bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hematological and Biochemical Reference Intervals for 5 Adult Hunting Dog Breeds Using a Blood Donor Database
Authors: Miglio Arianna , Gavazza Alessandra , Siepi Donatella , Bagaglia Francesco , Misia Ambra , Antognoni Maria Teresa
Published: July 2020

Numerous studies have shown the importance of breed-related differences between hematological and biochemical results in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study is to determine hematologic and biochemical Reference Intervals (RIs) for 5 hunting dog breeds from a blood donor database, adopting an indirect sampling method, and to compare them with laboratory established and published RIs to identify possible breed and attitude-related differences. The study analyzed the blood parameters of 445 adults (222 females and 223 male, with age ranging from 2 to 8 years, mean age 5.3 years), client-owned, clinically healthy blood donor dogs of 5 breeds: 156 Ariégeois, 52 Bleu de Gascogne, 64 Bracco italiano, 123 Segugio italiano, and 50 Briquet Griffon Vandeen. Statistical analysis was performed as recommended by the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) guidelines. RIs for red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HB), main corpuscular volume (MCV), main corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), main corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red distribution widht (RDW), white blood cells (WBC), and differential leukocytes count, PLT, Albumin, Total Protein, Urea, Creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) for each of the 5 breeds were performed, and significant differences with the established RIs were detected. We found significant differences in 12 hematologic and serum biochemical analytes for which a breed-specific variation appears to be the most plausible explanation. New RIs for HCT, MCH, MCHC, RDW, PLT, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Albumin, Urea, Creatinine, AST, and ALT are provided for at least 1 breed. Breed-specific RIs for adult hunting dogs will help avoid misinterpretation of laboratory results in these breeds.
Understanding the Relationship between Intention and Cat Containment Behaviour: A Case Study of Kitten and Cat Adopters from RSPCA Queensland
Authors: McLeod Lynette J. , Evans Di , Jones Bidda , Paterson Mandy , Zito Sarah
Published: July 2020

In Australia, cat owners are encouraged to keep their pet cats contained on their property at all times. This study explores the relationship between the intentions and behaviours of 72 kitten and cat adopters from a RSPCA Queensland animal shelter, to provide a more in-depth understanding of the factors influencing the adoption of cat containment behaviours. At the time of adoption, 64 participants (89%) indicated they were intending to keep their cat fully contained. Eight weeks after adoption, 63 participants (87%) reported they were doing so (59 who had stated their intention at the time of adoption, and 4 who had not). We found cat owner containment behaviour was moderately correlated with containment intentions. For some of the participants when it came to enacting this behaviour, their intentions and the provided education information was not enough to overcome the more compelling capability, opportunity and motivational factors which presented themselves once they got home. We were able to identify these factors and suggest additional behaviour change strategies that would assist. Although it is important to provide cat adopters with advice about how to contain their cats properly, these results also highlight the importance of focusing attention on other behaviour change strategies that address the particular barriers faced by some cat-owners who are unsuccessful in keeping their cat contained on their property.
Association Analysis between SPP1, POFUT1 and PRLR Gene Variation and Milk Yield, Composition and Coagulation Traits in Sarda Sheep
Authors: Dettori Maria Luisa , Pazzola Michele , Petretto Elena , Vacca Giuseppe Massimo
Published: July 2020

Many studies focus on the identification of genomic regions that undergo selective processes, where evidence of selection is revealed and positional candidate genes are identified. The aim of the research was to evaluate the association between positional candidate genes, namely secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1, sheep chromosome Ovis aries OAR6, 36.651–36.658 Mb), protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 (POFUT1, OAR13, 61.006–61.027 Mb) and prolactin receptor (PRLR, OAR16, 38.969–39.028 Mb) with milk yield, composition and coagulation traits. Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mapping to the three genes were genotyped in 380 Sarda dairy sheep. Statistical analysis revealed an association between SNP rs161844011 at SPP1 (chromosome position Oar_v3 OAR6:36651870, gene region exon 7) and somatic cell score, while POFUT1 SNP rs424501869 (OAR13:61007495, intron 1) was associated with curd firmness both 45 and 60 min after rennet addition (p = 0.015 and p = 0.007, respectively). SNP rs400874750 at PRLR gene (OAR16:39004070, intron 2) had a significant association with lactose content (p = 0.020), somatic cell score (p = 0.038), rennet coagulation time (p = 0.018) and curd firming time (p = 0.047). The outcome of this research confirmed predictions based on genomic studies, producing new information regarding the SPP1, POFUT1 and PRLR genes, which may be useful for future breeding schemes.
Evaluation of Oral Administration of Lactobacillus plantarum CAM6 Strain as an Alternative to Antibiotics in Weaned Pigs
Authors: Betancur César , Martínez Yordan , Merino-Guzman Ruben , Hernandez-Velasco Xochitl , Castillo Rogel , Rodríguez Roman , Tellez-Isaias Guillermo
Published: July 2020

The objective was to evaluate the effect of oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum CAM6 strain as an alternative to antibiotics in weaned pigs on productive parameters, blood biochemical profile, and IgA serum levels. Thirty-six 21-day-old weaned piglets were randomly assigned to three groups with three replicates of four piglets each. Treatments consisted of a basal diet (BD; T0) without probiotics or antibiotics; BD + antibiotics and the same basal diet used in T0 plus oral administration of 5 mL × 109 CFU/mL of L. plantarum CAM-6 (T2). During the study (21 to 49 days of age) T2 obtained a similar live weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio when compared to the T1. Both treatments were better in these variables compared to T0 (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, T2 increased serum IgA levels (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, hematological parameters and acid-base balance remained similar in all groups. However, significant reductions in the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, platelets, and metabolic hydrogen ions were observed in T1 (p ≤ 0.05). The results of this study suggest that supplementation with L. plantarum CAM6 can be an alternative to antibiotics. Studies to evaluate its efficacy under commercial conditions and water administration require further evaluation.
Cadaver Dogs and the Deathly Hallows—A Survey and Literature Review on Selection and Training Procedure
Authors: Martin Clément , Diederich Claire , Verheggen François
Published: July 2020

Human remains detection dogs (HRDDs) are powerful police assets to locate a corpse. However, the methods used to select and train them are as diverse as the number of countries with such a canine brigade. First, a survey sent to human remains searching brigades (Ncountries = 10; NBrigades = 16; NHandlers = 50; Nquestions = 9), to collect their working habits confirmed the lack of optimized selection and training procedures. Second, a literature review was performed in order to outline the strengths and shortcomings of HRDDs training. A comparison between the scientific knowledge and the common practices used by HRDDs brigade was then conducted focusing on HRDDs selection and training procedures. We highlighted that HRDD handlers select their dogs by focusing on behavioral traits while neglecting anatomical features, which have been shown to be important. Most HRDD handlers reported to use a reward-based training, which is in accordance with training literature for dogs. Training aids should be representative of the odor target to allow a dog to reach optimal performances. The survey highlighted the wide diversity of homemade training aids, and the need to optimize their composition. In the present document, key research topics to improve HRDD works are also provided.
Productive Results, Oxidative Stress and Contaminant Markers in European Sea Bass: Conventional vs. Organic Feeding
Authors: Carminato Antonio , Pascoli Francesco , Trocino Angela , Locatello Lisa , Maccatrozzo Lisa , Palazzi Renato , Radaelli Giuseppe , Ballarin Cristina , Bortoletti Martina , Bertotto Daniela
Published: July 2020

In the present study European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) subjected to two different diets (organic vs. conventional) were evaluated in terms of growing performances, oxidative stress, and contaminant markers. Growing performances were evaluated using biometric measures and condition factor (K), whereas insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I and IGF-II) levels were assessed trough Real-Time PCR analysis. For oxidative stress, immunohistochemical staining for 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) was performed, whereas total glutathione (GSH) in blood serum was determined by an enzymatic method adapted. Cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) and melanomacrophage centers (MMCs) were evaluated as contaminant markers trough immunohistochemical and histochemical approaches, respectively. The growing performances showed a positive trend in both groups but a greater productivity in conventional fed fish compared to the organic ones. A significant higher expression of MMCs was observed in organic vs. conventional diet fed fish. Fillet analysis showed a higher MUFA content and a lower PUFAs n-6 content in organically fed sea bass indicating that diets with a content in fatty acids closer to that of wild fish will definitely affect the fatty acid profile of the fish flesh. On the other hand, the diet composition did not seem to affect neither the oxidative stress parameters (GSH, 8-OHdG, HNE) nor the CYP1A expression.
Enterococcus faecium Modulates the Gut Microbiota of Broilers and Enhances Phosphorus Absorption and Utilization
Authors: Wang Weiwei , Cai Huiyi , Zhang Anrong , Chen Zhimin , Chang Wenhuan , Liu Guohua , Deng Xuejuan , Bryden Wayne L. , Zheng Aijuan
Published: July 2020

Modern broiler chickens have ongoing bone health problems. Phosphorus (P) plays an important role in bone development and increased understanding of P metabolism should improve the skeletal health of broilers. Enterococcus faecium has been widely used as a probiotic in broiler production and is shown to improve skeletal health of rats, but its effect on the bones of broilers remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of E. faecium on P absorption and utilization in broilers and the associated changes in the gut microbiota using 16S rDNA sequencing. Dietary supplementation with E. faecium improved P absorption through upregulation of the expression of intestinal NaP-IIb mRNA and increased the concentration of serum alkaline phosphatase. These actions increased P retention and bone mineralization in E. faecium-treated broilers. The positive effects of E. faecium on P metabolism were associated with changes in the populations of the intestinal microbiota. There was increased relative abundance of the following genera, Alistipes, Eubacterium, Rikenella and Ruminococcaceae and a decrease in the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium and Escherichia-Shigella. Dietary supplementation with E. faecium changed gut microbiota populations of broilers, increased the relative abundance of SCFA (short-chain fatty acid)-producing bacteria, improved intestinal P absorption and bone forming metabolic activities, and decreased P excretion. E. faecium facilitates increased utilisation of P in broilers.
Milk Replacer Supplementation with Docosahexaenoic Acid from Microalgae Does Not Affect Growth and Immune Status in Goat Kids
Authors: Moreno-Indias Isabel , Hernández-Castellano Lorenzo E. , Sánchez-Macías Davinia , Morales-delaNuez Antonio , Torres Alexandr , Argüello Anastasio , Castro Noemí
Published: July 2020

Consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has beneficial effects for consumers’ health. Consequently, there is an increased interest in enhancing meat fatty acid profiles (i.e., PUFA and DHA content) through diverse nutritional strategies. This study aimed to investigate the effect of supplementing a microalgae-derived product rich in DHA on growth and immune system development in newborn goat kids. In this experiment, newborn goat kids were fed milk replacer (MR) supplemented with three levels of a microalgae-derived product rich in DHA (DHA-Gold®, Martek Biosciences, MD, USA). Groups were designed as follows: MR-NS (milk replacer without DHA-Gold® supplementation; n = 10), MR-DHA-9 (9 g of DHA-Gold®/L milk replacer; n = 10) and MR-DHA-18 (18 g of DHA-Gold®/L milk replacer; n = 10). The immune status of the kids was evaluated by the plasma IgG and IgM concentrations, as well as by the complement system and chitotriosidase activities. Dietary supplementation with DHA did not affect either growth or innate and humoral immunity (p > 0.05). This study concludes that supplementation with DHA does not cause negative effects on growth and immune status in newborn goat kids.
Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria in Respiratory Specimens of Patients with Obstructive Lung Diseases—Colonization or Disease?
Authors: Szturmowicz Monika , Oniszh Karina , Wyrostkiewicz Dorota , Radwan-Rohrenschef Piotr , Filipczak Dorota , Zabost Anna
Published: July 2020

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly a cause of human respiratory tract colonization and mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD), especially in patients with chronic lung diseases. The aim of the present study was to find the factors predictive of NTM-LD in patients with obstructive lung diseases and NTM respiratory isolates. A total of 839 isolates of NTM, obtained from 161 patients between 2010 and 2020 in a single pulmonary unit, have been retrospectively reviewed. Of these isolates, 73 concerned 36 patients with obstructive lung diseases (COPD-26, asthma-3, COPD/asthma overlap syndrome-7). NTM-LD was recognized according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) criteria in 17 patients, colonization in 19. Lower BMI, elevated body temperature on admission, infiltrative/cavitary lesions on chest CT, and NTM species other than Mycobacterium gordonae were the significant predictors of NTM-LD recognition. Based on the above-mentioned predictive factors, an original scoring system was implemented. The diagnostic utility of the scoring system was higher than that of single parameters. We conclude that NTM-LD prediction in patients with obstructive lung diseases and positive respiratory isolates is difficult. A scoring system based on clinical, radiological and microbiological characteristics was capable of facilitating the differential diagnosis, but it needs further validation in a larger study group.
Genetic Polymorphisms Complicate COVID-19 Therapy: Pivotal Role of HO-1 in Cytokine Storm
Authors: Fakhouri Eddie W. , Peterson Stephen J. , Kothari Janish , Alex Ragin , Shapiro Joseph I. , Abraham Nader G.
Published: July 2020

Coronaviruses are very large RNA viruses that originate in animal reservoirs and include severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and other inconsequential coronaviruses from human reservoirs like the common cold. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 and is believed to originate from bat, quickly spread into a global pandemic. This RNA virus has a special affinity for porphyrins. It invades the cell at the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor and binds to hemoproteins, resulting in a severe systemic inflammatory response, particularly in high ACE-2 organs like the lungs, heart, and kidney, resulting in systemic disease. The inflammatory response manifested by increased cytokine levels and reactive oxygen species results in inhibition of heme oxygenase (HO-1), with a subsequent loss of cytoprotection. This has been seen in other viral illness like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Ebola, and SARS/MERS. There are a number of medications that have been tried with some showing early clinical promise. This illness disproportionately affects patients with obesity, a chronic inflammatory disease with a baseline excess of cytokines. The majority of the medications used in the treatment of COVID-19 are metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, primarily CYP2D6. This is further complicated by genetic polymorphisms of CYP2D6, HO-1, ACE, and ACE-2. There is a potential role for HO-1 upregulation to treat/prevent cytokine storm. Current therapy must focus on antivirals and heme oxygenase upregulation. Vaccine development will be the only magic bullet.
Airflow Characteristics Downwind a Naturally Ventilated Pig Building with a Roofed Outdoor Exercise Yard and Implications on Pollutant Distribution
Authors: Yi Qianying , Janke David , Thormann Lars , Zhang Guoqiang , Amon Barbara , Hempel Sabrina , Nosek Štěpán , Hartung Eberhard , Amon Thomas
Published: July 2020

The application of naturally ventilated pig buildings (NVPBs) with outdoor exercise yards is on the rise mainly due to animal welfare considerations, while the issue of emissions from the buildings to the surrounding environment is important. Since air pollutants are mainly transported by airflow, the knowledge on the airflow characteristics downwind the building is required. The objective of this research was to investigate airflow properties downwind of a NVPB with a roofed outdoor exercise yard for roof slopes of 5°, 15°, and 25°. Air velocities downwind a 1:50 scaled NVPB model were measured using a Laser Doppler Anemometer in a large boundary layer wind tunnel. A region with reduced mean air velocities was found along the downwind side of the building with a distance up to 0.5 m (i.e., 3.8 times building height), in which the emission concentration might be high. Additional air pollutant treatment technologies applied in this region might contribute to emission mitigation effectively. Furthermore, a wake zone with air recirculation was observed in this area. A smaller roof slope (i.e., 5° slope) resulted in a higher and shorter wake zone and thus a shorter air pollutant dispersion distance.
Insights into PCDD/Fs and PAHs in Biomass Boilers Envisaging Risks of Ash Use as Fertilizers
Authors: Lopes Helena , Proença Susana
Published: July 2020

Since ashes are a possible source of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) contamination, their application in soils must be subject to more study and control. In this scope, feed residual forest biomasses and biomass ashes, collected along one year in four biomass power stations, were characterized mainly for their polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) contents. The biomasses present concerning levels of Cl (0.04–0.28%) that may lead to PCDD/Fs formation. The biomasses also contain OCDD (29–260 ng/kg) and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD (35 ng/kg) that may contribute to increased Toxic Equivalents (TEQs) of ashes, possibly involving dechlorination and ash enrichment mechanisms. While the WHO2005-TEQs in bottom ashes (14–20 ng TEQ/kg) reaches the proposed limit (20 ng TEQ/kg) for ash use as fertilizers, in fly ashes (35–1139 ng TEQ/kg) the limit is exceeded. PAHs are below 0.02 mg/kg in bottom ashes and 1.5–2.5 mg/kg in fly ashes, complying with the proposed limit of 6 mg/kg. As bottom and fly ash streams may contain different ash flows, a clear definition of ash mixes is required. Correlations between unburned carbon (C), PAHs and PCDD/Fs were not found, which highlights the need for compulsory PCDD/Fs analysis in ashes, independently of their origin, burnout degree or levels of other contaminants. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of handling non-detected values, which showed more impact for TEQs values close to the proposed regulatory limit of PCDD/Fs. These findings highlight the need to define reporting protocols of analytical results for risk assessments and conformity evaluation.
Experimental Investigation of Industrial Laser Cutting: The Effect of the Material Selection and the Process Parameters on the Kerf Quality
Authors: Genna Silvio , Menna Erica , Rubino Gianluca , Tagliaferri Vincenzo
Published: July 2020

Laser beam cutting is a non-contact, production-flexible and highly productive technique that allows accurate profiling of a wide range of sheet materials. To these and further benefits, laser machining is increasingly being adopted by industry. This paper investigates the effect of material type, workpiece thickness, cutting speed and assistant gas pressure on cut quality for industrial-relevant applications using a CO2 laser. AlMg3 aluminum alloy, St37-2 low-carbon steel and AISI 304 stainless steel were selected to represent the most established materials in many industrial fields and gain insight into different processes (i.e., inert-assisted fusion cutting and oxygen cutting) and absorption behaviors with respect to CO2 laser wavelength. The aim was to enhance the understanding of the mechanisms through which laser cutting parameters and workpiece parameters interact in order to identify general criteria and well-optimized process parameters which guarantee the kerf quality. The quality of laser cut was analyzed in its basic terms: kerf geometry, surface roughness and cut edge quality. The experiments were performed by using a systematic experimental design approach based on Design of Experiments, and the results were validated via Analysis of Variance. Quality assessment was presented and discussed. The visual inspection of cut sections confirms good overall quality and limited presence of laser cut imperfections. The experimental investigation demonstrates that the different materials can be successfully processed within a wide range of the tested values. In addition, optimum cutting conditions which satisfy the straight requirement of the quality standard adopted are identified for each material. This study involves an analysis of both phenomenological and practical issues.
Numerical Investigation on the Evolution of Mechanical Properties of Rock Affected by Micro-Parameters
Authors: Rong Haoyu , Li Guichen , Liang Dongxu , Sun Changlun , Zhang Suhui , Sun Yuantian
Published: July 2020

Investigating the micro-parameters of rock is vital for understanding the macro-properties of rock, such as the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), Young’s modulus, failure patterns, etc. In this paper, based on the experimental results of rock material, a parallel-bond model in three-dimensional particle flow code (PFC3D) was applied to investigate the effects of the joint action of bond stiffness ratio and bond stress ratio on macro-properties of rock. The uniaxial compressive strength, stress–strain relationships, and failure characteristics, as well as underlying compression and failure mechanisms, in the process of parameter calibration, were systematically studied. The results indicated that the interaction of several micro-parameters would obviously change the response characteristics of the macro-properties of the model. The mechanism of the effects of various micro-parameters on the macro-properties of the model was further revealed. The change of the micro-parameters would change the strength and stress state of the bond between particles. The research results could promote the understanding of the failure mechanism of rock and improve the efficiency of micro-parameter calibration and the accuracy of calibration results.
A Blockchain-Based Secure Inter-Hospital EMR Sharing System
Authors: Chen Chin-Ling , Deng Yong-Yuan , Weng Wei , Sun Hongyu , Zhou Ming
Published: July 2020

In recent years, blockchain-related technologies and applications have gradually emerged. Blockchain technology is essentially a decentralized database maintained by the collective, and it is now widely applied in various fields. At the same time, with the growth of medical technology, medical information is becoming increasingly important in terms of patient identity background, medical payment records, and medical history. Medical information can be the most private information about a person, but due to issues such as operation errors within the network or a hacking attack by a malicious person, there have been major leaks of sensitive personal information in the past. In any case, this has become an issue worth studying to ensure the privacy of patients and protect these medical materials. On the other hand, under the current medical system, the patient’s EMR (electronic medical record) cannot be searched across the hospital. When the patient attends the hospital for treatment, repeated examinations will occur, resulting in a waste of medical resources. Therefore, we propose a blockchain-based secure inter-hospital EMR sharing system in this article. Through the programmatic authorization mechanism by smart contracts, the security of EMR is guaranteed. In addition to the essential mutual authentication, the proposed scheme also provides and guarantees data integrity, nonrepudiation, user untraceability, forward and backward secrecy, and resistance to replay attack.
Novel Electronic Device to Quantify the Cyclic Fatigue Resistance of Endodontic Reciprocating Files after Using and Sterilization
Authors: Zubizarreta-Macho Álvaro , Alonso-Ezpeleta Óscar , Albaladejo Martínez Alberto , Faus Matoses Vicente , Caviedes Brucheli Javier , Agustín-Panadero Rubén , Mena Álvarez Jesús , Vizmanos Martínez-Berganza Fernando
Published: July 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of the time of use (TU) and sterilization cycles (SC) of endodontic reciprocating files on cyclic fatigue resistance. Methods: One-hundred-and-twenty (120) Procodile NiTi endodontic reciprocating instruments were selected at random and distributed into the following study groups: A: 0 sterilization cycles/0s time of use (n = 10); B: 0/60 (n = 10); C: 0/120 (n = 10); D: 1/0 (n = 10); E: 1/60 (n = 10); F: 1/120 (n = 10); G: 5/0 (n = 10); H: 5/60 (n = 10); I: 5/120 (n = 10); J: 10/0 (n = 10); K: 10/60 (n = 10); and L: 10/120 (n = 10). A dynamic cyclic fatigue device was designed using computer-aided design/computer-aided engineering (CAD/CAE) technology and created with a 3D printer to simulate the pecking motion performed by the clinician. Failure of the endodontic rotary instrument was detected by a light-emitting diode-light-dependent resistor (LED-LDR) system controlled by an Arduino driver complex and management software. The results were analyzed using the ANOVA test. Results: All pairwise comparisons presented statistically significant differences between the time to failure, number of cycles to failure and number of cycles of in-and-out movement for the time of use study groups (p < 0.001), but not in the number of sterilization cycles (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The time of use of NiTi endodontic reciprocating files negatively affects dynamic cyclic fatigue resistance. Dynamic cyclic resistance is not affected by the number of sterilization cycles.
Hybrid Malware Classification Method Using Segmentation-Based Fractal Texture Analysis and Deep Convolution Neural Network Features
Authors: Nisa Maryam , Shah Jamal Hussain , Kanwal Shansa , Raza Mudassar , Khan Muhammad Attique , Damaševičius Robertas , Blažauskas Tomas
Published: July 2020

As the number of internet users increases so does the number of malicious attacks using malware. The detection of malicious code is becoming critical, and the existing approaches need to be improved. Here, we propose a feature fusion method to combine the features extracted from pre-trained AlexNet and Inception-v3 deep neural networks with features attained using segmentation-based fractal texture analysis (SFTA) of images representing the malware code. In this work, we use distinctive pre-trained models (AlexNet and Inception-V3) for feature extraction. The purpose of deep convolutional neural network (CNN) feature extraction from two models is to improve the malware classifier accuracy, because both models have characteristics and qualities to extract different features. This technique produces a fusion of features to build a multimodal representation of malicious code that can be used to classify the grayscale images, separating the malware into 25 malware classes. The features that are extracted from malware images are then classified using different variants of support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), decision tree (DT), and other classifiers. To improve the classification results, we also adopted data augmentation based on affine image transforms. The presented method is evaluated on a Malimg malware image dataset, achieving an accuracy of 99.3%, which makes it the best among the competing approaches.
Prediction of Academic Performance at Undergraduate Graduation: Course Grades or Grade Point Average?
Authors: Tatar Ahmet Emin , Düştegör Dilek
Published: July 2020

Predicting the academic standing of a student at the graduation time can be very useful, for example, in helping institutions select among candidates, or in helping potentially weak students in overcoming educational challenges. Most studies use individual course grades to represent college performance, with a recent trend towards using grade point average (GPA) per semester. It is unknown however which of these representations can yield the best predictive power, due to the lack of a comparative study. To answer this question, a case study is conducted that generates two sets of classification models, using respectively individual course grades and GPAs. Comprehensive sets of experiments are conducted, spanning different student data, using several well-known machine learning algorithms, and trying various prediction window sizes. Results show that using course grades yields better accuracy if the prediction is done before the third term, whereas using GPAs achieves better accuracy otherwise. Most importantly, variance analysis on the experiment results reveals interesting insights easily generalizable: individual course grades with short prediction window induces noise, and using GPAs with long prediction window causes over-simplification. The demonstrated analytical approach can be applied to any dataset to determine when to use which college performance representation for enhanced prediction.
Optimization of Optical Trapping and Laser Interferometry in Biological Cells
Authors: Sugino Yujiro , Ikenaga Masahiro , Mizuno Daisuke
Published: July 2020

Optical trapping and laser interferometry enable the non-invasive manipulation of colloids, which can be used to investigate the microscopic mechanics of surrounding media or bound macromolecules. For efficient trapping and precise tracking, the sample media must ideally be homogeneous and quiescent whereas such conditions are usually not satisfied in vivo in living cells. In order to investigate mechanics of the living-cell interior, we introduced (1) the in-situ calibration of optical trapping and laser interferometry, and (2) 3-D feedback control of a sample stage to stably track a colloidal particle. Investigating systematic errors that appear owing to sample heterogeneity and focal offsets of a trapping laser relative to the colloidal probe, we provide several important caveats for conducting precise optical micromanipulation in living cells. On the basis of this study, we further improved the performance of the techniques to be used in cells, by optimizing the position sensitivity of laser interferometry and the stability of the feedback simultaneously.
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Determination of Spectral Fundamental Parameters
Authors: Messaoud Aberkane Sabrina , Safi Ali , Botto Asia , Campanella Beatrice , Legnaioli Stefano , Poggialini Francesco , Raneri Simona , Rezaei Fatemeh , Palleschi Vincenzo
Published: July 2020

In this review, we report and critically discuss the application of LIBS for the determination of plasma-emission fundamental parameters, such as transition probabilities, oscillator strengths, Stark broadening and shifts, of the emission lines in the spectrum. The knowledge of these parameters is of paramount importance for plasma diagnostics or for quantitative analysis using calibration-free LIBS methods. In the first part, the theoretical basis of the analysis is laid down; in the second part, the main experimental and analytical approaches for the determination by LIBS of the spectral line spectroscopic parameters are presented. In the conclusion, the future perspectives of this kind of analysis are discussed.
An Analysis on the Effects of the Fuel Injection Rate Shape of the Diesel Spray Mixing Process Using a Numerical Simulation
Authors: Naruemon Intarat , Liu Long , Liu Dai , Ma Xiuzhen , Nishida Keiya
Published: July 2020

In diesel engines, fuel mixing is an important process in determining the combustion efficiency and emissions level. One of the measures used to achieve fuel mixing is controlling the nature and behavior of the fuel spray by shaping the injection rate. The mechanism underlying the behavior of the spray with varying injection rates before the start of combustion is not fully understood. Therefore, in this research, the fuel injection rate shape is investigated to assess the spraying and mixing behavior. Diesel sprays with different ambient temperatures and injection pressures are modeled using the CONVERGE-CFD software. The validation is performed based on experimental data from an Engine Combustion Network (ECN). The verified models are then used to analyze the characteristics of the diesel spray before and after the end-of-injection (EOI) with four fuel injection rate shapes, including a rectangular injection rate shape (RECT), a quick increase gradual decrease injection rate shape (QIGD), a gradual increase gradual decrease injection rate shape (GIGD), and a gradual increase quick decrease injection rate shape (GIQD). The spray vapor penetrations, liquid lengths, evaporation ratios, Sauter mean diameter (SMDs), distributions of turbulence kinetic energy, temperatures, and equivalence ratios were compared under different injection rate shapes. The results show that the QIGD injection rate shape can enhance mixing during injection, while the GIQD injection rate shape can achieve better mixing after the EOI.
Smart Power Electronics–Based Solutions to Interface Solar-Photovoltaics (PV), Smart Grid, and Electrified Transportation: State-of-the-Art and Future Prospects
Authors: Aragon-Aviles Sandra , Trivedi Ashutosh , Williamson Sheldon S.
Published: July 2020

The need to reduce the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by the transport sector has generated a clear increasing trend in transportation electrification and the future of energy and mobility. This paper reviews the current research trends and future work for power electronics-based solutions that support the integration of photovoltaic (PV) energy sources and smart grid with charging systems for electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). A compressive overview of isolated and non-isolated DC–DC converters and AC–DC converter topologies used to interface the PV-grid charging facilities is presented. Furthermore, this paper reviews the modes of operation of the system currently used. Finally, this paper explores the future roadmap of research for power electronics solutions related to photovoltaic (PV) systems, smart grid, and transportation electrification.
Assessment of Air Pollution with Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and Polychlorinated Dibenzofuranes (PCDFs) in Lithuania
Authors: Klima Vigilija , Chadyšienė Renata , Ivanec-Goranina Rūta , Jasaitis Dainius , Vasiliauskienė Vaida
Published: July 2020

Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) are highly bioavailable in humans, either through direct inhalation or indirectly by trophic transfer from contaminated food or water. The main sources of pollution with PCDD/F include industrial and non-industrial combustion sources, like domestic contaminated wood burning, house fires, burning of leaves from trees, etc. When looking for alternative energy sources and reduced energy costs, solid waste incineration plants are intended to be built in the vicinity of urbanized areas, and thus, the need emerges for examination and prediction of to what extent the solid waste incineration plants might affect the surrounding ecosystem, air pollution, and human health. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) (or simply PCDD/F congeners) belong to the group of semi-volatile organic compounds with environmental stability and long-range transfer in the ambient air. Dioxin isomers are highly toxic and may have carcinogenic and mutagenic effects in humans. PCDD/F is detected in air, water, sediment, plants and animals. PCDD/F is generally distributed in the particulate phase in ambient air. For solid waste incineration plant emissions, the distribution of PCDD/F particles into particles with a diameter of <10 μm is more than 81% of the total particulate matter, and more than 54% of the PCDD/F is distributed into particles with a diameter of <2.5 μm. The aim of this study is to investigate the sources of PCDD/F, emissions and potential hazards, i.e., a toxic equivalent in Lithuania. The measurements were performed in two largest cities of Lithuania Vilnius and Kaunas, where the level of PCDD/F discovered was from 0.015 to 0.52 pg/m3 and from 0.02 to 0.05 pg/m3, respectively. The sites for the monitoring were selected based on their proximity to the locations of the planned cogeneration power plants in these cities.
Machine Learning-Empowered FTIR Spectroscopy Serum Analysis Stratifies Healthy, Allergic, and SIT-Treated Mice and Humans
Authors: Korb Elke , Bağcıoğlu Murat , Garner-Spitzer Erika , Wiedermann Ursula , Ehling-Schulz Monika , Schabussova Irma
Published: July 2020

The unabated global increase of allergic patients leads to an unmet need for rapid and inexpensive tools for the diagnosis of allergies and for monitoring the outcome of allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT). In this proof-of-concept study, we investigated the potential of Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, a high-resolution and cost-efficient biophotonic method with high throughput capacities, to detect characteristic alterations in serum samples of healthy, allergic, and SIT-treated mice and humans. To this end, we used experimental models of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway inflammation and allergen-specific tolerance induction in BALB/c mice. Serum collected before and at the end of the experiment was subjected to FTIR spectroscopy. As shown by our study, FTIR spectroscopy, combined with deep learning, can discriminate serum from healthy, allergic, and tolerized mice, which correlated with immunological data. Furthermore, to test the suitability of this biophotonic method for clinical diagnostics, serum samples from human patients were analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. In line with the results from the mouse models, machine learning-assisted FTIR spectroscopy allowed to discriminate sera obtained from healthy, allergic, and SIT-treated humans, thereby demonstrating its potential for rapid diagnosis of allergy and clinical therapeutic monitoring of allergic patients.
Probing Structure and Function of Alkali Sensor IRR with Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Goryashchenko Alexander S. , Mozhaev Andrey A. , Serova Oxana V. , Erokhina Tatiana N. , Orsa Alexander N. , Deyev Igor E. , Petrenko Alexander G.
Published: July 2020

To study the structure and function of the pH-regulated receptor tyrosine kinase insulin receptor-related receptor (IRR), а member of the insulin receptor family, we obtained six mouse monoclonal antibodies against the recombinant IRR ectodomain. These antibodies were characterized in experiments with exogenously expressed full-length IRR by Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, and immunocytochemistry analyses. Utilizing a previously obtained set of IRR/IR chimeras with swapped small structural domains and point amino acid substitutions, we mapped the binding sites of the obtained antibodies in IRR. Five of them showed specific binding to different IRR domains in the extracellular region, while one failed to react with the full-length receptor. Unexpectedly, we found that 4D5 antibody can activate IRR at neutral pH, and 4C2 antibody can inhibit activation of IRR by alkali. Our study is the first description of the instruments of protein nature that can regulate activity of the orphan receptor IRR and confirms that alkali-induced activation is an intrinsic property of this receptor tyrosine kinase.
Residue and Dissipation Kinetics of Metsulfuron-Methyl Herbicide in Soil: A Field Assessment at an Oil Palm Plantation
Authors: Maznah Zainol , Ismail B. Sahid , Eng Oii Kok
Published: July 2020

A field trial experiment was conducted to investigate the degradation of metsulfuron-methyl at two application dosages, 15 g a.i/ha and 30 g a.i/ha, at an oil palm plantation. Soil samples were collected at ‒1, 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after treatment (DAT) at the following depths: 0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40, and 40–50 cm. The results showed rapid degradation of metsulfuron-methyl in the soil, with calculated half-life (t½) values ranging from 6.3 and 7.9 days. The rates of degradation of metsulfuron-methyl followed first-order reaction kinetics (R2 = 0.91–0.92). At the spray dosage of 15 g a.i/ha, metsulfuron-methyl residue was detected at up to 20–30 cm soil depth, at 3.56% to 1.78% at 3 and 7 DAT, respectively. Doubling the dosage to 30 g a.i/ha increased the metsulfuron-methyl residue in up to 30–40 cm soil depth at 3, 7, and 14 DAT, with concentrations ranging from 1.90% to 1.74%. These findings suggest that metsulfuron-methyl has a low impact on the accumulation of the residues in the soil at application dosages of 15 g a.i/ha and 30 g a.i/ha, due to rapid degradation, and the half-life was found to be 6.3 to 7.9 days.
Electrochemical DNA Sensor for Sensitive BRCA1 Detection Based on DNA Tetrahedral-Structured Probe and Poly-Adenine Mediated Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Feng Dezhi , Su Jing , He Guifang , Xu Yi , Wang Chenguang , Zheng Mengmeng , Qian Qiuling , Mi Xianqiang
Published: July 2020

BRCA1 is the biomarker for the early diagnosis of breast cancer. Detection of BRCA1 has great significance for the genetic analysis, early diagnosis and clinical treatment of breast cancer. In this work, we developed a simple electrochemical DNA sensor based on a DNA tetrahedral-structured probe (TSP) and poly-adenine (polyA) mediated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for the sensitive detection of BRCA1. A thiol-modified TSP was used as the scaffold on the surface of the screen-printed AuNPs electrode. The capture DNA (TSP) and reporter DNA were hybridized to the target DNA (BRCA1), respectively, to form the typical sandwich system. The nanocomposites of reporter DNA (polyA at the 5′ end) combined with AuNPs were employed for signal amplification which can capture multiple enzymes by the specificity between biotin and streptavidin. Measurements were completed in the electrochemical workstation by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry and we obtained the low limit of detection of 0.1 fM with the linear range from 1 fM to 1 nM. High sensitivity and good specificity of the proposed electrochemical DNA sensor showed potential applications in clinical early diagnosis for breast cancer.
Concentrations of Essential Trace Metals in the Brain of Animal Species—A Comparative Study
Authors: DeBenedictis Chiara Alessia , Raab Andrea , Ducie Ellen , Howley Shauna , Feldmann Joerg , Grabrucker Andreas Martin
Published: July 2020

The essential trace metals iron, zinc, and copper have a significant physiological role in healthy brain development and function. Especially zinc is important for neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission and plasticity, and neurite outgrowth. Given the key role of trace metals in many cellular processes, it is important to maintain adequate levels in the brain. However, the physiological concentration of trace metals, and in particular zinc, in the human and animal brain is not well described so far. For example, little is known about the trace metal content of the brain of animals outside the class of mammals. Here, we report the concentration of iron, zinc, and copper in fresh brain tissue of different model-species of the phyla Chordata (vertebrates (mammals, fish)), Annelida, Arthropoda (insects), and Mollusca (snails), using inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). Our results show that the trace metals are present in the nervous system of all species and that significant differences can be detected between species of different phyla. We further show that a region-specific distribution of metals within the nervous system already exists in earthworms, hinting at a tightly controlled metal distribution. In line with this, the trace metal content of the brain of different species does not simply correlate with brain size. We conclude that although the functional consequences of the controlled metal homeostasis within the brain of many species remains elusive, trace metal biology may not only play an important role in the nervous system of mammals but across the whole animal kingdom.
Astroglia-Derived BDNF and MSK-1 Mediate Experience- and Diet-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity
Authors: Lalo Ulyana , Bogdanov Alexander , Moss Guy W. , Pankratov Yuriy
Published: July 2020

Experience- and diet-dependent regulation of synaptic plasticity can underlie beneficial effects of active lifestyle on the aging brain. Our previous results demonstrate a key role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and MSK1 kinase in experience-related homeostatic synaptic scaling. Astroglia has been recently shown to release BDNF via a calcium-dependent mechanism. To elucidate a role for astroglia-derived BDNF in homeostatic synaptic plasticity in the aging brain, we explored the experience- and diet-related alterations of synaptic transmission and plasticity in transgenic mice with impairment of the BDNF/MSK1 pathway (MSK1 kinase dead knock-in mice, MSK1 KD) and impairment of glial exocytosis (dnSNARE mice). We found that prolonged tonic activation of astrocytes caused BDNF-dependent increase in the efficacy of excitatory synapses accompanied by enlargement of synaptic boutons. We also observed that exposure to environmental enrichment (EE) and caloric restriction (CR) enhanced the Ca2+ signalling in cortical astrocytes and strongly up-regulated the excitatory and down-regulated inhibitory synaptic currents in old wild-type mice, thus counterbalancing the impact of ageing on astroglial and synaptic signalling. The EE- and CR-induced up-scaling of excitatory synaptic transmission in neocortex was accompanied by the enhancement of long-term synaptic potentiation. Importantly, effects of EE and CR on synaptic transmission and plasticity was significantly reduced in the MSK1 KD and dnSNARE mice. Combined, our results suggest that astroglial release of BDNF is important for the homeostatic regulation of cortical synapses and beneficial effects of EE and CR on synaptic transmission and plasticity in aging brain.