bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resilience of plankton trophic structure to an eddy-stimulated diatom bloom in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre
Authors: Décima M , Landry MR
Published: April 2020

We investigated the response of an open-ocean plankton food web to a major ecosystem perturbation event, the Hawaiian lee cyclonic eddy Opal, using compound-specific isotopic analyses of amino acids (CSIA-AA) of individual zooplankton taxa. We hypothesized that the massive diatom bloom that characterized Opal would lead to a shorter food chain. Using CSIA-AA, we differentiated trophic position (TP) changes that arose from altered transfers through protistan microzooplankton, versus metazoan carnivory, and assessed the variability at the base of the food web. Contrary to expectation, zooplankton TPs were higher in the eddy than in ambient control waters (up to 0.8 trophic level), particularly for suspension feeders close to the food-web base. Most of the effect was due to increased trophic transfers through protistan consumers, indicating a general shift up, not down, of grazing and remineralization in the microbial food web. Eucalanus sp., which was 15-fold more abundant inside compared to outside of the eddy, was the only taxon observed to be a true herbivore (TP = 2.0), consistent with a high phenylalanine (Phe) δ15N value indicating feeding on nitrate-fueled diatoms in the lower euphotic zone. Oncaea sp., an aggregate-associated copepod, had the largest (1.5) TP difference, and lowest Phe δ15N, suggesting that detrital particles were local hot spots of enhanced microbial activity. Rapid growth rates and trophic flexibility of protistan microzooplankton apparently allow the microbial community to reorganize to bloom perturbations, as microzooplankton remain the primary phytoplankton grazers—despite the dominance of large diatoms—and are heavily preyed on by the mesozooplankton.
Daily Profiles of Steroid Hormones and Their Metabolites Related to Food Intake
Authors: RÁCZ B. , DUŠKOVÁ M. , VONDRA K. , ŠRÁMKOVÁ M. , HILL M. , STÁRKA L.
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to look for changes in the daily profile of steroid hormones after standardized food intake. Eight young women not taking contraceptives were followed from 5:30 a.m. till 9:30 p.m. before and 1 and 2 h after eating breakfast, snack, lunch, the second snack and dinner. The differences in steroid levels before and after meals were evaluated. As expected, glucose, C-peptide and ghrelin levels changed postprandially. The steroid hormones cortisol, progesterone, pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone showed a decrease after main meals, whereas testosterone and dihydrotestosterone showed no significant dependence on food intake. Estrogen levels did not exhibit a significant nycthemeral rhythm, but estradiol decreased after main meals. In our study the known nycthemeral rhythm of LH, FSH, cortisol, progesterone and pregnenolone after food intake were confirmed, but significant changes after meals were also observed in the levels of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol and SHBG.
Fat Mass and Obesity Associated Gene Variants Are Associated With Increased Growth Hormone Levels and Affect Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Lean Women
Authors: LUKÁŠOVÁ P. , VAŇKOVÁ M. , VČELÁK J. , VEJRAŽKOVÁ D. , BRADNOVÁ O. , STANICKÁ S. , HAINER V. , BENDLOVÁ B.
Published: April 2020

First intron variability of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) has strong impact on adiposity. We focused on lean women carrying the most “obesity-risk” haplotype to study their anthropometric parameters and hormonal and metabolic profile. Genotype-phenotype correlation was performed in a group of 172 lean women (body mass index (BMI) 18.5 and 25 kg/m2; age 26.8±7.26 years), 77 of them used hormonal contraceptives. Even in lean women the association of the risk haplotype CAGA with BMI was confirmed but it did not influence the anthropometric indices of body composition. CAGA carriers compared to non-carriers had significantly higher both fasting (p=0.016) and post glucose load (p<0.001) levels of growth hormone (GH), significantly higher glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels in the late phase of oGTT and lower fasting concentration of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Administration of hormonal contraceptives further increased observed hormonal and metabolic effects in CAGA carriers. We conclude that higher levels of GH in lean women carrying the FTO “obesity risk” haplotype could protect them from the development of obesity. The relation between the FTO gene variability and GH secretion has to be elucidated. This is the first study demonstrating the interaction of FTO genotype with hormonal contraception.
The Subsidiarity Principle and National Parliaments Role: From Formal Need to Real Use of Powers
Authors: Matei Ani , Dumitru Adrian Stelian
Published: April 2020

Subsidiarity constitutes a guiding principle of the EU exercising power and the idea of involving national parliaments in the EU legislative procedure was seen as the best solution to increase democracy and transparency of the EU decision-making process at the European Convention established in 2001. Such a mechanism enables national parliaments to ensure the correct application of the principle of subsidiarity by the institutions taking part in the legislative process. This article examines how this principle is implemented by the national parliaments and EU responsible institutions. What is the novelty derived from the Treaty of Lisbon? Do national parliaments participate actively in the implementation of subsidiarity? If yes, what are the tools at their disposal? To answer all of these questions we try to shape a framework for understanding the phenomenon.
Land Suitability Assessment and Agricultural Production Sustainability Using Machine Learning Models
Authors: Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi Ruhollah , Nabiollahi Kamal , Rasoli Leila , Kerry Ruth , Scholten Thomas
Published: April 2020

Land suitability assessment is essential for increasing production and planning a sustainable agricultural system, but such information is commonly scarce in the semi-arid regions of Iran. Therefore, our aim is to assess land suitability for two main crops (i.e., rain-fed wheat and barley) based on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) “land suitability assessment framework” for 65 km2 of agricultural land in Kurdistan province, Iran. Soil samples were collected from genetic layers of 100 soil profiles and the physical-chemical properties of the soil samples were analyzed. Topography and climate data were also recorded. After calculating the land suitability classes for the two crops, they were mapped using machine learning (ML) and traditional approaches. The maps predicted by the two approaches revealed notable differences. For example, in the case of rain-fed wheat, results showed the higher accuracy of ML-based land suitability maps compared to the maps obtained by traditional approach. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the areas with classes of N2 (≈18%↑) and S3 (≈28%↑) were higher and area with the class N1 (≈24%↓) was less predicted in the traditional approach compared to the ML-based approach. The major limitations of the study area were rainfall at the flowering stage, severe slopes, shallow soil depth, high pH, and large gravel content. Therefore, to increase production and create a sustainable agricultural system, land improvement operations are suggested.
Weed Seed Bank Diversity in Dryland Cereal Fields: Does it Differ Along the Field and Between Fields with Different Landscape Structure?
Authors: Pallavicini Yesica , Hernandez Plaza Eva , Bastida Fernando , Izquierdo Jordi , Gallart Montserrat , Gonzalez-Andujar Jose L.
Published: April 2020

In this work, we aimed to test whether taxonomic diversity and functional diversity and the values of functional traits of the weed seed bank varied across the field, from margins to the core, and between fields embedded in distinct landscape structures. We sampled the seed bank of 47 conventionally managed cereal fields from two Mediterranean regions in Spain. In each field, three positions were selected: Margin, edge and core, and soil properties were measured for each position. Landscape structure was quantified for each field as the percentage of arable land in the surrounding 1 km radius circular sector. Seed bank diversity was characterized at the taxonomic (species richness, exponential Shannon index, and evenness) and functional levels (Rao’s quadratic entropy index and four corner analysis). For functional diversity, eight functional traits related to the whole plant life cycle were considered. Results showed a slight response of increasing taxonomic diversity from the core of the fields to the margins. Functional diversity was extremely low, indicating high similarity among species in terms of functional traits. Species in the seed bank were mostly therophytes, shorter than the crop plants, small seeded, flowering between the herbicide application of late winter and crop harvest, and showed seed dispersal by gravity or wind. This trait syndrome allows persistence in intensively managed arable lands. The similarity between fields in terms of functional diversity of the seed bank and in species traits may suggest that the intensity of management practices was similar across the fields. Moreover, it emphasizes that an increase in landscape heterogeneity, if based on other intensively managed cropping systems, may not be sufficient to augment functional diversity of weed communities. Therefore, in these areas, the seed bank could restore weed taxonomic diversity following changes in management practices, but functional diversity would still remain limited.
Immunomodulation of Avian Dendritic Cells under the Induction of Prebiotics
Authors: Zmrhal Vladimir , Slama Petr
Published: April 2020

Although the immunomodulatory properties of prebiotics were demonstrated many years ago in poultry, not all mechanisms of action are yet clear. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the main antigen-presenting cells orchestrating the immune response in the chicken gastrointestinal tract, and they are the first line of defense in the immune response. Despite the crucial role of DCs in prebiotic immunomodulatory properties, information is lacking about interaction between prebiotics and DCs in an avian model. Mannan-oligosaccharides, β-glucans, fructooligosaccharides, and chitosan-oligosaccharides are the main groups of prebiotics having immunomodulatory properties. Because pathogen-associated molecular patterns on these prebiotics are recognized by many receptors of DCs, prebiotics can mimic activation of DCs by pathogens. Short-chain fatty acids are products of prebiotic fermentation by microbiota, and their anti-inflammatory properties have also been demonstrated in DCs. This review summarizes current knowledge about avian DCs in the gastrointestinal tract, and for the first-time, their role in the immunomodulatory properties of prebiotics within an avian model.
Significant Differences in the Gut Bacterial Communities of Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) in Different Seasons at a Stopover Site on the Flyway
Authors: Zhang Fengling , Xiang Xingjia , Dong Yuanqiu , Yan Shaofei , Song Yunwei , Zhou Lizhi
Published: April 2020

Intestinal bacterial communities form an integral component of the organism. Many factors influence gut bacterial community composition and diversity, including diet, environment and seasonality. During seasonal migration, birds use many habitats and food resources, which may influence their intestinal bacterial community structure. Hooded crane (Grus monacha) is a migrant waterbird that traverses long distances and occupies varied habitats. In this study, we investigated the diversity and differences in intestinal bacterial communities of hooded cranes over the migratory seasons. Fecal samples from hooded cranes were collected at a stopover site in two seasons (spring and fall) in Lindian, China, and at a wintering ground in Shengjin Lake, China. We analyzed bacterial communities from the fecal samples using high throughput sequencing (Illumina Mi-seq). Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Tenericutes, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla across all samples. The intestinal bacterial alpha-diversity of hooded cranes in winter was significantly higher than in fall and spring. The bacterial community composition significantly differed across the three seasons (ANOSIM, P = 0.001), suggesting that seasonal fluctuations may regulate the gut bacterial community composition of migratory birds. This study provides baseline information on the seasonal dynamics of intestinal bacterial community structure in migratory hooded cranes.
Growth Performance of Local Chicken Breeds, a High-Performance Genotype and Their Crosses Fed with Regional Faba Beans to Replace Soy
Authors: Nolte Tanja , Jansen Simon , Weigend Steffen , Moerlein Daniel , Halle Ingrid , Link Wolfgang , Hummel Jürgen , Simianer Henner , Sharifi Ahmad Reza
Published: April 2020

The faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a native protein crop and considered a promising alternative to soybeans. Due to its anti-nutritive substances such as vicin and convicin (VC) its use in animal nutrition has been restricted. In the present study, two consecutive experiments were conducted to analyse the effects of feeding 20% faba beans, which differ in their VC content on fattening performance and slaughter traits of different chicken genotypes. In a first trial, purebred male chickens of the local breeds Bresse Gauloise and Vorwerkhuhn as well as of a high-performance White Rock line were tested. In a second trial, crossbreds of them were evaluated: Vorwerkhuhn x Bresse Gauloise, Vorwerkhuhn x White Rock, Bresse Gauloise x White Rock. Daily weight gain and feed intake were recorded until slaughter at approximately 2100 g. At slaughter the final live weight, carcass yield and the weights of the valuable parts (breasts and legs) were measured. For the genotypes studied, no adverse or undesirable effects of both VC−rich and VC−poor faba beans in the feedstuff were detected regarding body weight development, carcass quality, and fattening parameters. Furthermore, there was no indication that the birds’ health was impaired.
The Influence of Anandamide on the Anterior Pituitary Hormone Secretion in Ewes—Ex Vivo Study
Authors: Tomaszewska-Zaremba Dorota , Wojtulewicz Karolina , Paczesna Kamila , Tomczyk Monika , Biernacka Katarzyna , Bochenek Joanna , Herman Andrzej Przemysław
Published: April 2020

Cannabinoids (CBs) are involved in the neuroendocrine control of reproductive processes by affecting GnRH and gonadotropins secretion. The presence of cannabinoid receptors (CBR) in the pituitary raises a presumption that anandamide (AEA), the endogenous cannabinoid, may act on gonadotrophic hormones secretion directly at the level of the anterior pituitary (AP). Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate the influence of AEA on gonadotropins secretions from AP explants taken from anestrous ewes. It was demonstrated that AEA inhibited GnRH stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion from the AP explants. Anandamide influences both LH and FSH gene expressions as well as their release. AEA also affected gonadoliberin receptor (GnRHR) synthesis and expression. The presence of CB1R transcript in AP explants were also demonstrated. It could be suggested that some known negative effects of cannabinoids on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity may be caused by the direct action of these compounds at the pituitary level.
Effects of Stroking on Salivary Oxytocin and Cortisol in Guide Dogs: Preliminary Results
Authors: Ogi Asahi , Mariti Chiara , Baragli Paolo , Sergi Valeria , Gazzano Angelo
Published: April 2020

This pilot study aimed at investigating how salivary oxytocin levels are affected by human interaction and isolation in eight guide dogs (six Labrador retrievers and two golden retrievers; four males and four females, 21.87 ± 1.36 months old) just before assignment to the blind person. Each dog engaged, at one-week intervals, in a positive (5 min of affiliative interaction with their trainer) and a negative (5 min of isolation) condition. Saliva samples used for Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) quantification of salivary oxytocin were collected before and immediately after both experimental conditions. In order to assess potential hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activation that could have affected oxytocin levels, saliva samples were collected 15 min after both experimental conditions for EIA quantification of salivary cortisol and a behavioral assessment was performed during the negative condition. The results were compared using the Wilcoxon test (p < 0.05). Oxytocin concentrations showed a statistically significant increase after the positive interaction (p = 0.036) and no difference after the negative one (p = 0.779). Moreover, no difference (p = 0.263) was found between the cortisol concentrations after each experimental condition and no signs of distress were observed during the isolation phase. These preliminary findings support the hypothesis that stroking dogs has positive effects on their emotional state independently of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis activation.
Evaluation of Criminal Sanctions Concerning Violations of Cattle and Pig Welfare
Authors: Väärikkälä Sofia , Koskela Tarja , Hänninen Laura , Nevas Mari
Published: April 2020

EU legislation requires the violations of animal welfare standards to be sanctioned. Our aim was to evaluate criminal sanctions concerning violations of cattle and pig welfare on Finnish farms. We analyzed 196 court cases heard in Finnish district courts from 2011 to 2016. Almost all the cases (95%) concerned the violations of cattle welfare, of which 61% occurred on small farms. The lack of cleanliness and inadequate feeding and watering were the most common reported violations. Median time span from the start date of an offending to a judgement was slightly less than two years. Of the cases, 96% resulted in conviction. The court did not perceive the violations as being highly blameworthy as a small fine and a short conditional imprisonment were the most often imposed sanctions. A ban on the keeping of animals was used as a precautionary measure in half of the cases. Veterinarians were shown to have an important role in the initiation of criminal procedures, providing evidence for the police, and acting as witnesses. Therefore, it is crucial to achieve a well-functioning collaboration between veterinarians and the police and prosecutors. The expertise of these authorities on animal welfare legislation should also be emphasized to improve the efficacy of criminal procedures.
Serum Protein Gel Agarose Electrophoresis in Captive Tigers
Authors: Proverbio Daniela , Perego Roberta , Baggiani Luciana , Ravasio Giuliano , Giambellini Daniela , Spada Eva
Published: April 2020

Given the endangered status of tigers (Panthera tigris), the health of each individual is important and any data on blood chemistry values can provide valuable information alongside the assessment of physical condition. The nature of tigers in the wild makes it is extremely difficult to obtain biological samples from free-living subjects, therefore the values obtained from captive tigers provide very useful data. Serum protein electrophoresis is a useful tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of a number of diseases. In this study, we evaluated agarose gel serum protein electrophoresis on samples from 11 healthy captive tigers. Serum electrophoresis on all 11 tiger samples successfully separated proteins into albumin, α1, α2, β1, β2 and γ globulin fractions as in other mammals. Electrophoretic patterns were comparable in all tigers. Mean± standard deviation or median and range values obtained for each protein fraction in healthy tigers were, respectively: 3.6 ± 0.2, 0.21 (0.2–0.23), 1.2 ± 0.2, 10.7 ± 0.2, 0.4 (0.3–0.6), 1.2 (1–1.8) gr/dL. The results of this preliminary study provide the first data on serum electrophoretic patterns in tigers and may be a useful diagnostic tool in the health assessment of this endangered species.
Association Between BMP2 Functional Polymorphisms and Sheep Tail Type
Authors: Lu Zengkui , Liu Jianbin , Han Jilong , Yang Bohui
Published: April 2020

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) is strongly selected in both fat-tailed and thin-tailed sheep and may be a candidate gene for sheep tail type selection. However, the mechanism of action of BMP2 in sheep tail fat deposition remains unclear. This study investigated genetic variation and haplotype combinations of the BMP2 gene in sheep with different tail types, aiming to reveal the molecular mechanism of BMP2 in sheep tail fat deposition. We detected a total of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (g.48401619 T > A, g.48401272 C > A, and g.48401136 C > T) among 533 sheep. The alleles and genotype frequencies of these SNPs were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and showed significant correlations with tail length. Linkage disequilibrium existed between the g.48401272 C > A and g.48401136 C > T sites, where CACT was the predominant genotype. At the cellular level, the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were upregulated after BMP2 overexpression; there were significantly higher levels of PPARγ than controls at 0 d and 1 d, and of LPL than controls at 1 d and 7 d. These results indicate that the BMP2 gene may participate in sheep tail fat deposition and could be used for molecular-marker-assisted selection of sheep tail type.
Expression of DAZL Gene in Selected Tissues and Association of Its Polymorphisms with Testicular Size in Hu Sheep
Authors: Yuan Zehu , Luo Jing , Wang Li , Li Fadi , Li Wanhong , Yue Xiangpeng
Published: April 2020

The deleted in azoospermia-like (DAZL) gene encoding an RNA binding protein is pivotal in gametogenesis in lots of species and also acts as a pre-meiosis marker. The current study was conducted to detect expression profiles and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of DAZL in sheep using qPCR, DNA-pooled sequencing, improved multiplex ligase detection reaction (iMLDR®) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods. The results confirmed that ovine DAZL showed the highest expression level at six-months of age across five developmental stage. At six-month stage, DAZL expressed primarily in testis across seven tissues analyzed. The abundance of DAZL in the large-testis group is higher than that in the small-testis group although it is not significant. In addition, six SNPs (SNP1-SNP6) were identified in DAZL. Of those, SNP1 (p < 0.05) and SNP6 (p < 0.01) were significantly correlated with the variation coefficient between left and right epididymis weight (VCTW). The current study implies DAZL may play important roles in testicular development and its SNPs are associated with testicular parameters, which supply important indicators for ram selection at early stage.
Changes in Serum and Salivary Proteins in Canine Mammary Tumors
Authors: Franco-Martínez Lorena , Gelemanović Andrea , Horvatić Anita , Contreras-Aguilar María Dolores , Dąbrowski Roman , Mrljak Vladimir , Cerón José Joaquín , Martínez-Subiela Silvia , Tvarijonaviciute Asta
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in serum and saliva proteomes in canine mammary tumors (CMT) using a high-throughput quantitative proteomic analysis in order to potentially discover possible biomarkers of this disease. Proteomes of paired serum and saliva samples from healthy controls (HC group, n = 5) and bitches with CMT (CMT group, n = 5) were analysed using a Tandem Mass Tags-based approach. Twenty-five dogs were used to validate serum albumin as a candidate biomarker in an independent sample set. The proteomic analysis quantified 379 and 730 proteins in serum and saliva, respectively. Of those, 35 proteins in serum and 49 in saliva were differentially represented. The verification of albumin in serum was in concordance with the proteomic data, showing lower levels in CMT when compared to the HC group. Some of the modulated proteins found in the present study such as haptoglobin or S100A4 have been related to CMT or human breast cancer previously, while others such as kallikrein-1 and immunoglobulin gamma-heavy chains A and D are described here for the first time. Our results indicate that saliva and serum proteomes can reflect physiopathological changes that occur in CMT in dogs and can be a potential source of biomarkers of the disease.
The Effect of Behind-The-Scenes Encounters and Interactive Presentations on the Welfare of Captive Servals (Leptailurus serval)
Authors: Acaralp-Rehnberg Lydia K. , Coleman Grahame J. , Magrath Michael J. L. , Melfi Vicky , Fanson Kerry V. , Bland Ian M.
Published: April 2020

The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a small African felid that is well represented in zoos and often serves as an animal ambassador in encounter programs with zoo visitors. The impact on serval welfare in relation to such programs has not been investigated to date, and the aim of this study was to assess short-term welfare effects of varying levels of visitor interaction in two captive servals. Weekly blocks of four different treatments were imposed three times on each animal over 12 weeks, and the treatments involved (1) Presentations (serval undertaking a routine training session in a designated presentation space, typically attracting high visitor numbers), (2) Behind-the-scenes (BTS, a close encounter allowing a small group of visitors to interact closely with the cat in its enclosure), (3) Presentations and BTS combined, and (4) No visitor interaction. Serval activity budgets as well as behavioural diversity were created from behaviours observed from Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage during four daily recording sessions per animal over three consecutive days per treatment, using instantaneous scan sampling every 60 s. Individual faecal samples were collected daily to monitor changes in faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentration. Results indicate that the mean number of scans with stereotypic pacing was significantly reduced (p = 0.01) during Treatments 1 and 3, when cats participated in presentations only, or the two activities combined. Conversely, a significant reduction in behavioural diversity (p < 0.001) was observed when cats participated in Treatment 3, i.e., cats expressed fewer behaviours when interaction with visitors was more frequent. FGM concentrations did not vary significantly with treatment (p > 0.05). Given the reduction in stereotypic pacing, these findings suggest that involvement in an encounter program appears to exert an overall positive short-term welfare effect on the individual servals in this study. Although a reduction in behavioural diversity was not considered a negative welfare effect in the short term, potential long-term negative welfare effects resulting from a more frequent encounter program could not be ruled out in the present study.
Diabetic Retinopathy and Ocular Melanoma: How Far We Are?
Authors: Souto Eliana B. , Campos Joana R. , Da Ana Raquel , Fangueiro Joana F. , Martins-Gomes Carlos , Durazzo Alessandra , Lucarini Massimo , Sánchez López Elena , Espina Marta , García Maria Luisa , Silva Amélia M. , Mendonça Fernando , Santini Antonello , Souto Selma B.
Published: April 2020

Diabetic retinopathy causes vascular damage to retinal neurons, presenting characteristics of chronic inflammation. The development of new therapies capable of combating vision loss involves knowledge of inflammatory retinal changes. Studies in animal models and patients with diabetes have shown a high expression of the inflammatory molecules that are involved in the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Uveal melanoma is an eye tumour that remains highly deadly, because despite the correct treatment, it still causes metastasis in about 50% of patients. This type of tumour has the ability to produce and store melanin, which may result in resistance to therapy. Over time there has been development of new therapies for this disease, such as radiotherapy and surgical resection. In this review, we discuss diabetic retinopathy and ocular melanoma, their relationship with angiogenesis and the current anti-angiogenic therapies for their treatment.
Synthesis of the Inverse Kinematic Model of Non-Redundant Open-Chain Robotic Systems Using Groebner Basis Theory
Authors: Guzmán-Giménez José , Valera Fernández Ángel , Mata Amela Vicente , Díaz-Rodríguez Miguel Ángel
Published: April 2020

One of the most important elements of a robot’s control system is its Inverse Kinematic Model (IKM), which calculates the position and velocity references required by the robot’s actuators to follow a trajectory. The methods that are commonly used to synthesize the IKM of open-chain robotic systems strongly depend on the geometry of the analyzed robot. Those methods are not systematic procedures that could be applied equally in all possible cases. This project presents the development of a systematic procedure to synthesize the IKM of non-redundant open-chain robotic systems using Groebner Basis theory, which does not depend on the geometry of the robot’s structure. The inputs to the developed procedure are the robot’s Denavit–Hartenberg parameters, while the output is the IKM, ready to be used in the robot’s control system or in a simulation of its behavior. The Groebner Basis calculation is done in a two-step process, first computing a basis with Faugère’s F4 algorithm and a grevlex monomial order, and later changing the basis with the FGLM algorithm to the desired lexicographic order. This procedure’s performance was proved calculating the IKM of a PUMA manipulator and a walking hexapod robot. The errors in the computed references of both IKMs were absolutely negligible in their corresponding workspaces, and their computation times were comparable to those required by the kinematic models calculated by traditional methods. The developed procedure can be applied to all Cartesian robotic systems, SCARA robots, all the non-redundant robotic manipulators that satisfy the in-line wrist condition, and any non-redundant open-chain robot whose IKM should only solve the positioning problem, such as multi-legged walking robots.
Clinical Significance of Cough Peak Flow and Its Non-Contact Measurement via Cough Sounds: A Narrative Review
Authors: Umayahara Yasutaka , Soh Zu , Sekikawa Kiyokazu , Kawae Toshihiro , Otsuka Akira , Tsuji Toshio
Published: April 2020

Coughing is the primary defence mechanism against foreign bodies in the central airways and can quantitatively be assessed by cough peak flow (CPF). We conducted a narrative review of the literature on CPF, which is most commonly used for evaluating cough strength. This review regards the method for measurement of CPF, the cough-related factors influencing CPF, the clinical significance of CPF evaluation, and a novel cough strength prediction method using cough sounds. Furthermore, this review presents various cutoff thresholds that predict extubation failure in patients on mechanical ventilation, acute respiratory failure, and aspiration risk. The published clinical evidence of CPF demonstrates reasonable diagnostic accuracy, predictive power, and validity, although additional studies on the non-contact measurement of CPF via cough sounds with better-quality methodologies are required.
Soil Erosion and Gaseous Emissions
Authors: Lal Rattan
Published: April 2020

Accelerated soil erosion by water and wind involves preferential removal of the light soil organic carbon (SOC) fraction along with the finer clay and silt particles. Thus, the SOC enrichment ratio in sediments, compared with that of the soil surface, may range from 1 to 12 for water and 1 to 41 for wind-blown dust. The latter may contain a high SOC concentration of 15% to 20% by weight. The global magnitude of SOC erosion may be 1.3 Pg C/yr. by water and 1.0 Pg C/yr. by wind erosion. However, risks of SOC erosion have been exacerbated by the expansion and intensification of agroecosystems. Such a large magnitude of annual SOC erosion by water and wind has severe adverse impacts on soil quality and functionality, and emission of multiple greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CO2, CH4, and N2O into the atmosphere. SOC erosion by water and wind also has a strong impact on the global C budget (GCB). Despite the large and growing magnitude of global SOC erosion, its fate is neither adequately known nor properly understood. Only a few studies conducted have quantified the partitioning of SOC erosion by water into three components: (1) redistribution over land, (2) deposition in channels, and (3) transportation/burial under the ocean. Of the total SOC erosion by water, 40%–50% may be redistributed over the land, 20%–30% deposited in channels, and 5%–15% carried into the oceans. Even fewer studies have monitored or modeled emissions of multiple GHGs from these three locations. The cumulative gaseous emissions may decrease at the eroding site because of the depletion of its SOC stock but increase at the depositional site because of enrichment of SOC amount and the labile fraction. The SOC erosion by water and wind exacerbates climate change, decreases net primary productivity (NPP) and use efficiency of inputs, and reduces soils C sink capacity to mitigate global warming. Yet research information on global emissions of CH4 and N2O at different landscape positions is not available. Further, the GCB is incomplete and uncertain because SOC erosion is not accounted for. Multi-disciplinary and watershed-scale research is needed globally to measure and model the magnitude of SOC erosion by water and wind, multiple gaseous emissions at different landscape positions, and the attendant changes in NPP.
Health Monitoring of Civil Infrastructures by Subspace System Identification Method: An Overview
Authors: Shokravi Hoofar , Shokravi Hooman , Bakhary Norhisham , Rahimian Koloor Seyed Saeid , Petrů Michal
Published: April 2020

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is the main contributor of the future’s smart city to deal with the need for safety, lower maintenance costs, and reliable condition assessment of structures. Among the algorithms used for SHM to identify the system parameters of structures, subspace system identification (SSI) is a reliable method in the time-domain that takes advantages of using extended observability matrices. Considerable numbers of studies have specifically concentrated on practical applications of SSI in recent years. To the best of author’s knowledge, no study has been undertaken to review and investigate the application of SSI in the monitoring of civil engineering structures. This paper aims to review studies that have used the SSI algorithm for the damage identification and modal analysis of structures. The fundamental focus is on data-driven and covariance-driven SSI algorithms. In this review, we consider the subspace algorithm to resolve the problem of a real-world application for SHM. With regard to performance, a comparison between SSI and other methods is provided in order to investigate its advantages and disadvantages. The applied methods of SHM in civil engineering structures are categorized into three classes, from simple one-dimensional (1D) to very complex structures, and the detectability of the SSI for different damage scenarios are reported. Finally, the available software incorporating SSI as their system identification technique are investigated.
Synthesis of Hydrogels Made of Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid (γ-PGA) for Potential Applications as Probiotic-Delivery Vehicles
Authors: Kwiecień Iwona , Niewolik Daria , Ekere Anabel Itohowo , Gupta Abhishek , Radecka Izabela
Published: April 2020

Numerous hydrogels made of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) and various cross-linkers have been explored, but only limited data on hydrogels made of γ-PGA and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are available. In this study, γ-PGA, a biodegradable and edible biopolyamide, was successfully cross-linked with selected PEGs to obtain a series of hydrogels. The swelling behaviour of these hydrogels was investigated under various pH conditions. It was also found that the structure of the cross-linker (linear or branched) affected the hydrogels’ swelling behaviour. In addition, in disc diffusion assay, hydrogel discs loaded with antibiotic were tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Prolonged activity of hydrogels loaded with antibiotics in comparison to paper discs containing antibiotics was observed. Moreover, the protective effect of hydrogels on entrapped probiotic cells subjected to low pH was investigated. The hydrogel swelling ratio and amount influenced the survival rate of the protected bacteria. Considering potential biomedical applications of hydrogels, cytotoxicity was evaluated towards two cell lines, MSTO and PANC 1.
A High Gain DC-DC Converter with Grey Wolf Optimizer Based MPPT Algorithm for PV Fed BLDC Motor Drive
Authors: Darcy Gnana Jegha A. , Subathra M. S. P. , Manoj Kumar Nallapaneni , Subramaniam Umashankar , Padmanaban Sanjeevikumar
Published: April 2020

Photovoltaic (PV) water pumping systems are becoming popular these days. In PV water pumping, the role of the converter is most important, especially in the renewable energy-based PV systems case. This study focuses on one such application. In this proposed work, direct current (DC) based intermediate DC-DC power converter, i.e., a modified LUO (M-LUO) converter is used to extricate the availability of power in the high range from the PV array. The M-LUO converter is controlled efficiently by utilizing the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO)-based maximum power point tracking algorithm, which aids the smooth starting of a brushless DC (BLDC) motor. The voltage source inverter’s (VSI) fundamental switching frequency is achieved in the BLDC motor by electronic commutation. Hence, the occurrence of VSI losses due to a high switching frequency is eliminated. The GWO optimized algorithm is compared with the perturb and observe (P&O) and fuzzy logic based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms. However, by sensing the position of the rotor and comparing the reference speed with the actual speed, the speed of the BLDC motor is controlled by the proportional-integral (PI) controller. The recent advancement in motor drives based on distributed sources generates more demand for highly efficient permanent magnet (PM) motor drives, and this was the beginning of interest in BLDC motors. Thus, in this paper, the design of a high-gain boost converter optimized by a GWO algorithm is proposed to drive the BLDC-based pumping motor. The proposed work is simulated in MATLAB-SIMULINK, and the experimental results are verified using the dsPIC30F2010 controller.
Characterization and Separation of Traditional and Bio-Plastics by Hyperspectral Devices
Authors: Moroni Monica , Mei Alessandro
Published: April 2020

Nowadays, bio-plastics can contaminate conventional plastics sent to recycling. Furthermore, the low volume of bio-plastics currently in use has discourage the development of new technologies for their identification and separation. Technologies based on hyperspectral data detection may be profitably employed to separate the bio-plastics from traditional ones and to increase the quality of recycled products. In fact, sensing devices make it possible to accomplish the essential requirement of a mechanical recycling technology, i.e., end products which comply with specific standards determined by industrial applications. This paper presents the results of the hyperspectral analysis conducted on two different plastic polymers (PolyEthylene Terephthalate and PolyStyrene) and one bio-based and biodegradable plastic material (PolyLactic Acid) in different phases of their life cycle (primary raw materials and urban waste). The reflectance analysis is focused on the near-infrared region (900–1700 nm) and data are detected with a linear-spectrometer apparatus and a spectroradiometer. A rapid and reliable identification of three investigated polymers is achieved by using simple two near-infrared wavelength operators employing key wavelengths.
Feasibility of Utilizing Biodegradable Plastic Film to Cover Corn Silage under Farm Conditions
Authors: Tabacco Ernesto , Ferrero Francesco , Borreani Giorgio
Published: April 2020

The degree of anaerobiosis and its maintenance over the conservation period are key factors in obtaining high quality silage. There is currently a demand to replace petroleum-based plastic films with biodegradable materials with suitable mechanical properties. This work has evaluated, under outdoor conditions, the shelf life of a Mater-Bi® biodegradable plastic (MB) film and its effects on the fermentative characteristics, microbial counts and aerobic stability of corn silage, and compared it with commercially available polyethylene (PE) and high oxygen barrier (OB) films. Corn (409 g DM/kg) was ensiled in 30 drive-over piles covered with MB, PE or OB films. The piles were opened after 21, 85, 133, 195 and 230 d of conservation. The effect of the film was assessed in silage sample close to (CF) and far (FF) from the film. The OB film allowed high quality corn silages to be obtained with similar pH, lactic acid, yeast and mold counts for CF and FF during the entire 230 d of conservation. The PE film showed similar values for the FF and CF areas for the first conservation period (until 133 d). The MB film showed a similar silage quality to OB until day 85, after which it underwent biodegradation and lost its ability to preserve silage in a good state.
Conceptual Planning of Micro-Assembly for a Better Utilization of Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Gielisch Christoph , Fritz Karl-Peter , Wigger Benedikt , Zimmermann André
Published: April 2020

Reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS) can be used to produce micro-assembled products that are too complex for assembly on flat substrates like printed circuit boards. The greatest advantage of RMS is their capability to reuse machine parts for different products, which enhances the economical efficiency of quickly changing or highly individualized products. However, often, process engineers struggle to achieve the full potential of RMS due to product designs not being suited for their given system. Guaranteeing a better fit cannot be done by static guidelines because the higher degree of freedom would make them too complex. Therefore, a new method for generating dynamic guidelines is proposed. The method consists of a model, with which designers can create a simplified assembly sequence of their product idea, and another model, with which process engineers can describe the RMS and the procedures and operations that it can offer. By combining both, a list of possible machine configurations for an RMS can be generated as an automated response for a modeled assembly sequence. With the planning tool for micro-assembly, an implementation of this method as a modern web application is shown, which uses a real existent RMS for micro-assembly.
Grating Metamaterials Based on CdTe/CdMgTe Quantum Wells as Terahertz Detectors for High Magnetic Field Applications
Authors: Yavorskiy Dmitriy , Szoła Maria , Karpierz Krzysztof , Bożek Rafał , Rudniewski Rafał , Karczewski Grzegorz , Wojtowicz Tomasz , Wróbel Jerzy , Łusakowski Jerzy
Published: April 2020

The cyclotron and magnetoplasmon resonances were studied at 2 K in grating metamaterials fabricated on wafers with one or two modulation doped CdTe/CdMgTe quantum wells. The gratings (with the period varied between 2 μ m and 8 μ m) were prepared with an electron beam lithography either by etching or by evaporation of Au. The gratings were studied with an atomic force microscope which revealed a correlation between the depth and width of etched grooves at a constant time of etching. The sharpest resonances observed are due to excitation of magnetoplasmon in the case of Au gratings on a wafer with one quantum well. Etched samples with two quantum wells showed the strongest tuneability of magnetoplasmon resonances with the period of the grating and illumination with white light. We showed that the samples studied can be used as resonant or quasi-resonant terahertz detectors tuneable with magnetic field and white light.
Factors in the Relationship between Maintenance Engineering and Knowledge Management
Authors: Cárcel-Carrasco Javier , Cárcel-Carrasco José-Antonio , Peñalvo-López Elisa
Published: April 2020

The mechanisms of transmission and management of knowledge are mostly created by maintenance and exploitation activities of large buildings and industrial facilities, but they are poorly studied due to the difficulty capturing themas they belong to tacit knowledge gained by the experience of the maintenance staff. These professionals are highly qualified and are accostumed to solving technical problems even under pressure. The loss of these professionals means losing also an important asset of the company. This article will tackle the importance of the factors that influence knowledge management (KM) in maintenance engineering and its barriers and facilitators. The research is carried out by qualitative investigation on maintenance staff of an industrial company.
Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of Hot Extruded Aluminum/Tin-Bismuth Composites Produced by Powder Metallurgy
Authors: Khan Adnan , Matli Penchal Reddy , Nawaz Muddasir , Mattli Manohar Reddy , Parande Gururaj , Manakari Vyasaraj , Shakoor Abdul , Aljaber Amina Sultan , Gupta Manoj
Published: April 2020

In this study, Al-BiSn composites were synthesized by a combination of microwave sintering and hot extrusion processes. The structural, morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties were investigated to elucidate the role of Bi60Sn40 (BiSn) alloy content (5, 10, and 15 wt.%) in modifying the properties of Al-BiSn composites. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the presence of aluminum and BiSn particles. Distribution of BiSn particles in Al-BiSn composites was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy associated with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (FE-SEM-EDX). Results indicated that hot extruded Al-(15 wt.% BiSn) composite exhibits maximum hardness (78 ± 4 Hv) and tensile strength (185 ± 3 MPa), which were 117% and 58% improvements, respectively, compared to pure Al. This improvement in mechanical properties can be attributed to the strengthening effect of BiSn particles. A decline in the values of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) with an increasing amount of BiSn particles reflects the enhanced thermal stability of developed Al-BiSn composites. The promising properties of Al-BiSn composites make them suitable for many industrial applications.