bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adoption Determinants of Exotic Rice Cultivars in Bangladesh
Authors: Sarkar Md. Abdur Rouf , Rahman Mohammad Chhiddikur , Rahaman Md. Shajedur , Sarker Mou Rani , Islam Mohammad Ariful , Balie Jean , Kabir Md. Shahjahan
Published: February 2022

Agrarian Bangladesh relies heavily on rice. Since independence, many varieties have been released and targeted to increase productivity, farmers' income, and food security. However, few gained widespread adoption. Moreover, farmers in the border regions are adopting exotic cultivars, and it's gradually spreading throughout the country. But, the reasons for adopting exotic rice cultivars are still unexplored. Using field data from 1,260 farm households and 42 focus group discussions, this study analyzes farmers' preferences for domestic and exotic rice varieties and identifies the factors of adoption linked to design national breeding programs and farmers' welfare. Findings show, exotic varieties (69%) monopolized the area coverage in the dry season, whereas in the wet season, domestic varieties (58%) dominated. Farmers select exotic varieties for their better yield and price, low production costs, high grain quality, resistance to pests and diseases, and ability to withstand stresses. Risk analysis shows domestic varieties adoption is riskier with lower returns. The empirical findings indicate that household characteristics, access to institutions and infrastructure, varietal characteristics, and weather condition, all play a significant role in adoption decisions. National breeding should focus on developing rice varieties in response to market demands and farmer preferences toward sustainable food security in Bangladesh.
Effect of Dietary Bacillus licheniformis Supplementation on Growth Performance and Microbiota Diversity of Pekin Ducks
Authors: Li Lei , lv Xueze , Han Xu , Sun Chenglei , An Keying , Gao Wenwen , Xia Zhaofei
Published: February 2022

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different concentrations of Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) on growth performance and microbiota diversity of Pekin ducks. Three hundred 1-day-old healthy Pekin ducks were randomly divided into 5 groups with 6 replicates per group and 10 ducks per replicate. The five treatments supplemented with basal diets containing: either 0 (group CON), 200 (group LLB), 400 (group MLB), and 800 (group HLB) mg/kg B. licheniformis or 150 mg/kg aureomycin (group ANT) for 42 days, respectively, and were sacrificed and sampled in the morning of the 42nd day for detection of relevant indexes. The results showed as follows: The feed conversion ratio of the LLB group and MLB groups were lower than the CON group (P < 0.05). The body weight and average daily feed intake of the MLB group were significantly higher than that of the CON group and ANT group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the MLB group significantly increased the content of IgA (P < 0.05) and proinflammatory IL-6 were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), besides, the activity of SOD and T-AOC were also significantly increased in the MLB group (P < 0.05). The 16S rRNA analysis showed that B. licheniformis treatments had no effect (P > 0.05) on the alpha diversities of the intestine. The addition of B. licheniformis had a dynamic effect on the abundance of cecal microflora of Pekin ducks, and 1-21 d increased the diversity of microflora, while 21d-42 d decreased it. Compared with the CON group, the relative abundance of Epsilonbacteraeota in the MLB group was significantly increased on Day 21 (P < 0.05), and that of Tenericutes in the LLB group was significantly increased as well (P < 0.05). At 42 d, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes in LLB, MBL, HBL, and ANT groups was significantly increased (P < 0.05). In addition, the addition of B. licheniformis increased the amount of SCAF-producing bacteria in the intestinal microbiota, such as Lachnospiraceae, Collinsella, Christensenellaceae, and Bilophila. The PICRUSt method was used to predict the intestinal microbiota function, and it was found that lipid transport and metabolism of intestinal microbiota in the MLB group were significantly affected. Overall, these results suggest diet supplemented with B. licheniformis improved growth performance, immune status, antioxidant capacity, and modulated intestinal microbiota in Pekin ducks. The optimal dietary supplement dose is 400 mg/kg.
Effects of Capsaicin on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Digestive Enzyme Activities, Intestinal Morphology, and Organ Indexes of Broilers
Authors: Li Zhihua , Zhang Jiaqi , Wang Ting , Zhang Jingfei , Zhang Lili , Wang Tian
Published: February 2022

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of capsaicin (CAP) on growth performance, meat quality, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal morphology, and organ indexes of broilers. A total of 256 one-day-old Arbor Acre male broilers were randomly allocated into four treatments with eight replicates of eight birds, feeding a basal diet (control group), a basal diet supplemented with 2, 4, and 6 mg/kg CAP for 42 d, respectively. The growth performance, digestive enzyme activities of intestinal contents, small intestinal morphology, and organ indexes were measured at 21 and 42 d. The meat quality traits of breast muscles were determined at 42 d. The results showed dietary 4 mg/kg CAP supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the feed to gain ratio (F/G) in the grower phase (22–42 d) and overall (1–42 d) compared with the control group, and 2 mg/kg CAP group also decreased (P < 0.05) the F/G from 1 to 42 d. Dietary 4 mg/kg CAP supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the drip loss at 48 h and the pH24h of breast muscles relative to the control group. Some digestive enzymes activities of jejunal and ileal contents were increased in the 2 and 4 mg/kg CAP groups compared with the control group both at 21 and 42 d. In addition, dietary 2 mg/kg CAP supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the relative weight of liver, jejunal villus height, villus width, and villous surface area at 21 d; The length of the jejunum segment and the relative weight of Bursa of Fabricius at 42 d in the 4 mg/kg CAP group were higher (P < 0.05) than the control group. In conclusion, dietary 2 or 4 mg/kg CAP supplementation decreased the F/G, improved meat quality, enhanced digestive enzyme activities, improved the jejunal development, and increased the relative liver and Bursa of Fabricius weight in broilers.
Public Attitudes During the Second Lockdown: Sentiment and Topic Analyses Using Tweets From Ontario, Canada
Authors: Tsao Shu-Feng , MacLean Alexander , Chen Helen , Li Lianghua , Yang Yang , Butt Zahid Ahmad
Published: February 2022

Objective:This study aimed to explore topics and sentiments using tweets from Ontario, Canada, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:Tweets were collected from December 5, 2020, to March 6, 2021, excluding non-individual accounts. Dates of vaccine-related events and policy changes were collected from public health units in Ontario. The daily number of COVID-19 cases was retrieved from the Ontario provincial government’s public health database. Latent Dirichlet Allocation was used for unsupervised topic modelling. VADER was used to calculate daily and average sentiment compound scores for topics identified.

Results:Vaccine, pandemic, business, lockdown, mask, and Ontario were six topics identified from the unsupervised topic modelling. The average sentiment compound score for each topic appeared to be slightly positive, yet the daily sentiment compound scores varied greatly between positive and negative emotions for each topic.

Conclusion:Our study results have shown a slightly positive sentiment on average during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, along with six topics. Our research has also demonstrated a social listening approach to identify what the public sentiments and opinions are in a timely manner.
Whispered Speech Conversion Based on the Inversion of Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficient Features
Authors: Zhu Qiang , Wang Zhong , Dou Yunfeng , Zhou Jian
Published: February 2022

A conversion method based on the inversion of Mel frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC) features was proposed to convert whispered speech into normal speech. First, the MFCC features of whispered speech and normal speech were extracted and a matching relation between the MFCC feature parameters of whispered speech and normal speech was developed through the Gaussian mixture model (GMM). Then, the MFCC feature parameters of normal speech corresponding to whispered speech were obtained based on the GMM and, finally, whispered speech was converted into normal speech through the inversion of MFCC features. The experimental results showed that the cepstral distortion (CD) of the normal speech converted by the proposed method was 21% less than that of the normal speech converted by the linear predictive coefficient (LPC) features, the mean opinion score (MOS) was 3.56, and a satisfactory outcome in both intelligibility and sound quality was achieved.
Optimal Control Method of Path Tracking for Four-Wheel Steering Vehicles
Authors: Tan Xiaojun , Liu Deliang , Xiong Huiyuan
Published: February 2022

Path tracking is a key technique for intelligent electric vehicles, while four-wheel steering (4WS) technology is of great significance to improve its accuracy and flexibility. However, the control methods commonly used in path tracking for a 4WS vehicle cannot take full advantage of the additional steering freedom of the 4WS vehicle, because of restricting the relationship between the front and rear wheels steering angle. To address this issue, we derive a kinematic model without the restriction based on the small-angle assumption. Then, the objective function and constraints of system control quantity optimization are designed based on the tracking error model. After the optimization problem is solved in the form of quadratic programming with constraints, the control sequence with the smallest performance index is obtained through rolling optimization. The proposed method is tested on a high-fidelity Carsim/Simulink co-simulation platform and an experimental vehicle. The results show that the standard deviation of the lateral error and the yaw angle error of the algorithm is less than 0.1 m and 3.0°, respectively. Compared with the other two algorithms, the control of the front and rear wheels angle of this method is more flexible and the tracking accuracy is higher.
Associations between Milk and Dairy Product Intake, Urinary Sodium-to-Potassium Ratio, and Socioeconomic Status in Japanese Male Adolescents
Authors: Nagashima Yosuke , Horikawa Akiko , Mitsume Ayana , Mori Mari
Published: February 2022

Although socioeconomic status (SES) may affect children’s urinary electrolytic excretion and dietary intakes, few studies have reported the association between SES and urinary sodium (Na)-to-potassium (K) ratio in Japanese adolescents and children. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between SES and urinary Na/K ratio (Analysis 1) and between dietary intake and urinary Na/K ratio to determine the SES effects in children and adolescents (Analysis 2). This cross-sectional study included 168 Japanese male adolescent and child football players. The urinary Na/K ratio was calculated from three spot urinary electrolyte values. Multiple regression analysis was performed in both first and second analyses to assess the associations between SES and the urinary Na/K ratio and between dietary intake and the urinary Na/K ratio for ages 9–12 and 13–15 years separately. The mean urinary Na/K ratio was 4.8, with higher SES associated with a lower urinary Na/K ratio. Our results suggested that urinary Na/K ratios in Japanese child football players were high due to poor childhood diets, and higher SES was associated with lower urinary Na/K ratios. Further, milk and dairy products are associated with the urinary Na/K ratio, independent of SES in children and adolescents.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Bt Resistant and Susceptible Strains in Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)
Authors: Lin Yaling , Gao Qing , Wang Yueqin , Wang Zhenying , He Kanglai , Shang Suqin , Zhang Tiantao
Published: February 2022

The evolution of target pest population resistance to Bt toxins is the most relevant threat to the sustainability of Bt technology, thus it is necessary to clarify insect resistance mechanisms. Firstly, the resistance level of Asian corn borer was determined by bioassay. After 28 generations selection in the lab, the Cry1Ie-resistant strain (ACB-IeR) developed more than 862-fold resistance to Cry1Ie, and the Cry1F-resistant strain (ACB-FR) developed 961-fold resistance to Cry1F. The results show that long-term exposure to Bt toxins can lead to resistance. Then, we compared the differential expression genes (DEGs) of ACB-FR and ACB-IeR with susceptible strain (ACB-BtS), and analyzed GO function and KEGG pathway through transcriptome sequencing. The comparison showed that in Bt-resistant strains, many genes have a significant down-regulated trend. Several Bt-resistance candidate genes were differentially expressed in both resistant strains. Furthermore, the DEGs were verified by RT-qPCR and showed similar trend. These results provide candidate genes for further research on the Bt resistance mechanism.
The Effects of Chemical Oxidation and High-Temperature Reduction on Surface Functional Groups and the Adsorption Performance of Biochar for Sulfamethoxazole Adsorption
Authors: Hou Jifei , Yu Jialin , Li Wenxuan , He Xiudan , Li Xuede
Published: February 2022

Biochar is a beneficial adsorbent for the treatment of organic pollutants in the environment. The association of oxygen functional groups and adsorption behaviors has not been well investigated. In this paper, the oxidation-modified biochar (O-BC) and the reduction-modified biochar (R-BCX) were prepared by Co2+/peroxymonosulfate chemical oxidation and high-temperature reduction, respectively. The modified biochars were used to remove sulfamethoxazole (SMX) from water, and the adsorption amounts of biochar followed the order of R-BC700 (14.66 mg·L−1) > O-BC (4.91 mg·L−1) > BC (0.16 mg·L−1). Additionally, the effects of water chemical conditions (i.e., ionic strength, solution pH and humic acid (HA) concentration) on the adsorption of SMX on biochar, were further investigated. Combining physical adsorption, X-ray electron spectroscopy, and zeta potentiometer characterization techniques, the effect of functional groups on the adsorption mechanism was further explored, revealing the importance of various oxygen functional groups for SMX adsorption. The results showed that C=O and C=C, resulting in π–π interaction, were in favor of the adsorption of SMX, while C-O was not conducive to the adsorption of SMX, due to the steric hindrance and the negative surface charge. Additionally, the hydrophobic effect of the biochar was also one of the adsorption mechanisms.
Optical Spectrometry to Determine Nutrient Concentrations and other Physicochemical Parameters in Liquid Organic Manures: A Review
Authors: Horf Michael , Vogel Sebastian , Drücker Harm , Gebbers Robin , Olfs Hans-Werner
Published: February 2022

Nutrient concentrations in livestock manures and biogas digestates show a huge variability due to disparities in animal husbandry systems concerning animal species, feed composition, etc. Therefore, a nutrient estimation based on recommendation tables is not reliable when the exact chemical composition is needed. The alternative, to analyse representative fertilizer samples in a standard laboratory, is too time- and cost-intensive to be an accepted routine method for farmers. However, precise knowledge about the actual nutrient concentrations in liquid organic fertilizers is a prerequisite to ensure optimal nutrient supply for growing crops and on the other hand to avoid environmental problems caused by overfertilization. Therefore, spectrometric methods receive increasing attention as fast and low-cost alternatives. This review summarizes the present state of research based on optical spectrometry used at laboratory and field scale for predicting several parameters of liquid organic manures. It emphasizes three categories: (1) physicochemical parameters, e.g., dry matter, pH, and electrical conductivity; (2) main plant nutrients, i.e., total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sulfur; and (3) micronutrients, i.e., manganese, iron, copper, and zinc. Furthermore, the commonly used sample preparation techniques, spectrometer types, measuring modes, and chemometric methods are presented. The primarily promising scientific results of the last 30 years contributed to the fact that near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS) was established in commercial laboratories as an alternative method to wet chemical standard methods. Furthermore, companies developed technical setups using NIRS for on-line applications of liquid organic manures. Thus, NIRS seems to have evolved to a competitive measurement procedure, although parts of this technique still need to be improved to ensure sufficient accuracy, especially in quality management.
Evaluation of ‘Lorca’ Cultivar Aptitude for Minimally Processed Artichoke
Authors: Giménez-Berenguer Marina , García-Pastor María E. , García-Martínez Santiago , Giménez María J. , Zapata Pedro J.
Published: February 2022

Previous research works have reported that ‘Lorca’ artichoke cultivar presents a lower total phenolic content than other cultivars rich in phenolic compounds, which could show a lower susceptibility to enzymatic browning and increase its aptitude for fresh-cut processing. The aim of this study was to analyze the total phenolic content as well as browning evaluation by image analysis and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme activity in ‘Lorca’ cultivar in order to characterize the key factors which influence its phenolic levels for minimally processed artichokes. Thus, artichokes were harvested and classified on three head orders (main, secondary, and tertiary), as well as three development stages (initial, intermediate, and advanced). Variance components analysis was carried out for total phenolic content considering three factors: plant, flower head order, and internal development stage. For the first time, the internal development stage has been related to total phenolic content, and results showed that artichoke head order and internal development stage were responsible for a variability of 22.17% and 15.55%, respectively. Main artichoke heads and those at the advanced development stage presented the lowest phenolic concentration as well as the lowest PPO activity; therefore, they exhibit the lowest browning process, which could increase their use in ready-to-eat products at market.
Seasonal Dynamics of Soil Bacterial Community under Long-Term Abandoned Cropland in Boreal Climate
Authors: Zhelezova Alena , Chernov Timofey , Nikitin Dmitry , Tkhakakhova Azida , Ksenofontova Natalia , Zverev Aleksei , Kutovaya Olga , Semenov Mikhail
Published: February 2022

The collapse of collective farming in Russia after 1990 led to the abandonment of 23% of the agricultural area. Microbial biomass is a transit pool between fresh and soil organic matter; therefore, structural changes in soil microbial community determine the carbon cycle processes caused by self-restoration of arable lands after abandonment. Here, we assessed the influence of monthly changes in moisture and temperature on the bacterial community structure and abundance in Retisols under long-term abandoned cropland. Two periods with pronounced differences in bacterial properties were revealed: the growing period from March to September and the dormant period from October to February. The growing period was characterized by higher bacterial abundance and diversity compared to the dormant period. The relative abundances of the bacterial community dominants (Alpha-, Gamma- and Deltaproteobacteria, subgroup 6 of phylum Acidobacteria) did not change significantly over the year, either in total or active communities. The relative abundances of Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia increased in the growing period, whereas Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi were more abundant in the dormant period. The microbial gene abundances positively correlated with soil and air temperature, but not with soil moisture. Thus, the seasonal dynamics of soil microbial communities are closely related to soil temperature and should be considered when assessing carbon cycles in abandoned lands.
Antibacterial Potential of Caesalpinia coriaria (Jacq) Willd Fruit against Aeromonas spp. of Aquaculture Importance
Authors: Rangel-López Lenin , Rivero-Perez Nallely , Valladares-Carranza Benjamín , Olmedo-Juárez Agustín , Delgadillo-Ruiz Lucía , Vega-Sánchez Vicente , Hori-Oshima Sawako , Nassan Mohamed A. , Batiha Gaber El-Saber , Zaragoza-Bastida Adrian
Published: February 2022

Aquaculture is an important source of food and livelihood for hundreds of millions of people around the world, however, aquaculture systems are affected by different factors, among them the appearance of resistant or multiresistant bacteria to antimicrobials. The secondary metabolites of plants have been proposed as alternatives for the treatment of these bacteria. The aim of the present study was to determine the antibacterial activity of Caesalpinia coriaria fruit hydroalcoholic extract and gallic acid over Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas veronii,  and Aeromonas dhakensis to identify new molecules for the treatment of diseases caused by Aeromonas spp. The C. coriaria fruit hydroalcoholic extract (HECc) was obtained by hydroalcoholic maceration and subjected to bipartition with ethyl acetate and water to obtain an aqueous fraction (Ac-FrCc) and an organic fraction (Ac-FrEtCc); gallic acid was purchased commercially. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), MBC/MIC ratio, and cytotoxicity of HECc, its fractions, and gallic acid were determined. The results indicate that HECc fractions (Ac-FrCc and Ac-FrEtCc) and gallic acid have bactericidal activity against A. hydrophila and A. dhakensis, but only gallic acid showed bactericidal activity against A. veronii. The HECc and Ac-FrCc showed no toxicity, Ac-FrEtCc showed low toxicity, and gallic acid showed medium toxicity. The HECc, Ac-FrCc, and Ac-FrEtCc may be alternatives for the treatment of diseases caused by the genus Aeromonas, however, in vivo assays are necessary to corroborate these results.
Dairy Cow Behavior Is Affected by Period, Time of Day and Housing
Authors: Leliveld Lisette M. C. , Riva Elisabetta , Mattachini Gabriele , Finzi Alberto , Lovarelli Daniela , Provolo Giorgio
Published: February 2022

Dairy cow behavior is affected by external and endogenous factors, including time of year, barn microclimate, time of day and housing. However, little is known about the combined effects of these factors. Data were collected on eight farms in Northern Italy during summer, winter and a temperate season. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was recorded using environmental sensors, whereas cow behavior was monitored using leg accelerometers and cameras. Period, time of day and their interaction all significantly affected lying, standing and feeding behavior. However, although THI had a significant negative effect on lying and a positive effect on standing during daytime (all p < 0.001), during nighttime, it only had a significant negative effect on lying duration and mean lying bout duration (p < 0.001 for both). There was also significant variation between farms in all behavioral parameters, as well as interactions with period and time of day. For instance, farm differences in lying duration were more pronounced during daytime than during nighttime. These findings show how housing can interact with other factors, such as period of the year and time of day, and illustrate the influence of barn structure and farm management on cow behavior and, consequently, their welfare.
Characteristics and Applications of Canine In Vitro Models of Bladder Cancer in Veterinary Medicine: An Up-to-Date Mini Review
Authors: Nowak Łukasz , Krajewski Wojciech , Małkiewicz Bartosz , Szydełko Tomasz , Pawlak Aleksandra
Published: February 2022

Bladder cancer (BC) constitutes approximately 2% of all spontaneously occurring cancers in dogs. It is characterized by a devastating clinical course in most cases, which emphasizes a constant need for the development of novel methods of disease characterization and treatment. Over the past years, advances in cell engineering have resulted in the development of various canine in vitro models of BC, emerging as complements for in vivo research. In this article, we aimed to review the available data on existing in vitro models of canine BC, focusing primarily on their characteristics, applications in veterinary medicine, as well as advantages and disadvantages. The most commonly used in vitro models of canine BC comprise immortalized cell lines grown as adherent monolayers. They provide an unlimited supply of research material, however, they do not faithfully reflect the conditions prevailing in vivo, since the spatial cellular interactions are lost. The importance of the three-dimensional (3D) features of solid tumors in relation to carcinogenesis or drug response process has resulted in the development of the first canine 3D models of BC available for in vitro research. So far, results obtained with in vitro and in vivo research should be interpreted together. With the constantly growing complexity of in vitro models of BC cancer, animal-based research might be reduced in the future.
Screening of Anorectal and Oropharyngeal Samples Fails to Detect Bacteriophages Infecting Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Laumen Jolein Gyonne Elise , Abdellati Saïd , Manoharan-Basil Sheeba Santhini , Van Dijck Christophe , Van den Bossche Dorien , De Baetselier Irith , de Block Tessa , Malhotra-Kumar Surbhi , Soentjes Patrick , Pirnay Jean-Paul , Kenyon Chris , Merabishvili Maia
Published: February 2022

There are real concerns that Neisseria gonorrhoeae may become untreatable in the near future due to the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Alternative therapies are thus urgently required. Bacteriophages active against N. gonorrhoeae could play an important role as an antibiotic-sparing therapy. To the best of our knowledge, no bacteriophages active against N. gonorrhoeae have ever been found. The aim of this study was to screen for bacteriophages able to lyse N. gonorrhoeae in oropharyngeal and anorectal swabs of 74 men who have sex with men attending a sexual health clinic in Antwerp, Belgium. We screened 210 swabs but were unable to identify an anti-gonococcal bacteriophage. This is the first report of a pilot screening that systematically searched for anti-gonococcal phages directly from clinical swabs. Further studies may consider screening for phages at other anatomical sites (e.g., stool samples, urine) or in environmental settings (e.g., toilet sewage water of sex clubs or sexually transmitted infection clinics) where N. gonorrhoeae can be found.
Safety and Efficacy of Devices Delivering Inhaled Antibiotics among Adults with Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis: A Systematic Review and a Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tejada Sofia , Ramírez-Estrada Sergio , Forero Carlos , Gallego Miguel , Soriano Joan , Cardinal-Fernández Pablo , Ehrmann Stephan , Rello Jordi
Published: February 2022

It remains unknown whether the type of aerosol generating device is affecting efficacy and safety among non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) adults. The proposal of this network meta-analysis (NMA) is to evaluate effectiveness and safety of inhaled antibiotics administered via dry powder inhaler (DPI) and via nebulizers (SVN) among adult patients with NCFB. Inclusion criteria were randomized-controlled trials, adults (≥18 years) with NCFB, and inhaled antibiotics administered via DPI as intervention. Search strategy was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from 2000 to 2019. Sixteen trials (2870 patients) were included. Three trials (all ciprofloxacin) used DPIs and thirteen used SVN (three ciprofloxacin). Both DPI and SVN devices achieved similar safety outcomes (adverse events, antibiotic discontinuation, severe adverse events, and bronchospasm). Administration of ciprofloxacin via DPI significantly improved time to first exacerbation (87 days, 95% CI 34.3–139.7) and quality of life (MD −7.52; 95% CI −13.06 to −1.98) when compared with via SVN. No other significant differences were documented in clinical efficacy (at least one exacerbation, FEV1% predicted) and microbiologic response (bacterial eradication, emergence of new potential pathogens, and emergence of antimicrobial resistance) when comparing devices. Our NMA documented that time to first exacerbation and quality of life, were more favorable for DPIs. Decisions on the choice of devices should incorporate these findings plus other criteria, such as simplicity, costs or maintenance requirements.
Evaluation of Bi-Lateral Co-Infections and Antibiotic Resistance Rates among COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Ahmed Naveed , Khan Madiha , Saleem Waqas , Karobari Mohmed Isaqali , Mohamed Roshan Noor , Heboyan Artak , Rabaan Ali A. , Mutair Abbas Al , Alhumaid Saad , Alsadiq Salman A. , Bueid Ahmed S. , Santali Eman Y. , Alestad Jeehan H.
Published: February 2022

In addition to the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, bacterial co-infection plays an essential role in the incidence and progression of SARS-CoV-2 infections by increasing the severity of infection, as well as increasing disease symptoms, death rate and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The current study was conducted in a tertiary-care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, among hospitalized COVID-19 patients to see the prevalence of bacterial co-infections and the AMR rates among different isolated bacteria. Clinical samples for the laboratory diagnosis were collected from 1165 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, of which 423 were found to be positive for various bacterial infections. Most of the isolated bacteria were Gram-negative rods (n = 366), followed by Gram-positive cocci (n = 57). A significant association (p < 0.05) was noted between the hospitalized COVID-19 patients and bacterial co-infections. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) showed high resistance against tetracycline (61.7%), Streptococcus pyogenes against penicillin (100%), E. coli against Amp-clavulanic acid (88.72%), Klebsiella pneumoniae against ampicillin (100%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa against ciprofloxacin (75.40%). Acinetobacter baumannii was 100% resistant to the majority of tested antibiotics. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was 14.7%. The topmost symptoms of >50% of COVID-19 patients were fever, fatigue, dyspnea and chest pain with a significant association (p < 0.05) in bacterial co-infected patients. The current study results showed a comparatively high prevalence of AMR, which may become a severe health-related issue in the future. Therefore, strict compliance of antibiotic usage and employment of antibiotic stewardship programs at every public or private institutional level are recommended.
Stabilization of PE with Pomegranate Extract: Contradictions and Possible Mechanisms
Authors: Tátraaljai Dóra , Tang Yun , Pregi Emese , Vági Erika , Horváth Viola , Pukánszky Béla
Published: February 2022

Dry pomegranate peel was extracted with acetone and the extract was added to a Phillips type polyethylene. The concentration of the extract was changed from 0 to 1000 ppm in six steps and stabilization efficiency was checked by the multiple extrusion of the polymer followed by the characterization of chemical structure, processing, and residual stability. The results confirmed the excellent processing stabilization efficiency of the extract, but also the poor long-term stability of PE containing it in accordance with previously published results. The extract is amorphous and its solubility is relatively large in the polymer; thus, these factors cannot be the reason for the poor stabilization efficiency in an oxygen-rich environment. Chemical factors like the self-interaction of the polyphenol molecules, the stability of the radicals forming after hydrogen abstraction, and the lack of hydrogens with the necessary reactivity must be considered during the evaluation of the efficiency of the extract. These factors as well as the insufficient number of active hydrogens hinder the reaction of the additive molecules with oxygen-centered radicals, thus leading to inferior long-term stability. The extract can be used for the processing stabilization of polymers, but for applications requiring long-term stability, it must be combined with other natural antioxidants like flavonoids or Vitamin E.
A Multi-Leak Identification Scheme Using Multi-Classification for Water Distribution Infrastructure
Authors: Wei Yang , Tsang Kim Fung , Wu Chung Kit , Wang Hao , Liu Yucheng
Published: February 2022

Water distribution infrastructure (WDI) is well-established and significantly improves living quality. Nonetheless, aging WDI has posed an awkward worldwide problem, wasting natural resources and leading to direct and indirect economic losses. The total losses due to leaks are valued at USD 7 billion per year. In this paper, a multi-classification multi-leak identification (MC-MLI) scheme is developed to combat the captioned problem. In the MC-MLI, a novel adaptive kernel (AK) scheme is developed to adapt to different WDI scenarios. The AK improves the overall identification capability by customizing a weighting vector into the extracted feature vector. Afterwards, a multi-classification (MC) scheme is designed to facilitate efficient adaptation to potentially hostile inhomogeneous WDI scenarios. The MC comprises multiple classifiers for customizing to different pipelines. Each classifier is characterized by the feature vector and corresponding weighting vector and weighting vector pertinent to system requirements, thus rendering the developed scheme strongly adaptive to ever-changing operating environments. Hence, the MC scheme facilitates low-cost, efficient, and accurate water leak detection and provides high practical value to the commercial market. Additionally, graph theory is utilized to model the realistic WDIs, and the experimental results verify that the developed MC-MLI achieves 96% accuracy, 96% sensitivity, and 95% specificity. The average detection time is about 5 s.
A Graph-Based Differentially Private Algorithm for Mining Frequent Sequential Patterns
Authors: Nunez-del-Prado Miguel , Maehara-Aliaga Yoshitomi , Salas Julián , Alatrista-Salas Hugo , Megías David
Published: February 2022

Currently, individuals leave a digital trace of their activities when they use their smartphones, social media, mobile apps, credit card payments, Internet surfing profile, etc. These digital activities hide intrinsic usage patterns, which can be extracted using sequential pattern algorithms. Sequential pattern mining is a promising approach for discovering temporal regularities in huge and heterogeneous databases. These sequences represent individuals’ common behavior and could contain sensitive information. Thus, sequential patterns should be sanitized to preserve individuals’ privacy. Hence, many algorithms have been proposed to accomplish this task. However, these techniques add noise to the candidate support before they are validated as, frequently, and thus, they cannot be applied without having access to all the users’ sequences data. In this paper, we propose a differential privacy graph-based technique for publishing frequent sequential patterns. It is applied at the post-processing stage; hence it may be used to protect frequent sequential patterns after they have been extracted, without the need to access all the users’ sequences. To validate our proposal, we performed a detailed assessment of its utility as a pattern mining algorithm and calculated the impact of the sanitization mechanism on a recommender system. We further evaluated its information loss disclosure risk and performed a comparison with the DP-FSM algorithm.
Compact and Highly Sensitive Bended Microwave Liquid Sensor Based on a Metamaterial Complementary Split-Ring Resonator
Authors: Mosbah Said , Zebiri Chemseddine , Sayad Djamel , Elfergani Issa , Bouknia Mohamed Lamine , Mekki Samira , Zegadi Rami , Palandoken Merih , Rodriguez Jonathan , Abd-Alhameed Raed A.
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we present the design of a compact and highly sensitive microwave sensor based on a metamaterial complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR), for liquid characterization at microwave frequencies. The design consists of a two-port microstrip-fed rectangular patch resonating structure printed on a 20 × 28 mm2 Roger RO3035 substrate with a thickness of 0.75 mm, a relative permittivity of 3.5, and a loss tangent of 0.0015. A CSRR is etched on the ground plane for the purpose of sensor miniaturization. The investigated liquid sample is put in a capillary glass tube lying parallel to the surface of the sensor. The parallel placement of the liquid test tube makes the design twice as efficient as a normal one in terms of sensitivity and Q factor. By bending the proposed structure, further enhancements of the sensor design can be obtained. These changes result in a shift in the resonant frequency and Q factor of the sensor. Hence, we could improve the sensitivity 10-fold compared to the flat structure. Subsequently, two configurations of sensors were designed and tested using CST simulation software, validated using HFSS simulation software, and compared to structures available in the literature, obtaining good agreement. A prototype of the flat configuration was fabricated and experimentally tested. Simulation results were found to be in good agreement with the experiments. The proposed devices exhibit the advantage of exploring multiple rapid and easy measurements using different test tubes, making the measurement faster, easier, and more cost-effective; therefore, the proposed high-sensitivity sensors are ideal candidates for various sensing applications.
The Results of Laboratory Studies of the Device for Evaluation of Suitability of Potato Tubers for Mechanized Harvesting
Authors: Dorokhov Alexey , Ponomarev Andrey , Zernov Vitaly , Petukhov Sergei , Aksenov Alexander , Sibirev Alexey , Sazonov Nikolay , Godyaeva Maria
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this study is to substantiate the concept of a device for the evaluation of the suitability of varieties and hybrids of potato tubers for mechanical harvesting from the earliest stages of the selection process and to perform quantitative and structural assessment of damage to potato varieties and hybrids inflicted by the device, simulating the process of the harvester’s separating element operation depending on the machine type and harvesting conditions. The structural and operating diagram of the device for the evaluation of suitability of varieties and hybrids for mechanized harvesting has been developed, and the procedure and results of the study to determine the force action of the separating surface of the developed device on the potato tubers are presented. The device developed in accordance with the proposed conceptual scheme, further calibrated to account for modern potato harvesters would make it possible to conduct targeted selection of varieties suitable for mechanized cultivation, as well as to assess the degree of resistance of potato varieties to mechanized harvesting at early stages of selective and seed production works.
CTIMS: Automated Defect Detection Framework Using Computed Tomography
Authors: Gabbar Hossam A. , Chahid Abderrazak , Khan Md. Jamiul Alam , Adegboro Oluwabukola Grace , Samson Matthew Immanuel
Published: February 2022

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) is one of the inspection techniques used in industrial tool inspection for quality and safety control. It is performed mainly using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) to scan the internal structure of the tools and detect the potential defects. In this paper, we propose a new toolbox called the CT-Based Integrity Monitoring System (CTIMS-Toolbox) for automated inspection of CT images and volumes. It contains three main modules: first, the database management module, which handles the database and reads/writes queries to retrieve or save the CT data; second, the pre-processing module for registration and background subtraction; third, the defect inspection module to detect all the potential defects (missing parts, damaged screws, etc.) based on a hybrid system composed of computer vision and deep learning techniques. This paper explores the different features of the CTIMS-Toolbox, exposes the performance of its modules, compares its features to some existing CT inspection toolboxes, and provides some examples of the obtained results.
Real-Time Security Health and Privacy Monitoring for Saudi Highways Using Cutting-Edge Technologies
Authors: Humayun Mamoona , Jhanjhi Noor Zaman , Almotilag Abdullah
Published: February 2022

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) highways hold the record for having the straightest, longest highways in the world. Since the country’s major population centers are dispersed across the country and due to the country’s geography, which includes valleys, deserts, and mountains, among other landscapes, these highways connect the many cities of the kingdom and neighboring nations. However, it is still challenging to provide emergency assistance in a timely way in the case of accidents, such as first aid, medical aid, police protection, etc. The transport ministry is actively working on improvements and safety features for the drivers. This research proposes a CET (cutting-edge technologies)-based model named the real-time security, health, and privacy monitoring model for passenger safety (RTSHPMP) for securing the traveler’s safety and privacy besides medical and legal help. The vehicle will be equipped with IoT-based front-back cameras to collect real-time data and share it with the cloud using 5G network. The local and national trusted authorities (TAs) will monitor the collected cloud data and inform the government machinery (police, first aid, fire brigade, hospitals) in the case of an accident. In addition, the data collected through other vehicles on the road at the time of the incident will help supply evidence linked to the accident. The RTSHPMP was evaluated with the help of a case study, and the results show that it provides an efficient and secure mechanism for traveler safety on Saudi highways at the time of need.
The Effects of Spray Volume on the Management of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in the Greenhouse
Authors: Joseph Shimat V.
Published: February 2022

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is a major insect pest of poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch; Family: Euphorbiaceae) in the greenhouse. Currently, neonicotinoids are widely used for B.tabaci management in the greenhouse, which is less favored by the consumers because of the potential nontarget effects of these insecticides on beneficial insects. Little is known on how the high spray volumes of spinetoram (20%) + sulfoxaflor (20%) (XXpire®) affect the B.tabaci population in the greenhouse. The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of spinetoram + sulfoxaflor and dinotefuran (Zylam®) applied as foliar-spray volumes (high, referred to as spench, and low, referred to as foliar) and soil drench against B.tabaci. The high foliar-spray volume application (spench) of both insecticides reduced the B.tabaci immature densities, compared with low foliar-spray volume (foliar) and soil drench applications. The soil drench application did not provide adequate B.tabaci control regardless of insecticide type. Spinetoram + sulfoxaflor applied as a high-spray volume treatment was moderately effective in controlling B.tabaci nymphs relative to nontreated control.
Exploring Language Markers of Mental Health in Psychiatric Stories
Authors: Spruit Marco , Verkleij Stephanie , de Schepper Kees , Scheepers Floortje
Published: February 2022

Diagnosing mental disorders is complex due to the genetic, environmental and psychological contributors and the individual risk factors. Language markers for mental disorders can help to diagnose a person. Research thus far on language markers and the associated mental disorders has been done mainly with the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) program. In order to improve on this research, we employed a range of Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques using LIWC, spaCy, fastText and RobBERT to analyse Dutch psychiatric interview transcriptions with both rule-based and vector-based approaches. Our primary objective was to predict whether a patient had been diagnosed with a mental disorder, and if so, the specific mental disorder type. Furthermore, the second goal of this research was to find out which words are language markers for which mental disorder. LIWC in combination with the random forest classification algorithm performed best in predicting whether a person had a mental disorder or not (accuracy: 0.952; Cohen’s kappa: 0.889). SpaCy in combination with random forest predicted best which particular mental disorder a patient had been diagnosed with (accuracy: 0.429; Cohen’s kappa: 0.304).
Y(III) Ion Migration in AlF3–(Li,Na)F–Y2O3 Molten Salt
Authors: Hao Tingting , Wang Xu , Zhai Yuchun , Chang Yunlong
Published: February 2022

In this study, three slots containing an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a middle pole chamber were designed by applying the Hittorf method, and a two-way coupling model of the flow field and electric field was established using the COMSOL system. The electric field distribution in the constructed model was simulated, and the model reliability, boundary conditions, and related parameters were verified. A three-chamber tank was utilized to investigate the migration numbers change rule and migration mechanism of Y(III) ions in the AlF3–(Li,Na)F system. The migration number of Y(III) ions in the AlF3–(Li,Na)F–Y2O3 molten salt linearly increased from 0.70 to 0.80 with an increase in temperature from 900 to 1000 °C. When the (Li,Na)F/AlF3 molar ratio was between 2.0 and 2.5, the migration number of Y(III) ions was relatively constant, and its average value was approximately 0.75. Meanwhile, at (Li,Na)F/AlF3 molar ratios higher than 2.5, the migration number of Y(III) ions linearly decreased from 0.75 to 0.45. Finally, in the current density range of 1.0–2.0 A/cm2, the migration number of Y(III) ions increased almost linearly from 0.65 to 0.85.
Extending Contrastive Learning to Unsupervised Redundancy Identification
Authors: Ju Jeongwoo , Jung Heechul , Kim Junmo
Published: February 2022

Modern deep neural network (DNN)-based approaches have delivered great performance for computer vision tasks; however, they require a massive annotation cost due to their data-hungry nature. Hence, given a fixed budget and unlabeled examples, improving the quality of examples to be annotated is a clever step to obtain good generalization of DNN. One of key issues that could hurt the quality of examples is the presence of redundancy, in which the most examples exhibit similar visual context (e.g., same background). Redundant examples barely contribute to the performance but rather require additional annotation cost. Hence, prior to the annotation process, identifying redundancy is a key step to avoid unnecessary cost. In this work, we proved that the coreset score based on cosine similarity (cossim) is effective for identifying redundant examples. This is because the collective magnitude of the gradient over redundant examples exhibits a large value compared to the others. As a result, contrastive learning first attempts to reduce the loss of redundancy. Consequently, cossim for the redundancy set exhibited a high value (low coreset score). We first viewed the redundancy identification as the gradient magnitude. In this way, we effectively removed redundant examples from two datasets (KITTI, BDD10K), resulting in a better performance in terms of detection and semantic segmentation.