bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening of Herbicides for Rice Seedling Safety and Echinochloa colona Management under Australian Conditions
Authors: Mahajan Gulshan , Chauhan Bhagirath S.
Published: May 2022

Different herbicides are currently required for sustainable weed management in aerobic rice. Three pot experiments were conducted using different herbicides to evaluate rice safety and for the control of Echinochloa colona, a major weed of aerobic rice. Among the pre-emergence (PRE) herbicides, it was found that pendimethalin (594 g ai ha−1) and flumioxazin (60 g ai ha−1) were relatively safe herbicides for rice and provided 100% control of E. colona. All other PRE herbicides, such as atrazine, cinmethylin, clomazone, dimethenamid-P, isoxaflutole, metribuzin, prosulfocarb + S-metolachlor, pyroxasulfone, trifluralin, and S-metolachlor reduced the biomass of rice compared with the non-treated control. Dose-response studies revealed that flumioxazin and pendimethalin even at low doses (30 g ai ha−1 for flumioxazin and 294 g ai ha−1 for pendimethalin) provided excellent control (>95%) of E. colona. Post-emergence (POST) application of paraquat (360 g ai ha−1) at the time of rice emergence caused toxicity in the crop, but also provided excellent control of E. colona. When applied just after crop emergence (11 days after sowing), Pendimethalin was found to be safe for rice (2% mortality) and reduced the biomass of E. colona by 88% compared with the non-treated control. It is quite possible that the rice variety Reiziq used in this study may have a tolerance to flumioxazin, which needs further investigation involving more rice varieties. This study suggests that flumioxazin can be used as an alternative to pendimethalin for the sustainable management of E. colona in aerobic rice.
Effects of Root Temperature and Cluster Position on Fruit Quality of Two Cocktail Tomato Cultivars
Authors: He Fang , Thiele Björn , Kraska Thorsten , Schurr Ulrich , Kuhn Arnd Jürgen
Published: May 2022

Managing root temperature can strongly influence plant growth in various species. Our previous work has shown that a positive effect of root cooling on the nutritional quality (sugars, vitamin C, and carotenoids levels) of two cocktail tomato cultivars, while the yield and mineral content was moderately reduced in two seasons. But few studies have investigated which cluster quality is more influenced by root temperature. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of root temperature and different cluster positions (the first to the fourth clusters) on fruit quality parameters of two cocktail tomato cultivars (‘Amoroso’ and ‘Delioso’). Two root temperatures, cool (10 °C) and control (18–22 °C), were applied to the roots of hydroponically cultivated tomato plants after inflorescence until the final harvest in the greenhouse. The results showed that root cooling has no influence on the biomass of fruits (both dry weight and fresh weight) of all clusters, but it increased the sugar (6.1–8.4%) and vitamin C (9.1–12.5%) concentration of the second cluster of ‘Amoroso’ and the third cluster of ‘Delioso’ compared to the control. In most cases, significant positive changes (8–23.8%) in the levels of lycopene were observed in response to low root temperature treatment, but the effect was dependent on different cluster positions and different cultivars. Most mineral element levels showed no response to the root temperature. Significant reductions (10% and 17.6%) along with the root cooling was only found in the level of zinc and potassium of the first and the second cluster of ‘Delioso’, respectively. It was concluded that the fruits from the second or third clusters containing more sugars, vitamin C, and lycopene, were more influenced by root cooling. In addition, the effect of cluster position on fruit quality was different between two root temperature groups. Root cooling reduced the heterogeneity in fruit quality parameters among the clusters of ‘Amoroso’ and increased the differences in ‘Delioso’.
Apple Fruit Size QTLs on Chromosomes 8 and 16 Characterized in ‘Honeycrisp’-Derived Germplasm
Authors: Kostick Sarah A. , Luby James J.
Published: May 2022

Multiple quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with fruit size have been reported in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.); however, few have been fully characterized and/or validated. A pedigree-based QTL analysis approach was used to examine the genetic basis of fruit weight in ‘Honeycrisp’-derived germplasm. Fourteen breeding parents were represented by 814 offspring from 13 full-sib families with breeding parents ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Minneiska’ being highly represented. Historical fruit weight data and curated genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data were leveraged to map QTLs to chromosomes (Chrs) 8 and 16, which together accounted for 15% of the phenotypic variation. The Chr 16 QTL colocalized with other important Chr 16 trait loci. ‘Honeycrisp’ inherited two low fruit weight haplotypes at the Chr 8 QTL from progenitors ‘Northern Spy’ and ‘Grimes Golden’. At the Chr 16 QTL, ‘Honeycrisp’ inherited a low fruit weight haplotype from ‘Frostbite’ and a high fruit weight haplotype from ‘Duchess of Oldenburg’. The small-fruited ‘Honeycrisp’ progenitor ‘Frostbite’ had three low fruit weight haplotypes across the two QTLs. Non-additive interactions were observed at and across QTLs. Results will enable more informed parent selection and/or development of trait-predictive DNA tests for use in apple breeding programs.
A Flood Mapping Method for Land Use Management in Small-Size Water Bodies: Validation of Spectral Indexes and a Machine Learning Technique
Authors: Lombana Lorena , Martínez-Graña Antonio
Published: May 2022

The assessment of flood disasters is considered an essential factor in land use management, being necessary to understand and define the magnitude of past events. In this regard, several flood diagnoses have been developed using Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery, especially in large water bodies. However, one of the main challenges is still related to floods, where water surfaces have sizes similar to the spatial resolution of the analyzed satellite images, being difficult to detect and map. Therefore, the present study developed a combined methodology for flood mapping in small-sized water bodies using Sentinel-2 MSI imagery. The method consisted of evaluating the effectiveness of the application and combination of (a) a super-resolution algorithm to improve image resolution, (b) a set of seven spectral indices for highlighting water-covered areas, such as AWE indices, and (c) two methods for flood mapping, including a machine learning method based on unsupervised classification (EM cluster) and 14 thresholding methods for automatic determination. The processes were evaluated in the Carrión River, Palencia, Spain. It was determined that the approach with the best results in flood mapping was the one that combined AWE spectral indices with methods such as Huang and Wang, Li and Tam, Otsu, moment preservation, and EM cluster classification, showing global accuracy and Kappa coefficient values higher than 0.88 and 0.75, respectively, when applying the quantitative accuracy index.
The Value of ‘Cow Signs’ in the Assessment of the Quality of Nutrition on Dairy Farms
Authors: Petrovski Kiro Risto , Cusack Paul , Malmo Jakob , Cockcroft Peter
Published: May 2022

The aim of this review is to provide dairy farm advisors, consultants, nutritionists, practitioners, and their dairy farmer clients with an additional toolkit that can be used in the assessment of the quality of their dairy cattle nutrition. Cow signs are behavioral, physiological, and management parameters that can be observed and measured. They are detected by examining and observing the cattle. Other physiological parameters such as fecal scoring, rumen fill, and body condition scoring are also included in ‘cow signs’. The assessment should be both qualitative and quantitative; for example, is the cattle individual lame and what is the severity of lameness. The ‘diagnosis’ of a problem should be based on establishing a farm profile of ‘cow signs’ and other relevant information. Information gathered through assessment of cow signs should be used as an advisory tool to assist and improve decision making. Cow signs can be used as part of an investigation and or farm audit.
Effect of Acute Exposure to the Ionic Liquid 1-Methyl-3-octylimidazolium Chloride on the Embryonic Development and Larval Thyroid System of Zebrafish
Authors: Ding Weikai , Chen Yangli , Sultan Yousef , Ma Junguo , Feng Yiyi , Li Xiaoyu
Published: May 2022

Previous studies have shown that ILs can induce toxicity in animals, plants, and cells. However, the effect of imidazolium-based ILs on the hypothalamus–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis of fish remains unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate the acute effect of [C8mim]Cl on the embryonic development and thyroid-controlled internal secretion system of zebrafish by determining the thyroid hormone level and the expression of HPT-related genes. The results obtained for embryonic developmental toxicity showed the survival rate, heart beats, and body length of fish had decreased 96 h after exposure to [C8mim]Cl, but the hatching rate had increased by the 48 h time point. The transcription levels of HTP-related genes showed that the genes dio3, tg, ttr, tsh, trhrα, trhrβ, trhr2, and tpo were up-regulated, while the expression levels of dio1, trh, tshr, and nis were significantly suppressed. Furthermore, we found that exposure to [C8mim]Cl induced an alteration in the levels of thyroid hormones that increased the T3 but decreased the T4 content. In conclusion, our study indicated that acute exposure to [C8mim]Cl altered the expression of HTP-related genes and disturbed the thyroid hormone level, suggesting that the ionic liquid [C8mim]Cl might pose an aquatic environmental threat to fish.
Effect of Enrichment Items on the Physiology and Behavior of Sows in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy
Authors: Li Shuangshuang , Hu Hongqing , Huang Jian , Yang Yuxuan , Xu Weijing , Chen Junfeng , Wan Jiawei , Li Lianghua , Zheng Rong , Jiang Siwen , Chai Jin
Published: May 2022

Modern intensive pig breeding harms animal welfare, which is especially noticeable for pregnant sows kept in confinement stalls. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of enrichment items on the movement and physiological parameters of sows in the third trimester of pregnancy. A total of 30 large white pregnant sows were randomly divided into three equal treatment groups (n = 10): control, pine wood, and scented wood groups. Interestingly, compared with the control group, the sows in the pine wood or scented wood groups showed less ventral lying and more lateral lying behavior (p < 0.01), coupled with significant reduction in the frequency of scratching and sham-chewing (p < 0.01), but with no significant difference in the degree of preference for these enrichment items (p > 0.05). Additionally, the sows in the pine wood or scented wood groups also decreased significantly in the concentration of immunoglobulin A (IgA) (p < 0.01) and the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (p < 0.05) throughout the late pregnancy period. Overall, adding enrichment items to confinement stalls can alleviate the chronic stress and the stereotypic behavior of sows, suggesting their potential to reduce welfare compromise.
Genome-Wide Selective Analysis of Boer Goat to Investigate the Dynamic Heredity Evolution under Different Stages
Authors: Yuan Ying , Zhang Weiyi , Liu Chengli , He Yongmeng , Zhang Haoyuan , Xu Lu , Yang Baigao , Zhao Yongju , Ma Yuehui , Chu Mingxing , Zhao Zhongquan , Huang Yongfu , Han Yanguo , Zeng Yan , Ren Hangxing , Wang Gaofu , E Guangxin
Published: May 2022

Boer goats, as kemp in meat-type goats, are selected and bred from African indigenous goats under a long period of artificial selection. Their advantages in multiple economic traits, particularly their plump growth, have attracted worldwide attention. The current study displayed the genome-wide selection signature analyses of South African indigenous goat (AF), African Boer (BH), and Australian Boer (AS) to investigate the hereditary basis of artificial selection in different stages. Four methods (principal component analysis, nucleotide diversity, linkage disequilibrium decay, and neighbor-joining tree) implied the genomic diversity changes with different artificial selection intensities in Boer goats. In addition, the θπ, FST, and XP-CLR methods were used to search for the candidate signatures of positive selection in Boer goats. Consequently, 339 (BH vs. AF) and 295 (AS vs. BH) candidate genes were obtained from SNP data. Especially, 10 genes (e.g., BMPR1B, DNER, ITGAL, and KIT) under selection in both groups were identified. Functional annotation analysis revealed that these genes are potentially responsible for reproduction, metabolism, growth, and development. This study used genome-wide sequencing data to identify inheritance by artificial selection. The results of the current study are valuable for future molecular-assisted breeding and genetic improvement of goats.
Evaluation of Ultrasound Measurement of Subcutaneous Fat Thickness in Dairy Jennies during the Periparturient Period
Authors: Nocera Irene , Bonelli Francesca , Turini Luca , Madrigali Alessio , Aliboni Benedetta , Sgorbini Micaela
Published: May 2022

The body condition score (BCS) represents a practical but subjective method for assessing body fat reserves. Real time ultrasonography (RTU) has been proposed as an accurate method to objectively measure subcutaneous fat (SF) thickness and predict body fat reserves in cows, horses and donkeys. The aim of the present study was to describe RTU measures of SF thickness during periparturient period in jennies. The present prospective cohort study evaluated six dairy jennies. SF RTU were performed at 15 and 7 days before the presumptive delivery, and 2, 15 and 30 days after delivery. A portable ultrasound machine and multifrequency linear transducer (5–7.5 MHz) was used. RTU images were obtained in six sites (S1–S6). Results at each time point were reported as mean ± standard deviation and compared through time. A total of 180 images were evaluated. RTU technique was easy to perform and well tolerated. No statistically significant differences were found of each site during time, except for S2 and S6a: S2 at T2 and S6a at T1 were significatively different to values obtained at T5. The RTU mean values were above those reported by others, suggesting major physio-logical challenges related to energy balance and fat mobilization in pregnant jennies bred for milking production. BCS and sites through observational time have shown a good and reliable association. Our study could give preliminary indications on fat reserves in different body locations evaluated thanks to RTU and it show no significative variation of SF thickness, in pregnant and lactating jennies.
Supranutritional Selenium-Yeast Supplementation of Beef Cows during the Last Trimester of Pregnancy Results in Higher Whole-Blood Selenium Concentrations in Their Calves at Weaning, but Not Enough to Improve Nasal Microbial Diversity
Authors: Hall Jean A. , Isaiah Anitha , McNett Ened R.L. , Klopfenstein Joseph J. , Davis T. Zane , Suchodolski Jan S. , Bobe Gerd
Published: May 2022

We previously reported that feeding Se-biofortified alfalfa hay to weaned beef calves in a preconditioning program increases whole-blood Se (WB-Se) concentrations and nasal microbiome abundance and diversity during the preconditioning period, decreases morbidity and mortality during the feedlot period, and increases carcass weight and quality at slaughter. The objective of the current study was to see whether similar improvements can be achieved through Se supplementation of dams during various pregnancy trimesters. In a two-year experimental study, 80 Angus-cross cows received once-weekly Se-yeast boluses containing 105 mg of Se, during either the first (TR-1), second (TR-2), or third (TR-3) pregnancy trimester, or were not bolused (CTR). Whole-blood Se concentrations were higher from CTR, to TR-1, to TR-2, and to TR-3 in newborn calves (all p < 0.01). At weaning, only calves from TR-3 mothers had higher WB-Se concentrations compared with calves from CTR mothers (p = 0.02), and no significant differences in nasal microbiome abundance and diversity or nasal microbiota were observed. In the feedlot period, morbidity was low, and no differences were observed. At slaughter, no differences in carcass weight and quality were observed. In conclusion, Se supplementation of pregnant cows is effective for increasing WB-Se concentration of newborn calves, and the increase can be sustained until weaning for calves born to TR-3 dams. However, the increase in WB-Se concentrations is small and does not result in beneficial changes in the nasal microbiome. Thus, calves should be fed Se-biofortified forages again at weaning in a preconditioning program in order to diversify the nasal microbiome prior to entering the feedlot.
Effects of Caponization on Growth Performance and Carcass Composition of Yangzhou Ganders
Authors: Lei Mingming , Qu Xiaolu , Dai Zichun , Chen Rong , Zhu Huanxi , Shi Zhendan
Published: May 2022

In this study, we determined the effects of caponization on the growth performance and carcass traits of Yangzhou ganders. Fifty sham operated geese (the control group) and 80 caponized geese (the caponized group) were selected at 150 days of age and reared until 240 days of age. At 210 days of age, 30 geese from the caponized group were selected and fed with testosterone propionate (testosterone group). The results showed that caponization lowered testosterone and increased the total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in serum, live weights, average 15 day gains, and feed intake. Abdominal fat and intramuscular fat were significantly higher in the caponized geese than in the control at 240 days. Gene expression analysis showed that caponization promoted abdominal fat deposition and intermuscular fat content by upregulating the expression of adipogenic genes in the liver, adipose tissue, and muscle tissue. The high expression of SOCS3 in the hypothalamus, liver, and muscle of caponized geese suggests that caponization may lead to negative feedback regulation and leptin resistance. Changes in the expression of these genes, along with the downregulation of PAX3 in the breast muscle and MYOG in the leg muscles, indicate that caponization increases the live weight mainly by increasing fat deposition rather than muscle growth. These results expand our understanding of the mechanisms of caponization on growth performance and fat deposition in ganders.
Evaluation of a Conformationally Constrained Indole Carboxamide as a Potential Efflux Pump Inhibitor in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Zhang Yongzheng , Rosado-Lugo Jesus D. , Datta Pratik , Sun Yangsheng , Cao Yanlu , Banerjee Anamika , Yuan Yi , Parhi Ajit K.
Published: May 2022

Efflux pumps in Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa provide intrinsic antimicrobial resistance by facilitating the extrusion of a wide range of antimicrobials. Approaches for combating efflux-mediated multidrug resistance involve, in part, developing indirect antimicrobial agents capable of inhibiting efflux, thus rescuing the activity of antimicrobials previously rendered inactive by efflux. Herein, TXA09155 is presented as a novel efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) formed by conformationally constraining our previously reported EPI TXA01182. TXA09155 demonstrates strong potentiation in combination with multiple antibiotics with efflux liabilities against wild-type and multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa. At 6.25 µg/mL, TXA09155, showed ≥8-fold potentiation of levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, doxycycline, minocycline, cefpirome, chloramphenicol, and cotrimoxazole. Several biophysical and genetic studies rule out membrane disruption and support efflux inhibition as the mechanism of action (MOA) of TXA09155. TXA09155 was determined to lower the frequency of resistance (FoR) to levofloxacin and enhance the killing kinetics of moxifloxacin. Most importantly, TXA09155 outperformed the levofloxacin-potentiation activity of EPIs TXA01182 and MC-04,124 against a CDC/FDA panel of MDR clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. TXA09155 possesses favorable physiochemical and ADME properties that warrant its optimization and further development.
Transplantation of Human Glial Progenitors to Immunodeficient Neonatal Mice with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (SOD1/rag2)
Authors: Stanaszek Luiza , Rogujski Piotr , Drela Katarzyna , Fiedorowicz Michal , Walczak Piotr , Lukomska Barbara , Janowski Miroslaw
Published: May 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal disease with no effective therapy. The neurodegenerative character of ALS was an appealing target for stem cell-based regenerative approaches. Different types of stem cells have been transplanted in both preclinical and clinical settings, but no convincing outcomes have been noted. Human glial restricted precursors (hGRPs) transplanted intraventricularly to neonatal, immunodeficient mice rescued lifespan of dysmyelinated mice. Intraspinal injection of hGRPs also provided benefits in the mouse model of ALS. Therefore, we have recently developed an immunodeficient model of ALS (double mutant SOD1/rag2), and, in this study, we tested the strategy previously used in dysmyelinated mice of intraventricular transplantation of hGRPs to immunodeficient mice. To maximize potential therapeutic benefits, the cells were implanted into neonates. We used magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the progression of neurodegeneration and therapeutic responses. A cohort of animals was devoted to survival assessment. Postmortem analysis included immunohistochemistry, Nissl staining, and Western blots. Cell transplantation was not associated with improved animal survival, slowing neurodegeneration, or accumulation of misfolded superoxide dismutase 1. Postmortem analysis did not reveal any surviving hGRPs. Grafting into neonatal immunodeficient recipients did not prevent ALS-induced cell loss, which might explain the lack of positive therapeutic effects. The results of this study are in line with the modest effects of clinical neurotransplantations. Therefore, we urge stem cell and ALS communities to develop and implement cell tracking methods to better understand cell fates in the clinic.
Exogenous Melatonin Ameliorates the Negative Effect of Osmotic Stress in Human and Bovine Ovarian Stromal Cells
Authors: Asadi Ebrahim , Najafi Atefeh , Benson James D
Published: May 2022

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation transplantation (OTCT) is the most flexible option to preserve fertility in women and children with cancer. However, OTCT is associated with follicle loss and an accompanying short lifespan of the grafts. Cryopreservation-induced damage could be due to cryoprotective agent (CPA) toxicity and osmotic shock. Therefore, one way to avoid this damage is to maintain the cell volume within osmotic tolerance limits (OTLs). Here, we aimed to determine, for the first time, the OTLs of ovarian stromal cells (OSCs) and their relationship with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial respiratory chain activity (MRCA) of OSCs. We evaluated the effect of an optimal dose of melatonin on OTLs, viability, MRCA, ROS and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of both human and bovine OSCs in plated and suspended cells. The OTLs of OSCs were between 200 and 375 mOsm/kg in bovine and between 150 and 500 mOsm/kg in human. Melatonin expands OTLs of OSCs. Furthermore, melatonin significantly reduced ROS and improved TAC, MRCA and viability. Due to the narrow osmotic window of OSCs, it is important to optimize the current protocols of OTCT to maintain enough alive stromal cells, which are necessary for follicle development and graft longevity. The addition of melatonin is a promising strategy for improved cryopreservation media.
Bioactive Compound, Antioxidant, and Radical Scavenging Activity of Some Plant Aqueous Extracts for Enhancing Shelf Life of Cold-Stored Rabbit Meat
Authors: Al Jumayi Huda Abdalrahman , Allam Ayman Younes , El-Beltagy Alaa El-Dein , Algarni Eman Hassan , Mahmoud Samy F. , El Halim Kandil Amin Abd
Published: May 2022

The potential radical scavenging, antioxidant activities (DPPH and ABTS) and bioactive constituents of several plant aqueous extracts (Curcuma longa, CL; Myristica fragrans, MF; Zingiber officinale, ZO; Cymbopogon citratus, CC and Thymus vulgaris, TV as well as their mixture) were investigated. The effect of these extracts on quality aspects (sensory characteristic, color traits, and Thiobarbituric acid) of rabbit meat during a 16-day cold (4 ± 2 °C) storage were investigated. Total phenolics and flavonoid contents of all extracts ranged from 13.27 ± 0.57 to 25.23 ± 0.49 mg GAE/g and 6.57 ± 0.22 to 13.24 ± 0.19 mg quercetin/g, respectively. The aqueous extract of MF had the highest (p ≤ 0.05) ABTS scavenging activity (4.55 μ mol Te/g dry extract), whereas the highest (p < 0.05) DPPH scavenging activity was detected in ZO extract (9.32 μ mol Te/g dry extract). Identification of extracts’ bioactive compounds by GC-MS revealed that Eugenol (34.51%), Cinnamaldehyde (44.71%), Carvacrol (40.49%), Eicosane aldehyde (31.73%), and thymol (50.04%) are the first abundant bioactive compounds of CL, MF, ZO, CC, and TV aqueous extracts, respectively. Generally, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of all cold stored rabbit meat increased (p < 0.05) by increasing the storage time. The lowest TBARS values were detected for the samples treated with 0.2% of plant extracts mixture, which increased the shelf life of cold-stored rabbits by 50%. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in both L* and b* were observed with extended storage time. Meanwhile, the redness of the cold stored rabbit meat had an opposite trend. Treating the cold stored rabbit meat with 0.2% of the extract’s mixture doubled the storage time with acceptable odor and taste. The results indicated that the studied plant extracts may be effective against rancidity and may be used as a natural antioxidant to prolong the shelf life of cold-stored rabbit meat.
Determining and Investigating the Variability of Bridges’ Natural Frequencies with Ground-Based Radar
Authors: Michel Chris , Keller Sina
Published: May 2022

Assessing the condition of bridge infrastructure requires estimating damage-sensitive features from reliable sensor data. This study proposes to estimate natural frequencies from displacement measurements of a ground-based interferometric radar (GBR). These frequencies are determined from the damped vibration after each vehicle crossing with least squares and compared to a Frequency Domain Decomposition result. We successfully applied the approach in an exemplary measurement campaign at a bridge near Coburg (Germany) with an additional comparison to commonly used strain sensors. Since temperature greatly influences natural frequencies, linear regression is used to correct this influence. A simulation shows that GBR, combined with the least squares approach, achieves the lowest uncertainty and variation in the linear regression, indicating better damage detection results. However, the success of the damage detection highly depends on correctly determining the temperature influence, which might vary throughout the structure. Future work should further investigate the biases and variability of this influence.
On the Octonion Cross Wigner Distribution of 3-D Signals
Authors: Błaszczyk Łukasz , Snopek Kajetana
Published: May 2022

This paper introduces definitions of the octonion cross Wigner distribution (OWD) and the octonion ambiguity function, forming a pair of octonion Fourier transforms. The main part is devoted to the study of the basic properties of the OWD. Among them are the properties concerning its nature (nonlinearity, parity, space support conservation, marginals) and some “geometric” transformations (space shift, space scaling) similar to the case of the complex Wigner distribution. This paper also presents specific forms of the modulation property and an extended discussion about the validity of Moyal’s formula and the uncertainty principle, accompanied by new theorems and examples. The paper is illustrated with examples of 3-D separable Gaussian and Gabor signals. The concept of the application of the OWD for the analysis of multidimensional analytic signals is also proposed. The theoretical results presented in the papers are summarized, and the possibility of further research is discussed.
Character Recognition in Endangered Archives: Shui Manuscripts Dataset, Detection and Application Realization
Authors: Tang Minli , Xie Shaomin , He Mu , Liu Xiangrong
Published: May 2022

Shui manuscripts provide a historical testimony of the national identity and spirit of the Shui people. In response to the lack of a high-quality Shui manuscripts dataset, we collected Shui manuscript images in the Shui area and used various methods to enhance them. Through our efforts, we created a well-labeled and sizable Shui manuscripts dataset, named Shuishu_T, which is the largest of its kind. Then, we applied target detection technology for Shui manuscript characters recognition. Specifically, we compared the advantages and disadvantages of Faster R-CNN, you only look once (YOLO), and single shot multibox detector (SSD), and subsequently chose Faster R-CNN to detect and recognize Shui manuscript characters. We trained and tested 111 classes of Shui manuscript characters with Faster R-CNN and achieved an average recognition rate of 87.8%. Finally, we designed a WeChat applet that can be used to quickly identify Shui manuscript characters in images obtained by scanning Shui manuscripts with a mobile phone. This work provides a basis for realizing the recognition of characters in Shui manuscripts on mobile terminals. Our research enables the intangible cultural heritage of the Shui people to be preserved, promoted, and shared, which is of great significance for the conservation and inheritance of Shui manuscripts.
CloudRCNN: A Framework Based on Deep Neural Networks for Semantic Segmentation of Satellite Cloud Images
Authors: Shi Gonghe , Zuo Baohe
Published: May 2022

Shadow cumulus clouds are widely distributed globally. They carry critical information to analyze environmental and climate changes. They can also shape the energy and water cycles of the global ecosystem at multiple scales by impacting solar radiation transfer and precipitation. Satellite images are an important source of cloud data. The accurate detection and segmentation of clouds is of great significance for climate and environmental monitoring. In this paper, we propose an improved MaskRCNN framework for the semantic segmentation of satellite images. We also explore two deep neural network architectures using auxiliary loss and feature fusion functions. We conduct comparative experiments on the dataset called “Understanding Clouds from Satellite Images”, sourced from the Kaggle competition. Compared to the baseline model, MaskRCNN, the mIoU of the CloudRCNN (auxiliary loss) model improves by 15.24%, and that of the CloudRCNN (feature fusion) model improves by 12.77%. More importantly, the two neural network architectures proposed in this paper can be widely applied to various semantic segmentation neural network models to improve the distinction between the foreground and the background.
An Approach to Networking a New Type of Artificial Orthogonal Glands within Orthogonal Endocrine Neural Networks
Authors: Milovanović Miroslav , Oarcea Alexandru , Nikolić Saša , Djordjević Andjela , Spasić Miodrag
Published: May 2022

Currently, artificial intelligence and intelligent algorithms for the control of dynamic systems are the main focus for building Industry 4.0 services and developing novel, innovative industrial solutions. This paper proposes a novel intelligent control structure specifically tailored for treating environmental stimuli and disturbances in operational environments of dynamic systems. The structure is based on the Orthogonal Endocrine Neural Network (OENN) and Artificial Orthogonal Glands (AOGs). The operational mechanism of each AOG acquires and processes environmental stimuli and generates artificial hormone concentration values at the gland output. These values are introduced to the appropriate OENN layer to provoke the network with collected environmental insights. To verify the applicability of the proposed structure on a complex dynamical nonlinear system, it was tested in a laboratory environment on the laboratory magnetic levitation system (MLS). The main experimental goal was to test the tracking performance of a levitation object when the new control logic was applied. The results were compared with two additional intelligent algorithms and a default linear quadratic (LQ) control logic. OENN + AOG structure showed improved tracking performances compared with traditional LQ control and better adaptability to environmental conditions compared with similar existing solutions.
Chinese Named Entity Recognition Based on Knowledge Based Question Answering System
Authors: Yin Didi , Cheng Siyuan , Pan Boxu , Qiao Yuanyuan , Zhao Wei , Wang Dongyu
Published: May 2022

The KBQA (Knowledge-Based Question Answering) system is an essential part of the smart customer service system. KBQA is a type of QA (Question Answering) system based on KB (Knowledge Base). It aims to automatically answer natural language questions by retrieving structured data stored in the knowledge base. Generally, when a KBQA system receives the user’s query, it first needs to recognize topic entities of the query, such as name, location, organization, etc. This process is the NER (Named Entity Recognition). In this paper, we use the Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory-Conditional Random Field (Bi-LSTM-CRF) model and introduce the SoftLexicon method for a Chinese NER task. At the same time, according to the analysis of the characteristics of application scenario, we propose a fuzzy matching module based on the combination of multiple methods. This module can efficiently modify the error recognition results, which can further improve the performance of entity recognition. We combine the NER model and the fuzzy matching module into an NER system. To explore the availability of the system in some specific fields, such as a power grid field, we utilize the power grid-related original data collected by the Hebei Electric Power Company to improve our system according to the characteristics of data in the power grid field. We innovatively make the dataset and high-frequency word lexicon in the power grid field, which makes our proposed NER system perform better in recognizing entities in the field of power grid. We used the cross-validation method for validation. The experimental results show that the F1-score of the improved NER model on the power grid dataset reaches 92.43%. After processing the recognition results by using the fuzzy matching module, about 99% of the entities in the test set can be correctly recognized. It proves that the proposed NER system can achieve excellent performance in the application scenario of a power grid. The results of this work will also fill the gap in the research of intelligent customer-service-related technologies in the power grid field in China.
Fatigue Life Assessment of Key Fatigue Details of the Corroded Weathering-Steel Anchor Boxes of a Cable-Stayed Bridge
Authors: Su Han , Wang Jian , Du Jinsheng
Published: May 2022

In order to study the influence of corrosion on the fatigue life of weathering steel bridges, firstly the nominal stress method is employed to identify the key fatigue details of a typical weathering-steel anchor box of a cable-stayed bridge and then, a multi-scale refined finite-element model for the weathering-steel anchor box is established. The established fatigue-life assessment method for corroded weathering steel is extended to the multi-scale model, the remaining fatigue life for the fatigue details under corrosion are predicted, and the influence of the initial pit size on the fatigue life of weathering steel structures is analyzed. The research results show that corrosion pits can be equated to the introduction of initial cracks in the structure, and the remaining fatigue life for key fatigue details is calculated when the initial crack size is 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm of the fatigue life when the initial crack size is 0 mm, with results of 20.3%, 12.7%, and 11.5%, respectively. Therefore, the research results show that the corrosion pits are equivalent to the introduction of initial cracks in the structure and, even if the initial crack size is small, the fatigue life of the structure is greatly reduced. The fatigue-life assessment method for corroded weathering-steel structures established in this paper is based on the finite element method and fracture mechanics, which offer universal applicability and generalizability and make up for the lack of a fatigue-life assessment method for corroded weathering-steel bridges in service.
Editable Image Generation with Consistent Unsupervised Disentanglement Based on GAN
Authors: Yang Gaoming , Qu Yuanjin , Fang Xianjin
Published: May 2022

Generative adversarial networks (GANs) are often used to generate realistic images, and GANs are effective in fitting high-dimensional probability distributions. However, during training, they often produce model collapse, which is the inability of the generative model to map the input noise to the real data distribution. In this work, we propose a model for disentanglement and mitigating model collapse inspired by the relationship between Hessian and Jacobian matrices. This is a concise framework for producing few modifications to the original model while facilitating the disentanglement. Compared to the pre-improvement generative models, our approach modifies the original model architecture only marginally and does not change the training method. Our method shows consistent resistance to model collapse on some image datasets, while outperforming the pre-improvement method in terms of disentanglement.
Multi-Label Classification and Explanation Methods for Students’ Learning Style Prediction and Interpretation
Authors: Goštautaitė Daiva , Sakalauskas Leonidas
Published: May 2022

The current paper attempts to describe the methodology guiding researchers on how to use a combination of machine learning methods and cognitive-behavioral approaches to realize the automatic prediction of a learner’s preferences for the various types of learning objects and learning activities that may be offered in an adaptive learning environment. Generative as well as discriminative machine learning methods may be applied to the classification of students’ learning styles, based on the student’s historical activities in the e-learning process. This paper focuses on the discriminative models that try to learn which input activities of the student(s) will correlate with a particular learning style, discriminating among the inputs. This paper also investigates several interpretability approaches that may be applicable for the multi-label models trained on non-correlated and partially correlated data. The investigated methods and approaches are combined in a consistent procedure that can be used in practical learning personalization.
Curated Desertscapes in Ancient Egyptian Tombs and Investigating Iconographies of the Wild
Authors: Babcock Jennifer Miyuki
Published: May 2022

Because of a long-standing bias toward examining human representation in Egyptian art, scholars have overlooked many details of how wild animals are rendered, at least until recently. Usually, the stylistic differences between animals and humans in ancient Egyptian art are emphasized to support the argument that animals and their environs encapsulate ancient Egyptian ideas of “chaos”, while humans and their cultivated world encapsulate “order”. A closer look at animal representations shows that the same artistic restraints were placed on both human and animal representation, such as with the use of the canon of proportions, strict register lines, and iconicity. This article examines predynastic and early dynastic material and surveys representations of desert animals from Egyptian tombs from the Old Kingdom to the New Kingdom to demonstrate that their artistic treatment is still rule-bound and conforms to a sense of visual order. This paper challenges some of the scholarly interpretations, which assert that dichotomous ideas of chaos and order were represented stylistically and iconographically.
Evapotranspiration under Drought Conditions: The Case Study of a Seasonally Dry Atlantic Forest
Authors: Guauque-Mellado Daniel , Rodrigues André , Terra Marcela , Mantovani Vanessa , Yanagi Silvia , Diotto Adriano , Mello Carlos de
Published: May 2022

Information on evapotranspiration (ET) has the potential to clarify drought’s effects on the water balance of natural ecosystems. Here, we use a 6-year dataset to present daily ET trends under different drought conditions in a seasonally dry Atlantic Forest in southeast Brazil as well as environmental and biophysical controls. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were applied to highlight the main controls on ET. Significant differences for ET were not found under different drought conditions (near normal, moderately dry, and severely dry). ET responded positively to net radiation (Rn), bulk surface (gs), and aerodynamic (ga) conductance. Drought severity and soil water storage (SWS) did not significantly affect ET. We attributed the regularization of ET to (i) the stability in the SWS observed in the study site (dystrophic red latosol); (ii) the tree species’ adaptations to cope with water stress; (iii) the alternation between droughts and near-normal conditions (which have increased the water in the system on an annual basis); and (iv) the monthly variations in water inputs within the hydrological years. Finally, our study sheds light on the ecosystem characteristics that may represent sources of resilience when facing the droughts predicted in climate change scenarios.
An Earthquake-Clustering Model in North Aegean Area (Greece)
Authors: Mangira Ourania , Console Rodolfo , Papadimitriou Eleftheria , Murru Maura , Karakostas Vasileios
Published: May 2022

The investigation of short-term earthquake-clustering features is made feasible through the application of a purely stochastic Epidemic-Type Aftershock Sequence (ETAS) model. The learning period that is used for the estimation of the parameters is composed by earthquakes with M ≥ 2.6 that occurred between January 2008 and May 2017. The model predictability is retrospectively examined for the 12 June 2017 Lesvos earthquake (Mw6.4) and the subsequent events. The construction of time-dependent seismicity maps and comparison between the observed and expected earthquake number are performed in order to temporally and spatially test the evolution of the sequence, respectively. The generation of 127 target events with M ≥ 3.0 in the period June–July 2017, just before the main shock occurrence, is examined in a quantitative evaluation. The statistical criteria used for assessing the model performance are the Relative Operating Characteristic Diagram, the R-score, and the probability gain. Reliable forecasts are provided through the epidemic model testifying its superiority towards a time-invariant Poisson model.
The Dual Role of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Their Extracellular Vesicles in Carcinogenesis
Authors: Gilazieva Zarema , Ponomarev Aleksei , Rizvanov Albert , Solovyeva Valeriya
Published: May 2022

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and play an important role in tumor progression. MSCs remodel the extracellular matrix, participate in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition, promote the spread of metastases, and inhibit antitumor immune responses in the TME; however, there are also data pertaining to the antitumor effects of MSCs. MSCs activate the cell death mechanism by modulating the expression of proteins involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, angiogenesis receptors, and proapoptotic proteins. One of the main ways in which MSCs and TME interact is through the production of extracellular vesicles (EVs) by cells. Currently, data on the effects of both MSCs and their EVs on tumor cells are rather contradictory. Various studies have reported that EVs from MSCs can have either antitumor or pro-tumor effects, depending on both the tumor type and developmental stage. In this review, we discuss published data on EV MSCs and their effect on tumor cells. The molecular composition of vesicles obtained from MSCs is also presented in the review. In addition, the use of EV MSCs for the development of new methods for treating oncological diseases is described.
Mechanisms of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Cancer Treatment: A Review
Authors: Heider Camren G. , Itenberg Sasha A. , Rao Jiajia , Ma Hang , Wu Xian
Published: May 2022

Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabis) and its bioactive compounds, including cannabinoids and non-cannabinoids, have been extensively studied for their biological effects in recent decades. Cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-intoxicating cannabinoid in Cannabis, has emerged as a promising intervention for cancer research. The purpose of this review is to provide insights into the relationship between CBD and cancer based on recent research findings. The anticancer effects of CBD are mainly mediated via its interaction with the endocannabinoid system, resulting in the alleviation of pain and the promotion of immune regulation. Published reviews have focused on the applications of CBD in cancer pain management and the possible toxicological effects of its excessive consumption. In this review, we aim to summarize the mechanisms of action underlying the anticancer activities of CBD against several common cancers. Studies on the efficacy and mechanisms of CBD on cancer prevention and intervention in experimental models (i.e., cell culture- and animal-based assays) and human clinical studies are included in this review.
Oxidative Stress and Deregulated DNA Damage Response Network in Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Stefanou Dimitra T. , Kouvela Marousa , Stellas Dimitris , Voutetakis Konstantinos , Papadodima Olga , Syrigos Konstantinos , Souliotis Vassilis L.
Published: May 2022

The deregulated DNA damage response (DDR) network is associated with the onset and progression of cancer. Herein, we searched for DDR defects in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from lung cancer patients, and we evaluated factors leading to the augmented formation of DNA damage and/or its delayed/decreased removal. In PBMCs from 20 lung cancer patients at diagnosis and 20 healthy controls (HC), we analyzed oxidative stress and DDR-related parameters, including critical DNA repair mechanisms and apoptosis rates. Cancer patients showed higher levels of endogenous DNA damage than HC (p < 0.001), indicating accumulation of DNA damage in the absence of known exogenous genotoxic insults. Higher levels of oxidative stress and apurinic/apyrimidinic sites were observed in patients rather than HC (all p < 0.001), suggesting that increased endogenous DNA damage may emerge, at least in part, from these intracellular factors. Lower nucleotide excision repair and double-strand break repair capacities were found in patients rather than HC (all p < 0.001), suggesting that the accumulation of DNA damage can also be mediated by defective DNA repair mechanisms. Interestingly, reduced apoptosis rates were obtained in cancer patients compared with HC (p < 0.001). Consequently, the expression of critical DDR-associated genes was found deregulated in cancer patients. Together, oxidative stress and DDR-related aberrations contribute to the accumulation of endogenous DNA damage in PBMCs from lung cancer patients and can potentially be exploited as novel therapeutic targets and non-invasive biomarkers.
Sensors for Environmental Monitoring and Food Safety
Authors: Honeychurch Kevin C. , Piano Martina
Published: May 2022

The aim of this Special Issue of the journal Biosensors, “Sensors for Environmental Monitoring and Food Safety”, was to report on the developments and advances in sensors and biosensors to meet the needs of environmental and food analysis [...]