bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal variability of quasi-linear pitch-angle diffusion
Authors: Watt Clare E. J. , Allison Hayley J. , Bentley Sarah N. , Thompson Rhys L. , Rae I. Jonathan , Allanson Oliver , Meredith Nigel P. , Ross Johnathan P. J. , Glauert Sarah A. , Horne Richard B. , Zhang Shuai , Murphy Kyle R. , Rasinskaitė Dovilė , Killey Shannon
Published: October 2022

Kinetic wave-particle interactions in Earth’s outer radiation belt energize and scatter high-energy electrons, playing an important role in the dynamic variation of the extent and intensity of the outer belt. It is possible to model the effects of wave-particle interactions across long length and time scales using quasi-linear theory, leading to a Fokker-Planck equation to describe the effects of the waves on the high energy electrons. This powerful theory renders the efficacy of the wave-particle interaction in a diffusion coefficient that varies with energy or momentum and pitch angle. In this article we determine how the Fokker-Planck equation responds to the temporal variation of the quasi-linear diffusion coefficient in the case of pitch-angle diffusion due to plasmaspheric hiss. Guided by in-situ observations of how hiss wave activity and local number density change in time, we use stochastic parameterisation to describe the temporal evolution of hiss diffusion coefficients in ensemble numerical experiments. These experiments are informed by observations from three different example locations in near-Earth space, and a comparison of the results indicates that local differences in the distribution of diffusion coefficients can result in material differences to the ensemble solutions. We demonstrate that ensemble solutions of the Fokker-Planck equation depend both upon the timescale of variability (varied between minutes and hours), and the shape of the distribution of diffusion coefficients. Based upon theoretical construction of the diffusion coefficients and the results presented here, we argue that there is a useful maximum averaging timescale that should be used to construct a diffusion coefficient from observations, and that this timescale is likely less than the orbital period of most inner magnetospheric missions. We discuss time and length scales of wave-particle interactions relative to the drift velocity of high-energy electrons and confirm that arithmetic drift-averaging is can be appropriate in some cases. We show that in some locations, rare but large values of the diffusion coefficient occur during periods of relatively low number density. Ensemble solutions are sensitive to the presence of these rare values, supporting the need for accurate cold plasma density models in radiation belt descriptions.
Tomatoes from the desert: Environmental footprints and sustainability potential in a changing world
Authors: Wyngaard Sharon Ravitz , Kissinger Meidad
Published: October 2022

Worldwide growing demand for food, alongside limited resources and accelerating environmental changes, suggests that future global food security may rely at least partially on unconventional land and production systems, such as built infrastructure located in desert areas. This paper analyses the environmental footprints (water, soil, carbon, material, solid waste, and ecological) of a tomato production system in passive greenhouses, a low-tech growing structure with no artificial heating or cooling. We collected data from 10 farms in the hyper-arid region of the Central Arava, Israel. Our analysis covers the four stages of production up to the overseas export destination and investigates the system's direct and indirect biophysical interactions. The average footprint of a ton of tomatoes is 1,040 kg/t (Material footprint), 94 m3/t (Water footprint), 72 m2/t (Land footprint), 952 kgCO2eq/t (Carbon footprint), 442 kg/t solid waste (SWF) and 243 gha/t (Ecological footprint). Our results indicate that the environmental hotspots can be attributed to universal factors–water production, fossil energy, fertilizers, structures, and road transport, alongside case-specific elements–soil, evaporation, location and the human-factor. Some differences were found when examining the full range of footprints within farms. No correlation was found between the farm's yields and materials inputs or carbon footprint, pointing to the human factor. We discuss the advantages and limitations of the local production system and proposed some improvement strategies.
Mathematical model of distal radius orientation
Authors: Chen Cheng-Kuang , Wu Tai-Yin , Liao Yu-Ciao , Fuh Chiou-Shann , Chen Kuan-Hao , Weng Pei-Wei , Wang Jr-Yi , Chen Chih-Yu , Huang Yu-Min , Chen Chung-Pei , Chu Yo-Lun , Yeh Kuei-Lin , Yu Ching-Hsiao , Wu Hung-Kang , Lin Wei-Peng , Liou Tsan-Hon , Wu Mai-Szu , Liaw Chen-Kun
Published: October 2022

Distal radius orientation is important in evaluating Colles' fracture. In most cases, the wrist was protected by a bandage, splint, or cast. Therefore, it was difficult for the radiology technician to take perfect anteroposterior and lateral view radiographs. In this study, we build a mathematical model and calculate the pronation angle needed to produce dorsal tilt, which is a volar tilt in a perfect lateral view radiograph. The formulas are all incorporated into Excel to facilitate usage.
Case Report: Giant cell-rich osteosarcoma of the cervical spine in the pediatric age. A rare entity to consider
Authors: Egea-Gámez Rosa M. , Galán-Olleros María , González-Menocal Alfonso , González-Díaz Rafael
Published: October 2022

Background

Although osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children, its location in the axial skeleton is rare, particularly at the cervical spine. Early diagnosis, together with multidisciplinary management, improves survival rates. Safe resection and stable reconstruction are complicated by the particular anatomy of the cervical spine, which raises the risks.

Case Presentation

A 12-year-old male patient presented with cervical pain for several months and a recent weight loss of 3 kg. The complementary workup revealed a large destructive bone lesion in C7 with vertebral body collapse, subluxation, partial involvement of C6 and T1, large associated anteroposterior soft tissue components, and spinal canal narrowing. A biopsy suggested giant cell-rich osteosarcoma (GCRO). After 10 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical resection was performed through a double approach: anterior, for tumoral mass resection from C6-7 vertebral bodies and reconstruction placing a mesh cage filled with iliac crest allograft plus anterior plate fixation; and posterior, for C7 complete and C6 partial posterior arch resection, thus completing a total piecemeal spondylectomy preserving the dura intact, added to a C5-T3 posterior fusion with screws and transitional rods. Postoperative chemo and radiotherapy were administered. Clinical and radiological follow-up showed disease-free survival and no neurological involvement at 3 years.

Conclusion

An extensive review of the literature did not find any published cases of GCRO of the cervical spine in pediatric patients. This can be explained by the combination of three peculiar conditions: its location at the cervical spine region, the young age, and the GCRO variant.
Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma with massive apoptosis and immune cell infiltration: A case report
Authors: Du Gang , Qiao Jun , Lei Xunwen , Han Ruiqin
Published: October 2022

This case reports a rare case of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma in China. The elderly (86-year-old) female patient was diagnosed and treated effectively after three times of diagnosis. During this period, she was misdiagnosed and ineffective treatment for many times. Therefore, we propose to make an integrated diagnosis based on histopathological diagnosis, combined with a variety of diagnostic methods including MRI and CDFI, supplemented by updated multiple immunohistochemically techniques, so as to achieve the purpose of accurate diagnosis.
Laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy in a child with situs inversus totalis: A case report and literature review
Authors: Chen Jitao , Liu Fei , Tian Jie , Xiang Mingfeng
Published: October 2022

Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare internal laterality disorder characterized by the mirror arrangement of organs. Multiple gene mutations and maternal environmental factors are thought to cause this variation. It is usually challenging to perform laparoscopic surgery in these cases. Bladder diverticulum is uncommon in children, with an incidence of 1.7%. We report a 14-year-old male patient who was admitted to our department because of lower abdominal pain and frequent urination. A series of examinations confirmed the rare combination of giant bladder diverticulum and SIT. After extensive preoperative discussion, we performed laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy. The operation was successful. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of successful laparoscopic bladder surgery on a case of SIT. This article summarizes the key technical points and the difficulties of performing this kind of operation. In addition, during the process of reviewing the literature, we found that SIT often coexists with some high-risk factors for bladder diverticulum in some rare syndromes. It is helpful to further understand and provide experience in the diagnosis and treatment of the rare combination of bladder diverticulum and SIT in children.
Association between minimally invasive surgery and late seizures in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: A propensity score matching study
Authors: Lin Jiahe , Lin Ru , Li Xianxian , Ye Jiahe , Wang Yuchen , Zhang Beining , Chen Xinling , Wang Xinshi , Huang Shanshan , Zhu Suiqiang
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The association between minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for hematoma evacuation and late seizures after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains uncertain. We aimed to investigate whether MIS increases the risk of late seizures after ICH and identify the risk factors for late seizures in this patient subgroup.

Methods

We retrospectively included consecutive inpatients diagnosed with ICH at two tertiary hospitals in China. The subjects were divided into the MIS group (ICH patients who received MIS including hematoma aspiration and thrombolysis) and conservative treatment group (ICH patients who received conservative medication). Propensity score matching was performed to balance possible risk factors for late seizures between the MIS and conservative treatment groups. Before and after matching, between-group comparisons of the incidence of late seizures were performed between the MIS and conservative treatment groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for late seizures in MIS-treated patients.

Results

A total of 241 and 1,689 patients were eligible for the MIS and conservative treatment groups, respectively. After matching, 161 ICH patients from the MIS group were successfully matched with 161 ICH patients from the conservative treatment group (1:1). Significant differences (p < 0.001) were found between the MIS group (31/241, 12.9%) and conservative treatment group (69/1689, 4.1%) in the incidence of late seizures before matching. However, after matching, no significant differences (p = 0.854) were found between the MIS group (17/161, 10.6%) and conservative treatment group (16/161, 9.9%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that cortical involvement (OR = 2.547; 95% CI = 1.137–5.705; p value = 0.023) and higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (OR = 1.050; 95% CI = 1.008–1.094; p value = 0.019) were independent risk factors for late seizures.

Conclusion

Our study revealed that receiving MIS did not increase the incidence of late seizures after ICH. Additionally, cortical involvement and NIHSS scores were independent risk factors for late seizures in MIS-treated patients.
Survivorship of the retained femoral component after revision total hip arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Hua , Zhuang Tengfeng , Wu Wenrui , Gan Wenyi , Wu Chongjie , Peng Sijun , Huan Songwei , Liu Ning
Published: October 2022

Objective

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate re-revision rates of retained femoral components after revision of total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods

Papers were searched in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases with predetermined keywords from January 2000 to January 2022. The studies reporting the re-revision rates of retained stems after revision THA were identified. Pooled rates of re-revision for any reason and aseptic loosening were calculated using a random-effects model or a fixed-effects model based on the results of heterogeneity assessment after the Freeman–Tukey double-arcsine transformation. A meta-regression was performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results

There were 20 studies with 1,484 hips that received the isolated cup revision with the femoral component retained. The pooled re-revision rate of retained stems was 1.75% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43%–3.65%]. The re-revision rate of retained stems due to aseptic loosening was 0.62% (95% CI, 0.06%–1.55%). The meta-regression showed that the fixation type (cemented or cementless) was related to the re-revision rate for any reason and the re-revision rate for aseptic loosening.

Conclusion

Based on the existing evidence, the isolated cup revision with a stable stem in situ yields low re-revision rates. The cement status of retained stems may influence the survivorship of stems.
The association of dairy cattle longevity with farm level technical inefficiency
Authors: Han Ruozhu , Mourits Monique , Hogeveen Henk
Published: October 2022

Prolonging dairy cattle longevity is regarded as one of the options to contribute to a more sustainable milk production. Cattle longevity is a direct result from culling decisions, which is primarily driven by economic considerations. As a consequence, at the herd level, cattle longevity can have effects on the efficiency of dairy production. This study investigates the technical inefficiency of dairy input, and its association with cattle longevity under Dutch commercial dairy production conditions, using a two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. First, the technical inefficiency of capital, labor, land, seed & crop protection expenses, veterinary services, livestock purchase & services, feed purchase, miscellanea, livestock units and total input on total farm revenues was computed using DEA. Secondly, a bootstrap truncated regression analysis was applied to identify the association of cattle longevity with the evaluated input-specific and total input scores for technical inefficiency. Data were compiled from performance and accountancy records of 1,037 commercial Dutch dairy herds over the period of 2007 to 2014. In general, Dutch dairy farms displayed a relatively good overall technical efficiency, represented by an average inefficiency score of 0.09. The economic benefit of extending cattle longevity was evidenced by the negative association of cattle longevity with total input inefficiency. Of the evaluated inputs, the utilization of livestock units and feed was most efficient, with inefficiency scores below 0.26. This contrasts with the poor input efficiency of capital and livestock purchase & services with inefficiency scores around 0.52. Although the strength of the evaluated associations was generally low, the regression results illustrated that, except for labor, the age of culled cows was significantly negatively associated (P < 0.05) with each of the input inefficiencies. This contrasts with the significant associations of input inefficiencies with lifetime milk production, which were mostly positive. Since lifetime milk production is driven by length of cattle lifespan in combination with production level of the cows, the reverse direction of the associations with the two longevity indices illustrates that prolonging cattle longevity can improve efficiency performance of a dairy farm as long as the milk yield per cow remains unchanged.
Isolation and identification of a novel canine parvovirus type 2c strain in domestic cats in Dalian, China
Authors: Jing Zheng , Ji Peng , Wei Yanquan , Hao Fuxing , Wei Yanming
Published: October 2022

Canine parvovirus (CPV) and feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) are highly contagious and cause severe enteric diseases, with high mortality rates in dogs and cats. In the present study, we isolated and identified a novel CPV-2c strain (FPV-DL04 strain) from 18 cats with gastroenteritis symptoms and a positive parvovirus PCR test result in Dalian, China. Molecular characterization, sequence analysis, and phylogeny determination were performed on the VP2 gene of this strain. The results showed that the FPV-DL04 strain had 99.4% homology with the CPV-2c CN/HN1708 strain, and both strains had S297A and A300G key mutation sites. Interestingly, we also found that the DL04 strain has a A5G mutation site, but no F267Y and Y324I mutation sites. This study provided new important findings regarding the evolution of parvovirus infection in domestic cats in China.
Prevalence and diversity of Eimeria spp. in free-range chickens in northeastern Brazil
Authors: Silva Juliana Trajano da , Alvares Felipe Boniedj Ventura , Lima Estefany Ferreira de , Silva Filho Geraldo Moreira da , Silva Ana Luzia Peixoto da , Lima Brendo Andrade , Feitosa Thais Ferreira , Vilela Vinícius Longo Ribeiro
Published: October 2022

In tropical regions, family farming is a form of production and work that is highly present in rural areas. Because the production system for free-range chickens has a low level of technification, it frequently presents massive infection by coccidia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and diversity of Eimeria species in free-range chickens in northeastern Brazil. Fecal analyses were carried out using materials collected from 100 farms, belonging to 10 different municipalities. The sample from each farm was composed of five stool samples collected from different animals. Coproparasitological analyses were performed and, in each positive sample, photomicrographs of 20 oocysts were used for morphological identification of coccidia. The presence of Eimeria spp. was detected in 59% (59/100) of the farms analyzed. Species identification was performed through morphometric analysis of 1,180 sporulated oocysts. The following eight species of Eimeria spp. were found, in decreasing order of prevalence: Eimeria necatrix (25%), Eimeria mitis (18.3%), Eimeria mivati (17.3%), Eimeria tenella (12.4%), Eimeria brunetti (9.9%), Eimeria acervulina (9.1%), Eimeria praecox (4.8%) and Eimeria maxima (3.2%). The prevalence and diversity of Eimeria spp. on farms producing backyard chickens in the semiarid region of Brazil were high, especially the diversity of species. Changing the management, with the adoption of sanitary measures, may be effective in reducing the high prevalence of coccidia on the farms studied.
Optimization of in vitro culture conditions of common carp germ cells for purpose of surrogate production
Authors: Xie Xuan , Franěk Roman , Pšenička Martin , Chen Fan , Kašpar Vojtech
Published: October 2022

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is the fourth most-produced fish species in aquaculture and frequently used model species with significant effort invested in development of biotechnological applications. In present study, we attempted to establish an in vitro germ cell culture condition for short term cell culture, which could facilitate further applications such as surrogacy or gene manipulation. Basal media and different types of feeder cells were investigated to optimize carp germ cell culture condition to favor maintenance of mitotic proliferation. Results indicated that germ cells cultured with hESC media and RTG2 cell line as feeder possessed significantly higher proliferation and survival rate compared to that cultured with StemPro media and Sertoli cell line as feeder. In addition, we compared two dissection strategies to compare risk of cell culture contamination and body cavity was open from dorsal part or from ventral part. As a result, carp open from the dorsal side can minimize the risk of contamination. In summary, this is the first study to optimize the cultivation of germ cells in common carp. This opens up new opportunities for the application of specific techniques in the breeding of those species with high commercial value and frequent use as a model fish. Results obtained in this study are important for implementation of new strategies in common carp breeding, conservation of genetic resources, restoration of lines or development of clonal and isogenic carp lines.
Stochastic partial budget analysis of strategies to reduce the prevalence of lung lesions in finishing pigs at slaughter
Authors: Jerlström Josefine , Huang Wei , Ehlorsson Carl-Johan , Eriksson Ingvar , Reneby Amanda , Comin Arianna
Published: October 2022

Ante- and post-mortem inspections of food-producing animals at slaughter are mandatory activities carried out in many countries to ensure public health, animal health, and meat quality. In finishing pigs, lung lesions are the most frequent defects found in meat inspections. It is possible to implement managerial strategies on-farm to reduce the occurrence and spread of respiratory diseases, but such strategies come with additional costs that could impede implementation. This study assessed the economic impact of two strategies aimed at reducing the prevalence of lung lesions in finishing pigs at slaughter by improving the health conditions of the animals during the production cycle. First, a farrow-to-finish pig farm with 355 sows was modeled based on the current standard practice for finishing pig production in Sweden, using economic data, meat inspection data and biological variables from the literature and expert opinions. A partial budget analysis was then performed in which the baseline farm was compared with two hypothetical strategies aimed at reducing the occurrence and spread of respiratory diseases during pig production: (S1) avoiding mixing of litters after weaning and (S2) keeping purchased pregnant gilts separated from sows during gestation, farrowing and lactation. Both these strategies intended to reduce the occurrence of respiratory disease in finishing pigs at slaughter gave an average gain in annual net income (33,805 SEK in S1 and 173,160 SEK in S2, equal to 3,146€ and 16,113€, respectively, at the time of analysis), indicating that both were economically sustainable under the assumed conditions. The impact analysis of the two strategies revealed that the reduced prevalence of lung lesions when adopting one of the strategies was the most influential factor in net benefit change on the farm. Overall, the results suggest that with the increasing prevalence of lung lesions in Swedish pig production (as also observed worldwide in recent years), adopting an effective strategy to decrease respiratory infections will become more relevant and economically beneficial.
Effect of different dietary inclusion levels of whole plant green tomato (Physalis philadelphica) silage on nutrient intake and digestibility, and in vitro rumen fermentation kinetics in sheep
Authors: Robles-Jimenez Lizbeth E. , Narváez-López Alondra C. , Chay-Canul Alfonso J. , Sainz-Ramirez Aurora , Castelan-Ortega Octavio A. , Zhang Naifeng , Gonzalez-Ronquillo Manuel , Vargas-Bello-Pérez Einar
Published: October 2022

Mexico has many agricultural by-products that can be used for animal feed, and green tomatoes are produced throughout the country and can be an alternative to overcome the high prices of cereal-based feeds. This study determined in vitro fermentation kinetics, production performance, nutrient intake, digestibility, and nitrogen balance from sheep supplemented with whole plant green tomato (GT) on corn silage (CS) based diets. For 21 days, eighteen Suffolk lambs (38 ± 4 kg of live weight) were grouped into three dietary GT inclusion levels to replace CS: a control diet based on 100% CS (GT0, 570 g /kg dry matter, DM), while 100 g/kg DM (GT100) and 200 g/kg DM (GT200) of GT were included as a replacement for CS. A completely randomized design was used to measure in vitro gas production, in vitro rumen fermentation, chemical composition, and in vivo parameters. In vitro gas production, “A” (ml/g DM), fermentation rates “B,” (h−1), and “C” (h−½), were lower for GT200, while DM disappearance (mg/100mg) was lower for GT100 compared with GT0. Compared to GT0, GT100 and GT200 did not affect (P > 0.05) DM and organic matter (OM) intake (g/kgLW0.75). Ether extract intake was higher for GT0 and GT100 (P < 0.001) compared to GT200. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was higher (P < 0.05) for GT200 compared with GT0. Intake of lignin was higher (P < 0.001) for GT200 than that of GT0 and GT100. Digestibility coefficients for DM, OM, NDF, and Acid detergent fiber (ADF) were lower (P < 0.05) in GT100 than in the rest of the treatments. Nitrogen intake and N excreted in feces and urine were lower (P < 0.001) for GT0. N balance was negative for all treatments, being higher for GT200 (P < 0.05). Overall, the addition of GT at 100 or 200 g/kg DM in sheep diets negatively affects nutrient digestibility and N balance, so their dietary inclusion is not recommended.
Investigations on Nonlinear Dynamic Modeling and Vibration Responses of T-Shaped Beam Structures
Authors: Chen Shuai , Cao Dengqing , Wei Jin , He Guiqin , Fang Bo , Li Youxia
Published: October 2022

A novel nonlinear dynamic modeling approach is proposed for the T-shaped beam structures widely used in the field of aerospace. All of the geometrical nonlinearities including the terms in the deformation of the beams, the terms at the connections, and the free ends of beams are considered in the dynamic modeling process. The global mode method is employed to determine the natural frequencies and global mode shapes of the linearized system. The validity and accuracy of the derived model are verified by comparing the natural frequencies obtained with those calculated from FEM. Adopting the Galerkin truncation procedure, a set of reduced-order nonlinear ODEs is obtained for the structure. A study on the variation of dynamic responses taking the different numbers of global modes into account is performed to determine the number of modes taken in nonlinear vibration analysis. A comparison between the responses of the system with linear or nonlinear matching and boundary conditions is given to evaluate the importance of neglecting and reserving the nonlinear terms in matching and boundary conditions. It is shown that ignoring the nonlinear terms in both matching and boundary conditions may significantly alter the responses while developing the discretized governing ODEs of the structure.
Relation between Organizational Capacity for Change and Readiness for Change
Authors: Mladenova Irena
Published: October 2022

Readiness for change is seen as an important prerequisite increasing chances for change success. While assessing the readiness level allows for tailoring of the interventions and the change process, it requires time and planning. When organizations face increasing levels of unpredictability and need to adapt to fast environmental shifts, linear causal models to plan and implement changes become harder to follow. Emergent changes also barely accommodate planning and assessing readiness levels. Multiple and overlapping change initiatives become the norm rather than an exception, thus exert additional pressure on organizations hoping to start with assessing and developing readiness. Applying dynamic capabilities lens allows addressing such challenges through the concept of organizational capacity for change. This article reviews theoretical and empirical research advances to answer two questions. First, how do readiness and organizational capacity for change differ? A review of theoretical assumptions, dimensions and antecedents is employed to delineate the two constructs. Second, what is the relationship between the two constructs? The analysis is guided by an organizational change typology to highlight their applicability to selected types of change. The research concludes that capacity for change differs and can complement readiness in helping organizations navigate unpredictable environments.
An Experimental Approach to Inform Venus Astrobiology Mission Design and Science Objectives
Authors: Duzdevich Daniel , Petkowski Janusz J. , Bains William , Cleaves H. James , Carr Christopher E. , Borowska Ewa I. , Azua-Bustos Armando , Cable Morgan L. , Dorrington Graham E. , Grinspoon David H. , Ligterink Niels F. W. , Riedo Andreas , Wurz Peter , Seager Sara
Published: October 2022

Exploring how life is distributed in the universe is an extraordinary interdisciplinary challenge, but increasingly subject to testable hypotheses. Biology has emerged and flourished on at least one planet, and that renders the search for life elsewhere a scientific question. We cannot hope to travel to exoplanets in pursuit of other life even if we identify convincing biosignatures, but we do have direct access to planets and moons in our solar system. It is therefore a matter of deep astrobiological interest to study their histories and environments, whether or not they harbor life, and better understand the constraints that delimit the emergence and persistence of biology in any context. In this perspective, we argue that targeted chemistry- and biology-inspired experiments are informative to the development of instruments for space missions, and essential for interpreting the data they generate. This approach is especially useful for studying Venus because if it were an exoplanet we would categorize it as Earth-like based on its mass and orbital distance, but its atmosphere and surface are decidedly not Earth-like. Here, we present a general justification for exploring the solar system from an astrobiological perspective, even destinations that may not harbor life. We introduce the extreme environments of Venus, and argue that rigorous and observation-driven experiments can guide instrument development for imminent missions to the Venusian clouds. We highlight several specific examples, including the study of organic chemistry under extreme conditions, and harnessing the fluorescent properties of molecules to make a variety of otherwise challenging measurements.
Controlled-Release Fertilizer Improves Rice Matter Accumulation Characteristics and Yield in Rice–Crayfish Coculture
Authors: Wang Qiangsheng , Yu Kunlong , Zhang Hui
Published: October 2022

In recent years, rice–fish coculture has gained more popularity at a growing pace in China. Controlled-release fertilizer can provide nutrients in a timely manner and increase nutrient efficiency. A 2-year field experiment, which adopted both conventional japonica and two indica hybrid rice varieties, was performed to evaluate the effects of controlled-release fertilizer and inorganic compound fertilizer on rice matter accumulation and yield in rice–crayfish coculture and conventional rice farming. The results showed that compared to conventional rice farming, rice–crayfish coculture decreased dry matter accumulation at mature stage and yield by 4.02–8.15% and 4.13–9.34%, respectively. This was mainly due to a decrease in the crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, leaf area index, and light accumulation duration before elongation stage. Compared to inorganic compound fertilizer, controlled-release fertilizer increased dry matter accumulation at the mature stage and yield by 5.02–6.95% and 3.29–6.21%, respectively. Compared to conventional rice farming, rice–crayfish coculture decreased N partial factor productivity and N agronomic use efficiency by 4.13–9.34% and 3.96–8.98%, respectively. Compared to inorganic compound fertilizer, controlled-release fertilizer increased those by 3.29–6.15% and 7.36–14.01%. There was a positive linear correlation between the N partial factor productivity, N agronomic use efficiency, and yield.
A Multi-Residue Method for the Determination of 77 Pesticides in Red Ginseng Using QuEChERS and Gas Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)
Authors: Xu Xuanwei , Wang Shuo , Hou Shengnan , Li Ziqiang , Lu Zhongbin , Liang Shuang
Published: October 2022

A simple, sensitive, and rapid multi-residue analytical method was developed based on gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) and used to determine 77 multiclass pesticides in red ginseng. Samples were extracted and purified via a modified QuEChERS method. The calibration curves were in the range of 5 to 200 ng mL−1. The limits of detection (LODs) of the method were from 0.08 to 4.0 μg kg−1 and limits of quantification (LOQs) were in the range of 0.2–12.0 μg kg−1. The average recoveries of the method ranged from 61% to 133.9% at two spiked levels of 20 and 100 μg kg−1 in red ginseng samples, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.2% to 14.9%.
Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Metals and Metalloids in Soil, Water and Plant Continuum of Fragrant Rice
Authors: Javaid Sana , Ashraf Kamran , Sultan Khawar , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Ali Hayssam M. , Chen Yinglong , Zaman Qamar uz
Published: October 2022

Globally, the demand for food is increasing day by day due to the rapid increase in the human population. Elevated levels of metals and metalloids in soils are biomagnified over time in crops cultivated in metal-contaminated soils, hence posing a risk of food chain contamination. The present investigation aimed to assess metal and metalloid concentrations in soil, water, and rice kernels which are widely cultivated in four districts of Punjab, Pakistan, and to determine the risk to human health. The results revealed that, of five rice varieties, super basmati was the most preferred by farmers due to its yield potential and consumer acceptance due to its taste and to its long kernel. A detailed analysis of metal and metalloid accumulation revealed that their mean concentration fluctuated in the soil, water, and rice samples in the study area. The decreasing trends of heavy metals and metalloids were observed to be Pb > Cu > As > Cr > Cd > Hg > Al in soil samples, Pb > Cr > Cu > Al > As > Hg > Cd in water samples, and Cu > Cr = Pb > Cd = Al > Hg > As in rice kernels. The bioconcentration factor for Cr was the highest in the Faisalabad area among all sampled sites. The pollution load index of As, Cd, and Hg registered the highest values, that were above the recommended safety threshold levels described by World Health Organization. The human health risk index was determined to be low at all sites except for As and Hg. These results point to potential health risks caused by the consumption of fragrant rice by humans. Regular monitoring is recommended to manage and control elevated concentrations and related health hazards as a result of the use of rice contaminated by the accumulation of metals and metalloids.
Exploring the Relationships between Structure and Antimicrobial Potency of Quinolinequinones
Authors: Mataracı-Kara Emel , Bayrak Nilüfer , Yıldız Mahmut , Yıldırım Hatice , TuYuN Amaç Fatih
Published: October 2022

Microorganisms are responsible for hospital infections, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is one of them. In looking for the most effective lead structures to cope with the rise of antimicrobial (antibiotic) resistance, we evaluated the antimicrobial profile of quinolinequinones for potential antimicrobial applications. 1,4-quinone molecules fused with heteroatom have been studied extensively for many years as a source of drugs and lead structures. The aims of this study were to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of quinolinequinones against bacterial and fungal strains, and to probe for potential lead structures. For this reason, the activity of these compounds against three different strains of Candida fungi (C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis) and Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria were investigated, searching for potential lead compounds. Five of nine quinolinequinones showed activity mainly against the Gram-positive strains with a minimal inhibitory concentration within the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) levels. The results revealed that quinolinequinones have significant activity against bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, and fungi including Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. QQ1, QQ2, QQ3, QQ5, and QQ6 exhibited the highest growth inhibition against two essential species of the Gram-positive strains (Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus). Among these, four molecules (QQ2, QQ3, QQ5, and QQ6) were also active against Enterococcus faecalis, the other member of the Gram-positive strains. The antifungal profile of two quinolinequinones (QQ7 and QQ8) indicated that they were as effective as the reference drug Clotrimazole against Candida albicans. The same molecules also have potential inhibitory antifungal activity against Candida tropicalis. For better understanding, the most active two quinolinequinones (QQ2 and QQ6) were examined for biofilm inhibition and a time-kill kinetic study.
Dietary Stevia Residue Extract Supplementation Improves Antioxidant Capacity and Intestinal Microbial Composition of Weaned Piglets
Authors: Liu Shuai , Xiong Yunxia , Cao Shuting , Wen Xiaolu , Xiao Hao , Li Yajing , Chi Lei , He Dongsheng , Jiang Zongyong , Wang Li
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of diet supplementation with stevia residue extract (SRE) on growth performance, intestinal health, and antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets. A total of 144 weaned piglets (body weight 6.8 ± 0.5 kg) were randomly selected and allocated into four treatment groups with six replicates of six pigs/pen. The treatments consisted of a basal diet without SRE or basal diet supplemented with 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg SRE. The results showed that the addition of 200 mg/kg SRE to the diet significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the diarrhea rate of piglets compared with the control group. The supplementation of 400 mg/kg SRE in the diet significantly reduced the piglets’ serum MDA content and significantly increased (p < 0.05) the T-AOC, T-SOD, and GSH-PX activity in the serum. The dietary supplementation with 400 mg/kg SRE significantly increased (p < 0.05) the CAT and GSH-PX activity in the liver. Moreover, the supplementation of 400 mg/kg SRE in the diet significantly increased (p < 0.05) the relative abundance of Prevotellaceae (genus) and Roseburia (genus) beneficial bacteria compared to the control group. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that Prevotella (genus) abundance was positively correlated with liver GSH-PX activity and acetic acid content of colon contents. In conclusion, the supplementation of 400 mg/kg SRE to the diet can improve piglet health by regulating antioxidant reduction homeostasis, which may also be associated with an increase in the relative numbers of potentially beneficial bacteria.
A Novel mHealth Approach for the Monitoring and Assisted Therapeutics of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Rebelo José , Gaspar Pedro D. , Soares Vasco N. G. J. , Caldeira João M. L. P.
Published: October 2022

Obstructive sleep apnea is a respiratory problem that has serious consequences for physical and mental health, but also in monetary terms, since traffic accidents and poor work performance, among other direct consequences, are attributed to it. It is estimated that between 9% and 38% of the world’s population has this disease. This is a multifactorial disease, therefore, there are several methods of detection and treatment; however, all of them cause discomfort to the patient, or to those around them. In this article we propose a system for the detection and control of obstructive sleep apnea that promises to overcome the drawbacks of the existing therapies, therefore, potentially making it a practical and effective solution for this disease. The proof of concept presented in this paper makes use of an electromyography sensor to collect the myoelectric signal produced by the genioglossus muscle. Surface electrodes provide the electromyography signals to an ESP32 microcontroller, which has the function of analyzing and comparing the data obtained with a predefined value of the apnea threshold. After the detection of an apnea, the circuit is able to create a stimulus signal that is applied directly to the muscle, so that airway occlusion does not occur, and the user does not wake up. The data from each use are automatically sent to a database to be viewed and analyzed at a later point.
Hybrid Machine Learning–Statistical Method for Anomaly Detection in Flight Data
Authors: Jasra Sameer Kumar , Valentino Gianluca , Muscat Alan , Camilleri Robert
Published: October 2022

This paper investigates the use of an unsupervised hybrid statistical–local outlier factor algorithm to detect anomalies in time-series flight data. Flight data analysis is an activity carried out by airlines primarily as a means of improving the safety and operation of their fleet. Traditionally, this is performed by checking exceedances in pre-set limits to the flight data parameters. However, this method highlights single events during a flight, making this analysis laborious. The process also fails to establish trends or reflect potential unknown hazards. This research took advantage of machine learning techniques to recognize patterns in large datasets by implementing the local outlier factor (LOF). In order to minimize human input, a statistical approach was adopted to establish the threshold value above which the flights are considered to be anomalous and interpret the scores. This paper shows that LOF quantifies the degree of outlier-ness of an outlier rather than binary categorizing a point into inlier or outlier, as in the case of clustering algorithms. Thus, with LOF, for the first time, we demonstrated that in the aviation industry, anomalous flights could not only be identified but also be given an anomaly score to compare two anomalous flights in an unsupervised manner. Furthermore, LOF helps to track anomalous behavior in time during the flight. This is insightful when a flight is abnormal, only for some seconds or short duration. For the first time, we attempted to detect flight parameters responsible for anomalous behavior or at least give direction to human experts looking for the cause of abnormal behavior. This was all analyzed with real-life flight data in an unsupervised manner in contrast to simulated data.
Improving Streaming Video with Deep Learning-Based Network Throughput Prediction
Authors: Biernacki Arkadiusz
Published: October 2022

Video streaming represents a significant part of Internet traffic. During the playback, a video player monitors network throughput and dynamically selects the best video quality in given network conditions. Therefore, the video quality depends heavily on the player’s estimation of network throughput, which is challenging in the volatile environment of mobile networks. In this work, we improved the throughput estimation using prediction produced by LSTM artificial neural networks (ANNs). Hence, we acquired data traces from 4G and 5G mobile networks and supplied them to two deep LSTM ANNs, obtaining a throughput prediction for the next four seconds. Our analysis showed that the ANNs achieved better prediction accuracy compared to a naive predictor based on a moving average. Next, we replaced the video player’s default throughput estimation based on the naive predictor with the LSTM output. The experiment revealed that the traffic prediction improved video quality between 5% and 25% compared to the default estimation.
A PM2.5 Concentration Prediction Model Based on CART–BLS
Authors: Wang Lin , Wang Yibing , Chen Jian , Shen Xiuqiang
Published: October 2022

With the development of urbanization, the hourly PM2.5 concentration in the air is constantly changing. In order to improve the accuracy of PM2.5 prediction, a prediction model based on the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) and Broad Learning System (BLS) was constructed. Firstly, the CART algorithm was used to segment the dataset in a hierarchical way to obtain a subset with similar characteristics. Secondly, the BLS model was trained by using the data of each subset, and the validation error of each model was minimized by adjusting the window number of the mapping layer in the BLS network. Finally, for each leaf in the tree, the global BLS model and the local BLS model on the path from the root node to the leaf node are compared, and the model with the smallest error is selected. The data collected in this paper come from the Chine Meteorological Historical Data website. We selected historical data from the Huaita monitoring station in Xuzhou city for experimental analysis, which included air pollutant content and meteorological data. Experimental results show that the prediction effect of the CART–BLS model is better than that of RF, V-SVR, and seasonal BLS models.
Ultrafast PCR Detection of COVID-19 by Using a Microfluidic Chip-Based System
Authors: Chen Xiaojing , Liu Yiteng , Zhan Xuan , Gao Yibo , Sun Zhongyi , Wen Weijia , Zheng Weidong
Published: October 2022

With the evolution of the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) have invariably been a golden standard in clinical diagnosis. Nevertheless, the traditional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is not feasible for field application due to its drawbacks, such as time-consuming and laboratory-based dependence. To overcome these challenges, a microchip-based ultrafast PCR system called SWM-02 was proposed to make PCR assay in a rapid, portable, and low-cost strategy. This novel platform can perform 6-sample detection per run using multiple fluorescent channels and complete an ultrafast COVID-19 RT-PCR test within 40 min. Here, we evaluated the performance of the microdevice using the gradient-diluted COVID-19 reference samples and commercial PCR kit and determined its limit-of-detection (LoD) as 500 copies/mL, whose variation coefficients for the nucleocapsid (N) gene and open reading frame 1 ab region (ORF1ab) gene are 1.427% and 0.7872%, respectively. The system also revealed an excellent linear correlation between cycle threshold (Ct) values and dilution factors (R2 > 0.99). Additionally, we successfully detected the target RNAs and internal gene in the clinical samples by fast PCR, which shows strong consistency with conventional PCR protocol. Hence, with compact dimension, user-friendly design, and fast processing time, SWM-02 has the capability of offering timely and sensitive on-site molecular diagnosis for prevention and control of pathogen transmission.