bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of veterinary drugs on rearing and safety of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae
Authors: Hoek-van den Hil E.F. , van de Schans M.G.M. , Bor G. , van der Fels-Klerx H.J.
Published: April 2022

Insect proteins are expected to be increasingly used for food and feed. Black soldier fly larvae (BSF, Hermetia illucens) can convert low quality organic substrates, such as manure, into protein-rich ingredients for food and feed. However, pig and chicken manure can contain residues from antibiotics and anti-parasitic drugs, resulting from treatments of the animals for diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of veterinary drugs on black soldier fly larvae rearing, including growth and survival, as well as on the presence of residues in the larvae. The study focused on regularly found veterinary drugs in manure. Five-days old larvae were exposed to either 0.05 and 0.5 mg/kg flubendazole (FLUB), 0.05 and 0.5 mg/kg ivermectin (IVM), 0.5 and 5 mg/kg doxycycline (DOX), 0.5 and 5 mg/kg flumequine (FLUM) or 0.5 and 5 mg/kg sulfadiazine (SULF) for one week. The growth of larvae reared on substrate with IVM (0.5 mg/kg) was significantly lower than the control, while the survival of the larvae was not affected. The growth and survival of the larvae was not affected by the other treatments. Chemical analyses showed that concentrations of the veterinary drugs in the larvae, after exposure, were generally low. Only DOX concentrations in the larvae were high; these levels would exceed the European Commission maximum limit for DOX in meat products. Mass-balance calculations showed possible degradation or metabolism of veterinary drugs by the larvae, except for SULF. In conclusion, when using manure as substrate for BSF rearing, the possible presence of veterinary drugs in manure should be carefully controlled to ensure optimal insect growth and safety of the insect products.
Analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing data identifies a hypoxic tumor subpopulation associated with poor prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Shi Yi , Huang Xiaoqian , Du Zhaolan , Tan Jianjun
Published: April 2022

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of mammary carcinoma characterized by low expression levels of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Along with the rapid development of the single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology, the heterogeneity within the tumor microenvironment (TME) could be studied at a higher resolution level, facilitating an exploration of the mechanisms leading to poor prognosis during tumor progression. In previous studies, hypoxia was considered as an intrinsic characteristic of TME in solid tumors, which would activate downstream signaling pathways associated with angiogenesis and metastasis. Moreover, hypoxia-related genes (HRGs) based risk score models demonstrated nice performance in predicting the prognosis of TNBC patients. However, it is essential to further investigate the heterogeneity within hypoxic TME, such as intercellular communications. In the present study, utilizing single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) and cell-cell communication analysis on the scRNA-seq data retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database with accession number GSM4476488, we identified four tumor subpopulations with diverse functions, particularly a hypoxia-related one. Furthermore, results of cell-cell communication analysis revealed the dominant role of the hypoxic tumor subpopulation in angiogenesis- and metastasis-related signaling pathways as a signal sender. Consequently, regard the TNBC cohorts acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GEO as train set and test set respectively, we constructed a risk score model with reliable capacity for the prediction of overall survival (OS), where ARTN and L1CAM were identified as risk factors promoting angiogenesis and metastasis of tumors. The expression of ARTN and L1CAM were further analyzed through tumor immune estimation resource (TIMER) platform. In conclusion, these two marker genes of the hypoxic tumor subpopulation played vital roles in tumor development, indicating poor prognosis in TNBC patients.
Encuesta etnofarmacológica sobre plantas utilizadas en enfermedades de la piel en herboristerías de Jahrom, Irán
Authors: Khajoei Nasab Farzaneh , Zare Masoumeh , Mehrabian Ahmadreza , Ghotbi-Ravandi Ali Akbar
Published: April 2022

Entre las enfermedades más comunes que afectan a la vida de las personas se encuentran los trastornos de la piel, para los que se han sugerido diversos enfoques terapéuticos. Los remedios tradicionales a base de plantas pueden contarse entre las mejores terapias para estas enfermedades. Las herboristerías, o “attaris” (en persa), juegan un papel importante en la terapia tradicional de cada región. En este estudio se inventariaron las plantas medicinales comúnmente recetadas y comercializadas en las herboristerías de Jahrom, Irán, para curar enfermedades de la piel. Los datos etnomedicinales se recolectaron mediante el método de bola de nieve para 38 especies de plantas pertenecientes a 34 familias. Se utilizó un cuestionario semiestructurado para recolectar información de las herboristerías. Las Asteraceae, con cinco especies, fueron la familia botánica más citada, y los frutos, semillas y hojas de las plantas fueron las partes más utilizadas. La mascarilla a base de plantas (36%) fue la forma más común de preparación. Las plantas medicinales prescritas por los curanderos se utilizan a menudo para el tratamiento del acné (36%), así como para fortalecer, aclarar y dar frescura a la piel (26%). Estas especies pueden ser candidatas para el desarrollo de nuevos productos a base de plantas para el cuidado de la piel. Los resultados de esta investigación revelaron que los curanderos de Jahrom tienen un elevado conocimiento de los tratamientos tradicionales para las enfermedades de la piel.
Un bison en Provence : l’abri du bison à Ségriès, Moustiers Sainte-Marie (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence)
Authors: Paillet Eléna , Paillet Patrick , Konik Stéphane
Published: April 2022

L’abri du bison de Ségriès constitue l’un des rares témoignages d’art préhistorique dans la région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Au moment de sa découverte, dans les années 1960, la grotte Cosquer n’était pas encore connue et ce site était donc le seul à pouvoir revendiquer l’existence d’un art pariétal paléolithique dans la région. Il est cependant longtemps resté ignoré de la communauté scientifique, écarté de la plupart des grandes synthèses sur le sujet, autant par méconnaissance que par méfiance. En effet, l’existence d’une gravure isolée, dans une zone relativement reculée des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, avait de quoi provoquer des doutes. L’étude réalisée à la fin des années 1960 par H. de Lumley (de Lumley 1968) était cependant venue suggérer l’authenticité de cette gravure, au parcours décidément singulier. À la faveur d’une expertise conduite en 2013 par le Centre National de Préhistoire sur la demande du Parc naturel des Gorges du Verdon et du Service Régional de l’Archéologie de la DRAC Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur, nous avions été amenés à revoir cette gravure et à alerter sur l’état inquiétant de sa conservation. Par la suite, une opération de relevé d’art rupestre, autorisée et financée par l’État (DRAC Paca- Service régional de l’Archéologie) a permis de documenter au mieux son état de conservation et de revenir sur la question de son authenticité.
Approvisionnement en matériaux siliceux, ressources locales et économie du débitage dans le Sauveterrien
Authors: Peresani Marco , Bertola Stefano
Published: April 2022

Dans les Alpes Orientales italiennes, la circulation et l’exploitation des matières premières lithiques siliceuses durant le Mésolithique a fait jusqu’à présent l’objet d’études ponctuelles et limitées à quelques secteurs de cette région. Les plus importantes informations récoltées font référence aux sites des Dolomites, dans lesquels on rencontre une utilisation massive mais également exclusive de silex atypiques ou préalpins, à côté d’une exploitation complémentaire de matières premières locales de mauvaise qualité ou de quartz hyalin allochtone. Dans d’autres secteurs, le quartz hyalin a pleinement satisfait les exigences de la production. Dans le cas des Préalpes vénitiennes, la discontinuité dans la distribution territoriale des matières premières lithiques aptes à la taille est à l’origine d’activités similaires d’importation et d’adaptation des systèmes techno-économiques aux ressources locales. Comme cas d’étude, les auteurs se réfèrent au Haut-Plateau du Cansiglio, en présentant les résultats de l’étude du site sauveterrien de Casera Davià II et quelques observations préliminaires sur les sites épigravettiens récents et sauveterriens.
Le Mané Lud en mouvement. Déroulé de signes dans un ouvrage néolithique de pierres dressées à Locmariaquer (Morbihan)
Authors: Cassen Serge
Published: April 2022

L’étude menée sur les orthostates enregistrés dans la tombe à couloir du Mané Lud montre qu’ils sont très probablement les ultimes témoins d’un ouvrage de pierres dressées qui, peut-être, accompagnait la ciste enfouie sous le tumulus plus ancien à l’extrémité duquel s’est adossé le dolmen daté des débuts du IVe millénaire. Les dimensions homogènes des dalles et la réalisation technique comparable des gravures sur leurs faces visibles s’ajoutent à une remarquable convergence des signes pour conclure, sans risque majeur, à l’existence d’un ensemble architectural cohérent (barre rectiligne ou barre curviligne de stèles).Si chaque signe fait partie intégrante d’un projet sémiotique, seule une lecture simultanée des signes complémentaires et concurrents gravés sur un même support permet d’en restituer le programme iconographique. Pour cela, les articulations entre les signes, qui font que ceux-ci s’affrontent ou se séparent, se complètent ou se divisent, ont été mesurées et analysées. À l’intervalle « linguistique » évalué entre chaque signe s’est ajouté l’intervalle entre chaque pierre dressée qu’il nous appartenait alors de replacer dans un ordre hypothétique de reconnaissance. Ce rangement s’est opéré en prenant appui sur les formes de la météorisation lisibles sur le granite des pierres, puis sur le sens des déplacements restitué par une lecture dynamique des signes (proue d’un bateau, parties actives des armes, etc.). Le Mané Lud en mouvement devient pour l’archéologue une analyse du déplacement, mais plus fondamentalement encore la description probable de voyages « utopiques » participant à l’explication du monde néolithique. Afin d’expliciter l’intitulé, on montrera en quoi ces assemblages de signes néolithiques sont un monde en réduction, un monde approprié qu’il a fallu ensuite animer ; de là sera portée une réflexion générale sur le pouvoir de la représentation qui prolongera la portée épistémologique du Mané Lud en images en concluant notre projet.
Les modèles biologiques sont-ils utiles pour penser l’évolution des sociétés ?
Authors: Testart Alain
Published: April 2022

L’article se veut une critique systématique de quelques tentatives de transposition (Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Pascal Jouxtel) du modèle « néo-darwinien » aux faits sociaux ou culturels. Sa thèse principale est que l’explication darwinienne n’est épistémologiquement valide que moyennant certaines conditions assez restrictives : les variations doivent être engendrées 1° indépendamment de leur valeur adaptative, 2° selon une large gamme de variations et 3° de façon aléatoire (du moins, sans prévisibilé). Sinon ce serait ce processus d’engendrement qui déterminerait l’essentiel de l’évolution, et la sélection naturelle n’aurait plus qu’un rôle modique à jouer. Les mutations génétiques obéissent à ces conditions, ce qui fait du modèle darwinien un bon modèle pour penser l’évolution biologique. Mais les innovations sociales n’obéissent à aucune d’entre elles, ce qui rend la transposition au monde social absurde. La suite de l’article met en évidence quelques particularités de l’évolution des sociétés, très différentes de l’évolution des espèces.
Le financement basé sur les résultats (FBR) en Afrique
Authors: Paul Elisabeth , Ridde Valéry
Published: April 2022

Le financement basé sur les résultats (FBR) dans le secteur de la santé est un modèle voyageur. En dépit de premiers écrits positifs, les preuves de son efficacité se sont érodées. En 2018, un article critique du FBR a suscité des réactions individuelles et collectives parfois virulentes. Nous analysons cette controverse à l’aide d’une analyse qualitative de ces discours. Il en ressort qu’aucun questionnement fondamental de l’approche du FBR n’est proposé par ses promoteurs, qui ne remettent pas en cause le fondement de leur modèle, mais son voyage. Cette controverse illustre l’importance des acteurs et de leurs réseaux dans la construction sociale de la réputation d’un modèle voyageur. Une fois forgée – même sans preuve –, il est difficile de la remettre en question.
A gigantic vertical zoo
Authors: FITZGERALD Des
Published: April 2022

Why is it that when we see images of major new urban developments today – whether housing units, office blocks, or shopping malls – those developments are as likely as not to be covered in a thin canopy of trees? In this paper, I approach this question by thinking about the long history of the idea that cities are somehow bad for human beings, and especially that they are bad for our mental health. From Shanghai to Paris, from Biophilia to “cheap nature”, from Donna Haraway to Thomas Heatherwick, I examine the growing entanglement between the psychologically restorative city and the green city. I ask: what does it mean, for historical cultures of both madness and the city, that we now ask our urban spaces, recast as centres of nature and biological life, to have even a reparative relationship to mental health?
An Empirical Investigation of the Underlying Cognitive Process in Complex Problem Solving
Authors: Chen Yingting , Kanno Taro , Furuta Kazuo
Published: April 2022

Meetings are one of the most common collaboration formats for complex problem-solving (CPS). This research aims to formulate cognitive-oriented guidelines for productive synchronous CPS discussions. The study proposes a method to analyze the cognitive process and identifies the cognitive process associated with better CPS discussions. A conversation-analysis method was developed. Two indicators—source–outcome retrieval ratio and count of overlapped solution utterances—were proposed to evaluate the CPS discussion’s efficiency and effectiveness. Sixteen experimental CPS discussions were analyzed using this method. Correlation coefficients were applied to ascertain the cognitive features in CPS discussions with different levels of effectiveness and confirmed the applicability and reliability of the proposed methods. The results revealed that a good CPS discussion includes a regular progress summary, discussion conclusion, and high utilization of cognitive sources.
Time poverty and food production of women farmers: Case of Imbulpe DS division in Sri Lanka
Authors: Rathnachandra S.D.D. , Malkanthi S.H.P.
Published: April 2022

Gender equity has been emphasized as a considerable aspect regarding sustainable development in any nation of the world. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the level of time poverty of women farmers and its impact for food production in the Imbulpe Divisional Secretariat (DS) division in Rathnapura district in Sri Lanka. The objectives were to identify the time allocation of women farmers and to assess the time poverty and the effect of time poverty on food production in the study area. A sample of 300 women farmers was randomly selected through the simple random sampling method from five selected Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions of the Imbulpe DS division. A self-administered questionnaire survey was used with the help of a pre-tested questionnaire, in data collection from April to July 2019. The model of Harvey and Mukhopadhyay (2007) was used as the measurement of time poverty with necessary modifications based on the situation of the study area. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used in data analysis. The findings revealed that the respondents have obtained a considerably high headcount index of time poverty (0.79) in their efforts in food production. Therefore, it can be concluded that women farmers who live in the Imbulpe area consist of a low level of time for their farming and leisure activities. Therefore, conducting extension programs related to the application of modern farming technologies and enhance market information accessibility to reduce the time consume when marketing their agricultural products and enhance the participation in stress management programs are timely important activities to help these women farmers.
Development of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) bulb and seed flour-based pasta
Authors: Lakmali H.D.S. , Arampath P.C.
Published: April 2022

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is one of the major edible foodstuffs rich in carbohydrates and fiber. This study investigated the reduction of postharvest losses of jackfruits by value addition. Jack fruit seeds (JFS) flour and Jackfruit bulbs (JFB) flour were used as raw material. JFB and JFS were subjected to mechanical drying, grinding and sieving (particle size <200μm) to yield the JFS flour and JFB flour. The composite flour consists of different ratio of JFS, JFB, and cassava flour (CF), corn flour and semolina. The proximate composition, physical properties and cooking characteristics of developed pasta were determined. Sensory attributes of the pasta were evaluated using Hedonic scale (7-points) with 36 semi-trained panelists. The best composite flour formulation was JFS: JFB: semolina: CF: corn flour, at the ratio of 40:40:10:5:5. Crude protein (13.26±0.18%), crude fiber (4.91±0.61%) and ash (3.35±0.04%) were higher in the best selected composite flour than the other treatments. Carbohydrate content (71.28%) was the lowest in T3 formulation. However, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in moisture content among the treatments, whereas, hardness and water activity differed significantly (p<0.05) among the treatments. The best selected formulation exhibited higher water absorption (1.20±0.02 g/g) and cooking time (8.6±0.2 min) than the other treatments while cooking loss (13.3±0.4%) was lower than the other treatments except the control. Lightness value of pasta was decreased with increasing the amount of JFS and JFB flour. In conclusion, value added jackfruit flour pasta has a higher potential for commercialization as a convenient food for the consumers with busy lifestyles.
Occurrence and Spread of Emerging Organic Pollutants and Antibiotic Resistance in Urban Waters of Sri Lanka
Authors: Tushara Chaminda G. G.
Published: April 2022

Emerging pollutants such as Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in water resources are now considered a global water quality issue. Concerns associated with the presence of PPCPs in the environment include abnormal physiological processes and reproductive impairment, increased cancer incidence, the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the potential for increased toxicity of chemical mixtures. However, the number of studies on PPCPs in the aquatic environment and their use in wastewater tracking in developing countries, such as Sri Lanka, remains limited. Consequently, during the last five years, we have conducted various research to establish the comparative occurrence of PPCPs and antibiotics in urban waters in Sri Lanka. Our studies detected around 20 PPCPs in urban waters in Sri Lanka. Acetaminophen was dominant in hospital discharge (up to 124 µg/L), while caffeine was the most significant contributor to municipal wastewater (up to 69 µg/L). We suggest using Caffeine, Carbamazepine, and Acetaminophen for detecting domestic pollution in groundwater and surface water. We noticed that 50 to 100 % of antibiotic resistance in urban waters of Sri Lanka is comparatively higher than that of other countries, alarming that multidrug-resistant has become a significant concern for community health.
Methyl gallate isolated from Mangifera pajang kernel induces proliferation inhibition and apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells via oxidative stress
Authors: Yazan Ranneh , Fadzelly Abu Bakar Mohd , Azlen-Che Rahim , Kartinee Kassim Nur , Johnson Stanslas , Yuan-Han Teh , Abdulmannan Fadel , Mohammed S Ellulu
Published: April 2022

Objective:

To determine the lead bioactive compound in kernel extract of Mangifera pajang and its anti-cancer activity against human breast cancer cell lines with positive estrogen receptor (MCF-7).

Methods:

The methanolic extract of dried powder kernel of Mangifera pajang was exposed to column chromatography for isolation. The structural elucidation of the isolated compound was characterized using infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry. Furthermore, cytotoxicity, morphological changes, flow cytometry and cell cycle arrest analyses were performed to examine the mechanism of anti-proliferation and apoptosis induced by methyl gallate against MCF-7.

Results:

One compound was isolated from the methanolic extract of Mangifera pajang kernel and identified as methyl gallate. The flow cytometric results demonstrated induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells by three concentrations of methyl gallate. The cell cycle arrest showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in cell progression at G2/M phase of MCF-7 after treatment with 100 μM of methyl gallate. The cell percentage of early and late apoptosis was significant at 10 and 100 μM of methyl gallate. Also, methyl gallate treatment induced up-regulation of reactive oxygen species levels in MCF-7 cells with a reduction in superoxide dismutase levels.

Conclusions:

These findings indicate that isolated methyl gallate from Mangifera pajang kernel extracts induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells via up-regulating oxidative stress pathway.
Outcome of COVID-19 in Indian patients with cancer
Authors: Seshachalam* Arun , Saju* S. V. , Raju Honey Susan , Rathnam Krishnakumar , Janarthinakani Murugesan , Prasad Krishna , Patil Channappa , Anoop Parameswaran , Reddy Neelesh , Anumula Satish Kumar , Golamari Krishna Reddy , Bodepudi Sravan Kumar , Danthala Madhav , Malipatil Basawantrao , Senthilkumar G , Niraimathi Kesavan , Raman S. G.
Published: April 2022

Background:

Managing patients with cancer during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been challenging. Disruptions in cancer management have been observed due to cancellation of treatment, issues related to commuting, and dearth of health-care workers.

Objectives:

This study was conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and was aimed at evaluating the 30-day all-cause mortality among patients with cancer and COVID-19 infection and the factors affecting it.

Materials and Methods:

In this retrospective study, we collected secondary data from nine tertiary care centers in South India over a period of 10 months from March to Dec 2020. Patients across all age groups with histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of cancer who were affected by COVID-19 during their evaluation or treatment were included in the study. The primary outcome variables of the present study were 30-day all-cause mortality, cancer outcomes, and COVID-19 outcomes.

Results:

A total of 206 patients were included. Median age of the cohort was 55.5 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1.03. The 30-day mortality rate was 12.6%. Twenty-two patients (10.7%) had severe COVID-19 infection at the initial presentation. Predictors for severe pneumonia at the initial presentation were incomplete remission at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis and palliative intent of treatment. Severe pneumonia at the initial presentation, diagnosis of COVID-19 on or before August 2020, and need for ventilator support were associated with increased mortality.

Conclusion:

Severity of infection at the initial presentation, cancer status, and the intent of cancer treatment impact COVID-19 outcomes in patients with cancer.
Significance of too-small-to-characteriz (TSTC) pulmonary nodules in known extrapulmonary solid tumors
Authors: Mahajan* Abhishek , Monachen Matthew , Shukla Shreya , Agarwal Ujjwal , Sable Nilesh , Prabhash Kumar , Rane Swapnil , Thakur Meenakshi
Published: April 2022

Background:

Increased use of chest computed tomography (CT) scanning and greater awareness among general radiologists has led to a rise in lung nodule identification. Nodules less than 1 cm in diameter are considered small, and the morphology of such nodules is difficult to characterize.

Objectives:

The aim of our study was to determine the significance of pulmonary nodules that are too-small-to-characterize on CT scan in patients with extrapulmonary solid tumors and to determine the characteristics that help in distinguishing malignant from benign pulmonary nodules.

Materials and Methods:

We conducted a retrospective observational study in the Department of Radiodiagnosis of the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, and included patients with non-pulmonary solid malignancies who had obtained baseline CT/positron emission tomography (PET) scans between January 2010 and December 2014. Demographic information, site of the primary tumor, and histological diagnosis were recorded. Baseline and follow-up CT images were read by two radiologists. The significance of associated risk factors was analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square test. A multivariable logistic regression model was used.

Results:

Our study included 200 patients and 334 nodules, of which 148 (44.3%) nodules were found to be benign and 127 (38%) were malignant. The remaining 59 (17.7%) nodules in 32 patients were indeterminate. Most nodules located at a distance of less than 10 mm from the pleura were benign, whereas more than 2/3rd of the nodules more than 10 mm away from the pleura were malignant (n = 60/94, 63.8% P = 0.0001). The mean size of the 148 benign nodules (5.3 mm) was smaller than that of the 127 malignant nodules (9.2 mm). Nearly 93% of malignant nodules were solid (P = 0.0001). About 83% of malignant nodules were round, while 7 of 10 linear-shaped nodules were either benign or indeterminate (P = 0.006). Among the nodules associated with poorly differentiated primary neoplasms, 63.6% were malignant, 25% were benign, and 11.4% were indeterminate (P = 0.005).

Conclusions:

Too-small-to-characterize pulmonary nodules detected on CT are a common clinical problem and are more likely to be benign or indeterminate even in patients with known extrapulmonary neoplasms. Using nodule size, distance from the pleura, and morphological pointers, radiologists can help clinicians decide whether there is a need for biopsy or a short-interval follow-up. We have proposed a Pulmonary Metastases Cancer Imaging and Reporting Data System (PM-CI-RADS).
Pediatric gastrointestinal neuromodulation
Authors: El-Chammas Khalil I. , Santucci Neha R. , Mansi Sherief , Kaul Ajay
Published: April 2022

Neuromodulation, also known as bioelectric neuromodulation or neurostimulation, is the therapeutic use of electrical stimulation of nerves or brain centers. Neuromodulation has been trialed in an increasing range of human diseases as well as gastrointestinal disorders. The application of neuromodulation to treat pediatric motility and functional disorders is an exciting recent development. This review aims to briefly discuss the use of neuromodulation for the treatment of pediatric gastroparesis, constipation, and visceral hyperalgesia.
Small-area Fingerprint Recognition Based on Improved ORB Algorithm in Embedded Environment
Authors: Xiao Jianyu , Liu Jiuan , Liu Huanhua
Published: April 2022

Most of the fingerprint matching algorithms were proposed for large area fingerprints, which can hardly work effectively in small-area fingerprints. In this work, an improved ORB algorithm is proposed for small-area fingerprint matching in embedded mobile devices. In feature descriptor design, we analyzed the characters of the fingerprint in the embedded mobile devices and discard the multi-scale feature process to reduce the amount of operations. Moreover, we proposed a fusion descriptor combing LBP and rBRIEF descriptor. In the key point matching process, we proposed a two-step (coarse and fine) matching method by using Hamming distance and cosine similarity, respectively. The experimental results show that the proposed method has a rejection rate of 6.4%, a false recognition rate of 0.1%, and an average matching time of 58ms. It can effectively improve the performance of small-area fingerprint matching and meet the application requirements of embedded mobile device authentication.
Computerized Tomography Reveals Aptian Rudist Species and Taphonomy
Authors:   Saudi Aramco, Hughes Geraint W. , Siddiqui Shameem ,   Saudi Aramco Research & Development Center, Sadler Roy K. ,   Saudi Aramco Reservoir Characterization Department
Published: April 2022

Computerized tomographic (CT) scans of cored carbonates fromthe Lower Aptian Shu’aiba Formation reveal clearly defined rudistprofiles. Formation MicroImager (FMI) logs from the equivalentcored wellbore also display images related to the rudist content. Variousrudist species can be identified in the cores and provide a key tothe identification of the CT and FMI rudist images. As certain rudistspecies preferentially occupied different environments during theEarly Aptian deposition of the Shu’aiba Formation carbonates, theirrecognition in the cores, CT and FMI images can be used to assistdetermination of palaeoenvironments, lithofacies and reservoir facies.This new ability to identify rudist images in FMI logs in uncoreddevelopment wells can be used to extend depositional facies modelsinto uncored parts of the hydrocarbon reservoir models.
Alluvial Architecture and Fluvial Cycles in Quaternary Deposits in a Continental Interior Basin, E Hungary
Authors:   Department of Basin Analysis, Geological Institute of Hungary, Juhasz Györgyi , Müller Pal ,   Department of Basin Analysis, Geological Institute of Hungary, Toth-Makk Agnes ,   Department of Basin Analysis, Geological Institute of Hungary
Published: April 2022

The thickness of the studied Quaternary alluvial complex, locatedin the eastern part of the Pannonian Basin System, can exceed500 m. Based on subsurface facies analysis the following large-scaledepositional elements were identified: channel-fill deposits, point bardeposits, alluvial fan (sandy sheet-flood) deposits, floodplain andfloodbasin deposits, and thinner sandy–silty beds. They are classifiedinto four types of facies associations, showing a characteristicstacking pattern on the logs. Facies zonation and basin-scale faciesmapping of the overall Quaternary sedimentary succession shows thatin several areas dominated by stacked, multistorey sandy channel fillsediments, pre-existing superimposed channel belts can be presumed.In the central and deepest part of the basin muddy floodbasin (distalfloodplain and wetland) sediments dominate. Between these the largestarea represents the floodplain where single channel fill sands areinterbedded in the alluvial plain muds. In the eastern part of the basinthe well-logs highlight the distal part of an alluvial fan where sandysheet-flood deposits alternate with floodplain sediments.The recognized facies associations show a vertical pattern, i.e.they form a 40–100 m thick fining-upward fluvial cycle. The mostcharacteristic and even ideal cycle can be observed in the channelbelts and in the proximal floodplain zone. Here the basal memberof the cycle is made up of multistorey channel fill beds cut into theunderlying floodplain deposits. This is overlain by an alternatingsandy–muddy succession of channel fill and floodplain depositsforming the intermediate member. The upper member is composedof silty–clayey floodplain deposits with occasional very thin, discretesilty–sandy bodies.These three members form a fining upward sedimentary cycleinterpreted as representing low-, increasing- and high-accumulationspace deposits, respectively. As the basal multistorey channelfill sandstone facies association generally proved to lie above anextensive erosional surface which can be correlated regionally in thebasin, allocyclic controls can be assumed. In some parts of the basinthe cycle is not complete as the incised channels can be single, so thelow-accumulation space deposits can be missing and the high accumulation space deposits, i.e. the aggrading floodplain sediments, can be truncated.On a regional scale, six regionally extensive cycles were differentiatedabove each other. Although these cycles were allocyclicthe question of whether they were tectonically or climatically drivenremains open. However, the fact that six of them have been identified,suggests that they represent the large-scale 400 ka Milankovitchcycles during the Quaternary. The tectonic overprint is apparent in thethickness and internal architecture of the individual cycles.
Adjoint Selmer groups of automorphic Galois representations of unitary type
Authors: Newton James , Thorne Jack A.
Published: April 2022

Let

\rho

be the

p

-adic Galois representation attached to a cuspidal, regular algebraic automorphic representation of

\operatorname{GL}_n

of unitary type. Under very mild hypotheses on

\rho

, we prove the vanishing of the (Bloch–Kato) adjoint Selmer group of

\rho

. We obtain definitive results for the adjoint Selmer groups associated to non-CM Hilbert modular forms and elliptic curves over totally real fields.
On commutativity of 3-prime near-rings with generalized (α; β)-derivations
Authors: Abdelkarim BOUA  , Ahmed Abdelwanis
Published: April 2022

Let \(\mathcal{N}\) be a~\(3\)-prime near ring and \(\alpha,\beta: \mathcal{N}\rightarrow \mathcal{N}\) be endomorphisms. In the present paper we amplify a~few outcomes concerning generalized derivations and two-sided \(\alpha\)-generalized derivations of \(3\)-prime near rings to generalized \((\alpha,\beta)\)-derivations. Cases demonstrating the need of the \(3\)-primeness speculation are given. When \(\beta = id_{\mathcal{N}}\) (resp. \(\alpha = \beta = id_{\mathcal{N}}\)), one can easily obtain the main results of~\cite{ref1} (resp.\cite{ref5}).
Assessment of electric and diesel urban bus tire wear in fleet operation.
Authors:   Fontys University of Applied Science, NETHERLANDS, Baert Rik , van Amelsfort Peter ,   Fontys University of Applied Sciences, NETHERLANDS
Published: April 2022

"Electrification of mobility is a key element in policies that aim to improve air quaility in densely populated urban areas. As part of such a strategy all public transportation in the Netherlands is required to be zero emission by 2025. One of the first to implement this requirement is the Eindhoven region, where 43 electric buses have been in operation since december 2016. Electric vehicles produce no pollutant gases, but there is some concern about increased airborne particulate matter emission due to higher tire wear rates. However, in the literature, very little actual data can be found on this matter. This paper presents the outcome of an investigation aimed at assessing tire wear of comparable diesel and electric buses while in operation and with little or no impact on this operation. In the study two diesel buses and 3 electric buses were monitored, all of them operated by Hermes/Connexxion. All buses were 18 m articulated buses. For best accuray, direct measurement of tire weight loss at intervals would be the obvious measurement technique. This approach was however unacceptable to the fleet owner as it would have too much negative impact on the fleet operation. Also, dedicated accurate (vision based) thread monitoring equipment was not available. Hence, tire mass loss was determined from the measured reduction in tire tread groove depth at twelve different locations that were evenly distributed on the tire envelope. This measurement was performed on all three axles and was repeated several times over a nine month period. From the resulting data the average tire groove depth reduction in mm per 10.000 km was determined. The results show that the tire wear rate on the electric buses, even when compensated for their higher gross vehicle weight, significantly exceeds that of the diesel buses. The difference is analysed and discussed. Finally, by comparing weight loss measurement with tread depth reduction, also an indication of weight loss is determined and compared with current emission factors."
Real-Time Torque Estimation of an Air Conditioner Compressor for the CO2 Emissions Reduction from an Engine Vehicle
Authors:   Hanon systems, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, Kwak Jung-Myung , Kim Yong-Hee ,   Hanon systems, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, Zawadzky Peter ,   TE, GERMANY, Scherner Simon ,   TE, GERMANY
Published: April 2022

Reducing the CO2 emissions from all new cars is essential to prevent a climate emergency. Even in the trend of accelerating the uptake of zero-emission models, the market forecasting of engine vehicles is still high in 2030. The technology to improve the CO2 emissions from conventional engine cars is getting more important. This paper introduces the new technology which is about the optimization of engine control to reduce the CO2 emissions of conventional engine cars. The engine has various accessories and the engine controller considers loads of various engine accessories to control the engine power. While running of air conditioner, the load of the air conditioner compressor has a huge portion of the total engine load. The torque of the A/C compressor is about 10 ~ 30% of the total engine torque at idle conditions. Inaccurate compressor torque estimation causes huge RPM fluctuation or even engine shut-down. And it results in NVH issues, poor drivability, poor fuel economy, and serious car accidents. Variable displacement A/C compressor has become the most popular compressor type for fuel economy. While driving, engine RPM is continuously changed by a driver. A/C compressor RPM is also changed by this dramatic engine RPM changes. These RPM changes cause mass flow changes of refrigerant which are results in the unstable cooling capacity of an evaporator. Thus variable displacement compressor continuously changes the stroke by itself to maintain the stable cooling capacity. The control valve of the compressor senses the changes of suction pressure of the refrigerant and controls the stroke mechanically by controlling the mass flow of pressurized refrigerant in the compressor. By this mechanical stroke control of the control valve, the compressor can react to the dramatic changes of engine RPM. But, due to this dynamic and mechanical stroke changes, the A/C controller can not estimate the accurate changing timing and values of A/C compressor torque. By real-time stroke sensing of A/C compressor and the new torque logic which uses stroke signal, the accurate torque value at transient engine RPM conditions can be estimated. This paper focuses on testing to validate the torque estimation accuracy and the effect of CO2 emissions reduction. This technology has been validated at the compressor test bench, A/C system test bench, and vehicle.
Development of Early-stage Performance Verification Method for Low-frequency Noise in Electric-powered Vehicle Batteries
Authors:   Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Automobile Operations , Monozukuri Center, JAPAN, Toyama Naoki , Kawabe Masamichi ,   Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Automobile Operations , Monozukuri Center, JAPAN, Shimomura Akito ,   Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Automobile Operations , Monozukuri Center, JAPAN
Published: April 2022

"This paper describes a method for configuring the starting sound of high-voltage electrical components installed on the batteries of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV) for each particular unit, and introduces cases of application of this method in vehicle development. With regard to the stand-alone unit target performance of high-voltage electrical components for the purpose of satisfying vehicle demand, it used to be that the optimal battery capacity for the driving performance and target fuel consumption of each particular vehicle were determined and marketability of the vehicle was verified after deciding the battery installation location in light of conformance with laws and regulations as well as the perspective of battery safety in collisions. Consequently, vehicle body sensitivity to vibration according to different battery installation locations and complex battery structure transfer characteristics could not readily be accounted for in advance, making performance design of low-frequency battery noise originating in the structure challenging. Here, therefore, a stand-alone unit method of verification was created for the purpose of setting the targets for high-voltage electrical components. Specifically, synthesized sounds of the vehicle were calculated for various battery installation locations as the product of the vehicle vibration sensitivity at various points from the battery installation location to the driver’s ear location and the loads on the fastening points for each unit. When measuring loads on the fastening points of a unit, verification was performed using a fixed jig that took the target frequency into account. The results of verification at different battery installation locations (arranged under the first and second seats, and at the spare tire pan) and comparison of vehicle results with synthesized sounds confirmed that the synthesized sounds can reproduce the vehicle sound. This makes it possible to calculate the target values for a unit by reverse calculation from the synthesized sound. Application of this method makes it possible to verify the target values for a unit in advance from the combination of the envisioned battery installation location and the envisioned high-voltage electrical components, thus making early-stage verification possible."
Factors Affecting Squeak Characteristics of Plastic Parts And Its Prevention Solutions
Authors:   Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, INDIA, Kumar Amit , Lewis Edlin ,   Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., INDIA, Riyazuddin Mohammed ,   Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., INDIA, Prasath Raghavendran ,   Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., INDIA, Shukla Sandeep ,   Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., INDIA
Published: April 2022

A customer considers many factors while opting a new car such as stylish design, premium material quality, and comfort. While considering the quality of the car, one of the major customer concern is annoying and frustrating squeak noise of interior plastic parts. In this study, many factors such as environmental conditions like humidity and temperature variations, vibration & weather ageing and surface texture were included which may affect squeak characteristic of plastic part's material over a period of usage. To check compatibility of plastic materials, two materials were rubbed with each other using SSP-04 machine at different normal force & velocity and generate result as Risk Priority number. Based on RPN value, different material combinations were categorized into three squeak zones as No Risk, Low Risk & High Risk based on which squeak free material combination is finalized. Also, Environmental conditions such as temperature & relative humidity were included while performing material compatibility test and RPN variation was observed with change in temperature & humidity. To analyse weather ageing effect on plastic material, artificial thermal ageing of PC-ABS was conducted for 1500 hours as per test standard SAE-J2412 and same aged sample were tested to evaluate squeak characteristic of material. Similarly, to check vibration ageing effect; plastic material sample like PPTD20, PC-ABS were collected from vibration aged component and same compatibility test was conducted to analyse material performance regarding squeak risk. Some prevention solutions such as anti- squeak spray & felt were explored which helped in elimination of squeak risk. But implementation of these solutions is not always possible due to aesthetic point of view and constraint in accessibility of materials. Therefore, worked on two new solutions to avoid squeak risk: (a) surface texture and (b) material damping. Good results were observed in terms of reduction in impulse rate, acceleration and coefficient of friction.
A New Quantitative Criterion for Vibration Comfort Assessment of Vehicles
Authors:   School of Automotive Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF), Milad Abbasi Milad Abbasi , Hossein Salmani Hossein Salmani ,   School of Automotive Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF), Fard Mohammad ,   School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, RMIT University, AUSTRALIA, Jazar Reza ,   School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, RMIT University, AUSTRALIA
Published: April 2022

A newly introduced comfort indicator was defined as the discomfort criterion (DiC). Based on several real-life driving scenarios and realistic assumptions. This criterion identified the comfort of a vehicle quantitatively, and therefore, it is possible to compare different types of vehicles in terms of ride comfort. The criterion was proposed in accordance with part one of the ISO 2631standard for mechanical vibration and shock evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration. Also, road surface conditions were extracted from ISO 8608 for mechanical vibration road surface profiles by applying the power spectral density (PSD) of a specific road class. Knowing that during the ride of a vehicle, occupants are exposed to vibrations from the road surface which causes the feeling of discomfort, reduces working ability, which in the long run can affect health in an adverse manner; a parametric optimization technique was then used to investigate the effects of vibrations on comfort of occupants to maintain oscillations in an acceptable zone in accordance with ISO 2631 standard. In the following, the effectiveness of the proposed measure was investigated throughout the suspension optimization of different vehicle types including electric vehicles which almost doubled the unsprung mass by adding an electric motor to the wheel assembly. In line with this analysis, a spatial oscillatory model of a typical vehicle with eight degrees of freedom was developed and utilized. Then, the root-mean-square value of the weighted vertical acceleration exposure to the driver's seat position was calculated in the range of 1-80 Hz. The exceedance from the reduced comfort limit (in accordance with ISO 2631 standard) and wheel travel of the vehicle were considered as design objectives. Finally, the optimum condition and impact factor of the design variables, i.e. suspension and driver's seat damping coefficients and stiffnesses were investigated. The results of this study showed the effectiveness and convenience of the proposed methodology. Moreover, this study is significant form a boarder perspective as a preliminary framework to develop a vehicle comfort rating system in the near future.
UTICAJ SISTEMA GAJENJA I GENOTIPA KOKOŠI NOSILJA NA SADRŽAJ HOLESTEROLA U JAJIMA
Authors:   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy Čačak, Rakonjac Simeon , Bogosavljević-Bošković Snežana , Dosković Vladimir , Lukić Miloš , Škrbić Zdenka , Petričević Veselin , Petrović Milun D.
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the rearing system (floor and organic) and the genotype of laying hens (Isa Brown hybrid and New Hampshire breed) on the cholesterol content in eggs. On seven occasions during the one-year production cycle (24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64 and 72 weeks hen's age), 15 eggs from all four experimental groups were taken, and cholesterol content was determined on pooled samples. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that laying hens from the floor rearing system had lower cholesterol content in eggs compared to organic, while the effect of genotype on this trait cannot be defined with certainty.