bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Edible Bird’s Nest: The Functional Values of the Prized Animal-Based Bioproduct From Southeast Asia–A Review
Authors: Lee Ting Hun , Wani Waseem A. , Lee Chia Hau , Cheng Kian Kai , Shreaz Sheikh , Wong Syieluing , Hamdan Norfadilah , Azmi Nurul Alia
Published: April 2021

Edible Bird’s Nest (EBN) is the most prized health delicacy among the Chinese population in the world. Although some scientific characterization and its bioactivities have been studied and researched, no lights have been shed on its actual composition or mechanism. The aim of this review paper is to address the advances of EBN as a therapeutic animal bioproduct, challenges and future perspectives of research involving EBN. The methodology of this review primarily involved a thorough search from the literature undertaken on Web of Science (WoS) using the keyword “edible bird nest”. Other information were obtained from the field/market in Malaysia, one of the largest EBN-producing countries. This article collects and describes the publications related to EBN and its therapeutic with diverse functional values. EBN extracts display anti-aging effects, inhibition of influenza virus infection, alternative traditional medicine in athletes and cancer patients, corneal wound healing effects, stimulation of proliferation of human adipose-derived stem cells, potentiate of mitogenic response, epidermal growth factor-like activities, enhancement of bone strength and dermal thickness, eye care, neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. In-depth literature study based on scientific findings were carried out on EBN and its properties. More importantly, the future direction of EBN in research and development as health-promoting ingredients in food and the potential treatment of certain diseases have been outlined.
The Hypoxia-Activated Prodrug TH-302: Exploiting Hypoxia in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Li Yue , Zhao Long , Li Xiao-Feng
Published: April 2021

Hypoxia is an important feature of most solid tumors, conferring resistance to radiation and many forms of chemotherapy. However, it is possible to exploit the presence of tumor hypoxia with hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs), agents that in low oxygen conditions undergo bioreduction to yield cytotoxic metabolites. Although many such agents have been developed, we will focus here on TH-302. TH-302 has been extensively studied, and we discuss its mechanism of action, as well as its efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies, with the aim of identifying future research directions.
Research Progress on Strategies that can Enhance the Therapeutic Benefits of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Respiratory Diseases With a Specific Focus on Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Other Inflammatory Lung Diseases
Authors: Rolandsson Enes Sara , Krasnodembskaya Anna D. , English Karen , Dos Santos Claudia C. , Weiss Daniel J.
Published: April 2021

Recent advances in cell based therapies for lung diseases and critical illnesses offer significant promise. Despite encouraging preclinical results, the translation of efficacy to the clinical settings have not been successful. One of the possible reasons for this is the lack of understanding of the complex interaction between mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and the host environment. Other challenges for MSC cell therapies include cell sources, dosing, disease target, donor variability, and cell product manufacturing. Here we provide an overview on advances and current issues with a focus on MSC-based cell therapies for inflammatory acute respiratory distress syndrome varieties and other inflammatory lung diseases.
Joule-Thomson Expansion of the Quasitopological Black Holes
Authors: Mirza Behrouz , Naeimipour Fatemeh , Tavakoli Masoumeh
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we investigate the thermal stability and Joule-Thomson expansion of some new quasitopological black hole solutions. We first study the higher-dimensional static quasitopological black hole solutions in the presence of Born-Infeld, exponential, and logarithmic nonlinear electrodynamics. The stable regions of these solutions are independent of the types of the nonlinear electrodynamics. The solutions with horizons relating to the positive constant curvature, k=+1, have a larger region in thermal stability, if we choose positive quasitopological coefficients, μi>0. We also review the power Maxwell quasitopological black hole. We then obtain the five-dimensional Yang-Mills quasitopological black hole solution and compare it with the quasitopological Maxwell solution. For large values of the electric charge, q, and the Yang-Mills charge, e, we showed that the stable range of the Maxwell quasitopological black hole is larger than the Yang-Mills one. This is while thermal stability for small charges has the same behavior for these black holes. Thereafter, we obtain the thermodynamic quantities for these solutions and then study the Joule-Thomson expansion. We consider the temperature changes in an isenthalpic process during this expansion. The obtained results show that the inversion curves can divide the isenthalpic ones into two parts in the inversion pressure, Pi. For PPi. As the values of the nonlinear parameter, β, the electric and Yang-Mills charges decrease, the temperature goes to zero with a small slope and so the heating phenomena happens slowly.
Resources and Risks: Perceptions on the Application of Sewage Sludge on Agricultural Land in Sweden, a Case Study
Authors: Ekane Nelson , Barquet Karina , Rosemarin Arno
Published: April 2021

To spread or not to spread sewage sludge on agricultural land in Sweden remains the subject of a highly polarized debate among different stakeholders in the Swedish agricultural sector. This article presents insights on how stakeholders in Sweden see and explain the potentials and safety of spreading sewage sludge on agricultural land. This is done by drawing on risk perception literature and qualitative research methods. The findings reveal that fear of contamination and feeling of disgust are major deterrents of the use of sludge as an agricultural input. These are partly explained by unknowns and unfamiliarity about risks of unwanted substances in sludge. The study shows that while actors engaged in the practice amplify benefits of sludge as a resource and reiterate the need for emphasis on upstream measures including improved risk management systems, actors in charge of controlling toxins in society amplify actual and potential risks, highlight gaps in monitoring and minimizing risks, and would rather have a complete ban on the practice. This study highlights the complex combination of technical, environmental, socio-economic, psychological, and political factors influencing judgment and decision-making regarding sludge and its use as fertilizer in agriculture and concludes that the clash between facts and feelings which epitomizes the Swedish sludge debate may have implications for public trust and effective risk communication. As contribution to the Swedish sewage sludge debate, this study emphasizes that the benefits of sludge in agriculture is important but not enough to drive the practice to scale. It is even more important to improve understanding on the controllability and severity of risks in short and long-term.
Computation of Implicit Representation of Volumetric Shells with Predefined Thickness
Authors: Geier Martin , Alihussein Hussein
Published: April 2021

We propose and validate a method to find an implicit representation of a surface placed at a distance h from another implicit surface. With two such surfaces on either side of the original surface, a volumetric shell of predefined thickness can be obtained. The usability of the proposed method is demonstrated through providing solid models of triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) geometries with a predefined constant and variable thickness. The method has an adjustable order of convergence. If applied to surfaces with spatially varying thickness, the convergence order is limited to second order. This accuracy is still substantially higher than the accuracy of any contemporary 3D printer that could benefit from the function as an infill volume for shells with predefined thicknesses.
Aircraft Maintenance Check Scheduling Using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Andrade Pedro , Silva Catarina , Ribeiro Bernardete , Santos Bruno F.
Published: April 2021

This paper presents a Reinforcement Learning (RL) approach to optimize the long-term scheduling of maintenance for an aircraft fleet. The problem considers fleet status, maintenance capacity, and other maintenance constraints to schedule hangar checks for a specified time horizon. The checks are scheduled within an interval, and the goal is to, schedule them as close as possible to their due date. In doing so, the number of checks is reduced, and the fleet availability increases. A Deep Q-learning algorithm is used to optimize the scheduling policy. The model is validated in a real scenario using maintenance data from 45 aircraft. The maintenance plan that is generated with our approach is compared with a previous study, which presented a Dynamic Programming (DP) based approach and airline estimations for the same period. The results show a reduction in the number of checks scheduled, which indicates the potential of RL in solving this problem. The adaptability of RL is also tested by introducing small disturbances in the initial conditions. After training the model with these simulated scenarios, the results show the robustness of the RL approach and its ability to generate efficient maintenance plans in only a few seconds.
Investigation of the Film-Cooling Performance of 2.5D Braided Ceramic Matrix Composite Plates with Preformed Hole
Authors: Zhao Chenwei , Tu Zecan , Mao Junkui
Published: April 2021

The film-cooling performance of a 2.5D braided ceramic matrix composite (CMC) plate with preformed holes was numerically studied. Four numerical models containing braided structures were established: one model with film-cooling holes preformed through fiber extrusion deformation (EP-Hole), one model with film-cooling holes directly woven through fibers (WP-Hole), and two models with directly drilled holes (DP-Hole1,2). Besides, the influence of the ratio between the equivalent thermal conductivities on the axial and radial directions of fiber Kr was investigated. The results show that the preformed holes have better performance in controlling the thermal gradient with the increase of Kr. The maximum thermal gradient around the DP-Hole is significantly higher than that of the WP-Hole and EP-Hole, and the maximum relative variation reaches 123.3%. With Kr increasing from 3.32 to 13.05, the overall cooling effectiveness on the hot-side wall decreases for all models, by about 10%. Compared with the traditional drill method, the new preformed film-cooling hole studied in this paper can reduce the temperature and the thermal gradient in the region around the holes.
Methodology for Evaluating Risk of Visual Inspection Tasks of Aircraft Engine Blades
Authors: Aust Jonas , Pons Dirk
Published: April 2021

Risk assessment methods are widely used in aviation, but have not been demonstrated for visual inspection of aircraft engine components. The complexity in this field arises from the variety of defect types and the different manifestation thereof with each level of disassembly. A new risk framework was designed to include contextual factors. Those factors were identified using Bowtie analysis to be criticality, severity, and detectability. This framework yields a risk metric that describes the extent to which a defect might stay undetected during the inspection task, and result in adverse safety outcomes. A simplification of the framework provides a method for go/no-go decision-making. The results of the study reveal that the defect detectability is highly dependent on specific views of the blade, and the risk can be quantified. Defects that involve material separation or removal such as scratches, tip rub, nicks, tears, cracks, and breaking, are best shown in airfoil views. Defects that involve material deformation and change of shape, such as tip curl, dents on the leading edges, bents, and battered blades, have lower risk if edge views can be provided. This research proposes that many risk assessments may be reduced to three factors: consequence, likelihood, and a cofactor. The latter represents the industrial context, and can comprise multiple sub-factors that are application-specific. A method has been devised, including appropriate scales, for the inclusion of these into the risk assessment.
Biochar with Alternate Wetting and Drying Irrigation: A Potential Technique for Paddy Soil Management
Authors: Haque Ahmad Numery Ashfaqul , Uddin Md. Kamal , Sulaiman Muhammad Firdaus , Amin Adibah Mohd , Hossain Mahmud , Solaiman Zakaria M. , Mosharrof Mehnaz
Published: April 2021

Over half of the world’s population depends on rice for its calorie supply, although it consumes the highest amount of water compared to other major crops. To minimize this excess water usage, alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation practice is considered as an efficient technique in which soil intermittently dried during the growing period of rice by maintaining yield compared to a flooded system. Continuous AWD may result in poor soil health caused by carbon loss, nutrient depletion, cracking, and affecting soil physical properties. Due to being a potential organic amendment, biochar has a great scope to overcome these problems by improving soil’s physicochemical properties. Biochar is a carbon enriched highly porous material and characterized by several functional groups on its large surface area and full of nutrients. However, biochar’s implication for sustaining soil physicochemical and water retention properties in the AWD irrigation systems has not been widely discussed. This paper reviews the adverse impacts of AWD irrigation on soil structure and C, N depletion; the potential of biochar to mitigate this problem and recovering soil productivity; its influence on improving soil physical properties and moisture retention; and the scope of future study. This review opined that biochar efficiently retains nutrients and supplies as a slow-release fertilizer, which may restrict preferential nutrient loss through soil cracks under AWD. It also improves soil’s physical properties, slows cracking during drying cycles, and enhances water retention by storing moisture within its internal pores. However, long-term field studies are scarce; additionally, economic evaluation is required to confirm the extent of biochar impact.
Volatile Organic Compounds from Rice Rhizosphere Bacteria Inhibit Growth of the Pathogen Rhizoctonia solani
Authors: Wang Enzhao , Liu Xiongduo , Si Zhiyuan , Li Xu , Bi Jingjing , Dong Weiling , Chen Mingshun , Wang Sai , Zhang Jiayin , Song Alin , Fan Fenliang
Published: April 2021

Rice sheath blight, a fungal disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani, seriously threatens rice production. Some of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by microbes are inhibitory to the growth of the plant pathogen, and hence may have the potential as environmentally friendly antifungal substances. However, information on the inhibitory effect of VOCs released by rice rhizosphere bacteria on R. solani is scarce. In this study, bacteria from the rice rhizosphere capable of inhibiting the growth of R. solani via releasing VOCs were screened using a double Petri dish assay. Headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to identify and quantify the VOCs. The contributions of VOCs to the inhibition of the growth of R. solani were estimated by constructing a random forest model, and were verified using pure compounds. Nine strains (i.e., Pseudomonas sp. No. 3, Enterobacter sp. No. 26, Enterobacter sp. No. 34, Pseudomonas sp. No. 35, Ralstonia sp. No. 50, Bacillus sp. No. 62, Arthrobacter sp. No. 146, Brevibacillus sp. No. 2–18, and Paenisporosarcina sp. No. 2–60) showed various inhibition on R. solani growth via VOCs. The inhibitory effect ranged from 7.84% to 100%, with Ralstonia sp. No. 50 completely inhibiting the growth of R. solani. Five VOCs (i.e., benzoic acid ethyl ester, 3-methyl-butanoic acid, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one) identified by random forest model were confirmed to be toxic to R. solani when applied as a pure chemical compound. In particular, benzoic acid ethyl ester, 3-methyl-butanoic acid, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol were lethal to R. solani. In summary, the rice rhizosphere bacteria (Ralstonia sp. No. 50) and VOCs (benzoic acid ethyl ester, 3-methyl-butanoic acid, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol) showed potential to be used as new resources for biological control of rice sheath blight.
Evaluation of Agricultural Land Suitability Based on RS, AHP, and MEA: A Case Study in Jilin Province, China
Authors: Han Cheng , Chen Shengbo , Yu Yan , Xu Zhengyuan , Zhu Bingxue , Xu Xitong , Wang Zibo
Published: April 2021

The suitability evaluation of agricultural land at the regional scale is of great significance for protecting land and water resources and building sustainable agricultural systems. Based on climate, soil, topographical, and surface water resources, land suitability index (LSI) data for maize, rice, and soybeans are established using an analytical hierarchy process and matter element analysis (AHP–MEA) model in Jilin Province, China. The results show that there is a significant positive linear correlation between the LSI and the measured yield, which indicates that the model has an ideal effect and certain reference and extension significance. The main limiting factors for maize and soybean planting are pH, total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), and soil texture, while water shortage limits rice planting. Different spatial structure optimization schemes for planting are established using the LSI and measured yield, along with economic indices. This study shows that the scheme that integrates policy and cost can make full use of land and water resources and promote the economic growth of agriculture. After optimization, the planting areas of maize, rice, and soybeans were 7.22, 2.44, and 0.71 million ha, respectively, representing an increase of 15.71 billion yuan over the agricultural GDP for the existing planting structure. It is expected that this study will provide a basis for follow-up studies on crop cultivation suitability.
A Legacy of Quantitative and Qualitative Data for the Irrigated Violada Area and Conterminous Lands in Aragon, Spain
Authors: Herrero Juan , Castañeda Carmen
Published: April 2021

This paper concerns an old soils report produced using an agronomical approach. The territory studied spans continuous parts of Spain’s Huesca and Zaragoza provinces and includes the Violada area. The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture collected the data from 1975 to 1978 through its now-defunct agency, the National Institute for Agrarian Reform and Development (IRYDA), which was in charge of irrigation works in Spain. The surface area studied was 19,393 ha, with 67% irrigated by inundation and 33% rainfed at the time of the study. The survey and the related investigations were conducted using state-of-the-art procedures for agronomical research. The purpose was to rate the potential of the lands for irrigated agriculture. The document provides a unique snapshot of the soils and agriculture in the 1970s that can provide a baseline for multitemporal comparisons.
Direct Phenotyping and Principal Component Analysis of Type Traits Implicate Novel QTL in Bovine Mastitis through Genome-Wide Association
Authors: Miles Asha M. , Posbergh Christian J. , Huson Heather J.
Published: April 2021

Our objectives were to robustly characterize a cohort of Holstein cows for udder and teat type traits and perform high-density genome-wide association studies for those traits within the same group of animals, thereby improving the accuracy of the phenotypic measurements and genomic association study. Additionally, we sought to identify a novel udder and teat trait composite risk index to determine loci with potential pleiotropic effects related to mastitis. This approach was aimed at improving the biological understanding of the genetic factors influencing mastitis. Cows (N = 471) were genotyped on the Illumina BovineHD777k beadchip and scored for front and rear teat length, width, end shape, and placement; fore udder attachment; udder cleft; udder depth; rear udder height; and rear udder width. We used principal component analysis to create a single composite measure describing type traits previously linked to high odds of developing mastitis within our cohort of cows. Genome-wide associations were performed, and 28 genomic regions were significantly associated (Bonferroni-corrected p < 0.05). Interrogation of these genomic regions revealed a number of biologically plausible genes whicht may contribute to the development of mastitis and whose functions range from regulating cell proliferation to immune system signaling, including ZNF683, DHX9, CUX1, TNNT1, and SPRY1. Genetic investigation of the risk composite trait implicated a novel locus and candidate genes that have potentially pleiotropic effects related to mastitis.
Freedom and Animal Welfare
Authors: Browning Heather , Veit Walter
Published: April 2021

The keeping of captive animals in zoos and aquariums has long been controversial. Many take freedom to be a crucial part of animal welfare and, on these grounds, criticise all forms of animal captivity as harmful to animal welfare, regardless of their provisions. Here, we analyse what it might mean for freedom to matter to welfare, distinguishing between the role of freedom as an intrinsic good, valued for its own sake and an instrumental good, its value arising from the increased ability to provide other important resources. Too often, this debate is conducted through trading intuitions about what matters for animals. We argue for the need for the collection of comparative welfare data about wild and captive animals in order to settle the issue. Discovering more about the links between freedom and animal welfare will then allow for more empirically informed ethical decisions regarding captive animals.
GIS-Based and Outranking Approach to Assess Suitable Pig Farming Areas in the Mediterranean Region: Valencian Community
Authors: Calafat-Marzal Consuelo , Gallego-Salguero Áurea , Segura Marina , Calvet-Sanz Salvador
Published: April 2021

The concentration of livestock production is problematic due to environmental concerns. European regulations are guiding the sector to become increasingly sustainable and, at the same time, maintaining the population in rural areas. The aim was to determine suitable areas in municipalities where livestock is presented as a market option. The methodology applied was based on the combination of multi-criteria methods and geographic information system (GIS) techniques, following three steps: removal of unsuitable zones by sectoral regulations (STEP 1); removal of unsuitable zones due to urban planning, and environmental recommendations (STEP 2); and evaluating the resulting areas depending on the importance of socio-economic, sectoral, and environmental characteristics. This study was based in a Spanish region with ongoing conflicts over land use on the coast but with a high number of rural municipalities at risk of depopulation in the interior. The results showed that 33% of the municipalities of the Valencian Community (VC) had suitable and outranking areas for the development of the swine sector. The 43 municipalities with the highest scores were because of the socio-economic factor and confirmed that suitable livestock development in municipalities with the highest risk of depopulation and low rural tourism activity was a key issue for development.
A Pilot Study Using Accelerometers to Characterise the Licking Behaviour of Penned Cattle at a Mineral Block Supplement
Authors: Simanungkalit Gamaliel , Barwick Jamie , Cowley Frances , Dobos Robin , Hegarty Roger
Published: April 2021

Identifying the licking behaviour in beef cattle may provide a means to measure time spent licking for estimating individual block supplement intake. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of tri-axial accelerometers deployed in a neck-collar and an ear-tag, to characterise the licking behaviour of beef cattle in individual pens. Four, 2-year-old Angus steers weighing 368 ± 9.3 kg (mean ± SD) were used in a 14-day study. Four machine learning (ML) algorithms (decision trees [DT], random forest [RF], support vector machine [SVM] and k-nearest neighbour [kNN]) were employed to develop behaviour classification models using three different ethograms: (1) licking vs. eating vs. standing vs. lying; (2) licking vs. eating vs. inactive; and (3) licking vs. non-licking. Activities were video-recorded from 1000 to 1600 h daily when access to supplement was provided. The RF algorithm exhibited a superior performance in all ethograms across the two deployment modes with an overall accuracy ranging from 88% to 98%. The neck-collar accelerometers had a better performance than the ear-tag accelerometers across all ethograms with sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) ranging from 95% to 99% and 91% to 96%, respectively. Overall, the tri-axial accelerometer was capable of identifying licking behaviour of beef cattle in a controlled environment. Further research is required to test the model under actual grazing conditions.
Histological Study of Suprabranchial Chamber Membranes in Anabantoidei and Clariidae Fishes
Authors: Adamek-Urbańska Dobrochna , Błażewicz Ewelina , Sobień Magdalena , Kasprzak Robert , Kamaszewski Maciej
Published: April 2021

Accessory respiratory organs (AROs) are a group of anatomical structures found in fish, which support the gills and skin in the process of oxygen uptake. AROs are found in many fish taxa and differ significantly, but in the suborder Anabantoidei, which has a labyrinth organ (LO), and the family Clariidae, which has a dendritic organ (DO), these structures are found in the suprabranchial cavity (SBC). In this study, the SBC walls, AROs, and gills were studied in anabantoid (Betta splendens, Ctenopoma acutirostre, Helostoma temminckii) and clariid (Clarias angolensis, Clarias batrachus) fishes. The histological structure of the investigated organs was partially similar, especially in relation to their connective tissue core; however, there were noticeable differences in the epithelial layer. There were no significant species-specific differences in the structure of the AROs within the two taxa, but the SBC walls had diversified structures, depending on the observed location. The observed differences between species suggest that the remarkable physiological and morphological plasticity of the five investigated species can be associated with structural variety within their AROs. Furthermore, based on the observed histology of the SBC walls, it is reasonable to conclude that this structure participates in the process of gas exchange, not only in clariid fish but also in anabantoids.
Muscle Cortisol Levels, Expression of Glucocorticoid Receptor and Oxidative Stress Markers in the Teleost Fish Argyrosomus regius Exposed to Transport Stress
Authors: Bortoletti Martina , Maccatrozzo Lisa , Radaelli Giuseppe , Caberlotto Stefano , Bertotto Daniela
Published: April 2021

Fish commercial transport is an ordinary practice in the aquaculture industry. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a 48 h transport stress on stress response of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) juveniles. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) and Real-Time PCR were used to evaluate muscle cortisol levels and to assess glucocorticoid receptor (gr) gene expression in fish muscle and liver, respectively. Presence and localization of various oxidative stress markers were investigated in different tissues by immunohistochemistry. A significant increase in muscle cortisol levels was observed after loading but a significant decrease occurred after 16 h from departure even without returning to control levels. Molecular analysis on stress response revealed an increase in muscle gr expression after fish loading that started decreasing during the travel returning to the control level at the end of the transport. Instead, no differences in liver gr expression were observed along the different sampling points. Immunostaining for heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), nitrotyrosine (NT) and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) antibodies was detected in several organs. Notably, a higher NT immunostaining intensity was evident in skin and gills of the transported animals with respect to controls. Results demonstrated that cortisol and gr are useful indicators of stressful conditions in transported fish.
Thermoregulatory and Feeding Behavior under Different Management and Heat Stress Conditions in Heifer Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the Tropics
Authors: Galloso-Hernández Maykel Andrés , Soca-Pérez Mildrey , Dublin Devon , Alvarez-Díaz Carlos Armando , Iglesias-Gómez Jesús , Díaz-Gaona Cipriano , Rodríguez-Estévez Vicente
Published: April 2021

In the wake of climate change and global warming, the production systems of water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) are receiving increasing attention in the tropics, where the silvopastoral systems can improve animal welfare and production conditions. The objective of this study was to characterize the behavior of heifer buffaloes in a silvopastoral system (SPS) with Leucaena leucocephala (600 trees/ha) and in a conventional system (CVS), under intense heat stress and moderate heat stress in Cuba. We observed nine animals, with an average weight of 167.9 kg at the beginning of the study, during the daylight period, from 6:00 to 18:00 h, at 10 min intervals, for 12 days. Activities recorded were grazing, ingestion of tree leaves, rumination, water intake, walking, lying, standing, sheltering in the shade of trees, and wallowing. Sheltering in the shade of trees and wallowing were collectively considered as thermoregulatory behavior (TB). TB was different in both systems and conditions of heat stress (p < 0.05), with 4.06 in CVS and 3.81 h in SPS in the intense heat stress period, while it was 2.91 and 1.08 h for SPS and CVS, respectively, during the moderate heat stress period. The wallowing activity showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the intense heat stress season with 1.18 and 2.35 h for SPS and CVS, respectively. Time spent on feeding behavior was highest in the SPS system (p < 0.05). Longer times of thermoregulatory and feeding behavior indicate the importance of trees in animal welfare for this species in tropical conditions, thus supporting avoided deforestation and the replanting of trees in existing production systems and landscapes.
The Iron Age Dogs from Alaybeyi Höyük, Eastern Anatolia
Authors: Siddiq Abu B. , Onar Vedat , Mutuş Rıfat , Poradowski Dominik
Published: April 2021

To date, little is known about the biological and cultural status of Iron Age dogs in Anatolia. Here, we present a zooarchaeological study of an assemblage of 143 Iron Age dog bones, including two dog skeletons, unearthed from the 2016 and 2017 salvage excavations at Alaybeyi Höyük, Eastern Anatolia. At least eight adults and one juvenile individual, along with a large number of miscellaneous specimens, were identified. The morphological status of the Alaybeyi dogs were primarily compared to previously published Iron Age dogs from Yoncatepe in Eastern Anatolia, and with the average mean of 18 modern dog breeds. Unlike in other Eastern Anatolian Iron Age sites, butcher marks were observed in some specimens, indicating at least occasional cynophagy at the site. Noticeable pathologies were found in about 5% of the sample, particularly pathologies of the oral cavity and dentitions, suggesting that some of the dogs at Alaybeyi Höyük might have been undernourished, had to live on solid food, and probably injured by humans. The results of this study reflect both the morphological and biological status of Alaybeyi dogs, as well as the Alaybeyi people’s attitudes toward dogs, adding vital information to the very limited archaeological knowledge of dogs in Anatolia.
Determination of Seroprevalence of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia and Associated Risk Factors in Goats and Sheep Using Classification and Regression Tree
Authors: Selim Abdelfattah , Megahed Ameer , Kandeel Sahar , Alanazi Abdullah D. , Almohammed Hamdan I.
Published: April 2021

Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis is a potentially powerful tool for identifying risk factors associated with contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) and the important interactions between them. Our objective was therefore to determine the seroprevalence and identify the risk factors associated with CCPP using CART data mining modeling in the most densely sheep- and goat-populated governorates. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 620 animals (390 sheep, 230 goats) distributed over four governorates in the Nile Delta of Egypt in 2019. The randomly selected sheep and goats from different geographical study areas were serologically tested for CCPP, and the animals’ information was obtained from flock men and farm owners. Six variables (geographic location, species, flock size, age, gender, and communal feeding and watering) were used for risk analysis. Multiple stepwise logistic regression and CART modeling were used for data analysis. A total of 124 (20%) serum samples were serologically positive for CCPP. The highest prevalence of CCPP was between aged animals (>4 y; 48.7%) raised in a flock size ≥200 (100%) having communal feeding and watering (28.2%). Based on logistic regression modeling (area under the curve, AUC = 0.89; 95% CI 0.86 to 0.91), communal feeding and watering showed the highest prevalence odds ratios (POR) of CCPP (POR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.9 to 7.3), followed by age (POR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.6 to 2.8) and flock size (POR = 1.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.2). However, higher-accuracy CART modeling (AUC = 0.92, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.95) showed that a flock size >100 animals is the most important risk factor (importance score = 8.9), followed by age >4 y (5.3) followed by communal feeding and watering (3.1). Our results strongly suggest that the CCPP is most likely to be found in animals raised in a flock size >100 animals and with age >4 y having communal feeding and watering. Additionally, sheep seem to have an important role in the CCPP epidemiology. The CART data mining modeling showed better accuracy than the traditional logistic regression.
Use of Corn Silk Meal in Broiler Diet: Effect on Growth Performance, Blood Biochemistry, Immunological Responses, and Growth-Related Gene Expression
Authors: Kirrella Abeer A. , Abdo Safaa E. , El-Naggar Karima , Soliman Mohamed Mohamed , Aboelenin Salama Mostafa , Dawood Mahmoud A. O. , Saleh Ahmed A.
Published: April 2021

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of diets supplemented with corn silk meal (CSM) and non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) enzyme on growth performance, blood biochemistry, immunological response, and growth-related gene expression in broiler chickens. A total of 270 broiler chickens were divided into six experimental groups: (1) basal diets (BD) as control; (2) BD supplemented with 0.5 g/kg feed NSP enzyme; the other four groups are CSM diets as following; (3) and (4) fed diet contain 40 and 80 kg/ton of CSM; (5) and (6) fed diet contain 40 and 80 kg/ton CSM and supplemented with 0.5 g/kg NSP enzyme. Body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein retention and fiber digestibility were synergistically improved (p < 0.05) when fed CSM supplemented with NSP enzyme. Moreover, a synergistic decrease (p < 0.05) in the serum glucose and total cholesterol were found. Immune organ weights and Newcastle disease virus titers were increased with CSM diets. Interestingly, the relative mRNAs of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin growth factor (IGF) were increased (p < 0.05) with the CSM and NSP enzyme: the relative mRNA expressions of cholecystokinin (CCK) and leptin were decreased by feeding CSM diets with the NSP enzyme. It could be concluded that the dietary inclusion of CSM with the NSP enzyme might improve growth performance, modify plasma lipids, and enhance immune response in broilers.
Genome-Wide Association Study Demonstrates the Role Played by the CD226 Gene in Rasa Aragonesa Sheep Reproductive Seasonality
Authors: Lakhssassi Kenza , Lahoz Belén , Sarto Pilar , Iguácel Laura Pilar , Folch José , Alabart José Luis , Serrano Malena , Calvo Jorge Hugo
Published: April 2021

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was used to identify genomic regions influencing seasonality reproduction traits in Rasa Aragonesa sheep. Three traits associated with either ovarian function based on blood progesterone levels (total days of anoestrus and progesterone cycling months) or behavioral signs of oestrous (oestrous cycling months) were studied. The GWAS included 205 ewes genotyped using the 50k and 680k Illumina Ovine Beadchips. Only one SNP associated with the progesterone cycling months overcame the genome-wide significance level (rs404991855). Nine SNPs exhibited significant associations at the chromosome level, being the SNPs rs404991855 and rs418191944, that are located in the CD226 molecule (CD226) gene, associated with the three traits. This gene is related to reproductive diseases. Two other SNPs were located close to the neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene, which is involved in circadian rhythms. To validate the GWAS, partial characterization of both genes by Sanger sequencing, and genotyping of two synonymous and two nonsynonymous SNPs in the NPY and CD226 genes, respectively, were performed. SNP association analysis showed that only SNP rs404360094 in the exon 3 of the CD226 gene, which produces an amino acid substitution from asparagine (uncharged polar) to aspartic acid (acidic), was associated with the three seasonality traits. Our results suggest that the CD226 gene may be involved in the reproductive seasonality in Rasa Aragonesa.
Exploiting the Two-Dimensional Nature of Agnostic Music Notation for Neural Optical Music Recognition
Authors: Alfaro-Contreras María , Valero-Mas Jose J.
Published: April 2021

State-of-the-art Optical Music Recognition (OMR) techniques follow an end-to-end or holistic approach, i.e., a sole stage for completely processing a single-staff section image and for retrieving the symbols that appear therein. Such recognition systems are characterized by not requiring an exact alignment between each staff and their corresponding labels, hence facilitating the creation and retrieval of labeled corpora. Most commonly, these approaches consider an agnostic music representation, which characterizes music symbols by their shape and height (vertical position in the staff). However, this double nature is ignored since, in the learning process, these two features are treated as a single symbol. This work aims to exploit this trademark that differentiates music notation from other similar domains, such as text, by introducing a novel end-to-end approach to solve the OMR task at a staff-line level. We consider two Convolutional Recurrent Neural Network (CRNN) schemes trained to simultaneously extract the shape and height information and to propose different policies for eventually merging them at the actual neural level. The results obtained for two corpora of monophonic early music manuscripts prove that our proposal significantly decreases the recognition error in figures ranging between 14.4% and 25.6% in the best-case scenarios when compared to the baseline considered.
Effect of PEMF on Muscle Oxygenation during Cycling: A Single-Blind Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Trofè Aurelio , Raffi Milena , Muehsam David , Meoni Andrea , Campa Francesco , Toselli Stefania , Piras Alessandro
Published: April 2021

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) are used as non-invasive tools to enhance microcirculation and tissue oxygenation, with a modulatory influence on the microvasculature. This study aimed to measure the acute effect of PEMF on muscle oxygenation and its influence on pulmonary oxygen kinetics during exercise. Eighteen male cyclists performed, on different days, a constant-load exercise in both active (ON) and inactive (OFF) PEMF stimulations while deoxyhemoglobin and pulmonary oxygen kinetics, total oxygenation index, and blood lactate were collected. PEMF enhanced muscle oxygenation, with higher values of deoxyhemoglobin both at the primary component and at the steady-state level. Moreover, PEMF accelerated deoxyhemoglobin on-transition kinetic, with a shorter time delay, time constant, and mean response time than the OFF condition. Lactate concentration was higher during stimulation. No differences were found for total oxygenation index and pulmonary oxygen kinetics. Local application of a precise PEMF stimulation can increase the rate of the muscle O2 extraction and utilization. These changes were not accompanied by faster oxygen kinetics, reduced oxygen slow component, or reduced blood lactate level. It seems that oxygen consumption is more influenced by exercise involving large muscle mass like cycling, whereas PEMF might only act at the local level.
Photodynamic Therapy—An Up-to-Date Review
Authors: Niculescu Adelina-Gabriela , Grumezescu Alexandru Mihai
Published: April 2021

The healing power of light has attracted interest for thousands of years. Scientific discoveries and technological advancements in the field have eventually led to the emergence of photodynamic therapy, which soon became a promising approach in treating a broad range of diseases. Based on the interaction between light, molecular oxygen, and various photosensitizers, photodynamic therapy represents a non-invasive, non-toxic, repeatable procedure for tumor treatment, wound healing, and pathogens inactivation. However, classic photosensitizing compounds impose limitations on their clinical applications. Aiming to overcome these drawbacks, nanotechnology came as a solution for improving targeting efficiency, release control, and solubility of traditional photosensitizers. This paper proposes a comprehensive path, starting with the photodynamic therapy mechanism, evolution over the years, integration of nanotechnology, and ending with a detailed review of the most important applications of this therapeutic approach.
Multi-Tier Heterogeneous Beam Management for Future Indoor FSO Networks
Authors: Rahaim Michael B. , Little Thomas D. C. , Hella Mona
Published: April 2021

To meet the growing demand for wireless capacity, communications in the Terahertz (THz) and optical bands are being broadly explored. Communications within these bands provide massive bandwidth potential along with highly directional beam steering capabilities. While the available bandwidth offers incredible link capacity, the directionality of these technologies offers an even more significant potential for spatial capacity or area spectral efficiency. However, this directionality also implies a challenge related to the network’s ability to quickly establish a connection. In this paper, we introduce a multi-tier heterogeneous (MTH) beamform management strategy that utilizes various wireless technologies in order to quickly acquire a highly directional indoor free space optical communication (FSO) link. The multi-tier design offers the high resolution of indoor FSO while the millimeter-wave (mmWave) system narrows the FSO search space. By narrowing the search space, the system relaxes the requirements of the FSO network in order to assure a practical search time. This paper introduces the necessary components of the proposed beam management strategy and provides a foundational analysis framework to demonstrate the relative impact of coverage, resolution, and steering velocity across tiers. Furthermore, an optimization analysis is used to define the top tier resolution that minimizes worst-case search time as a function of lower tier resolution and top tier range.
Fractional-Order PII1/2DD1/2 Control: Theoretical Aspects and Application to a Mechatronic Axis
Authors: Bruzzone Luca , Baggetta Mario , Fanghella Pietro
Published: April 2021

Fractional Calculus is usually applied to control systems by means of the well-known PIλDμ scheme, which adopts integral and derivative components of non-integer orders λ and µ. An alternative approach is to add equally distributed fractional-order terms to the PID scheme instead of replacing the integer-order terms (Distributed Order PID, DOPID). This work analyzes the properties of the DOPID scheme with five terms, that is the PII1/2DD1/2 (the half-integral and the half-derivative components are added to the classical PID). The frequency domain responses of the PID, PIλDμ and PII1/2DD1/2 controllers are compared, then stability features of the PII1/2DD1/2 controller are discussed. A Bode plot-based tuning method for the PII1/2DD1/2 controller is proposed and then applied to the position control of a mechatronic axis. The closed-loop behaviours of PID and PII1/2DD1/2 are compared by simulation and by experimental tests. The results show that the PII1/2DD1/2 scheme with the proposed tuning criterium allows remarkable reduction in the position error with respect to the PID, with a similar control effort and maximum torque. For the considered mechatronic axis and trapezoidal speed law, the reduction in maximum tracking error is −71% and the reduction in mean tracking error is −77%, in correspondence to a limited increase in maximum torque (+5%) and in control effort (+4%).
Impacts of Lightning-Induced Overvoltage on a Hybrid Solar PV–Battery Energy Storage System
Authors: Ahmad Nor Izzati , Ali Zaipatimah , Ab. Kadir Mohd Zainal Abidin , Osman Miszaina , Zaini Nur Hazirah , Roslan Muhammad Hakirin
Published: April 2021

With increased electrical energy demands projected in the future, the development of a hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV)–battery energy storage system is considered a good option. However, since such systems are normally installed outdoors and in open areas, they are vulnerable to lightning strikes and may suffer from malfunctions or significant damage to sensitive components, which may result in a major breakdown and loss of revenue due to equipment replacement costs and inefficient operation. Thus, the objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of lightning-induced overvoltage on a hybrid solar PV–battery energy storage system, considering indirect lightning strikes nearby the system. The presented hybrid solar PV–battery energy storage system and lightning-induced overvoltage are modeled in Electro-Magnetic Transient Program-Restructured Version (EMTP-RV) software. The lightning-induced overvoltage is simulated based on a lightning waveshape of 10/350 µs using the Heidler expression, whilst the Rusck model is used to simulate the lightning-induced overvoltage. Different lightning current amplitudes (3, 19, and 169 kA), lightning strike locations (20, 50, and 100 m), and cable lengths (5, 10, and 20 m) are used to investigate the induced effects on the system and on the impulse withstand voltage of 6kV, as stated in MS IEC 60664-1 for solar PV–battery systems and inverters at the DC side. The results indicate that as the lightning strike distance increases from 20 to 100 m, the percentage of strikes exceeding the impulse withstand voltage reduces from 67% to 54% at 19 kA. At 169 kA, the impulse withstand voltage is exceeded by more than 100%, regardless of the strike distance (from 20 to 100 m). Furthermore, differences in cable length do not have much impact on the lightning-induced overvoltage due to the small voltage drop across the short cable length. This study provides useful information for PV systems owners and will be useful in assigning appropriate lightning protection schemes for PV farms.