bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal Supplementation with Polyphenols and Omega-3 Fatty Acids during Pregnancy: Prenatal Effects on Fetal Fatty Acid Composition in the Iberian Pig
Authors: Heras-Molina Ana , Escudero Rosa , Pesántez-Pacheco José L. , García-Contreras Consolación , Vázquez-Gómez Marta , Astiz Susana , Óvilo Cristina , González-Bulnes Antonio , Isabel Beatriz
Published: August 2022

Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) is a major problem in pig production and different strategies, mainly maternal supplementation with different agents, are currently being studied. The combination of hydroxytyrosol and n3-PUFA seems to be a promising treatment to counteract IUGR, since the combination may help improve n3-PUFA composition and lower the inflammatory status of IUGR piglets. The aim of the present study is to determine the effects of a maternal supplementation, from day 35 to day 100 of pregnancy, with linseed oil and hydroxytyrosol on the fetal FA composition. The results showed higher n3 levels, including eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic FA in the offspring from treated gilts, which showed lower n6-PUFA/n3-PUFA (n6/n3) ratios. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were also affected by treatment, especially in the muscle and brain. Thus, a maternal supplementation with linseed oil and hydroxytyrosol affected the fetal FA tissue composition, which could have implications in pig production due to the improvement of the piglets’ health status.
The Effects of Prenatal Diet on Calf Performance and Perspectives for Fetal Programming Studies: A Meta-Analytical Investigation
Authors: Barcelos Sandra de Sousa , Nascimento Karolina Batista , Silva Tadeu Eder da , Mezzomo Rafael , Alves Kaliandra Souza , de Souza Duarte Márcio , Gionbelli Mateus Pies
Published: August 2022

This meta-analysis aimed to identify knowledge gaps in the scientific literature on future fetal-programming studies and to investigate the factors that determine the performance of beef cows and their offspring. A dataset composed of 35 publications was used. The prenatal diet, body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) during pregnancy, and calf sex were elicited as possible modulators of the beef cows and their offspring performance. Then, the correlations between these variables and the outcomes of interest were investigated. A mixed multiple linear regression procedure was used to evaluate the relationships between the responses and all the possible explanatory variables. A knowledge gap was observed in studies focused on zebu animals, with respect to the offspring sex and the consequences of prenatal nutrition in early pregnancy. The absence of studies considering the possible effects promoted by the interactions between the different stressors’ sources during pregnancy was also detected. A regression analysis showed that prenatal diets with higher levels of protein improved the ADG of pregnant beef cows and that heavier cows give birth to heavier calves. Variations in the BW at weaning were related to the BW at birth and calf sex. Therefore, this research reinforces the importance of monitoring the prenatal nutrition of beef cows.
Digestive Tract Morphology and Gut Microbiota Jointly Determine an Efficient Digestive Strategy in Subterranean Rodents: Plateau Zokor
Authors: Zhang Shou-Dong , Lin Gong-Hua , Han Ji-Ru , Lin Yu-Wei , Wang Feng-Qing , Lu De-Chen , Xie Jiu-Xiang , Zhao Jin-Xin
Published: August 2022

Rodents’ lifestyles vary in different environments, and to adapt to various lifestyles specific digestion strategies have been developed. Among these strategies, the morphology of the digestive tracts and the gut microbiota are considered to play the most important roles in such adaptations. However, how subterranean rodents adapt to extreme environments through regulating gut microbial diversity and morphology of the digestive tract has yet to be fully studied. Here, we conducted the comparisons of the gastrointestinal morphology, food intake, food assimilation, food digestibility and gut microbiota of plateau zokor Eospalax baileyi in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and laboratory rats Rattus norvegicus to further understand the survival strategy in a typical subterranean rodent species endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our results revealed that plateau zokor evolved an efficient foraging strategy with low food intake, high food digestibility, and ultimately achieved a similar amount of food assimilation to laboratory rats. The length and weight of the digestive tract of the plateau zokor was significantly higher than the laboratory rat. Particularly, the weight and length of the large intestine and cecum in plateau zokor is three times greater than that of the laboratory rat. Microbiome analysis showed that genus (i.e., Prevotella, Oscillospira, CF231, Ruminococcus and Bacteroides), which are usually associated with cellulose degradation, were significantly enriched in laboratory rats, compared to plateau zokor. However, prediction of metagenomic function revealed that both plateau zokor and laboratory rats shared the same functions in carbohydrate metabolism and energy metabolism. The higher digestibility of crude fiber in plateau zokor was mainly driven by the sizes of cecum and cecum tract, as well as those gut microbiota which associated with cellulose degradation. Altogether, our results highlight that both gut microbiota and the morphology of the digestive tract are vital to the digestion in wild rodents.
Design, Synthesis and Mechanistic Studies of Novel Isatin-Pyrazole Hydrazone Conjugates as Selective and Potent Bacterial MetAP Inhibitors
Authors: Irfan Iram , Ali Asghar , Reddi Bharati , Khan Mohd. Abrar , Hasan Phool , Ahmed Sarfraz , Uddin Amad , Piatek Magdalena , Kavanagh Kevin , Haque Qazi Mohd. Rizwanul , Singh Shailja , Addlagatta Anthony , Abid Mohammad
Published: August 2022

Methionine aminopeptidases (MetAPs) are attractive drug targets due to their essential role in eukaryotes as well as prokaryotic cells. In this study, biochemical assays were performed on newly synthesized Isatin-pyrazole hydrazones (PS1–14) to identify potent and selective bacterial MetAPs inhibitors. Compound PS9 inhibited prokaryotic MetAPs, i.e., MtMetAP1c, EfMetAP1a and SpMetAP1a with Ki values of 0.31, 6.93 and 0.37 µM, respectively. Interestingly, PS9 inhibited the human analogue HsMetAP1b with Ki (631.7 µM) about ten thousand-fold higher than the bacterial MetAPs. The in vitro screening against Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli) bacterial strains also exhibited their antibacterial potential supported by minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), disk diffusion assay, growth curve and time-kill curve experiments. Additionally, PS6 and PS9 had synergistic effects when combined with ampicillin (AMP) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) against selective bacterial strains. PS9 showed no significant cytotoxic effect on human RBCs, HEK293 cells and Galleria mellonella larvae in vivo. PS9 inhibited the growth of multidrug-resistant environmental isolates as it showed the MIC lower than the standard drugs used against selective bacterial strains. Overall, the study suggested PS9 could be a useful candidate for the development of antibacterial alternatives.
Plant Glutathione Peroxidases: Non-Heme Peroxidases with Large Functional Flexibility as a Core Component of ROS-Processing Mechanisms and Signalling
Authors: Bela Krisztina , Riyazuddin Riyazuddin , Csiszár Jolán
Published: August 2022

Glutathione peroxidases (GPXs) are non-heme peroxidases catalyzing the reduction of H2O2 or organic hydroperoxides to water or corresponding alcohols using glutathione (GSH) or thioredoxin (TRX) as a reducing agent. In contrast to animal GPXs, the plant enzymes are non-seleno monomeric proteins that generally utilize TRX more effectively than GSH but can be a putative link between the two main redox systems. Because of the substantial differences compared to non-plant GPXs, use of the GPX-like (GPXL) name was suggested for Arabidopsis enzymes. GPX(L)s not only can protect cells from stress-induced oxidative damages but are crucial components of plant development and growth. Due to fine-tuning the H2O2 metabolism and redox homeostasis, they are involved in the whole life cycle even under normal growth conditions. Significantly new mechanisms were discovered related to their transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications by describing gene regulatory networks, interacting microRNA families, or identifying Lys decrotonylation in enzyme activation. Their involvement in epigenetic mechanisms was evidenced. Detailed genetic, evolutionary, and bio-chemical characterization, and comparison of the main functions of GPXs, demonstrated their species-specific roles. The multisided involvement of GPX(L)s in the regulation of the entire plant life ensure that their significance will be more widely recognized and applied in the future.
Antioxidant Therapy Significantly Attenuates Hepatotoxicity following Low Dose Exposure to Microcystin-LR in a Murine Model of Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Lad Apurva , Hunyadi Jonathan , Connolly Jacob , Breidenbach Joshua D. , Khalaf Fatimah K. , Dube Prabhatchandra , Zhang Shungang , Kleinhenz Andrew L. , Baliu-Rodriguez David , Isailovic Dragan , Hinds Terry D. , Gatto-Weis Cara , Stanoszek Lauren M. , Blomquist Thomas M. , Malhotra Deepak , Haller Steven T. , Kennedy David J.
Published: August 2022

We have previously shown in a murine model of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) that chronic, low-dose exposure to the Harmful Algal Bloom cyanotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR), resulted in significant hepatotoxicity including micro-vesicular lipid accumulation, impaired toxin metabolism as well as dysregulation of the key signaling pathways involved in inflammation, immune response and oxidative stress. On this background we hypothesized that augmentation of hepatic drug metabolism pathways with targeted antioxidant therapies would improve MC-LR metabolism and reduce hepatic injury in NAFLD mice exposed to MC-LR. We chose N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 40 mM), a known antioxidant that augments the glutathione detoxification pathway and a novel peptide (pNaKtide, 25 mg/kg) which is targeted to interrupting a specific Src-kinase mediated pro-oxidant amplification mechanism. Histological analysis showed significant increase in hepatic inflammation in NAFLD mice exposed to MC-LR which was attenuated on treatment with both NAC and pNaKtide (both p ≤ 0.05). Oxidative stress, as measured by 8-OHDG levels in urine and protein carbonylation in liver sections, was also significantly downregulated upon treatment with both antioxidants after MC-LR exposure. Genetic analysis of key drug transporters including Abcb1a, Phase I enzyme-Cyp3a11 and Phase II metabolic enzymes-Pkm (Pyruvate kinase, muscle), Pklr (Pyruvate kinase, liver, and red blood cell) and Gad1 (Glutamic acid decarboxylase) was significantly altered by MC-LR exposure as compared to the non-exposed control group (all p ≤ 0.05). These changes were significantly attenuated with both pNaKtide and NAC treatment. These results suggest that MC-LR metabolism and detoxification is significantly impaired in the setting of NAFLD, and that these pathways can potentially be reversed with targeted antioxidant treatment.
Whole-Genome Identification of APX and CAT Gene Families in Cultivated and Wild Soybeans and Their Regulatory Function in Plant Development and Stress Response
Authors: Aleem Muqadas , Aleem Saba , Sharif Iram , Aleem Maida , Shahzad Rahil , Khan Muhammad , Batool Amina , Sarwar Gulam , Farooq Jehanzeb , Iqbal Azeem , Jan Basit , Kaushik Prashant , Feng Xianzhong , Bhat Javaid , Ahmad Parvaiz
Published: August 2022

Plants coevolved with their antioxidant defense systems, which detoxify and adjust levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under multiple plant stresses. We performed whole-genome identification of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) families in cultivated and wild soybeans. In cultivated and wild soybean genomes, we identified 11 and 10 APX genes, respectively, whereas the numbers of identified CAT genes were four in each species. Comparative phylogenetic analysis revealed more homology among cultivated and wild soybeans relative to other legumes. Exon/intron structure, motif and synteny blocks are conserved in cultivated and wild species. According to the Ka/Ks value, purifying selection is a major force for evolution of these gene families in wild soybean; however, the APX gene family was evolved by both positive and purifying selection in cultivated soybean. Segmental duplication was a major factor involved in the expansion of APX and CAT genes. Expression patterns revealed that APX and CAT genes are differentially expressed across fourteen different soybean tissues under water deficit (WD), heat stress (HS) and combined drought plus heat stress (WD + HS). Altogether, the current study provides broad insights into these gene families in soybeans. Our results indicate that APX and CAT gene families modulate multiple stress response in soybeans.
Melatonin Decreases Acute Inflammatory Response to Neural Probe Insertion
Authors: Krahe Daniela D. , Woeppel Kevin M. , Yang Qianru , Kushwah Neetu , Cui Xinyan Tracy
Published: August 2022

Neural electrode insertion trauma impedes the recording and stimulation capabilities of numerous diagnostic and treatment avenues. Implantation leads to the activation of inflammatory markers and cell types, which is detrimental to neural tissue health and recording capabilities. Oxidative stress and inflammation at the implant site have been shown to decrease with chronic administration of antioxidant melatonin at week 16, but its effects on the acute landscape have not been studied. To assess the effect of melatonin administration in the acute phase, specifically the first week post-implantation, we utilized histological and q-PCR methods to quantify cellular and molecular indicators of inflammation and oxidative stress in the tissue surrounding implanted probes in C57BL/6 mice as well as two-photon microscopy to track the microglial responses to the probes in real-time in transgenic mice expressing GFP with CX3CR1 promotor. Histological results indicate that melatonin effectively maintained neuron density surrounding the electrode, inhibited accumulation and activation of microglia and astrocytes, and reduced oxidative tissue damage. The expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6, were significantly reduced in melatonin-treated animals. Additionally, microglial encapsulation of the implant surface was inhibited by melatonin as compared to control animals following implantation. Our results combined with previous research suggest that melatonin is a particularly suitable drug for modulating inflammatory activity around neural electrode implants both acutely and chronically, translating to more stable and reliable interfaces.
Selenoprotein: Potential Player in Redox Regulation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Ghuge Sandip A. , Kadam Ulhas Sopanrao , Hong Jong Chan
Published: August 2022

Selenium (Se) is an essential micro-element for many organisms, including Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and is required in trace amounts. It is obtained from the 21st amino acid selenocysteine (Sec, U), genetically encoded by the UGA codon. Proteins containing Sec are known as selenoproteins. In eukaryotes, selenoproteins are present in animals and algae, whereas fungi and higher plants lack them. The human genome contains 25 selenoproteins, most of which are involved in antioxidant defense activity, redox regulation, and redox signaling. In algae, 42 selenoprotein families were identified using various bioinformatics approaches, out of which C. reinhardtii is known to have 10 selenoprotein genes. However, the role of selenoproteins in Chlamydomonas is yet to be reported. Chlamydomonas selenoproteins contain conserved domains such as CVNVGC and GCUG, in the case of thioredoxin reductase, and CXXU in other selenoproteins. Interestingly, Sec amino acid residue is present in a catalytically active domain in Chlamydomonas selenoproteins, similar to human selenoproteins. Based on catalytical active sites and conserved domains present in Chlamydomonas selenoproteins, we suggest that Chlamydomonas selenoproteins could have a role in redox regulation and defense by acting as antioxidants in various physiological conditions.
Vis-NIR Reflectance Spectroscopy and PLSR to Predict PCB Content in Severely Contaminated Soils: A Perspective Approach
Authors: Leone Natalia , Ancona Valeria , Galeone Ciro , Massarelli Carmine , Uricchio Vito Felice , Leone Antonio Pasquale
Published: August 2022

Soil reclamation from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) requires careful analysis in terms of their concentrations and spatial distribution. Conventional laboratory analysis, even if providing the careful evaluation of PCBs, is costly and time-consuming. Therefore, rapid and cost-effective techniques to replace traditional analytical approaches are required. The utility of visible-near infrared (vis-NIR) reflectance spectroscopy in conjunction with partial least square regression (PLSR) analysis was evaluated in this study. Spectral reflectance was measured in the laboratory on 28 soil samples collected in a highly contaminated area of southern Italy and chemically analysed to determine eighteen PCB congeners, their sum (PCBs18), and extractable organic halogen content (EOX). Spectroscopic data were pre-processed prior to data analysis by combining different methods. Using PLSR analysis, significant relationships were observed between the predicted and the measured content of PCBs18, EOX, and the percentage of several isomeric classes of PCBs. Although rigorous models could not be calibrated, due to the limited number of samples, the preliminary results of this study demonstrated that vis-NIR reflectance spectroscopy, coupled with PLSR, can be considered a promising method for a rapid and cost-effective prediction of PCBs.
Numerical Study on the Impact of Platform Screen Doors in a Subway Station with a Train on Fire
Authors: Teodosiu Catalin Ioan , Kubinyecz Vladimir Francisc
Published: August 2022

Almost all recently built subway stations are equipped with Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) due to the numerous proven benefits of these systems. In addition, PSDs are now being introduced in existing subway stations, but their operation in conjunction with previously designed ventilation systems in case of emergency should be deeply studied. In this context, the objective of this study is to assess the efficiency of the planned emergency strategy (coupled operation, ventilation systems–PSDs system) in the case of trains on fire stopped at the platform of a subway station retrofitted with PSDs. The approach is based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) full-scale simulations to predict the airflow, temperature, and pollutant (carbon monoxide—CO and carbon dioxide—CO2) concentrations caused by the fire. The results show the evident contribution of PSDs in stopping the dispersion of hot and polluted air in the subway station during the entire simulation time (20 min from the arrival of the train on fire). Consequently, the investigated emergency strategy (exhausting air both through the “over track system” and the “under platform system”, simultaneously with the opening of the PSDs on the side with the train on fire) assures the safe evacuation of passengers as soon as they have left the subway train. The results indicate that access to the platform is not perturbed by high temperatures or dangerous concentrations of CO and CO2.
Compilation of a City-Level & Four-Digit Industry Code MRIO Table Based on Firm-Level Data
Authors: Chen Jieping , Lin Shanlang , Shen Yunbin
Published: August 2022

Scholars have attempted to compile various multi-region input-output (MRIO) tables for different countries. However, due to city-level data scarcity and methodology constraints, almost no MRIO table covers a large number of cities with more disaggregated sectors in countries with large economies, such as China. Based on two large-scale firm-level datasets, the China Annual Survey of Industrial Firms (CASIF) survey and the China Customs Data (CCD) database, from 2000 to 2013, this paper uses China as a case study and presents a new compilation method to construct an MRIO table covering 284 prefecture-level administrative cities and 334 four-digit sectors, which is by far the most comprehensive MRIO table with the largest number of cities and the most segmented industries in China. Unlike existing MRIO tables constructed based on provincial single-region IO (SRIO) tables, we use information along with various linear constraints implied by sector-level and firm-level statistics. This paper expands on the direct decomposition method by developing auxiliary econometric models necessary for estimations and consistency adjustment. In addition, a comparative analysis shows the reliability of our method, which guarantees better coherence and comparability with the MRIO officially published by the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS). Therefore, our proposed methodology provides the possibility of producing more disaggregated MRIO tables in other similar contexts.
The Effect of Cr Substitution on the Anomalous Hall Effect of Co3−xCrxAl (x = 0, 1, 2, 3) Heusler Compounds: An Ab Initio Study
Authors: Tung Jen-Chuan , Huang Shih-Wei , Wu Bo-En , Chang Cheng-Chung , Liu Po-Liang
Published: August 2022

Based on density functional theory, we studied the electronic, magnetic, and mechanical properties of Co3−xCrxAl (x = 0, 1, 2, 3) Heusler compounds with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange-correlation potential. In this study, we report two principal spin-related phenomena, namely, the anomalous Hall effect and current spin polarization of the Co3−xCrxAl Heusler compounds in the L21 crystal structure. Heusler compounds, both ideally and inversely ordered, were considered. We found that the calculated magnetic moment of Co3−xCrxAl decreased with an increase in the Cr concentration for both ideally and inversely ordered structures, except for Cr3Al. We also found that the spin polarization for all Co3−xCrxAl was larger than 50%, except for Cr2CoAl in the inverse structure. All the considered Heusler compounds were mechanically stable except for the regular Cr2CoAl. The Hall current spin polarization was also calculated. We found that Co2CrAl in the XA structure had the largest spin Hall conductivity of 370 (ℏS/e cm), and the spin polarization of the induced Hall current was high.
Low-Dose Oxidant Toxicity and Oxidative Stress in Human Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Cells K1
Authors: Lens Hannah Hamada Mendonça , Lopes Natália Medeiros Dias , Pasqual-Melo Gabriella , Marinello Poliana Camila , Miebach Lea , Cecchini Rubens , Bekeschus Sander , Cecchini Alessandra Lourenço
Published: August 2022

Medical gas plasmas are of emerging interest in pre-clinical oncological research. Similar to an array of first-line chemotherapeutics and physics-based therapies already approved for clinical application, plasmas target the tumor redox state by generating a variety of highly reactive species eligible for local tumor treatments. Considering internal tumors with limited accessibility, medical gas plasmas help to enrich liquids with stable, low-dose oxidants ideal for intratumoral injection and lavage. Pre-clinical investigation of such liquids in numerous tumor entities and models in vitro and in vivo provided evidence of their clinical relevance, broadening the range of patients that could benefit from medical gas plasma therapy in the future. Likewise, the application of such liquids might be promising for recurrent BRAF(V600E) papillary thyroid carcinomas, resistant to adjuvant administration of radioiodine. From a redox biology point of view, studying redox-based approaches in thyroid carcinomas is particularly interesting, as they evolve in a highly oxidative environment requiring the capability to cope with large amounts of ROS/RNS. Knowledge on their behavior under different redox conditions is scarce. The present study aimed to clarify resistance, proliferative activity, and the oxidative stress response of human papillary thyroid cancer cells K1 after exposure to plasma-oxidized DMEM (oxDMEM). Cellular responses were also evaluated when treated with different dosages of hydrogen peroxide and the RNS donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Our findings outline plasma-oxidized liquids as a promising approach targeting BRAF(V600E) papillary thyroid carcinomas and extend current knowledge on the susceptibility of cells to undergo ROS/RNS-induced cell death.
Application of Low-Altitude UAV Remote Sensing Image Object Detection Based on Improved YOLOv5
Authors: Li Ziran , Namiki Akio , Suzuki Satoshi , Wang Qi , Zhang Tianyi , Wang Wei
Published: August 2022

With the development of science and technology, the traditional industrial structures are constantly being upgraded. As far as drones are concerned, an increasing number of researchers are using reinforcement learning or deep learning to make drones more intelligent. At present, there are many algorithms for object detection. Although many models have a high accuracy of detection, these models have many parameters and high complexity, making them unable to perform real-time detection. Therefore, it is particularly important to design a lightweight object detection algorithm that is able to meet the needs of real-time detection using UAVs. In response to the above problems, this paper establishes a dataset of six animals in grassland from different angles and during different time periods on the basis of the remote sensing images of drones. In addition, on the basis of the Yolov5s network model, a lightweight object detector is designed. First, Squeeze-and-Excitation Networks are introduced to improve the expressiveness of the network model. Secondly, the convolutional layer of branch 2 in the BottleNeckCSP structure is deleted, and 3/4 of its input channels are directly merged with the results of branch 1 processing, which reduces the number of model parameters. Next, in the SPP module of the network model, a 3 × 3 maximum pooling layer is added to improve the receptive field of the model. Finally, the trained model is applied to NVIDIA-TX2 processor for real-time object detection. After testing, the optimized YOLOv5 grassland animal detection model was able to effectively identify six different forms of grassland animal. Compared with the YOLOv3, EfficientDet-D0, YOLOv4 and YOLOv5s network models, the mAP_0.5 value was improved by 0.186, 0.03, 0.007 and 0.011, respectively, and the mAP_0.5:0.95 value was improved by 0.216, 0.066, 0.034 and 0.051, respectively, with an average detection speed of 26 fps. The experimental results show that the grassland animal detection model based on the YOLOv5 network has high detection accuracy, good robustness, and faster calculation speed in different time periods and at different viewing angles.
Experimental Study on Strength of Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Cemented Silt Soil
Authors: Yang Xiulian , Liang Shihua , Hou Zhenkun , Feng Deluan , Xiao Yao , Zhou Shizong
Published: August 2022

To improve the poor characteristics of low strength and high compressibility of weak silty soil, a series of samples with different cement dosage, fiber content, and fiber length was prepared in this experiment, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests, triaxial tests, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were carried out to explore the influence of polypropylene fiber on the strength of cement-stabilized soil and analyze the curing mechanism of fiber-reinforced cement soil. The test results show that the factors affecting the UCS of the sample from high to low were: cement dosage, fiber content, and fiber length. An orthogonal test found that the optimal ratio of the sample was cement dosage of 18%, fiber content of 0.4%, and fiber length of 3 mm, and the UCS of the sample can reach 1.63 MPa. The triaxial test shows that when the cement dosage is 15% and the fiber length is 9 mm, the incorporation of fiber can significantly improve the toughness and strength of soil. When the cement dosage is 15%, the UCS with 0.4% fiber content is 1.6 times that without fiber. With the increase of fiber content, the peak stress and axial strain of fiber-cured soil are increased, and the cohesion and internal friction angle are also increased. The failure mode and SEM test of fiber-reinforced cement soil show that when the cement dosage is 15% and the fiber length is 9 mm, the addition of fiber can improve the deformation ability of cement soil and slow down the development of cracks. With the increase in fiber content, the number and width of cracks are significantly reduced, and the failure mode changes from brittle failure to ductile failure.
GenoMus: Representing Procedural Musical Structures with an Encoded Functional Grammar Optimized for Metaprogramming and Machine Learning
Authors: López-Montes José , Molina-Solana Miguel , Fajardo Waldo
Published: August 2022

We present GenoMus, a new model for artificial musical creativity based on a procedural approach, able to represent compositional techniques behind a musical score. This model aims to build a framework for automatic creativity, that is easily adaptable to other domains beyond music. The core of GenoMus is a functional grammar designed to cover a wide range of styles, integrating traditional and contemporary composing techniques. In its encoded form, both composing methods and music scores are represented as one-dimensional arrays of normalized values. On the other hand, the decoded form of GenoMus grammar is human-readable, allowing for manual editing and the implementation of user-defined processes. Musical procedures (genotypes) are functional trees, able to generate musical scores (phenotypes). Each subprocess uses the same generic functional structure, regardless of the time scale, polyphonic structure, or traditional or algorithmic process being employed. Some works produced with the algorithm have been already published. This highly homogeneous and modular approach simplifies metaprogramming and maximizes search space. Its abstract and compact representation of musical knowledge as pure numeric arrays is optimized for the application of different machine learning paradigms.
Study on Creep Behavior of Silty Clay Based on Fractal Derivative
Authors: Yin Qian , Dai Junping , Dai Guoliang , Gong Weiming , Zhang Fan , Zhu Mingxing
Published: August 2022

Soft soil is widely distributed in the riverside area of southern China. The creep deformation characteristics of the soft soil affect the long-term stability of the structure foundation, which cannot be ignored. Through the triaxial drainage creep test, the creep characteristics of riverside soil with a soft interlayer from Jiangsu Province were studied. The test results show that the creep procedure of the soft soil is divided into two stages, exhibiting steady-state creep and shear shrinkage characteristics with time and stress growth, which presents typical nonlinear behavior. Additionally, the confining pressure and stress are critical factors affecting creep characteristics. The fractal dashpot based on fractal derivative theory is introduced in place of the Abel dashpot in the classical fractional Burgers model; a fractal Burgers creep model with few parameters, high precision, and clear physical significance is established. Additionally, an analytical solution to the creep model is given. The model parameters are determined by fitting the test results, and the comparison shows that the results estimated with the model are more accurate than those estimated with the traditional model. The sensitivity analyses of the model parameters reveal the influence of key parameters on the creep characteristics of the soil. The results further confirm that the proposed fractal Burgers model can characterize the creep behavior of viscoelastic soil. These observations are extremely important for predicting the foundation displacement and formulating measures to prevent the deformation, which can provide a reference for engineering applications in the riverside area of southern China.
Traffic Sign Comprehension among Filipino Drivers and Nondrivers in Metro Manila
Authors: Robielos Rex Aurelius C. , Lin Chiuhsiang Joe
Published: August 2022

The current study examined 73 existing traffic signs in Metro Manila for their matching accuracy, matching time, and cognitive design features. A total of 60 Filipinos (30 drivers and 30 nondrivers) were voluntarily recruited to perform a matching-based comprehension test. In a matching-based comprehension test, the traffic sign is matched with the most appropriate referent name which shows a clear-cut distinction between correct and incorrect answers. To assess a sign’s acceptability in a matching test, a level of at least 67% accuracy must be obtained in a comprehension test. For the matching accuracy, 27 of the 73 traffic signs did not comply with the 67% comprehension standard set by ISO 3864-1:2011. Drivers were found to have better matching accuracy for both regulatory and warning signs compared to nondrivers. Traffic signs displayed in symbols had the lowest matching accuracy and slowest matching time. When text was added to traffic signs displayed in symbols, matching accuracy and matching time improved significantly. However, signs displayed in text only obtained the highest matching accuracy and fastest matching time. The cognitive design features, which were the measurement of a sign’s design, were also assessed through their familiarity, concreteness, complexity, and semantic distance. Cognitive design features were found to be positively correlated to matching accuracy for both regulatory and warning signs, but negatively correlated to matching time for warning signs. For signs displayed in symbols, cognitive design features were also found to be correlated to matching accuracy and matching time. To improve comprehension and road safety, semantic distance, concreteness, and familiarity are the key cognitive design features which must be considered by traffic sign designers. Also, the Department of Transportation (Philippines) could adopt the matching test of this study as a mandatory retraining requirement for the renewal of a driver’s license. In addition, our matching-based comprehension test can also be applied and extended to evaluate existing traffic signs worldwide.
The Influence of Chestnut Flour on the Quality of Gluten-Free Bread
Authors: Marciniak-Lukasiak Katarzyna , Lesniewska Patrycja , Zielińska Dorota , Sowinski Michal , Zbikowska Katarzyna , Lukasiak Piotr , Zbikowska Anna
Published: August 2022

Gluten-free bread is the basis of an elimination diet in the case of many glucose-related diseases. The quality of this bread differs significantly from traditional products; therefore, it is necessary to conduct research aimed at improving the quality of this type of product. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the addition of chestnut flour and the method of packaging on the quality of gluten-free bread. The addition of chestnut flour (partially replacing corn starch) was used in the amount of 5, 10, 15 and 20% of the total weight of the concentrate. The influence of the storage method on the quality of the tested bread was examined after 7, 14 and 21 days from baking. The refrigerated breads were packed using PA/PE barrier foil with air and vacuum (58%) and were stored in room temperature (22 ± 2 °C). Water content, texture and color were determined, and sensory evaluation and microbiological analysis were performed. As a result of the conducted research, we observed that the addition of chestnut flour to the recipe affects significantly (p < 0.05) the texture of the finished product, reducing the hardness and increasing the elasticity and cohesiveness of the bread crumb. The use of chestnut flour in an amount of up to 10% increases significantly (p < 0.05) the volume of the resulting loaves. Microbiological research has indicated vacuum packaging as a better way to protect and store gluten-free bread. For practical use in future production, it is recommended to replace corn starch in gluten-free breads by no more than 10% by chestnut flour.
MEMD-Based Hybrid Modal Identification for High-Rise Structures with Multi-Sensor Vibration Measurements
Authors: Huang Mingfeng , Sun Jianping , Cai Kang , Li Qiang
Published: August 2022

Although widely used in various fields due to its powerful capability of signal processing, empirical mode decomposition has to decompose signals separately, which limits its application for multivariate data such as the structural monitoring data recorded by multiple sensors. In order to avoid this shortcoming, a multivariate extension of empirical mode decomposition is proposed to deal with the multidimensional signals synchronously by employing a real-valued projection on hyperspheres. This study presents a hybrid modal identification method combining the multivariate empirical mode decomposition with stochastic subspace identification and fast Bayesian FFT methods to more conveniently and accurately identify structural dynamic parameters from multi-sensor vibration measurements. Deployed as a preprocessing tool, the multivariate signals are decomposed into several aligned intrinsic mode functions, which contain only a dominant component in the frequency domain. Then, the modal parameters can be identified by advanced fast Bayesian FFT and stochastic subspace identification directly. The combined method is first validated by a numerical illustration of a frame structure and then is applied in a shaking table test and a full-scale measurement under nonstationary earthquake excitation. Compared with the finite element method, the peak–pick, the half-power bandwidth methods, and Hilbert–Huang transform method, the results show that this hybrid method is more robust and reliable in the modal parameters identification. The main contribution of this paper is to develop a more effective integrated approach for accurate modal identification with the output-only multi-dimensional nonstationary signal.
Enhancements to Neural Language Model for Generating System Configuration Code: A Study with Maven Dependency
Authors: Yang Chen , Liu Yan
Published: August 2022

Thanks to the widespread application of software frameworks, OTS components, DSLs, and new-generation software building and construction systems, leveraging system configuration code to assist in development is increasingly common, especially in agile software development. In software system implementation, the system configuration code is used to separate configuration items from the underlying logic, of which Maven dependency code is a typical example. To improve software productivity, developers often reuse existing dependency libraries. However, the large quantity, rapid iteration, and various application scenarios exacerbate the challenge for researchers to reuse the library efficiently and appropriately. Proper reuse of Maven dependencies requires correct importation, which is the research priority of this article; putting it into practical usage at the functional level is the next step. In order to overcome this barrier, researchers have proposed a number of recommendation and intelligent generation models based on deep learning algorithms and code learning strategies. We first introduce an enhancement path for the generation model in order to propose novel models that are more targeted than previous studies. We propose EMGSCC (Enhanced Model for Generating System Configuration Code), which generates accompanying dependency libraries based on the libraries already employed by the current system. EMGSCC uses content-based attention to cope with dependency language features and integrate additional domain information. Finally, we evaluate EMGSCC on the DDDI dataset with extra domain information, and findings show that improvement varies from 1% to 8% on all metrics compared with the baseline. We show empirical evidence of our enhancement path for generating system configuration code based on neural language models, and continuous improvement in this direction would yield promising results.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Response to Acidic Stress and Imipenem Resistance
Authors: Ahmed Faraz , Mirani Zulfiqar Ali , Mirani Pirbhat Nadir , Imdad Muhammad Janees , Khan Fouzia Zeeshan , Khan Muhammad Naseem , Khan Abdul Basit , Li Yufeng , Zhao Yong
Published: August 2022

The present study aimed to unveil the phenotypic heterogeneity and heteroresistance of P. aeruginosa to acidic stress and imipenem. Furthermore, the growth, morphology, and potential for biofilm formation of the subject isolates at different pHs were assessed. Isolates of P. aeruginosa were recovered from juice samples and confirmed by molecular analysis. Antibiotics sensitivity was evaluated using the Kirby–Bauer-disk diffusion method, and the MIC for imipenem was determined, followed by a biofilm formation assay and population analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to visualize biofilm formation. The subject isolates persisted in an acidic environment and adopted a biofilm lifestyle. The population analysis assay indicated the presence of two distinct phenotypes, i.e., a normal colony phenotype (NCP) and slow growing colony phenotype (SGCP). NCP showed visible colonies after 48 h, while SGCP colonies appeared after 72 h of incubation. Both displayed heteroresistance to imipenem and susceptibility to other antibiotics. Biofilm formation at acidic pH was observed in both phenotypes. Interestingly, the recovery of SGCP was increased in an acidic environment. Biofilm consortia were highly resistant to imipenem. The present study indicated that P. aeruginosa persisted for a long time in an acidic environment, through phenotypic alteration. The subject isolates adopted a biofilm lifestyle and reduced metabolism, to neutralize the effects of acidic pH and imipenem toxicity. Interestingly, the biofilm consortia harbored metabolically active (NCP), as well as inactive populations, of (SGCP), to maintain an active growth and persistency. SGCP retained the potential to revert to NCP upon subsequent sub-culturing in plentiful nutrients and optimum conditions.
Exploring Projections for HIV Infection with Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Usage in a High-Risk Population
Authors: Lewis Jeramy , Camley Robert E.
Published: August 2022

Prevention of type-1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections has primarily been through condom usage, abstinence, and behavioral and risk awareness programs. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications became approved for infection prevention in 2012. Mathematical models exploring the projections and impacts of PrEP on the spread of HIV are sparse. This study develops an epidemiological model for type-1 HIV infection accounting for both PrEP and condom usage. We utilized CDC surveillance data on HIV/AIDS statistics to develop a susceptible, infected, AIDS numerical model containing PrEP, condoms, and the combination of both. We explore projections with the percentages of PrEP usage held constant and the impact of average annual sexual partners. We find when 70% of the high-risk population uses PrEP properly with an average of 2 sexual partners per year, the eventual infected percentage drops to about 15%. In contrast, when PrEP is not used correctly and with 4 partners per year the total eventual infected percentage rises to 59%. PrEP can be a highly effective mitigator for the spread of HIV. However, an increased average number of sexual partners per year with improper PrEP usage can minimize the long-term effectiveness of PrEP.
Research on the Dynamic Damage Properties and Determination of the Holmquist–Johnson–Cook Model Parameters for Sandstone
Authors: Liang Shufeng , Hou Shijun , Wu Shuaifeng
Published: August 2022

During blasting in engineering construction, the surrounding rock becomes unstable and is damaged under the impacts of multiple low-amplitude stress waves. It is of great practical significance to understand the damage evolution characteristics and the attenuation of the mechanical properties of rocks subjected to multiple stress waves. Single impact and repeated impact tests for sandstone were carried out using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) loading system. The single impact test results showed that the sandstone materials were strain-rate-dependent, and the dynamic constitutive curve could be divided into four stages, namely the linear elastic stage, the new crack formation stage, the plastic strengthening stage and the unloading stage. The failure pattern mostly indicated splitting tensile failure, and the impact damage threshold was 45 J. The relationship between the damage and stress wave amplitude was D = 0.0029·exp\({\boxed{f_{()}}}\)(5.4127•σ/76.13) − 0.0504. The repeated impact test results showed that the dynamic compressive strength and the dynamic elastic modulus decreased, while the failure strain increased gradually as the number of impacts (n) increased. The sandstone specimen under repeated impacts had only one fracture surface compared with the single impact failure pattern. The cumulative damage presented the development form of ‘rapid rise–steady development–rapid rise’, and the damage evolution law could be expressed by D = 0.265 − 0.328·ln⁡⁡⁡\({\boxed{f_{()}}}\)(ln13.989/n). Finally, a set of methods to determine the Holmquist–Johnson–Cook (HJC) model parameters for sandstone was proposed based on a single impact test, repeated impact test, uniaxial compression test and triaxial compression test. The numerical simulation results of the SHPB test showed that the dynamic constitutive curves of sandstone were in good agreement with the experimental results.
A Novel Reference Governor for Disturbance Observer-Based Load Pressure Control in a Dual-Actuator-Driven Electrohydraulic Actuator
Authors: Zhao Guisheng , Chen Shaonan , Liu Yixiang , Guo Kai
Published: August 2022

In real-world applications, hydraulic pressure control performance is influenced by model uncertainties, the control bandwidths of valves and pumps, and deviations from the linear working region. To overcome the aforementioned obstacles, a novel reference governor for disturbance observer (DOB)-based load pressure control is proposed in this paper for a dual-actuator-driven electrohydraulic cylinder. First, a control-oriented model for load pressure control was developed. On the basis of this, a nonlinear DOB-based feedback controller, as well as a mid-range control architecture for the variable displacement pump and proportional valve, was fabricated so that the performance degradation caused by the pump’s slow responses and imprecise system parameters is suppressed. Specifically, this controller is augmented by a novel smooth reference governor, which modifies the load pressure command in the pressure transition periods to guarantee that the actuator’s constraints are not violated. Another merit of the novel reference governor is that it ensures a smooth trajectory transition, and therefore, unmodeled high-frequency plant dynamics will not be invoked. Case studies were carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control approach. The study results show that the approach can significantly enhance the hydraulic system’s pressure tracking performance.