bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative and Qualitative Responses of Soil Water-Extractable Organic Matter to Carbon and Nitrogen Management Practices in Loess Soil
Authors: Chen Qin , Ge Zheng-kui , Chai Rong , Li Yuan , Li Yu-long , Zhang Yan-jiang , Qu Zhi , Zhao Ai-qing , Tian Xiao-hong , Duan Min , Li Ming
Published: October 2021

Soil-dissolved organic matter (DOM) drives the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles in agroecosystems. Despite many studies on DOM dynamics, hardly any attention has been directed toward DOM quality, particularly DOM composition. The aim of this study was to elucidate how C and N management practices alter soil water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) in a loess soil agroecosystem. Field experiments were conducted with a winter wheat monoculture. Three N fertilization rates (0, 120, and 240 kg ha−1 year−1) were applied for 17 years (2002–2019), combined with five C practices (zero, low, and high rates of sheep manure or wheat straw) for three years (2016–2019). The results reveal that soil organic carbon (SOC) and water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC) concentrations in the topsoil (0–20 cm) were increased by organic amendments considerably but were not affected by N fertilization. The fluorescence excitation–emission matrix spectra (EEM) of WEOM were resolved to two humic-like components (C1 and C2) and two soluble microbial byproduct-like components (C3 and C4). The proportions of C1 and C2 were increased, while the proportion of C3 was decreased by both C and N management practices. In conclusion, organic amendments increased both WEOM quality and its proportion of humic-like components, whereas N fertilization increased the proportion of humic-like components without variations of WEOM quality in the topsoil of loess soil.
Changes in Soil Labile Organic Matter as Affected by 50 Years of Fertilization with Increasing Amounts of Nitrogen
Authors: Koković Nikola , Saljnikov Elmira , Eulenstein Frank , Čakmak Dragan , Buntić Aneta , Sikirić Biljana , Ugrenović Vladan
Published: October 2021

Microbially mediated soil organic matter is an extremely sensitive pool that indicates subtle changes in the quality parameters responsible for the soil’s ecological and productive functions. Fifty years of mineral fertilization of a wheat-corn cropping system has a strong impact on soil quality parameters. The goal of the research was to study the dynamics and quality of soil biological parameters affected by increasing amounts of mineral nitrogen. Soil respiration, potentially mineralizable C and N, microbial biomass C and N and light-fraction OM on Cambisol were analyzed in the following treatments: (1) Control (without fertilization); (2) NPK (60/51/67); (3) NPK (90/51/67); (4) NPK (120/51/67); (5) NPK (150/51/67 kg ha−1). The parameters studied were significantly affected by the long-term application of mineral fertilizer compared with both the control and the adjacent native soil. The highest amounts of nitrogen (N150) did not significantly differ from N120 and N90 for most of the parameters studied. Potentially mineralizable C represented the largest labile carbon pool, while microbial biomass N was the largest labile nitrogen pool. The mineralization rates for C and N were oppositely distributed over the seasons. The sensitivity index correlated with the amount of light-fraction OM. The results give a deeper insight into the behavior and distribution of different pools of labile SOM in the agro-landscapes and can serve as a reliable basis for further research focused on zero soil degradation.
Characterization of Ultrafiltration-Fractionated Humic Acid Derived from Chinese Weathered Coal by Spectroscopic Techniques
Authors: Zhang Shuiqin , Yuan Liang , Li Yanting , Zhao Bingqiang
Published: October 2021

Weathered coal is a widely used raw material of farm-oriented humic acid in China, while the high heterogeneity impedes its sufficient utilization. In this study, we fractionated the humic acid derived from Chinese weathered coal by ultrafiltration, and three fractions with the molecular range of ≥100 kDa, 10–100 kDa, ≤10 kDa were obtained. Subsequently, the chemical and spectral properties of the fractions were characterized by elemental analysis, potentiometric titration, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and other spectroscopy. The results showed that more than 60% of humic acid by weight was concentrated in the molecular range higher than 100 kDa, while only 3.25% was assigned to that with molecular weight lower than 10 kDa. The humic acid fraction with molecular weight higher than 100 kDa showed more carbon content, lower H/C atomic ratio, while higher E4/E6 ratio, more aromatic structure in FTIR, 13C NMR, and XPS spectra, indicating a higher degree of aromaticity and stronger hydrophobicity. Conversely, there were more carboxyl groups and aliphatic structures, while fewer condensed aromatic rings for the humic acid fraction with molecular weight less than 100 kDa. These differences provide a baseline for the better utilization of weathered coal.
Identification of Begomoviruses from Three Cryptic Species of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Nepal
Authors: Acharya Rajendra , Shrestha Yam Kumar , Khatun Mst Fatema , Lee Kyeong-Yeoll
Published: October 2021

The Bemisia tabaci species complex consists of at least 44 cryptic species, which are potential vectors of approximately 320 begomovirus species, most of which are significant plant viruses. However, the relationship of begomovirus transmission through vectors at the cryptic species level is uncertain. In our previous study, three cryptic species (Asia I, Asia II 1, and Asia II 5) of B. tabaci were identified from 76 B. tabaci samples collected across 23 districts in Nepal. Using the same individuals we identified seven different begomovirus species (Squash leaf curl China virus [SLCCNV], Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus [ToLCNDV], Okra enation leaf curl virus [OELCuV], Synedrella leaf curl virus [SyLCV], Tomato leaf curl Kerala virus [ToLCKeV], Ageratum enation virus [AEV], and Tomato leaf curl Karnataka virus [ToLCKV]) by PCR using universal begomovirus primers. The begomoviruses were detected in 55.26% of whitefly samples, and SLCCNV was the most prevalent species (27.63%). Among the three cryptic species of B. tabaci, the virus detection rate was highest in Asia I (60%), followed by Asia II 1 (58.82%) and Asia II 5 (53.06%). Most viruses were detected in all three species, but AEV and ToLCKV were found only in Asia I and Asia II 1, respectively. Geographic analysis showed that SLCCNV was distributed in the whole country, which is similar to the distribution of the Asia II 5 species, but OELCuV and SyLCV were detected only in the middle region of Nepal. Our results provide important information on the begomovirus profile in Nepal which can be beneficial for plant virus risk assessment and develop the management strategies to reduce the damage of whitefly transmitted viruses.
The Airflow Field Characteristics of the Unmanned Agricultural Aerial System on Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus) Canopy for Supplementary Pollination
Authors: Zhang Songchao , Cai Chen , Li Jiqiang , Sun Tao , Liu Xiaoming , Tian Yong , Xue Xinyu
Published: October 2021

Pollination success is essential for hybrid oilseed rape (OSR, Brassica napus) seed production, but traditional pollination methods are not efficient. The unmanned agricultural aerial system (UAAS) has developed rapidly and has been widely used in China. When flying, the wind field generated by the rotors overcomes the UAAS gravity, and it blows and disturbs the crops below, which helps the pollen spread. In order to investigate the distribution law of the three-dimensional (direction x, y, z) airflow field, experiments involving three levels of flight speed (FS) at 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 m/s, and three levels of flight height (FH) at 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 m were conducted in the OSR field by using an electric four-rotor UAAS P20. The effects of FS and FH on airflow velocities (vx, vy, vz) were analyzed. High-speed dynamic camera (HSDC) technology was used to capture the swings of OSR plants under airflow field disturbance. OSR pollen samples were collected during the experiments. The results showed that the airflow field in the direction x was mainly concentrated on the center of the flight path (S3), and the maximum wind velocity of direction x was 8.01 m/s (T1, S3). The direction x airflow field width was distributed almost symmetrically, but the center position shifted easily, due to crosswind. The airflow field in the direction y was distributed on both sides of the center flight path, and the velocity was generally larger, with the maximum at 7.91 m/s (T1, S2). The airflow field in the direction z was distributed irregularly, and the velocity was small. The FH had highly significant impacts on  vx (p < 0.01), and the interaction of FS and FH had significant impacts on  vx (0.01 < p < 0.05), while the FS had no significant impact on vx (p = 0.70804 > 0.05). The FS, FH, and interaction of FS and FH all had highly significant impacts on vy (p < 0.01). The swings of the OSR plant captured by the HSDC proved that the UAAS airflow field could effectively blow the OSR plant. The swing amplitude changes showed a positive correlation with airflow velocities (vx) in general. Although the observed OSR plant swung forward and backward repeatedly, there was a law of first forward, and then backward, and forward again at the beginning of each swing. The pollen collected on the sampler verified that the UAAS airflow field could help with pollen spread. The research results provide technical support for UAAS application on supplementary pollination for hybrid OSR seed production.
Global Distributions of Clarireedia Species and Their In Vitro Sensitivity Profiles to Fungicides
Authors: Hu Jian , Zhang Huangwei , Dong Yinglu , Jiang Shan , Lamour Kurt , Liu Jun , Chen Yu , Yang Zhimin
Published: October 2021

Dollar spot is reported to be caused by multiple Clarireedia species and is a serious problem on many turfgrasses around the world. To our knowledge, the distribution of different Clarireedia species and their sensitivity profiles to fungicides remains unknown. In this study, a total of 275 isolates were characterized by ITS sequence. Amounts of 124, 59 and 75 isolates were identified as C. jacksonii, C. monteithiana and C. paspali, respectively, while each species of C. homoeocarpa and C. bennettii had only five isolates. Four and three isolates were identified as two potential new species, which remained to be further characterized. C. jacksonii and C. monteithiana were distributed worldwide, while C. paspali was restricted to China. Of the isolates with host information, 81% (93/115) and 19% (22/115) of C. jacksonii isolates were collected from C3 and C4 plants, respectively, 97% (56/58) of the C. monteithiana isolates were collected from C4 plants and all C. paspali isolates were collected from C4 plants. The coexistence of different Clarireedia species on the same C4 host type in the same locales was found in Shanghai (Paspalum vaginatum), Jiangsu (Paspalum vaginatum) and Florida (Cynodon dactylon). The study revealed that differential fungicide sensitivity patterns were observed in different species in Clarireedia for the first time. Similar differential sensitivity profiles were also found in the locales with coexistence of at least two species. The findings from this study suggest that the adjacent coexistence of different Clarireedia species and the differential fungicide sensitivity profiles of different species will complicate dollar spot disease control.
Irrigation Tools and Strategies to Conserve Water and Ensure a Balance of Sustainability and Profitability
Authors: Montazar Aliasghar
Published: October 2021

Efficient management and conservation practices for agricultural water use are essential for adapting to and mitigating the impacts of the current and future discrepancy between water supplies and water demands [...]
Measuring the Degree of Overlap and Segregation among Multiple Probabilistic Home Ranges: A New Index with Illustrative Application to the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Authors: Ferrarini Alessandro , Giglio Giuseppe , Pellegrino Stefania Caterina , Gustin Marco
Published: October 2021

Home range overlap/segregation has several important applications to wildlife conservation and management. In this work, we first address the issue of measuring the degree of overlap/segregation among an arbitrarily large number (i.e., n ≥ 2) of probabilistic animal home ranges (i.e., utilization distributions). This subject matter has recently been solved for home ranges measured as polygons (e.g., percent minimum convex polygons and multinuclear cores) but not yet for probabilistic ones. Accordingly, we introduce a novel index named the PGOI (probabilistic general overlap index), and its complement, the PGSI (probabilistic general segregation index), an index for computation of probabilistic home range overlap/segregation at individual, population and species levels. Whatever the number of probabilistic home ranges, the PGOI returns a single score ranging in the [0, 100] interval. We applied the PGOI to five lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni) at Santeramo in Colle (Apulia region; Southern Italy) as a case study. Our new index can be applied to any animal species and to home ranges derived from any type of probabilistic home range estimator.
Identification of microRNAs in Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Response to Hypoxia Stress
Authors: Wang Qiaoxin , Li Xiaohui , Sha Hang , Luo Xiangzhong , Zou Guiwei , Liang Hongwei
Published: October 2021

Hypoxia is one of the serious stresses in fish culture, which can lead to physical and morphological changes, and cause injury and even death to fish. Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) is an important economic fish and widely distributed in China. MicroRNA is a kind of endogenous non-coding single-stranded small RNA, which is involved in cell development, and immune response and gene expression regulation. In this study, silver carp were kept in the closed containers for hypoxia treatment by spontaneous oxygen consumption. The samples of heart, brain, liver and gill were collected, and the total RNAs extracted separately from the four tissues were mixed in equal amounts according to the concentration. Afterwards, the RNA pool was constructed for high-throughput sequencing, and based on the small RNA sequencing, the differentially expressed microRNAs were identified. Furthermore, their target gene prediction and enrichment analyses were carried out. The results showed that a total of 229 known miRNAs and 391 putative novel miRNAs were identified, which provided valuable resources for further study on the regulatory mechanism of miRNAs in silver carp under hypoxia stress. The authors verified 16 differentially expressed miRNAs by qRT-PCR, and the results were consistent with small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq). The predicted target genes number of differentially expressed miRNAs was 25,146. GO and KEGG functional enrichment analysis showed that these target genes were mainly involved in the adaption of hypoxia stress in silver carp through biological regulation, catalytic activity and apoptosis. This study provides references for further study of interaction between miRNAs and target genes, and the basic data for the response mechanism under hypoxia stress in silver carp.
Animal Welfare Consequences of Organic Boar Fattening and Occurrence of Boar Taint on Five Commercial Farms
Authors: Lange Jeannette C. , Lange Anita , Knierim Ute
Published: October 2021

The welfare of male fattening pigs may be improved by refraining from castration, but may be compromised, in turn, by harmful social behaviour in groups of boars. In addition, boar taint may be problematic. This study aimed to evaluate these potential problems in boar fattening under commercial organic conditions. In total, 625 boars were compared with 433 barrows and 83 gilts regarding their social behaviour, lesions and lameness at 80 kg, before and after split marketing. The mixed-model analysis showed that significantly more short agonistic interactions, fights and mounting behaviours were observed in groups of boars. Agonistic interactions were reduced in spring/summer and when boars grew older. Fights and mounts were increased when boars had contact to female pigs in the neighbouring pen. No effect of split marketing, growth rate, homogeneity of groups, group size, feeding space and illumination hours could be detected. Increased interaction frequencies did not result in significantly more skin lesions, lameness, treatments or mortality. Increased space allowance reduced skin lesions. On 9.8% of the dissected boars’ penises, wounds were detected; they were absent on two farms with generous litter provision. Boar taint prevalence, as detected by human nose method, was 1.44%. Under the studied organic husbandry conditions, boar fattening appears to be practicable, although penile injuries should be monitored at slaughter.
Antimicrobial Treatment Strategies for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: A Focus on Novel Therapies
Authors: Gibb Jean , Wong Darren W.
Published: October 2021

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an urgent global threat due to its increasing incidence and intrinsic antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic development has focused on carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter, with approved antibiotics in recent years having limited activity for Stenotrophomonas. Accordingly, novel treatment strategies for Stenotrophomonas are desperately needed. We conducted a systemic literature review and offer recommendations based on current evidence for a treatment strategy of Stenotrophomonas infection.
Genetic Relatedness of 5-Year Isolates of Clostridioides difficile Polymerase Chain Reaction Ribotype 017 Strains in a Hospital
Authors: Kim Jieun , Seo Mi-Ran , Kim Bongyoung , Kim Jinyeong , Bae Mi-Hyun , Pai Hyunjoo
Published: October 2021

The objective of this study was to analyse the genetic relatedness of Clostridioides difficile polymerase chain reaction ribotype 017 (RT017) strains from patients with hospital-acquired C. difficile infection (HA-CDI) in a hospital with a high RT017 prevalence. From 2009 to 2013, 200 RT017 strains (26.8%) were collected from 745 HA-CDI patient isolates. They comprised 64 MLVA types, and 197 (98.5%) strains were genetically related to 5 clonal complexes (CCs). The largest cluster, CC-A, included 163 isolates of 40 MLVA types. CC-A accounted for 20% of RT017 strains in 2009 and sharply increased to 94.9% in 2010, 94% in 2011, 86.2% in 2012, and 73.5% in 2013. The other 4 CCs included 20 isolates with 7 MLVA types. The resistance rates of antimicrobials were as follows: clindamycin 100%, moxifloxacin 99%, rifaximin 88.5%, and vancomycin 1%. All isolates were susceptible to metronidazole and piperacillin/tazobactam. Comparing antibiotic resistance among CCs, the geometric mean of the minimum inhibitory concentrations of moxifloxacin, vancomycin, and piperacillin/tazobactam were significantly higher for CC-A isolates than for the other CCs. RT017 clones constantly evolved over the 5 years studied with regard to genetic relatedness. The levels of antibiotic resistance may contribute to the persistence of organisms in the institution.
Ethnobotany, Ethnopharmacology, and Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants Used for Treating Human Diarrheal Cases in Rwanda: A Review
Authors: Gahamanyi Noel , Munyaneza Emmanuel , Dukuzimana Emmanuel , Tuyiringire Naasson , Pan Cheol-Ho , Komba Erick V. G.
Published: October 2021

Diarrhea, often caused by microorganisms, has been associated with high morbidity and mortality in Africa. Increased rates of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens have reignited the quest for alternative therapies. This review aimed at identifying medicinal plants used in the treatment of human diarrheal cases in Rwanda and analyzing their ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, and phytochemistry. We searched PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and the Web of Science for published articles on medicinal plants used to treat diarrhea in Rwanda. Additionally, specialized herbarium documents of different institutes were reviewed. Articles were assessed for relevance, quality, and taxonomical accuracy before being included in this review. Overall, 63 species of medicinal plants belonging to 35 families were recorded. Asteraceae was the predominant family with six species, followed by Fabaceae and Lamiaceae, with five species each. The most reported species with anti-diarrheal properties were Vernonia amygdalina Delile, Tetradenia riparia (Hochst.) Codd, Clerodendrum myricoides R. Br. and Chenopodium ugandae (Aellen) Aellen. Leaves (66.7%) and roots (17.5%) were the commonly used plant parts in the preparation of medicine. Phytochemicals from medicinal plants with antidiarrheic activities were sesquiterpene lactones (V. amygdalina); terpene, sterols, saponosides, and flavonoids (C. ugandae); saponins and tannins (T. riparia); and tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids (C. myricoides). Six studies tested the antimicrobial activities of the plants against bacteria and viruses known to cause diarrhea. Erythrina abyssinica, Euphorbia tirucalli, Dracaena afromontana, and Ficus thonningii are socio-culturally important. Further research on toxicity and posology is needed to ensure the safety of medicinal plants.
Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria as Aetiological Factors of Infections in a Tertiary Multidisciplinary Hospital in Poland
Authors: Poletajew Sławomir , Pawlik Katarzyna , Bonder-Nowicka Anna , Pakuszewski Artur , Nyk Łukasz , Kryst Piotr
Published: October 2021

Global and local initiatives were recently undertaken to reduce the burden of antibiotic resistance. The aim of the study was to describe the incidence and the aetiology of bacterial infections among hospitalized patients with special attention paid to the multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria. This retrospective study was based on prospectively collected data from 150,529 consecutive patients hospitalized in a tertiary multidisciplinary hospital in the years 2017–2019. All consecutive microbiological tests from any biological material performed in the analyzed period were included. Microbiological screening tests (n = 10,677) were excluded. The analysis was focused on aetiological factors of bacterial infections, especially the incidence of MDR bacteria and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. There were 58,789 microbiological tests performed in the analyzed period. The highest testing rate was noticed for intensive care unit (mean of 3.1 tests per one patient), followed by neonatal intensive care unit (2.7), internal medicine (1.9), pediatrics (1.8), and urology (1.2). Among 58,789 tests, 7690 (13.1%) were positive. MDR bacteria were responsible for 1783 infections (23.2%). The most common antibiotic resistance mechanism reported was ESBL production by Klebsiella spp. or Escherichia coli or Enterobacter spp. isolates (47.3% of all MDR cases). ESBL cases were followed by MRSA (14.7%), VRE (14.2%) and MBL producing Klebsiella spp. (5.6%). Among all infections caused by MDR bacteria, 1175 (65.9%) were diagnosed after 72 h of hospitalization (hospital-acquired infections). Apart from AmpC and ESBL producing Escherichia coli, all MDR bacteria were significantly more common in hospital-acquired infection. MDR bacteria are aetiological factors of a significant portion of infections in hospitalized patients with no remarkable change in the incidence in recent years. Production of ESBL is the most common mechanism of antibiotic resistance and should be regarded as one of the most urgent problems in clinical microbiology.
Burmannic Acid Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Oxidative Stress Response of Oral Cancer Cells
Authors: Liu Su-Ling , Yang Kun-Han , Yang Che-Wei , Lee Min-Yu , Chuang Ya-Ting , Chen Yan-Ning , Chang Fang-Rong , Chen Chung-Yi , Chang Hsueh-Wei
Published: October 2021

Burmannic acid (BURA) is a new apocarotenoid bioactive compound derived from Indonesian cinnamon; however, its anticancer effect has rarely been investigated in oral cancer cells. In this investigation, the consequences of the antiproliferation of oral cancer cells effected by BURA were evaluated. BURA selectively suppressed cell proliferation of oral cancer cells (Ca9-22 and CAL 27) but showed little cytotoxicity to normal oral cells (HGF-1). In terms of mechanism, BURA perturbed cell cycle distribution, upregulated mitochondrial superoxide, induced mitochondrial depolarization, triggered γH2AX and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine DNA damage, and induced apoptosis and caspase 3/8/9 activation in oral cancer cells. Application of N-acetylcysteine confirmed oxidative stress as the critical factor in promoting antiproliferation, apoptosis, and DNA damage in oral cancer cells.
Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Suppresses BMP-6-Mediated SMAD1/5/8 Transactivation of Hepcidin Gene by Inducing SMILE in Hepatocytes
Authors: Kim Yu-Ji , Park Woo-Ram , Choi Byungyoon , Choi Hueng-Sik , Kim Don-Kyu
Published: October 2021

Hepcidin, a major regulator of systemic iron homeostasis, is mainly induced in hepatocytes by activating bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6) signaling in response to changes in the iron status. Small heterodimer partner-interacting leucine zipper protein (SMILE), a polyphenol-inducible transcriptional co-repressor, regulates hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis. Here, we examine the epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) effect on BMP-6-mediated SMAD1/5/8 transactivation of the hepcidin gene. EGCG treatment significantly decreased BMP-6-induced hepcidin gene expression and secretion in hepatocytes, which, in turn, abated ferroportin degradation. SMILE overexpression significantly decreased BMP receptor-induced hepcidin promoter activity. SMILE overexpression also significantly suppressed BMP-6-mediated induction of hepcidin mRNA and its secretion in HepG2 and AML12 cells. EGCG treatment inhibited BMP-6-mediated hepcidin gene expression and secretion, which were significantly reversed by SMILE knockdown in hepatocytes. Interestingly, SMILE physically interacted with SMAD1 in the nucleus and significantly blocked DNA binding of the SMAD complex to the BMP-response element on the hepcidin gene promoter. Taken together, these findings suggest that SMILE is a novel transcriptional repressor of BMP-6-mediated hepcidin gene expression, thus contributing to the control of iron homeostasis.
A New Workflow to Generate Monoclonal Antibodies against Microorganisms
Authors: Göthel Markus , Listek Martin , Messerschmidt Katrin , Schlör Anja , Hönow Anja , Hanack Katja
Published: October 2021

Monoclonal antibodies are used worldwide as highly potent and efficient detection reagents for research and diagnostic applications. Nevertheless, the specific targeting of complex antigens such as whole microorganisms remains a challenge. To provide a comprehensive workflow, we combined bioinformatic analyses with novel immunization and selection tools to design monoclonal antibodies for the detection of whole microorganisms. In our initial study, we used the human pathogenic strain E. coli O157:H7 as a model target and identified 53 potential protein candidates by using reverse vaccinology methodology. Five different peptide epitopes were selected for immunization using epitope-engineered viral proteins. The identification of antibody-producing hybridomas was performed by using a novel screening technology based on transgenic fusion cell lines. Using an artificial cell surface receptor expressed by all hybridomas, the desired antigen-specific cells can be sorted fast and efficiently out of the fusion cell pool. Selected antibody candidates were characterized and showed strong binding to the target strain E. coli O157:H7 with minor or no cross-reactivity to other relevant microorganisms such as Legionella pneumophila and Bacillus ssp. This approach could be useful as a highly efficient workflow for the generation of antibodies against microorganisms.
Qualitative Preliminary Approach for the Development of a Sensory Vocabulary for Actinidia arguta Fruits
Authors: Giuggioli Nicole Roberta , Peano Cristiana , Brondino Luca , Mendes da Silva Thais
Published: October 2021

Actinidia arguta fruits (baby kiwi) have recently been introduced and marketed in Italy under the Nergi® brand. The freshness of fruits and the maintenance of their quality after the harvest time influence the perception of taste and the sensory attributes for final acceptance by the consumer. In this work, we propose to use recently introduced sensory methods to create a sensory vocabulary not yet available for the two varieties covered by the brand: cv. Hortgem Rua® and cv. Hortgem Tahi®. The check-all-that-apply (CATA) method was performed with 15 trained tasters of Sata s.r.l. company (Alessandria, Italy) and a set of attributes were defined through a focus group (recruited at DISAFA, University of Turin) with habitual fruit consumers. The results obtained by CATA identified different profiles for the two varieties marketed under the brand, offering the opportunity to better position and communicate the taste characteristics of the product to the consumer.
Salvia Species as Nutraceuticals: Focus on Antioxidant, Antidiabetic and Anti-Obesity Properties
Authors: Afonso Andrea F. , Pereira Olívia R. , Cardoso Susana M.
Published: October 2021

Salvia plants belong to the Lamiaceae family and are recognized as being strongly aromatic, being widely used for different purposes in culinary or traditional medicine. These plants are well recognized as being rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids and terpenic compounds, which exhibit health-beneficial activities, protecting against oxidative and inflammatory-related diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Because of these properties, phytochemicals from Salvia species have been investigated as health promoting agents, for application in distinct fields. However, the growing demand for natural products with possible uses and applications in industry requires scientific validation studies. This review consists of a compilation of relevant studies with an emphasis on the antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti-obesity properties of phenolic-rich extracts from Salvia plants.
Compact 3 × 1 Matrix Converter Module Based on the SiC Devices with Easy Expandability
Authors: Resutík Patrik , Kaščák Slavomír
Published: October 2021

This paper discusses a new approach for building a compact all-in-one matrix converter module based on SiC semiconductors arranged in a common source connection. The used transistors are in the D2PAK package. The design of the module is divided into two parts, namely a power module designed at one-layer aluminum substrate printed circuit board (PCB) to ensure good thermal performance and voltage isolation between the module and heatsink. The second board is responsible for the SiC driving and is mounted at the top of the power PCB and consists of metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) drivers, isolated power supplies, a current direction detection circuit, and current value sensors. In the paper, the proper function of the SiC MOSFET drivers, current direction detection, and current measurement sensors were evaluated. Finally, 3D design together with the final prototype is presented. The modules contain three bidirectional cells for interconnection three input voltage sources and one output phase. The uniqueness and novelty of the presented module are the compactness and easy expandability of the module to achieve higher power outputs and multiphase applications such as five phase machines.
Reflection-Mode Ultrasound Computed Tomography Based on Wavelet Processing for High-Contrast Anatomical and Morphometric Imaging
Authors: Doveri Elise , Sabatier Laurent , Long Vincent , Lasaygues Philippe
Published: October 2021

Medical B-mode ultrasound is widely used for the examination of children’s limbs, including soft tissue, muscle, and bone. However, for the accurate examination of the bone only, it is often replaced by more restrictive clinical modalities. Several authors have investigated ultrasonic imaging of bone to assess cortical thickness and/or to estimate the wave velocity through the internal structure. The present work focuses on the transverse slice imaging process using reflection-mode ultrasound computed tomography (USCT). The method is valid for imaging soft tissues with similar acoustic impedances, but in the presence of bone, the higher contrasts alter the propagation of ultrasonic waves and reduce the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). There is a need to change the methods used for the processing of ultrasonic signals. Our group has developed a wavelet-based coded excitation (WCE) method to process information in frequency and time. The objective of this study is to use the method to improve reflection-mode USCT, at low ultrasonic intensities, to better address organ morphometry. Experimental results on a newborn arm phantom and on an ex vivo chicken drumstick are presented, and the usefulness of this WCE-mode USCT is discussed.
Quick Fabrication VCSELs for Characterisation of Epitaxial Material
Authors: Baker Jack , Allford Craig P. , Gillgrass Sara-Jayne , Forrest Richard , Hayes David G. , Nabialek Josie , Hentschel Curtis , Davies J. Iwan , Shutts Samuel , Smowton Peter M.
Published: October 2021

A systematic analysis of the performance of VCSELs, fabricated with a decreasing number of structural elements, is used to assess the complexity of fabrication (and therefore time) required to obtain sufficient information on epitaxial wafer suitability. Initially, sub-mA threshold current VCSEL devices are produced on AlGaAs-based material, designed for 940 nm emission, using processing methods widely employed in industry. From there, stripped-back Quick Fabrication (QF) devices, based on a bridge-mesa design, are fabricated and this negates the need for benzocyclcobutane (BCB) planarisation. Devices are produced with three variations on the QF design, to characterise the impact on laser performance from removing time-consuming process steps, including wet thermal oxidation and mechanical lapping used to reduce substrate thickness. An increase in threshold current of 1.5 mA for oxidised QF devices, relative to the standard VCSELs, and a further increase of 1.9 mA for unoxidised QF devices are observed, which is a result of leakage current. The tuning of the emission wavelength with current increases by ~0.1 nm/mA for a VCSEL with a 16 μm diameter mesa when the substrate is unlapped, which is ascribed to the increased thermal resistance. Generally, relative to the standard VCSELs, the QF methods employed do not significantly impact the threshold lasing wavelength and the differences in mean wavelengths of the device types that are observed are attributed to variation in cavity resonance with spatial position across the wafer, as determined by photovoltage spectroscopy measurements.
Analysis of Energy Performance and Integrated Optimization of Tubular Houses in Southern China Using Computational Simulation
Authors: Wang Jing , Gao Weijun , Wang Zhu , Zhang Liting
Published: October 2021

Chinese rural construction is currently booming, but faces considerable challenges in terms of energy performance. The objective of this research was to analyze the energy performance of tubular houses, which are a unique type of rural house in southern China, with a particular architectural form and environmental adaptations. Previous field measurements showed that there was much room for improvement, with both winter and summer cases requiring particular attention. Numerical simulations of the annual energy consumption were conducted using Open-Studio. The results show that various levels of reduction in energy consumption (varying from 1.6% to 30.5%) were achieved by combining different renovations. Among them, using solar energy with a sunroom was found to be the most effective approach, with an energy-saving rate of 28%, followed by the approach of attaching insulation to the walls and roof, with an energy-saving rate ranging from 13.2% to 30.5%. The integrated optimization measures had an energy-saving rate of 47.4% with a total renovation cost of CNY 41,143.1, and the payback period of investment was within five years. If a tubular house with improved thermal insulation can be inherited as a component in the process of urbanization, it will aid in energy conservation and natural ecosystem protection for southern China.
Exploring the Knowledge Embedded in Class Visualizations and Their Application in Dataset and Extreme Model Compression
Authors: Abreu-Pederzini José Ricardo , Martínez-Mascorro Guillermo Arturo , Ortíz-Bayliss José Carlos , Terashima-Marín Hugo
Published: October 2021

Artificial neural networks are efficient learning algorithms that are considered to be universal approximators for solving numerous real-world problems in areas such as computer vision, language processing, or reinforcement learning. To approximate any given function, neural networks train a large number of parameters—up to millions, or even billions in some cases. The large number of parameters and hidden layers in neural networks make them hard to interpret, which is why they are often referred to as black boxes. In the quest to make artificial neural networks interpretable in the field of computer vision, feature visualization stands out as one of the most developed and promising research directions. While feature visualizations are a valuable tool to gain insights about the underlying function learned by the network, they are still considered to be simple visual aids requiring human interpretation. In this paper, we propose that feature visualizations—class visualizations in particular—are analogous to mental imagery in humans, resembling the experience of seeing or perceiving the actual training data. Therefore, we propose that class visualizations contain embedded knowledge that can be exploited in a more automated manner. We present a series of experiments that shed light on the nature of class visualizations and demonstrate that class visualizations can be considered a conceptual compression of the data used to train the underlying model. Finally, we show that class visualizations can be regarded as convolutional filters and experimentally show their potential for extreme model compression purposes.
Fundamental Investigations on the Performance of Micro Steel Fibres in Ultra-High-Performance Concrete under Monotonic and Cyclic Tensile Loading
Authors: Lanwer Jan-Paul , Empelmann Martin
Published: October 2021

Ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) can preferably be used for lean and thin-walled structures due to its very high compressive strength. Based on the adverse relation between the increased load bearing capacities and the condensed dead weight of UHPFRC-structures, the impact of live loads in the design gets bigger and, in case of traffic loads, the effects of a cyclic loading have to be considered in more detail. In this context, this study investigated the material behaviour of UHPFRC, especially the tensile fatigue behaviour of high-strength micro steel fibres and the bond behaviour between those fibres and plain UHPC. The test programme included once tensile tests of high-strength micro steel fibres under monotonic and cyclic loading. Based on the test results, an S/N-curve was set up with the characteristic values. Furthermore, the test programme included pullout tests of fibre groups with different embedded lengths and orientations under monotonic and cyclic loading. It was observed that some fibres rupture under certain test configurations like the angle of orientation and the load amplitude.
Management of the First Feeding of Dorada Brycon sinuensis with Two Species of Cladocerans
Authors: Jiménez-Velásquez César , Atencio-Garcia Victor , Ayazo-Genes Julia Eva , Espinosa-Araujo José , Prieto-Guevara Martha
Published: October 2021

The management of the first feeding is a critical stage in the viability of the larvae and fingerling rearing. So far, the first feeding of the bryconids record the best results when fed with forage larvae; thus, the aim was to evaluate two species of cladocerans as live prey in the first feeding of dorada Brycon sinuensis and to evaluate their effects on the control of cannibalism. Larvae (1.2 ± 0.15 mg and 5.9 ± 0.4 mm initial weight and total length) were fed Moina minuta (Mm), Macrothrix elegans (Me) or a mixture (50:50) of cladocerans (Mix) at a rate of 20 prey mL−1, once for 24 h. Another dorada larvae group were fed newly hatched larvae of Piaractus brachypomus (4.5 ± 0.9 mm) as forage larvae (FL) in a ratio of 2:1 (prey:predator). The larvae were stocked to 50 L−1 in aquaria with 5 L of useful volume (12 per treatment). The growth, survival, stress resistance, cannibalism mortality, and the number of prey in the gut contents were analyzed. Dorada larvae fed FL showed higher growth, but those fed Mm showed the highest survival rate (76.1 ± 6.6%) and the lowest cannibalism mortality (16.8 ± 3.7%) (p < 0.05). The use of the cladocerans allowed high survival and stress resistance (95.3 ± 2.4%), and M. minuta proved to be a suitable prey for cannibalism control in the management of the first feeding of dorada larvae.
JUMRv1: A Sentiment Analysis Dataset for Movie Recommendation
Authors: Chatterjee Shuvamoy , Chakrabarti Kushal , Garain Avishek , Schwenker Friedhelm , Sarkar Ram
Published: October 2021

Nowadays, we can observe the applications of machine learning in every field, ranging from the quality testing of materials to the building of powerful computer vision tools. One such recent application is the recommendation system, which is a method that suggests products to users based on their preferences. In this paper, our focus is on a specific recommendation system called movie recommendation. Here, we make use of user reviews of movies in order to establish a general outlook about the movie and then use that outlook to recommend that movie to other users. However, a huge number of available reviews has baffled sophisticated review systems. Consequently, there is a need to find a method of extracting meaningful information from the available reviews and use that in classifying a movie review and predicting the sentiment in each one. In a typical scenario, a review can either be positive, negative, or indifferent about a movie. However, the available research articles in the field mainly consider this as a two-class classification problem—positive and negative. The most popular work in this field was performed on Stanford and Rotten Tomatoes datasets, which are somewhat outdated. Our work is based on self-scraped reviews from the IMDB website, and we have annotated the reviews into one of the three classes—positive, negative, and neutral. Our dataset is called JUMRv1—Jadavpur University Movie Recommendation dataset version 1. For the evaluation of JUMRv1, we took an exhaustive approach by testing various combinations of word embeddings, feature selection methods, and classifiers. We also analysed the performance trends, if there were any, and attempted to explain them. Our work sets a benchmark for movie recommendation systems that is based on the newly developed dataset using a three-class sentiment classification.
Global Position Analysis during Official Elite Female Beach Volleyball Competition: A Pilot Study
Authors: João Paulo Vicente , Medeiros Alexandre , Ortigão Henrique , Lee Mike , Mota Maria Paula
Published: October 2021

The aim of this study was to quantify the physical demands of female beach volleyball competition with reference to player position, set, and match outcome. Twelve professional players were equipped with a 10 Hz GPS device (Minimax S4, Catapult Sports, Australia). Data collection occurred over 30 official matches, with a total of 50 sets. GPS output variables were related to position (e.g., Defenders and Blockers). Differences between players’ positions were found in Peak Player Load, the distance covered at different intensities, and acceleration and deceleration. Variations during the match were more pronounced for Defenders than for Blockers, with the former increasing the intensity of acceleration and deceleration, and decreasing the velocity of displacements and lower jumps. For Blockers, main variations occurred between the first and second set, with a reduction in velocity displacements and an increase in the intensity of jumps. Defender variables that contributed to victory were high deceleration, velocity, acceleration, and Peak Player Load. The characteristics of Blockers that contributed to victory were maximum velocity and high jumps. Female beach volleyball players seem to have different physiological requirements according to their position. The analysis of these variations throughout the game suggests that a specific player’s position output may be determined by proper and/or opponent tactical schemes.
A Combined Forecasting System Based on Modified Multi-Objective Optimization for Short-Term Wind Speed and Wind Power Forecasting
Authors: Zhou Qingguo , Lv Qingquan , Zhang Gaofeng
Published: October 2021

Wind speed and wind power are two important indexes for wind farms. Accurate wind speed and power forecasting can help to improve wind farm management and increase the contribution of wind power to the grid. However, nonlinear and non-stationary wind speed and wind power can influence the forecasting performance of different models. To improve forecasting accuracy and overcome the influence of the original time series on the model, a forecasting system that can effectively forecast wind speed and wind power based on a data pre-processing strategy, a modified multi-objective optimization algorithm, a multiple single forecasting model, and a combined model is developed in this study. A data pre-processing strategy was implemented to determine the wind speed and wind power time series trends and to reduce interference from noise. Multiple artificial neural network forecasting models were used to forecast wind speed and wind power and construct a combined model. To obtain accurate and stable forecasting results, the multi-objective optimization algorithm was employed to optimize the weight of the combined model. As a case study, the developed forecasting system was used to forecast the wind speed and wind power over 10 min from four different sites. The point forecasting and interval forecasting results revealed that the developed forecasting system exceeds all other models with respect to forecasting precision and stability. Thus, the developed system is extremely useful for enhancing forecasting precision and is a reasonable and valid tool for use in intelligent grid programming.
An Assessment of the Influence of Dental Porcelain Slurry Preparation on Flexural Strength of Different Feldspathic Porcelains
Authors: Alshihri Abdulmonem , Al-Haj Husain Nadin , Vogeler Kai , Özcan Mutlu
Published: October 2021

Chipping remains a big challenge during the clinical application of glass ceramics in dentistry. The fabrication procedure used affects the mechanical properties of dental feldspathic porcelain and is associated with technical failures. This study aimed to compare the effect of the use of manufacturers’ liquids versus H2O on the flexural strength of glass ceramics. Specimens (n = 120, n = 15 per group) (25 × 4 × 1.2 mm) were obtained using four porcelain powders (Creation CC, IPS InLine, Noritake EX-3, and Vita VM 13). Four groups were produced using porcelain powder and modeling liquid, and four groups using distilled water. The specimens were fired, sintered, and polished. Flexural strength was measured using a universal testing machine. Statistical analyses were conducted using post hoc Tukey’s, two-way ANOVA, and Weibull analysis. Flexural strength values (mean ± SD) of the ceramic-manufacturer’s liquid mixture ranged between 67.2 ± 10.2 and 85.8 ± 12.8 MPA (NR < VT < IV < CR), while flexural strength values of the ceramic–water mixture were between 72.2 ± 6.9 and 95.2 ± 12 MPA (CR < NR < VT < IV). While the choice of the ceramic type significantly affected flexural strength, the use of water vs. manufacturers’ liquid showed in almost all cases no significance. To achieve better flexural strength results, InLine should be used with distilled water mixtures, while all ceramic powders except for Noritake can be used with the manufacturer’s liquid mixtures.