bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Different Growth Enhancers as Alternative to In-feed Antibiotics in Poultry Industry
Authors: Rafiq Kazi , Tofazzal Hossain Muhammad , Ahmed Rokeya , Hasan Md. Mehedi , Islam Rejaul , Hossen Md. Ismail , Shaha Sourendra Nath , Islam Mohammad Rafiqul
Published: February 2022

The poultry industry has grown so fast alongside the irrational use of antibiotics to maximize profit and make the production cost-effective during the last few decades. The rising and indiscriminate use of antibiotics might result in the deposition of residues in poultry food products and in the development of resistance to these drugs by microorganisms. Therefore, many diseases are becoming difficult to treat both in humans and animals. In addition, the use of low-dose antibiotics as growth enhancer results in antibiotic residues in food products, which have detrimental effects on human health. On the other hand, many studies have shown that antibiotics administered to poultry and livestock are poorly absorbed through the gut and usually excreted without metabolism. These excreted antibiotics eventually accumulate in the environment and enter the human food chain, resulting in the bioaccumulation of drug residues in the human body. In this regard, to find out alternatives is of paramount importance for the production of safe meat and egg. Therefore, in recent years, much research attention was disarticulated toward the exploration for alternatives to antibiotic as in-feed growth enhancers after its ban by the EU. As a result, probiotics, prebiotics, phytobiotics, spirulina, symbiotic, and their combination are being used more frequently in poultry production. Feed additives therefore gained popularity in poultry production by having many advantages but without any residues in poultry products. In addition, numerous studies demonstrating that such biological supplements compete with antimicrobial resistance have been conducted. Therefore, the purpose of this review article was to highlight the advantages of using biological products instead of antibiotics as poultry in-feed growth enhancers to enhance the production performance, reduce intestinal pathogenic bacteria, and maintain gut health, potentiating the immune response, safety, and wholesomeness of meat and eggs as evidence of consumer protection, as well as to improve the safety of poultry products for human consumption.
The Study of Sustainable Rural Development in Taiwan—A Perspective of Causality Relationship
Authors: Liu Chun-Chu , Lee Chin-Tarn , Guo Yu-Feng , Chiu Kon-Ning , Wang Tse-Yu
Published: February 2022

From the perspective of sustainable development and based on literature review, this paper introduces modified Delphi and Decision Making and Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) to explore the critical factors of sustainable development in rural areas and their correlation. Through literature review and modified Delphi analysis, nine key factors of rural sustainable development are first identified, namely industrial activation, working environment, living conditions, infrastructure, public involvement, rural culture, government-related departments, educational resources, and health and welfare. DEMATEL is then adopted to determine the classification of the aforementioned factors, in which four (government-related departments, public involvement, infrastructure, and educational resources) are classified in the cause group and five (health and welfare, living conditions, rural culture, working environment, and industrial activation) are classified in the effect group. According to the centrality and relation of these factors, the causal network diagram is finally drawn before making practical suggestions based on the overall results, with a view to providing a reference for decision-makers in their follow-up rural sustainable development planning.
Pathogenic Interactions between Macrophomina phaseolina and Magnaporthiopsis maydis in Mutually Infected Cotton Sprouts
Authors: Degani Ofir , Becher Paz , Gordani Asaf
Published: February 2022

The soil fungus Macrophomina phaseolina, the charcoal rot disease agent, poses a major threat to cotton fields. In Israel, highly infected areas are also inhabited by the maize pathogen Magnaporthiopsis maydis. This study reveals the relationships between the two pathogens and their impact on cotton sprouts. Infecting the soil 14 days before sowing (DBS) with each pathogen or with M. phaseolina before M. maydis caused a strong inhibition (up to 50–65%) of the sprouts’ development and survival, accompanied by each pathogen’s high DNA levels in the plants. However, combined or sequence infection with M. maydis first led to two distinct scenarios. This pathogen acted as a beneficial protective endophyte in one experiment, leading to significantly high emergence and growth indices of the plants and a ca. 10-fold reduction in M. phaseolina DNA in the sprouts’ roots. In contrast, M. maydis showed strong virulence potential (with 43–69% growth and survival suppression) in the other experiment, proving its true nature as an opportunist. Interestingly, soil inoculation with M. phaseolina first, 14 DBS (but not at sowing), shielded the plants from M. maydis’ devastating impact. The results suggest that the two pathogens restrict each other, and this equilibrium may lead to a moderate disease burst.
Forecasting Agricultural Commodity Prices Using Dual Input Attention LSTM
Authors: Gu Yeong Hyeon , Jin Dong , Yin Helin , Zheng Ri , Piao Xianghua , Yoo Seong Joon
Published: February 2022

Fluctuations in agricultural commodity prices affect the supply and demand of agricultural commodities and have a significant impact on consumers. Accurate prediction of agricultural commodity prices would facilitate the reduction of risk caused by price fluctuations. This paper proposes a model called the dual input attention long short-term memory (DIA-LSTM) for the efficient prediction of agricultural commodity prices. DIA-LSTM is trained using various variables that affect the price of agricultural commodities, such as meteorological data, and trading volume data, and can identify the feature correlation and temporal relationships of multivariate time series input data. Further, whereas conventional models predominantly focus on the static main production area (which is selected for each agricultural commodity beforehand based on statistical data), DIA-LSTM utilizes the dynamic main production area (which is selected based on the production of agricultural commodities in each region). To evaluate DIA-LSTM, it was applied to the monthly price prediction of cabbage and radish in the South Korean market. Using meteorological information for the dynamic main production area, it achieved 2.8% to 5.5% lower mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) than that of the conventional model that uses meteorological information for the static main production area. Furthermore, it achieved 1.41% to 4.26% lower MAPE than that of benchmark models. Thus, it provides a new idea for agricultural commodity price forecasting and has the potential to stabilize the supply and demand of agricultural products.
Crop Performance Indexes Applied to Legume Used as Summer Cover Crops under Water Deficit Conditions
Authors: Berriel Verónica , Perdomo Carlos H. , Signorelli Santiago , Monza Jorge
Published: February 2022

Summer legume cover crops (CC) such as Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria spectabilis, Crotalaria ochroleuca, and Cajanus cajan could offer diverse advantages for the environment and productive cropping systems. A low transpiration efficiency (TE) of CC can induce soil water content to levels that present a challenge for the subsequent crop. In a 75-day growth chamber experiment, using the natural abundance of 13C, 18O, and 15N we evaluated the TE and BNF under two soil water conditions. Our results showed that the four species tested are good candidates for their use as CC because they showed good results in terms of productivity parameters, TE, and BFN. Cajanus cajan had the highest TE, a high shoot dry matter production, and accumulated more N from BFN in the shoot than C. spectabilis, C. juncea, and C. ochroleuca. ∆18O increased under moderate water deficit and showed an inversely proportional relationship with the amount of transpired water, supporting the use of this isotopic indicator as a proxy for transpiration and stomatal conductance. For the isotopic parameters no interaction between the factors water regimen and species were found. We propose the mass ratio of nitrogen fixed by the volume of transpired water and the isotopic discrimination of 13C as useful indicators of drought fixing legumes tolerance.
Transcriptome Analysis Uncovers the Gene Expression Profile of Hemileia vastatrix (Race XXXIII) during the Interactions with Resistant and Susceptible Coffee
Authors: Castro Isabel Samila Lima , Freitas-Lopes Rejane do Livramento , Ferreira Sávio de Siqueira , Maciel Talles Eduardo Ferreira , Florez Juan Carlos , Zambolim Eunize Maciel , Zambolim Laércio , Caixeta Eveline Teixeira
Published: February 2022

Coffee leaf rust is caused by Hemileia vastatrix Berk. and Broome and is the most important coffee disease in all regions where coffee is cultivated. Here, we sought to sequence the transcriptome of H. vastatrix race XXXIII to obtain a database for use as a reference in studies of the interaction between the fungus and coffee. In addition, we aimed to identify differentially expressed genes that have the potential to act as effector proteins during the interaction. Sequencing of cDNA libraries from uredospores and from compatible and incompatible interactions at different key time points generated about 162 million trimmed reads. We identified 3523 differentially expressed genes. The results suggested that the fungal transcriptome is dynamically altered over the course of infection and that the interaction with a susceptible plant upregulates a larger set of fungal genes than the interaction with a resistant plant. Co-expression network analysis allowed us to identify candidate genes with the same expression pattern as that of other effectors of H. vastatrix. Quantitative PCR analysis identified seven transcripts that may be effectors involved in the coffee–H. vastatrix interaction. This information provides a basis for obtaining new insights into the molecular mechanisms of infection in this pathosystem. Understanding gene expression during the infection process may contribute to elucidating the molecular mechanisms leading to the breakdown of resistance by new physiological races of the fungus.
The Role of Quarantine on Post-Mortem Performances of Charolaise Young Bulls
Authors: Diana Alessia , Santinello Matteo , De Marchi Massimo , Pellattiero Erika , Penasa Mauro
Published: February 2022

Biosecurity is essential to prevent the spread of diseases in livestock animals such as the bovine respiratory disease which can lead to negative effects on growth performance, and carcass and meat quality, as well as to an increase of antimicrobial use. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the quarantine on post-mortem performances (hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, pH 60 min after slaughtering, carcass SEUROP conformation, and fat cover) of 576 Charolaise young bulls imported from France and fattened in specialized Italian farms. Approximately half of the animals followed a standard fattening procedure without initial quarantine upon arrival to Italy (NO-QUA) and the other half underwent a 30-day period of quarantine (QUA) since their arrival to the farm. Post-mortem performances and parenteral administration of antimicrobial use were recorded. NO-QUA animals had lower average daily gain and slaughter weight but scored higher for carcass SEUROP evaluation and pH than QUA animals (p < 0.05). NO-QUA received more than double the number of parenteral antimicrobial treatments than QUA animals for respiratory diseases (139 vs. 56). Overall, quarantine applied on-farm contributes to improve post-mortem performances while reducing antimicrobial use in beef production.
High Activity of N-Acetylcysteine in Combination with Beta-Lactams against Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: De Angelis Massimiliano , Mascellino Maria T. , Miele Maria C. , Al Ismail Dania , Colone Marisa , Stringaro Annarita , Vullo Vincenzo , Venditti Mario , Mastroianni Claudio M. , Oliva Alessandra
Published: February 2022

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), alone or in combination with beta-lactams, against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp) and Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-Ab). Methods: The antibacterial activity of each compound was tested by broth microdilution and the synergism was evaluated by the checkerboard method. Killing studies of NAC alone and in combination with beta-lactams were performed. Bacterial morphological changes were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: Overall, 30 strains were included (15 CR-Kp and 15 CR-Ab). The NAC Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC)50/90 were 5/5 and 2.5/5 mg/mL for CR-Kp and CR-Ab, respectively. For both microorganisms, NAC, in addition to beta-lactams (meropenem for CR-Kp, meropenem and ampicillin/sulbactam for CR-Ab, respectively), was able to enhance their activity. The killing studies showed a rapid and concentration-dependent activity of NAC alone; the addition of NAC to meropenem or ampicillin/sulbactam at subinhibitory concentrations induced a fast and lasting bactericidal activity that persisted over time. The SEM analyses showed evident morphological alterations of the bacterial cells following incubation with NAC, alone and in combination with meropenem. Conclusions: NAC demonstrated a high in vitro activity against CR-Kp and CR-Ab and was able to enhance beta-lactams’ susceptibility in the tested strains. The preliminary data on the SEM analyses confirmed the in vitro results.
All-Trans Retinoic Acid Attenuates Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus-Induced Apoptosis in IPEC-J2 Cells via Inhibiting ROS-Mediated P38MAPK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Pu Junning , Chen Daiwen , Tian Gang , He Jun , Huang Zhiqing , Zheng Ping , Mao Xiangbing , Yu Jie , Luo Junqiu , Luo Yuheng , Yan Hui , Yu Bing
Published: February 2022

Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) can cause diarrhea, dehydration, and high mortality in piglets, which is closely related to intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis caused by TGEV infection. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is the active metabolite of vitamin A, which has antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. However, it is unknown whether ATRA can attenuate TGEV-induced IPEC-J2 cells apoptosis. Therefore, we investigated the protective effects of ATRA on TGEV-induced apoptosis of IPEC-J2 cells and explored the potential molecular mechanism. Our results indicated that TGEV infection caused IPEC-J2 cells damage and apoptosis. However, ATRA treatment attenuated TGEV-induced IPEC-J2 cells damage by upregulating the mRNA expressions of ZO-1, Occludin, and Mucin-1. ATRA treatment also attenuated TGEV-induced apoptosis in IPEC-J2 cells by downregulating the expression of Caspase-3, which is related to the inhibition of death receptor (Fas and Caspase-8) and mitochondrial (Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-9) pathways. Moreover, ATRA treatment prevented TGEV-induced ROS and MDA production and the upregulation of P38MAPK phosphorylation level, which is related to the increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and T-AOC) and the mRNA abundance of antioxidant-related genes (GPX1, GPX2, SOD1, CAT, GCLC, and GCLM). In addition, treatment of TGEV-infected IPEC-J2 cells with the ROS inhibitors (NAC) significantly reduced the protein levels of p-P38MAPK, Fas, Bax, and Cleaved-caspase-3 and the percentage of apoptotic cells. Our results indicated that ATRA attenuated TGEV-induced apoptosis in IPEC-J2 cells via improving the antioxidant capacity, thereby inhibiting the cell damage. the mechanism of which is associated with the inhibition of ROS-mediated P38MAPK signaling pathway.
Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor 3 Promotes Mitochondrial Homeostasis against Oxidative Stress: Potential Therapeutic Approaches for Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria Syndrome
Authors: Chiang Jui-Chung , Chen Wei-Min , Newman Ciara , Chen Benjamin P. C. , Lee Hsinyu
Published: February 2022

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a growth factor-like lipid mediator that regulates various physiological functions via activation of multiple LPA G protein-coupled receptors. We previously reported that LPA suppresses oxidative stress in premature aging Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) patient fibroblasts via its type 3 receptor (LPA3). Mitochondria have been suggested to be the primary origin of oxidative stress via the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondria are responsible for producing ATP through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and have a calcium buffering capacity for the cell. Defects in mitochondria will lead to declined antioxidant capacity and cell apoptosis. Therefore, we aim to demonstrate the regulatory role of LPA3 in mitochondrial homeostasis. siRNA-mediated depletion of LPA3 leads to the depolarization of mitochondrial potential (ΔΨm) and cellular ROS accumulation. In addition, the depletion of LPA3 enhances cisplatin-induced cytochrome C releasing. This indicates that LPA3 is essential to suppress the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. LPA3 is also shown to improve mitochondrial ADP-ATP exchange by enhancing the protein level of ANT2. On the other hand, LPA3 regulates calcium uptake from the ER to mitochondria via the IP3R1-VDAC1 channel. Moreover, activation of LPA3 by selective agonist OMPT rescues mitochondrial homeostasis of H2O2-induced oxidative stress cells and HGPS patient fibroblasts by improving mitochondrial ΔΨm and OXPHOS. In summary, our findings imply that LPA3 acts as the gatekeeper for mitochondrial healthiness to maintain cell youth. Furthermore, LPA3 can be a promising therapeutic target to prevent mitochondrial oxidative stress in aging and HGPS.
The Mutual Contribution of 3-NT, IL-18, Albumin, and Phosphate Foreshadows Death of Hemodialyzed Patients in a 2-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Kasprzak Łukasz , Twardawa Mateusz , Formanowicz Piotr , Formanowicz Dorota
Published: February 2022

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially those who are hemodialyzed (HD), are at significantly high risk of contracting cardiovascular disease and having increased mortality. This study aimed to find potential death predictors, the measurement of which may reflect increased mortality in HD patients, and then combine the most promising ones in frames of a simple death risk assessment model. For this purpose, HD patients (n=71) with acute myocardial infarction in the last year (HD group) and healthy people (control group) as a comparative group (n=32) were included in the study. Various laboratory determinations and non-invasive cardiovascular tests were performed. Next, patients were followed for two years, and data on cardiovascular (CV) deaths were collected. On this basis, two HD groups were formed: patients who survived (HD-A, n=51) and patients who died (HD-D, n=20). To model HD mortality, 21 out of 90 potential variables collected or calculated from the raw data were selected. The best explanatory power (95.5%) was reached by a general linear model with four variables: interleukin 18, 3-nitrotyrosine, albumin, and phosphate. The interplay between immuno-inflammatory processes, nitrosative and oxidative stress, malnutrition, and calcium-phosphate disorders has been indicated to be essential in predicting CV-related mortality in studied HD patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05214872.
Triplet-Energy Quenching Functions of Antioxidant Molecules
Authors: Angelé-Martínez Carlos , Goncalves Leticia Christina Pires , Premi Sanjay , Augusto Felipe A. , Palmatier Meg A. , Amar Saroj K. , Brash Douglas E.
Published: February 2022

UV-like DNA damage is created in the dark by chemiexcitation, in which UV-activated enzymes generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that create a dioxetane on melanin. Thermal cleavage creates an electronically excited triplet-state carbonyl whose high energy transfers to DNA. Screening natural compounds for the ability to quench this energy identified polyenes, polyphenols, mycosporine-like amino acids, and related compounds better known as antioxidants. To eliminate false positives such as ROS and RNS scavengers, we then used the generator of triplet-state acetone, tetramethyl-1,2-dioxetane (TMD), to excite the triplet-energy reporter 9,10-dibromoanthracene-2-sulfonate (DBAS). Quenching measured as reduction in DBAS luminescence revealed three clusters of 50% inhibitory concentration, ~50 μM, 200–500 μM, and >600 μM, with the former including sorbate, ferulic acid, and resveratrol. Representative triplet-state quenchers prevented chemiexcitation-induced “dark” cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (dCPD) in DNA and in UVA-irradiated melanocytes. We conclude that (i) the delocalized pi electron cloud that stabilizes the electron-donating activity of many common antioxidants allows the same molecule to prevent an electronically excited species from transferring its triplet-state energy to targets such as DNA and (ii) the most effective class of triplet-state quenchers appear to operate by energy diversion instead of electron donation and dissipate that energy by isomerization.
Low-Frequency Oscillations and Force Control Capabilities as a Function of Force Level in Older Women
Authors: Kang Nyeonju
Published: February 2022

Force variability is potentially related to altered low-frequency oscillations in motor outputs. This study examines the contributions of low-frequency oscillations in force to altered force control performances from lower to higher targeted force levels in older women. Fourteen older women executed unilateral hand-grip force control tasks at 10% and 40% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Force control performances were estimated by calculating force accuracy (root-mean-square-error), force variability (standard deviation), and force regularity (approximate entropy). We additionally quantified low-frequency oscillations in force using absolute powers across four different frequency bands: (a) 0–0.5 Hz, (b) 0.5–1.0 Hz, (c) 1.0–1.5 Hz, and (d) 1.5–2.0 Hz. The findings reveal that from lower to higher targeted force level older women show greater force error, force variability, and force regularity with increased values of absolute power in force across the four frequency bands. The multiple regression models identified a significant relationship between greater force frequency power below 0.5 Hz and more impairments in force control performances. These findings suggest that force frequency oscillation below 0.5 Hz is a key predictor indicating altered stability of task performances across different targeted force levels in older women.
Influence of Ageing on Abrasion Volume Loss, Density, and Structural Components of Subfossil Oak
Authors: Rede Vera , Essert Sara , Kocijan Martina , Dubravac Tomislav
Published: February 2022

Subfossil oak wood has spent centuries or millennia in the aquatic medium (rivers, lakes, bogs, etc.) and, due to water anoxic conditions, its decomposition is very slow. As a result of its long residing in specific conditions, its chemical composition, appearance, as well as mechanical and tribological properties have changed. Because of its aesthetic and mechanical properties, subfossil wood is very attractive and often used to produce valuable objects. The main objective of this study was to test how abrasion wear resistance of subfossil oak is affected by ageing. The effects of ageing on wood density and on the structure of lignin and cellulose were tested, as well as the loss of volume during abrasion in correlation with these changes. A study was conducted on samples of recent (regular) pedunculate oak wood and on six subfossil pedunculate oak samples in the age range of 890 and nearly 6000 years. Abrasion wear resistance was expressed through the loss of volume recorded using the Taber abraser. The smallest abrasion volume loss was measured for the recent oak specimens. Linear regression analyses showed that there was a very strong negative linear relationship between the age of subfossil oak and its abrasion volume loss. There was also a strong, but positive and significant linear correlation between subfossil oak age and density. Ageing also affected the structural composition of wood. Results obtained by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy indicated a reduction of the relative crystalline fraction of subfossil wood in recent oak. The degradation of lignin in subfossil oak samples progressed more slowly over time than cellulose degradation. There was a negative correlation between age and the ratio of cellulose and lignin degradation; however, that relationship was found statistically insignificant. Similar results were obtained for the relationship between abrasion wear resistance and changes in the structural composition of the studied samples of subfossil oak wood.
On the Mechanism of Electron Beam Radiation-Induced Modification of Poly(lactic acid) for Applications in Biodegradable Food Packaging
Authors: Grosvenor Eleanor C. , Hughes Justin C. , Stanfield Cade W. , Blanchard Robert L. , Fox Andrea C. , Mihok Olivia L. , Lee Kristen , Brodsky Jonathan R. , Hoy Ann , Uniyal Ananya , Whitaker Sydney M. , Acha Chris , Gibson Kalina , Ding Lilly , Lewis Catherine A. , González López Lorelis , Wentz Charlotte M. , Sita Lawrence R. , Al-Sheikhly Mohamad
Published: February 2022

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer used for food packaging. The effects of electron beam radiation on the chemical and physical properties of amorphous PLA were studied. In this study, amorphous, racemic PLA was irradiated at doses of 5, 10, 15, and 20 kGy in the absence of oxygen. Utilizing electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry, it was found that alkoxyl radicals are initially formed as a result of C-O-C bond scissions on the backbone of the PLA. The dominant radiation mechanism was determined to be H-abstraction by alkoxyl radicals to form C-centered radicals. The C-centered radicals undergo a subsequent peroxidation reaction with oxygen. The gel permeation chromatography (GPC) results indicate reduction in polymer molecular mass. The differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction results showed a subtle increase in crystallinity of the irradiated PLA. Water vapor transmission rates were unaffected by irradiation. In conclusion, these results support that irradiated PLA is a suitable material for applications in irradiation of food packaging, including food sterilization and biodegradation.
Numerical Study on Minimum Shear Connection Ratio of Tie-Bars in Steel Plate–Concrete Composite Beams Subjected to Out-of-Plane Cyclic Loading
Authors: Lu Bing , Li Cuihua , Liu Cong , Guo Lanhui
Published: February 2022

The failure modes of tie-bars under monotonic loading and cyclic loading are ductility and brittleness, respectively. They can significantly affect the design for tie-bars in a steel plate–concrete (SC) composite structure. A 3D finite element model of a SC composite beam was developed and verified through a quasi-static test. Two rules on the interfacial shear distribution were deduced and verified. Then, a total of 188 finite element models were developed to investigate the minimum shear connection ratio of tie-bars in SC composite beams, which can ensure the sufficient energy dissipation capacity of a SC composite beam under out-of-plane cyclic loading. The influences of the shear connection ratio, shear span versus depth ratio, stiffness, and number of tie-bars on the seismic behavior of a SC composite beam were investigated. Finally, a design method for tie-bars in the SC composite beam under out-of-plane cyclic loading was proposed.
Grain Orientation and Hardness in the Graded Interlayer of Plasma Sprayed W on CuCrZr
Authors: Cabibbo Marcello , Fava Alessandra , Montanari Roberto , Pakhomova Ekaterina , Paoletti Chiara , Richetta Maria , Varone Alessandra
Published: February 2022

In this work a W coating was deposited through PS in Ar-H2 atmosphere on a substrate of CuCrZr with an interlayer consisting of gradually changing fractions of Cu and W. The W coating and the interlayer showed good adhesion and no cracks were observed. The hardness of W and Cu along the interlayer was determined by nano-indentation tests and the results showed that a hardness gradient does exist in both the metals. Microstructural examinations suggest that the hardness gradient depends on the texture, which exhibits significant differences along the interlayer: multiplication and movement of dislocations, and localized plasticity under the indenting tip are strongly affected by grain orientation.
Advanced Thermal Manikin for Thermal Comfort Assessment in Vehicles and Buildings
Authors: Ion-Guţă Dragoş Daniel , Ursu Ioan , Toader Adrian , Enciu Daniela , Dancă Paul Alexandru , Nastase Ilinca , Croitoru Cristiana Verona , Bode Florin Ioan , Sandu Mihnea
Published: February 2022

Among the factors that influence the resilience and sustainability of cities in general, and of inhabited spaces in particular, there are extreme temperatures and, in particular, for people, thermal comfort is something that should be considered. This problem includes all aspects of comfort for users of inhabited spaces in both buildings and vehicles. The purpose of this paper is to present the details of a recently designed and created thermal manikin that comprises 79 superficial zones with independent neuro-fuzzy temperature regulation. Both the component parts of the manikin and the acceptance strategy are described. Flexible heating elements were used to control the temperature, on which five digital sensors are positioned. In order to establish the relationship between heat loss and ambient temperature, the thermal manikin was calibrated in a climatic chamber. The thermal manikin was able to predict local sensations through the equivalent temperature concept of the so-called Predicted Mean Vote.
A Step-by-Step Probabilistic Seismic Soil–Structure Interaction Analysis with Ground Motion Incoherency for a Bridge Pier on Bored Pile Foundations
Authors: Conțiu Mircea , Ghiocel Dan Mircea , Crețu Dan , Botiș Marius Florin
Published: February 2022

In current design practice, typical seismic design of bridges tends to use simplified approaches. On the opposite side, the most advanced seismic analyses currently used in practice in all the fields of structural engineering are probably the ones used for the design of nuclear facilities, which include soil–structure interaction and motion incoherency effects. From that category, the most modern methodology is the probabilistic approach, which has been added to the new ASCE 4 standard. This type of state-of-the-art analysis is carried out in ACS SASSI software on a typical concrete bridge structure with deep foundations. A comparison of the results with the deterministic SSI approach and the typical Eurocode design from previous studies is presented at the end. Major differences in behavior are highlighted, which impact the overall safety of the structure.
Delaunay Mesh Construction and Simplification with Feature Preserving Based on Minimal Volume Destruction
Authors: Huo Yu , Wang Tongcai , Li Haochen , Zhang Yu , Li Xin , Liu Bingshan , Wang Gong
Published: February 2022

Triangular meshes play critical roles in many applications, such as numerical simulation and additive manufacturing. However, the triangular meshes transformed from computer-aided design models using common algorithms may have many undesirable narrow triangles, which tends to affect the downstream applications. In this paper, we proposed two algorithms for Delaunay mesh construction and simplification to improve the quality of the triangular meshes. Two improved mesh operations of inserting vertices and collapsing vertices based on the principle of minimum volume destruction were designed. The improved vertex inserting operation is able to modify the local mesh so that it will conform to the local Delaunay property. The improved vertex collapsing operation can realize the simplification of the original mesh while maintaining the local Delaunay property. The results of visualized rendering and thermal diffusion simulations verified the improvement of the proposed algorithms in the aspects of the quantity and quality of the meshes.
A Controller Switching Mechanism for Resilient Wireless Sensor–Actuator Networks
Authors: Cho Byeong-Moon , Kim Sangjun , Kim Kyoung-Dae , Park Kyung-Joon
Published: February 2022

Controller failures can result in unsafe physical plant operations and deteriorated performance in industrial cyber–physical systems. In this paper, we present a controller switching mechanism over wireless sensor–actuator networks to enhance the resiliency of control systems against problems and potential physical failures. The proposed mechanism detects controller failures and quickly switches to the backup controller to ensure the stability of the control system in case the primary controller fails. To show the efficacy of our proposed method, we conduct a performance evaluation using a hardware-in-the-loop testbed that considers both the actual wireless network protocol and the simulated physical system. Results demonstrate that the proposed scheme recovers quickly by switching to a backup controller in the case of controller failure.
Characteristics and Rates of Microbial Processes in Clays of Different Mineral and Elemental Composition in Relation to Safety Prediction for ESB Clay Materials
Authors: Abramova Elena , Popova Nadezhda , Artemiev Grigoriy , Zharkova Viktoria , Zakharova Elena , Safonov Alexey
Published: February 2022

Microbial activity in clay barrier materials during radioactive waste disposal can lead to a violation of important physicochemical properties of the barrier system as a whole, thereby reducing the safety of the storage facility. This work evaluates the activity of the microbial complex of five bentonite and two kaolin clays. All clay materials were found to contain microorganisms, mostly with organotrophic aerobic and anaerobic metabolism capable of forming hydrogen sulfide and transforming basic and impurity clay minerals. The activity of microorganisms can increase with the ingress of degradation products of aluminophosphate matrices and cement barriers, as well as radiolysis products. For all clay the rates of microbial processes were shown to exhibit a direct correlation with the content of organic matter, kaolinite, and potassium feldspar, and an inverse correlation with montmorillonite content. A systematic methodological approach is proposed for clay materials and their susceptibility to microbial processes. The approach makes it possible, based on the content of organic matter, biophilic elements in the samples, parameters of the respiratory activity of the microbial complex, the formation of hydrogen sulfide, and other parameters, to assess in advance the possibility of using them in barriers.
Rating a Researcher’s Cumulative Scholarly Output Based on Their Sequence Numbers in Multi-Authored Publications
Authors: Iqbal Asif , Cheok Quentin
Published: February 2022

As the academic world yields an ever-increasing research output in terms of journal papers, conference proceedings, and books, the rating of published works and authors becomes imperative. All the big citation databases and search engines are currently using cumulative output indices, such as h-index, i10-index, and g-index, which do not consider the number of co-authors or the researcher’s sequence number in the authors list of a publication. In this context, the article presents a novel computational approach for evaluating a researcher’s scholarly output by taking into account the total number of co-authors, the sequence number of the researcher in the authors list, and the number of citations received per year by an article. Arithmetic progression is applied to quantify the credit for each co-author of a publication. The respective credits of a researcher are then accumulated for all their publications to obtain the rating. The method yields a truer value of the researcher’s impact in terms of their scholarly activities. A global implementation of the metric presented in this work will curb the unethical practice of including the names of non-contributing researchers in the authors list and expecting reciprocity in return.
Multi-Channel and Multi-Agent Signal Processing
Authors: Coluccia Angelo
Published: February 2022

Multi-channel and array signal processing is a well-established field with fundamental applications in wireless communications, radar/sonar, remote sensing, medical imaging, and more [...]
A Special Issue on Modeling, Dimensioning, and Optimization of 5G Communication Networks, Resources, and Services
Authors: Moscholios Ioannis , Głąbowski Mariusz , Sarigiannidis Panagiotis , Logothetis Michael
Published: February 2022

Designing, dimensioning, and optimization of communication networks resources and services have been inseparable parts of the development of telecommunications since the very beginning of their existence [...]
Spatiotemporal Patterns and Regional Transport of Ground-Level Ozone in Major Urban Agglomerations in China
Authors: Liu Xiaoyong , Zhao Chengmei , Niu Jiqiang , Su Fangcheng , Yao Dan , Xu Feng , Yan Junhui , Shen Xinzhi , Jin Tao
Published: February 2022

Ground-level ozone (O3) pollution has become a serious environmental issue in major urban agglomerations in China. To investigate the spatiotemporal patterns and regional transports of O3 in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH-UA), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD-UA), the Triangle of Central China (TC-UA), Chengdu–Chongqing (CY-UA), and the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration (PRD-UA), multiple transdisciplinary methods were employed to analyze the O3-concentration data that were collected from national air quality monitoring networks operated by the China National Environmental Monitoring Center (CNEMC). It was found that although ozone concentrations have decreased in recent years, ozone pollution is still a serious issue in China. O3 exhibited different spatiotemporal patterns in the five urban agglomerations. In terms of monthly variations, O3 had a unimodal structure in BTH-UA but a bimodal structure in the other urban agglomerations. The maximum O3 concentration was in autumn in PRD-UA, but in summer in the other urban agglomerations. In spatial distribution, the main distribution of O3 concentration was aligned in northeast–southwest direction for BTH-UA and CY-UA, but in northwest–southeast direction for YRD-UA, TC-UA, and PRD-UA. O3 concentrations exhibited positive spatial autocorrelations in BTH-UA, YRD-UA, and TC-UA, but negative spatial autocorrelations in CY-UA and PRD-UA. Variations in O3 concentration were more affected by weather fluctuations in coastal cities while the variations were more affected by seasonal changes in inland cities. O3 transport in the center cities of the five urban agglomerations was examined by backward trajectory and potential source analyses. Local areas mainly contributed to the O3 concentrations in the five cities, but regional transport also played a significant role. Our findings suggest joint efforts across cities and regions will be necessary to reduce O3 pollution in major urban agglomerations in China.
Correlations between Electro-Diagnostic Findings, the Severity of Initial Infection, and the Rehabilitation Outcomes among COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Shabat Sheer , Meiner Zeev , Tsenter Jeanna , Schwartz Isabella , Portnoy Sigal
Published: February 2022

Patients with Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) manifest many neuromuscular complications. We evaluated the correlations between electromyography and nerve conduction measurements among COVID-19 patients and the severity of the initial infection, as well as the rehabilitation outcomes, and searched for the factors which best predict the rehabilitation outcomes. A total of 19 COVID-19 patients (16 men; mean ± SD age 59.1 ± 10.4), with WHO clinical progression scale of 6.8 ± 2.3, received rehabilitation for 3.9 ± 2.5 months. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the 10 m walk test, the 6 minute walk test, and grip force were collected before and after the rehabilitation period. Motor Nerve Conduction (MNC), Sensory Nerve Conduction (SNC) and electromyographic abnormalities were measured. All of the MNC measures of the median nerve correlated with the WHO clinical progression scale and duration of acute hospitalization. The MNC and SNC measures correlated with the rehabilitation duration and with FIM at discharge. The MNC distal latency of the median and the peroneal nerves and the MNC velocity of the median and tibial nerves predicted 91.6% of the variance of the motor FIM at discharge. We conclude that nerve conduction measurements, especially in COVID-19 patients with severe illness, are important in order to predict prognosis and rehabilitation outcomes.
Sustained Functioning Impairments and Oxidative Stress with Neurobehavioral Dysfunction Associated with Oral Nicotine Exposure in the Brain of a Murine Model of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma: Modifying the Antioxidant Role of Chlorella vulgaris
Authors: Mohamed Amany Abdel-Rahman , Bohy Khlood M. El , Moustafa Gihan G. , Mohammed Hesham H. , Metwally Mohamed M. M. , Mohammed Heba El Desoukey , Nassan Mohamed A. , Saber Taghred M.
Published: February 2022

Background: This study provides a model for studying the mechanism(s) responsible for the nervous tissue damage and misfunctioning that occurred due to oral nicotine exposure, considered a stress factor, during the presence of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing in the mouse model (EAC). The mitigating role of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) against nicotine-induced brain damage was evaluated. Methods: Eighty Swiss female mice were classified into four groups, these were the control, the CV group, the nicotine group(100 µg/kg), and the combination group. Oxidant/antioxidant status, proinflammatory cytokines levels, DNA damage, quantitative microscopical lesions, and Caspase 3, Bcl-2 proteins were assessed in the current study. Levels of dopamine (DA) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were also evaluated. Results: Nicotine was found to cause pronounced neurobehavioral alterations, increase the mortalities oxidative stress DNA damage, and augment the inflammatory response in brain tissue alongside the microstructural alteration. The administration of CV with nicotine in EAC-bearing mice rescued the detrimental effects of nicotine. Conclusions: CV aids in reducing the harmful effects of nicotine and returns the conditions caused by nicotine to near-control levels. Thus, we are in favor of giving it to cancer patients who are taking daily dosages of nicotine even by smoking cigarettes or being exposed to second-hand smoke.
Evaluation of Clove Extract for Drug Therapy of Ciliate Infection in Coral (Goniopora columna)
Authors: Chu Tah-Wei , Cheng Chiu-Min , Cheng Yu-Rong , Dong Cheng-Di , Chuang Chih-Hung , Pan Chih-Hung , Sun Wei-Ting , Ding De-Sing
Published: February 2022

In recent years, ciliate infections have caused serious casualties to corals in the ocean. Infected corals die within a short period of time, which not only poses a threat to wild coral reefs, but also has a major impact on large scale aquaculture of coral. Clove is a kind of Chinese medicine with antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, insecticidal, and other functions. Clove is a natural product. If it can be used in the treatment of coral ciliates, it will reduce this threat to the environment. The clove extract was diluted with sterile seawater to 500 ppm, 1500 ppm, 2500 ppm, 5000 ppm, 7500 ppm, and 10,000 ppm to carry out virulence test on ciliates. The results show that the LC50 value is 1500 ppm, which can cause the death of ciliates in 10 min without causing significant changes in G. columna SOD, CAT, chlorophyll a, and zooxanthellae. In addition, observation of tissue slices revealed that no ciliates and vacuum were found in the G. columna tissue after 10 min of medicated bathing. In summary, 1500 ppm of clove extract can be used for the treatment of coral ciliates.
Transcriptome Analysis of Developing Wheat Grains at Rapid Expanding Phase Reveals Dynamic Gene Expression Patterns
Authors: Guan Jiantao , Wang Zhenyu , Liu Shaoshuai , Kong Xingchen , Wang Fang , Sun Guoliang , Geng Shuaifeng , Mao Long , Zhou Peng , Li Aili
Published: February 2022

Grain development, as a vital process in the crop’s life cycle, is crucial for determining crop quality and yield. The wheat grain expanding phase is the early process involving the rapid morphological changes and initiation of grain filling. However, little is known about the molecular basis of grain development at this stage. Here, we provide a time-series transcriptome profile of developing wheat grain at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days after pollination of the wheat landrace Chinese Spring. A total of 26,892 differentially expressed genes, including 1468 transcription factors, were found between adjacent time points. Co-expression cluster analysis and Gene Ontology enrichment revealed dynamic expressions of cell division and starch biosynthesis related structural genes and transcription factors. Moreover, diverse, differential and drastically varied expression trends of the key genes related to hormone metabolism were identified. Furthermore, ~30% of triads showed unbalanced expression patterns enriching for genes in multiple pivotal metabolic pathways. Hormone metabolism related genes, such as YUC10 (YUCCA flavin-containing monooxygenase 10), AOS2 (allene oxide synthase 2), CYP90D2 (cytochrome P450 90D2), and CKX1 (cytokinin dehydrogenase 1), were dominantly contributed by A or D homoeologs of the triads. Our study provided a systematic picture of transcriptional regulation of wheat grains at the early grain expanding phase which should deepen our understanding of wheat grain development and help in wheat yield improvement.
Gap Junction-Dependent and -Independent Functions of Connexin43 in Biology
Authors: Zhu Yi
Published: February 2022

For the first time in animal evolution, the emergence of gap junctions allowed direct exchanges of cellular substances for communication between two cells. Innexin proteins constituted primordial gap junctions until the connexin protein emerged in deuterostomes and took over the gap junction function. After hundreds of millions of years of gene duplication, the connexin gene family now comprises 21 members in the human genome. Notably, GJA1, which encodes the Connexin43 protein, is one of the most widely expressed and commonly studied connexin genes. The loss of Gja1 in mice leads to swelling and a blockage of the right ventricular outflow tract and death of the embryos at birth, suggesting a vital role of Connexin43 gap junction in heart development. Since then, the importance of Connexin43-mediated gap junction function has been constantly expanded to other types of cells. Other than forming gap junctions, Connexin43 can also form hemichannels to release or uptake small molecules from the environment or even mediate many physiological processes in a gap junction-independent manner on plasma membranes. Surprisingly, Connexin43 also localizes to mitochondria in the cell, playing important roles in mitochondrial potassium import and respiration. At the molecular level, Connexin43 mRNA and protein are processed with very distinct mechanisms to yield carboxyl-terminal fragments with different sizes, which have their unique subcellular localization and distinct biological activities. Due to many exciting advancements in Connexin43 research, this review aims to start with a brief introduction of Connexin43 and then focuses on updating our knowledge of its gap junction-independent functions.