bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Farm to Fork: Early Impacts of COVID-19 on Food Supply Chain
Authors: Vyas Shalika , Chanana Nitya , Chanana Madhur , Aggarwal Pramod K.
Published: November 2021

COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread global disruptions. While much is being discussed about the health and economic impacts, there has been a limited focus on the immediate food sector shocks and their related social implications in developing countries, especially when the farmer surveys cannot be conducted due to mobility restrictions in many countries. To overcome these challenges, this study uses news mining and content analysis of media articles published from February to April 2020, to assess the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food supply chain and farm distress in India. It also presents the media perception of the impact of the pandemic and resulting policy measures using sentiment analysis, in addition to the cross-tabulation of results that show differential impacts across food supply chain components among different commodity groups and regions. The results show wide-scale impacts across different components of the food supply chain ranging from crop harvesting and processing, distribution and logistics to disruptions across food markets, as represented by 22, 11 and 30% of total articles, respectively. The impacts are also differentiated by commodity groups, with animal products having more trade and demand-side issues, logistic bottlenecks in fruits and vegetables and crops showing problems in labor availability and harvesting. Sentiment analysis of news items shows a spike in the negative sentiment immediately post the national lockdown, with relatively less negativity in subsequent weeks due to large-scale policy and community action. Sentiment classification along different indicators shows the highest negative sentiment for animal products (85%) in commodity groups, western states of India (78%) among different regions, and food supply (85%) and markets (83%) among supply chain components. Further, extreme weather analysis (using excess rainfall events) shows that farmers faced compound risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather events in many parts of the country. The results highlight the importance of building resilient food systems, especially when the biotic and abiotic shocks are projected to increase globally due to many drivers including biodiversity loss and climate change.
Orthotic Device Use in Canine Patients: Owner Perception of Quality of Life for Owners and Patients
Authors: Lee Sera , Wendland Theresa M. , Rao Sangeeta , Magee Christianne
Published: November 2021

Orthotic devices are an established treatment for neuromusculoskeletal disease in the human population. Orthoses are an emerging veterinary therapy due to limited practitioner experience, availability of devices, and published data from veterinary patient outcomes. Expanding client education and veterinary expertise in the application of orthoses may allow greater access and successful utilization of these devices to treat appendicular disease. While orthoses have the potential to improve quality of life for veterinary patients, consideration needs to be made for owner related factors with device use. Owner satisfaction and experience may greatly impact compliance with treatment recommendations; therefore, it is crucial that owner expectations are met. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate owner-reported outcomes of orthosis for canine patients and their owner's subjective responses about the shared pet/owner experience utilizing a promoter score. It was hypothesized that owner's impressions of their pet's experience with the orthotic device would influence owner perceptions of quality of life for both the owner and the pet, and these factors would impact the likelihood of the owner to recommend a veterinary orthosis to a friend. An anonymous online survey was sent to 136 clients of a single veterinary orthoses manufacturer. Fifty-six surveys were completed and included for analysis. The owner's reported quality of life was in agreement (P= 0.02) with reported pet quality of life. There was also a higher likelihood (P= 0.02) for the owner to recommend a veterinary orthotic device to a friend when owner perceptions of pet quality of life were positive as compared to negative or neutral. Willingness to recommend an experience to a friend is a reflection of satisfaction with the experience. The dependence of owner and pet quality of life should therefore guide therapeutic decisions for patient management and client communication to ensure that the orthosis experience is positive for both patient and owner.
Salmonella in Animal Feeds: A Scoping Review
Authors: Sargeant Jan M. , Totton Sarah C. , Plishka Mikayla , Vriezen Ellen R.
Published: November 2021

The objective of this study was to describe the volume and nature of published literature on Salmonella in animal feeds using a formal scoping review methodology. A structured search followed by eligibility screening resulted in the identification of 547 relevant studies, encompassing studies conducted in the fields in which animal feeds are grown (15 studies), the manufacturing sector (106), during transportation (11), in the retail sector (15), and on-farm (226), with the sector not described for 204 studies. The most common study purposes were to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella in animal feeds (372 studies) and to identify serovars (195). The serovars that were found in animal feeds included serovars associated with human illness, with animal illness, and with serovars identified in food (livestock and poultry) intended for human consumption. There were 120 intervention studies and 83 studies conducted to evaluate potential risk factors. Within intervention and risk factor studies, there may be sufficient depth to warrant synthesis research in the areas of heat interventions, fermentation and ensiling, organic acids, season, and geographic region. Some deficiencies were identified in the completeness of reporting of key features in the relevant studies.
Towards Fabrication of Planar Magnetoelectric Devices: Coil-Free Excitation of Ferromagnet-Piezoelectric Heterostructures
Authors: Burdin Dmitri , Chashin Dmitri , Fetisov Leonid , Saveliev Dmitri , Ekonomov Nikolai , Vopson Melvin , Fetisov Yuri
Published: November 2021

Magnetoelectric (ME) effects in composite ferromagnet-piezoelectric (FM/PE) heterostructures realize the mutual transformation of alternating magnetic and electric fields, and are used to create magnetic field sensors, actuators, inductors, gyrators, and transformers. The ME effect in composite structures is excited by an alternating magnetic field, which is created using volumetric electromagnetic coils. The coil increases the size, limits the operating frequencies, and complicates the manufacture of devices. In this work, we propose to excite the ME effect in composite heterostructures using a new coil-free excitation system, similar to a “magnetic capacitor”. The system consists of parallel electrodes integrated into the heterostructure, through which an alternating current flows. Modeling and measurements have shown that the excitation magnetic field is localized mainly between the electrodes of the magnetic capacitor and has a fairly uniform spatial distribution. Monolithic FM/PE heterostructures of various designs with FM layers of amorphous Metglas alloy or nickel-zinc ferrite and PE layers of lead zirconate titanate piezoceramic were fabricated and investigated. The magnitude of the ME effect in such structures is comparable to the magnitude of the ME effect in structures excited by volumetric coils. However, the low impedance of the coil-free excitation system makes it possible to increase the operating frequency, reducing the size of ME devices and the power consumption. The use of coil-free excitation opens up the possibility of creating planar ME devices, and accelerates their integration into modern electronics and microsystem technology.
Estimation of Pool Construction and Technical Error
Authors: Keele John , McDaneld Tara , Lawrence Ty , Jennings Jenny , Kuehn Larry
Published: November 2021

Pooling animals with extreme phenotypes can improve the accuracy of genetic evaluation or provide genetic evaluation for novel traits at relatively low cost by exploiting large amounts of low-cost phenotypic data from animals in the commercial sector without pedigree (data from commercial ranches, feedlots, stocker grazing or processing plants). The average contribution of each animal to a pool is inversely proportional to the number of animals in the pool or pool size. We constructed pools with variable planned contributions from each animal to approximate errors with different numbers of animals per pool. We estimate pool construction error based on combining liver tissue, from pulverized frozen tissue mass from multiple animals, into eight sub-pools containing four animals with planned proportionality (1:2:3:4) by mass. Sub-pools were then extracted for DNA and genotyped using a commercial array. The extracted DNA from the sub-pools was used to form super pools based on DNA concentration as measured by spectrophotometry with planned contribution of sub-pools of 1:2:3:4. We estimate technical error by comparing estimated animal contribution using sub-samples of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Overall, pool construction error increased with planned contribution of individual animals. Technical error in estimating animal contributions decreased with the number of SNP used.
Semi-Automated Ground Truth Segmentation and Phenotyping of Plant Structures Using k-Means Clustering of Eigen-Colors (kmSeg)
Authors: Henke Michael , Neumann Kerstin , Altmann Thomas , Gladilin Evgeny
Published: November 2021

Background. Efficient analysis of large image data produced in greenhouse phenotyping experiments is often challenged by a large variability of optical plant and background appearance which requires advanced classification model methods and reliable ground truth data for their training. In the absence of appropriate computational tools, generation of ground truth data has to be performed manually, which represents a time-consuming task. Methods. Here, we present a efficient GUI-based software solution which reduces the task of plant image segmentation to manual annotation of a small number of image regions automatically pre-segmented using k-means clustering of Eigen-colors (kmSeg). Results. Our experimental results show that in contrast to other supervised clustering techniques k-means enables a computationally efficient pre-segmentation of large plant images in their original resolution. Thereby, the binary segmentation of plant images in fore- and background regions is performed within a few minutes with the average accuracy of 96–99% validated by a direct comparison with ground truth data. Conclusions. Primarily developed for efficient ground truth segmentation and phenotyping of greenhouse-grown plants, the kmSeg tool can be applied for efficient labeling and quantitative analysis of arbitrary images exhibiting distinctive differences between colors of fore- and background structures.
Speciation of P in Solid Organic Fertilisers from Digestate and Biowaste
Authors: Regelink Inge C. , Egene Caleb E. , Tack Filip M. G. , Meers Erik
Published: November 2021

Phosphorus (P) is a finite resource and its reuse in organic fertilisers made from biowaste and manure should therefore be encouraged. The composition of solid organic fertilisers (SOFs) depends on the type of feedstock and processing conditions, and this may affect P speciation and hence P availability. Phosphorus speciation was assessed in eighteen different SOFs produced from biowaste and digestate. Available P was determined in 10 mM CaCl2 extracts at a fixed pH of 5.5 and at a fixed total P concentration in the suspension. P was dominantly present as inorganic P (>80% of total P). There was a strong variation in the Fe content of the SOFs and hence in the fraction of P bound to reactive Fe/Al-oxides (PFe). The fraction of total P soluble at pH 5.5 correlated negatively with PFe pointing to fixation of P by metal salts added during processing, or by soil mineral particles in case garden waste was processed. Therefore, the use of iron salts in processing plants should be avoided. In addition, the presence of P in poorly soluble precipitates lowered the fraction of easily available P. Overall, this study shows that Pt alone is not a good indicator for the agronomic efficiency of SOFs due to large differences in P speciation among SOFs.
Isolation of Pseudomonas Strains with Potential for Protection of Soybean Plants against Saline Stress
Authors: Costa-Gutierrez Stefanie Bernardette , Caram-Di Santo María Carolina del Valle , Zenoff Ana María , Espinosa-Urgel Manuel , de Cristóbal Ricardo Ezequiel , Vincent Paula Andrea
Published: November 2021

Salinity is a major detrimental factor for plant growth and crop productivity that could be alleviated by the use of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) with a protective role in such stressful conditions. In this study, four native strains of the genus Pseudomonas were isolated from both a strongly saline soil and the rhizosphere of soybean plants grown in a slightly saline soil. These isolates were able to tolerate high NaCl concentration, showed efficient adhesion to biotic and abiotic surfaces and efficiently colonized the rhizosphere of soybean grown in slightly saline soil. In these conditions, the four strains outperformed Pseudomonas putida KT2440, a strain known as a good root colonizer of different plants. Inoculation with all the isolates improved seed germination and vigor index, particularly in saline conditions, and one of them also had a positive effect on shoot length and phenological state of soybean plants grown in slightly saline soil. Our results suggest that the search for classical plant growth promotion traits may not be mandatory for selecting putative PGPB. Instead, characteristics such as stress tolerance, adhesion, competitive colonization, and plant growth promotion should be tested using the soil types and crops in which the bacteria will be used.
The Effect of Feeding Liquid or Dry Creep Feed on Growth Performance, Feed Disappearance, Enzyme Activity and Number of Eaters in Suckling Piglets
Authors: Byrgesen Nanna , Madsen Johannes Gulmann , Larsen Christina , Kjeldsen Niels Jørgen , Cilieborg Malene Skovsted , Amdi Charlotte
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two dietary treatments (liquid creep feed (LCF) and dry creep feed (DCF)) offered during the suckling period on feed disappearance, number of eaters, and intestinal enzymatic development at weaning in an on-farm study with 347 piglets. Piglets were allocated to either the DCF or LCF treatment from day 10 to day 24 postpartum for 9 h a day. Red ferric oxide (1%) was added to the diet to categorize piglets into eating categories (good eaters, moderate eaters, or non-eaters) via faecal swabs. At weaning, 40 piglets were sampled for intestinal enzymatic development. The LCF treatment increased the dry matter disappearance from day 10–18 (p < 0.001). The percentage of good eaters, moderate eaters and non-eaters did not differ between treatments (p > 0.05). The DCF pigs displayed greater average daily gain (ADG) pre-weaning (p = 0.024), and a greater body weight (BW) at day 61 (p < 0.001). The activity of lactase, maltase and sucrase in the proximal part of the small intestine were greatest (p < 0.001) in the DCF pigs.
Roadkills as a Method to Monitor Raccoon Dog Populations
Authors: Balčiauskas Linas , Stratford Jos , Balčiauskienė Laima , Kučas Andrius
Published: November 2021

The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is one of the most frequently killed species on Lithuanian roads. As an invasive species, up-to-date knowledge of population size, trends and spatial distribution is critically important both for species assessment and for the planning of control measures. In Lithuania, however, raccoon dog surveys have not been carried out since 1997. We investigated, therefore, whether roadkill counts on predefined routes could be used as a proxy for a survey. Our dataset includes survey numbers for the period 1956–1997, hunting bag sizes for 1965–2020 (including the spatial distribution of the hunting bag in 2018–2020) and roadkill data relating to 1551 individuals between 2002–2020. At the most local scale, that of the hunting areas of hunting clubs, correlations between the numbers of hunted and roadkilled individuals were negative and insignificant or absent. At the country scale, however, we found significant correlation both between the numbers surveyed and hunted in 1965–1997 (r = 0.88), and between those hunted and the number of roadkills in 2002–2020 (r = 0.56–0.69). Therefore, we consider that roadkill counts on predefined and stable routes may be used as a proxy for a survey at the country scale. Practical implementation of the method is proposed.
Pathogenic Leptospira spp. Seroprevalence and Herd-Level Risk Factors Associated with Chilean Dairy Cattle
Authors: Montes Victor , Monti Gustavo
Published: November 2021

Leptospirosis is a ubiquitous distributed zoonotic infectious disease present in wild and domestic animals. This study aimed to estimate within-herd and herd-level seroprevalence against pathogenic Leptospira spp. in dairy cows from southern Chile and identify risk factors associated with the herd-level status. We used a multi-stage strategy combined with a stratified sample strategy for randomly sampling 147 herds and 4876 lactating cows. We considered as infected a herd with at least one positive reactor to MAT. In addition, an epidemiological survey was applied to the herd’s owners and a logistic regression (LR) model was constructed to analyze it. The overall within-herd prevalence was 5.9% (95% CI 4.9–6.8), the overall herd-level prevalence was 42.2% (95% CI 9.2–47.9), and there was variation in both between different herd sizes. L. borgpetersenii serovars Hardjo and Tarassovi and L. interrogans serovar Pomona were the more frequent serovars in non-vaccinated herds. A factor that decreases the risk of a farm being infected was Leptospira vaccine usage (OR = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.02–0.11), and variables that increase risk were using bulls for mating (OR = 3.43; 95% CI = 1.1–10.1) and continuous calving distribution (OR = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.3–8.8). The study’s results will contribute to unravelling the infection burden in the main dairy area of the country and designing control strategies.
First Report of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei Infection in Pacific Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Cultured in Korea
Authors: Kim Bo-Seong , Jang Gwang-Il , Kim Su-Mi , Kim Young-Sook , Jeon Yu-Gyeong , Oh Yun-Kyeong , Hwang Jee-Youn , Kwon Mun-Gyeong
Published: November 2021

The consumption of cultured crustaceans has been steadily increasing, and Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) are major cultivated invertebrates worldwide. However, shrimp productivity faces a variety of challenges, mainly related to outbreaks of lethal or growth retardation-related diseases. In particular, hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis caused by the microsporidian parasite Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is an important disease associated with growth retardation in shrimp. Here, we report the detection of EHP through histopathological, molecular and electron microscopy methods in the hepatopancreas of Pacific whiteleg shrimp with growth disorder in a South Korean farm. Phylogenetic analysis showed a clade distinct from the previously reported EHP strains isolated in Thailand, India, China and Vietnam. An EHP infection was not associated with inflammatory responses such as hemocyte infiltration. Although EHP infection has been reported worldwide, this is the first report in the shrimp aquaculture in Korea. Therefore, an EHP infection should be managed and monitored regularly for effective disease control and prevention.
Physical Exercise Potentially Targets Epicardial Adipose Tissue to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Patients with Metabolic Diseases: Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Emerge as Major Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Nyawo Thembeka A. , Pheiffer Carmen , Mazibuko-Mbeje Sithandiwe E. , Mthembu Sinenhlanhla X. H. , Nyambuya Tawanda M. , Nkambule Bongani B. , Sadie-Van Gijsen Hanél , Strijdom Hans , Tiano Luca , Dludla Phiwayinkosi V.
Published: November 2021

Excess epicardial adiposity, within a state of obesity and metabolic syndrome, is emerging as an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Accordingly, increased epicardial fat thickness (EFT) implicates the exacerbation of pathological mechanisms involving oxidative stress and inflammation within the heart, which may accelerate the development of CVDs. This explains increased interest in targeting EFT reduction to attenuate the detrimental effects of oxidative stress and inflammation within the setting of metabolic syndrome. Here, we critically discuss clinical and preclinical evidence on the impact of physical exercise on EFT in correlation with reduced CVD risk within a setting of metabolic disease. This review also brings a unique perspective on the implications of oxidative stress and inflammation as major pathological consequences that link increased EFT to accelerated CVD risk in conditions of metabolic disease.
UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and GC-MS Characterization of Phytochemicals in Vegetable Juice Fermented Using Lactic Acid Bacteria from Kimchi and Their Antioxidant Potential
Authors: Lee Moeun , Song Jung Hee , Choi Eun Ji , Yun Ye-Rang , Lee Ki Won , Chang Ji Yoon
Published: November 2021

This study aims to investigate fermentative metabolites in probiotic vegetable juice from four crop varieties (Brassica oleracea var. capitata, B. oleracea var. italica, Daucus carota L., and Beta vulgaris) and their antioxidant properties. Vegetable juice was inoculated with two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (Companilactobacillus allii WiKim39 and Lactococcus lactis WiKim0124) isolated from kimchi and their properties were evaluated using untargeted UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and GC-MS. The samples were also evaluated for radical (DPPH• and OH•) scavenging activities, lipid peroxidation, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power. The fermented vegetable juices exhibited high antioxidant activities and increased amounts of total phenolic compounds. Fifteen compounds and thirty-two volatiles were identified using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and GC-MS, respectively. LAB fermentation significantly increased the contents of d-leucic acid, indole-3-lactic acid, 3-phenyllactic acid, pyroglutamic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid, and gluconic acid. These six metabolites showed a positive correlation with antioxidant properties. Thus, vegetable juices fermented with WiKim39 and WiKim0124 can be considered as novel bioactive health-promoting sources.
Siegesbeckiae Herba Extract and Chlorogenic Acid Ameliorate the Death of HaCaT Keratinocytes Exposed to Airborne Particulate Matter by Mitigating Oxidative Stress
Authors: Ha Jae Won , Boo Yong Chool
Published: November 2021

Airborne particulate matter with a size of 10 μm or less (PM10) can cause oxidative damages and inflammatory reactions in the skin. This study was conducted to discover natural products that are potentially useful in protecting the skin from PM10. Among the hot water extracts of a total of 23 medicinal plants, Siegesbeckiae Herba extract (SHE), which showed the strongest protective effect against PM10 cytotoxicity, was selected, and its mechanism of action and active constituents were explored. SHE ameliorated PM10-induced cell death, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HaCaT cells. SHE decreased the expression of KEAP1, a negative regulator of NRF2, and increased the expression of NRF2 target genes, such as HMOX1 and NQO1. SHE selectively induced the enzymes involved in the synthesis of GSH (GCL-c and GCL-m), the regeneration of GSH (GSR and G6PDH), and GSH conjugation of xenobiotics (GSTκ1), rather than the enzymes that directly scavenge ROS (SOD1, CAT, and GPX1). SHE increased the cellular content of GSH and mitigated the oxidation of GSH to GSSG caused by PM10 exposure. Of the solvent fractions of SHE, the n-butyl alcohol (BA) fraction ameliorated cell death in both the absence and presence of PM10. The BA fraction contained a high amount of chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic acid reduced PM10-induced cell death, LDH release, and ROS production. This study suggests that SHE protects cells from PM10 toxicity by increasing the cellular antioxidant capacity and that chlorogenic acid may be an active phytochemical of SHE.
Parametric Optimization of Combined Wind-Solar Energy Power Plants for Sustainable Smart City Development
Authors: Kuznetsov Pavel , Rimar Miroslav , Yakimovich Boris , Kulikova Olha , Lopusniak Martin , Voronin Dmitry , Evstigneev Vladislav
Published: November 2021

To minimize the existing risks associated with the energy production, distribution, and development of urban areas, the concept of sustainable development of smart manufacturing is being introduced everywhere. However, most of existing digital transformation technologies do not sufficiently take into account environmental, economic, and social components. It requires the development of specialized solutions that, on the one hand, contribute to the development of the urban environment, and on the other, are focused on the use of innovative technologies that have a positive effect on the environment. However, in order to provide electric power to objects of a smart urban environment, we propose using autonomous power plants with renewable energy sources (wind and sun) instead of classical central power supply. The article describes the benefits of using combined wind-solar power plants to provide electricity to smart urban environments. The article considers advantages and disadvantages of this solution. We describe the design of the combined wind-solar installation with a vertical Darier rotor and photoelectric converters located on a common supporting structure. This solution allows getting a positive synergistic effect from the use of several renewable energy sources. The presented main advantages of this solution include increasing the energy efficiency of photovoltaic converters due to the intensification of heat removal from the surface of solar cells by the wind flow from the Darier rotor. In addition, this article considers the efficient use of the area and stability of electricity output. Digital aerodynamic modeling performed the parametric optimization of the Darier rotor having three blades with NACA 0021profile. The simulation demonstrated that the blades installed at an angle of 3.8° provide the maximum value of the wind utilization coefficient. This article also considers parametric optimization of a photovoltaic installation. In particular, the optimal installation angle of photovoltaic modules for Sevastopol is 34°.
Trends and Directions of Financial Technology (Fintech) in Society and Environment: A Bibliometric Study
Authors: Nasir Adeel , Shaukat Kamran , Iqbal Khan Kanwal , A. Hameed Ibrahim , Alam Talha , Luo Suhuai
Published: November 2021

The contemporary innovations in financial technology (fintech) serve society with an environmentally friendly atmosphere. Fintech covers an enormous range of activities from data security to financial service deliverables that enable the companies to automate their existing business structure and introduce innovative products and services. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for scholars and professionals to identify the future trends and directions of the topic. This is why the present study conducted a bibliometric analysis in social, environmental, and computer sciences fields to analyse the implementation of environment-friendly computer applications to benefit societal growth and well-being. We have used the ‘bibliometrix 3.0’ package of the r-program to analyse the core aspects of fintech systematically. The study suggests that ‘ACM International Conference Proceedings’ is the core source of published fintech literature. China leads in both multiple and single country production of fintech publications. Bina Nusantara University is the most relevant affiliation. Arner and Buckley provide impactful fintech literature. In the conceptual framework, we analyse relationships between different topics of fintech and address dynamic research streams and themes. These research streams and themes highlight the future directions and core topics of fintech. The study deploys a co-occurrence network to differentiate the entire fintech literature into three research streams. These research streams are related to ‘cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, financial technology’, ‘financial industry stability, service, innovation, regulatory technology (regtech)’, and ‘machine learning and deep learning innovations’. The study deploys a thematic map to identify basic, emerging, dropping, isolated, and motor themes based on centrality and density. These various themes and streams are designed to lead the researchers, academicians, policymakers, and practitioners to narrow, distinctive, and significant topics.
The Behaviour of Half-Slabs and Hollow-Core Slab in Four-Edge Supported Conditions
Authors: Zając Jakub , Drobiec Łukasz , Jasiński Radosław , Wieczorek Mirosław , Mazur Wojciech , Grzyb Krzysztof , Kisiołek Artur
Published: November 2021

In this study, qualitative tests were carried out to compare the behaviour of selected slabs exposed to short- and long-term loading. Full-scale models of the half-slab and hollow-core slab with dimensions of 6.30 m × 6.30 m, built of four different precast panels, were tested. The first two were semi-precast lattice girder slabs, the third semi-precast prestressed ribbed panels, and the last was composed of hollow-core panels. A common feature was the lack of joint reinforcement and the same modular width of 600 mm. The short-term load was applied sequentially in the first stage, and displacement was measured using an electronic method. In the second stage of long-term testing, the load was mainly applied to one part of the slab. Testing under short-term and long-term load allows determining the change in the performance of panel slabs over time. The panels maintained the ability of load redistribution based on their interaction despite the work of the longitudinal joints being only through the concrete cross-section. The behaviour of slabs with concrete topping shows more significant lateral interactions than elements connected only by shear key. Comparative calculations were made based on four computational models. Comparative analysis showed that the current design procedures lead to a safe but conservative estimation of the slab behaviour.
Enhancement of a Spent Irrigation Water Recycling Process: A Case Study in a Food Business
Authors: Garcia-Garcia Guillermo , Jagtap Sandeep
Published: November 2021

Food operations use vast amounts of water. To reduce utility costs as well as concerns regarding water depletion in ecosystems, food businesses usually try to reuse their water. However, this often needs a recycling process to ensure the water is of good quality and safe to reuse in a food environment. This paper presents a case study of a grower of beansprouts and other varieties of sprouted seeds that uses six million litres of water weekly. Approximately 60% of their spent irrigation water is recycled using both 50 µm and 20 µm drum filtration. In addition, chlorine dioxide is used as part of the recycling process as a disinfectant. Our analysis demonstrated that the size of suspended solid particles in over 90% of the cumulative sample tested was smaller than the current 20 µm filter in place, highlighting that the existing system was ineffective. We, then, explored options to enhance the water recycling system of the company. After careful analysis, it was proposed to install a membrane-filtration system with ultraviolet technology to increase the finest level of filtration from the existing 20 µm to 0.45 µm absolute and sterilize any remaining bacteria. This not only improved water quality, but also allowed for the removal of chemicals from the recycling system, delivering both financial and technical improvements.
Mechanical Behavior of Weathered Granite Exposed to Water
Authors: Sun Miaomiao , Yu Jiangang , Wu Xi , Ding Yuqin , Fu Tengfei , Yang Yingwu , Jiang Jiqing
Published: November 2021

Weathered granite has been widely used as an emerging foundation filler for constructing transportation infrastructure. However, various softened rocks weathered due to exposure to water have special properties. Thus, it is necessary to gain a thorough understanding of the various physical and mechanical properties of weathered granite after exposure to water in order to avoid engineering accidents. To this end, this paper conducted a series of undrained triaxial shear tests to compare the mechanical behavior of weathered granite in natural and saturated states. The results demonstrate that the strength of the weathered granite significantly declines when it is exposed to water, and it exhibits noticeable water softening characteristics. Consolidation methods also affect the mechanical properties of weathered granite. The degree of softening of weathered granite decreases with an increase in the deviator stress imposed by the deviator stress consolidation. Subsequently, we established an empirical model for the strain softening of weathered granite suitable for natural and saturated conditions. This model took the elastic modulus of weathered granite before the peak strength as a measure and introduced the strength parameters of the internal friction angle (φ) and the internal cohesion (c). First, the fitted function correlating c and φ with the plastic internal variable was determined, and then the relationship between the strength and the strain-softening parameters was established so as to obtain the complete stress–strain curve of the granite rock. Finally, validation studies were performed to address the capability of the model to predict permanent deformation. It provides a theoretical basis for predicting and calculating the strain softening of weathered granite exposed to water.
An Improved Image Filtering Algorithm for Mixed Noise
Authors: He Chun , Guo Ke , Chen Huayue
Published: November 2021

In recent years, image filtering has been a hot research direction in the field of image processing. Experts and scholars have proposed many methods for noise removal in images, and these methods have achieved quite good denoising results. However, most methods are performed on single noise, such as Gaussian noise, salt and pepper noise, multiplicative noise, and so on. For mixed noise removal, such as salt and pepper noise + Gaussian noise, although some methods are currently available, the denoising effect is not ideal, and there are still many places worthy of improvement and promotion. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a filtering algorithm for mixed noise with salt and pepper + Gaussian noise that combines an improved median filtering algorithm, an improved wavelet threshold denoising algorithm and an improved Non-local Means (NLM) algorithm. The algorithm makes full use of the advantages of the median filter in removing salt and pepper noise and demonstrates the good performance of the wavelet threshold denoising algorithm and NLM algorithm in filtering Gaussian noise. At first, we made improvements to the three algorithms individually, and then combined them according to a certain process to obtain a new method for removing mixed noise. Specifically, we adjusted the size of window of the median filtering algorithm and improved the method of detecting noise points. We improved the threshold function of the wavelet threshold algorithm, analyzed its relevant mathematical characteristics, and finally gave an adaptive threshold. For the NLM algorithm, we improved its Euclidean distance function and the corresponding distance weight function. In order to test the denoising effect of this method, salt and pepper + Gaussian noise with different noise levels were added to the test images, and several state-of-the-art denoising algorithms were selected to compare with our algorithm, including K-Singular Value Decomposition (KSVD), Non-locally Centralized Sparse Representation (NCSR), Structured Overcomplete Sparsifying Transform Model with Block Cosparsity (OCTOBOS), Trilateral Weighted Sparse Coding (TWSC), Block Matching and 3D Filtering (BM3D), and Weighted Nuclear Norm Minimization (WNNM). Experimental results show that our proposed algorithm is about 2–7 dB higher than the above algorithms in Peak Signal-Noise Ratio (PSNR), and also has better performance in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Structural Similarity (SSIM), and Feature Similarity (FSIM). In general, our algorithm has better denoising performance, better restoration of image details and edge information, and stronger robustness than the above-mentioned algorithms.
Legal Judgment Prediction Based on Machine Learning: Predicting the Discretionary Damages of Mental Suffering in Fatal Car Accident Cases
Authors: Hsieh Decheng , Chen Lieuhen , Sun Taiping
Published: November 2021

The discretionary damage of mental suffering in fatal car accident cases in Taiwan is subjective, uncertain, and unpredictable; thus, plaintiffs, defendants, and their lawyers find it difficult to judge whether spending much of their money and time on the lawsuit is worthwhile and which legal factors judges will consider important and dominant when they are assessing the mental suffering damages. To address these problems, we propose k-nearest neighbor, classification and regression trees, and random forests as learning algorithms for regression to build optimal predictive models. In addition, we reveal the importance ranking of legal factors by permutation feature importance. The experimental results show that the random forest model outperformed the other models and achieved good performance, and “the mental suffering damages that plaintiff claims” and “the age of the victim” play important roles in assessments of mental suffering damages in fatal car accident cases in Taiwan. Therefore, litigants and their lawyers can predict the discretionary damages of mental suffering in advance and wisely decide whether they should litigate or not, and then they can focus on the crucial legal factors and develop the best litigation strategy.
Performance Research and Optimization of Sound Insulation Hood of Air Compressor Unit
Authors: Wu Huagen , Shen Yuqi , Liang Mengtao , Liu Jiankang , Wu Jingjing , Li Zhuo
Published: November 2021

The noise control of a compressor has always been a hot spot in the field of industrial application. In this paper, the air inlet structure of the sound insulation hood of an air compressor unit was studied and improved. Acoustic finite element numerical simulation analysis of the sound insulation hood model was carried out using the acoustic software LMS Virtual Lab Acoustics. The simulation results were compared with the experimental data to verify the correctness of the model, and the theoretical results showed a good agreement with the experiment data. The sound insulation performance of the sound insulation hood under different structures was also investigated in this paper. The results show that the main source of unit noise leakage is outward radiation through the air inlet. In addition, the noise at the air inlet of the unit and the overall noise were significantly reduced compared with the traditional sound insulation hood upon installing 120° and 90° diaphragm structures on the inner wall of the air inlet. The optimization results show that the noise reduction effect of the sound insulation hood with a 90° diaphragm structure was better than that with a 120° diaphragm structure.
A Survey of GIS and IoT Integration: Applications and Architecture
Authors: Safari Bazargani Jalal , Sadeghi-Niaraki Abolghasem , Choi Soo-Mi
Published: November 2021

IoT, as an emerging technology along with GIS, can result in advanced and user-friendly features in Smart Cities. In order to investigate the capabilities offered by these technologies, this paper provides an overview of GIS and IoT integration focusing on applications and architecture. Specifically, this paper starts with investigating the role of GIS and IoT separately and jointly in different domains. Then, a review of GIS and IoT integration studies is provided to examine how GIS could be used in IoT architecture. The results showed that the capabilities of GIS in dealing with geospatial data and attributes along with offering visualization and analyzing tools make it possible to develop an integrated system benefiting from real-time data collection and real-time monitoring provided by IoT. The presented details would assist researchers in future studies on utilizing GIS and IoT at the same time.
Stabilization of the Magnetic Levitation System
Authors: Chamraz Štefan , Huba Mikuláš , Žáková Katarína
Published: November 2021

This paper contributes toward research on the control of the magnetic levitation plant, representing a typical nonlinear unstable system that can be controlled by various methods. This paper shows two various approaches to the solution of the controller design based on different closed loop requirements. Starting from a known unstable linear plant model—the first method is based on the two-step procedure. In the first step, the transfer function of the controlled system is modified to get a stable non-oscillatory system. In the next step, the required first-order dynamic is defined and a model-based PI controller is proposed. The closed loop time constant of this first-order model-based approach can then be used as a tuning parameter. The second set of methods is based on a simplified ultra-local linear approximation of the plant dynamics by the double-integrator plus dead-time (DIPDT) model. Similar to the first method, one possible solution is to stabilize the system by a PD controller combined with a low-pass filter. To eliminate the offset, the stabilized system is supplemented by a simple static feedforward, or by a controller proposed by means of an internal model control (IMC). Another possible approach is to apply for the DIPDT model directly a stabilizing PID controller. The considered solutions are compared to the magnetic levitation system, controlled via the MATLAB/Simulink environment. It is shown that, all three controllers, with integral action, yield much slower dynamics than the stabilizing PD control, which gives one motivation to look for alternative ways of steady-state error compensation, guaranteeing faster setpoint step responses.
Characterization of Organic Molecules Grafted to Silica or Bismuth Nanoparticles by NMR
Authors: Henoumont Céline , Hallot Gauthier , Lipani Estelle , Gomez Catherine , Muller Robert N. , Vander Elst Luce , Port Marc , Laurent Sophie
Published: November 2021

NMR is a powerful characterization tool and we propose to study the surface of silica or bismuth nanoparticles dedicated to medical applications in order to evidence the covalent grafting of organic molecules on their surface. For that aim, DOSY experiments are particularly useful and allow for the discrimination of molecules interacting strongly with the nanoparticle surface from molecules simply weakly adsorbed at the surface. We were able to characterize thoroughly the surface of different silica and bismuth nanoparticles.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) Metabarcoding in the Fish Market and Nearby Seafood Restaurants in Taiwan Reveals the Underestimation of Fish Species Diversity in Seafood
Authors: Lee Hung-Tai , Liao Cheng-Hsin , Hsu Te-Hua
Published: November 2021

Seafood, especially the traditional one in Taiwan, is rarely sourced from a fixed species and routinely from similar species depending on their availability. Hence, the species composition of seafood can be complicated. While a DNA-based approach has been routinely utilized for species identification, a large scale of seafood identification in fish markets and restaurants could be challenging (e.g., elevated cost and time-consuming only for a limited number of species identification). In the present study, we aimed to identify the majority of fish species potentially consumed in fish markets and nearby seafood restaurants using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. Four eDNA samplings from a local fish market and nearby seafood restaurants were conducted using Sterivex cartridges. Nineteen universal primers previously validated for fish species identification were utilized to amplify the fragments of mitochondrial DNA (12S, COI, ND5) of species in eDNA samples and sequenced with NovaSeq 6000 sequencing. A total of 153 fish species have been identified based on 417 fish related operational taxonomic units (OTUs) generated from 50,534,995 reads. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) further showed the differences in fish species between the sampling times and sampling sites. Of these fish species, 22 chondrichthyan fish, 14 Anguilliformes species, and 15 Serranidae species were respectively associated with smoked sharks, braised moray eels, and grouper fish soups. To our best knowledge, this work represents the first study to demonstrate the feasibility of a large scale of seafood identification using eDNA metabarcoding approach. Our findings also imply the species diversity in traditional seafood might be seriously underestimated and crucial for the conservation and management of marine resources.
Screening of Anaesthetics in Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio) for the Induction of Euthanasia by Overdose
Authors: von Krogh Kristine , Higgins Joseph , Saavedra Torres Yolanda , Mocho Jean-Philippe
Published: November 2021

Zebrafish are often euthanized by overdose of anaesthesia. However, fish may have aversion towards some anaesthetics, and protocol efficacy varies between species. Using wild type adult Danio rerio, we assessed time to loss of opercular beat, righting, and startle reflexes during induction of anaesthetic overdose by either tricaine (0.5 g/L or 1 g/L), benzocaine (1 g/L), 2-phenoxyethanol (3 mL/L), clove oil (0.1%), isoeugenol (540 mg/L), lidocaine hydrochloride (1 g/L), or etomidate (50 mg/L). Initial screening demonstrated that benzocaine and buffered lidocaine hydrochloride achieved the fastest loss of reflexes. The rapid induction times were confirmed when retesting using larger batches of fish. The fastest induction was obtained with 1 g/L lidocaine hydrochloride buffered with 2 g/L NaHCO3, in which all adult zebrafish lost reflexes in less than 2 min. Next, we monitored signs of distress during benzocaine or buffered lidocaine hydrochloride overdose induction. The results indicated that buffered lidocaine hydrochloride caused significantly less aversive behaviors than benzocaine. Finally, we tested several buffers to refine the lidocaine hydrochloride immersion. The most efficient buffer for euthanasia induction using 1g/L lidocaine hydrochloride was 2 g/L NaHCO3 with 50 mL/L 96% ethanol, inducing immobility in less than 10 s and with only 2% of adult zebrafish displaying aversive behaviors during treatment.