bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ethnic minorities in Manchester: lessons from the early stage of the pandemic
Authors: Wiśniowski Arkadiusz , Allen Ruth , Aparicio-Castro Andrea , Olsen Wendy , Islam Maydul
Published: May 2023

This review summarizes the economic impacts of the pandemic on ethnic minorities, focusing on the city of Manchester. It utilizes multiple reporting sources to explore various dimensions of the economic shock in the UK, linking this to studies of pre-COVID-19 economic and ethnic composition in Manchester and in the combined authority area of Greater Manchester. We then make inferences about the pandemic's short-term impact specific to the city region. Greater Manchester has seen some of the highest rates of COVID-19 and as a result faced particularly stringent “lockdown” regulations. Manchester is the sixth most deprived Local Authority in England, according to 2019 English Indices of Multiple Deprivation. As a consequence, many neighborhoods in the city were always going to be less resilient to the economic shock caused by the pandemic compared with other, less-deprived, areas. Particular challenges for Manchester include the high rates of poor health, low-paid work, low qualifications, poor housing conditions and overcrowding. Ethnic minority groups also faced disparities long before the onset of the pandemic. Within the UK, ethnic minorities were found to be most disadvantaged in terms of employment and housing–particularly in large urban areas containing traditional settlement areas for ethnic minorities. Further, all Black, Asian, and Minority ethnic (BAME) groups in Greater Manchester were less likely to be employed pre-pandemic compared with White people. For example, people of Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnic backgrounds, especially women, have the lowest levels of employment in Greater Manchester. Finally, unprecedented cuts to public spending as a result of austerity have also disproportionately affected women of an ethnic minority background alongside disabled people, the young and those with no or low-level qualifications. This environment has created and sustained a multiplicative disadvantage for Manchester's ethnic minority residents through the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Measuring digital capital in Italy
Authors: Addeo Felice , D'Auria Valentina , Delli Paoli Angela , Punziano Gabriella , Ragnedda Massimo , Ruiu Maria Laura
Published: May 2023

Introduction

This paper aims to theoretically and empirically investigate the concept of digital capital in the Italian context. Digital Capital can be conceived as independent individual capital whose lack within a population can be a cause of digital inequality. Our paper draws from recent works that have measured the Digital Capital as a combination of digital access and digital competences, and have tested this operational definition through an online survey on a UK sample. The results of such research proved the construct validity of the operational definition, thus showing that Digital Capital could be empirically measured. However, a measurement model needs to be tested and validated over time and in different socio-cultural contexts in order to be refined and strengthened, and eventually disseminated on a large scale.

Method

This is the reason why this paper will show the results of a funded research project (named DigiCapItaly) carried out to test the validity of the Digital Capital measure in a different country, i.e., Italy. The data were collected with an online survey using a representative sample (by age, gender and geographical area) of individuals living in Italy aged 18 years or more. The creation of a composite index to measure Digital Capital followed a two-stage Principal Component Analysis approach.

Results

First, the paper provides a methodological framework for facing challenges and pitfalls in operationalizing and assessing a complex concept in social research. Secondly, results show that Digital Capital operational definition works in Italy as well as in the UK, thus legitimizing its recognition as an independent capital.
Reconstruction of electron radiation belts using data assimilation and machine learning
Authors: Drozdov Alexander Y. , Kondrashov Dmitri , Strounine Kirill , Shprits Yuri Y.
Published: May 2023

We present a reconstruction of radiation belt electron fluxes using data assimilation with low-Earth-orbiting Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES) measurements mapped to near equatorial regions. Such mapping is a challenging task and the appropriate methodology should be selected. To map POES measurements, we explore two machine learning methods: multivariate linear regression (MLR) and neural network (NN). The reconstructed flux is included in data assimilation with the Versatile Electron Radiation Belts (VERB) model and compared with Van Allen Probes and GOES observations. We demonstrate that data assimilation using MLR-based mapping provides a reasonably good agreement with observations. Furthermore, the data assimilation with the flux reconstructed by NN provides better performance in comparison to the data assimilation using flux reconstructed by MLR. However, the improvement by adding data assimilation is limited when compared to the purely NN model which by itself already has a high performance of predicting electron fluxes at high altitudes. In the case an optimized machine learning model is not possible, our results suggest that data assimilation can be beneficial for reconstructing outer belt electrons by correcting errors of a machine learning based LEO-to-MEO mapping and by providing physics-based extrapolation to the parameter space portion not included in the LEO-to-MEO mapping, such as at the GEO orbit in this study.
Anti-inflammatory compounds reduce equine herpesvirus type 1 replication and cell-to-cell spread
Authors: Black Jeanette B. , Frampton Arthur R.
Published: May 2023

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is a highly transmissible pathogen that leads to a variety of clinical disease outcomes in infected horses. A major sequela that can occur after an EHV-1 infection is a neurological disease termed equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Clinical manifestations of EHM include fever, ataxia, incontinence, and partial to full paralysis, which may ultimately lead to the euthanization of the infected horse. To develop an effective treatment strategy for EHM, it is critical that the specific virus–host interactions that lead to EHM be investigated so that safe and effective therapeutic interventions can be developed and delivered. In this study, we examined the ability of four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (dexamethasone), a Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, and a JAK/STAT inhibitor (AG490) to reduce EHV-1 virus yields and cell-to-cell spread. We show that the NSAID, flunixin meglumine (FM), and the JAK/STAT inhibitor, AG490, significantly reduced virus yields in endothelial and epithelial cell lines, and this inhibition was similar for two neurologic and two non-neurologic EHV-1 strains. In addition to reducing virus yields, AG490 and FM also significantly reduced the ability of EHV-1 to spread laterally from cell to cell.
Incidence and Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer After Heart Transplantation: Data From the Spanish Post-Heart Transplant Tumor Registry
Authors: Sagastagoitia-Fornie Marta , Morán-Fernández Laura , Blázquez-Bermejo Zorba , Díaz-Molina Beatriz , Gómez-Bueno Manuel , Almenar-Bonet Luis , López-Granados Amador , González-Vílchez Francisco , Mirabet-Pérez Sonia , García-Romero Elena , Jose M. Sobrino-Márquez , Rábago Juan-Aracil Gregorio , Castel-Lavilla Maria Angels , Blasco-Peiro Teresa , Garrido-Bravo Iris , De La Fuente-Galán Luis , Muñiz Javier , Crespo-Leiro María G.
Published: May 2023

In this observational and multicenter study, that included all patients who underwent a heart transplantation (HT) in Spain from 1984 to 2018, we analyzed the incidence, management, and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) after HT. Of 6,244 patients with a HT and a median follow-up of 8.8 years since the procedure, 116 CRC cases (11.5% of noncutaneous solid cancers other than lymphoma registered) were diagnosed, mainly adenocarcinomas, after a mean of 9.3 years post-HT. The incidence of CRC increased with age at HT from 56.6 per 100,000 person-years among under 45 year olds to 436.4 per 100,000 person-years among over 64 year olds. The incidence rates for age-at-diagnosis groups were significantly greater than those estimated for the general Spanish population. Curative surgery, performed for 62 of 74 operable tumors, increased the probability of patient survival since a diagnosis of CRC, from 31.6% to 75.7% at 2 years, and from 15.8% to 48.6% at 5 years, compared to patients with inoperable tumors. Our results suggest that the incidence of CRC among HT patients is greater than in the general population, increasing with age at HT.
Czym skorupka za młodu nasiąk(ł)a? Kadrowcy politologii i kształcenie jej studentów w Polsce
Authors: Jarentowski Marek
Published: May 2023

Polish political science is accused of not being as global as Polish sociology, or of not taking the scientific method and scientific theory very seriously. In contrast to the three basic social sciences (psychology, economics and sociology), political science is more limited to description and humanistic interpretation. One may ask why Polish political science, as it results from the above accusations, deviates slightly from the positivist pattern. The hypothesis suggests that this may be related to the education of the founders, the first managers of political science (directors of institutes, representatives of political science in the Central Commission of Scientific Degree). As it turns out, they were mostly lawyers, and to some extent historians. Graduates of basic social sciences were rare. Political science also lacks (considering textbooks) influential methodologists. As a consequence, there are fewer social methodological subjects in political science studies than in the other aforementioned fields of study.
Między zniewoleniem i sprawczością. Wybrane zagadnienia z zakresu politycznej podmiotowości
Authors: Kufliński Mateusz
Published: May 2023

This article deals with issues in the field of enslavement and agency. Slavery is understood as an area of political science research located at the intersection of issues of political agency and theories of power. In the first part, slavery is treated as a form of enslavement, and other forms of enslavement are presented using a modified, four-part scheme proposed by Szymon Wróbel. The second part describes some fields of transgression, emancipation and agency.
Przedłużenie będącej w toku kadencji organów jednostek samorządu terytorialnego w świetle zasady kadencyjności organów jednostek samorządu terytorialnego
Authors: Zaleśny Jacek
Published: May 2023

The article presents the thesis that the activity of the organs of local selfgovernment units is based on the constitutional principle of term of office. All cases of shortening or extending their term of office are constitutional matter. As exceptions to the term of office, they cannot be interpreted extensively. In the light of the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, failure to conduct elections of local self-government units on time is an attempt to deprive the Nation of its sovereign rights as a supreme power in the state and exhausts the features of anti-democratic activities of state authorities. The work uses the dogmatic method. The legal provisions concerning the term of office of local government bodies’ activities were analyzed. On this basis, the research problem of the constitutionality of extending the term of office of local government units during the term of office has been solved.
Sliding Mode Active Disturbance Rejection Control of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Based on Improved Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Li Shuai , Li Henian , Wang Hai , Yang Chunlai , Gui Jingsong , Fu Ronghua
Published: May 2023

Sliding mode control has been widely used to control permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM). However, the parameters of the sliding mode controller are difficult to be tuned, which makes the control performance of PMSM hard to be improved. A nonlinear sliding mode control method that integrated a nonlinear reaching law (NRLSMC) and extended state observer (ESO) is proposed in this paper, whose parameters are tuned by an improved genetic algorithm (IGA). The control performance of the nonlinear reaching law in the nonlinear sliding mode controller is analyzed, whose stability is verified based on the Lyapunov theorem. An extended state observer is integrated into the above controller to further improve the anti-interference capability, and compensate for the observed external disturbance of the system into the speed controller in sliding mode. The optimal parameters of the above sliding mode control are tuned by IGA combined with the system speed loop model. The performance of the proposed controller is numerically simulated in MATLAB/Simulink and verified in a control system rapid control prototype (RCP) experimental platform built based on dSPACE 1202. Numerical simulation and experimental results show that the proposed controller can make the PMSM control system with the advantages of no overshoot, fast response, and strong robustness.
Ethical Reasoning at Work: A Cross-Country Comparison of Gender and Age Differences
Authors: Lasthuizen Karin , Badar Kamal
Published: May 2023

This paper uses the IBE Ethics at Work 2018 survey to explore employees’ ethical reasoning and examine gender and age differences across 12 countries. Debates about gender and ethics have been intense since Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, with feminist critiques from Gilligan and others advocating the different voice of women, while the recent arrival of Millennials in the workplace has raised new questions about age/generational differences and ethics. The findings in this study suggest that women and older workers have stronger ethical judgments in the workplace than men and younger workers. These gender and age differences, both among employees and managers, are consistent across countries. This study shows that individual characteristics are important for employees’ ethical reasoning, which affects their ability to make ethical decisions and act ethically. Business ethics research should therefore take greater account of differences between (groups of) employees and their learning needs when examining the effectiveness of ethics policies and instruments, while organizations can improve employee ethical reasoning by adopting diversity-based training programs and ethical leadership.
Non-Destructive Hyperspectral Imaging and Machine Learning-Based Predictive Models for Physicochemical Quality Attributes of Apples during Storage as Affected by Codling Moth Infestation
Authors: Khaled Alfadhl Y. , Ekramirad Nader , Donohue Kevin D. , Villanueva Raul T. , Adedeji Akinbode A.
Published: May 2023

The demand for high-quality apples remains strong throughout the year, as they are one of the top three most popular fruits globally. However, the apple industry faces challenges in monitoring and managing postharvest losses due to invasive pests during long-term storage. In this study, the effect of codling moth (CM) (Cydia pomonella [Linnaeus, 1758]), one of the most detrimental pests of apples, on the quality of the fruit was investigated under different storage conditions. Specifically, Gala apples were evaluated for their qualities such as firmness, pH, moisture content (MC), and soluble solids content (SSC). Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was implemented to build machine learning models for predicting the quality attributes of this apple during a 20-week storage using partial least squares regression (PLSR) and support vector regression (SVR) methods. Data were pre-processed using Savitzky–Golay smoothing filter and standard normal variate (SNV) followed by removing outliers by Monte Carlo sampling method. Functional analysis of variance (FANOVA) was used to interpret the variance in the spectra with respect to the infestation effect. FANOVA results showed that the effects of infestation on the near infrared (NIR) spectra were significant at p < 0.05. Initial results showed that the quality prediction models for the apples during cold storage at three different temperatures (0 °C, 4 °C, and 10 °C) were very high with a maximum correlation coefficient of prediction (Rp) of 0.92 for SSC, 0.95 for firmness, 0.97 for pH, and 0.91 for MC. Furthermore, the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) method was employed to extract effective wavelengths to develop multispectral models for fast real-time prediction of the quality characteristics of apples. Model analysis showed that the multispectral models had better performance than the corresponding full wavelengths HSI models. The results of this study can help in developing non-destructive monitoring and evaluation systems for apple quality under different storage conditions.
A Comparative Study on Stability of Seed Characteristics in Vetch and Pea Cultivations
Authors: Greveniotis Vasileios , Bouloumpasi Elisavet , Zotis Stylianos , Korkovelos Athanasios , Kantas Dimitrios , Ipsilandis Constantinos G.
Published: May 2023

Stability for yield and seed quality across environments are desirable traits for varieties used for the support of livestock, and such specific varieties of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and peas (Pisum sativum L.) are highly demanded from farmers. The objective of this study was to investigate the stability performance of seed quality attributes on six common vetch genotypes and five pea genotypes. The genotypes’ stability traits were based on seed quality characteristics of peas and common vetch under low-input vs. conventional cultivation systems. Significantly positive or negative correlations between the main traits in all cultivation schemes were found. Based on these findings, improving certain traits that exhibit qualitative inheritance is expected to be an efficient indirect way to improve seed quality stability, more easily in the case of peas. It was evident from comparisons that even in low-input farming systems, varieties showed stable performance. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), GGE biplot on main traits, and AMMI analysis all resulted in statistically significant variations between genotypes, environments, and farming practices. This analysis resulted in specific pea varieties and vetch cultivars that were stable for various regions and farming systems on seed quality traits.
Optimization of and Experiment on Simulation Parameters for Rotary Hole Filling Corn Precision Metering Device
Authors: Weng Wuxiong , Wang Changyu , Zhu Guixuan , Gu Zejun , Tang Han , Wang Jinfeng , Wang Jinwu
Published: May 2023

This study is aimed at the special working conditions of seeding on sloping land, combining advanced precision seeding technology and the structure of rotary hole filling corn precision metering device seed rowers at home and abroad, and studying soil entry characteristics, the characteristics of soil particles and the seed transport pattern in the puncture process, in order to improve the seed dispersal qualified index and reduce the coefficient of variation in the process of seeding. The simulation test of the cavity-tying device was carried out using the MBD–DEM coupling method, and it can be seen that the rocker bending angle is 120° when the force is the largest; at this time the rocker and the soil force is the largest, indicating the best effect on soil particle separation and the fastest movement speed. The single-factor test determined that the operating speed of the seed rower ranged from 0.8 to 1.2 m/s, the spring preload force of the seed rower ranged from 5.5 to 25 N, and the operating slope angle of the seed rower ranged from 8° to 16°. The optimal structure and parameter characteristics of the rotary hole filling corn precision metering device were determined with a multi-factor test, and it was proven that the rotary hole filling corn precision metering device has better performance and a higher seed rowing quality, with the qualified index reaching 96.2%. This study can provide a reference for the research of corn precision seeders, enrich the form of corn precision seeders, and effectively improve the level of corn mechanized seeding.
A Fertilization Decision Model for Maize, Rice, and Soybean Based on Machine Learning and Swarm Intelligent Search Algorithms
Authors: Gao Jian , Zeng Wenzhi , Ren Zhipeng , Ao Chang , Lei Guoqing , Gaiser Thomas , Srivastava Amit Kumar
Published: May 2023

Background: The application of base fertilizer is significant for reducing agricultural costs, non-point source pollution, and increasing crop production. However, the existing fertilization decision methods require many field observations and have high prices for popularization and application. Methods: This study proposes an innovative model integrating machine learning (ML) and swarm intelligence search algorithms to overcome the above issues. Based on historical data for maize, rice, and soybean crops, ML algorithms including random forest (RF), extreme random tree (ERT), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were evaluated for predicting crop yield. Coupled with the cuckoo search algorithm (CSA), the prime fertilization decision model (FDM) was established to discover the optimal fertilization strategy. Result: For all three crops, the yield simulation accuracy of the ERT model was the highest, with an R2 and RRMSE of 0.749, 0.775, and 0.744, and 0.086, 0.051, and 0.078, respectively. Considering soil nutrient and fertilization characteristics as the determinants of yield and optimizing fertilization strategies, the proposed model can increase the average yield of maize, rice, and soybean in the study area by 23.9%, 13.3%, and 20.3%, respectively. Conclusions: The coupling model of ERT and the CSA constructed in this study can be used for the intelligent and rapid decision-making of the base fertilizer application for crops considered in the present study.
‘Omics’ Approaches for Crop Improvement
Authors: Cortés Andrés J. , Castillejo María Ángeles , Yockteng Roxana
Published: May 2023

The growing human population and climate change are imposing unprecedented challenges on the global food supply [...]
The Effects of Paclobutrazol Seed Soaking on Biomass Production and Yield Formation in Direct-Seeded Rice
Authors: Gai Dongsheng , Liu Weiyang , Liang Jianuo , Guo Liying , Geng Yanqiu , Zhang Qiang , Du Juan , Gao Jiacong , Shao Xiwen
Published: May 2023

Direct-seeded rice has been widely adopted in Asia in recent years. However, its low and unstable yields severely limit the increase in rice production and directly affect food security. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of paclobutrazol seed soaking on the biomass production and yield formation of direct-seeded rice and to find the optimal concentrations to provide a theoretical basis for the high-yielding cultivation of direct-seeded rice. Two rice varieties, Jiyujing and Jijing305, were used in this experiment, and the seeds were soaked in paclobutrazol at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg L−1. The appropriate concentration of paclobutrazol seed soaking increased the yield of direct-seeded rice; this was attributed to the increase in the spikelet per unit area and the seed setting rate. However, the too-high paclobutrazol concentration was not conducive to a yield increase. Regression analysis showed that the appropriate concentration of paclobutrazol seed soaking was 100–105 mg L−1. The appropriate concentration of paclobutrazol for seed soaking ensured the seedling emergence rate; improved the seedling quality, stem tillers, and productive tillers; increased the efficient leaf area, chlorophyll content, and net photosynthetic rate, resulting in an increase in dry matter accumulation; coordinated the source-sink relationship and dry matter distribution; and promoted the material translocation from the “source” to the “sink”. In conclusion, using the appropriate concentration of paclobutrazol for seed soaking is an effective means of obtaining high yields of direct-seeded rice.
Soil Bacterial Community Structure and Function under the Substitution of Chemical Fertilizer with Maize Straw
Authors: Wang Xiaojuan , Xie Ling , Xu Lulu
Published: May 2023

The long-term extensive application of chemical fertilizers wreaks havoc on soil bacterial structure and function. To reduce the damage caused by chemical fertilizers, a six-year experiment was performed to study the effects of replacing 0% (CK), 25% (S25), 50% (S50), 75% (S75), and 100% (S100) of 225 kg ha−1 mineral nitrogen fertilizer with an equivalent amount of nitrogen from maize straw on the soil bacterial community structure, diversity, and function. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Gemmatimonadetes were the dominant soil bacterial phyla after the replacement treatments. Replacing mineral nitrogen fertilizer with an equivalent amount of nitrogen from maize straw significantly reduced the number of Photobacterium and bacterial populations involved in genetic information processing in soil, but significantly increased the number of bacterial populations involved in organismal systems, human diseases, and environmental information processing. Compared with other treatments, the relative abundance of TK10 significantly increased by 33.52–76.36% in S25. The number of subgroup 6, Gram-negative, biofilm-forming, potentially pathogenic, and anaerobic bacteria significantly increased, whereas that of Chloroflexi and Blastocatellia subgroup 4 significantly decreased in S50 and S75 compared with CK. The number of TK10 and Blastocatellia subgroup 4 in S50 and S100, respectively, was significantly lower than that in CK. Bacterial species were significantly more present in S25 than in S75. The diversity of bacterial species in S75 was significantly lower than that in CK. S25 and S100 were more favorable to increasing the number of Gram-positive, aerobic, mobile-element containing, and stress-tolerant bacteria. Rhodobacteraceae, Pyrinomonadaceae, Xanthobacteraceae, Nocardioidaceae, and Vulgatibacteraceae with statistical differences in CK, S25, S50, S75, and S100, respectively, could be used as biomarkers. Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Nitrospirae could be used as the main basis for the bacterial classification of soil samples in the equivalent substitution of nitrogen chemical fertilizer with maize straw. S25 is ideal for increasing soil bacterial species richness and abundance.
Polyphenolic Acid Changes in Stem Cuttings of Rosa Cultivars in Relation to Phenological Stage and Rooting Enhancers
Authors: Monder Marta Joanna , Pacholczak Andrzej
Published: May 2023

Biostimulants and rooting enhancers, i.e., auxins, affect many aspects of plant development. The experiment in this paper focused on the response of single-node rose semi-woody cuttings to rhizogenesis-enhancing preparations based on plant extracts in terms of changes in polyphenolic acid content. The shoots were cut at four stages of flowering development: (i) flower buds closed, (ii) open flower, (iii) immediately after petal shedding, (iv) 7–14 days after petal shedding. The experimental material consisted of six old, once-flowering rose cultivars (‘Duchesse d’Angoulême’, ‘Hurdals’, ‘Maiden’s Blush’, ‘Mousseuse Rouge’, Rosa beggeriana ‘Polstjårnan’, R. helenae ‘Semiplena’). The following rooting-enhancers were applied: commercial powder containing (i) 0.4% indolebutyric acid (IBA) or (ii) 0.2% naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or commercial plant-extract mixtures named in the experiment, i.e., (iii) Seaweed Preparation, (iv) Humic Preparation, and (v) Plant Preparation, and (vi) the control cuttings, which remained untreated. The level of polyphenolic acids was determined before and after rooting. The content of polyphenolic acids had a tendency to decrease during the period of rhizogenesis for all cultivars and all phenological stages. Changes in polyphenolics were affected by all the rooting enhancers, but the contents of these compounds before and after rooting was not found to unambiguously correlate with either the final rooting percentage or quality of cuttings.
Research Status, Methods and Prospects of Air-Assisted Spray Technology
Authors: Wei Zhiming , Li Rui , Xue Xinyu , Sun Yitian , Zhang Songchao , Li Qinglong , Chang Chun , Zhang Zhihong , Sun Yongjia , Dou Qingqing
Published: May 2023

Air-assisted boom sprayer is proven to be one of the best pesticide application methods to achieve uniform deposition of droplets in the canopy and improve the effective utilization of pesticides. However, the air flow velocity, air flow volume and air flow direction of the orchard sprayer should match the characteristic parameters of the target canopy, equipment spraying parameters and meteorological conditions so as to improve the spraying quality and reduce environmental pollution. This paper elaborates on the research status of air-assisted field sprayers and orchard sprayers, summarizes the research methods of air-assisted sprayers in four aspects, including experimental verification, theoretical analysis, simulation and structural optimization, and clarifies the advantages and disadvantages of these methods. It also presents two future research and development trends, including the intelligent, precise dynamic regulation of air flow velocity, air flow volume and air flow direction and the instant feedback of spraying quality, hoping to provide a reference for the research of air-assisted spray technology and equipment.
Evaluation of Immune Nanoparticles for Rapid and Non-Specific Activation of Antiviral and Antibacterial Immune Responses in Cattle, Swine, and Poultry
Authors: Wheat William H. , Chow Lyndah , Betlach Alyssa M. , Pieters Maria , Kurihara Jade , Dow Cooper , Johnson Valerie , Garry Franklyn B. , Dow Steven
Published: May 2023

Given the rapid potential spread of agricultural pathogens, and the lack of vaccines for many, there is an important unmet need for strategies to induce rapid and non-specific immunity against these viral and bacterial threats. One approach to the problem is to generate non-specific immune responses at mucosal surfaces to rapidly protect from entry and replication of both viral and bacterial pathogens. Using complexes of charged nanoparticle liposomes with both antiviral and antibacterial toll-like receptor (TLR) nucleic acid ligands (termed liposome-TLR complexes or LTC), we have previously demonstrated considerable induction of innate immune responses in nasal and oropharyngeal tissues and protection from viral and bacterial pathogens in mixed challenge studies in rodents, cattle, and companion animals. Therefore, in the present study, we used in vitro assays to evaluate the ability of the LTC immune stimulant to activate key innate immune pathways, particularly interferon pathways, in cattle, swine, and poultry. We found that LTC complexes induced strong production of type I interferons (IFNα and IFNβ) in both macrophages and leukocyte cultures from all three species. In addition, the LTC complexes induced the production of additional key protective cytokines (IL-6, IFNγ, and TNFα) in macrophages and leukocytes in cattle and poultry. These findings indicate that the LTC mucosal immunotherapeutic has the capability to activate key innate immune defenses in three major agricultural species and potentially induce broad protective immunity against both viral and bacterial pathogens. Additional animal challenge studies are warranted to evaluate the protective potential of LTC immunotherapy in cattle, swine, and poultry.
Dietary Lactobacillus reuteri SL001 Improves Growth Performance, Health-Related Parameters, Intestinal Morphology and Microbiota of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Chai Chunli , Guo Yaowen , Mohamed Taha , Bumbie Gifty Z. , Wang Yan , Zeng Xiaojing , Zhao Jinghua , Du Huamao , Tang Zhiru , Xu Yetong , Sun Weizhong
Published: May 2023

It was assumed that dietary inclusion of Lactobacillus reuteri SL001 isolated from the gastric contents of rabbits could act as an alternative to feed antibiotics to improve the growth performance of broiler chickens. We randomly assigned 360 one-day-old AA white-feathered chicks in three treatments: basal diet (control), basal diet plus zinc bacitracin (antibiotic), and basal diet plus L. reuteri SL001 (SL001) treatment. The results showed the total BW gain and average daily gain (ADG) of broilers in SL001 treatment increased significantly (p < 0.05, respectively) compared with the control group from day 0 to 42. Moreover, we observed higher levels of immune globulins in both the SL001 group and the antibiotic group. Total antioxidant capacity and levels of antioxidant factors were also significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05, respectively) in the SL001 treatment group, while the interleukin 6, interleukin 4, creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL, LDL and malondialdehyde were remarkably decreased (p < 0.05, respectively). In the ileum of SL001 treatment broilers, the height of villi and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the crypt depth reduced (p < 0.01) and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth increased (p < 0.05) in the jejunum compared to the control. The abundance of microbiota increased in the gut of broilers supplemented with SL001. Dietary SL001 significantly increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria in the cecal contents of broilers (p < 0.01) at the phylum level. In conclusion, L. reuteri SL001 supplementation promotes the growth performance of broiler chickens and exhibits the potential application value in the industry of broiler feeding.
Morphological Assessment of Concomitant Lesions Detected in Goat Herds Naturally Infected with Paratuberculosis (Johne’s Disease)
Authors: Stefanova Elena Plamenova , Quesada-Canales Óscar , Paz-Sánchez Yania , Caballero María José , Quintana-Montesdeoca María del Pino , Espinosa de los Monteros Antonio , Rivero Miguel Antonio , Castro Ayoze , Pérez Valentín , Andrada Marisa
Published: May 2023

Paratuberculosis (PTB), caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), causes significant financial losses in the ruminant industry. The aim of this study is to describe the concomitant pathological findings as well as PTB-induced lesions in 39 naturally infected goats (15 vaccinated and 24 non-vaccinated). All animals exhibited MAP-induced microscopic lesions affecting target organs, although only 62% of those were detected grossly. Mainly concomitant inflammatory pathologies were recognized affecting the hemolymphatic, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Non-vaccinated animals exhibited both moderate and marked granulomatous enteritis in contrast with vaccinated ones which presented mild intestinal affection. Our results demonstrate that non-vaccinated animals presented pneumonia in all age groups studied (from 12 up to >48 months old). A significantly higher prevalence of ileocecal valve PTB lesions was detected in non-vaccinated animals with pneumonic lesions (p = 0.027). Furthermore, a reduction of gastrointestinal non-PTB processes was described in vaccinated goats. In conclusion, a PTB infected goat herd can be affected by a wide range of concomitant pathologies, mostly inflammatory in origin. Anatomic pathology is of crucial importance for correct herd diagnosis and histopathology is an indispensable tool for lesion detection. Additionally, anti-MAP vaccination could have a beneficial effect on the reduction of respiratory and gastrointestinal non-PTB diseases.
Old Antibiotics Can Learn New Ways: A Systematic Review of Florfenicol Use in Veterinary Medicine and Future Perspectives Using Nanotechnology
Authors: Trif Emilia , Cerbu Constantin , Olah Diana , Zăblău Sergiu Dan , Spînu Marina , Potârniche Adrian Valentin , Pall Emoke , Brudașcă Florinel
Published: May 2023

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic used exclusively in veterinary medicine in order to treat the pathology of farm and aquatic animals. It is a synthetic fluorinated analog of thiamphenicol and chloramphenicol that functions by inhibiting ribosomal activity, which disrupts bacterial protein synthesis and has shown over time a strong activity against Gram-positive and negative bacterial groups. Florfenicol was also reported to have anti-inflammatory activity through a marked reduction in immune cell proliferation and cytokine production. The need for improvement came from (1) the inappropriate use (to an important extent) of this antimicrobial, which led to serious concerns about florfenicol-related resistance genes, and (2) the fact that this antibiotic has a low water solubility making it difficult to formulate an aqueous solution in organic solvents, and applicable for different routes of administration. This review aims to synthesize the various applications of florfenicol in veterinary medicine, explore the potential use of nanotechnology to improve its effectiveness and analyze the advantages and limitations of such approaches. The review is based on data from scientific articles and systematic reviews identified in several databases.
Evaluating the Counseling Standards and Ability of Pharmacy Staff to Detect Antibiotic-Drugs Interactions: A Simulated Client Study from Pakistan
Authors: Aziz Muhammad Majid , Rasool Muhammad Fawad , Alanazi Muteb , Alharby Tareq Nafea , Alanazi Jowaher , Huwaimel Bader
Published: May 2023

Effective and safe medication use can be maximized by providing medication counseling, which aims to optimize therapeutic results. This approach improves the effectiveness of antibacterial treatment, reduces treatment expenses, and mitigates the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. No research from Pakistan has been previously documented. The purpose of this research was to evaluate both the quality of antibiotic counseling provided and the level of understanding exhibited by pharmacy employees with regard to interactions involving antibiotic medications. Using a simulated client method, two scenarios were used to assess 562 pharmacies that were systematically selected. Scenario 1 focused the counseling for use of prescribed medicines with non-prescribed antibiotics. Scenario2 indicated counseling provision for prescribed antibiotics that have possible antibiotic–drug interactions. The evaluation of counseling skills was also conducted. The analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Only 34.1% of simulated clients received medication counseling directly; 45% received it on request. About 31.2% of clients were referred to a physician without counseling. The most frequently provided information was therapy dose (81.6%) and duration (57.4%). More than half (54.0%) of clients were asked about disease duration, but drug storage was ignored. Insufficient information was provided about side effects (1.1%) and antibiotic–drug interactions (1.4%). Most (54.3%) clients were instructed about dietary or lifestyle modifications. Only 1.9% of clients received information about drug administration route. No information was provided about other medication during therapy, effect of medicine withdrawal, and compliance to medication. The current level of antibiotic counseling within Pakistani community pharmacies is inadequate and requires the attention of medical authorities. Professional training of staff could improve counseling.
Performance of a Pilot-Scale Continuous Flow Ozone-Based Hospital Wastewater Treatment System
Authors: Azuma Takashi , Katagiri Miwa , Sasaki Naobumi , Kuroda Makoto , Watanabe Manabu
Published: May 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming a global concern. Recently, research has emerged to evaluate the human and environmental health implications of wastewater from medical facilities and to identify acceptable wastewater treatment methods. In this study, a disinfection wastewater treatment system using an ozone-based continuous flow system was installed in a general hospital located in Japan. The effectiveness of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobials in mitigating the environmental impact of hospital wastewater was evaluated. Metagenomic analysis was conducted to characterize the microorganisms in the wastewater before and after treatment. The results demonstrated that ozone treatment enables effective inactivation of general gut bacteria, including Bacteroides, Prevotella, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, DNA molecules, and ARGs, as well as antimicrobials. Azithromycin and doxycycline removal rates were >99% immediately after treatment, and levofloxacin and vancomycin removal rates remained between 90% and 97% for approximately one month. Clarithromycin was more readily removed than the other antimicrobials (81–91%), and no clear removal trend was observed for ampicillin. Our findings provide a better understanding of the environmental management of hospital wastewater and enhance the effectiveness of disinfection wastewater treatment systems at medical facilities for mitigating the discharge of pollutants into aquatic environments.
Effect of N-Acetylcysteine on Sleep: Impacts of Sex and Time of Day
Authors: Bushana Priyanka N. , Schmidt Michelle A. , Chang Kevin M. , Vuong Trisha , Sorg Barbara A. , Wisor Jonathan P.
Published: May 2023

Non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) is accompanied by a decrease in cerebral metabolism, which reduces the consumption of glucose as a fuel source and decreases the overall accumulation of oxidative stress in neural and peripheral tissues. Enabling this metabolic shift towards a reductive redox environment may be a central function of sleep. Therefore, biochemical manipulations that potentiate cellular antioxidant pathways may facilitate this function of sleep. N-acetylcysteine increases cellular antioxidant capacity by serving as a precursor to glutathione. In mice, we observed that intraperitoneal administration of N-acetylcysteine at a time of day when sleep drive is naturally high accelerated the onset of sleep and reduced NREMS delta power. Additionally, N-acetylcysteine administration suppressed slow and beta electroencephalographic (EEG) activities during quiet wake, further demonstrating the fatigue-inducing properties of antioxidants and the impact of redox balance on cortical circuit properties related to sleep drive. These results implicate redox reactions in the homeostatic dynamics of cortical network events across sleep/wake cycles, illustrating the value of timing antioxidant administration relative to sleep/wake cycles. A systematic review of the relevant literature, summarized herein, indicates that this “chronotherapeutic hypothesis” is unaddressed within the clinical literature on antioxidant therapy for brain disorders such as schizophrenia. We, therefore, advocate for studies that systematically address the relationship between the time of day at which an antioxidant therapy is administered relative to sleep/wake cycles and the therapeutic benefit of that antioxidant treatment in brain disorders.
A New Quantitative Evaluation Index System for Disaster-Causing Factors of Mud Inrush Disasters in Water-Rich Fault Fracture Zone
Authors: Liu Jianguo , Zhang Xiao , Li Xianghui , Li Zihan , Sun Chuanyu
Published: May 2023

The Yonglian tunnel in China has experienced 15 instances of severe water and mud inrush disasters, resulting in a total volume of 53,000 m3 of gushing water and mud. These disasters have caused irreversible environmental damage, including hilltop collapse and soil erosion. To achieve early warning and early management of such disasters, the paper introduced the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method into the Analytic Hierarchy Process to establish a new quantitative evaluation index system for the causal factors. As the evaluation method involves expert participation in scoring, it inherently presents certain subjective elements. To further substantiate the validity of our approach, we conducted a series of model tests. Then, the accuracy of the quantitative evaluation indexes was verified through these model tests, indicating that the quantitative evaluation system has important guiding significance for safe tunnel construction, allowing for early warning and management of potential disasters.
Pyrometallurgical Technology for Extracting Iron and Zinc from Electric Arc Furnace Dust
Authors: Nemchinova Nina V. , Patrushov Alexey E. , Tyutrin Andrey A.
Published: May 2023

This study is aimed at developing a technology for processing electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) into granulated cast iron and a zinc-containing product. The study object was the dust from the EAF of PJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk region). It has been established that the dust contains valuable components in the form of ZnFe2O4 and ZnO. The processing of EAFD involves the reduction of Fe and Zn in a charge from their oxygen-containing forms with C and CO. The content of the charge components was calculated in % as follows: EAFD—17.44; scale—51.33; hard coal—20.61; quartz sand—4.71; lime—5.91. The experiments in the high-temperature LHT 08/17 furnace (Germany) allowed for defining the optimal temperature regime for reduction melting. As a result of laboratory tests, granulated pig iron samples were obtained, containing in wt%: Fe—95.27; C—4.4; S—0.07, and others. Captured zinc-containing product after calcination (to remove halogens) contained 90.21 wt% ZnO. The resulting granulated pig iron is recommended as one of the charge components in electrometallurgical steel production. The zinc-containing product is recommended as a raw material for Zn production and others.
3D Structural Topology Optimization Using ESO, SESO and SERA: Comparison and an Extension to Flexible Mechanisms
Authors: Simonetti Hélio Luiz , Almeida Valério S. , Neves Francisco de Assis das , Almeida Virgil Del Duca , Cutrim Marlan D. S.
Published: May 2023

This article investigates the study of Topology Optimization (TO) in 3D elasticity problems to determine the optimal topology by applying the evolutionary methods of Smoothing Evolutionary Structural Optimization (SESO), Sequential Element Rejection and Admission (SERA), and Evolutionary Structural Optimization (ESO). These procedures were implemented in MATLAB code as an extension of Top3d implemented for SIMP by using the eight-node hexahedral finite element formulation in three-dimensional elastostatic structures. The approaches conducted in the present study are demonstrated with numerical examples involving the compliance minimization criterion. Further, a brief synthesis of flexible mechanisms was studied to emphasize the performance of complaint mechanisms measured in terms of two design specifications/functionalities: mechanical and geometrical advantages, which are the highlights of this article. To show the gains of the proposed methods, numerical results obtained are compared with Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP) models.
Revolutionizing Soccer Injury Management: Predicting Muscle Injury Recovery Time Using ML
Authors: Skoki Arian , Napravnik Mateja , Polonijo Marin , Štajduhar Ivan , Lerga Jonatan
Published: May 2023

Predicting the optimal recovery time following a soccer player’s injury is a complex task with heavy implications on team performance. While most current decision-based models rely on the physician’s perspective, this study proposes a machine learning (ML)-based approach to predict recovery duration using three modeling techniques: linear regression, decision tree, and extreme gradient boosting (XGB). Performance is compared between the models, against the expert, and together with the expert. The results demonstrate that integrating the expert’s predictions as a feature improves the performance of all models, with XGB performing best with a mean R2 score of 0.72, outperforming the expert’s predictions with an R2 score of 0.62. This approach has significant implications for sports medicine, as it could help teams make better decisions on the return-to-play of their players, leading to improved performance and reduced risk of re-injury.