gradually applied to provide suitable downforce for a no-till row unit and to ensure the consistency of the seed sowing depth. In order to improve the control effect of the sowing depth system and solve the problems of a complex structure, scattered valve sets and equipment suitability of an existing electro-hydraulic row unit, this paper takes the 2BJ-470B no-till row unit as the carrier and innovatively designs an integrated pressure-reducing cylinder (IPRC) based on electro-hydraulic technology by analyzing the sowing depth control process of an electro-hydraulic seeder. In addition, we develop the integrated electro-hydraulic-driven sowing depth measurement and control system. Combined with the feedforward compensation PID control algorithm, the dynamic regulation of the downforce is realized with the IPRC. The field test shows that under the setting of a sowing depth of 50 mm and a vehicle speed of 9~10 km·h−1, the qualified rate of the sowing depth under the three adjustment methods of self-weight adjustment, spring adjustment and electro-hydraulic adjustment is 89.2%, 96.7% and 98.6%, respectively, and the corresponding maximum coefficient of variation of the sowing depth is 16.7%, 12.9% and 6.4%, respectively. The seed groove environmental qualification rate (SFEQ) is further analyzed in combination with the soil compaction, and the mean values of the qualification rates of the three control methods at different vehicle speeds are 88.3%, 91.6% and 98.6%, respectively. The integrated electro-hydraulic-driven row unit has significant advantages over mechanical and self-weight regulation, and its whole machine integration degree and high adaptability realize the comprehensive control of the sowing depth and soil compaction strength.
Guardians of the Text: Griffins and Sphinxes in the Neapolitan Ovid (BNN ms. IV F 3)
Authors: Díez-Platas Fátima
Published: May 2023

This article investigates the origins and significance of images of griffins and sphinxes—hybrid creatures of Greco-Roman tradition—in the marginal decorations of the so-called “Neapolitan Ovid” (BNN ms. IV F 3), the first illuminated manuscript of the Metamorphoses, probably from the late 11th century. Their form and style suggest specific iconographic origins and links with the decorative motifs from Antiquity that circulated in artistic objects around Bari, the manuscript’s place of origin. Among the many figures that provide a pictorial response to the poem’s content, the presence of these griffins and sphinxes offers compelling evidence of the survival of ancient imagery; they also invite us to explore the relationship between image and text in the illuminated book. From this analysis, we can better understand the complex role of these hybrid figures in the manuscript. Their existence is testimony to the continuity of marginal decorative systems derived from Antiquity that are present in objects and were articulated through the Islamic and Byzantine formal vocabularies accessible in Puglia at the time.
Quilting in West Africa: Liberian Women Stitching Political, Economic, and Social Networks in the Nineteenth Century
Authors: Beck Cohen Stephanie
Published: May 2023

Quilts occupy a liminal position in the histories of art and material culture. Centering analyses around specific artworks like Martha Ricks’ 1892 Coffee Tree quilt, as well as investigating women’s writing about their material production, illuminates ignored narratives about the ways black women participated in international social, political, and economic networks around the nineteenth-century Atlantic world. Quilters who emigrated from the United States to Liberia in the nineteenth century incorporated an aesthetic heritage from the American South with new visual vocabularies developing alongside the newly independent nation. Artists relied on networks with abolitionists in the United States and local textile knowledge to source materials for their work. Finished quilts circulated in local and international contexts, furthering social, political, and economic objectives. Like Harriet Powers’ bible quilts, Ricks’ quilts gained fame through exhibition and a whimsical artist’s biography. Quilts’ fragility as natural-fiber textiles in a tropical climate makes a finding a body of works difficult to examine as there are no extant Liberian quilts from the nineteenth century. However, it is possible to patch together a network of women artists, their patrons, and audiences from West Africa to North America and Europe through creative investigation of diverse historical records, including diary entries, letters, newspaper articles, and photographs. I argue that by examining Martha Ricks’ artworks, self-presentation through portraiture, and published writing, it is possible to envision a new narrative of black women’s participation in visualizing the newly-minted Republic of Liberia for Atlantic audiences.
Microplastic Pollution Research Based on the VOS Viewer Software: Research Trends, Ecological Effects, and Testing Methods
Authors: Wang Yange , Zhang Bowen , Zhang Rongshuo , Wei Yangbing , Wang Yunjing , Zhu Rencheng
Published: May 2023

Microplastics (MPs) are receiving increasing attention because of their potential harm to the environment and human health. This research aims to summarize the abundance, toxicological effects, and analysis methods of MPs, as well as present their current status and trends in scientific research. Bibliometric analysis confirmed a substantial rise in annual research papers on MPs, predominantly over the previous nine years. The central research areas relating to MPs include distribution, sources, toxic effects, analytical approaches, and adsorption of MPs with other pollutants. Airborne MPs are a primary source of microplastic pollution in remote areas. Humans may inhale and ingest MPs, leading to the accumulation of these particles in their bodies. Additionally, microplastics can have biological toxicity that poses a potential threat to human health. Standard procedures for sampling and both qualitative and quantitative analysis of microplastics in various environmental media must be established urgently to enable effective comparison of experimental conclusions.
A Swarming Meyer Wavelet Computing Approach to Solve the Transport System of Goods
Authors: Sabir Zulqurnain , Saeed Tareq , Guirao Juan L. G. , Sánchez Juan M. , Valverde Adrián
Published: May 2023

The motive of this work is to provide the numerical performances of the reactive transport model that carries trucks with goods on roads by exploiting the stochastic procedures based on the Meyer wavelet (MW) neural network. An objective function is constructed by using the differential model and its boundary conditions. The optimization of the objective function is performed through the hybridization of the global and local search procedures, i.e., swarming and interior point algorithms. Three different cases of the model have been obtained, and the exactness of the stochastic procedure is observed by using the comparison of the obtained and Adams solutions. The negligible absolute error enhances the exactness of the proposed MW neural networks along with the hybridization of the global and local search schemes. Moreover, statistical interpretations based on different operators, histograms, and boxplots are provided to validate the constancy of the designed stochastic structure.