bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding Spray Attributes of Commercial UAAS as Impacted by Operational and Design Parameters
Authors: Sinha Rajeev , Johnson Jeffrey , Power Kiley , Moodie Aaron , Warhurst Emily , Barbosa Roberto
Published: September 2022

Unmanned aerial application systems (UAAS) have recently gained momentum for the application of crop protection (CP) products. Due to their high operational efficiency, mobility, and low cost, UAAS may be perceived as a more viable option for spray application when compared to conventional application techniques, especially backpack/knapsack sprayers. However, being a relatively new technology and not a common practice in the USA, there are no best management practices or guidelines for testing UAAS spray performance. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the impact of different attributes pertinent to UAAS flight (e.g., altitude, speed, etc.), application (e.g., droplet size, tank additive, etc.), and UAAS design (e.g., nozzle placement relative to a the rotor) on spray performance. The spray performance was evaluated in terms of swath and spray drift (ground and airborne) using water-sensitive papers (WSP) and mylar card/string samplers, respectively. The samplers were respectively analyzed using image processing and fluorometry techniques. The different treatments under study were UAAS type (MG-1P and AG V6A+), flight altitude (1.5, 2.5, and 4.0 m) and speed (2 and 3 ms−1), and nozzle type (XR11001 and XR8002 flat fan nozzles) with different droplet volume median diameter (VMD) at ~207 kPa (very fine [140 µm] and fine [196 µm], respectively). The results indicated a highly variable swath for both platform types. While nozzles under each rotor may be a common design in commercial UAAS, the results indicated that placement of nozzles out on a boom might have a less variable swath and a lower drift potential. In addition, flying slower, using a relatively larger droplet VMD (i.e., 196 µm at ~207 kPa) may reduce both ground and airborne drift. This study may serve as a guideline for growers/operators to evaluate their UAAS platforms and optimize key attributes pertinent to UAAS operation for effective spraying.
Levels of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in University Students from Spain and Costa Rica during Periods of Confinement and Virtual Learning
Authors: Gijón Puerta José , Galván Malagón María Carmen , Khaled Gijón Meriem , Lizarte Simón Emilio Jesús
Published: September 2022

Mental health problems, specifically those related to stress, anxiety, and depression, have become more prevalent among college students compared to data available prior to the levels of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent studies have shown that in different geographical areas, there is a high prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in university students compared to pre-pandemic levels. Thus, our objective was to establish self-perceived levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in university students earning an education degree at the University of Granada and the University of Costa Rica during periods of confinement and virtual learning associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The final study sample consisted of 942 students from both universities. Two questionnaires were administered: The state trait anxiety inventory and the depression, anxiety, and stress scale 21. Descriptive analyses, mean comparisons, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multivariate regression were performed. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, and the effect size was analyzed using Cohen’s d. The results indicated that levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were mild or moderate despite the confinement and virtual learning associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Women had higher levels of anxiety than men, and singles had higher levels of anxiety than individuals in other family situations. Younger individuals had higher levels of stress and anxiety.
Empirical Analysis of Data Streaming and Batch Learning Models for Network Intrusion Detection
Authors: Adewole Kayode S. , Salau-Ibrahim Taofeekat T. , Imoize Agbotiname Lucky , Oladipo Idowu Dauda , AbdulRaheem Muyideen , Awotunde Joseph Bamidele , Balogun Abdullateef O. , Isiaka Rafiu Mope , Aro Taye Oladele
Published: September 2022

Network intrusion, such as denial of service, probing attacks, and phishing, comprises some of the complex threats that have put the online community at risk. The increase in the number of these attacks has given rise to a serious interest in the research community to curb the menace. One of the research efforts is to have an intrusion detection mechanism in place. Batch learning and data streaming are approaches used for processing the huge amount of data required for proper intrusion detection. Batch learning, despite its advantages, has been faulted for poor scalability due to the constant re-training of new training instances. Hence, this paper seeks to conduct a comparative study using selected batch learning and data streaming algorithms. The batch learning and data streaming algorithms considered are J48, projective adaptive resonance theory (PART), Hoeffding tree (HT) and OzaBagAdwin (OBA). Furthermore, binary and multiclass classification problems are considered for the tested algorithms. Experimental results show that data streaming algorithms achieved considerably higher performance in binary classification problems when compared with batch learning algorithms. Specifically, binary classification produced J48 (94.73), PART (92.83), HT (98.38), and OBA (99.67), and multiclass classification produced J48 (87.66), PART (87.05), HT (71.98), OBA (82.80) based on accuracy. Hence, the use of data streaming algorithms to solve the scalability issue and allow real-time detection of network intrusion is highly recommended.
Simultaneous Obstacles Avoidance and Robust Autonomous Landing of a UAV on a Moving Vehicle
Authors: Guo Jinglong , Dong Xin , Gao Yang , Li Daochun , Tu Zhan
Published: September 2022

For unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), landing on a moving vehicle robustly is an open challenge, especially under cluttered surroundings with the presence of unknown obstacles. Those undesired environmental factors could induce collisions and thus affect flight safety significantly. Currently, there are few solutions to address such a challenge. In this paper, we propose a systematic autonomous landing scheme that enables the robust autonomous landing performance of a quadrotor UAV. The proposed scheme integrates target detection, state estimation, trajectory planning, and landing control. The position and attitude information of the target ground vehicle and the test quadrotor are estimated by the onboard vision system and GPS. In order to detect landing markers at different altitudes, a particular landing pad with an Apriltag bundle is implemented. As a typical aerial–terrestrial cooperation system, the trajectory planner of the quadrotor updates continuously to avoid obstacles via real-time sensing and re-planning. A finite state machine is used to label the current flight status and triggers the control laws correspondingly. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been validated in a high-fidelity simulator with environmental obstacles.
Synthesis of CuAl-, CoAl-, and CuCoAl-Catalysts from Layered Hydroxides for Furfural Hydrogenation
Authors: Stepanova Liudmila N. , Mironenko Roman M. , Kobzar Elena O. , Leont’eva Natalia N. , Gulyaeva Tatiana I. , Vasilevich Anastasia V. , Serkova Aleksandra N. , Salanov Aleksei N. , Lavrenov Aleksandr V.
Published: September 2022

Catalysts based on CuAl-, CoAl-, and CuCoAl-layered hydroxides with M2+/Al = 2 and Cu/Co = 1 molar ratio were obtained. The effect of amount of cobalt on the structural properties, morphology, surface cations distribution, oxide phase formation, thermal stability of the samples and reduction of metals from them was studied. The effect of reaction conditions (temperature, time, pressure, solvent) and conditions of preliminary treatment of catalysts on their catalytic properties in furfural hydrogenation was established. High selectivity to furfuryl alcohol was observed for all the samples irrespective of pretreatment and reaction conditions. The synergetic effect in furfural hydrogenation between Co and Cu in the CuCoAlOx catalysts was revealed when ethanol is used as a solvent.
Modelling Analysis of a Novel Frameless Slotted-ALOHA Protocol Based on the Number of Detectable Conflicting Users
Authors: Yang Sa , Li Suoping , Yang Nana , Lin Ying
Published: September 2022

To solve the conflict when multi-user packets are transmitted in a shared wireless link, a novel frameless slotted-ALOHA protocol is proposed. Signature codes are used to help the receiver identify the set of transmitting users, and successive interference cancellation technology is employed to recover conflicting packets. Thus, the information in the conflicting slot can be reused to reduce the number of retransmissions. Taking the number of backlogged users in each slot as a system state, a Markov chain model is established to analyze the protocol, in which the state transition probabilities are obtained based on the binomial distribution of packets sent in a slot. Under the maximum number of detectable conflicting users, the best value is taken, traffic balance equations are obtained, and the expressions of throughput, average number of backlogged users, average successful transmission probability and average memory size are derived. Finally, a numerical simulation is carried out to accurately analyze the influence of the first transmission probability of the packets on various performance indexes and the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis is further verified by the simulation results.
Quantifying the Effectiveness of a Mesh in Mitigating Burning Capabilities of Firebrand Shower
Authors: Sharifian Barforoush Ahmad , du Preez Matthew
Published: September 2022

The broad aim of this research is to quantify the effectiveness of fences made of metal mesh around buildings in mitigating risks associated with firebrand showers created in wildland fires. This paper aims to (1) quantify the effectiveness of a mesh complying with Australian Standard 3959:2018 against firebrand showers and (2) identify behaviors of firebrands interacting with the mesh. The study was conducted using Red Gum and Cypress Pinewood firebrands inside a wind tunnel at 40 km/h with and without a mesh present for a total of 50 experiments. Two types of effectiveness were defined using the number of holes and their area burnt by the firebrand. The results show the mesh was highly effective against both large and small firebrands except for some long needle shape firebrands. The results are aligned with AS 3959:2018 and show an effectiveness ratio of the mesh in the range 93.2–98.8% for Red Gum and Cypress Pine firebrands at a wind speed of 40 km/h. It was documented that firebrands in interaction with the mesh show one or a combination of eight different mechanisms: passing, stopping, splitting, shattering, pausing, bouncing, slipping and wandering.
Liposomes as Delivery System for Applications in Meat Products
Authors: Huang Li , Teng Wendi , Cao Jinxuan , Wang Jinpeng
Published: September 2022

In the meat industry, microbial contamination, and lipid and protein oxidation are important factors for quality deterioration. Although natural preservatives have been widely used in various meat products, their biological activities are often reduced due to their volatility, instability, and easy degradation. Liposomes as an amphiphilic delivery system can be used to encapsulate food active compounds, which can improve their stability, promote antibacterial and antioxidant effects and further extend the shelf life of meat products. In this review, we mainly introduce liposomes and methods of their preparation including conventional and advanced techniques. Meanwhile, the main current applications of liposomes and biopolymer-liposome hybrid systems in meat preservation are presented.
Fabrication and Characterization of Chicken- and Bovine-Derived Chondroitin Sulfate/Sodium Alginate Hybrid Hydrogels
Authors: Zhao Yaqi , Li Yan , Lan Tianchan , Wang Baowei , Huang Ming , Huang He , Qiao Changming , Sun Jingxin
Published: September 2022

The physicochemical properties and microstructure of hybrid hydrogels prepared using sodium alginate (SA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) extracted from two animal sources were investigated. SA-based hybrid hydrogels were prepared by mixing chicken- and bovine-derived CS (CCS and BCS, respectively) with SA at 1/3 and 2/3 (w/w) ratios. The results indicated that the evaporation water loss rate of the hybrid hydrogels increased significantly upon the addition of CS, whereas CCS/SA (2/3) easily absorbed moisture from the environment. The thermal stability of the BCS/SA (1/3) hybrid hydrogel was higher than that of CCS/SA (1/3) hybrid hydrogel, whereas the hardness and adhesiveness of the CCS/SA (1/3) hybrid hydrogel were lower and higher, respectively, than those of the BCS/SA (1/3) hybrid hydrogel. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance experiments demonstrated that the immobilized water content of the CCS/SA (1/3) hybrid hydrogel was higher than that of the BCS/SA (1/3) hybrid hydrogel. FTIR showed that S=O characteristic absorption peak intensity of BCS/SA (2/3) was obviously higher, suggesting that BCS possessed more sulfuric acid groups than CCS. SEM showed that the hybrid hydrogels containing CCS have more compact porous microstructure and better interfacial compatibility compared to BCS.
Updated Understanding of the Thompson River Valley Landslides Kinematics Using Satellite InSAR
Authors: Soltanieh Amir , Macciotta Renato
Published: September 2022

The Thompson River valley is one of the most important transportation corridors in western Canada as it hosts two important railways. This valley has experienced several historical landslide events, many of them along a 10 km section south of the town of Ashcroft. Six of these landslides, showing varying states of activity, were selected for analysis in this paper, as these have the potential for the biggest impact on the railways. The subsurface interpretation of these landslides is combined with satellite InSAR data from May 2015 to May 2017 to enhance the current understanding of the landslide kinematics. Two InSAR orientations are combined geometrically with the assumption that the horizontal component of landslide movement is parallel to the slope azimuth, which provides a practicable approach to approximate landslide displacement vectors. The results classify these landslides as very slow-moving. The maximum velocities recorded are 29, 35, 26, 64, 18, and 52 mm/year for the Goddard, North, South, South extension, Barnard, and Redhill landslides, respectively. All landslides except the Redhill landslide show near-horizontal movements near the toe, with increasing vertical components as measurements approach the back scarp. This confirms that kinematics include rotational and compound mechanisms.
Psychometric Properties of the Taiwanese Pressure Ulcer Management Self-Efficacy Scale in Nursing Practice
Authors: Chao Wen-Yi , Wu Yu-Lin , Liao Wen-Chun
Published: September 2022

Self-efficacy strongly predicts clinical performance and competence. In Taiwan, there is no reliable method for assessing self-efficacy in the management of pressure injury. This study aims to establish psychometric properties of the Pressure Ulcer Management Self-Efficacy Scale (PUM-SES) translated for Taiwan and determine the validity and reliability of the Taiwanese version of the PUM-SES. Materials and methods: The PUM-SES was translated for use in Taiwan using Brislin’s method. The translation’s content validity, concurrent validity, predictive validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability were evaluated. The Pressure Ulcer Management Self-Efficacy Scale, Taiwanese version (PUM-SES-T), the Attitude toward Pressure Injury Prevention Scale (APIPS) and the Practice toward Pressure Injury Prevention Scale (PPIPS) of preventing pressure injury, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) were tested using Pearson’s correlation. A cross-sectional survey with 330 RNs in Taiwan was conducted. The PUM-SES-T was used to predict the PPIPS, and a predictive regression model was constructed considering nursing demographic variables. Results: Seven experts evaluated the PUM-SES-T with a CVI value of 0.995. An internal consistency, using Cronbach’s α, of 0.762 and a test–retest reliability of 0.997 were obtained. The PUM-SES-T was positively correlated with the GSES (p < 0.001). Multiple regression revealed that the PUM-SES-T predicted practice with a strong predictive validity (F = 8.077, p < 0.001), had an adjusted R2 of 0.455, but collinearity was insignificant. In this study, PUM-SES-T is a valid instrument for intervention-related educational programs to measure self-efficacy with good reliability and validity. It can be employed when intervening in related education strategies or promoting policies.
Identification and Use of Assessment Tools in Spanish Occupational Therapists: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Prieto-Botella Daniel , Sánchez-Pérez Alicia , Sánchez-Moreno Sergio , Hurtado-Pomares Miriam , Peral-Gómez Paula , Espinosa-Sempere Cristina , Juárez-Leal Iris , Fernández-Pires Paula , Valera-Gran Desirée , Navarrete-Muñoz Eva-María
Published: September 2022

The use of standardized assessment tools is essential for the occupational therapy intervention process to ensure clinical practice is appropriate and of high quality. This study aimed to explore which assessment tools Spanish occupational therapists use in their clinical practice. An ad hoc online questionnaire of 19 open and closed questions was used to collect information on assessment tools, socio-demographics, and academic background. The assessment tools were classified according to the main domains of occupational therapy using the last edition of the American Occupational Therapy Association framework. The survey was completed by 73 Spanish occupational therapists, of whom 86.3% were women; the median age was 31 years, and more than 60% treated people suffering from neurological and neurodegenerative disorders or worked in geriatric medicine. Of 147 assessment tools identified, those designed to assess activities of daily living, body functions, process skills, and motor skills were the instruments most frequently used. Specifically, the Barthel Index, Lawton Instrumental ADL Scale, Functional Independence Measure, Sensory Profile 2, and Mini-Examen Cognoscitivo were the tools most employed by Spanish occupational therapists. However, more than one third of the participants used assessment tools without knowing whether they were validated in the Spanish context and/or a specific target population. To our knowledge, this is the first time a study has examined the use and type of assessment tools in Spanish occupational therapists. Our results may constitute a positive step forward for developing strategies for enhancing evidence-based assessment in occupational therapy practice.
GC-MS Characterization, In Vitro Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and In Silico NADPH Oxidase Inhibition Studies of Anvillea radiata Essential Oils
Authors: Beniaich Ghada , Hafsa Ouattar , Maliki Imane , Bin Jardan Yousef A. , El Moussaoui Abdelfattah , Chebaibi Mohamed , Agour Abdelkrim , Zouirech Otmane , Nafidi Hiba-Allah , Khallouki Farid , Bourhia Mohammed , Taleb Mustapha
Published: September 2022

Anvillea radiata is a medicinal plant that has been used in traditional phytotherapy in North Africa as a treatment for various illnesses. In this study, we aim to explore the antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial effects of essential oils of Anvillea radiata (EOAR) collected in Morocco. EOAR was extracted by the hydrodistillation method, and the phytochemical identification was carried out by gas chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by the 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, ferricyanide method (FRAP) as well as total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Antifungal and antibacterial properties were determined by use of the disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration assays. The microbial strains used in the antimicrobial evaluation were: Aspergillus niger (MTCC 282), Aspergillus flavus (MTCC 9606), Fusarium oxysporum (MTCC 9913), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), Escherichia coli (ATB 97/BGM), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6633), Bacillus subtills (DSM 6333), and Escherichia coli (ATB 57/B6N). Based on in silico simulations, the inhibitory power of EOAR against nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH) was evaluated. The yield of the oil was 0.96% wherein 12 compounds were identified including α-cuprenene (33.48%) camphor (21.41%) and α-himachalene (15.88%) as major compounds. The antioxidant capacity showed an IC50 of 32.36 µg/mL (DPPH) and an EC-50 value of 64.60 ± 3.71 µg/mL in the FRAP assay. The total antioxidant capacity showed a concentration of 977.51 ± 22.38 µg AAE/mg (TAC). As for the antimicrobial effects, the inhibition diameter of the studied bacteria ranged from 23.50 ± 2.31 to mm 29.50 ± 2.21 mm, while for fungi, ranged from 25.12 ± 2.82 mm to 11.42 ± 1.90 mm. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ranged from 12.71 ± 1.59 µg/mL to 23.53 ± 0.78 µg/mL for bacterial strains and 10.31 ± 1.34 µg/mL to 22.75 ± 1.06 µg/mL for fungal strains. In silico, among all Anvillea radiata essential oils analyzed, the sesquiterpene γ-dehydro-ar-himachalene, monoterpenoid phenol carvacrol, as well as sesquiterpene α-cadinene were the most active compounds against NADPH oxidase with a glide score of −6.233, −6.082, and −5.057 Kcal/mol, respectively. Taken together, these data showed that EOAR exhibited enormous significance as an antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial agent.
Biostimulation of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. with Different Yeast Strains: Morphological Performance, Productivity, Phenotypic Plasticity, and Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Alshallash Khalid S. , Mohamed Mohamed F. , Dahab Abeer A. , Abd El-Salam Hemat S. , El-Serafy Rasha S.
Published: September 2022

Due to the growing knowledge about the microorganism–plant relationship, medicinal plants have gained great attention in their bio fertilization programs using biostimulants based on microorganisms. Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. is a perennial herb belonging to the family Lamiaceae and has therapeutic and nutritional properties attributed to its natural phytochemical compounds, which are highly valued in the pharmaceutical industry. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of Rhodotorula muciligenese (Y1), Candida sake (Y2), Candida apicola (Y3), and Candida kunwiensis (Y4) yeast strains in concentrations of 0 (C1), 1 × 104 (C2), 1 × 107 (C3), and 1 × 109 (C4) CFU mL−1 on the growth performance, productivity, and antioxidant activity of P. amboinicus plants. Yeast applications promoted growth attributes, nutritional value, and antioxidant activity in P. amboinicus leaves. Candida apicola exhibited the greatest root growth, herb weight, and essential oil production; it also stimulated carbohydrates, protein, and mineral content, as well as DPPH and FRAP activities. Whereas Rhodotorula muciligenese recorded the lowest values in this respect, among the concentrations used, the 1 × 107 CFU mL−1 concentration showed the highest values in this respect. These new findings showed that the foliar application of Candida apicola not only maximized the growth and productivity but also maximized the nutritional value and antioxidant activity of P. amboinicus.
The Evolution of Well-Being: An Anthropology-Based, Multidisciplinary Review
Authors: Dornisch Seth
Published: September 2022

Evolutionary perspectives have generated many questions and some answers in the study of human health and disease. The field of evolutionary medicine, and related analytics of evolutionary psychiatry and evolutionary psychology have extended and expanded the way health disorders are viewed by searching for why humans, as a species, are vulnerable to certain pathological conditions. The search is organized into four domains that apply proximate and evolutionary explanations to human traits and developmental sequences. This framework opens inquiry to the ontogeny, phylogeny, mechanism, and adaptive significance of human health conditions. In this paper I argue that evolutionary medicine seems to parallel biomedicine in its primarily pathogenic focus. That is, conditions of pain, suffering, and disorder have received the most attention. Some work has used the architecture of evolutionary medicine to take a salutogenic approach, evaluating the proximate and evolutionary explanations of human well-being. I propose that an evolutionary understanding of human well-being requires a survey of emotions and their relationship with neurobiology, language, and culture. My anthropology-based, multidisciplinary review of biopsychosocial processes reveals the way evolution has shaped modern human understanding of well-being through sociolinguistic learning processes and thereby our individual experiences of well-being. These insights have the power to contextualize human suffering and flourishing as we progress toward the goal of attenuating the former and expanding the latter.
Study on the Influence Mechanism of Environmental Management System Certification on Enterprise Green Innovation
Authors: Su Weizhou , Lei Gaowen , Guo Sidai , Dan Hongche
Published: September 2022

Improving the green technology innovation capability of enterprises is an important way for industrial enterprises to improve product quality and production efficiency and reduce industrial pollution and energy consumption. Based on the Porter hypothesis, this paper took the data of listed companies of the heavy polluting industry in Chinese A-shares from 2011–2018 as a study sample, and a difference-in-differences (DID) model was constructed to explore the impact of environmental management system certification (EMSC) on enterprises’ green innovation. This paper also studied the differential impact between the EMSC and enterprises’ green innovation from the perspective of enterprise heterogeneity. It was found that the EMSC has a significant promotion effect on the enterprises’ green innovation; this promotion changes with the size and ownership of the enterprise and the lifecycle of the enterprise. Meanwhile, customer, shareholder, and creditor satisfaction all play a positive moderating role in the process of EMSC affecting green innovation, while the moderating role of supplier satisfaction is not significant. The findings of this paper have important implications for the understanding of the role of EMSC in promoting green innovation in enterprises.
Lethal, Sub-Lethal and Trans-Generational Effects of Chlorantraniliprole on Biological Parameters, Demographic Traits, and Fitness Costs of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Akhtar Zunnu Raen , Afzal Ayesha , Idrees Atif , Zia Khuram , Qadir Ziyad Abdul , Ali Shahbaz , Haq Inzamam Ul , Ghramh Hamed A. , Niaz Yasir , Tahir Muhammad Bilal , Arshad Muhammad , Li Jun
Published: September 2022

Fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797)] was first reported in the Americas, then spread to all the continents of the world. Chemical insecticides are frequently employed in managing fall armyworms. These insecticides have various modes of actions and target sites to kill the insects. Chlorantraniliprole is a selective insecticide with a novel mode of action and is used against Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, Isopteran, and Dipteran pests. This study determined chlorantraniliprole’s lethal, sub-lethal, and trans-generational effects on two consecutive generations (F0, F1, and F2) of the fall armyworm. Bioassays revealed that chlorantraniliprole exhibited higher toxicity against fall armyworms with a LC50 of 2.781 mg/L after 48 h of exposure. Significant differences were noted in the biological parameters of fall armyworms in all generations. Sub-lethal concentrations of chlorantraniliprole showed prolonged larval and adult durations. The parameters related to the fitness cost in F0 and F1 generations showed non-significant differences. In contrast, the F2 generation showed lower fecundity at lethal (71 eggs/female) and sub-lethal (94 eggs/female) doses of chlorantraniliprole compared to the control (127.5–129.3 eggs/female). Age-stage specific survival rate (Sxj), life expectancy (Exj) and reproductive rate (Vxj) significantly differed among insecticide-treated groups in all generations compared to the control. A comparison of treated and untreated insects over generations indicated substantial differences in demographic parameters such as net reproduction rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and mean generation time (T). Several biological and demographic parameters were shown to be negatively impacted by chlorantraniliprole. We conclude that chlorantraniliprole may be utilized to manage fall armyworms with lesser risks.
A New Genus of Sap Beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) from Mid-Cretaceous Amber of Northern Myanmar
Authors: Zhao Qian , Huang Diying , Cai Chenyang
Published: September 2022

Nitidulidae is the most diverse family of the recently recognized superfamily Nitiduliodea, but Mesozoic nitidulids that are critical for understanding their early diversification are sparse. Here, we report a new genus and species of Nitidulidae, Protonitidula neli gen. et sp. nov., that was recovered from mid-Cretaceous amber in northern Myanmar. The new genus is distinguished from all members of the extant nitidulid subfamilies most prominently by the loose antennal club and the absence of subantennal grooves. Protonitidula neli can be excluded from the closely related Kateretidae and classified into Nitidulidae by the broad and apically expanded prosternal process, although it has many pleisiomorphic characters.
Ellagic Acid Effect on the Components of Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Sensitivity and Insulin Secretion: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Hidalgo-Lozada Gladys Maribel , Villarruel-López Angélica , Martínez-Abundis Esperanza , Vázquez-Paulino Olga , González-Ortiz Manuel , Pérez-Rubio Karina Griselda
Published: September 2022

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors, usually with a common pathophysiological origin in insulin resistance and abdominal obesity. Considering the reported effects of ellagic acid (EA) on insulin resistance and abdominal obesity, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of EA on the components of MetS, insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion by conducting a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial with 32 volunteers diagnosed with MetS. Sixteen patients were randomly allocated, received 500 mg of EA orally twice a day for 12 weeks, and the other 16 received a placebo. Clinical and laboratory determinations were obtained at baseline and at the end of the study. After EA administration, patients reduced their waist circumference (females: 102.2 ± 4.2 to 99.5 ± 3.2 cm (p < 0.05); males: 99.8 ± 6.7 to 96.0 ± 4.7 cm (p < 0.01)), systolic blood pressure (118.1 ± 10.1 to 113.7 ± 7.8 mmHg (p < 0.01)), diastolic blood pressure (118.1 ± 10.1 to 113.7 ± 7.8 mmHg (p < 0.01)), triglycerides (2.8 ± 1.1 to 2.1 ± 0.7 mmol/L (p < 0.01)), fasting plasma glucose (6.5 ± 0.5 to 5.7 ± 0.6 mmol/L (p < 0.01)), fasting plasma insulin (p < 0.01), and insulin secretion (p < 0.05), with an increase of insulin sensitivity (p < 0.01). In male patients, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, EA improved the components of MetS, reduced hyperinsulinemia, and improved insulin sensitivity.
Echocardiographic Probability of Pulmonary Hypertension in Cardiac Surgery Patients—Occurrence and Association with Respiratory Adverse Events—An Observational Prospective Single-Center Study
Authors: Braksator Marta , Jachymek Magdalena , Witkiewicz Karina , Piątek Patrycja , Witkiewicz Wojciech , Peregud-Pogorzelska Małgorzata , Kotfis Katarzyna , Brykczyński Mirosław
Published: September 2022

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an independent risk factor of increased morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery patients (CS). The most common cause underlying PH is left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the echocardiographic probability of PH in patients undergoing CS and its correlation with postoperative respiratory adverse events (RAE). Methods: The echocardiographic probability of PH and its correlation with LV diastolic dysfunction was assessed in 56 consecutive adult patients who were qualified for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Later, the postoperative RAE (such as pneumonia, pulmonary congestion, or hypoxemia), the length of intensive care unit (ICU) treatment and mortality in groups with moderate or high (PH-m/h) and low (PH-l) probability of pulmonary hypertension were examined. Results: PH-m/h was observed in 29 patients, of whom 65.5 % had LV diastolic dysfunction stage II or III. A significantly higher occurrence of RAE was observed in the PH-m/h group as compared to the PH-l group. There were no differences between the PH-m/h and PH-l patient groups regarding the in-hospital length of stay or mortality. Conclusions: High or intermediate probability of PH is common in cardiac surgical patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and correlates with respiratory adverse events.
Variability of Isavuconazole Trough Concentrations during Longitudinal Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Authors: Bolcato Léa , Thiebaut-Bertrand Anne , Stanke-Labesque Françoise , Gautier-Veyret Elodie
Published: September 2022

Isavuconazole (ISA), a triazole antifungal agent, is licensed for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a cornerstone of treatment efficacy for triazole antifungals due to their pharmacokinetic variability, except for ISA, for which the utility of TDM is still uncertain. We performed a retrospective study that aimed to assess the inter- and intra-individual variability of ISA trough concentrations (Cmin) and to identify the determinants involved in such variability. ISA Cmin measured in adult patients at the Grenoble Alpes University Hospital between January 2018 and August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. In total, 304 ISA Cmin for 33 patients were analyzed. The median ISA Cmin was 2.8 [25th–75th percentiles: 2.0–3.7] mg/L. The inter- and intra-individual variability was 41.5% and 30.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed independent covariate effects of dose (β = 0.004 ± 3.56 × 10−4, p < 0.001), Aspartate aminotransférase (ASAT) (β = 0.002 ± 5.41 × 10−4, p = 0.002), and protein levels (β = 0.022 ± 0.004, p < 0.001) on ISA Cmin, whereas C reactive protein levels did not show any association. This study, conducted on a large number of ISA Cmin, shows that ISA exposure exhibits variability, explained in part by the ISA dose, and ASAT and protein levels.
Prevalence and Risk Factor Analysis of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome in Patients with COVID-19 Requiring Mechanical Ventilation: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Hatakeyama Junji , Inoue Shigeaki , Liu Keibun , Yamakawa Kazuma , Nishida Takeshi , Ohshimo Shinichiro , Hashimoto Satoru , Kanda Naoki , Maruyama Shuhei , Ogata Yoshitaka , Kawakami Daisuke , Shimizu Hiroaki , Hayakawa Katsura , Tanaka Aiko , Oshima Taku , Fuchigami Tatsuya , Yawata Hironori , Oe Kyoji , Kawauchi Akira , Yamagata Hidehiro , Harada Masahiro , Sato Yuichi , Nakamura Tomoyuki , Sugiki Kei , Hakozaki Takahiro , Beppu Satoru , Anraku Masaki , Kato Noboru , Iwashita Tomomi , Kamijo Hiroshi , Kitagawa Yuichiro , Nagashima Michio , Nishimaki Hirona , Tokuda Kentaro , Nishida Osamu , Nakamura Kensuke
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is an emerging problem in critically ill patients and the prevalence and risk factors are unclear in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This multicenter prospective observational study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of PICS in ventilated patients with COVID-19 after ICU discharge. Methods: Questionnaires were administered twice in surviving patients with COVID-19 who had required mechanical ventilation, concerning Barthel Index, Short-Memory Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores. The risk factors for PICS were examined using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The first and second PICS surveys were obtained at 5.5 and 13.5 months (mean) after ICU discharge, with 251 and 209 patients completing the questionnaires and with a prevalence of PICS of 58.6% and 60.8%, respectively, along with the highest percentages of cognitive impairment. Delirium (with an odds ratio of (OR) 2.34, 95% CI 1.1–4.9, and p = 0.03) and the duration of mechanical ventilation (with an OR of 1.29, 95% CI 1.05–1.58, and p = 0.02) were independently identified as the risk factors for PICS in the first PICS survey. Conclusion: Approximately 60% of the ventilated patients with COVID-19 experienced persistent PICS, especially delirium, and required longer mechanical ventilation.
A Survey of the Recent Trends in Deep Learning Based Malware Detection
Authors: Tayyab Umm-e-Hani , Khan Faiza Babar , Durad Muhammad Hanif , Khan Asifullah , Lee Yeon Soo
Published: September 2022

Monitoring Indicators of Compromise (IOC) leads to malware detection for identifying malicious activity. Malicious activities potentially lead to a system breach or data compromise. Various tools and anti-malware products exist for the detection of malware and cyberattacks utilizing IOCs, but all have several shortcomings. For instance, anti-malware systems make use of malware signatures, requiring a database containing such signatures to be constantly updated. Additionally, this technique does not work for zero-day attacks or variants of existing malware. In the quest to fight zero-day attacks, the research paradigm shifted from primitive methods to classical machine learning-based methods. Primitive methods are limited in catering to anti-analysis techniques against zero-day attacks. Hence, the direction of research moved towards methods utilizing classic machine learning, however, machine learning methods also come with certain limitations. They may include but not limited to the latency/lag introduced by feature-engineering phase on the entire training dataset as opposed to the real-time analysis requirement. Likewise, additional layers of data engineering to cater to the increasing volume of data introduces further delays. It led to the use of deep learning-based methods for malware detection. With the speedy occurrence of zero-day malware, researchers chose to experiment with few shot learning so that reliable solutions can be produced for malware detection with even a small amount of data at hand for training. In this paper, we surveyed several possible strategies to support the real-time detection of malware and propose a hierarchical model to discover security events or threats in real-time. A key focus in this survey is on the use of Deep Learning-based methods. Deep Learning based methods dominate this research area by providing automatic feature engineering, the capability of dealing with large datasets, enabling the mining of features from limited data samples, and supporting one-shot learning. We compare Deep Learning-based approaches with conventional machine learning based approaches and primitive (statistical analysis based) methods commonly reported in the literature.
A Hyperbolic Shear Deformation Theory for Natural Frequencies Study of Functionally Graded Plates on Elastic Supports
Authors: Zaoui Fatima Zohra , Ouinas Djamel , Achour Belkacem , Tounsi Abdelouahed , Latifee Enamur R. , Al-Naghi Ahmed A. Alawi
Published: September 2022

This study presents a hyperbolic shear deformation theory for free vibration of functionally graded plates on elastic foundations. The field of displacements is chosen based on the assumptions that axial and transverse displacements consist of components due to bending and shear. The components of the axial shear displacements give rise to the parabolic variation in the shear strain through the thickness, such that the shear stresses vanish on the plate boundaries. Therefore, the shear correction factor is not necessary. The material properties of the functionally graded plate are assumed to vary through the thickness according to the power law of the volume fraction of the constituents. The elastic foundation is modeled as a Pasternak foundation. The equations of motion are derived using Hamilton’s principle. The analytical solutions were established from Navier’s approach, and the results obtained are found to be in good agreement with the solutions of three-dimensional elasticity and with the solutions of the various plate theories. The effects of the power law index, the thickness ratio, and the foundation parameters on the natural frequency of the plates were also evaluated.
Influence of the Components and Orientation of Hydroxyapatite Fibrous Substrates on Osteoblast Behavior
Authors: Tsai Shiao-Wen , Hsu Yu-Wei , Pan Whei-Lin , Vadivelmurugan Adhisankar , Hwang Pai-An , Hsu Fu-Yin
Published: September 2022

Synthetic hydroxyapatite has good biocompatibility, bioactivity and osteoconductive ability because its chemical properties and biological properties are similar to those of bioapatite in bone tissue. Strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite has better degradability than hydroxyapatite and can both promote osteogenesis and inhibit adipogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells. Hence, hydroxyapatite and strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite are widely used as bone graft materials, cell carriers and drug/gene delivery carriers. In addition, osteoblasts cultured on aligned nanofibrous substrates had higher expression of osteogenesis-related genes than did those cultured on random nanofibrous substrates. However, to date, no study has explored the effects of the components and orientation of hydroxyapatite nanofibrous substrates on osteoblastic behavior. In this study, a random hydroxyapatite nanofibrous substrate (R-HANF), a random strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite nanofibrous substrate (R-SrHANF), an aligned hydroxyapatite nanofibrous substrate (A-HANF) and an aligned strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite nanofibrous substrate (A-SrHANF) were successfully fabricated by using the electrospinning technique. The effect of fiber composition on osteoblast-like MG63 cells was assessed by evaluating cell morphology, cell proliferation and osteogenesis-related gene expression. The results showed that MG63 cells cultured on A-SrHANF had higher osteogenesis-related gene expression than those cultured on A-HANF. Additionally, MG63 cells were cultured on R-SrHANF and A-SrHANF to evaluate the effects of fiber orientation on cell behavior. On A-SrHANF, the cells aligned along the direction of the nanofibers, with typical bipolar morphologies, and exhibited higher osteogenesis-related gene expression than cells on R-SrHANF. Hence, the components and orientation of hydroxyapatite nanofibrous substrates are critical parameters affecting the osteogenesis process.
Identification of Bacillus velezensis SBB and Its Antifungal Effects against Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Wang Wei-Yu , Kong Wei-Liang , Liao Yang-Chun-Zi , Zhu Li-Hua
Published: September 2022

Traditional control methods have drawbacks in controlling Verticillium wilt diseases caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb.; therefore, an efficient and environmentally friendly strategy for disease control must be identified and the mechanisms determined. In this study, a soil-isolated strain SBB was identified as Bacillus velezensis based on 16S rRNA, gyrA, and gyrB gene sequences. In vitro, strain SBB had excellent inhibitory effects on V. dahliae, with the highest inhibition rate of 70.94%. Moreover, strain SBB inhibited production of the conidia of V. dahliae and suppressed the production of microsclerotia and melanin. Through gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer analysis, nine compounds were detected from the volatile organic compounds produced by SBB, among which 2-nonanol, 2-heptanone, 6-methyl-2-heptanone, and 2-nonanone could completely inhibit V. dahliae growth. Strain SBB produced cellulase, amylase, protease, and siderophore. During inhibitory action on V. dahliae, strain SBB showed upregulated expression of genes encoding non-volatile inhibitory metabolites, including difficidin, bacilysin, and bacillaene, at 1.923-, 1.848-, and 1.448-fold higher, respectively. Thus, our study proved that strain SBB had an efficient antagonistic effect on V. dahliae, suggesting strain SBB can be used as a potential biological control agent against Verticillium wilt.
Forest Type and Site Conditions Influence the Diversity and Biomass of Edible Macrofungal Species in Ethiopia
Authors: Kewessa Gonfa , Dejene Tatek , Alem Demelash , Tolera Motuma , Martín-Pinto Pablo
Published: September 2022

Ethiopian forests are rich in valuable types of non-wood forest products, including mushrooms. However, despite their nutritional, economic, and ecological importance, wild edible mushrooms have been given little attention and are rarely documented in Ethiopia. In this study, we assessed mushroom production levels in natural and plantation forests and the influence of climate and environmental variables on mushroom production. Sporocarps were sampled weekly from July to August 2019 at a set of permanent plots (100 m2) in both forest systems. We analyzed 63 plots to quantify sporocarp species’ richness and fresh weight as well as to elucidate the degree of influence of forest types and site conditions, including soil and climate. Morphological analyses were used to identify fungi. In total, we recorded 64 wild edible fungal species belonging to 31 genera and 21 families from the plots established in the natural and plantation forests. A significantly greater total number of edible fungi were collected from natural forests (n = 40 species) than from plantations. Saprotrophs (92.19%) were the dominant guild whereas ectomycorrhizal fungi represented only 6.25% of species. Ecologically and economically important fungal species such as Agaricus campestroides, Tylopilus niger, Suillus luteus, Tricholoma portentosum, and Morchella americana were collected. The sporocarp yield obtained from plantation forests (2097.57 kg ha−1 yr–1) was significantly greater than that obtained from natural forests (731.18 kg ha−1 yr–1). The fungal community composition based on sporocarp production was mainly correlated with the organic matter, available phosphorus, and total nitrogen content of the soil, and with the daily minimum temperature during collection. Accordingly, improving edible species’ richness and sporocarp production by maintaining ecosystem integrity represents a way of adding economic value to forests and maintaining biological diversity, while providing wood and non-wood forest products; we propose that this approach is imperative for managing Ethiopian forests.