bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adapting Cropping Patterns to Climate Change: Risk Management Effectiveness of Diversification and Irrigation in Brandenburg (Germany)
Authors: von Czettritz Hannah Jona , Hosseini-Yekani Seyed-Ali , Schuler Johannes , Kersebaum Kurt-Christian , Zander Peter
Published: September 2023

Climate-induced production risk is expected to increase in the future. This study assesses the effectiveness of adapting crop rotations on arable farms in Brandenburg as a tool to enhance climate resilience. Two risk-minimizing measures are investigated: crop diversification and the inclusion of irrigated crops. Based on state-wide simulated yield data, the study compares two different scenarios. In the first scenario, the most profitable crop rotations based on predicted future weather conditions are chosen for each agro-ecological zone. In the second scenario, cropping plans are derived based on an adaption of the Target MOTAD (Minimization of Total Absolute Deviation) model taking climate-induced risks into account. A comparison of the scenarios shows a high risk reduction effect of diversification, while the economic risk reduction effect of irrigation only increases slightly. The trade-off between the highest possible gross margins and lower possible losses varies depending on the soil and climate conditions. Diversification contributed most to economic resilience in areas with moderate to low agricultural productivity. Subsidies focusing on diversification in less productive areas might be a tool to increase economic resilience with low risk-avoidance costs.
Remote Sensing Identification and Rapid Yield Estimation of Pitaya Plants in Different Karst Mountainous Complex Habitats
Authors: Zhou Zhongfa , Peng Ruiwen , Li Ruoshuang , Li Yiqiu , Huang Denghong , Zhu Meng
Published: September 2023

The Pitaya industry is a specialty fruit industry in the mountainous region of Guizhou, China. The planted area in Guizhou reaches 7200 ha, ranking first in the country. At present, Pitaya planting lacks efficient yield estimation methods, which has a negative impact on the Pitaya downstream industry chain, stymying the constant growing market. The fragmented and complex terrain in karst mountainous areas and the capricious local weather have hindered accurate crop identification using traditional satellite remote sensing methods, and there is currently little attempt made to tackle the mountainous specialty crops’ yield estimation. In this paper, based on UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) remote sensing images, the complexity of Pitaya planting sites in the karst background has been divided into three different scenes as complex scenes with similar colors, with topographic variations, and with the coexistence of multiple crops. In scenes with similar colors, using the Close Color Vegetation Index (CCVI) to extract Pitaya plants, the accuracy reached 92.37% on average in the sample sites; in scenes with complex topographic variations, using point clouds data based on the Canopy Height Model (CHM) to extract Pitaya plants, the accuracy reached 89.09%; and in scenes with the coexistence of multiple crops, using the U-Net Deep Learning Model (DLM) to identify Pitaya plants, the accuracy reached 92.76%. Thereafter, the Pitaya yield estimation model was constructed based on the fruit yield data measured in the field for several periods, and the fast yield estimations were carried out and examined for three application scenes. The results showed that the average accuracy of yield estimation in complex scenes with similar colors was 91.25%, the average accuracy of yield estimation in scenes with topographic variations was 93.40%, and the accuracy of yield estimation in scenes with the coexistence of multiple crops was 95.18%. The overall yield estimation results show a high accuracy. The experimental results show that it is feasible to use UAV remote sensing images to identify and rapidly estimate the characteristic crops in the complex karst habitat, which can also provide scientific reference for the rapid yield estimation of other crops in mountainous regions.
Does the Identification of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems Promote Economic Growth? Empirical Analysis Based on County Data from China
Authors: Li Jingyi , He Jiaxin , Yang Lun , Min Qingwen
Published: September 2023

The protection and management of important agricultural heritage systems (IAHS) are essential to the sustainable economic and social development of heritage sites. Using the time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) model, this paper analyzes the influence of the identification of IAHS on economic growth and compares the difference between Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) and China’s Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (China-NIAHS). The results show that the identification of IAHS can significantly promote the economic growth of heritage sites, and the identification of GIAHS has a stronger role. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the economic driving effect of IAHS identification on heritage sites is affected by geographical location and poverty. The economic driving effect is stronger in Western China and in relatively poor areas. In addition, the influencing mechanism of regional economic growth after IAHS identification is discussed. The results show that IAHS identification can promote the development of the grain processing industry and the improvement of infrastructure construction, so as to increase the added value of secondary industries at heritage sites. Moreover, the level of heritage recognition leads to different policy tendencies. Among these, GIAHS identification significantly promotes investment growth, while China-NIAHS identification significantly promotes the population agglomeration of heritage sites.
The Impact of Digital Financial Inclusion on Green and Low-Carbon Agricultural Development
Authors: Liu Yan , Deng Ya , Peng Binyao
Published: September 2023

Under the “two-carbon” goal, the green and low-carbon development of agriculture is a critical way to consummate agricultural modernization and high-quality economic establishment. Digital inclusive finance eases credit restrictions. It enhances the availability of funds for farmers. It promotes the integration of agricultural industries and talent gathering through digitalization, improves the standard of agricultural production and promotes the development of green and low-carbon agricultural modernization in China. This paper uses panel data for 2011–2021, which includes 31 provinces in China. Green and low-carbon development indicators of agriculture were constructed and calculated, and the comprehensive horizontal spatial differentiation map of GIS technology was used for analysis. A spatial panel model was set up at the same time, to explore the impact and mechanism test of digital financial inclusion on the green and low-carbon development of agriculture, and regional heterogeneity was analyzed. (1) Digital financial inclusion can promote the green and low-carbon development of agriculture, and its influence has a positive spatial spillover effect. (2) The education level of the labor force plays an intermediary role and is the transmission mechanism of digital financial inclusion and the green and low-carbon development of agriculture. (3) The impact of digital financial inclusion on green and low-carbon agricultural development has regional heterogeneity.
The Energy and Environmental Evaluation of Maize, Hemp and Faba Bean Multi-Crops
Authors: Romaneckas Kęstutis , Švereikaitė Austėja , Kimbirauskienė Rasa , Sinkevičienė Aušra , Balandaitė Jovita
Published: September 2023

Agriculture uses a lot of fuel, fertilizers, pesticides and other substances, while emitting large amounts of GHGs. It is important to optimize these inputs and outputs. One such way is by increasing crop biodiversity. For this reason, single crops and mixtures of maize, hemp and faba bean as binary and ternary crops were investigated at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania. The results showed that consumption of diesel fuel was 31–46% higher than in single and 22–35% higher than in binary cultivations was found in a ternary crop. This had influence on the highest energy input of near twice higher than in maize and hemp single crops and maize+hemp binary crop, but similar with binary crops with faba bean. Despite this, the productivity of the ternary crop and, at the same time, the energy output were 2–5 times higher than in other treatments. This compensated for higher energy inputs and the energy efficiency ratio. In the ternary crop, energy productivity was from 1.1 to 2.8 times higher and net energy was 1.9–5.3 times higher than in other tested cultivations. The highest total GHG emissions were obtained in binary maize+hemp and maize+faba bean cultivations (1729.84 and 2067.33 CO2eq ha−1). Ternary cultivation with the highest energy inputs initiated average GHG emissions of 1541.90 kg ha−1 CO2eq. For higher efficiency, the ternary crop could be sown and harvested in one machine pass. Faba beans should be included in ternary crops, as their biomass makes up a significant part of the total biomass produced. We recommend reviewing the intercropped faba bean seeding rates, as faba bean seeds have a high energy input equivalent.
Field Screening of Diverse Soybean Germplasm to Characterize Their Adaptability under Long-Day Condition
Authors: Rani Reena , Arif Muhammad , Rahman Saleem Ur , Hammad Muhammad , Mukhtar Zahid , Rizwan Muhammad , Shimelis Hussein , Raza Ghulam
Published: September 2023

Soybean is a short-day crop, and its sensitivity to photoperiod is an important trait for its adaptability. Rapid changes in the climate on a global scale could be a threat to future food security. There is a need to increase the heat tolerance of soybean to sustain its production. The availability of global germplasm provides plant breeders with the opportunity to explore the genetic potential of the existing soybean germplasm. For this purpose, a panel of 203 soybean accessions from different global climatic zones was evaluated for adaptability under long-day conditions. Field screening of the soybean germplasm was conducted over two consecutive years, 2016 and 2017, in Faisalabad, Pakistan. This study screened 15 diverse soybean accessions that exhibited economically viable yields in both years, i.e., 1500–2200 kg/ha. Data related to plant height, node number, pods per plant, seeds per plant, seed weight per plant, hundred-grain weight, and total yield were recorded. Two soybean accessions, PI548271 (MG-IV) and PI553039 (MG-IV,) produced the highest yield in both years. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variance, broad-sense heritability, and genetic advances observed in their yields were also high. These results highlight the potential pre-existing genetic variation required to improve the adaptation of soybean to long-day conditions. Some of the accessions identified in the current study could be recommended for general cultivation under long-day and high-temperature conditions.
Impacts of F18+ Escherichia coli on Intestinal Health of Nursery Pigs and Dietary Interventions
Authors: Duarte Marcos Elias , Garavito-Duarte Yesid , Kim Sung Woo
Published: September 2023

This review focused on the impact of F18+ E. coli on pig production and explored nutritional interventions to mitigate its deleterious effects. F18+ E. coli is a primary cause of PWD in nursery pigs, resulting in substantial economic losses through diminished feed efficiency, morbidity, and mortality. In summary, the F18+ E. coli induces intestinal inflammation with elevated IL6 (60%), IL8 (43%), and TNF-α (28%), disrupting the microbiota and resulting in 14% villus height reduction. Besides the mortality, the compromised intestinal health results in a 20% G:F decrease and a 10% ADFI reduction, ultimately culminating in a 28% ADG decrease. Among nutritional interventions to counter F18+ E. coli impacts, zinc glycinate lowered TNF-α (26%) and protein carbonyl (45%) in jejunal mucosa, resulting in a 39% ADG increase. Lactic acid bacteria reduced TNF-α (36%), increasing 51% ADG, whereas Bacillus spp. reduced IL6 (27%), increasing BW (12%). Lactobacillus postbiotic increased BW (14%) and the diversity of beneficial bacteria. Phytobiotics reduced TNF-α (23%) and IL6 (21%), enhancing feed efficiency (37%). Additional interventions, including low crude protein formulation, antibacterial minerals, prebiotics, and organic acids, can be effectively used to combat F18+ E. coli infection. These findings collectively underscore a range of effective strategies for managing the challenges posed by F18+ E. coli in pig production.
Unmasking the Adverse Impacts of Sex Bias on Science and Research Animal Welfare
Authors: Nunamaker Elizabeth A. , Turner Patricia V.
Published: September 2023

Sex bias in biomedical and natural science research has been prevalent for decades. In many cases, the female estrous cycle was thought to be too complex an issue to model for, and it was thought to be simpler to only use males in studies. At times, particularly when studying efficacy and safety of new therapeutics, this sex bias has resulted in over- and under-medication with associated deleterious side effects in women. Many sex differences have been recognized that are unrelated to hormonal variation occurring during the estrous cycle. Sex bias also creates animal welfare challenges related to animal over-production and wastage, insufficient consideration of welfare (and scientific) impact related to differential housing of male vs female animals within research facilities, and a lack of understanding regarding differential requirements for pain recognition and alleviation in male versus female animals. Although many funding and government agencies require both sexes to be studied in biomedical research, many disparities remain in practice. This requires further enforcement of expectations by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee when reviewing protocols, research groups when writing grants, planning studies, and conducting research, and scientific journals and reviewers to ensure that sex bias policies are enforced.
Capsaicin and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Glycoside: Effects on the Reproductive Performance of Hyper-Prolific Sows
Authors: Dario Julie Gabriela Nagi , de Oliveira Eduardo Raele , de Souza Rodrigo Pereira , Theodorovicz Sabrina , Bernini Giovana Chimentão , Ruiz Gabriela , de Carvalho Rafael Humberto , da Silva Caio Abércio
Published: September 2023

This study evaluated the effect of a natural source of vitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] and capsaicin (CAP) in the dietary supplementation of sows in the final phase (85–114 days) of gestation (Gest) and lactation (Lact) on the reproductive performance of the sows and health of piglets through two experiments (Exp I and II). In Exp I, 120 sows were subjected to four treatments: T1—control (without [1,25-(OH)2D3] and supplemental CAP); T2—3.5 µg 1,25-(OH)2D3/Gest/day and 7.0 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3/Lact/day; T3—7.0 µg CAP/Gest/day and 14.0 µg CAP/Lact/day; T4—1.75 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 + 3.5 µg CAP/Gest/day and 3.5 µg 1,25-(OH)2D3 + 7.0 µg CAP/Lact/day. In Exp II, 200 sows were randomly blocked, factorial 2 × 2 (without or with Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 and without or with CAP): T1—control (without Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 and CAP); T2—3.5 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3/Gest/day and 7.0 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3/Lact/day; T3—7.0 µg CAP/Gest/day and 14.0 µg CAP/Lact/day; T4—3.5 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 + 7 µg CAP/Gest/day; and 7.0 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 + 14.0 µg CAP/Lact/day. The duration of delivery (3:48 vs. 4:57 h) and the percentage of stillbirths (5.37% vs. 7.61%) were improved (p < 0.05) in the group that received Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 (Exp II) compared to the control group. Moreover, the dystocia rate decreased (p < 0.05) in Exp II, which received Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 (4.21 vs. 27.63%), and in Exp I, which received the combination of Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 + CAP (12 vs. 40%) compared to the respective control groups. Colostrum production was greater (p < 0.05) in sows that received Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 supplementation compared to the control group, consequently resulting in higher colostrum intake (p < 0.05) of the piglets (330 vs. 258 g/piglet). The additives reduced the incidence of diarrhea (p < 0.05) in piglets (Exp I and II). Thus, the use of additives improved the reproductive performance of sows and contributed to litter growth.
Gamete Collection, Artificial Fertilization and Captive-Rearing of Eggs in a Terrestrial-Breeding Anuran with Parental Care: Alytes obstetricans
Authors: Arregui Lucía , Bosch Jaime
Published: September 2023

The genus Alytes consists of six primitive terrestrial-breeding species (five of them endangered or present in restricted distributions) with unique male parental care. Alytes obstetricans was used as a model for the development of assisted reproductive technologies for gamete collection, artificial fertilization and captive-rearing of embryos. Sperm collection was achieved with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), but only 17 to 50% of males responded to the hormone. In addition, an effect of captivity on sperm quality was observed. A combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and hCG was tested for induction of ovulation, and 100% of females responded to the treatment. Recently collected sperm was used in artificial fertilization, and 10% of eggs showed complete embryo development. To design a method for captive-rearing of embryos, natural clutches (n = 13) were removed from males and divided into two sub-clutches. One was kept with all eggs together and in the other, the egg string was cut and eggs were split individually. All sub-clutches with eggs kept separated presented embryo survival (ranging from 27 to 61%) that hatched normally, while only one sub-clutch with embryos maintained together had some embryo survival (36%). These results may contribute to the management of this and related species.
Sequencing and Characterization of αs2-Casein Gene (CSN1S2) in the Old-World Camels Have Proven Genetic Variations Useful for the Understanding of Species Diversification
Authors: Pauciullo Alfredo , Versace Carmine , Gaspa Giustino , Letaief Neyrouz , Bedhiaf-Romdhani Sonia , Fulgione Andrea , Cosenza Gianfranco
Published: September 2023

The CSN1S2 gene encodes αs2-casein, the third most abundant protein in camel milk. Despite its importance in foals, human nutrition, and dairy processing, the CSN1S2 gene in camels has received little attention. This study presents the first complete characterization of the CSN1S2 gene sequence in Old-World camels (Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius). Additionally, the gene promoter, consisting of 752 bp upstream of exon 1, was analyzed. The entire gene comprises 17 exons, ranging in length from 24 bp (exons 4, 8, 11, and 13) to 280 bp (exon 17). Interesting was the identification of the exon 12 in both species. The promoter analysis revealed 24 putative binding sites in the Bactrian camel and 22 in dromedary camel. Most of these sites were typical elements associated with milk protein, such as C/EBP-α, C/EBP-β, Oct-1, and AP1. The SNP discovery showed relatively high genetic diversity compared to other camel casein genes (CSN1S1, CSN2, and CSN3), with a total of 34 polymorphic sites across the two species. Particularly noteworthy is the transition g.311G>A in the CSN1S2 promoter, creating a new putative consensus binding site for a C/EBP-β in the Bactrian camel. At the exon level, two novel variants were found. One was detected in exon 6 of the Bactrian camel (g.3639C>G), resulting in an amino acid replacement, p.36Ile>Met. The second variant was found in noncoding exon 17 of dromedary CSN1S2 (g.1511G>T). Although this mutation occurs in the 3′-UnTranslated Region, it represents the first example of exonic polymorphism in the CSN1S2 for this species. This SNP also affects the binding sites of different microRNAs, including the seed sequence of the miRNA 4662a-3p, highlighting its role as a regulatory factor for CSN1S2 gene. A PCR-RFLP was set up for genotyping a dromedary Tunisian population (n = 157), and the minor allele frequency was found to be 0.27 for the G allele, indicating a potential yield improvement margin. The interspersed elements (INEs) analysis revealed 10 INEs covering 7.34% and 8.14% of the CSN1S2 sequence in the Bactrian and dromedary camels, respectively. Furthermore, six elements (A, B, F, H, I, and L) are shared among cattle and camels and are partially found in other ruminants, suggesting a common ancestral origin of these retrotransposons. Conversely, elements C, D, E, and G are specific to camels.
Escherichia coli Phylogenetic and Antimicrobial Pattern as an Indicator of Anthropogenic Impact on Threatened Freshwater Mussels
Authors: Varandas Simone , Fernandes Conceição , Cabecinha Edna , Gomes Sónia , da Silva Gabriela Jorge , Saavedra Maria José
Published: September 2023

Freshwater bivalves are widely used as accumulation indicators and monitoring tools for assessing contaminant effects on different levels of biological integration. This pilot study aimed to explore the phylogenetic diversity of Escherichia coli isolated from freshwater mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera and Potomida littoralis) and characterize their phenotypes and antibiotic resistance profiles. Samples were collected in the Rabaçal and Tua Rivers, in the Douro basin, Portugal—two sites representing different levels of anthropogenic contamination. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed via the disk diffusion method with 21 antibiotics. Results showed that 31% of isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Thus, freshwater mussels provide an effective and time-integrated approach for identifying/quantifying fecal indicators, including MDR bacteria. PCR-based assays were designed for assessing phylogenetic E. coli groups. Among the E. coli isolates, the highest prevalence (44%) was observed in group D or E, followed by group E or Clade I (25%), group A (19%), and group B1 (13%). E. coli isolated from M. margaritifera predominantly exhibited a higher prevalence of phylogroups D or E, whereas E. coli from P. littoralis showed associations with phylogroups E or clade I, B1, A, and D or E. Our results provide new insights into the phylogenetic diversity of E. coli in freshwater bivalves. Additionally, the findings highlight the possible linkage of phylogroups with the host species, the geographical location in the water stream, and human activity. Using E. coli as a bioindicator isolated from freshwater mussels helps us grasp how human activities affect the environment. This study has important implications for those interested in safeguarding water resources, especially in tackling antibiotic resistance in aquatic ecosystems.
Identification of an Antimicrobial Peptide from the Venom of the Trinidad Thick-Tailed Scorpion Tityus trinitatis with Potent Activity against ESKAPE Pathogens and Clostridioides difficile
Authors: Mechkarska Milena , Cunning Taylor S. , Taggart Megan G. , Ternan Nigel G. , Leprince Jérôme , Coquet Laurent , Jouenne Thierry , Tena-Garcés Jordi , Calvete Juan J. , Conlon J. Michael
Published: September 2023

Envenomation by the Trinidad thick-tailed scorpion Tityus trinitatis may result in fatal myocarditis and there is a high incidence of acute pancreatitis among survivors. Peptidomic analysis (reversed-phase HPLC followed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and automated Edman degradation) of T. trinitatis venom led to the isolation and characterization of three peptides with antimicrobial activity. Their primary structures were established asTtAP-1 (FLGSLFSIGSKLLPGVFKLFSRKKQ.NH2), TtAP-2 (IFGMIPGLIGGLISAFK.NH2) and TtAP-3 (FFSLIPSLIGGLVSAIK.NH2). In addition, potassium channel and sodium channel toxins, present in the venom in high abundance, were identified by CID-MS/MS sequence analysis. TtAP-1 was the most potent against a range of clinically relevant Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobes and against the anaerobe Clostridioides difficile (MIC = 3.1–12.5 µg/mL). At a concentration of 1× MIC, TtAP-1 produced rapid cell death (<15 min against Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus). The therapeutic potential of TtAP-1 as an anti-infective agent is limited by its high hemolytic activity (LC50 = 18 µg/mL against mouse erythrocytes) but the peptide constitutes a template for the design of analogs that maintain the high bactericidal activity against ESKAPE pathogens but are less toxic to human cells. It is suggested that the antimicrobial peptides in the scorpion venom facilitate the action of the neurotoxins by increasing the membrane permeability of cells from either prey or predator.
Management of Intra-Abdominal Infections: The Role of Procalcitonin
Authors: Tian Brian W. C. A. , Agnoletti Vanni , Ansaloni Luca , Coccolini Federico , Bravi Francesca , Sartelli Massimo , Vallicelli Carlo , Catena Fausto
Published: September 2023

Patients with intra-abdominal sepsis suffer from significant mortality and morbidity. The main pillars of treatment for intra-abdominal infections are (1) source control and (2) early delivery of antibiotics. Antibiotic therapy should be started as soon as possible. However, the duration of antibiotics remains a matter of debate. Prolonged antibiotic delivery can lead to increased microbial resistance and the development of nosocomial infections. There has been much research on biomarkers and their ability to aid the decision on when to stop antibiotics. Some of these biomarkers include interleukins, C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT). PCT’s value as a biomarker has been a focus area of research in recent years. Most studies use either a cut-off value of 0.50 ng/mL or an >80% reduction in PCT levels to determine when to stop antibiotics. This paper performs a literature review and provides a synthesized up-to-date global overview on the value of PCT in managing intra-abdominal infections.
NRF2 Deficiency Attenuates Diabetic Kidney Disease in Db/Db Mice via Down-Regulation of Angiotensinogen, SGLT2, CD36, and FABP4 Expression and Lipid Accumulation in Renal Proximal Tubular Cells
Authors: Su Ke , Zhao Shui-Ling , Yang Wen-Xia , Lo Chao-Sheng , Chenier Isabelle , Liao Min-Chun , Pang Yu-Chao , Peng Jun-Zheng , Miyata Kana N. , Cailhier Jean-Francois , Ethier Jean , Lattouf Jean-Baptiste , Filep Janos G. , Ingelfinger Julie R. , Zhang Shao-Ling , Chan John S. D.
Published: September 2023

The role(s) of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is/are controversial. We hypothesized that Nrf2 deficiency in type 2 diabetes (T2D) db/db mice (db/dbNrf2 knockout (KO)) attenuates DKD progression through the down-regulation of angiotensinogen (AGT), sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2), scavenger receptor CD36, and fatty -acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), and lipid accumulation in renal proximal tubular cells (RPTCs). Db/dbNrf2 KO mice were studied at 16 weeks of age. Human RPTCs (HK2) with NRF2 KO via CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing and kidneys from patients with or without T2D were examined. Compared with db/db mice, db/dbNrf2 KO mice had lower systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, kidney hypertrophy, glomerular filtration rate, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, tubular lipid droplet accumulation, and decreased expression of AGT, SGLT2, CD36, and FABP4 in RPTCs. Male and female mice had similar results. NRF2 KO attenuated the stimulatory effect of the Nrf2 activator, oltipraz, on AGT, SGLT2, and CD36 expression and high-glucose/free fatty acid (FFA)-stimulated lipid accumulation in HK2. Kidneys from T2D patients exhibited markedly higher levels of CD36 and FABP4 in RPTCs than kidneys from non-diabetic patients. These data suggest that NRF2 exacerbates DKD through the stimulation of AGT, SGLT2, CD36, and FABP4 expression and lipid accumulation in RPTCs of T2D.
Localization of Cracks in Concrete Structures Lacking Reference Objects and Feature Points Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Authors: Baek Seung-Chan , Oh Jintak , Woo Hyun-Jung , Kim In-Ho , Jang Sejun
Published: September 2023

Information on the location of cracks in concrete structures is an important factor enabling appropriate maintenance or reinforcement measures to be taken. Most studies related to concrete cracks are limited to crack detection and identification, and studies related to crack location information are insufficient. The novelty of this study is to develop application technology related to crack localization by proposing a methodology that can estimate the location of concrete cracks even when reference objects or feature points are lacking using an unmanned aerial vehicle and image processing techniques. For the development and verification of the proposed method, aerial photography and image acquisition were performed using mounting a laser pointer model on an unmanned aerial vehicle. To build the analysis data, image distortion correction and feature point extraction were performed using the homography matrix and scale-invariant feature transform algorithm. Spatial information was established using the point cloud technique and image stitching technique, and crack localization was estimated using generating crack expression data via layer merging. The proposed method was validated using comparison with field-measured data. In the future, the proposed methodology can be utilized for supplementing and improving the conventional methods for visual inspection of infrastructures and facilities.
Development and Evaluation of Doppler Ultrasound Training Phantom for Human Vessel Simulation
Authors: Kim Nagyum , Hong Cheolpyo , Lee Changwoo , Cho Hyo-Min
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this study was to create a Doppler ultrasound training phantom aimed at aiding beginners in comprehending and effectively utilizing critical parameters during the learning process. Our designed training phantom does not require the use of a water pump or an automated injector. The fabrication of the vessel-mimicking phantom was accomplished using agarose gel. We utilized LEGO blocks to introduce a height difference that simulated blood flow within the phantom. The imitation blood material was prepared using glycerin. Ultrasound images were obtained using an Accuvix V10 device. This study utilized a Doppler ultrasound training phantom to facilitate stable imaging for beginners during scanning, due to its secure fixation. Furthermore, the fabricated vessel-mimicking phantom offers the advantage of adjusting the diameter of vessels during the fabrication process. Additionally, the easy adaptability, to tailor the phantom specifically for certain conditions by modifying only the vascular components, is another notable advantage. The experimental values for parameters such as the color box, scale, and color gain were collected. The spectral Doppler was used for a rough assessment of blood flow velocity. Color Doppler images, acquired via adjusting the color box to the left and right, displayed blood flow information in blue on the left, and red on the right. At a scale setting of 4 kHz and 0.6 kHz for color Doppler imaging, aliasing was absent at 4 kHz, but appeared at 0.6 kHz. Experiments involving various gain settings (2 dB, 5 dB, 10 dB, 35 dB, 60 dB, and 100 dB) demonstrated that the blood flow information was diminished at 2 dB, and exaggerated at 100 dB.
The Relationship between Ankle Joint Kinematics and Impact Forces during Unilateral Jump-Landing Tasks in University-Level Netball Players: A Pilot Study
Authors: Jolingana-Seoka Thembisile T. , Hammill Henriëtte V. , Willemse Yolandi , Kramer Mark
Published: September 2023

Netball is a sport that involves multiplane- and multidirectional landings, which results in a high proportion of injuries, particularly to the ankle joint. The purpose of this study was to analyse the ankle kinematics in multiple planes during multidirectional single-leg landings in high-level netball players. A total of ten (n = 10) netball players voluntarily participated in the study. All netball players performed 25 single-leg jump landing maneuvers per leg (dominant and non-dominant) from a 0.30 m high platform, landing onto a 0.70 m away force plate platform. Their ankle kinematic, landing kinetic and time to stabilisation (TTS) data were collected in sagittal-, frontal- and transverse planes. Netball players showed mean differences in peak landing forces (F (8,91) = 2.68, p = 0.009) but not in TTS (F (8,91) = 2.27, p = 0.260). There was evidence of differences in ankle kinematics across all three planes [Sagittal: (F (9,81) = 3.48, p = 0.001); Frontal: (F (9,81) = 8.01, p < 0.001); Transverse: (F (9,81) = 8.80, p < 0.001)]. Furthermore, small to large negative (r = −0.55) correlations were observed between ankle range of motion (ROM) and peak landing forces. Associated landing forces can be moderated by greater sagittal plane ankle ROM during multidirectional landings to minimise the risk of ankle injuries in netball.
Multipotent Antiviral Effects of Deacetylated Chitosan Supplemented with Grapefruit Seed Extract against Influenza and Parainfluenza Viruses
Authors: Seo Dong Soo , Lee Joong Su , Shin Yong Chul , Jang Younghoon
Published: September 2023

Chitosan, poly[β-(1–4)-linked-2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose], is a polysaccharide with broad applications in various biomaterial and biomedical fields, primarily because of its nontoxicity. Because the biodegradable biopolymer chitosan can be catalyzed by the alkaline partial deacetylation of chitin in shrimp and crab shells, its degree of deacetylation is crucial for proper application. However, the antiviral properties of deacetylated chitosan in combination with other compounds remain unclear. We used a plaque assay to examine the antiviral activity of deacetylated chitosan against human influenza A virus (H1N1) and parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) when supplemented with grapefruit seed extract (GSE). We demonstrated that deacetylated chitosan reduced H1N1- and HPIV3-induced plaque formation in Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Chitosan also decreased viral RNA expression in H1N1- and HPIV3-infected A549 cells. Furthermore, antiviral activity analysis in human A549 cells revealed that deacetylated chitosan prevented virus-induced p38 MAPK activation and mitochondrial fragmentation. These findings indicate that deacetylated chitosan with GSE may be a promising antiviral biomaterial against influenza and parainfluenza viruses.
Alkaloid and Nitrogenated Compounds from Different Sections of Coryphantha macromeris Plants and Callus Cultures
Authors: Viera-Escareño Valeria , Perez-Molphe Balch Eugenio , Gómez-Aguirre Yenny Adriana , Ramos-Herrera Oscar Javier , Abdi Gholamreza , Cruz-Sosa Francisco , Cabañas-García Emmanuel
Published: September 2023

One of the distinctive characteristics of cacti species is the presence of alkaloids. Alkaloids are nitrogenated molecules with hallucinogenic and pharmacological properties in humans and other animals. Plant cell, tissue, and organ culture have emerged as an effective tool for investigating the biosynthesis of a variety of functional metabolites and for studying the preservation of endangered plant species. In this study, we examined the alkaloid and nitrogenated compound profiles of the aerial and radicular sections of Coryphantha macromeris plants that were cultivated in both greenhouse and in vitro conditions. Additionally, we analyzed the callus cultures generated from stem discs. To perform these analyses, Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-HESI-Orbitrap-MS/MS) was utilized. Under the working parameters, 78 compounds were detected, and 61 of them were identified. Among the identified compounds, the in vitro plants presented 24 compounds, greenhouse plants a total of 21 compounds, and callus tissue 16 compounds. On the other hand, 7 compounds (laurydiethanolamine, toluic acids, and their derivatives) were detected in all systems, suggesting that these metabolites may serve as markers to help find the authenticity of C. macromeris preparations, and that, plant and cell-tissue cultures with this plant species are suitable for the biosynthesis of the selected compounds. In addition, our research suggests that no alkaloids with reported psychotropic properties are present in C. macromeris.
A Novel Bi-Dual Inference Approach for Detecting Six-Element Emotions
Authors: Huang Xiaoping , Zhou Yujian , Du Yajun
Published: September 2023

In recent years, there has been rapid development in machine learning for solving artificial intelligence tasks in various fields, including translation, speech, and image processing. These AI tasks are often interconnected rather than independent. One specific type of relationship is known as structural duality, which exists between multiple pairs of artificial intelligence tasks. The concept of dual learning has gained significant attention in the fields of machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. Dual learning involves using primitive tasks (mapping from domains X to Y) and dual tasks (mapping from domains Y to X) to enhance the performance of both tasks. In this study, we propose a general framework called Bi-Dual Inference by combining the principles of dual inference and dual learning. Our framework generates multiple dual models and a primal model by utilizing two dual tasks: sentiment analysis of input text and sentence generation of sentiment labels. We create these model pairs (primal model f, dual model g) by employing different initialization seeds and data access sequences. Each primal and dual model is considered as a distinct LSTM model. By reasoning about a single task with multiple similar models in the same direction, our framework achieves improved classification results. To validate the effectiveness of our proposed model, we conduct experiments on two datasets, namely NLPCC2013 and NLPCC2014. The results demonstrate that our model outperforms the optimal baseline model in terms of the F1 score, achieving an improvement of approximately 5%. Additionally, we provide parameter values for our proposed model, including model iteration analysis, α parameter analysis, λ parameter analysis, batch size analysis, training sentence length analysis, and hidden layer size setting. These experimental results further confirm the effectiveness of our proposed model.
Forecasting of NOx Emissions of Diesel LHD Vehicles in Underground Mines—An ANN-Based Regression Approach
Authors: Banasiewicz Aleksandra , Moosavi Forougholsadat , Kotyla Michalina , Śliwiński Paweł , Krot Pavlo , Wodecki Jacek , Zimroz Radosław
Published: September 2023

An approach based on an artificial neural network (ANN) for the prediction of NOx emissions from underground load–haul–dumping (LHD) vehicles powered by diesel engines is proposed. A Feed-Forward Neural Network, the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), is used to establish a nonlinear relationship between input and output layers. The predicted values of NOx emissions have less than 15% error compared to the real values measured by the LHD onboard monitoring system by the standard sensor. This is considered quite good efficiency for dynamic behaviour prediction of extremely complex systems. The achieved accuracy of NOx prediction allows the application of the ANN-based “soft sensor” in environmental impact estimation and ventilation system demand planning, which depends on the number of working LHDs in the underground mine. The proposed solution to model NOx concentrations from mining machines will help to provide a better understanding of the atmosphere of the working environment and will also contribute to improving the safety of underground crews.
A Lightweight Knowledge-Distillation-Based Model for the Detection and Classification of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars
Authors: Lei Yujie , Chen Xiang , Wang Yunlong , Tang Rong , Zhang Baoping
Published: September 2023

The extraction of impacted third molars is one of the most common dental operations. When the impacted third molar is extracted, the operation plan is generally different because of the different impacted positions of the tooth. Therefore, judging the impacted type of the third molar is the basis of the third molar extraction operation. At present, oral health professionals usually analyze panoramic radiographs to determine the types of impacted third molars, but the diagnosis is easily affected by oral health professionals’ subjective consciousnesses. Computer vision technology can help doctors analyze medical images faster and more accurately, so it is very desirable to use computer vision to detect and classify the impacted third molars. Based on the panoramic radiographs of the School of Stomatology, Lanzhou University, this paper establishes an object detection dataset containing six types of impacted third molars. On the basis of this dataset, the lightweight third molar impacted detection and classification model is studied in this paper. This study introduces the method of knowledge distillation on the basis of YOLOv5s and uses YOLOv5x as the teacher’s model to guide YOLOv5s, which not only ensures the light weight of the model but also improves the accuracy of the model. Finally, the YOLOv5s-x model is obtained. The experimental results show that the introduction of knowledge distillation effectively improves the accuracy of the model while ensuring its light weight, the mAP of YOLOv5s-x is increased by 2.9% compared with the original model, and the amount of parameters and calculations is also reduced to a certain extent. Compared with mainstream object detection networks, including YOLOv8, YOLOv5s-x also has certain advantages, which can provide oral health professionals with better impacted third molar detection and classification services.
Evaluation of the Possibilities Validation of Interval Velocity Models Using Non-Seismic Data and Its Impact on Geological Interpretation of PreSDM Results
Authors: Stefaniuk Michał , Cygal Adam , Maćkowski Tomasz , Martuś Michał , Hadro Piotr , Pieniądz Krzysztof , Wachowicz-Pyzik Anna Maria
Published: September 2023

The paper presents the problem of generation and validation of Velocity Interval Depth (VID) models with the application of non-seismic geophysical and geological data. The study area is a part of the Carpathian Foredeep located close to its contact with the Carpathian Overthrust. In this area of complicated geological structure, hydrocarbon deposits have been successfully explored for decades with seismic methods and drilling. The research applied the Simultaneous Joint Inversion (SJI) of independent geophysical data, which is a modern methodology of geophysical data processing, that is still under development. Such an attempt was necessary due to the lack of a sufficiently dense grid of wells in the study area, in which seismic velocities would be correctly recorded. Such data would be then applied for the generation of relevant VID models, which in turn, could be used to perform the Prestack Depth Migration (PreSDM) procedures. The application of procedures taking advantage of independent geophysical and geological data enabled researchers to control the generation process of the spatial VID model in the areas without wells. The analyses aimed to verify the correctness of VID model evaluation and its influence on the quality of seismic imaging in the area of the Carpathian Overthrust. Precisely, the influence was tested of such non-standard generation procedure of seismic velocity fields, not only on the PreSDM results but also on the geological interpretation of both the Rączyna and the Jodłówka gas deposits. The latter aspect of the presented results seems to be crucial to the effectiveness of petroleum exploration in the transition zone between the Carpathian Orogen and the Carpathian Foredeep.
Analysis of the Impact of Small Group Behavior on Cruise Ship Emergency Evacuation
Authors: Zhang Xuetao , Zhang Huajun , Wang Shuqi , Xiao Zhicheng , Zhang Wanying
Published: September 2023

The effectiveness of a cruise ship’s emergency evacuation is greatly influenced by the way people interact; this paper uses the social force model to simulate two different evacuation scenarios considering the impact of small groups. It uses an agent to simulate the behavior of a single occupant, and leverages the social force model to quantify the effect of group behavior on the group members. According to the influence of the group on the members, this paper corrects the expected speed of the members to determine the speed of crowd evacuation. It uses the SAFEGUARD cruise ship as the evacuation platform to simulate the process of evacuating the passengers to the boarding station and assembly station, respectively, and calculates the evacuation time, congestion area, and congestion duration of passengers under the action of groups. The simulation results of the two scenarios show that the group effect increases the average evacuation time by 15.29% and 21.79%, and increases the average detour distance by 24.54% and 17.89%, respectively.
Crafting a Museum Guide Using ChatGPT4
Authors: Trichopoulos Georgios , Konstantakis Markos , Caridakis George , Katifori Akrivi , Koukouli Myrto
Published: September 2023

This paper introduces a groundbreaking approach to enriching the museum experience using ChatGPT4, a state-of-the-art language model by OpenAI. By developing a museum guide powered by ChatGPT4, we aimed to address the challenges visitors face in navigating vast collections of artifacts and interpreting their significance. Leveraging the model’s natural-language-understanding and -generation capabilities, our guide offers personalized, informative, and engaging experiences. However, caution must be exercised as the generated information may lack scientific integrity and accuracy. To mitigate this, we propose incorporating human oversight and validation mechanisms. The subsequent sections present our own case study, detailing the design, architecture, and experimental evaluation of the museum guide system, highlighting its practical implementation and insights into the benefits and limitations of employing ChatGPT4 in the cultural heritage context.
Vortical Structures Promote Atheroprotective Wall Shear Stress Distributions in a Carotid Artery Bifurcation Model
Authors: Wild Nora C. , Bulusu Kartik V. , Plesniak Michael W.
Published: September 2023

Carotid artery diseases, such as atherosclerosis, are a major cause of death in the United States. Wall shear stresses are known to prompt plaque formation, but there is limited understanding of the complex flow structures underlying these stresses and how they differ in a pre-disposed high-risk patient cohort. A ‘healthy’ and a novel ‘pre-disposed’ carotid artery bifurcation model was determined based on patient-averaged clinical data, where the ‘pre-disposed’ model represents a pathological anatomy. Computational fluid dynamic simulations were performed using a physiological flow based on healthy human subjects. A main hairpin vortical structure in the internal carotid artery sinus was observed, which locally increased instantaneous wall shear stress. In the pre-disposed geometry, this vortical structure starts at an earlier instance in the cardiac flow cycle and persists over a much shorter period, where the second half of the cardiac cycle is dominated by perturbed secondary flow structures and vortices. This coincides with weaker favorable axial pressure gradient peaks over the sinus for the ‘pre-disposed’ geometry. The findings reveal a strong correlation between vortical structures and wall shear stress and imply that an intact internal carotid artery sinus hairpin vortical structure has a physiologically beneficial role by increasing local wall shear stresses. The deterioration of this beneficial vortical structure is expected to play a significant role in atherosclerotic plaque formation.