bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Satellite Cluster Formation Reconfiguration Based on the Bifurcating Potential Field
Authors: Gao Wanying , Li Kehang , Wei Chunling
Published: March 2022

The satellite cluster formation reconfiguration has received considerable attention in recent years. However, the traditional centralized control methods are challenging to apply to satellite clusters because of the enormous fuel consumption, and few studies have addressed the mathematical characterization of satellite clusters. This research aims to propose a mathematical characterization method for satellite clusters and investigate the formation reconfiguration control of satellite clusters. This study provided the five-element characterization method to represent the cluster characteristics and internal correlation characteristics of orbiting satellite clusters. In addition, a control method based on bifurcating potential fields was proposed to realize satellite cluster formation’s dynamic migration and rapid reconfiguration. A cluster with 50 satellites was simulated to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed formation control algorithm. The results show that various formation topologies were achieved by simply changing the bifurcation parameter and configuration adjustment parameters. The five descriptive elements of the satellite cluster can intuitively and effectively reflect the running state of the satellite cluster.
An Adaptive Approach for Impulsive Formation Maintenance Relevant to Distributed SAR Missions
Authors: Sarno Salvatore , Iervolino Mariano , Fasano Giancarmine
Published: March 2022

This paper proposes an approach for impulsive formation maintenance tailored to distributed synthetic aperture radar, i.e., a spaceborne system composed by several antennas working together to provide enhanced remote sensing capabilities. The analyzed configuration is designed to guarantee the presence of a safety tube surrounding each satellite as the dynamics evolve. Formation requirements are related to general constraints on the acceptable along-track and radial/cross-track separations. The paper introduces an adaptive maintenance logic which fulfills these constraints. Specifically, the formation is adaptively redesigned around the chief every time geometry constraints are violated by means of a procedure developed by the authors in previous works and based on relative orbit parameters. Once these parameters are defined, the optimal impulsive burns required for orbit transfer are computed using state-of-the-art approaches. Performance in terms of delta-v and maneuver frequency is analyzed for a two-spacecraft formation exploiting a simulation environment based on MATLAB and GMAT. In ideal conditions, it is shown that maintenance costs are limited, while close proximity requires fine sensitivity on the applied impulses. A first assessment of the impact of relative navigation and maneuvering execution errors indicates that they play an important role in defining the overall control effort.
In-Flight Demonstration of Stall Improvement Using a Plasma Actuator for a Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Authors: Sekimoto Satoshi , Kato Hiroki , Fujii Kozo , Yoneda Hiroshi
Published: March 2022

The flow control capability (especially for separation control) of a dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma actuator (DBD-PA) has been investigated extensively. However, these studies have been conducted under ideal conditions, such as wind tunnels and computational environments, and limited studies have investigated the effects of plasma actuators in an actual environment. In this study, the flow control capability of a DBD-PA under natural and in-flight conditions was investigated via field flight tests using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The DBD-PA driving system was constructed with a small high-voltage power supply on a 2-m-span UAV. With the support of an autonomous flight system, the pitch angle gradually increased as the airspeed decreased, and the stall occurred from the cruise state. This flight procedure was conducted with the DBD-PA on or off, and 246 pairs of flights were operated. The results revealed that a flight state with a higher pitch angle and lower airspeed occurred when DBD-PA was switched on. In addition, the moment of stall was quantitatively determined from the flight log, and it was confirmed that the maximum pitch angle when DBD-PA was switched on tended to be larger than that when DBD-PA was switched off. These results indicate that flow control with a DBD-PA on a 2-m-span UAV was effective in natural and in-flight situations.
Influence of Agricultural Practices on Bacterial Community of Cultivated Soils
Authors: Khmelevtsova Ludmila Eugenevna , Sazykin Ivan Sergeevich , Azhogina Tatiana Nikolaevna , Sazykina Marina Alexandrovna
Published: March 2022

Bacterial communities play an important role in maintaining stable functioning of soil ecosystems, participating in decomposition of plant residues, accumulation of organic matter, formation of soil aggregates and in the cycle of nutrients. For agroecosystems, maintaining the diversity of microbiocenosis is especially critical because they are essentially less stable and are dependent on external control. The agricultural practices used today (plowing, application of synthetic fertilizers) can negatively affect the richness and diversity of the soil bacterial communities. The solution to this problem may be the application of alternative farming methods to preserve the structural and functional richness of soil (reduced tillage, conservation tillage, no tillage, organic farming). Data on composition and diversity of soil microbiocenosis are important for further forecasting the impact of agriculture and development of effective methods on preserving and increasing soil fertility. This review presents the results of recent studies on the impact of agriculture on the soil bacterial communities. Attention is mainly paid to the effects of applying inorganic and organic fertilizers on the structure and diversity of soil microbiocenosis; the influence of the farming system (different methods of soil cultivation, organic and traditional systems); the influence of cover crops and crop rotation on the microbial community of agricultural soils.
Study of Raspberry Genotypes by Biologically Valuable Traits under Conditions of Central Russia
Authors: Ozherelieva Zoya E. , Lupin Maksim Vladimirovich , Bogomolova Natal’ja Il’inichna
Published: March 2022

In Central Russia, the area of possible effective use of raspberry varieties and their productivity and production values are determined by the plant tolerance to a complex of adverse environmental factors. In this regard, the introduction of new varieties and hybrids should be accompanied by analyzing not only their productivity, but also their winter hardiness and drought resistance. In this paper, we analyzed the winter hardiness of raspberry varieties and indicators of their water regime in the field. By modeling the damaging factors of the winter period, we revealed the stability potential of raspberry varieties for the main components of winter hardiness. The drought resistance of raspberry varieties and forms were assessed in laboratory conditions. According to the results of the complex studies, we identified the frost-resistant accessions: 9-17, 9-35, and 9-70 (freezing ranged from 1.1 to 2.0 points) as well as the medium-hardy varieties Glen Ample, Glen Magna, and Laszka (freezing score ranged from 2.1 to 3.0 points). The indicators of the water regime in the field showed that during the growing season, the studied raspberry varieties were characterized by optimal hydration and water deficiency of the leaf apparatus. This positively affected the yield formation. When modeling drought, raspberry genotypes showed a medium level of drought resistance. At the same time, the Glen Ample, Glen Magna, Glen Lyon, and Laszka varieties as well as the accession 9-70 showed high yields (above 15 t/ha). As a result, promising raspberry genotypes Glen Ample, Glen Magna, Laszka, and 9-70 were selected for further breeding and production cultivation in Central Russia.
Quality Assessment of Red Wine Grapes through NIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Rouxinol Maria Inês , Martins Maria Rosário , Murta Gabriela Carneiro , Mota Barroso João , Rato Ana Elisa
Published: March 2022

Red wine grapes require a constant follow-up through analytical chemistry to assure the greatest wine quality. Wet chemical procedures are time-consuming and produce residues that are hard to eliminate. NIR (near infrared radiation) spectroscopy has been referred as an accurate, rapid, and cost-efficient technique to evaluate quality in many fruit species, both in field and in industry. The main objective of this study was to develop predictive models using NIR spectroscopy to quantify important quality attributes in wine grapes. Soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), total phenolic content, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins, and total tannins were quantified in four red wine grape varieties, ‘Aragonês’, ‘Trincadeira’, ‘Touriga Nacional’, and ‘Syrah’. Samples were collected during 2017 and 2018 along véraison. Prediction models were developed using a near-infrared portable device (Brimrose, Luminar 5030), and spectra were collected from entire grapes under near field conditions. Models were built using a partial least square regression (PLSR) algorithm and SSC, TA, total anthocyanins, and total tannins exhibited a determination coefficient of 0.89, 0.90, 0.87, and 0.88, respectively. The Residual Prediction Deviation (RPD) values of these models were higher than 2.3. The prediction models for SSC, TA, total anthocyanins, and total tannins have considerable potential to quantify these attributes in wine grapes. Total flavonoids and total phenolic content were predicted with a slightly lower capacity, with R2 = 0.72 and 0.71, respectively, and both with a RPD of 1.6, indicating a very low to borderline potential for quantitative predictions in flavonoids and phenols models.
Combining Variable Selection and Multiple Linear Regression for Soil Organic Matter and Total Nitrogen Estimation by DRIFT-MIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Li Hong , Wang Junwei , Zhang Jixiong , Liu Tongqing , Acquah Gifty E. , Yuan Huimin
Published: March 2022

The successful estimation of soil organic matter (SOM) and soil total nitrogen (TN) contents with mid-infrared (MIR) reflectance spectroscopy depends on selecting appropriate variable selection techniques and multivariate methods for regression analysis. This study aimed to explore the potential of combining a multivariate method and spectral variable selection for soil SOM and TN estimation using MIR spectroscopy. Five hundred and ten topsoil samples were collected from Quzhou County, Hebei Province, China, and their SOM and TN contents and reflectance spectra were measured using DRIFT-MIR spectroscopy (diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform in the mid-infrared range, MIR, wavenumber: 4000–400 cm−1; wavelength: 2500–25,000 nm). Two multivariate methods (partial least-squares regression, PLSR; multiple linear regression, MLR) combined with two variable selection techniques (stability competitive adaptive reweighted sampling, sCARS; bootstrapping soft shrinkage approach, BOSS) were used for model calibration. The MLR model combined with the sCARS method yielded the most accurate estimation result for both SOM (Rp2 = 0.72 and RPD = 1.89) and TN (Rp2 = 0.84 and RPD = 2.50). Out of the 2382 wavenumbers in a full spectrum, sCARS determined that only 31 variables were important for SOM estimation (accounting for 1.30% of all variables) and 27 variables were important for TN estimation (accounting for 1.13% of all variables). The results demonstrated that sCARS was a highly efficient approach for extracting information on wavenumbers and mitigating redundant wavenumbers. In addition, the current study indicated that MLR, which is simpler than PLSR, when combined with spectral variable selection, can achieve high-precision prediction of SOM and TN content. As such, DRIFT-MIR spectroscopy coupled with MLR and sCARS is a good alternative for estimating the SOM and TN of soils.
Impact of Long-Term Manure and Mineral Fertilization on Accumulation of Non-Structural Carbohydrates in Lucerne Forage
Authors: Holík Michal , Kunzová Eva , Ludvíková Vendula , Hakl Josef
Published: March 2022

Fertilization management affects both productivity and nutritive value of forage legumes. However, there are few studies about changes in lucerne non-structural carbohydrates under long-term fertilization. The aims of this study were to compare the effects of mineral fertilization and organic manure on lucerne plant parts (leaf, stem) starch and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) accumulation in association with canopy structure following 60 years of different fertilization management approaches. Treatments investigated were: two contrasting levels of mineral N, P2O5 and K2O application (0:0:0 and 91:71:175), each with and without farmyard manure. Changes were mainly reflected in WSC content where intensive mineral fertilization consistently reduced the stem and forage WSC in contrast to unfertilized control or manure alone. These changes could be associated with a dilution effect presented by the highest increase of maximal stem length at these treatments. Manure improved leaf and forage WSC despite the associated increase in maximal stem length and leaf weight ratio, probably as a result of improved soil environment together with the potentially increased presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Results showed that manure fertilization has potential for improvement of lucerne WSC, despite some negative relationships between lucerne canopy traits and sugar content.
Nuclear DNA Content, Selected Morphological and Anatomical Traits of Narcissus Cultivars and Breeding Clones
Authors: Sochacki Dariusz , Podwyszyńska Małgorzata , Machlańska Aleksandra , Dyki Barbara
Published: March 2022

The genus Narcissus belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae. This genus has been the subject of numerous cytological and cytometric studies and have shown enormous variation in terms of genome size, ploidy level, and even the basic chromosome number. The basic chromosome numbers are 5 or 7, but 10, 11, and 12 have been recorded as well. Most narcissus cultivars are euploid tetraploids. There are also numerous triploids. Some cultivars are aneuploid such as tetraploids or triploids, with missing chromosomes or possessing additional chromosomes. Due to their very complex parentage, cultivars have various numbers of chromosomes not found in the species. In this publication, we present a study on the genome size and assessment of the likely ploidy level of 38 cultivars and breeding clones of Narcissus in relation to their selected morphological traits and information on their parental forms. For the first time, 12 Polish cultivars and breeding clones of narcissus were the subject of such an evaluation. Perianth diameter, leaf length, and width were evaluated and rated with notes according to the descriptor of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. Stomatal density and stomata length were measured using light microscopy. Analysis of genome size was carried out using flow cytometry. For three selected genotypes, the chromosome number was counted. Our results lead to the general conclusion that the morphological traits studied and nuclear DNA content can be useful for determining the possible ploidy level of narcissi. The information on the origin and parental forms of narcissi can be helpful in determining the ploidy level of narcissi. However, clear confirmation of ploidy level requires verification of chromosome number and preferably karyotyping. The results obtained are a prelude to further studies.
Effects of Nutrient Levels and Rice Cultivation on Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Bacterial Communities in Flooded Soils of the Hanon Maar Crater, Korea
Authors: Eo Jinu , Kim Myung-Hyun
Published: March 2022

Agricultural land use may deteriorate soil bacterial diversity and function in an agroecosystem. This study aimed to explore the impact of agricultural disturbance on the taxonomic and functional diversity of soil bacteria using a high-throughput sequencing method. We examined the bacterial community diversity in five types of flooded soils in the Hanon Maar Crater from two types of canals characterized by different nutrient levels and three field types with a different rice cultivation history. Proteobacteria (43.2%), Chloroflexi (19.8%), Acidobacteria (15.8%), Actinobacteria (5.1%), and Nitrospirae (5.0%) were the dominant phyla (>5%). The relative abundance of Actinobacteria was 7.1 times greater in the abandoned fields than in the polluted canal. Alpha diversity indices of taxonomic diversity showed strong negative correlations with C, N, and NH4+ levels. The 1.7-fold greater number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in abandoned fields than in paddy fields may be caused by factors other than nutrients. Functional analysis revealed that 11 putative functions, including cellulolysis and ligninolysis, were significantly affected by soil management. Functional diversity indices showed negative correlations with electrical conductivity (EC) and NH4+. Nitrogen input had a greater effect on bacterial taxonomic diversity than on functional diversity. Available P was positively correlated with the diversity indices. Taken together, these results suggest that keeping land fallow for more than 5 years and monitoring of C, N, and P levels are practical approaches for restoring taxonomic diversity but not functional diversity of soil bacteria. Our study demonstrated a decoupled response of taxonomic and functional diversity to rice cultivation, highlighting the necessity of further studies on the impact of decoupling on the stability of ecosystem functioning.
A Descriptive Study on the Extent of Dietary Information Obtained during Consultations at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Authors: Schramm Andreina , Kook Peter Hendrik
Published: March 2022

The majority of dogs with chronic idiopathic gastrointestinal (GI) disease respond to diet. So far, no study has assessed how much dietary information is obtained during consultations. We retrospectively evaluated what dietary information was available from dogs presenting to our Gastroenterology (GE), and Internal Medicine (IM) Service between 10/2017 and 01/2020. Data from 243 dogs presenting for first GE consultations were compared to 239 dogs presenting with chronic GI signs for first IM consultations. Referrals comprised 131 (54%) GE dogs and 112 (47%) IM dogs. Referral documents specified the previously fed diet in 53/131 (40%) GE and 14/112 (13%) IM dogs. No dog had received more than one previous diet trial for chronic GI signs. Irrespective of referral status, diet trials had been performed in 127/199 (64%) GE, and 56/156 (36%) IM dogs. The specific diet fed at the time of consultation could only be named by 106/199 (53%) GE and 40/156 (26%) IM dog owners. Data on response to subsequent newly prescribed diets were available from 86 GE dogs and 88 IM dogs. A positive response to diet was noted in 50/86 (58%) GE and 26/88 (30%) IM dogs. A further 23/35 (66%) GE dogs and 12/21 (57%) IM dogs responded positively to a second diet trial, and 4/9 GE dogs (44%) and 6/7 (86%) IM dogs responded positively to a third diet trial. In conclusion, overall dietary information gained from referring veterinarians and owners was often incomplete. More dietary information could be gained during GE consultations compared to IM consultations for chronic GI signs. A positive response to diet can still be seen after two diet failures. Further studies will help to ascertain if the percentage of diet-responsive GI disease increases when more complete dietary information is obtained at the time of consultations.
How Serious Are Health-Related Welfare Problems in Unowned Unsocialised Domestic Cats? A Study from Denmark Based on 598 Necropsies
Authors: Thuesen Ida Sofie , Agerholm Jørgen Steen , Mejer Helena , Nielsen Søren Saxmose , Sandøe Peter
Published: March 2022

Free ranging unsocialised domestic cats are widely believed to suffer from a high load of welfare problems. We assessed the validity of this belief by performing necropsies on the corpses of 598 unsocialised cats, originating from all parts of Denmark, that had been euthanised by two Danish cat welfare organisations. We selected a number of variables for health-related cat welfare that could be assessed through necropsy (e.g., gross lesions, ectoparasites and body condition) or by laboratory analysis (e.g., infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and by feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)). Each finding was classified as having either a major or minor welfare impact on the cat. More than 83% of the cats had no major finding, and 54% had no finding indicating a welfare issue at all. More than 83% of the cats had a body condition within normal range. Only 0.3% were emaciated. The most common finding was infestation with ectoparasites, with 15.9% infected with lice, 12.3% with fleas, 4.7% with ticks, and 6.7% with ear mites. FIV and FeLV were detected in 9.2% and 1.2% of the cases, respectively. The most common lesion related to the cats’ teeth. Overall, unsocialised cats in Denmark have a moderate level of health-related welfare problems.
Number of Primordial Follicles in Juvenile Ringed Seals (Pusa hispida) from the Gulf of Bothnia and West Greenland
Authors: Schmidt Britta , Hollenbach Julia , Mühlfeld Christian , Pfarrer Christiane , Persson Sara , Kesselring Tina , Sonne Christian , Rigét Frank , Dietz Rune , Siebert Ursula
Published: March 2022

Primordial follicles are important for the reproduction cycle and, therefore, also for the survival of the whole population of a species. Mammals have a large pool of primordial follicles, and it is thought that this pool represents the total number of oocytes. The aim of the present study was to determine the total primordial follicle number of juvenile ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from the Gulf of Bothnia and Greenland. Overall, 52 ovaries from two ringed seal populations (West Greenland (N = 6), Gulf of Bothnia, region in the Baltic Sea (N = 46)) were examined. All ovaries were cut into 2 mm thick slices and every slice was embedded in paraffin. Out of each tissue block, a 5 µm thick section was cut and stained with haematoxylin-eosin. The mean volume of the follicles and the total volume of primordial follicles per ovary were estimated by stereology and used to calculate the total estimated number of primordial follicles. The median of the total estimated number of primordial follicles seemed to be higher in Baltic individuals than in Greenland individuals (Gulf of Bothnia = 565,657; Greenland Sea = 122,475). This widens the total range of primordial follicles in ringed seals overall and might bear some potential for discussions regarding the influence of endocrine disruptors and environmental influences depending on different regions/populations and their exposure to various factors. Thus, this study aims to provide basic reference data of the number and mean volume of ringed seal primordial follicles.
Isavuconazole in the Treatment of Aspergillus fumigatus Fracture-Related Infection: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Mertens Beatrijs , Van Daele Ruth , Depypere Melissa , Lagrou Katrien , Debaveye Yves , Wauters Joost , Nijs Stefaan , Metsemakers Willem-Jan , Spriet Isabel
Published: March 2022

Aspergillus fracture-related infection (FRI) is a rare, but severe complication in trauma surgery. The optimal antifungal treatment for Aspergillus osteomyelitis, including FRI, has not been established yet, as only cases have been documented and data on bone penetration of antifungal drugs are scarce. We describe a patient with Aspergillus fumigatus FRI of the tibia who was treated with isavuconazole after developing liver function disturbances during voriconazole therapy. Isavuconazole, the active moiety formed after hydrolysis of the prodrug isavuconazonium sulfate by plasma esterases, was administered in a maintenance dose of 200 mg q24 h, followed by 150 mg q24 h. The patient completed a six-month antifungal treatment course. Although fracture union was not achieved during six months of follow-up after therapy cessation, no confirmatory signs of FRI were observed. Additionally, two literature searches were conducted to review available data on antifungal treatment of Aspergillus osteomyelitis and bone penetration of antifungals. One hundred and eight cases of Aspergillus osteomyelitis, including six (5.6%) FRI cases, were identified. Voriconazole and (lipid formulations of) amphotericin B were the most commonly used antifungals. In three (2.8%) cases isavuconazole was prescribed as salvage therapy. Data on antifungal bone penetration were reported for itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, anidulafungin and 5-fluorocytosin. Isavuconazole might be a promising alternative for the treatment of Aspergillus osteomyelitis. However, standardized case documentation is needed to evaluate the efficacy of isavuconazole and other antifungals in the treatment of Aspergillus osteomyelitis, including FRI.
Feasibility, Challenges, and Benefits of Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System Implementation: Results from a Multicenter Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Sirijatuphat Rujipas , Chayangsu Sunee , Srisompong Jintana , Ruangkriengsin Darat , Thamlikitkul Visanu , Tiengrim Surapee , Wangchinda Walaiporn , Koomanachai Pornpan , Rattanaumpawan Pinyo
Published: March 2022

The Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) is one of the pillars of the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance launched by the World Health Organization in 2015. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility and benefits of GLASS as a component of antimicrobial stewardship strategies in three provincial hospitals in Thailand. Data on the types of bacteria isolated and their antibiotic susceptibility during January–December 2019 and January–April 2020 were retrieved from the microbiology laboratory of each participating hospital. Laboratory-based antibiograms from 2019 and GLASS-based antibiograms from 2020 were created and compared. A total of 14,877 and 3580 bacterial isolates were obtained during January–December 2019 and January–April 2020, respectively. The common bacteria isolated in both periods were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Hospital-acquired infection (HAI)-related bacteria were observed in 59.0%, whereas community-acquired infection (CAI)-related bacteria were observed in 41.0% of isolates. Antibiotic resistance in CAIs was high and may have been related to the misclassification of colonized bacteria as true pathogens and HAIs as CAIs. The results of this study on AMR surveillance using GLASS methodology may not be valid owing to several inadequate data collections and the problem of specimen contamination. Given these considerations, related personnel should receive additional training on the best practices in specimen collection and the management of AMR surveillance data using the GLASS approach.
Fabrication of Ceftriaxone-Loaded Cellulose Acetate and Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanofibers and Their Antibacterial Evaluation
Authors: Youdhestar  , Mahar Faraz Khan , Das Gotam , Tajammul Ayesha , Ahmed Farooq , Khatri Muzamil , Khan Sheeraz , Khatri Zeeshan
Published: March 2022

Nanotechnology provides solutions by combining the fields of textiles and medicine to prevent infectious microbial spread. Our study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of nanofiber sheets incorporated with a well-known antibiotic, ceftriaxone. It is a third-generation antibiotic that belongs to the cephalosporin group. Different percentages (0, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%; based on polymer wt%) of ceftriaxone were incorporated with a polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) via electrospinning to fabricate nanofiber sheets. The Kirby-Bauer method was used to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of the nanofiber sheets using Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). For the characterization of the nanofiber sheets incorporated with the drug, several techniques were used, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Our results showed that the nanofiber sheets containing ceftriaxone had potential inhibitory activity against E. coli and S. aureus as they had inhibition zones of approximately 20–25 mm on Mueller-Hinton-agar-containing plates. In conclusion, our nanofiber sheets fabricated with ceftriaxone have potential inhibitory effects against bacteria and can be used as a dressing to treat wounds in hospitals and for other biomedical applications.
Genetic Variations on Redox Control in Cardiometabolic Diseases: The Role of Nrf2
Authors: Zazueta Cecilia , Jimenez-Uribe Alexis Paulina , Pedraza-Chaverri José , Buelna-Chontal Mabel
Published: March 2022

The transcription factor Nrf2 is a master regulator of multiple cytoprotective genes that maintain redox homeostasis and exert anti-inflammatory functions. The Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway is a paramount target of many cardioprotective strategies, because redox homeostasis is essential in cardiovascular health. Nrf2 gene variations, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), are correlated with cardiometabolic diseases and drug responses. SNPs of Nrf2, KEAP1, and other related genes can impair the transcriptional activation or the activity of the resulting protein, exerting differential susceptibility to cardiometabolic disease progression and prevalence. Further understanding of the implications of Nrf2 polymorphisms on basic cellular processes involved in cardiometabolic diseases progression and prevalence will be helpful to establish more accurate protective strategies. This review provides insight into the association between the polymorphisms of Nrf2-related genes with cardiometabolic diseases. We also briefly describe that SNPs of Nrf2-related genes are potential modifiers of the pharmacokinetics that contribute to the inter-individual variability.
Oxidative Stress-Induced Hypertension of Developmental Origins: Preventive Aspects of Antioxidant Therapy
Authors: Tain You-Lin , Hsu Chien-Ning
Published: March 2022

Hypertension remains the leading cause of disease burden worldwide. Hypertension can originate in the early stages of life. A growing body of evidence suggests that oxidative stress, which is characterized as a reactive oxygen species (ROS)/nitric oxide (NO) disequilibrium, has a pivotal role in the hypertension of developmental origins. Results from animal studies support the idea that early-life oxidative stress causes developmental programming in prime blood pressure (BP)-controlled organs such as the brain, kidneys, heart, and blood vessels, leading to hypertension in adult offspring. Conversely, perinatal use of antioxidants can counteract oxidative stress and therefore lower BP. This review discusses the interaction between oxidative stress and developmental programming in hypertension. It will also discuss evidence from animal models, how oxidative stress connects with other core mechanisms, and the potential of antioxidant therapy as a novel preventive strategy to prevent the hypertension of developmental origins.
LW-FIRE: A Lightweight Wildfire Image Classification with a Deep Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Akagic Amila , Buza Emir
Published: March 2022

Analysis of reports published by the leading national centers for monitoring wildfires and other emergencies revealed that the devastation caused by wildfires has increased by 2.96-fold when compared to a decade earlier. The reports show that the total number of wildfires is declining; however, their impact on the wildlife appears to be more devastating. In recent years, deep neural network models have demonstrated state-of-the-art accuracy on many computer vision tasks. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a lightweight wildfire image classification model (LW-FIRE) based on convolutional neural networks. We explore different ways of using the existing dataset to efficiently train a deep convolutional neural network. We also propose a new method for dataset transformation to increase the number of samples in the dataset and improve the accuracy and generalization of the deep learning model. Experimental results show that the proposed model outperforms the state-of-the-art methods, and is suitable for real-time classification of wildfire images.
Virtual Reality Metaverse System Supplementing Remote Education Methods: Based on Aircraft Maintenance Simulation
Authors: Lee Hyeonju , Woo Donghyun , Yu Sunjin
Published: March 2022

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a shift from in-person to remote education, with most students taking classes via video meetings. This change inhibits active class participation from students. In particular, video education has limitations in replacing practical classes, which require both theoretical and empirical knowledge. In this study, we propose a system that incorporates virtual reality and metaverse methods into the classroom to compensate for the shortcomings of the existing remote models of practical education. Based on the proposed system, we developed an aircraft maintenance simulation and conducted an experiment comparing our system to a video training method. To measure educational effectiveness, knowledge acquisition, and retention tests were conducted and presence was investigated via survey responses. The results of the experiment show that the group using the proposed system scored higher than the video training group on both knowledge tests. As the responses given to the presence questionnaire confirmed a sense of spatial presence felt by the participants, the usability of the proposed system was judged to be appropriate.
A Simple Photonic Generation of a Microwave Waveforms Scheme Based on a Dual-Polarization Dual-Drive Mach-Zehnder Modulator
Authors: Gu Yiying , Gao Ruirui , Chong Yuhua , Li Xiaozhou , Zhao Mingshan , Hu Jingjing , Han Xiuyou
Published: March 2022

In this paper, a simple scheme for the generation of sawtooth, triangular, and square waveforms using an integrated dual-polarization dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator (Dpol-DDMZM) is proposed. By properly setting the working point and the modulation index of the Dpol-DDMZM, the desired microwave waveforms are easily obtained after photodetection. The proposed scheme for the photonic generation of microwave waveforms is analyzed both by simulation and experiment. The periodical sawtooth, triangular, and square waveforms with repetition rates of 8 GHz are successfully generated. The root-mean-square errors (RMSE) are 0.190, 0.168, and 0.135, respectively. The system features flexible tunability.
Multiclass Skin Lesion Classification Using a Novel Lightweight Deep Learning Framework for Smart Healthcare
Authors: Hoang Long , Lee Suk-Hwan , Lee Eung-Joo , Kwon Ki-Ryong
Published: March 2022

Skin lesion classification has recently attracted significant attention. Regularly, physicians take much time to analyze the skin lesions because of the high similarity between these skin lesions. An automated classification system using deep learning can assist physicians in detecting the skin lesion type and enhance the patient’s health. The skin lesion classification has become a hot research area with the evolution of deep learning architecture. In this study, we propose a novel method using a new segmentation approach and wide-ShuffleNet for skin lesion classification. First, we calculate the entropy-based weighting and first-order cumulative moment (EW-FCM) of the skin image. These values are used to separate the lesion from the background. Then, we input the segmentation result into a new deep learning structure wide-ShuffleNet and determine the skin lesion type. We evaluated the proposed method on two large datasets: HAM10000 and ISIC2019. Based on our numerical results, EW-FCM and wide-ShuffleNet achieve more accuracy than state-of-the-art approaches. Additionally, the proposed method is superior lightweight and suitable with a small system like a mobile healthcare system.
A Satellite Data Mining Approach Based on Self-Organized Maps for the Early Warning of Ground Settlements in Urban Areas
Authors: Montisci Augusto , Porcu Maria Cristina
Published: March 2022

Structural failure prevention is a crucial issue in civil engineering. The causes of structure or infrastructure collapse include phenomena that slowly deform the ground and could affect the stability of foundations such as differential settlements, subsidence, groundwater changes, slope failure, or landslides. When large urban areas need to be monitored, such phenomena are hard to be mapped by means of classical structural health monitoring methods due to the unaffordable quantity of in situ measurements these methods would entail. A very effective alternative is exploiting multitemporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (MT-InSAR) displacement timeseries which would enable the monitoring of wide geographical areas over a weekly basis and extended spatial coverage. Analyzing the enormous amount of data produced by MT-InSAR may help to assess the time evolution of phenomena but can barely highlight “anomalous” ground deformations in time, to prevent likely structural failure. This paper proposes a method which analyzes the InSAR data through an unsupervised learning paradigm with the purpose of detecting critical events at their early stage. On the basis of similarities among time sequences, this method allows the finding of precursors of anomalous ground settlement behaviors, the correct framing of which should be directed to specialist evaluation and in situ inspections.
Electrochemical and Spectral Studies on Benzylidenerhodanine for Sensor Development for Heavy Metals in Waters
Authors: Matica Ovidiu Teodor , Brotea Alina Giorgiana , Ungureanu Eleonora-Mihaela , Stefaniu Amalia
Published: March 2022

Electrochemical and spectral studies of benzylidenerhodanine (BR) were performed in order to develop new sensors for heavy metals (HMs) based on chemically modified electrodes (CMEs). CMEs were obtained by cycling and by controlled potential electrolysis at different potentials and charges. Film formation was demonstrated by recording the CV curves of CMEs in transfer solutions containing ferrocene in 0.1 M TBAP/CH3CN. BR-CMEs were used for the analysis of HMs. Samples of Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II), each possessing concentrations between 10−7 and 10−5 M, were analyzed by using CMEs prepared in different conditions. The most intense signal was obtained for the Pb(II) ion. These BR-CMEs can be used for the analysis of Pb(II) in monitored waters. An electrochemical study was performed at different concentrations of BR in 0.1 M TBAP/CH3CN on a glassy carbon electrode by differential pulse voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and rotating disk electrode voltammetry. The complexation ratio in the homogeneous solution has been established by the Mollard method in acetonitrile solutions.
Study on Shear Performance of Short Bolt Interface in ECC–Steel Bridge Deck Composite Structure
Authors: Zeng Zhenhai , Li Chuanxi , Wang Shengqi , Liu Yan , Chen Zhuoyi , Lv Yigang
Published: March 2022

Aiming at the problem that orthotropic steel bridge deck and bridge deck pavement are prone to fatigue damage, Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) bridge deck pavement is used to replace concrete or asphalt in flexible bridge deck pavement. In order to deeply explore the shear resistance of the short stud interface in the ECC–steel composite structure and provide theoretical support for the practical application of the project, 16 static push-out tests were completed. The effects of stud diameter, height and arrangement spacing on the shear capacity of the medium and short ECC studs were studied. The failure modes, load–slip curves, load–strain curves and interface gap width curves of the components were analyzed. The test results showed that the shear force of the medium and short ECC bolts mainly produces two failure modes, bolt shearing and bolt root weld shearing, while the ECC plate has a local crushing area at the interface bolt root position, and no large cracks occur in other areas. The shear capacity of short bolts is significantly affected by the diameter of the bolts, but is less affected by the height and spacing of the bolts, and increases with the diameter of the short bolts. The length of the stud has an important influence on the stress on the surface of the ECC board. The longer the stud, the greater the tensile stress on the ECC surface. The shorter the peg, the more prone to eccentric compression the ECC plate is, and the longer the peg, the more prone to axial compression it is.
Different Types of Ultrasound Probes Usage for Multi-Angle Conventional 3D Ultrasound Compound Imaging: A Breast Phantom Study
Authors: Sabiniok Maciej , Opieliński Krzysztof J.
Published: March 2022

Three-dimensional automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) systems seem to offer excellent results in breast cancer screening tests and its early detection, comparable to handheld ultrasound B-mode scanning, with the benefit of saving physician time and reducing handheld ultrasound issues. Nevertheless, the ABUS systems are not very popular, due to the cost and very narrow application. The multi-angle conventional 3D ultrasound compound imaging method (MACUI) is intended for use with standard B-mode scanners in order to reduce cost but preserve the advantages of ABUS systems. The rotational probe movement is utilized in order to collect images for the three-dimensional reconstruction of the scanned tissue’s anatomy. The authors evaluate the capabilities to increase the scanned volume and quality of reconstructions, which are limited in current MACUI implementations, with a probe tilt and shift. The study shows and discusses the results of the imaging using different probes available for SmartUs Telemed B-Mode scanner at different scanning geometry in order to determine the capabilities of such an ultrasound imaging system. The results discussed in the paper highlight the benefits in quality improvement and scanning area obtained with tilted and shifted probes, as well as the advantages of using a relatively simple convex probe that does not incorporate software beam steering over more advanced devices.
Experimental and Empirical Study for Prediction of Blast Loads
Authors: Filice Anselmo , Mynarz Miroslav , Zinno Raffaele
Published: March 2022

This paper presents the issue of determining the blast load on an engineering structure. In cases of industrial accidents or terrorist attacks, in many cases it is necessary to determine the necessary explosion parameters to determine the response of the structure, preferably in a simple and time-saving manner. In such a way, the empirical relationships can be used to estimate the selected parameters of the explosion load. Many empirical relationships have been derived in the past, but not all are suitable for different types of explosions. This article compares and validates experimentally determined selected explosion parameters for the chosen explosive with empirical relationships. For comparison, three already verified and frequently used calculation procedures (Kingery, Kinney, Henrych) and one newly derived procedure (PECH) were used. As part of the experimental measurements, blast wave explosion parameters for small charges were determined for near-field explosions. The general-purpose plastic explosive Semtex 10-SE was used for the experiments. The results of the comparative study presented in this article demonstrate the importance of taking these procedures into account for a reliable determination of the effects of blast actions on buildings.
Personal Identification Using an Ensemble Approach of 1D-LSTM and 2D-CNN with Electrocardiogram Signals
Authors: Lee Jin-A , Kwak Keun-Chang
Published: March 2022

Conventional personal identification methods (ID, password, authorization certificate, etc.) entail various issues, including forgery or loss. Technological advances and the diffusion across industries have enhanced convenience; however, privacy risks due to security attacks are increasing. Hence, personal identification based on biometrics such as the face, iris, fingerprints, and veins has been used widely. However, biometric information including faces and fingerprints is difficult to apply in industries requiring high-level security, owing to tampering or forgery risks and recognition errors. This paper proposes a personal identification technique based on an ensemble of long short-term memory (LSTM) and convolutional neural network (CNN) that uses electrocardiograms (ECGs). An ECG uses internal biometric information, representing the heart rate in signals using microcurrents and thereby including noises during measurements. This noise is removed using filters in a preprocessing step, and the signals are divided into cycles with respect to R-peaks for extracting features. LSTM is used to perform personal identification using ECG signals; 1D ECG signals are transformed into the time–frequency domain using STFT, scalogram, FSST, and WSST; and a 2D-CNN is used to perform personal identification. This ensemble of two models is used to attain higher performances than LSTM or 2D-CNN. Results reveal a performance improvement of 1.06–3.75%.
Evaluation of Macrophyte Community Dynamics (2015–2020) in Southern Lake Garda (Italy) from Sentinel-2 Data
Authors: Ghirardi Nicola , Bresciani Mariano , Free Gary , Pinardi Monica , Bolpagni Rossano , Giardino Claudia
Published: March 2022

Macrophytes are of fundamental importance to the functioning of lake ecosystems. They provide structure, habitat, and a food source and are a required component in monitoring programs of lake ecological quality. The key aim of this study is to document the variation in spatial extent and density of macrophytes seasonally between 2015 and 2020 of the Sirmione Peninsula (Lake Garda, Italy), using Sentinel-2 imagery. In addition to this, our results were compared to previous data from imaging spectrometry; individual parameters affecting macrophyte communities were tested, and the possible effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on macrophyte colonization was evaluated. Satellite images allowed the mapping of the spatiotemporal dynamics of submerged rooted macrophytes in order to support monitoring of the shallow water ecosystem under study. Substantial changes were found in both spatial extent and density over the period from 2015 to 2020, particularly in 2019 when there was almost a complete absence of dense macrophytes. Variables found to influence the amount of macrophytes included transparency, chlorophyll–a, water level, winter wave height, and grazing by herbivores. A separate analysis focusing on areas associated with boat transit found a recovery in macrophyte coverage during the period of COVID-19 lockdown. The outcome of the study highlights a decline in the density of the macrophytes and a shift towards deeper areas compared to the situation in 1997. The area examined is part of an internationally important site containing the highest abundance and diversity of overwintering water birds in Italy. Exploiting satellite data at high frequency provided an insight to understand the dynamic changes and interactions with herbivorous birds, environmental factors, and anthropogenic pressures, revealing a delicately balanced and threatened ecosystem.