bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Straw Mulching Combined with Phosphorus Fertilizer Increases Fertile Florets of Wheat by Enhancing Leaf Photosynthesis and Assimilate Utilization
Authors: Xie Wei , He Peng , Ma Hongliang , Huang Xiulan , Fan Gaoqiong , Yang Hongkun
Published: September 2023

Lack of soil moisture and phosphorus deficiency limits wheat grain yield in dryland areas. However, the moisture-conserving effect of straw mulching combined with phosphor fertilization on fertile florets per spike (FFS) and grain yield remains unclear. During the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 growing seasons, we investigated the combined effects of straw mulching (0 and 8000 kg ha−1) and phosphorus fertilization (0, 75, and 120 kg P2O5 ha−1) on spike development, assimilates’ availability, and the photosynthetic properties of flag leaves by conducting a field experiment. Compared with no straw mulch control, straw mulching increased fertile spike, grain number per spike (15.6%), and grain yield (22.6%), and grain number per spike was the most important contribution to increasing wheat grain yield (46%). An increase in grain number per spike is associated with FFS. Compared with no straw mulch control, straw mulching increased FFS by 19.5%, and it increased with increasing phosphorus fertilization levels. Moreover, straw mulching combined with phosphorus fertilization promoted the light compensation point (LCP), light saturation point (LSP), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), Chl b, and the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) of flag leaves to produce carbohydrates. Our study has shown that the primary factor for the divergence in FFS under straw mulching and phosphorus application was the efficiency of assimilate utilization in the spike, which ultimately led to increased grain number per spike and grain yield.
Testing the Induction of Metritis in Healthy Postpartum Primiparous Cows Challenged with a Cocktail of Bacteria
Authors: Silva Josiane C. C. , Bringhenti Leonardo , Siqueira Lucas C. , Rodrigues Marjory X. , Zinicola Martin , Pomeroy Brianna , Bicalho Rodrigo C.
Published: September 2023

Metritis is a postpartum uterine disease with greater incidence in primiparous than in multiparous cows. In primiparous cows, the impact on production and health is lessened, presumably due to a superior immune response. Here, we tested whether an in vivo model of clinical metritis induction developed for postpartum multiparous Holstein cows would produce similar results in primiparous cows. Thirty-six cows were randomly assigned to one of three groups and received intrauterine infusion within 24 h of parturition. The controls were infused with sterile saline; the low-dose group received a bacterial cocktail containing 103 cfu of Escherichia coli, Trueperella pyogenes, and Fusobacterium necrophorum; and the high-dose group were infused with 106 cfu of the same cocktail. Production, health traits, and the vaginal discharge culture were assessed daily, from enrollment until 14 d in milk. Clinical metritis occurred in 64% of high-dose cows, 33% of the controls, and 42% of low-dose cows, with no significant difference of incidence between groups. However, when accounting by time, high-dose cows had a 2.7 times greater hazard of metritis compared with the controls. The bacterial challenge affected milk production and dry matter intake tended to decrease. In the high-dose group, a greater growth of F. necrophorum in the selective medium was also observed, suggesting an association with metritis. Therefore, this study suggests intrauterine inoculation with 106 cfu of this bacterial cocktail elicits physical and clinical outcomes consistent with clinical metritis.
The Molecular and Function Characterization of Porcine MID2
Authors: Chen Jing , Zhou Likun , Yang Zhuosong , Zhao Shijie , Li Wen , Zhang Yina , Xia Pingan
Published: September 2023

Midline2 (MID2/TRIM1) is a member of the tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) family, which is involved in a wide range of cellular processes. However, fundamental studies on porcine MID2 (pMID2) are still lacking. In this study, we identified and characterized the full length MID2 gene of pig (Sus scrofa). The sequence alignment analysis results showed that pMID2 had an N-terminal RING zinc-finger domain, BBC domain, and C-terminal COS box, FN3 motif, and PRY-SPRY domain that were conserved and similar to those of other vertebrates. Furthermore, pMID2 had the highest expression levels in porcine lung and spleen. Serial deletion and site-directed mutagenesis showed that the putative nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) binding site may be an essential transcription factor for regulating the transcription expression of pMID2. Furthermore, the immunofluorescence assay indicated that pMID2 presented in the cell membrane and cytoplasm. To further study the functions of pMID2, we identified and determined its potential ability to perceive poly (I:C) and IFN-α stimulation. Stimulation experiments showed pMID2 enhanced poly (I:C)-/IFN-α-induced JAK-STAT signaling pathway, indicating that pMID2 might participate in the immune responses. In conclusion, we systematically and comprehensively analyzed the characterizations and functions of pMID2, which provide valuable information to explore the pMID2 functions in innate immunity. Our findings not only enrich the current knowledge of MID2 in IFN signaling regulation but also offer the basis for future research of pig MID2 gene.
Identification of Individual Hanwoo Cattle by Muzzle Pattern Images through Deep Learning
Authors: Lee Taejun , Na Youngjun , Kim Beob Gyun , Lee Sangrak , Choi Yongjun
Published: September 2023

The objective of this study was to identify Hanwoo cattle via a deep-learning model using muzzle images. A total of 9230 images from 336 Hanwoo were used. Images of the same individuals were taken at four different times to avoid overfitted models. Muzzle images were cropped by the YOLO v8-based model trained with 150 images with manual annotation. Data blocks were composed of image and national livestock traceability numbers and were randomly selected and stored as train, validation test data. Transfer learning was performed with the tiny, small and medium versions of Efficientnet v2 models with SGD, RMSProp, Adam and Lion optimizers. The small version using Lion showed the best validation accuracy of 0.981 in 36 epochs within 12 transfer-learned models. The top five models achieved the best validation accuracy and were evaluated with the training data for practical usage. The small version using Adam showed the best test accuracy of 0.970, but the small version using RMSProp showed the lowest repeated error. Results with high accuracy prediction in this study demonstrated the potential of muzzle patterns as an identification key for individual cattle.
Utilization of Existing Human Kinase Inhibitors as Scaffolds in the Development of New Antimicrobials
Authors: Konaklieva Monika I. , Plotkin Balbina J.
Published: September 2023

The prevalence and continuing expansion of drug resistance, both in clinical and community settings represents a major challenge for current antimicrobial therapy. The different approaches for addressing this challenge include (1) identification of novel antibacterials by repurposing of existing drugs originally that historically target host proteins; and (2) effect target switching through modification of existing antimicrobials. The focus of this manuscript is on these drug discovery strategies, with utility for development of new antimicrobials with different modes of action.
Acculturation and Subjective Norms Impact Non-Prescription Antibiotic Use among Hispanic Patients in the United States
Authors: Laytner Lindsey A. , Olmeda Kiara , Salinas Juanita , Alquicira Osvaldo , Nash Susan , Zoorob Roger , Paasche-Orlow Michael K. , Trautner Barbara W. , Grigoryan Larissa
Published: September 2023

Using antibiotics without medical guidance (non-prescription antibiotic use) may contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Hispanic individuals are a growing demographic group in the United States (US) with a high prevalence of non-prescription antibiotic use. We investigated the effects of acculturation and subjective norms on Hispanic individuals’ intentions to use antibiotics without a prescription from the following sources: (1) markets in the United States (not legal), (2) other countries (abroad), (3) leftovers from previous prescriptions, and (4) friends/relatives. We surveyed self-identified Hispanic outpatients in eight clinics from January 2020 to June 2021 using the previously validated Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (SASH). Of the 263 patients surveyed, 47% reported previous non-prescription use, and 54% expressed intention to use non-prescription antibiotics if feeling sick. Individuals with lower acculturation (Spanish-speaking preferences) expressed greater intentions to use antibiotics from abroad and from any source. Individuals with more friends/relatives who obtain antibiotics abroad were over 2.5 times more likely to intend to use non-prescription antibiotics from friends/relatives (p = 0.034). Other predictors of intention to use non-prescription antibiotics included high costs of doctor visits and perceived language barriers in the clinic. Antibiotic stewardship interventions in Hispanic communities in the United States should consider the sociocultural and healthcare barriers influencing non-prescription use and promote language-concordant healthcare.
Correction: Tran et al. Antimicrobial Properties of Bacillus Probiotics as Animal Growth Promoters. Antibiotics 2023, 12, 407
Authors: Tran Charlie , Horyanto Darwin , Stanley Dragana , Cock Ian E. , Chen Xiaojing , Feng Yunjiang
Published: September 2023

In the original publication [...]
Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli from Raw Cow Milk in Namwala District, Zambia: Public Health Implications
Authors: Mwasinga Wizaso , Shawa Misheck , Katemangwe Patrick , Chambaro Herman , Mpundu Prudence , M’kandawire Ethel , Mumba Chisoni , Munyeme Musso
Published: September 2023

Escherichia coli (E. coli), a major foodborne disease-causing pathogen found in raw cow milk, has even far more reaching public health ramifications as it encodes for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study aimed to identify multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli from raw cow’s milk and evaluate their antimicrobial-resistant profiles. In total, 418 pooled raw cow milk samples were collected from milk collection centers and analysed using standard culture methods to isolate E. coli. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) was conducted using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method and PCR was used to identify cefotaxime (CTX) resistant genes. Overall isolation of E. coli was 51.2% (214/418) with MDR observed in 21% (45/214) of isolates across different antibiotic combinations. Resistance was observed towards ampicillin (107/214, 50%), tetracycline (86/214, 40.1%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (61/214, 28.5%), and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (CTX) (50/214, 23.4%). Notably, 15% (32/214) resistance to CTX was observed, while 12.6% (27/214) exhibited resistance to imipenem. The blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes were detected in CTX-resistant isolates. The findings of MDR E. coli that harbour blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes in raw cow’s milk indicate serious public health risks for consumers.
Hydrogen Sulfide: An Emerging Regulator of Oxidative Stress and Cellular Homeostasis—A Comprehensive One-Year Review
Authors: Munteanu Constantin , Turnea Marius Alexandru , Rotariu Mariana
Published: September 2023

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), traditionally recognized as a toxic gas, has emerged as a critical regulator in many biological processes, including oxidative stress and cellular homeostasis. This review presents an exhaustive overview of the current understanding of H2S and its multifaceted role in mammalian cellular functioning and oxidative stress management. We delve into the biological sources and function of H2S, mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and cellular homeostasis, and the intricate relationships between these processes. We explore evidence from recent experimental and clinical studies, unraveling the intricate biochemical and molecular mechanisms dictating H2S’s roles in modulating oxidative stress responses and maintaining cellular homeostasis. The clinical implications and therapeutic potential of H2S in conditions characterized by oxidative stress dysregulation and disrupted homeostasis are discussed, highlighting the emerging significance of H2S in health and disease. Finally, this review underscores current challenges, controversies, and future directions in the field, emphasizing the need for further research to harness H2S’s potential as a therapeutic agent for diseases associated with oxidative stress and homeostatic imbalance. Through this review, we aim to emphasize H2S’s pivotal role in cellular function, encouraging further exploration into this burgeoning area of research.
NRF2, a Superstar of Ferroptosis
Authors: Yan Ruihan , Lin Bingyi , Jin Wenwei , Tang Ling , Hu Shuming , Cai Rong
Published: September 2023

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent and lipid peroxidation-driven cell death cascade, occurring when there is an imbalance of redox homeostasis in the cell. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2, also known as NRF2) is key for cellular antioxidant responses, which promotes downstream genes transcription by binding to their antioxidant response elements (AREs). Numerous studies suggest that NRF2 assumes an extremely important role in the regulation of ferroptosis, for its various functions in iron, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, and so on. Many pathological states are relevant to ferroptosis. Abnormal suppression of ferroptosis is found in many cases of cancer, promoting their progression and metastasis. While during tissue damages, ferroptosis is recurrently promoted, resulting in a large number of cell deaths and even dysfunctions of the corresponding organs. Therefore, targeting NRF2-related signaling pathways, to induce or inhibit ferroptosis, has become a great potential therapy for combating cancers, as well as preventing neurodegenerative and ischemic diseases. In this review, a brief overview of the research process of ferroptosis over the past decade will be presented. In particular, the mechanisms of ferroptosis and a focus on the regulation of ferroptosis by NRF2 will be discussed. Finally, the review will briefly list some clinical applications of targeting the NRF2 signaling pathway in the treatment of diseases.
Association between the Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study of NHANES Data, 2013–2018
Authors: Liu Chenning , Lai Wenyu , Zhao Meiduo , Zhang Yexuan , Hu Yuanjia
Published: September 2023

The relationship between composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) levels and the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in postmenopausal women is unknown. In total, 3109 women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2018 were included in this cross-sectional study. We evaluated the association between CDAI levels and the risk of ASCVD by using three logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines. A stratified analysis and sensitivity analysis were also conducted. The restricted cubic splines exhibited an L-shaped dose-response association between CDAI levels and the ASCVD risk. Logistic regression analysis found that CDAI levels were negatively associated with the occurrence of ASCVD. The ORs associated with a per-SD increase in CDAI were 0.67 (95% CI: 0.51–0.88) for ASCVD risk. Similarly, women in the group with high CDAI levels were less likely to have ASCVD (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.50–0.98) compared to those in the group with low CDAI levels. When the CDAI levels were divided into quartiles, it was found that the ORs for ASCVD with CDAI levels in Q2 (−1.04–1.11), Q3 (1.11–3.72), and Q4 (3.72–43.87) were 0.63 (0.44, 0.90), 0.64 (0.42, 0.94), and 0.51 (0.27, 0.97), respectively, compared to those with CDAI levels in Q1 (−6.83–−1.04). In addition, age, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and smoking behaviors acted as potential modifiers, and ORs were more significant in women aged 40–69 years, in individuals with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and in smokers (p for interaction <0.05). These findings may offer valuable insights into the role of CDAI levels in the development of ASCVD among postmenopausal women.
Feature Point Identification in Fillet Weld Joints Using an Improved CPDA Method
Authors: Huang Yang , Xu Shaolei , Gao Xingyu , Wei Chuannen , Zhang Yang , Li Mingfeng
Published: September 2023

An intelligent, vision-guided welding robot is highly desired in machinery manufacturing, the ship industry, and vehicle engineering. The performance of the system greatly depends on the effective identification of weld seam features and the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the weld seam position in a complex industrial environment. In this paper, a 3D visual sensing system with a structured laser projector and CCD camera is developed to obtain the geometry information of fillet weld seams in robot welding. By accounting for the inclination characteristics of the laser stripe in fillet welding, a Gaussian-weighted PCA-based laser center line extraction method is proposed. Smoother laser centerlines can be obtained at large, inclined angles. Furthermore, an improved chord-to-point distance accumulation (CPDA) method with polygon approximation is proposed to identify the feature corner location in center line images. The proposed method is validated numerically with simulated piece-wise linear laser stripes and experimentally with automated robot welding. By comparing this method with the grayscale gravity method, Hessian-matrix-based method, and conventional CPDA method, the proposed improved CPDA method with PCA center extraction is shown to have high accuracy and robustness in noisy welding environments. The proposed method meets the need for vision-aided automated welding robots by achieving greater than 95% accuracy in corner feature point identification in fillet welding.
Physical and Morphological Differences between Young Elite Taekwondo and Karate Players
Authors: Martínez-Rodríguez Alejandro , Alacid Fernando , Cuestas-Calero Bernardo J. , Matłosz Piotr , López-Plaza Daniel
Published: September 2023

The different nature of taekwondo and karate actions involves sport-specific actions with different physical demands and a typical morphological profile. The aims of the current investigation were to compare body composition and strength factors between young karate and taekwondo players and to investigate the body proportionality of each discipline. Twenty-five young taekwondo fighters (18 boys and 7 girls) and twenty-eight karate athletes (19 boys and 9 girls) volunteered for the study. A battery of anthropometric measurements were obtained for each individual (heights, weight, girths, lengths, and sum of skinfolds). Upper-body and lower-body strength were determined using the handgrip test and counter-movement jump test, respectively. In boys, significantly greater Σ 6 skinfold, wrist, and maximum thigh girth measurements were observed in taekwondo athletes (p < 0.05; d > 0.59), while karate competitors revealed larger muscle mass values (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, girls only showed significant differences with respect to anterior-posterior chest breadth, age at peak height velocity (APHV), and head girth (p < 0.05). Proportionality analysis revealed that both sexes presented lower skinfold thicknesses and breadths than the normal population. Therefore, in both disciplines, similar profiles were determined, but young karate athletes seemed to exhibit a tendency towards a more robust and compact profile with greater body strength.
Phytogenic Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Metallic/Bimetallic Nanoparticles Using Beta vulgaris L. Extract and Assessments of Their Potential Biological Activities
Authors: Elattar Khaled M. , Ghoniem Abeer A. , Al-Otibi Fatimah O. , El-Hersh Mohammed S. , Helmy Yosra A. , Saber WesamEldin I. A.
Published: September 2023

The synthesis of novel nanomedicines through eco-friendly protocols has been applied on a large scale with the prediction of discovering alternate therapies. The current work attained phytogenic synthesis of Ag-mNPs, AgSeO2-bmNPs, and Ag-TiO2-bmNPs through bio-reduction using an aqueous extract of Beta vulgaris (red beetroot). The phytochemical profile of the eco-friendly synthesized metallic/bimetallic nanoparticles was studied. The optical properties of nano-solutions were studied via UV-visible spectroscopy. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectral analyses revealed that stretching vibrations at wavenumbers 3303.81–3327.81 cm−1 attributed to phenolic hydroxyl groups documented shifts in the values in this range owing to proton dissociation through the bio-reduction of the metal ions. The surface morphology and the charge of the nanoparticles were investigated using a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and zeta potential analyses. The prepared nano-solutions showed lower antioxidant activity (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and phosphomolybdate assays) than the plant extract. These results together with phytochemical analyses support the participation of the reactive species (phenolic contents) in the bio-reduction of the metal ions in the solutions through the formation of metallic/bimetallic nanoparticles. Ag-mNPs, AgSeO2-bmNPs, and Ag-TiO2-bmNPs showed antibacterial potentiality. AgSeO2-bmNPs were superior with inhibitory zone diameters of 34.7, 37.7, 11.7, and 32.7 mm against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica, respectively. Applying the Methylthiazole Tetrazolium (MTT) assay, the Ag-TiO2 bmNPs revealed potent cytotoxicity against the HePG2 tumor cell line (IC50 = 18.18 ± 1.5 µg/mL), while Ag-SeO2 bmNPs revealed the most potent cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 cell line (IC50 = 17.92 ± 1.4 µg/mL).
Hardware Acceleration of Satellite Remote Sensing Image Object Detection Based on Channel Pruning
Authors: Zhao Yonghui , Lv Yong , Li Chao
Published: September 2023

Real-time detection of satellite remote sensing images is one of the key technologies in the field of remote sensing, which requires not only high-efficiency algorithms, but also low-power and high-performance hardware deployment platforms. At present, the image processing hardware acceleration platform mainly uses an image processing unit (GPU), but the GPU has the problem of large power consumption, and it is difficult to apply to micro-nano satellites and other devices with limited volume, weight, computing power, and power consumption. At the same time, the deep learning algorithm model has the problem of too many parameters, and it is difficult to directly deploy it on embedded devices. In order to solve the above problems, we propose a YOLOv4-MobileNetv3 field programmable gate array (FPGA) deployment scheme based on channel layer pruning. Experiments show that the acceleration strategy proposed by us can reduce the number of model parameters by 91.11%, and on the aerial remote sensing dataset DIOR, the average accuracy of the design scheme in this paper reaches 82.61%, the FPS reaches 48.14, and the average power consumption is 7.2 W, which is 317.88% FPS higher than the CPU and reduces the power consumption by 81.91%. Compared to the GPU, it reduces power consumption by 91.85% and improves FPS by 8.50%. Compared with CPUs and GPUs, our proposed lightweight algorithm model is more energy-efficient and more real-time, and is suitable for application in spaceborne remote sensing image processing systems.
Study on Shear Resistance and Structural Performance of Corrugated Steel–Concrete Composite Deck
Authors: Guo Shijie , He Xuan , He Hao , Li Zhijie , Zeng Yong , Tan Hongmei , Zhou Jianting
Published: September 2023

This study looks into a new composite bridge deck structure that employs a corrugated steel plate as the base. The goal is to address the shortcomings of traditional deck-bearing capacity, stiffness, and stress performance. Specifically, this study investigates the shear performance and slip characteristics of this structure. To achieve this, the study analyzes the shear behavior and slip tendencies of the composite bridge deck. The study focuses on the role of shear studs and PBL (Perfobond Leiste) perforated steel plates as essential components for shear connections. The shear performance of the composite deck is analyzed based on the structure of shear connection keys such as shear studs and PBL perforated steel plates. The advantages of composite decks in terms of stiffness, self-weight, load-bearing capacity, shear resistance, slip resistance, etc., are discussed to provide a theoretical reference for practical engineering applications. The shear resistance of shear stud shear keys is investigated through shear push-out experiments, and the shear resistance of shear studs is investigated through finite element simulations based on the ABAQUS 2020 finite element software. The results showed that the shear load capacity of the shear studs increased with the increase in the height-to-diameter ratio for different diameters of the shear studs, and the range of increases was from 2% to 23%. However, when the diameter of the shear stud exceeded 22 mm, the ultimate shear capacity of the shear stud increased with the increase in the height-to-diameter ratio, and the magnitude of the increase slowed down. For the actual design of the composite deck, it is recommended to maintain a shear stud height-to-diameter ratio within the range of 9 to 12. When using a composite deck with a PBL open-hole steel plate, the maximum longitudinal slip at the plate end and within the span is only 0.28 mm and 0.0158 mm, respectively. These values are 31% and 36% lower than those of the composite deck with a peg shear key. Additionally, the vertical peeling within the span of the PBL open-hole steel plate is merely 0.46 mm, showing a 21% reduction compared to that of the shear studs. It can be seen that the PBL perforated steel plates are more effective than the shear studs in resisting slip and peel.
Characterization of Polyphenols and Volatile Compounds from Understudied Algerian Pallenis spinosa by HS-SPME-GC-MS, NMR and HPLC-MSn Approaches
Authors: Adoui Nabila , Souilah Nabila , Bendif Hamdi , Sut Stefania , Dall’Acqua Stefano , Flamini Guido , Maggi Filippo , Peron Gregorio
Published: September 2023

Pallenis spinosa (L.) Cass. is a widespread plant in the Mediterranean region. Traditionally, it is used as a medicinal species to treat several ailments, from inflammation to skin injuries. Although the phytochemical content of this plant has already been investigated, there is currently limited data on Algerian P. spinosa. In this work, we focused on volatile compounds and non-volatile secondary metabolites extracted using HS-SPME and methanol from the aerial parts of P. spinosa collected from Northeast Algeria. Volatile constituents were analyzed by GC-MS, while non-volatile compounds were analyzed by NMR and HPLC-MSn. In total, 48 volatile compounds were identified, including sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (65.8%), monoterpene hydrocarbons (16.9%), and oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes (8.3% and 6.5%, respectively). β-Chamigrene (16.2%), α-selinene (12.8%), β-pinene (10.6%), and β-caryophyllene (9.2%) were assessed as the main constituents. Concerning non-volatile metabolites, 23 polyphenols were identified (7.26 mg/g DW), and phenolic acids were predominant (5.83 mg/g DW). Tricaffeoylhexaric acid (1.76 mg/g DW), tetracaffeoylhexaric acid (1.41 mg/g DW), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (1.04 mg/g DW), caffeoyl dihexoside (0.35 mg/g DW), and chlorogenic acid (0.29 mg/g DW) were the most abundant ones. Several known flavonoids, such as tricin and patuletin glycosides, kaempferol, and apigenin, were also identified, and myricetin hexoside was detected in P. spinosa for the first time. Overall, our work is the first to report an exhaustive characterization of volatile and non-volatile secondary metabolites from Algerian P. spinosa. The results represent a step forward in revealing the chemistry of this widespread plant species. Furthermore, they may contribute to rationalizing its traditional medicinal applications and preserve the biodiversity of Algerian flora.
Clustering Analysis of Wind Turbine Alarm Sequences Based on Domain Knowledge-Fused Word2vec
Authors: Wei Lu , Wang Liliang , Liu Feng , Qian Zheng
Published: September 2023

The alarm data contain abundant fault information related to almost all components of the wind turbine. Reasonable analysis and utilization of alarm data can assist wind farm maintenance personnel in quickly identifying the types of turbine faults, reducing operation and maintenance costs. This paper proposes a clustering analysis method that groups similar alarm sequences with the same fault type. Firstly, the alarm data are preprocessed, where alarm sequences are segmented, and redundant alarms are removed. Then, a domain knowledge-fused Word2vec (DK-Wrod2vec) method is introduced to transform non-numeric alarm codes into numeric vector representations. Finally, new distance metrics are incorporated into the K-means clustering algorithm to improve clustering performance. The performance of the proposed clustering method is assessed by applying it to labeled alarm sequences. The results demonstrate that the clustering performance is the best when using DK-Word2vec and the word rotator’s distance compared with other methods. Additionally, with the optimal parameter combination, the fault types of unlabeled alarm sequences are also analyzed.
Repair Method and Muéganos Structure Applied to the Nesting Problem in Finite Materials
Authors: Rodríguez Anabel , Cuevas Francisco , Esparza Daniela
Published: September 2023

During an optimization process which uses a metaheuristic strategy applied to the nesting problem, it is required to apply a repair method if the random solution contains overlapping items. In this paper, a repair method is proposed to avoid the overlap of pixels between items obtained by a randomly generated solution using metaheuristics. The proposed procedure runs through each one of the items. When it finds at least one overlapping pixel, it performs four moves: up, down, left, and right, and it is repeated until no more overlaps appear. In addition, a structure called muéganos is defined. It contains items that are nested more compactly to minimize waste. This structure allows the nesting of elements in a more efficient way. To complete the procedure, a sequential greedy algorithm (SGA) was implemented to nested the items in the available area of the material. A comparison was made between nesting without and with muéganos, obtaining better results using muéganos, with a material utilization of more than 70%. From the experimental results, it was obtained that the solutions are improved by more than 1% through our proposed method, which is competitive when compared to other methods proposed in the literature.
A Study of Contrastive Learning Algorithms for Sentence Representation Based on Simple Data Augmentation
Authors: Liu Xiaodong , Gong Wenyin , Li Yuxin , Li Yanchi , Li Xiang
Published: September 2023

In the era of deep learning, representational text-matching algorithms based on BERT and its variant models have become mainstream and are limited by the sentence vectors generated by the BERT model, and the SimCSE algorithm proposed in 2021 has improved the sentence vector quality to a certain extent. In this paper, to address the problem that the SimCSE algorithm has—that the greater the difference in sentence length, the smaller the probability that the sentence pairs are similar—an EdaCSE algorithm is proposed to perturb the sentence length using a simple data enhancement method without affecting the semantics of the sentences. The perturbation is applied to the sentence length by adding meaningless English punctuation marks to the original sentence so that the model no longer tends to recognise sentences of similar length as similar sentences. Based on the BERT series of models, experiments were conducted on five different datasets, and the experiments proved that the EdaCSE method improves an average of 1.67, 0.84, and 1.08 on the five datasets.
Special Issue on Promising Research and Strategies in Wastewater Treatment, Sludge Management, and Valorisation: Volume I
Authors: Laca Amanda , Patiño Yolanda
Published: September 2023

Rapid urbanization and industrialization, together with new contaminants arising from many different sources, make it necessary to move forwards with research to face future challenges regarding water pollution [...]
Spatial Overlay Analysis of Geochemical Singularity Index α-Value of Porphyry Cu Deposit in Gangdese Metallogenic Belt, Tibet, Western China
Authors: Zheng Shunli , Jiang Xiaojia , Gao Shunbao
Published: September 2023

The statistical modeling with ILR-RPCA-back CLR has two problems when dealing with the closure effect of geochemical data. Firstly, after performing isometric logratio (ilr) transformation, robust principal component analysis (RPCA) is employed for processing. The double-plot diagram illustrates that the element sequence transformation occurs in the first and second principal components, while the unique principal component remains unattainable. Secondly, by transforming both the score and load into the centered logratio (CLR) space using the U matrix, it is possible to obtain a score result that corresponds to the original order of elements according to the CLR = ILR·U formula. However, for obtaining a load result that corresponds to the original order of elements, an alternative formula “CLR = UT·ILR” must be used instead. In order to determine the optimal element assemblage for porphyry copper deposits, this study conducted statistical analysis on mineral assemblages from discovered deposits in the Gangdese metallogenic belt and identified Cu, Mo, Au, Ag, W, and Bi as key elements associated with porphyry copper deposits. Subsequently, by analyzing the singularities of the composite elements, the spatial overlay of the combined element is carried out, and concentration-area (C-A) fractal filtering is applied to identify the anomaly and background areas. To facilitate comparison, we conducted an analysis of various mineral and ore deposit types, revealing the following findings: (1) Combination elements exhibit superior recognition capability than single elements in porphyry copper deposits; (2) Skarn-type copper deposits unrelated to porphyry show a high degree of dissimilarity compared to those related to porphyry; (3) this method offers advantages over the single element method in evaluating porphyry gold deposits by reducing anomaly levels and initial investment during the evaluation stage for porphyry copper anomalies; (4) However, this method has limited ability in distinguishing between porphyry copper and molybdenum deposits.
Study on the Filter Integrated with High Transmission and Ultra-Wideband Electromagnetic Shielding Function in the View of Surface Plasmon
Authors: Wen Kui , Huang Xianjun , Tang Rici , Liang Yuanlong , Liu Peiguo
Published: September 2023

The generation of a strong electromagnetic weapon requires the electromagnetic protection performance of the photoelectric system, including the high shielding and ultra-wideband protection characteristics against strong electromagnetic attacks and superhigh infrared transmittance. This article aims to excite surface plasmons by etching a subwavelength circular structure array run through a metal film. At the same time, the local field enhancement effect based on surface plasmons is used to tune specific wavelengths of light, achieving the goal of enhancing the optical transmission effect. Ulteriorly, the amplitude and position of the infrared response peak are controlled by optimizing the structural geometric parameters to achieve filtering effects in different wavebands. Furthermore, through the inversion calculation of the transmission spectrum of the circle array structure in the visible light band, the different colors of its surface under different parameters can correspond one-to-one to its performance, so as to intuitively identify different filter types and their performance. Meanwhile, the remaining metal film after etching off the circle array structure region constitutes an ultra-wideband shielding layer as a continuous conductor, achieving a shielding efficiency of more than 45 dB in the radar band (1–18 GHz). It is worth noting that the cascaded theory combines ultra-thin metal films with thick substrates to solve the problem of software running for long periods of time and under high loads during the simulation of light propagation. This scheme greatly reduces the error between simulation and practical application.
Establishment of Localized Utilization Parameters for Numerical Simulation Analysis Applied to Deep Excavations
Authors: Wu Chien-Yi , Hsu Chia-Feng
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study was to apply deep excavation behavior prediction models in the geotechnical field to establish localized soil parameters for gravel layers. Common software tools, including PLAXIS and SoilWorks, were used extensively. Monitoring data from deep excavation cases related to gravel layers in the Xindian area of Taiwan were collected. In the background analysis, the deformation of the retaining walls was used instead of parameters typically used in deep excavation analysis. This was performed to provide the ideal range recommendations for the input parameters when conducting a numerical simulation analysis of the Xindian District stratum or similar strata. The assessment results show that when setting the fifth layer of gravel to SPT-N = 100, PLAXIS suggested a soil elastic modulus range of 7840 N to 9800 N per square meter (kN/m2), while SoilWorks recommended a range of 2450 N to 3430 N per square meter (kN/m2). These ranges allow for a reasonable estimation of the maximum wall deformation during the final excavation stage. Based on the research findings, it is recommended that when conducting an excavation analysis in gravel layers in the Xindian area of Taiwan or in similar strata, engineers should refer to the abovementioned recommended ranges when selecting the soil elastic modulus for different software programs. This will enhance the accuracy of the deformation predictions during the final excavation stage.
Large-Scale Climate Factors of Compound Agrometeorological Disasters of Spring Maize in Liaoning, Northeast China
Authors: Zhao Siwen , Ji Ruipeng , Wang Saidi , Li Xiaoou , Zhao Siyu
Published: September 2023

Co-occurring extreme heat, drought, and moisture events are increasing under global warming and pose serious threats to ecosystem and food security. However, how to effectively link compound agrometeorological disasters (CADs) with climate change has not been well assessed. In this study, we focus on the comprehensive influence of large-scale climate factors on CADs rather than extreme meteorological elements. The results indicate that there are two main CADs of spring maize in Shenyang, Northeast China (NEC), including concurrent drought and cold damage (DC) and drought in multiple growth periods (MD). The related circulation anomalies at mid–high latitudes are identified as four patterns, namely, the Northeast Asia Low (NEAL) and Ural High (UH) patterns affecting DC, the Baikal High and Okhotsk Low (BHOL), and the Northeast Asia High (NEAH) patterns leading to MD. The vertical profile and water vapor transport anomalies further demonstrate the influence mechanism of large-scale circulation on compound heat–moisture stresses. This study highlights the role of atmospheric circulation, which can provide effective predictors for these synergistic agrometeorological disasters.
Assessment of Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle NOx and CO2 Emissions Based on OBD Data
Authors: Hao Lijun , Ren Yanxu , Lu Wenhui , Jiang Nan , Ge Yunshan , Wang Yachao
Published: September 2023

Controlling NOx and CO2 emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs) is receiving increasing attention. Accurate measurement of HDDV NOx and CO2 emissions is the prerequisite for HDDV emission control. Vehicle emission regulations srecommend the measurement of NOx and CO2 emissions from vehicles using an emission analyzer, which is expensive and unsuitable to measure a large number of vehicles in a short time. The on-board diagnostics (OBD) data stream of HDDVs provides great convenience for calculating vehicle NOx and CO2 emissions by providing the engine fuel flow rate, NOx sensor output, and air mass flow. The calculated vehicle NOx and CO2 emissions based on the OBD data were validated by testing a heavy-duty truck’s emissions on the chassis dynamometer over the CHTC-HT driving cycle, showing that the calculated NOx and CO2 emissions based on the OBD data are consistent with the measured results by the emission analyzer. The calculated vehicle fuel consumptions based on the OBD data were close to the calculated results based on the carbon balance method and the measured results by the fuel flowmeter. The experimental results show that accessing vehicle NOx and CO2 emissions based on the OBD data is a convenient and applicable method.
Zalcman Functional and Majorization Results for Certain Subfamilies of Holomorphic Functions
Authors: Khan Muhammad Ghafar , Khan Bilal , Tawfiq Ferdous M. O. , Ro Jong-Suk
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we investigate sharp coefficient functionals, like initial four sharp coefficient bounds, sharp Fekete–Szegö functionals, and, for n=1 and 2, sharp Zalcman functionals are evaluated for class of functions associated with tangent functions. Furthermore, we provide some majorization results for some non-vanishing holomorphic functions, whose ratios are related to various domains in the open unit disk.
Dental Auto Transplantation Success Rate Increases by Utilizing 3D Replicas
Authors: Kizek Peter , Riznic Marcel , Borza Branislav , Chromy Lubos , Glinska Karolina Kamila , Kotulicova Zuzana , Jendruch Jozef , Hudak Radovan , Schnitzer Marek
Published: September 2023

Dental autotransplantation is an effective alternative to conventional dental treatment, and it involves removing a tooth and repositioning it in a new position within the same patient. Although this procedure might pose more intraoperative challenges, it provides a great solution for replacing missing teeth or aiding difficult eruption in young patients. This prospective method is also advocated as a use of treatment for unrestorable teeth. The success rates of autotransplantation cases with and without replicas were compared in a retrospective analysis of the data. By reducing donor tooth manipulation and ensuring a proper fit and positioning in the recipient socket, replicas significantly increased success rates of the procedure. CBCT scans were used to collect data. Data exported to the Mimics system were then processed in order to achieve a model of the donor tooth. Additive manufacturing technology was used to create the replicas. Specialized biocompatible material was used. Details of the replantation site and the donor tooth requirements were described, as well as the step-by-step surgical technique. For the best results, variables, like patient selection, surgical technique, and long-term monitoring, were found to be essential. The study highlights the significance of dental professionals and biomedical engineering staff working together to develop standard operating procedures and achieve predictable outcomes in autotransplantation procedures. The results suggest that 3D printed replicas could be a useful tool for improving the effectiveness and success of dental autotransplantation.
Identification of a Novel Bioactive Peptide Derived from Frozen Chicken Breast Hydrolysate and the Utilization of Hydrolysates as Biopreservatives
Authors: Maky Mohamed Abdelfattah , Zendo Takeshi
Published: September 2023

Frozen chicken breast was hydrolyzed by treatment with thermolysin enzyme to obtain a chicken hydrolysate containing bioactive peptides. After that, a peptide was purified from the chicken hydrolysate utilizing a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The molecular weight of the chicken peptide was 2766.8. Protein sequence analysis showed that the peptide was composed of 25 amino acid residues. The peptide, designated as C25, demonstrated an inhibitory action on the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 1.11 µg/mL. Interestingly, C25 showed antimicrobial activity against multi-drug resistant bacteria Proteus vulgaris F24B and Escherichia coli JM109, both with MIC values of 24 µg/mL. The chicken hydrolysate showed antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 348.67 µg/mL. Furthermore, the proliferation of aerobic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae as well as lipid oxidation were significantly reduced when the chicken hydrolysate was used as a natural preservative during cold storage of chicken breasts. Hydrolysates derived from muscle sources have the potential to be used in formulated food products and to contribute positively to human health.
CAM Model: Intriguing Natural Bioreactor for Sustainable Research and Reliable/Versatile Testing
Authors: Palumbo Carla , Sisi Federica , Checchi Marta
Published: September 2023

We are witnessing the revival of the CAM model, which has already used been in the past by several researchers studying angiogenesis and anti-cancer drugs and now offers a refined model to fill, in the translational meaning, the gap between in vitro and in vivo studies. It can be used for a wide range of purposes, from testing cytotoxicity, pharmacokinetics, tumorigenesis, and invasion to the action mechanisms of molecules and validation of new materials from tissue engineering research. The CAM model is easy to use, with a fast outcome, and makes experimental research more sustainable since it allows us to replace, reduce, and refine pre-clinical experimentation (“3Rs” rules). This review aims to highlight some unique potential that the CAM-assay presents; in particular, the authors intend to use the CAM model in the future to verify, in a microenvironment comparable to in vivo conditions, albeit simplified, the angiogenic ability of functionalized 3D constructs to be used in regenerative medicine strategies in the recovery of skeletal injuries of critical size (CSD) that do not repair spontaneously. For this purpose, organotypic cultures will be planned on several CAMs set up in temporal sequences, and a sort of organ model for assessing CSD will be utilized in the CAM bioreactor rather than in vivo.
New Record of Dendronephthya sp. (Family: Nephtheidae) from Mediterranean Israel: Evidence for Tropicalization?
Authors: Nativ Hagai , Galili Ori , Almuly Ricardo , Einbinder Shai , Tchernov Dan , Mass Tali
Published: September 2023

Bio-invasions have the potential to provoke cascade effects that can disrupt natural ecosystems and cause ecological regime shifts. The Mediterranean Sea is particularly prone to bio-invasions as the changing water conditions, evoked by climate change, are creating advantageous conditions for Lessepsian migrants from the Red Sea. Recently, in May 2023, a new alien species was documented in the Mediterranean Sea—a soft coral of the genus Dendronephthya. This discovery was made by divers conducting ‘Long-Term Ecological Research’ surveys, along the coast of Israel, at a depth of 42 m. Genetic and morphological testing suggest that the species identity may be Dendronepthya hemprichi, an Indo-Pacific coral, common in the Red Sea. According to life history traits of this species, such as accelerated attachment to available surfaces and fast growth, we expect it to rapidly expand its distribution and abundance across the Mediterranean Sea.