bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Working together: reflections on building 'knowledge partnerships' between researchers, farmers and advisors
Authors: Kenny Sean , Kaboré Carolyn
Published: June 2020

In agricultural research, development and extension (RD&E) the importance of building partnerships between technology collaborators (e.g. farmers, researchers, extension, industry) is widely accepted. The FutureDairy project has formalised relationships and interactions between farmers, researchers and advisors to 'co-develop' knowledge and technologies that address key industry challenges. Separate industry partnerships have been established to study opportunities in forages, feeding and labour saving innovations. Reflections on these partnerships, and their performance to date, suggests there may be benefit in knowledge partners having a better understanding of expectations for the partnership. Also highlighted is the way in which a technology codevelopment approach, though suited to developing guidelines for managing new technologies, may not be suited to systems questions. Issues that require multiple technologies and knowledge types to be addressed appear, from our experience, to require a different form of partnership than those used for developing new technologies. Without an understanding of these principles, RD&E organisations may still fail to deliver on industry expectations even while they are encouraging greater industry participation. Keywords: knowledge partnerships, co-development, feeding systems, complementary forage rotations, multidisciplinarity, partner farms, farming systems research project.
Performance of birdsfoot trefoil, white clover, and other legume-grass mixtures under irrigation in the Intermountain West USA
Authors: Macadam J.W. , Griggs T.C.
Published: June 2020

Two trials were designed to provide baseline data on the productivity and quality of irrigated pastures in the Intermountain West USA. An initial clipping trial (1997- 1999) screened a number of temperate grass-legume mixtures well-adapted to the soils and climate of the Intermountain West, and a successive grazing trial (2001- 2003) evaluated a subset of these mixtures under rotational grazing. The most productive and best utilised grass in mixtures was meadow brome (Bromus riparius), followed by tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata). Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) mixtures tended to become legume-dominated (up to 44% under grazing), and were therefore high in quality but a potential bloat threat. The bloat-safe legume birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) proved to be productive, well-utilised, and as persistent as other legumes in mixtures under grazing. Keywords: grass, grazing, Intermountain West USA, legume, mixtures, pasture
Essential elements of successful land development on Otago uplands
Authors: Macdougall P.
Published: June 2020

In 1977, we purchased a 1983 ha property carrying 1.5 SU/ha (3000 SU) to develop it to carry 5 SU/ha (10,000 SU) finishing all stock. The property runs from 170 to 1000 m a.s.l. To achieve this large increase in stocking rate we: • Used a combination of oversowing and cultivation to successfully establish pasture • Topdressed with adequate rates of superphosphate and lime • Changed to a more productive sheep breed • Introduced a two tier cattle system to gain the advantages of cross-breeding
How far have we come: 75 years 'in clover'?
Authors: Parsons A.J. , Edwards G.R. , Chapman D.F. , Carran R.A.
Published: June 2020

We reflect on what has been a recurring theme in the history of agricultural research in NZ - the understanding that while we grow white clover for its capacity to fix nitrogen, this increase in fertility ultimately passes to benefit the accompanying grass. The association of clover and grass is regarded both as a wonderful harmony upon which our economy depends, but also as a competition between species that too often defeats our efforts to realise clover's full potential. We review and revisit the nature of the interaction between the species, and we offer some radical approaches looking forward. These include simple pragmatic options for management for immediate gains in performance, and we identify the need for some critical rethinking to fundamentally alter how grass and clover interact. Keywords: grass, clover, cycles, patch dynamics, competition
Forage seed production: 75 years applying science and technology
Authors: Rolston M.P. , Chynoweth R.J. , Stewart A.V.
Published: June 2020

Forage seed (brassica, grass and legume species) is the delivery vehicle for new plant genetics to the pastoral sector. Seed production technology associated with the release of the first bred pasture cultivars in the 1930s was largely based around horse-drawn reaper and binders and stationary threshing machines. The development of authenticity and quality controls also started in the 1930s with the NZ Seed Certification Scheme. Management inputs were minimal with closing and harvest dates being the major tools available. Over a 75 year period, seed yields have increased, with top growers now achieving seed yields that are three times greater than those reported 50 to 75 years ago. In the 1950s, harvest mechanisation developed rapidly and in the 1970s on-farm seed drying was developed. The availability of nitrogen (N) fertiliser was the first major input available for grass seed growers. The paper follows the science and changing recommendations on N rates and the eventual maximum limit achieved by additional N identified in trials in 2004. From the 1960s onwards, new herbicides have allowed for the control of a wider range of difficult to control weed species, especially the control of other grasses in ryegrass seed crops and broadleaved weeds in white clover. New generation fungicides, insecticides and plant growth regulators have provided improved management tools for increased seed yields. The paper concludes with changes in extension from Government driven (Department of Agriculture) to farmer funded R&D and extension by the Foundation for Arable Research. Keywords: ryegrass, white clover, brassica, seed production, history
Cocksfoot pasture production in relation to environmental variables
Authors: Mills A. , Moot D.J. , Mckenzie B.A.
Published: June 2020

The effects of temperature, water and nitrogen on pasture production of an 8 year old 'Wana' cocksfoot pasture were quantified at Lincoln University, Canterbury. The maximum dry matter (DM) yield was 22.0 t/ha/yr when neither water nor N were limiting. Crude protein yield of +N pastures was 3.2-4.2 t/ha/yr compared with 1.0 t/ha in -N pastures. Metabolisable energy averaged 178*103 MJ ME/ha/yr for the +N pastures compared with 69*103 MJ ME/ha/yr for -N pastures. Seasonal differences in pasture production were explained in relation to thermal time with 7.0 kg DM/oCd for N fertilised pastures and 3.3 kg DM/oCd when no N was applied. During periods of water stress, relative yield decreased at a rate of 1.4%/mm when the soils critical limiting deficit of 78 mm was exceeded. Keywords: Dactylis glomerata, irrigation, nitrogen, thermal time.
A general planner to explore drenching strategies in natural and organic lamb production systems
Authors: Snow V.O. , Rollo M.D. , Lovatt S.J. , Dynes R.A.
Published: June 2020

The need for anthelmintic drenching varies from animal to animal. To avoid unnecessary use of drenches it is therefore desirable to formulate drenching rules that apply to the individual, rather than the mob. We used a computer decision support tool called the general planner for agro-ecosystem models (GPAM) to investigate drenching rules for lamb production on a dual organic-conventional farm. The GPAM was combined with a dynamic model of nematode infection in lambs to help understand how varying premiums for organically produced lamb affected optimal drenching decisions. Simulations showed that there was no incentive to produce lambs organically if the premium for organic meat was less than 20%. Even when the premium was increased to 80%, half the lambs slaughtered had conventional status. As the premium increased, more lambs were produced organically and there was greater variation in liveweight between animals, whether drenched or undrenched. This modelling exercise demonstrated that there is potential to devise individualised drenching strategies that return the greatest carcass value for the entire mob. However, it is also clear that without alternative non-anthelmintic strategies to control infection, a significant proportion of the flock will have to be finished using drenches even with high premiums for organic lamb. Keywords: organic lamb production, nematode infection, decision making, artificial intelligence
Maize silage and winter crop options to maximise drymatter and energy for NZ dairy systems
Authors: Densley R.J. , Austin G.M. , Williams I.D. , Tsimba R. , Edmeades G.O.
Published: June 2020

Trade-offs in dry matter (DM) and metabolisable energy (ME) between combinations of three maize silage hybrids varying in maturity from 100-113 CRM and six winter forage options were investigated in a Waikato farmer's field over 2 years. Winter crops were triticale, cut once; oats grazed 1-2 times; and Tama and Feast II Italian ryegrass, each cut or grazed 2-3 times. Greatest DM and ME production (38.9 t/ha; 396 GJ/ha) was from a 113 CRM hybrid followed by a single-cut triticale crop. The most economical sources of DM and ME were obtained from a 100 CRM maize hybrid plus grazed oats (11.8 c/ kg; 1.12 c/MJ), while the cheapest ME source among cut winter forages was a 113 CRM maize hybrid + triticale (1.18 c/MJ). Reliable annual silage production of 30 t DM/ha and 330 GJ ME/ha (or 3000 kg MS/ha) is possible using a late maturing maize hybrid combined with a winter forage crop such as triticale, although the low feed value of the triticale may limit its use as feed for milking cows. Keywords: Italian ryegrass, oats, maize silage, supplements, triticale, winter forage crops
Clover Hill Dairies: Balancing productivity and treading lightly in the centre of a rural residential development and a rainforest
Authors: Strong Lynne and Michael
Published: June 2020

Clover Hill Dairies is a progressive and highly intensive dairy farm, which currently milks 200 cows on 50 hectares three times a day on steep rainforest hinterland country. Milk production (305 day) currently averages 13 000 litres and 850 kg of milk solids per cow making Clover Hill Dairies one of the highest production dairy farms in Australia. The stud Holstein herd is fed a predominately pasture based diet with supplementary feeding comprising 35-40% of the dietary intake. Clover Hill Dairies aims to optimise the genetic potential of our high end genetic merit herd through close attention to pasture and soil management, biodiversity and the environment. Combining this with the application of the latest scientific principals and technology skills, we produce over 50 000 litres per hectare from the 200 cows. We recognise agriculture is no longer just about farming; it is intrinsically tied in with managing the environment and minimising the impact of human endeavours, hence the ongoing need to balance productivity and progress with minimal environmental footprint. Clover Hill Dairies strives to adopt a holistic decision making process to ensure higher quality of life, financial stability including managing and reducing debt, consistent profitability, and the confidence of knowing that our decisions are improving the environment and the community we live in. The key factors are herd genetics; best practice herd and farm management; the management and operational team; and interaction with the environment and the community.
High sugar ryegrasses for livestock systems in New Zealand
Authors: Edwards G.R. , Parsons A.J. , Rasmussen S. , Bryant R.H.
Published: June 2020

There has been mounting interest over the proposed production and environmental benefits from using perennial ryegrass cultivars bred to have higher water soluble carbohydrate content (high sugar grasses). Here, we objectively review published evidence, from the EU and New Zealand, of the effects of these on milk yield per cow, liveweight gain in sheep, N utilisation and wider trophic interactions. The literature reveals substantial variation in animal responses, though some of the uncertainty in interpretation can be resolved by combining the data from multiple trials, and showing this forms a continuum of response to diet quality. It also reveals variation in the degree to which the sugar trait has been expressed, possibly reflecting a gene x environment interaction. Achieving a more consistent, and probably greater than current, expression of the high sugar trait would be a valuable goal. We suggest 'proof of concept' has been shown, notably for the potential for improving N utilisation in the rumen, and so reducing the proportion of N intake lost in urine. The evidence suggests that this may be a greater challenge, albeit a more valuable goal, because of the relatively high N (crude protein) content forages that predominate in the New Zealand pasture industry. Keywords: animal performance, high sugar grass, Lolium perenne, perennial ryegrass, nitrogen utilisation, trait expression, water soluble carbohydrates
Monitoring land use change in the Lake Taupo catchment between 1975, 1990 and 2002 using satellite remote sensing data
Authors: Lilienthal H. , Brauer A. , Betteridge K. , Schnug E.
Published: June 2020

Conversion of native vegetation into farmed grassland in the Lake Taupo catchment commenced in the late 1950s. The lake's iconic value is being threatened by the slow decline in lake water quality that has become apparent since the 1970s. Keywords: satellite remote sensing, nitrate leaching, land use change, livestock farming, land management
Motivations for Participation and Cross-culture Adjustment of Taiwanese Working Holiday Makers in Australia
Authors: Chang Wanching , Chao Ren-Fang
Published: June 2020

This study aims to discuss working tourists' experiences, which include the motives before departure, cross-culture shock and adaption during the journey, and reflection after returning to Taiwan. Qualitative in-depth interviews were provided by 28 participants recruited through snowball sampling. We found that participation in a working holiday could be driven by three types of motivation: the influences of a reference group, high pay, and policy leniency. The transcripts of participants’ interviews allowed the development of the two themes of sociocultural and psychological adjustment. Working holiday participants believed they could achieve several benefits, including improving their language skills, enhancing their ability to deal with people and situations, training their decision-making skills, and changing their attitudes towards life.
Survey of Wolbachia frequency in Nashville, Tennessee Reveals Novel Infections
Authors: Pugazenthi Sangami , White Phoebe , Basu Aakash , Chandrashekar Anoop , Shropshire Dylan
Published: June 2020

Wolbachia (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) are maternally transmitted intracellular bacteria that infect approximately half of all insect species. These bacteria commonly act as reproductive parasites or mutualists to enhance their transmission from mother to offspring, resulting in high prevalence among some species. Despite decades of research on Wolbachia’s global frequency, there are many arthropod families and geographic regions that have not been tested for Wolbachia. Here, arthropods were collected on the Vanderbilt University campus in Nashville, Tennessee, where Wolbachia frequency has not been previously studied. The dataset consists of 220 samples spanning 34 unique arthropod families collected on the Vanderbilt University campus. The majority of our samples were from the families Blattidae (Blattodea), Pulicidae (Siphonaptera), Dryinidae (Hymenoptera), Aphididae (Hemiptera), Paronellidae (Entomobryomorpha), Formicidae (Hymenoptera), Pseudococcidae (Hemiptera), Sphaeroceridae (Diptera), and Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). PCR-based techniques were used to assign infection states and, from these data, the first cases of Wolbachia in the Paronellidae springtails, Lithobiidae (Lithobiomorpha) centipedes, Lonchopteridae (Diptera) spear-winged flies, Sepsidae (Diptera) black scavenger flies, Cryptocercidae (Blattodea) wood roaches, and Lauxaniidae (Diptera) acalyptrate flies were identified. Within-family infection frequencies ranged from 17-100% when Wolbachia was observed; however, numerous families tested did not reveal evidence of infection. These results expand on the field’s understanding of Wolbachia’sfrequencyin Nashville, Tennessee, and among arthropod families broadly, and is the first report of Wolbachia in centipedes.
KEYWORDS: Wolbachia; Infection Frequency; Endosymbiont; Tennessee; Centipede; Arthropod; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Nashville
The Use of Japanese Adjectives Ureshii and Tanoshii
Authors: Hamzah Nor Sahayu , Mohd Zin Zaid , Che Rodi Rozita
Published: June 2020

This study is a semantic study that explores the genre of meaning in general. It focuses on the synonyms of adjectives ureshii and tanoshii in the construction of sentences in the Japanese language. The objective of this study is to discuss similarities and differences of the usage of synonyms ureshii and tanoshii and also to analyse the implementation from the perspective of adjectives in the Malay language. The data selected for this study are sentences that contained ureshii and tanoshii lexicons based on Shinmeikai Japanese Language Dictionary (2012). This study utilizes qualitative research methodology in which the data are analysed descriptively. Besides that, the data are also analysed using textual analysis based on the conceptual framework by Ibrahim Ahmad (2005). The findings of this study elucidate the technical differences in the usage of Japanese adjectives ureshii and tanoshii as compared to Malay adjectives gembira [happy] and seronok [excited]. It shows that the two adjectives have similar meaning and nuance but cannot be used interchangeably. The outcomes of this study can be used as reference material for teachers and students to master the usage of adjectives in Japanese language. Lastly, further studies on Japanese lexicon keiyoushi should be carried out entirely.
Validation of an Automated Body Condition Scoring System Using 3D Imaging
Authors: O’ Leary Niall O’ , Leso Lorenzo , Buckley Frank , Kenneally Jonathon , McSweeney Diarmuid , Shalloo Laurence
Published: June 2020

Body condition scores (BCS) measure a cow’s fat reserves and is important for management and research. Manual BCS assessment is subjective, time-consuming, and requires trained personnel. The BodyMat F (BMF, Ingenera SA, Cureglia, Switzerland) is an automated body condition scoring system using a 3D sensor to estimate BCS. This study assesses the BMF. One hundred and three Holstein Friesian cows were assessed by the BMF and two assessors throughout a lactation. The BMF output is in the 0–5 scale commonly used in France. We develop and report the first equation to convert these scores to the 1–5 scale used by the assessors in Ireland in this study ((0–5 scale × 0.38) + 1.67 → 1–5 scale). Inter-assessor agreement as measured by Lin’s concordance of correlation was 0.67. BMF agreement with the mean of the two assessors was the same as between assessors (0.67). However, agreement was lower for extreme values, particularly in over-conditioned cows where the BMF underestimated BCS relative to the mean of the two human observers. The BMF outperformed human assessors in terms of reproducibility and thus is likely to be especially useful in research contexts. This is the second independent validation of a commercially marketed body condition scoring system as far as the authors are aware. Comparing the results here with the published evaluation of the other system, we conclude that the BMF performed as well or better.
Assessment of Efficiency of Nutrient Uptake of Different Sources of Zn, Mn, Cu and B in Zea mays
Authors: Reyes Gaige Andres , Rowe Bruce , Jurin Vatren
Published: June 2020

Advances in plant nutrition can be achieved by improving the delivery of micronutrients to the plants. The objective of this research was to compare the efficiency of uptake of different sources of zinc, copper and manganese (sulfates, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and oxides) and boron (boric anhydride and colemanite). We conducted all experiments in maize, repeated the experiment twice, using five replicates per treatment, and used two different media. Results showed that for cations, the soluble sources of micronutrients (sulfate and EDTA) in both media were more efficiently taken up. One-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey for multiple comparisons of means (95% confidence level) was used for all statistical analyses. Sulfate sources were significantly different when compared to the negative control and to the oxide sources. EDTA sources were significantly different when compared to the negative control and to the oxide sources. Oxide sources were not significantly different from the negative control. For boron, we found a similar trend, with boric anhydride being significantly different when compared to the negative control and to colemanite. Colemanite was significantly different when compared to the negative control. This study generated important information about uptake of soluble and insoluble sources of four micronutrients that can be used for the development of new formulations.
Derivates of the Antifungal Peptide Cm-p5 Inhibit Development of Candida auris Biofilms In Vitro
Authors: Kubiczek Dennis , Raber Heinz , Gonzalez-García Melaine , Morales-Vicente Fidel , Staendker Ludger , Otero-Gonzalez Anselmo J. , Rosenau Frank
Published: June 2020

Growth in biofilms as a fascinating and complex microbial lifestyle has become widely accepted as one of the key features of pathogenic microbes, to successfully express their full virulence potential and environmental persistence. This also increases the threat posed by Candida auris, which has a high intrinsic ability to persist on abiotic surfaces including those of surgical instruments and medical tubing. In a previous study, cyclic and helical-stabilized analogues of the antifungal peptide Cm-p5 were designed and synthetized, and proved to have increased activities against C. albicans and C. parapsilosis, but not against planktonic C. auris cells cultivated in suspension cultures. Here, we demonstrate, initially, that these derivatives, however, exhibited semi-inhibitory concentrations between 10–21 µg/mL toward C. auris biofilms. Maturated biofilms were also arrested between 71–97%. These novel biofilm inhibitors may open urgently needed new routes for the development of novel drugs and treatments for the next stage of fight against C. auris.
Potential Anti-Tuberculosis Activity of the Extracts and Their Active Components of Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. and Perr. with Special Emphasis on Polyphenols
Authors: Salih Enass Y. A. , Julkunen-Tiitto Riitta , Luukkanen Olavi , Sipi Marketta , Fahmi Mustafa K. M. , Fyhrquist Pia Johanna
Published: June 2020

In Sudanese traditional medicine, decoctions of the stem bark of Anogeissus leiocarpa are used for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). However, this plant has not been investigated before for its antimycobacterial effects. Our screening results show, for the first time, that many extracts of various parts of A. leiocarpa exhibit growth inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged between 625 and 5000 µg/mL, with an ethyl acetate extract of the root showing the lowest MIC value. The good antimycobacterial effects of the root part could be due to its high concentration of ellagic acid derivatives, ellagitannins, and flavonoids. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) fractionation resulted in some fractions with better activity than the starting point crude methanol extract (MIC 2500 µg/mL). Those fractions with the lowest MIC values contained a high number of antioxidant compounds. Fractions 3 and 4 (MIC 1500 and 1000 µg/mL, respectively) contained high concentrations of di-methyl ellagic acid ([M-H]− 329.0318). Fraction 6 (MIC 2000 µg/mL) contained a lower concentration of di-methyl ellagic acid and was not as growth inhibitory as fractions 3 and 4. Moreover, in fraction 3, an acetylated ellagic acid derivative ([M-H]− 343.0477) and di-methyl-ellagic acid xyloside ([M-H]− 461.0739) were tentatively characterized. Di-methyl ellagic acid xyloside was also present in fraction 4 and could strongly contribute to the antimycobacterial effect of this fraction. Additionally, protocatechuic acid ([M-H]− at m/z 153.0196) was present in fraction 4. Our antimycobacterial results obtained from this research justify the use of A. leiocarpa in Sudanese folk medicine against cough related to TB. Roots, stem bark, and leaves of A. leiocarpa are sources for new potent anti-TB drug lead compounds.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing for Salmonella Serovars Isolated from Food Samples: Five-Year Monitoring (2015–2019)
Authors: Peruzy Maria Francesca , Capuano Federico , Proroga Yolande Thérèse Rose , Cristiano Daniela , Carullo Maria Rosaria , Murru Nicoletta
Published: June 2020

The continuous collection and analysis of updated data on the antimicrobic resistance among bacterial strains represent the essential core for the surveillance of this problem. The present work aimed to investigate the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella serovars isolated in foods in 2015–2019. A total of 178 Salmonella strains belonging to 39 serovars were tested against 10 antimicrobials. High proportions of Salmonella isolates were resistant to tetracycline (n = 53.9%), ciprofloxacin (n = 47.2%), ampicillin (n = 44.4%), nalidixic acid (n = 42.7%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (n = 38.8%). Different resistance rates were recorded among the different serotypes of Salmonella, and S. Infantis, exhibited the highest resistance to antibiotics. A high percentage of strains isolated from poultry, pork, and bovine were resistant to at least one or two antimicrobials. Resistant and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains were also recorded among the isolates from molluscan shellfish; however, the occurrence of resistant Salmonella strains isolated from this source was significantly lower compared with those reported for poultry, pork, and bovine. The high levels of resistance reported in the present study indicate a potential public health risk. Consequently, additional hygiene and antibiotic stewardship practices should be considered for the food industry to prevent the prevalence of Salmonella in foods.
Antioxidant, Physicochemical, and Cellular Secretion of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Properties of Oat Bran Protein Hydrolysates
Authors: Walters Mallory E. , Willmore William G. , Tsopmo Apollinaire
Published: June 2020

The aim of this work was to determine the physicochemical and biological activities of hydrolyzed proteins from sonicated oat brans. In addition to the control bran sample, two types of pre-treatment procedures—namely, ultrasonic bath and probe-type sonication—were performed to extract proteins, followed by hydrolysis with various proteases. Physicochemical analyses showed that Flavourzyme-hydrolysates had greater amounts of aromatic amino acids, Papain-hydrolysates low surface charges (−0.78 to −1.32 mV) compared to the others (−3.67 to −9.17 mV), and Alcalase-hydrolysates a higher surface hydrophobicity. The hydrolysates had good radical scavenging activities but, as the ultrasonic pre-treatment of the brans showed, in certain cases there was a reduction in activities of up to 22% for ROO• and HO• and 15% for O2•− radicals. In anti-diabetic tests, the maximum inhibition of α-amylase was 31.8%, while that of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 was 53.6%. In addition, the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 in NCI-H716 cells was enhanced by 11.5% in the presence of hydrolysates.
Update on the Effects of Antioxidants on Diabetic Retinopathy: In Vitro Experiments, Animal Studies and Clinical Trials
Authors: Garcia-Medina Jose Javier , Rubio-Velazquez Elena , Foulquie-Moreno Elisa , Casaroli-Marano Ricardo P , Pinazo-Duran Maria Dolores , Zanon-Moreno Vicente , del-Rio-Vellosillo Monica
Published: June 2020

Current therapies for diabetic retinopathy (DR) incorporate blood glucose and blood pressure control, vitrectomy, photocoagulation, and intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors or corticosteroids. Nonetheless, these techniques have not been demonstrated to completely stop the evolution of this disorder. The pathophysiology of DR is not fully known, but there is more and more evidence indicating that oxidative stress is an important mechanism in the progression of DR. In this sense, antioxidants have been suggested as a possible therapy to reduce the complications of DR. In this review we aim to assemble updated information in relation to in vitro experiments, animal studies and clinical trials dealing with the effect of the antioxidants on DR.
Efficient Multifocal Structured Illumination Microscopy Utilizing a Spatial Light Modulator
Authors: Feng Liang , Wang Xiaolei , Sun Xinlei , Wang Sende , Lin Lie , Kosareva Olga , Liu Weiwei
Published: June 2020

We demonstrated an efficient system for multifocal structured illumination microscopy (MSIM) utilizing a spatial light modulator (SLM). Nine phase profiles of chessboard phase plates loaded on the SLM in sequence are used to generate nine multifocal arrays on the focal plane. Subsequently, nine raw multifocal images are acquired. Finally, by extracting the parameters of the illumination patterns from the raw images precisely, a final super-resolved image is reconstructed by performing the standard reconstruction procedure of structured illumination microscopy (SIM). Our MSIM system realized nearly a 1.5-fold enhancement in spatial resolution compared with wide-field (WF) microscopy. The feasibility of the present system is validated on experiments and the results show its great performances along with good compatibility.
Precise Channel Estimation Approach for a mmWave MIMO System
Authors: Srivastav Prateek Saurabh , Chen Lan , Wahla Arfan Haider
Published: June 2020

Channel estimation is a formidable challenge in mmWave Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) systems due to the large number of antennas. Therefore, compressed sensing (CS) techniques are used to exploit channel sparsity at mmWave frequencies to calculate fewer dominant paths in mmWave channels. However, conventional CS techniques require a higher training overhead for efficient recovery. In this paper, an efficient extended alternation direction method of multipliers (Ex-ADMM) is proposed for mmWave channel estimation. In the proposed scheme, a joint optimization problem is formulated to exploit low rank and channel sparsity individually in the antenna domain. Moreover, a relaxation factor is introduced which improves the proposed algorithm’s convergence. Simulation experiments illustrate that the proposed algorithm converges at lower Normalized Mean Squared Error (NMSE) with improved spectral efficiency. The proposed algorithm also ameliorates NMSE performance at low, mid and high Signal to Noise (SNR) ranges.
Regenerative Organic Rankine Cycle as Bottoming Cycle of an Industrial Gas Engine: Traditional and Advanced Exergetic Analysis
Authors: Gutierrez Javier Cardenas , Valencia Ochoa Guillermo , Duarte-Forero Jorge
Published: June 2020

This investigation shows a traditional and advanced exergetic assessment of a waste heat recovery system based on recuperative ORC (organic Rankine cycle) as bottoming cycle of a 2 MW natural gas internal combustion engine. The advanced exergetic evaluation divides the study into two groups, the avoidable and unavoidable group and the endogenous and exogenous group. The first group provides information on the efficiency improvement potential of the components, and the second group determines the interaction between the components. A sensitivity analysis was achieved to assess the effect of condensing temperature, evaporator pinch, and pressure ratio with net power, thermal efficiencies, and exergetic efficiency for pentane, hexane, and octane as organic working fluids, where pentane obtained better energy and exergetic results. Furthermore, an advanced exergetic analysis showed that the components that had possibilities of improvement were the evaporator (19.14 kW) and the turbine (8.35 kW). Therefore, through the application of advanced exergetic analysis, strategies and opportunities for growth in the thermodynamic performance of the system can be identified through the avoidable percentage of destruction of exergy in components.
Development of a Rapid Optical Measurement System for Circular Workpieces with Irregular Tooth Contours after Broaching Process
Authors: Chen Yu-Liang , Liang Xuan-Qi , Ye Zi-Rong , Hsu Quang-Cherng
Published: June 2020

During a manufacturing process, it is essential to quickly identify whether a tool needs to be replaced or adjusted, to ensure that production quality is not compromised. Therefore, the re-inspection of the product or first article inspection is an important process. Reducing the inspection time can reduce the time spent waiting for a product in the production line. This research aimed to design a system that can automatically and rapidly measure the dimensions of irregular tooth contours in the broaching process, to ensure cutting tools are replaced when necessary. This study developed an automatic machine for measuring the irregular tooth contours of large ring parts; the tooth root, tooth height, and tooth thickness of the workpiece are measured. The measurement diameter is approximately 200 mm, and the radial inspection accuracy is within ±20 μm; we aimed to reduce the detection time considerably. An optical micrometer and an automatic rotating platform were used in the measurement system. The workpieces to be measured were easy to install, and the eccentricity was automatically corrected by the system, thus saving time that would be taken to correct Abbe errors. This research successfully developed a rapid optical measurement system that can reduce the inspection time from 30 min to 60 s. Moreover, the maximum radial measurement error is −0.02 mm, which means that the measurement accuracy is within ±20 μm (total: 40 μm).
Assessment of Areal Methane Yields from Energy Crops in Ukraine, Best Practices
Authors: Morozova Ievgeniia , Oechsner Hans , Roik Mykola , Hülsemann Benedikt , Lemmer Andreas
Published: June 2020

Growing and utilizing bioenergy crops as feeding substrates in biogas plants may aid the development of the biogas sector in Ukraine. Therefore, research was done on potential methane yields from 22 high-yield varieties of 7 different crops grown in Ukraine for their biogas production suitability. Annual crops (maize, soybean, sweet sorghum and sorghum hybrids) and perennials (miscanthus, paulownia and switchgrass) harvested at three different harvesting times (H1, H2 and H3) related to specific stages of phenological development were investigated. The perennial crops studied were from different vegetation years. The samples were analysed in Ukraine on their dry matter- and volatile solids contents, dry matter yield (DMY) and crop nitrogen (N) uptake. The 55 °C -dried samples were delivered to Germany for their analysis with the Hohenheim Biogas Yield Test (HBT) on their specific methane yield (SMY). Based on DMY and SMY, the areal methane yields (AMY) were calculated. The highest SMY and AMY were found for maize, sweet sorghum and miscanthus. The highest average SMY of 0.35 ± 0.03 m3CH4 kgVS−1 was found for maize samples harvested at H2. Miscanthus “Giganteus” from the 8th vegetation year harvested at H1 has shown the highest AMY of 7404.50 ± 199.00 m3CH4 ha−1.
Preparation and Performance of Al2O3/Ti(C,N)-Added ZrO2 Whisker and NanoCoated CaF2@Al(OH)3 Powder
Authors: Li Qi , Xiao Guangchun , Chen Zhaoqiang , Guo Runxin , Yi Mingdong , Zhang Jingjie , Xu Chonghai
Published: June 2020

The Al2O3/Ti(C,N) ceramic material added micron ZrO2 whisker and nano coated CaF2@Al(OH)3 powder was fabricated. The micron ZrO2 whisker was for the toughening and reinforcing phase and the nano coated CaF2@Al(OH)3 powder was the lubricant. For obtaining a ceramic material with optimal comprehensive mechanical properties and friction properties, the influences of different compositions of the ZrO2 whisker and nano coated CaF2@Al(OH)3 powder on the microstructure and mechanical properties were analyzed, respectively. The result demonstrated that as the addition of the ZrO2 whisker was 6 vol% and the addition of the nano coated CaF2@Al(OH)3 powder was 10 vol%, the optimal self-lubricating ceramic material had optimal mechanical properties. The hardness of the ceramic material was 16.72 GPa, the flexural strength was 520 MPa and the fracture toughness reached 7.16 MPa·m1/2. The formation of the intragranular structure, whisker toughening and the phase transition of ZrO2 were the main mechanisms.
Listeria Monocytogenes in Soft Spreadable Salami: Study of the Pathogen Behavior and Growth Prediction During Manufacturing Process and Shelf Life
Authors: Branciari Raffaella , Ortenzi Roberta , Roila Rossana , Miraglia Dino , Ranucci David , Valiani Andrea
Published: June 2020

Recently, particular attention has been addressed to the control of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meat products, such as fermented salami, as a consequence of several listeriosis outbreaks associated with the consumption of these types of products. A short-ripened spreadable salami, typically produced in the Umbria region (Central Italy), was challenged with L. monocytogenes aiming to evaluate the pathogen’s growth dynamics and to define its growth potential during processing and storage time. The pathogen counts were stable in the inoculum level (2 Log CFU/g) during the production process and up to 30 days of storage time, decreasing thereafter. The growth potentials registered for process phase and storage time were 0.40 and −1.28, showing that the application of the hurdles technology principle successfully creates an unfavorable environment for L. monocytogenes growth.
The Effect of Curing Conditions on Selected Properties of Recycled Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Grabiec Anna M. , Zawal Daniel , Rasaq Waheed Adewale
Published: June 2020

The paper presents the influence of different curing conditions—wet, dry, and protection against water evaporation (PEV)—on selected properties of concretes with different amounts of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) previously subjected to atmospheric CO2 sequestration. Two types of cement were used, Portland cement and blast-furnace slag cement. The study was performed in laboratory conditions (at the temperature of 20 ± 1 °C and relative humidity of about 60%), according to currently applicable test procedures for most of the measured characteristics of concrete. Additionally, the eco-efficiency indexes (bi and ci) as well as the eco-durability S-CO2 index were calculated. It was found that dry conditions cause the properties of concrete to deteriorate, especially concrete made of blast-furnace slag cement, while PEV allows the achievement of results comparable to wet conditions. Moreover, for series with the highest amounts of coarse recycled aggregate and after longer periods of curing, the difference between the effects of wet curing and protection against water evaporation disappears. The eco-efficiency and eco-durability indexes approach confirms the beneficial effect of blast-furnace slag cement used as a binder, but on the condition of using a proper way of curing.
A Systematic Review of the Role of BIM in Building Sustainability Assessment Methods
Authors: Carvalho José Pedro , Bragança Luís , Mateus Ricardo
Published: June 2020

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is creating new opportunities for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry. One of them is the integration of the Building Sustainability Assessment (BSA) during the design process. Currently, an approach for using BIM to foster and optimise the application of BSA methods has not been clearly established yet, creating a knowledge gap on the application of BIM for sustainability assessment purposes. Thus, this paper analyses the current role of BIM to evaluate three BSA methods—LEED, BREEAM and SBTool. The current BIM applicability is assessed by performing a systematic review, where the criteria being assessed and the applied BIM software are identified. A comparison is made to determine which BSA method can currently take more advantage from BIM and to identify the number of assessed criteria from each one. Furthermore, the attractiveness of a BIM-based assessment for SBTool is analysed, facing the actual BIM scenario for LEED and BREEAM. Despite the restrictions, BIM use is increasing for sustainability purposes. Most of the analysed studies and identified software are still focused on the use of LEED for assessing sustainability during the design phase. However, BIM software capabilities can also support the assessment of the other BSA methods so that process replicability can happen. Among the most addressed criteria, the energy and material-related categories are the most eminent. Autodesk Revit is the most-used software. A BIM-based assessment for SBTool will have enough attractiveness. It can assess, at least, the same percentage of criteria as the other schemes, creating new opportunities to enhance building sustainability.
Investigating Applicability of Evaporative Cooling Systems for Thermal Comfort of Poultry Birds in Pakistan
Authors: Raza Hafiz M. U. , Ashraf Hadeed , Shahzad Khawar , Sultan Muhammad , Miyazaki Takahiko , Usman Muhammad , Shamshiri Redmond R. , Zhou Yuguang , Ahmad Riaz
Published: June 2020

In the 21st century, the poultry sector is a vital concern for the developing economies including Pakistan. The summer conditions of the city of Multan (Pakistan) are not comfortable for poultry birds. Conventionally, swamp coolers are used in the poultry sheds/houses of the city, which are not efficient enough, whereas compressor-based systems are not economical. Therefore, this study is aimed to explore a low-cost air-conditioning (AC) option from the viewpoint of heat stress in poultry birds. In this regard, the study investigates the applicability of three evaporative cooling (EC) options, i.e., direct EC (DEC), indirect EC (IEC), and Maisotsenko-cycle EC (MEC). Performance of the EC systems is investigated using wet-bulb effectiveness (WBE) for the climatic conditions of Multan. Heat stress is investigated as a function of poultry weight. Thermal comfort of the poultry birds is calculated in terms of temperature-humidity index (THI) corresponding to the ambient and output conditions. The heat production from the poultry birds is calculated using the Pederson model (available in the literature) at various temperatures. The results indicate a maximum temperature gradient of 10.2 °C (MEC system), 9 °C (DEC system), and 6.5 °C (IEC systems) is achieved. However, in the monsoon/rainfall season, the performance of the EC systems is significantly reduced due to higher relative humidity in ambient air.
Special Issue on Advanced Biometrics with Deep Learning
Authors: Teoh Andrew Beng Jin , Leng Lu
Published: June 2020

Biometrics, such as fingerprint, iris, face, hand print, hand vein, speech and gait recognition, etc [...]
Computer-Aided Biomedical Imaging of Periiliac Adipose Tissue Identifies Perivascular Fat as a Marker of Disease Complexity in Patients with Lower Limb Ischemia
Authors: Rapolti Emese , Opincariu Diana , Benedek Imre , Kovacs Istvan , Ratiu Mihaela , Rat Nora , Benedek Theodora
Published: June 2020

The aim of the study was to develop a semi-automated, computer-aided imaging technique to quantify the amount and distribution of perivascular fat at the level of the iliac arteries (periiliac adipose tissue—PIAT), and to investigate the association of this new computer-aided imaging biomarker with other biomedical imaging biomarkers, which characterize the pelvic adipose tissue (SAT—subcutaneous adipose tissue; VAT—visceral adipose tissue). We included 34 patients with peripheral arterial disease, in whom the volumes of PIAT, SAT and VAT were quantified using a dedicated software, at the level of right and left iliac arteries. Median value of PIAT was five milliliters. Patients with PIAT > five milliliters were in more advanced Fontaine classes, with more complex arterial lesions, compared to those with low PIAT (<5 mL) (p < 0.0001). PIAT volumes presented a gradual increase with the Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) class (2.57 +/− 1.98 in TASC A, 4.65 +/− 1.63 in TASC B, 8.79 +/− 1.99 in TASC C and 13.77 +/− 2.74 in TASC D). The distribution of PIAT between the left and right iliac axis was quasi-uniform (correlation between right and left PIAT: r = 0.46, p = 0.005). Linear regression analysis showed that the mean PIAT volume was correlated with VAT (r = 0.38, p = 0.02), but not with the SAT at the level of iliac artery origin (r = 0.16, p = 0.34). PIAT may represent a novel biomedical imaging derived biomarker, which characterizes the distribution of adipose tissue in the pelvic area and may serve as an indicator of the severity and complexity of lower limb ischemia.
Evaluation of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and Remote Sensing (RS) for Estimating Pasture Quality in Mediterranean Montado Ecosystem
Authors: Serrano João , Shahidian Shakib , Marques da Silva José , Paixão Luís , Carreira Emanuel , Carmona-Cabezas Rafael , Nogales-Bueno Julio , Rato Ana Elisa
Published: June 2020

Pasture quality monitoring is a key element in the decision making process of a farm manager. Laboratory reference methods for assessing quality parameters such as crude protein (CP) or fibers (neutral detergent fiber: NDF) require collection and analytical procedures involving technicians, time, and reagents, making them laborious and expensive. The objective of this work was to evaluate two technological and expeditious approaches for estimating and monitoring the evolution of the quality parameters in biodiverse Mediterranean pastures: (i) near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with multivariate data analysis and (ii) remote sensing (RS) based on Sentinel-2 imagery to calculate the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the normalized difference water index (NDWI). Between February 2018 and March 2019, 21 sampling processes were carried out in nine fields, totaling 398 pasture samples, of which 315 were used during the calibration phase and 83 were used during the validation phase of the NIRS approach. The average reference values of pasture moisture content (PMC), CP, and NDF, obtained in 24 tests carried out between January and May 2019 in eight fields, were used to evaluate the RS accuracy. The results of this study showed significant correlation between NIRS calibration models or spectral indices obtained by remote sensing (NDVIRS and NDWIRS) and reference methods for quantifying pasture quality parameters, both of which open up good prospects for technological-based service providers to develop applications that enable the dynamic management of animal grazing.