bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of TaqMan-Based Assays for Specific Detection and Differentiation of Wild-Type and Neethling Vaccine Strains of LSDV
Authors: Vidanović Dejan , Tešović Bojana , Šekler Milanko , Debeljak Zoran , Vasković Nikola , Matović Kazimir , Koltsov Andrey , Krstevski Kiril , Petrović Tamaš , De Leeuw Ilse , Haegeman Andy
Published: June 2021

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an important animal disease with significant health and economic impacts. It is considered a notifiable disease by the OIE. Attenuated strains of LSDV have been successfully used as vaccines (LAV) but can also produce mild or systemic reactions. Vaccination campaigns using LAVs are therefore only viable if accompanying DIVA assays are available. Two DIVA qPCR assays able to distinguish Neethling-based LAVs and wild-type LSDV were developed. Upon validation, both assays were shown to have high sensitivity and specificity with a diagnostic performance comparable to other published DIVA assays. This confirmed their potential as reliable tools to confirm infection in animals during vaccination campaigns based on Neethling vaccine strains.
Compressibility and Phase Stability of Iron-Rich Ankerite
Authors: Chuliá-Jordán Raquel , Santamaria-Perez David , Ruiz-Fuertes Javier , Otero-de-la-Roza Alberto , Popescu Catalin
Published: June 2021

The structure of the naturally occurring, iron-rich mineral Ca1.08(6)Mg0.24(2)Fe0.64(4)Mn0.04(1)(CO3)2 ankerite was studied in a joint experimental and computational study. Synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction measurements up to 20 GPa were complemented by density functional theory calculations. The rhombohedral ankerite structure is stable under compression up to 12 GPa. A third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state yields V0 = 328.2(3) Å3, bulk modulus B0 = 89(4) GPa, and its first-pressure derivative B’0 = 5.3(8)—values which are in good agreement with those obtained in our calculations for an ideal CaFe(CO3)2 ankerite composition. At 12 GPa, the iron-rich ankerite structure undergoes a reversible phase transition that could be a consequence of increasingly non-hydrostatic conditions above 10 GPa. The high-pressure phase could not be characterized. DFT calculations were used to explore the relative stability of several potential high-pressure phases (dolomite-II-, dolomite-III- and dolomite-V-type structures), and suggest that the dolomite-V phase is the thermodynamically stable phase above 5 GPa. A novel high-pressure polymorph more stable than the dolomite-III-type phase for ideal CaFe(CO3)2 ankerite was also proposed. This high-pressure phase consists of Fe and Ca atoms in sevenfold and ninefold coordination, respectively, while carbonate groups remain in a trigonal planar configuration. This phase could be a candidate structure for dense carbonates in other compositional systems.
High-Pressure Raman Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction Study on Scottyite, BaCu2Si2O7
Authors: Lee Pei-Lun , Huang Eugene , Kung Jennifer
Published: June 2021

In situ high-pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic experiments of scottyite, BaCu2Si2O7, were carried out in a diamond anvil cell up to 21 GPa at room temperature. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal four new peaks near 3.5, 3.1, 2.6 and 2.2 Å above 8 GPa, while some peaks of the original phase disappear above 10 GPa. In the Raman experiment, we observed two discontinuities in dν/dP, the slopes of Raman wavenumber (ν) of some vibration modes versus pressure (P), at approximately 8 and 12 GPa, indicating that the Si-O symmetrical and asymmetrical vibration modes change with pressure. Fitting the compression data to Birch–Murnaghan equation yields a bulk modulus of 102 ± 5 GPa for scottyite, assuming Ko′ is four. Scottyite shows anisotropic compressibility along three crystallographic axes, among which c-axis was the most compressible axis, b-axis was the last and a-axis was similar to the c-axis on the compression. Both X-ray and Raman spectroscopic data provide evidences that scottyite undergoes a reversible phase transformation at 8 GPa.
Simulated Gastric Digestion and In Vivo Intestinal Uptake of Orally Administered CuO Nanoparticles and TiO2 E171 in Male and Female Rat Pups
Authors: Mortensen Ninell P. , Moreno Caffaro Maria , Aravamudhan Shyam , Beeravalli Lakshmi , Prattipati Sharmista , Snyder Rodney W. , Watson Scott L. , Patel Purvi R. , Weber Frank X. , Montgomery Stephanie A. , Sumner Susan J. , Fennell Timothy R.
Published: June 2021

Oral exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) during early life is an understudied area. The goals of this study were to evaluate the effect of pre-weaned rat gastric fluids on 50 nm CuO NPs and TiO2 E171 in vitro, and to evaluate uptake in vivo. The NP uptake was studied in vivo in male and female Sprague-Dawley rat pups following oral administration of four consecutive daily doses of 10 mg/kg CuO NPs, TiO2 E171, or vehicle control (water) between postnatal day (PND) 7–10. Rat pups were sacrificed on either PND10 or PND21. Simulated digestion led to dissolution of CuO NPs at the later ages tested (PND14 and PND21, but not PND7). In vivo intestinal uptake of CuO NPs and TiO2 E171 was observed by hyperspectral imaging of intestinal cross sections. Brightfield microscopy showed that the number of immune cells increased in the intestinal tissue following NP administration. Orally administered NPs led to low intestinal uptake of NPs and an increase in immune cells in the small and large intestine, suggesting that oral exposure to NPs during early life may lead to irritation or a low-grade inflammation. The long-term impact of increased immune cells in the intestinal tract during early life is unknown.
Optical Anapole Modes in Gallium Phosphide Nanodisk with Forked Slits for Electric Field Enhancement
Authors: Lv Jingwei , Zhang He , Liu Chao , Yi Zao , Wang Famei , Mu Haiwei , Li Xianli , Sun Tao , Chu Paul K.
Published: June 2021

High refractive index dielectric nanostructures represent a new frontier in nanophotonics, and the unique semiconductor characteristics of dielectric systems make it possible to enhance electric fields by exploiting this fundamental physical phenomenon. In this work, the scattered radiation spectral features and field-enhanced interactions of gallium phosphide disks with forked slits at anapole modes are investigated systematically by numerical and multipole decomposition analyses. Additional enhancement of the electric field is achieved by opening the forked slits to create high-intensity hot spots inside the disk, and nearby molecules can access these hot spots directly. The results reveal a novel approach for near-field engineering such as electric field localization, nonlinear optics, and optical detection.
Controlled pDNA Release in Gemini Cationic Lipoplexes by Femtosecond Laser Irradiation of Gold Nanostars
Authors: Sánchez-Arribas Natalia , Díaz-Núñez Pablo , Osío Barcina José , Aicart Emilio , Junquera Elena , Guerrero-Martínez Andrés
Published: June 2021

The design of nanovectors able to overcome biological barriers is one of the main challenges in biomedicine. Gemini cationic lipids are considered potential candidates for gene therapy due to their high biocompatibility and capacity to condense nucleic acids safely in the form of lipoplexes. However, this approach presents difficulties regarding genetic unpacking and, therefore, control over this process becomes crucial to ensure successful transfection. In this work, gemini cationic lipoplexes were prepared in the presence of plasmonic gold nanostars (AuNSs) to afford a nanovector that efficiently releases plasmid DNA (pDNA) upon irradiation with near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses. A critical AuNSs concentration of 50 pM and optimized laser power density of 400 mW led to successful pDNA release, whose efficiency could be further improved by increasing the irradiation time. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to confirm pDNA release. UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy studies were performed to monitor changes in the morphology of the AuNSs and lipoplexes after irradiation. From a physicochemical point of view, this study demonstrates that the use of AuNSs combined with gemini cationic lipoplexes allows control over pDNA release under ultrafast laser irradiation.
Electrospinning of Nanofibrous Membrane and Its Applications in Air Filtration: A Review
Authors: Lyu Chenxin , Zhao Peng , Xie Jun , Dong Shuyuan , Liu Jiawei , Rao Chengchen , Fu Jianzhong
Published: June 2021

Air pollution caused by particulate matter and toxic gases is violating individual’s health and safety. Nanofibrous membrane, being a reliable filter medium for particulate matter, has been extensively studied and applied in the field of air purification. Among the different fabrication approaches of nanofibrous membrane, electrospinning is considered as the most favorable and effective due to its advantages of controllable process, high production efficiency, and low cost. The electrospun membranes, made of different materials and unique structures, exhibit good PM2.5 filtration performance and multi-functions, and are used as masks and filters against PM2.5. This review presents a brief overview of electrospinning techniques, different structures of electrospun nanofibrous membranes, unique characteristics and functions of the fabricated membranes, and summarization of the outdoor and indoor applications in PM filtration.
Assembly of Copolymer and Metal−Organic Framework HKUST-1 to Form Cu2−xS/CNFs Intertwining Network for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Bai Yuanjuan , Li Yanran , Liu Gonggang , Hu Jinbo
Published: June 2021

The construction of complex intertwined networks that provide fast transport pathways for ions/electrons is very important for electrochemical systems such as water splitting, but a challenge. Herein, a three dimensional (3-D) intertwined network of Cu2−xS/CNFs (x = 0 or 0.04) has been synthesized through the morphology-preserved thermal transformation of the intertwined PEG-b-P4VP/ HKUST-1 hybrid networks. The strong interaction between PEG chains and Cu2+ is the key to the successful assembly of PEG-b-P4VP nanofibers and HKUST-1, which inhibits the HKUST-1 to form individual crystalline particles. The obtained Cu2−xS/CNFs composites possess several merits, such as highly exposed active sites, high-speed electronic transmission pathways, open pore structure, etc. Therefore, the 3-D intertwined hierarchical network of Cu2−xS/CNFs displays an excellent electrocatalytic activity for HER, with a low overpotential (η) of 276 mV to reach current densities of 10 mA cm−2, and a smaller Tafel slope of 59 mV dec−1 in alkaline solution.
Continuous Microfluidic Production of Citrem-Phosphatidylcholine Nano-Self-Assemblies for Thymoquinone Delivery
Authors: Ilhan-Ayisigi Esra , Ghazal Aghiad , Sartori Barbara , Dimaki Maria , Svendsen Winnie , Yesil-Celiktas Ozlem , Yaghmur Anan
Published: June 2021

Lamellar and non-lamellar liquid crystalline nanodispersions, including liposomes, cubosomes, and hexosomes are attractive platforms for drug delivery, bio-imaging, and related pharmaceutical applications. As compared to liposomes, there is a modest number of reports on the continuous production of cubosomes and hexosomes. Using a binary lipid mixture of citrem and soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC), we describe the continuous production of nanocarriers for delivering thymoquinone (TQ, a substance with various therapeutic potentials) by employing a commercial microfluidic hydrodynamic flow-focusing chip. In this study, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) were employed to characterize TQ-free and TQ-loaded citrem/SPC nanodispersions. Microfluidic synthesis led to formation of TQ-free and TQ-loaded nanoparticles with mean sizes around 115 and 124 nm, and NTA findings indicated comparable nanoparticle size distributions in these nanodispersions. Despite the attractiveness of the microfluidic chip for continuous production of citrem/SPC nano-self-assemblies, it was not efficient as comparable mean nanoparticle sizes were obtained on employing a batch (discontinuous) method based on low-energy emulsification method. SAXS results indicated the formation of a biphasic feature of swollen lamellar (Lα) phase in coexistence with an inverse bicontinuous cubic Pn3m phase in all continuously produced TQ-free and TQ-loaded nanodispersions. Further, a set of SAXS experiments were conducted on samples prepared using the batch method for gaining further insight into the effects of ethanol and TQ concentration on the structural features of citrem/SPC nano-self-assemblies. We discuss these effects and comment on the need to introduce efficient microfluidic platforms for producing nanocarriers for delivering TQ and other therapeutic agents.
Epitope-Specific Response of Human Milk Immunoglobulins in COVID-19 Recovered Women
Authors: Bobik Tatyana V. , Kostin Nikita N. , Skryabin George A. , Tsabai Polina N. , Simonova Maria A. , Knorre Vera D. , Mokrushina Yuliana A. , Smirnov Ivan V. , Kosolapova Julia A. , Vtorushina Valentina V. , Inviyaeva Evgeniya V. , Polushkina Evgeniya , Petrova Ulyana L. , Levadnaya Anna V. , Krechetova Lyubov V. , Shmakov Roman G. , Sukhikh Gennadiy T. , Gabibov Alexander G.
Published: June 2021

The breastfeeding of infants by mothers who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 has become a dramatic healthcare problem. The WHO recommends that infected women should not abandon breastfeeding; however, there is still the risk of contact transmission. Convalescent donor milk may provide a defense against the aforementioned issue and can eliminate the consequences of artificial feeding. Therefore, it is vital to characterize the epitope-specific immunological landscape of human milk from women who recovered from COVID-19. We carried out a comprehensive ELISA-based analysis of blood serum and human milk from maternity patients who had recovered from COVID-19 at different trimesters of pregnancy. It was found that patients predominantly contained SARS-CoV-2 N-protein-specific immunoglobulins and had manifested the antibodies for all the antigens tested in a protein-specific and time-dependent manner. Women who recovered from COVID-19 at trimester I–II showed a noticeable decrease in the number of milk samples with sIgA specific to the N-protein, linear NTD, and RBD-SD1 epitopes, and showed an increase in samples with RBD conformation-dependent sIgA. S-antigens were found to solely induce a sIgA1 response, whereas N-protein sIgA1 and sIgA2 subclasses were involved in 100% and 33% of cases. Overall, the antibody immunological landscape of convalescent donor milk suggests that it may be a potential defense agent against COVID-19 for infants, conferring them with a passive immunity.
A Cross-Sectional Study of SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence between Fall 2020 and February 2021 in Allegheny County, Western Pennsylvania, USA
Authors: Xu Lingqing , Doyle Joshua , Barbeau Dominique J. , Le Sage Valerie , Wells Alan , Duprex W. Paul , Shurin Michael R. , Wheeler Sarah E. , McElroy Anita K.
Published: June 2021

Seroprevalence studies are important for understanding the dynamics of local virus transmission and evaluating community immunity. To assess the seroprevalence for SARS-CoV-2 in Allegheny County, an urban/suburban county in Western PA, 393 human blood samples collected in Fall 2020 and February 2021 were examined for spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) and nucleocapsid protein (N) antibodies. All RBD-positive samples were evaluated for virus-specific neutralization activity. Our results showed a seroprevalence of 5.5% by RBD ELISA, 4.5% by N ELISA, and 2.5% for both in Fall 2020, which increased to 24.7% by RBD ELISA, 14.9% by N ELISA, and 12.9% for both in February 2021. Neutralization titer was significantly correlated with RBD titer but not with N titer. Using these two assays, we were able to distinguish infected from vaccinated individuals. In the February cohort, higher median income and white race were associated with serological findings consistent with vaccination. This study demonstrates a 4.5-fold increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence from Fall 2020 to February 2021 in Allegheny County, PA, due to increased incidence of both natural disease and vaccination. Future seroprevalence studies will need to include the effect of vaccination on assay results and incorporate non-vaccine antigens in serological assessments.
SDN-Enabled FiWi-IoT Smart Environment Network Traffic Classification Using Supervised ML Models
Authors: Ganesan Elaiyasuriyan , Hwang I-Shyan , Liem Andrew Tanny , Ab-Rahman Mohammad Syuhaimi
Published: June 2021

Due to the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), applications such as the Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR), higher resolution media stream, automatic vehicle driving, the smart environment and intelligent e-health applications, increasing demands for high data rates, high bandwidth, low latency, and the quality of services are increasing every day (QoS). The management of network resources for IoT service provisioning is a major issue in modern communication. A possible solution to this issue is the use of the integrated fiber-wireless (FiWi) access network. In addition, dynamic and efficient network configurations can be achieved through software-defined networking (SDN), an innovative and programmable networking architecture enabling machine learning (ML) to automate networks. This paper, we propose a machine learning supervised network traffic classification scheduling model in SDN enhanced-FiWi-IoT that can intelligently learn and guarantee traffic based on its QoS requirements (QoS-Mapping). We capture the different IoT and non-IoT device network traffic trace files based on the traffic flow and analyze the traffic traces to extract statistical attributes (port source and destination, IP address, etc.). We develop a robust IoT device classification process module framework, using these network-level attributes to classify IoT and non-IoT devices. We tested the proposed classification process module in 21 IoT/Non-IoT devices with different ML algorithms and the results showed that classification can achieve a Random Forest classifier with 99% accuracy as compared to other techniques.
Dissecting Source-Sink Relationship of Subtending Leaf for Yield and Fiber Quality Attributes in Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Authors: Mangi Naimatullah , Nazir Mian Faisal , Wang Xiaoyan , Iqbal Muhammad Shahid , Sarfraz Zareen , Jatoi Ghulam Hussain , Mahmood Tahir , Ma Qifeng , Shuli Fan
Published: June 2021

Photosynthesis as a source is a significant contributor to the reproductive sink affecting cotton yield and fiber quality. Moreover, carbon assimilation from subtending leaves adds up a significant proportion to the reproductive sink. Therefore, this study aimed to address the source-sink relationship of boll subtending leaf with fiber quality and yield related traits in upland cotton. A core collection of 355 upland cotton accessions was subjected to subtending leaf removal treatment effects across 2 years. The analysis of variance suggested a significant effect range in the source-sink relationship under subtending leaf removal effects at different growth stages. Further insight into the variation was provided by the correlation analysis and principal component analysis. A significant positive correlation between different traits was observed and the multivariate analysis including hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) categorised germplasm accessions into three groups on the basis of four subtending leaf removal treatment effects across 2 years. A set of genotypes with the lowest and highest treatment effects has been identified. Selected accessions and the outcome of the current study may provide a basis for a further study to explore the molecular mechanism of source-sink relationship of boll subtending leaf and utilization of breeding programs focused on cotton improvement.
Effect of Propagation Systems and Indole-3-Butyric Acid Potassium Salt (K-IBA) Concentrations on the Propagation of Peach Rootstocks by Stem Cuttings
Authors: Lesmes-Vesga Ricardo A. , Chaparro José X. , Sarkhosh Ali , Ritenour Mark A. , Cano Liliana M. , Rossi Lorenzo
Published: June 2021

Traditionally, peach rootstocks are propagated by seeds due to their high availability, low cost, and easy storage and handling. However, stem cuttings allow the propagation of interspecific hybrids and keep the genetic uniformity of heterozygous genotypes. This study compared the effect of four different concentrations of K-IBA (indole-3-butyric acid potassium salt) on softwood cuttings of three peach backcrosses (peach × (peach × almond)) for rootstock propagation in two propagation systems: aeroponics and germination trays. The four concentrations of K-IBA applied were: 0.0% (w/v) as a control, 0.1% (w/v), 0.2% (w/v), and 0.4% (w/v). Data were collected on the survival rate (%), rooting rate (%), and root growth parameters. The relevance of auxin for peach cuttings rooting was evidenced. K-IBA at 0.2% showed the best rooting effect for peach softwood cuttings, evidenced by its high rooting rate and higher survival rate. K-IBA at 0.4% and 0.2% produced the highest number of adventitious roots. The highest root growth parameters were obtained in germination trays, confirming the suitability of this system for root growth. However, aeroponics was demonstrated to be as efficient as the traditional germination trays for the rooting of peach cuttings, allowing for a more controlled environment with a better use of resources.
Acetaminophen Induces an Antioxidative Response in Lettuce Plants
Authors: Leitão Inês , Martins Luisa L. , Carvalho Luisa , Oliveira M. Conceição , Marques M. Matilde , Mourato Miguel P.
Published: June 2021

Contaminants of environmental concern, like pharmaceuticals, are being detected in increasing amounts in soils and irrigation waters and can thus be taken up by plants. In this work, the uptake of acetaminophen (ACT) by lettuce plants was evaluated through a hydroponic experiment at different concentrations (0, 0.1, 1 and 5 mg L−1 ACT). The pathways related to oxidative stress induced by ACT were studied in lettuce leaves and roots at 1, 8 and 15 days after exposure. Stress indicators such as hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were analyzed, revealing increases in plants contaminated with ACT in comparison to control, confirming the occurrence of oxidative stress, with the exception of MDA in leaves. The enzymatic activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase, directly involved in the antioxidative system, showed significant differences when compared to control plants, and, depending on the enzyme and the tissue, different trends were observed. Glutathione reductase revealed a decrease in contaminated leaves, which may imply a specific impact of ACT in the glutathione cycle. Significant increases were found in the anthocyanin content of leaves, both with exposure time and ACT concentration, indicating an antioxidative response induced by ACT contamination.
Genome-Wide Identification and Genetic Variations of the Starch Synthase Gene Family in Rice
Authors: Zhang Hongjia , Jang Seong-Gyu , Lar San Mar , Lee Ah-Rim , Cao Fang-Yuan , Seo Jeonghwan , Kwon Soon-Wook
Published: June 2021

Starch is a major ingredient in rice, and the amylose content of starch significantly impacts rice quality. OsSS (starch synthase) is a gene family related to the synthesis of amylose and amylopectin, and 10 members have been reported. In the present study, a synteny analysis of a novel family member belonging to the OsSSIV subfamily that contained a starch synthase catalytic domain showed that three segmental duplications and multiple duplications were identified in rice and other species. Expression data showed that the OsSS gene family is involved in diverse expression patterns. The prediction of miRNA targets suggested that OsSS are possibly widely regulated by miRNA functions, with miR156s targeted to OsSSII-3, especially. Haplotype analysis exhibited the relationship between amylose content and diverse genotypes. These results give new insight and a theoretical basis for the improved amylose content and eating quality of rice.
Performance Tests on a Novel Un-Finned Thermosyphon Heat Exchanger Requiring a Single Charge
Authors: Yang Kai-Shing , Wu Yan-Lin , Chu Yi-Pin , Wu Yu-Lieh , Wong Shwin-Chung
Published: June 2021

A novel design of an unfinned thermosyphon HPHX having a continuous closed tube loop which requires only a single charge is proposed for industrial waste heat recovery. The HPHX consists of 9×17 straight copper tubes in a staggered arrangement connected by 144 U bends. Without fins, not only are the pressure drops of the cooling air flow limited, but the cost, weight and maintenance effort can be greatly reduced. The thermal performance of this novel thermosyphon HPHX was tested with water at a filling ratio of 40%. The evaporator section is immersed in hot silicone oil, while the condenser section is cooled by air flow. The heat transfer rate (Q) reaches 6.65 kW at a heating pool temperature of 150 °C and a cooling air flow rate (F) of 1600 CMH, when the HPHX attains maximum effective thermal conductivity of 12,798 W/m-K. An ε-NTU theoretical model for single-tube thermosyphons was formulated with the boiling and film condensation modelled by empirical correlations. This model predicts the total resistance Rtot of the HPHX, which decreases with Q and F, with a total error of less than ±10%.
ResNet Based Deep Features and Random Forest Classifier for Diabetic Retinopathy Detection
Authors: Yaqoob Muhammad Kashif , Ali Syed Farooq , Bilal Muhammad , Hanif Muhammad Shehzad , Al-Saggaf Ubaid M.
Published: June 2021

Diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease commonly afflicting diabetic patients, can result in loss of vision if prompt detection and treatment are not done in the early stages. Once the symptoms are identified, the severity level of the disease needs to be classified for prescribing the right medicine. This study proposes a deep learning-based approach, for the classification and grading of diabetic retinopathy images. The proposed approach uses the feature map of ResNet-50 and passes it to Random Forest for classification. The proposed approach is compared with five state-of-the-art approaches using two category Messidor-2 and five category EyePACS datasets. These two categories on the Messidor-2 dataset include ’No Referable Diabetic Macular Edema Grade (DME)’ and ’Referable DME’ while five categories consist of ‘Proliferative diabetic retinopathy’, ‘Severe’, ‘Moderate’, ‘Mild’, and ‘No diabetic retinopathy’. The results show that the proposed approach outperforms compared approaches and achieves an accuracy of 96% and 75.09% for these datasets, respectively. The proposed approach outperforms six existing state-of-the-art architectures, namely ResNet-50, VGG-19, Inception-v3, MobileNet, Xception, and VGG16.
Denoising and Motion Artifact Removal Using Deformable Kernel Prediction Neural Network for Color-Intensified CMOS
Authors: Han Zhenghao , Li Li , Jin Weiqi , Wang Xia , Jiao Gangcheng , Liu Xuan , Wang Hailin
Published: June 2021

Image intensifiers are used internationally as advanced military night-vision devices. They have better imaging performance in low-light-level conditions than CMOS/CCD. The intensified CMOS (ICMOS) was developed to satisfy the digital demand of image intensifiers. In order to make the ICMOS capable of color imaging in low-light-level conditions, a liquid-crystal tunable filter based color imaging ICMOS was developed. Due to the time-division color imaging scheme, motion artifacts may be introduced when a moving target is in the scene. To solve this problem, a deformable kernel prediction neural network (DKPNN) is proposed for joint denoising and motion artifact removal, and a data generation method which generates images with color-channel motion artifacts is also proposed to train the DKPNN. The results show that, compared with other denoising methods, the proposed DKPNN performed better both on generated noisy data and on real noisy data. Therefore, the proposed DKPNN is more suitable for color ICMOS denoising and motion artifact removal. A new exploration was made for low-light-level color imaging schemes.
Performance Analysis of Packet Aggregation Mechanisms and Their Applications in Access (e.g., IoT, 4G/5G), Core, and Data Centre Networks
Authors: Kuaban Godlove Suila , Atmaca Tülin , Kamli Amira , Czachórski Tadeusz , Czekalski Piotr
Published: June 2021

The transmission of massive amounts of small packets generated by access networks through high-speed Internet core networks to other access networks or cloud computing data centres has introduced several challenges such as poor throughput, underutilisation of network resources, and higher energy consumption. Therefore, it is essential to develop strategies to deal with these challenges. One of them is to aggregate smaller packets into a larger payload packet, and these groups of aggregated packets will share the same header, hence increasing throughput, improved resource utilisation, and reduction in energy consumption. This paper presents a review of packet aggregation applications in access networks (e.g., IoT and 4G/5G mobile networks), optical core networks, and cloud computing data centre networks. Then we propose new analytical models based on diffusion approximation for the evaluation of the performance of packet aggregation mechanisms. We demonstrate the use of measured traffic from real networks to evaluate the performance of packet aggregation mechanisms analytically. The use of diffusion approximation allows us to consider time-dependent queueing models with general interarrival and service time distributions. Therefore these models are more general than others presented till now.
Timing, Initiators, and Causes of Divorce in a Mayangna/Miskito Community in Nicaragua
Authors: Winking Jeffrey , Koster Jeremy
Published: June 2021

There exists a paucity of evolution-oriented research focusing on why relationships end, particularly in comparison to the substantial literature centered around individual preferences that define the beginning of relationships. In contrast, there is a long tradition in the fields of sociology and family studies of exploring divorce; however, this body of research is largely limited to studies of Western populations. We address these gaps in the literature with an examination of patterns of divorce among a small-scale horticultural population in Nicaragua. We test a number of hypotheses derived from behavioral ecology perspective regarding the timing and causes of divorce. Results lend support to all but one of the hypotheses. Overall divorce rates are comparable to U.S. rates; however, they tend to occur earlier in marriages. Children appear to provide a slight buffering effect against divorce, although age in marriage does not. Gender differences in the reported causes of divorce fall along the lines that would be expected due to differences in partner preferences reported in previous research. Finally, this population also exhibits a similar peculiar pattern exhibited by Western populations, in which divorce is more costly for women, and yet women are slightly more likely to initiate divorces than husbands.
Cosmic Tangle: Loop Quantum Cosmology and CMB Anomalies
Authors: Bojowald Martin
Published: June 2021

Loop quantum cosmology is a conflicted field in which exuberant claims of observability coexist with serious objections against the conceptual and physical viability of its current formulations. This contribution presents a non-technical case study of the recent claim that loop quantum cosmology might alleviate anomalies in the observations of the cosmic microwave background.
An Update on the HIV DNA Vaccine Strategy
Authors: Hokello Joseph , Sharma Adhikarimayum Lakhikumar , Tyagi Mudit
Published: June 2021

In 2020, the global prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was estimated to be 38 million, and a total of 690,000 people died from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)–related complications. Notably, around 12.6 million people living with HIIV/AIDS did not have access to life-saving treatment. The advent of the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the mid-1990s remarkably enhanced the life expectancy of people living with HIV/AIDS as a result of improved immune functions. However, HAART has several drawbacks, especially when it is not used properly, including a high risk for the development of drug resistance, as well as undesirable side effects such as lipodystrophy and endocrine dysfunctions, which result in HAART intolerability. HAART is also not curative. Furthermore, new HIV infections continue to occur globally at a high rate, with an estimated 1.7 million new infections occurring in 2018 alone. Therefore, there is still an urgent need for an affordable, effective, and readily available preventive vaccine against HIV/AIDS. Despite this urgent need, however, progress toward an effective HIV vaccine has been modest over the last four decades. Reasons for this slow progress are mainly associated with the unique aspects of HIV itself and its ability to rapidly mutate, targeting immune cells and escape host immune responses. Several approaches to an HIV vaccine have been undertaken. However, this review will mainly discuss progress made, including the pre-clinical and clinical trials involving vector-based HIV DNA vaccines and the use of integrating lentiviral vectors in HIV vaccine development. We concluded by recommending particularly the use of integrase-defective lentiviral vectors, owing to their safety profiles, as one of the promising vectors in HIV DNA vaccine strategies both for prophylactic and therapeutic HIV vaccines.
Alterations in the Expression Profile of Serum miR-155, miR-223, miR-17, miR-200a, miR-205, as well as Levels of Interleukin 6, and Prostaglandins during Endometritis in Arabian Mares
Authors: Ibrahim Sally , Hedia Mohamed , Taqi Mohamed O. , Derbala Mohamed K. , Mahmoud Karima Gh. M. , Ahmed Youssef , Ismail Sayed , El-Belely Mohamed
Published: June 2021

So far the intimate link between serum microRNA (miRNA) and uterine inflammation in mares is unknown. We aimed (I) to investigate expression profile of eca-miR-155, eca-miR-223, eca-miR-17, eca-miR-200a, and eca-miR-205 (II) and to measure concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), and prostaglandins (PGF2α and PGE2) in serum of mares with healthy and abnormal uterine status (endometritis). This study was conducted on 80 Arabian mares: young (4–7 years), and old (8–14 years). Mares were divided into 48 sub-fertile (endometritis) and 32 fertile (control) at stud farms. Serum was collected for measuring IL-6, PGF2α, and PGE2, as well as miRNA isolation and qRT-PCR. Concentrations of IL-6, PGE2, and PGF2α were higher in mares with endometritis compared to control. Age of mares had a remarkable effect on IL-6, PGE2, and PGF2α concentrations. Relative abundance of eca-miR-155, eca-miR-223, eca-miR-17, eca-miR-200a, and eca-miR-205 was higher in both young and old mares with endometritis. We noticed that eca-miR-155, eca-miR-223, eca-miR-200a, and eca-miR-205 revealed higher expression level in old than young mares with endometritis. This is the first study that has revealed the changes in cell free miRNA and serum inflammatory mediators during endometritis, and these findings could be used for a better understanding the pathophysiology mechanisms of endometritis in equine.
The use of organic sources of chromium in the feeding of laying hens
Authors: Nikolaev S. I. , Kostomakhin N. M. , Danilenko I. Yu. , Kornilova E. V. , Kolodyazhny A. V. , Imangaliev A. D. , Soshkin Yu. V.
Published: June 2021

The purpose of the research was to study the eff ect of the mineral complex “Availa Chrome 1000”, which used in the feeding of laying hens of the highly productive cross Highsex Brown under the conditions of the Research Center for the Safety and Eff ectiveness of Feed and Additives of the Volgograd State Agrarian University. For the experiment two groups of laying hens (control and experimental) have been formed with 70 heads in each. The diff erence between the groups was that the laying hens of the control group received a complete farm diet, and into the diet of the laying hens of the experimental group the feed additive “Availa Chrome 100” in the amount of 300 g/t of compound feed was introduced. It has been found during the study of the coeffi cients of digestibility of nutrients of the diet in the experimental poultry that the best digestibility diff ered laying hens of the experimental group where the additive “Avila Chrome 1000” in the amount of 300 g/t of compound feed has been put into the basic diet. It has been found as a result that the tested mineral additive increases the digestibility of dry matter by 3,09 %, organic matter by 2,59 %, crude protein by 1,35 %, crude fat by 2,16 %, crude fi ber by 0,63 %. The studied feed additive had a stimulating eff ect on the formation of red blood cells the level of which increased in the blood of poultry of the experimental group by 2,87 %. It has been found that in laying hens of the experimental group the level of hemoglobin was higher by 6,25 %. The use of the mineral complex allowed to improve the egg productivity of poultry by 3,3 % and increase the egg mass by 2,66 %. The inter-group economic eff ect for the period of experiment reached 573,43 rubles, so we believe that the use of organic chromium additives is economically feasible.
Development and study of the effectiveness of a biologically active drug in the diet of sows
Authors: Kulmakova N. I. , Kostomakhin N.M. , Semenov V. G. , Mudarisov R.M. , Khakimov I.N. , Safronov S.L.
Published: June 2021

Many researchers note the need to improve feed additives and the search for new promising drugs for the intensification of the pig industry. We have developed a biologically active complex drug Microlact. It is used by animals as a means aimed at correcting the disturbed metabolism of sows associated with pregnancy and lactation, to activate the growth and development of piglets as well as their viability. The purpose of the work was to develop and study the effectiveness of the biologically active drug in the diet of lactating sows. The use of the drug led to the improvement of biochemical parameters of blood of pregnant sows, indicating the activation of metabolic processes in their body, which provided the increase in milk yield of sows, average daily weight gain of piglets and their livability. The live weight of piglets for weaning increased by 8,0% (P < 0,01), the livability of suckling piglets increased to 93,1%, which is a consequence of improving the quality of colostrum and milk, and consequently the positive effect of the biologically active drug containing an optimal complex of minerals, vitamin E in the composition of malt sprouts, essential amino acids and organic form of selenium. More nutritious colostrum and milk contributed to the better development of the piglets’ body and resistance to adverse factors. Immunoglobulins have been obtained by piglets with colostrum and milk increase their resistance and contribute to higher livability. The increase in the weight of suckling pigs has a positive effect on the further development and growth of animals on fattening. Thus, the administration of the biologically active drug Microlact to sows during pregnancy leads to the activation of metabolic processes, which can only be provided by a high level of functioning of the organs and systems of the body.
The quality of pork when included in the diet of the drug Permaite
Authors: Kulmakova N. I. , Leontiev L. B.
Published: June 2021

It is well known that the growth rate of an animal depends on the level of feeding. However, the diets used in farms do not always meet the body’s needs for biologically active substances. In recent years numerous studies have been conducted to study the eff ect of natural and synthetic complex biologically active drugs on the productivity, metabolism of pigs and the quality of the products obtained. The imbalance or lack of certain nutrients in the diet reduces the productivity of animals, reduces the conversion of feed. The purpose of our research was to study the effect of the drug Permaite included in the diet of pigs on some indicators of the quality and safety of pork. Permaite is a standardized zeolite-containing trepel of the Chuvash Republic. Its chemical composition is (%): silicon oxide – 64,39, iron oxide – 3,25. aluminum oxide – 8,42, titanium oxide – 0,45, calcium oxide – 7,74, calcium carbonate – 14,7, magnesium oxide – 1,71, potassium oxide – 1,81, sodium oxide – 0,03, phosphorus pentoxide – 0,20 and other impurities – 11,9. Experimental studies have been conducted on 2 groups of pigs on rearing and subsequent fattening. Pigs of the experimental group have been received the main diet with the inclusion of the drug Permaite at a dose of 3 % to the dry matter of the main diet in the form of a fraction of 0,1–0,3 mm. The drug has been prescribed once a day in a mixture with compound feed for 60 days. The control group of pigs during this period was on farm diet without the inclusion of the drug. Upon reaching the live weight of 100–110 kg the pigs have been sent for slaughter. The results of the research allow us to conclude that the inclusion of the drug Permaite in the dose of 3 % to the dry matter of the main diet provides the increase in the nutritional, biological, energy value, technological properties and safety of pork.
Digestibility of nutrients and energy metabolism in lactating cows when sapropel is included in the ration
Authors: Yarmots L. P. , Yarmots G. A. , Belenkaya A. E. , Smyshlyaeva M. O.
Published: June 2021

Unbalanced mineral and vitamin nutrition of lactating cows can be a critical factor in the realization of their productive potential. The development and introduction into production of inexpensive, but effective feed additives is the main trend of improving the feeding of modern animal husbandry. Under the conditions of the Tyumen region such natural raw materials can be sapropels, which successfully combine a variety of biologically active substances. The purpose of the research was to study the digestibility of nutrients and energy metabolism in lactating cows when sapropel is included in the ration. Scientifi c and economic experiment in the study of the effectiveness of feeding sapropel lake Nepryak has been carried out in the training and experimental farm of the State Northern Trans-Urals Agrarian University. The animals of the control group have been fed the main diet. Cows of the 1st and 2nd experimental groups have been fed 300 and 500 g of sapropel per head/day, respectively, in addition to the main ration. It has been found as a result of research that the introduction of sapropel into the ration of cows has a positive effect on the digestibility of nutrients. The digestibility coefficients were higher in the animals of the 1st and 2nd experimental groups compared with the cows of the control group. Cows from the experimental groups digested all the organic substances of the ration better. During the experiment period cows of the 1st and 2nd experimental groups in contrast to the control group had higher milk yield by 11,31 and 10,38 %, respectively, milk protein yield by 10,56 and 5,95 %, milk fat yield by 17,18 and 12,99 %. It has been established that the introduction of sapropel into the ration of cows has the positive effect on the digestibility of nutrients, contributes to the increase of milk productivity, normalizes the metabolism in the body.
currículo de Matemática do Ensino Médio sob a luz da BNCC
Authors: Costa Manoel dos Santos , Ericeira Thiago Brandão , Nunes Célia Barros
Published: June 2021

O presente artigo foi organizado, a partir da análise da Base Nacional Comum Curricular - BNCC, com o objetivo de fazer uma reflexão acerca das competências e habilidades a serem desenvolvidas pelos alunos do Ensino Médio no decorrer do curso, de acordo com o documento que define as aprendizagens essenciais a serem garantidas a todos os estudantes, e orienta a elaboração de currículos e propostas pedagógicas na Educação Básica. Trata-se, portanto, de uma pesquisa bibliográfica, de natureza qualitativa, cujo objeto de análise foi o arcabouço documental que inclui, dentre outros, os documentos oficiais federais. O texto conclui que, além da organização das habilidades por competências, elas também podem ser organizadas na elaboração de currículos por unidades temáticas, desde que seja garantido ao aluno o desenvolvimento das competências e habilidades relativas aos seus processos de reflexão e de abstração, que deem sustentação a modos de pensar criativos, analíticos, indutivos, dedutivos e sistêmicos e que favoreçam a tomada de decisões orientadas pela ética e pelo bem comum.
Información, cibernética y biopolítica en la era de la globalización
Authors: Marín Agudelo Sebastián Alejandro
Published: June 2021

Este artículo problematiza las relaciones que se entretejen entre información, cibernética y biopolítica en la actual era de la globalización y del poshumanismo. El trabajo aborda las formas de representación simbólicas de estas relaciones, de acuerdo con una concepción del mundo como sistema en el cual la información circula ahora globalmente. Se señala que la globalización de la información no solo es un instrumento de los mercados y del capitalismo sino que, además, determina las construcciones textuales, la gestación de las memorias y los discursos sobre los otros, gracias al empleo de las tecnologías y, específicamente, las del propio lenguaje.
BIOSSEGURANÇA, BIOTECNOLOGIA E NANOTECNOLOGIA: CONTRIBUIÇÕES PARA OS PROCESSOS DE ENSINO
Authors: da Costa Marco Antonio Ferreira , da Costa Maria de Fátima Barrozo
Published: June 2021

O artigo discute a biossegurança frente às novas tecnologias, especificamente a moderna biotecnologia e a nanotecnologia, como contribuição aos processos de ensino, e para isso foi realizado um estudo descritivo-bibliográfico. O surgimento de novas tecnologias, como as descritas anteriormente pode levar ao surgimento de novos riscos ocupacionais e ambientais, além de gerar conflitos acadêmicos, éticos, religiosos, entre outros. Espera-se que este artigo seja uma base de trabalho para docentes dos níveis Médio e Superior das áreas de Física, Química, Biologia, Biossegurança, entre outras, no sentido de colaborar para o planejamento das suas aulas, já que textos com a integração desses temas – Biossegurança, Biotecnologia e Nanotecnologia, ainda não são amplamente disponibilizados.