bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revisiting Ophidiomycosis (Snake Fungal Disease) After a Decade of Targeted Research
Authors: Davy Christina M. , Shirose Leonard , Campbell Doug , Dillon Rachel , McKenzie Christina , Nemeth Nicole , Braithwaite Tony , Cai Hugh , Degazio Tarra , Dobbie Tammy , Egan Sean , Fotherby Heather , Litzgus Jacqueline D. , Manorome Pilar , Marks Steve , Paterson James E. , Sigler Lynne , Slavic Durda , Slavik Emily , Urquhart John , Jardine Claire
Published: May 2021

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are typically characterized by novelty (recent detection) and by increasing incidence, distribution, and/or pathogenicity. Ophidiomycosis, also called snake fungal disease, is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (formerly “ophiodiicola”). Ophidiomycosis has been characterized as an EID and as a potential threat to populations of Nearctic snakes, sparking over a decade of targeted research. However, the severity of this threat is unclear. We reviewed the available literature to quantify incidence and effects of ophidiomycosis in Nearctic snakes, and to evaluate whether the evidence supports the ongoing characterization of ophidiomycosis as an EID. Data from Canada remain scarce, so we supplemented the literature review with surveys for O. ophidiicola in the Canadian Great Lakes region. Peer-reviewed reports of clinical signs consistent with ophidiomycosis in free-ranging, Nearctic snakes date back to at least 1998, and retrospective molecular testing of samples extend the earliest confirmed record to 1986. Diagnostic criteria varied among publications (n = 33), confounding quantitative comparisons. Ophidiomycosis was diagnosed or suspected in 36/121 captive snakes and was fatal in over half of cases (66.7%). This result may implicate captivity-related stress as a risk factor for mortality from ophidiomycosis, but could also reflect reporting bias (i.e., infections are more likely to be detected in captive snakes, and severe cases are more likely to be reported). In contrast, ophidiomycosis was diagnosed or suspected in 441/2,384 free-ranging snakes, with mortality observed in 43 (9.8 %). Ophidiomycosis was only speculatively linked to population declines, and we found no evidence that the prevalence of the pathogen or disease increased over the past decade of targeted research. Supplemental surveys and molecular (qPCR) testing in Ontario, Canada detected O. ophidiicola on 76 of 657 free-ranging snakes sampled across ~136,000 km2. The pathogen was detected at most sites despite limited and haphazard sampling. No large-scale mortality was observed. Current evidence supports previous suggestions that the pathogen is a widespread, previously unrecognized endemic, rather than a novel pathogen. Ophidiomycosis may not pose an imminent threat to Nearctic snakes, but further research should investigate potential sublethal effects of ophidiomycosis such as altered reproductive success that could impact population growth, and explore whether shifting environmental conditions may alter host susceptibility.
Replacement of Metaphylactic Antimicrobial Therapy by Oral Administration of Ligilactobacillus salivarius MP100 in a Pig Farm
Authors: Sobrino Odón J. , Alba Claudio , Arroyo Rebeca , Pérez Inés , Sariego Lydia , Delgado Susana , Fernández Leónides , de María Julián , Fumanal Pilar , Fumanal Antonio , Rodríguez Juan M.
Published: May 2021

Antibiotic use in swine production contributes to the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria, which poses a threat on human health. Therefore, alternative approaches must be developed. The objective of this work was the characterization of the probiotic properties of a Ligilactobacillus salivarius strain isolated from sow's milk and its application as an inoculated fermented feed to pregnant sows and piglets. The study was carried in a farm in which metaphylactic use of antimicrobials (including zinc oxide) was eliminated at the time of starting the probiotic intervention, which lasted for 2 years. Feces from 8-week-old piglets were collected before and after the treatment and microbiological and biochemical analyses were performed. The procedure led to an increase in the concentrations of clostridia and lactobacilli-related bacteria. Parallel, an increase in the concentration of butyrate, propionate and acetate was observed and a notable reduction in the presence of antibiotic resistant lactobacilli became apparent. In conclusion, replacement of antimicrobials by a microbiota-friendly approach was feasible and led to positive microbiological and biochemical changes in the enteric environment.
Aphid–Plant–Phytovirus Pathosystems: Influencing Factors from Vector Behaviour to Virus Spread
Authors: Fingu-Mabola Junior Corneille , Francis Frédéric
Published: May 2021

Aphids are responsible for the spread of more than half of the known phytovirus species. Virus transmission within the plant–aphid–phytovirus pathosystem depends on vector mobility which allows the aphid to reach its host plant and on vector efficiency in terms of ability to transmit phytoviruses. However, several other factors can influence the phytoviruses transmission process and have significant epidemiological consequences. In this review, we aimed to analyse the aphid behaviours and influencing factors affecting phytovirus spread. We discussed the impact of vector host-seeking and dispersal behaviours mostly involved in aphid-born phytovirus spread but also the effect of feeding behaviours and life history traits involved in plant–aphid–phytovirus relationships on vector performances. We also noted that these behaviours are influenced by factors inherent to the interactions between pathosystem components (mode of transmission of phytoviruses, vector efficiency, plant resistance, …) and several biological, biochemical, chemical or physical factors related to the environment of these pathosystem components, most of them being manipulated as means to control vector-borne diseases in the crop fields.
Comparative Assessment of Hydroponic Lettuce Production Either under Artificial Lighting, or in a Mediterranean Greenhouse during Wintertime
Authors: Voutsinos Orfeas , Mastoraki Maria , Ntatsi Georgia , Liakopoulos Georgios , Savvas Dimitrios
Published: May 2021

Butterhead lettuce was grown hydroponically in a vertical farm under high (HLI) and low (LLI) light intensity (310, and 188 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively) and compared to hydroponically grown lettuce in a greenhouse (GT) during wintertime in Athens, Greece (144 μmol m−2 s−1). The highest plant biomass was recorded in the HLI treatment, whereas LLI and GT produced similar plant biomass. However, the LLI produced vortex-like plants, which were non-marketable, while the plants in the GT were normal-shaped and saleable. Net photosynthesis was highest in the HLI and higher in the LLI than in the GT, thereby indicating that light intensity was the dominant factor affecting photosynthetic performance. Nevertheless, the unsatisfactory performance of the LLI is ascribed, not only to reduced light intensity, but also to reduced light uniformity as the LED lamps were closer to the plants than in the HLI. Furthermore, the large solar irradiance variability in the GT resulted in substantially higher adaptation to the increased light intensity compared to LLI, as indicated by chlorophyll fluorescence measurements. Light intensity and photoperiod are believed to be the primary reasons for increased nitrate content in the GT than in the vertical farming treatments.
Effect of Biofertilizers Application on Soil Biodiversity and Litter Degradation in a Commercial Apricot Orchard
Authors: Baldi Elena , Gioacchini Paola , Montecchio Daniela , Mocali Stefano , Antonielli Livio , Masoero Giorgio , Toselli Moreno
Published: May 2021

The aim of the present experiment was to determine if the supply of biofertilizers could differently stimulate the native microbiota, thus determining different patterns of organic material decomposition processes. The microbial composition of soil and litter was investigated by next generation sequencing using a metabarcoding approach. The chemical structure of the decomposing litterbags was investigated through the TG-DTA analysis and NIR spectroscopy. The study was conducted in an apricot orchard in Italy, and two different type of biofertilizers (AMF and Trichoderma spp.) were compared to unfertilized control over one year. Bacteria and fungi in soil, 162 days from litter deposition, evidenced differentiated clusters for control and both biofertilizers; on the other hand, only fungal composition of litterbags was modified as a consequence of Trichoderma spp. supply; no effect was observed in the bacterial community of litterbags. NIR and TG-DTA analysis evidenced a significant change over time of the chemical composition of litterbags with a faster degradation as a consequence of Trichoderma spp. supply testified by a higher degradation coefficient (1.9) than control (1.6) and AMF (1.7). The supply of biofertilizers partially modified the bacteria community of soil, while Trichoderma spp. Influenced the fungal community of the litter. Moreover, Trichoderma spp. Evidenced a faster and higher degradation of litter than AMF-biofertilizers, laying the foundation for an efficient use in orchard.
Citrus Varieties with Different Tolerance Grades to Tristeza Virus Show Dissimilar Volatile Terpene Profiles
Authors: Guarino Salvatore , Abbate Loredana , Mercati Francesco , Fatta Del Bosco Sergio , Motisi Antonio , Arif Mokhtar Abdulsattar , Cencetti Gabriele , Palagano Eleonora , Michelozzi Marco
Published: May 2021

Plants produce considerable amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with several biological functions, including protection against biotic agents such as viruses and their vectors. In citrus species, these metabolites can be related with their different susceptibility/tolerance toward the Tristeza virus (CTV), one of the main biotic constraints for the citrus industry. The objective of this study was to compare the VOCs pattern from the leaves of a CTV-susceptible citrus variety such as Citrus aurantium and from three CTV-tolerant varieties: Citrus volkameriana, Carrizo citrange, and Forner-Alcaide no. 5. The VOCs emitted were analyzed via the headspace SPME method, while plant metabolites sequestered in the leaves were analyzed by heptane extraction followed by GC-MS. The results indicated that the majority of the VOCs emitted and sequestered in the leaves of the varieties tolerant and susceptible to CTV are constituted mainly by volatile terpenes (VTs) that exhibit strong qualitative/quantitative differences among the profiles of the four citrus species. In detail, the VOC emission indicated different patterns between C. aurantium and C. volkameriana and from both of them in comparison with Forner-Alcaide no. 5 and Carrizo citrange that exhibited more similarities, with the last two characterized by a higher presence of sesquiterpenes. The data obtained from the analysis of the VOCs sequestered in leaf tissues of the CTV-tolerant varieties indicated a higher presence of monoterpenes such as limonene, α-pinene, and p-cymene, known to be the main components of several plant extracts showing deterrent properties toward viruses and insect vectors. As VOC evaluation is a fast and noninvasive measure of phenotypic dynamics, allowing the association of plant phenotypes in accordance to plant disease resistance and/or stress tolerance, the possible implications of such differences in terms of tolerance grade to CTV and/or its related vectors are discussed.
Fighting Together against the Pandemic: Learning Multiple Models on Tomography Images for COVID-19 Diagnosis
Authors: Manzo Mario , Pellino Simone
Published: May 2021

COVID-19 has been a great challenge for humanity since the year 2020. The whole world has made a huge effort to find an effective vaccine in order to save those not yet infected. The alternative solution is early diagnosis, carried out through real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests or thorax Computer Tomography (CT) scan images. Deep learning algorithms, specifically convolutional neural networks, represent a methodology for image analysis. They optimize the classification design task, which is essential for an automatic approach with different types of images, including medical. In this paper, we adopt a pretrained deep convolutional neural network architecture in order to diagnose COVID-19 disease from CT images. Our idea is inspired by what the whole of humanity is achieving, as the set of multiple contributions is better than any single one for the fight against the pandemic. First, we adapt, and subsequently retrain for our assumption, some neural architectures that have been adopted in other application domains. Secondly, we combine the knowledge extracted from images by the neural architectures in an ensemble classification context. Our experimental phase is performed on a CT image dataset, and the results obtained show the effectiveness of the proposed approach with respect to the state-of-the-art competitors.
On Gram-Positive- and Gram-Negative-Bacteria-Associated Canine and Feline Skin Infections: A 4-Year Retrospective Study of the University Veterinary Microbiology Diagnostic Laboratory of Naples, Italy
Authors: Nocera Francesca Paola , Ambrosio Monica , Fiorito Filomena , Cortese Laura , De Martino Luisa
Published: May 2021

A 4-year retrospective study (2016–2019) of selected routine bacteriological examinations of the veterinary microbiology laboratory of the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Naples (Italy) was carried out. A total of 189 bacteriological samples were collected from 171 dogs and 18 cats suffering from skin infections. In dogs, the most common cutaneous infection was otitis externa, while pyoderma was found to be prevalent in cats. The number of recorded Gram-positive strains over the study period did not vary considerably from year to year and was always significantly higher (p-value = 0.0007) in comparison with Gram-negative bacterial isolations. In dogs, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was the most common identified Gram-positive bacterium (65%), while Pseudomonas aeruginosa (36%) was the one among the isolated Gram-negative bacteria. In cats, coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most predominant isolated bacteria (47%). The phenotypic profiles of antibiotic resistance showed that most of the strains were resistant to amoxicillin–clavulanate, penicillin, clindamycin, and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. Several multi-drug-resistant strains (35%) were detected in canine isolates. An updating of antibiotic resistance profiles of the main Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria principally associated with skin infections of pet animals is necessary to improve stewardship programs of veterinary hospitals and clinics.
Long-Term Measurement of Piglet Activity Using Passive Infrared Detectors
Authors: Besteiro Roberto , Arango Tamara , Ortega Juan , Fernández María D. , Rodríguez Manuel R.
Published: May 2021

Measuring animal activity is useful for monitoring animal welfare in real time. In this regard, passive infrared detectors have been used in recent years to quantify piglet activity because of their robustness and ease of use. This study was conducted on a commercial farm in Northwest Spain during six complete breeding cycles. The hourly average activity of weaned piglets with a body mass of 6–20 kg was recorded and further analyzed by using a multiplicative decomposition of the series followed by a wavelet analysis. Finally, the real series were compared to the theoretical models of activity. Results showed a high level of movement immediately after weaning and a sustained level of activity throughout the cycles. The daily behavior of the piglets followed a clear circadian pattern with several peaks of activity. No differences in behavior were observed between spring–summer cycles and autumn–winter cycles. Single-peak models achieved the best predictive results. In addition, the installed sensors were found to underestimate mild activity.
A Case Study on the Behavioural Effect of Positive Reinforcement Training in a Novel Task Participation Test in Göttingen Mini Pigs
Authors: Jønholt Lisa , Bundgaard Cathrine Juel , Carlsen Martin , Sørensen Dorte Bratbo
Published: May 2021

In laboratory animal research, many procedures will be stressful for the animals, as they are forced to participate. Training animals to cooperate using clicker training (CT) or luring (LU) may reduce stress levels, and thereby increase animal welfare. In zoo animals, aquarium animals, and pets, CT is used to train animals to cooperate during medical procedures, whereas in experimental research, LU seem to be the preferred training method. This descriptive case study aims to present the behaviour of CT and LU pigs in a potentially fear-evoking behavioural test—the novel task participation test—in which the pigs walked a short runway on a novel walking surface. All eight pigs voluntarily participated, and only one LU pig showed body stretching combined with lack of tail wagging indicating reduced welfare. All CT pigs and one LU pig displayed tail wagging during the test, indicating a positive mental state. Hence, training pigs to cooperate during experimental procedures resulted in a smooth completion of the task with no signs of fear or anxiety in seven out of eight animals. We suggest that training laboratory pigs prior to experimental procedures or tests should be done to ensure low stress levels.
Genomics of Adaptations in Ungulates
Authors: Chebii Vivien J. , Mpolya Emmanuel A. , Muchadeyi Farai C. , Domelevo Entfellner Jean-Baka
Published: May 2021

Ungulates are a group of hoofed animals that have long interacted with humans as essential sources of food, labor, clothing, and transportation. These consist of domesticated, feral, and wild species raised in a wide range of habitats and biomes. Given the diverse and extreme environments inhabited by ungulates, unique adaptive traits are fundamental for fitness. The documentation of genes that underlie their genomic signatures of selection is crucial in this regard. The increasing availability of advanced sequencing technologies has seen the rapid growth of ungulate genomic resources, which offers an exceptional opportunity to understand their adaptive evolution. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on evolutionary genetic signatures underlying the adaptations of ungulates to different habitats.
The Potential of Human Peptide LL-37 as an Antimicrobial and Anti-Biofilm Agent
Authors: Ridyard Kylen E. , Overhage Joerg
Published: May 2021

The rise in antimicrobial resistant bacteria threatens the current methods utilized to treat bacterial infections. The development of novel therapeutic agents is crucial in avoiding a post-antibiotic era and the associated deaths from antibiotic resistant pathogens. The human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 has been considered as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics as it displays broad spectrum antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities as well as immunomodulatory functions. While LL-37 has shown promising results, it has yet to receive regulatory approval as a peptide antibiotic. Despite the strong antimicrobial properties, LL-37 has several limitations including high cost, lower activity in physiological environments, susceptibility to proteolytic degradation, and high toxicity to human cells. This review will discuss the challenges associated with making LL-37 into a viable antibiotic treatment option, with a focus on antimicrobial resistance and cross-resistance as well as adaptive responses to sub-inhibitory concentrations of the peptide. The possible methods to overcome these challenges, including immobilization techniques, LL-37 delivery systems, the development of LL-37 derivatives, and synergistic combinations will also be considered. Herein, we describe how combination therapy and structural modifications to the sequence, helicity, hydrophobicity, charge, and configuration of LL-37 could optimize the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities of LL-37 for future clinical use.
The Effect of α-Monolaurin and Butyrate Supplementation on Broiler Performance and Gut Health in the Absence and Presence of the Antibiotic Growth Promoter Zinc Bacitracin
Authors: Letlole Bakang R. , Damen Ellen P. C. W. , Jansen van Rensburg Christine
Published: May 2021

The use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) is common practice to improve broiler production and performance. The use of AGP is under discussion as it can induce bacterial resistance. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of removing AGP from broiler feed and study the effect of feed additives. For those countries where in-feed AGP are still permitted, the effect of the products in the presence of AGP was evaluated. Half the number of male broilers received a diet free of AGP, whereas the other half received a diet supplemented with zinc bacitracin at 0.5 g/kg. Both diets were either without additional additives or combined with a coated sodium butyrate, α-monolaurin or a combination of these additives. Raised under optimal conditions, the incorporation of AGP had no effect on broiler performance, but negatively affected villi height and villi height to crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio in the duodenum. In the absence of AGP, butyric acid and α-monolaurin had a positive effect on villi height. In the presence of AGP, α-monolaurin resulted in the lowest feed conversion ratio and improved VH:CD ratio in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Both feed additives had minimal effect on performance parameters but showed small positive effects on gut health in the absence of AGP and could play a role in the strategy to replace AGP.
Cefiderocol-Based Combination Therapy for “Difficult-to-Treat” Gram-Negative Severe Infections: Real-Life Case Series and Future Perspectives
Authors: Bavaro Davide Fiore , Belati Alessandra , Diella Lucia , Stufano Monica , Romanelli Federica , Scalone Luca , Stolfa Stefania , Ronga Luigi , Maurmo Leonarda , Dell’Aera Maria , Mosca Adriana , Dalfino Lidia , Grasso Salvatore , Saracino Annalisa
Published: May 2021

Cefiderocol is a new cephalosporin displaying against extensively resistant (XDR) Gram-negative bacteria. We report our experience with cefiderocol-based combination therapies as “rescue” treatments in immunocompromised or critically ill patients or in patients with post-surgical infections who had failed previous regimens. A total of 13 patients were treated from 1 September 2020 to 31 March 2021. In total, 5/13 (38%) patients were classified as critically ill, due to severe COVID-19 lung failure; 4/13 (31%) patients had post-surgical infections and 4/13 (31%) had severe infections in immunocompromised subjects due to solid organ transplantation (2/4) or hematological malignancy (2/4). Overall, 10/13 infections were caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, one by KPC-positive ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia and two by Pseudomonas aeruginosa XDR. Based on clinical, microbiological and hematobiochemical evaluation, cefiderocol was associated with different companion drugs, particularly with fosfomycin, high-dose tigecycline and/or colistin. Microbiological eradication was achieved in all cases and the 30-day survival rate was 10/13; two patients died due to SARS-CoV-2 lung failure, whereas one death was attributed to subsequent infections. No recurrent infections within 30 days were reported. Finally, we hereby discuss the therapeutic potential of cefiderocol and the possible place in the therapy of this novel drug.
Coenzyme Q10 and Male Infertility: A Systematic Review
Authors: Salvio Gianmaria , Cutini Melissa , Ciarloni Alessandro , Giovannini Lara , Perrone Michele , Balercia Giancarlo
Published: May 2021

Infertility affects 15% of couples worldwide. A male factor is involved in 50% of cases. The etiology of male infertility is poorly understood, but there is evidence for a strong association between oxidative stress (OS) and poor seminal fluid quality. For this reason, therapy with antioxidants is one of the cornerstones of empirical treatment of male infertility. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)—an essential cofactor for energy production with major antioxidant properties—is commonly used to support spermatogenesis in idiopathic male infertility. This systematic review aims to elucidate the usefulness of CoQ10 supplementation in the treatment of male infertility, particularly with regard to semen quality assessed by conventional and advanced methods, and pregnancy rates. All studies report a beneficial effect of CoQ10 supplementation on semen parameters, although randomized controlled trials are a minority. Moreover, the optimal dosage of CoQ10 or how it can be combined with other antioxidant molecules to maximize its effect is unknown. However, CoQ10 is still one of the most promising molecules to treat idiopathic male infertility and warrants further investigation.
Fisetin Inhibits Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells via the Inhibition of YAP
Authors: Lorthongpanich Chanchao , Charoenwongpaiboon Thanapon , Supakun Prapasri , Klaewkla Methus , Kheolamai Pakpoom , Issaragrisil Surapol
Published: May 2021

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are self-renewal and capable of differentiating to various functional cell types, including osteocytes, adipocytes, myoblasts, and chondrocytes. They are, therefore, regarded as a potential source for stem cell therapy. Fisetin is a bioactive flavonoid known as an active antioxidant molecule that has been reported to inhibit cell growth in various cell types. Fisetin was shown to play a role in regulating osteogenic differentiation in animal-derived MSCs; however, its molecular mechanism is not well understood. We, therefore, studied the effect of fisetin on the biological properties of human MSCs derived from chorion tissue and its role in human osteogenesis using MSCs and osteoblast-like cells (SaOs-2) as a model. We found that fisetin inhibited proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs as well as human SaOs-2 cells. Fisetin could reduce Yes-associated protein (YAP) activity, which results in downregulation of osteogenic genes and upregulation of fibroblast genes. Further analysis using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations suggests that fisetin occupied the hydrophobic TEAD pocket preventing YAP from associating with TEA domain (TEAD). This finding supports the potential application of flavonoids like fisetin as a protein–protein interaction disruptor and also suggesting an implication of fisetin in regulating human osteogenesis.
Redox Regulation in Diazotrophic Bacteria in Interaction with Plants
Authors: Mandon Karine , Nazaret Fanny , Farajzadeh Davoud , Alloing Geneviève , Frendo Pierre
Published: May 2021

Plants interact with a large number of microorganisms that greatly influence their growth and health. Among the beneficial microorganisms, rhizosphere bacteria known as Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria increase plant fitness by producing compounds such as phytohormones or by carrying out symbioses that enhance nutrient acquisition. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, either as endophytes or as endosymbionts, specifically improve the growth and development of plants by supplying them with nitrogen, a key macro-element. Survival and proliferation of these bacteria require their adaptation to the rhizosphere and host plant, which are particular ecological environments. This adaptation highly depends on bacteria response to the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), associated to abiotic stresses or produced by host plants, which determine the outcome of the plant-bacteria interaction. This paper reviews the different antioxidant defense mechanisms identified in diazotrophic bacteria, focusing on their involvement in coping with the changing conditions encountered during interaction with plant partners.
The 15-Months Clinical Experience of SARS-CoV-2: A Literature Review of Therapies and Adjuvants
Authors: Inchingolo Alessio Danilo , Dipalma Gianna , Inchingolo Angelo Michele , Malcangi Giuseppina , Santacroce Luigi , D’Oria Maria Teresa , Isacco Ciro Gargiulo , Bordea Ioana Roxana , Candrea Sebastian , Scarano Antonio , Morandi Benedetta , Del Fabbro Massimo , Farronato Marco , Tartaglia Gianluca Martino , Balzanelli Mario Giosuè , Ballini Andrea , Nucci Ludovica , Lorusso Felice , Taschieri Silvio , Inchingolo Francesco
Published: May 2021

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) that emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and rapidly spread worldwide, with a daily increase in confirmed cases and infection-related deaths. The World Health Organization declared a pandemic on the 11th of March 2020. COVID-19 presents flu-like symptoms that become severe in high-risk medically compromised subjects. The aim of this study was to perform an updated overview of the treatments and adjuvant protocols for COVID-19. Methods: A systematic literature search of databases was performed (MEDLINE PubMed, Google Scholar, UpToDate, Embase, and Web of Science) using the keywords: “COVID-19”, “2019-nCoV”, “coronavirus” and “SARS-CoV-2” (date range: 1 January 2019 to 31st October 2020), focused on clinical features and treatments. Results: The main treatments retrieved were antivirals, antimalarials, convalescent plasma, immunomodulators, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, and mesenchymal stem cells. Most of the described treatments may provide benefits to COVID-19 subjects, but no one protocol has definitively proven its efficacy. Conclusions: While many efforts are being spent worldwide in research aimed at identifying early diagnostic methods and evidence-based effective treatments, mass vaccination is thought to be the best option against this disease in the near future.
Use of Pupil Area and Fixation Maps to Evaluate Visual Behavior of Drivers inside Tunnels at Different Luminance Levels—A Pilot Study
Authors: Qin Li , Cao Qi-Lei , Leon Arturo S. , Weng Ying-Na , Shi Xu-Hua
Published: May 2021

This study reports the results of a pilot study on spatiotemporal characteristics of drivers’ visual behavior while driving in three different luminance levels in a tunnel. The study was carried out in a relatively long tunnel during the daytime. Six experienced drivers were recruited to participate in the driving experiment. Experimental data of pupil area and fixation point position (at the tunnel’s interior zone: 1566 m long) were collected by non-intrusive eye-tracking equipment at three luminance levels (2 cd/m2, 2.5 cd/m2, and 3 cd/m2). Fixation maps (color-coded maps presenting distributed data) were created based on fixation point position data to quantify changes in visual behavior. The results demonstrated that luminance levels had a significant effect on pupil areas and fixation zones. Fixation area and average pupil area had a significant negative correlation with luminance levels during the daytime. In addition, drivers concentrated more on the front road pavement, the top wall surface, and the cars’ control wheels. The results revealed that the pupil area had a linear relationship with the luminance level. The limitations of this research are pointed out and the future research directions are also prospected.
AIS Data Vulnerability Indicated by a Spoofing Case-Study
Authors: Androjna Andrej , Perkovič Marko , Pavic Ivica , Mišković Jakša
Published: May 2021

This paper takes a close look at the landscape of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) as a major source of information for maritime situational awareness (MSA) and identifies its vulnerabilities and challenges for safe navigation and shipping. As an important subset of cyber threats affecting many maritime systems, the AIS is subject to problems of tampering and reliability; indeed, the messages received may be inadvertently false, jammed, or intentionally spoofed. A systematic literature review was conducted for this article, complemented by a case study of a specific spoofing event near Elba in December 2019, which confirmed that the typical maritime AIS could be easily spoofed and generate erroneous position information. This intentional spoofing has affected navigation in international waters and passage through territorial waters. The maritime industry is neither immune to cyberattacks nor fully prepared for the risks associated with the use of modern digital systems. Maintaining seaworthiness in the face of the impact of digital technologies requires a robust cybersecurity framework.
Optomechanical Coupling Active Control for Improving Beam Pointing Accuracy of the Spatial Filter in PW Laser Facility
Authors: Cui Wenhui , Zhu Jianqiang , Liu Zhigang , Fan Quantang , Jiao Zhaoyang , Zhang Junyong , Lin Weiheng , Dong Ziming
Published: May 2021

To improve the beam pointing accuracy of PW laser facility and reduce the optical axis deviation caused by the deflection amplitude response deviation of the confocal lens of spatial filter for microvibration action, an Optomechanical coupling vibration active control theory is proposed to make the peak value of output optical angle response lower than the pointing threshold value by 0.2 μrad. To establish an Optomechanical coupling vibration active control system, the active control parameters are introduced into the beam transmission matrix of the Optomechanical coupling system. The active control parameters and the peak value of the output light angle response are linked point to point. The algorithm flow of the active control system is designed, the control rules are established, and the control effect is verified. The results show that the peak value of the output optical angle response of the spatial filter decreases by 98.13%, and the attenuation is nearly two orders of magnitude after the active control, which effectively improves the convergence accuracy of the beam pointing of the spatial filter of the PW laser facility, and realizes the beam pointing control under the broadband excitation, and the control result is consistent with the expectation.
A Case Study: Simulation Traffic Model as a Tool to Assess One-Way vs. Two-Way Traffic on Urban Roads around the City Center
Authors: Bindzar Peter , Saderova Janka , Sofranko Marian , Kacmary Peter , Brodny Jaroslaw , Tutak Magdalena
Published: May 2021

This article evaluates changes in the organization of transport on urban roads through the transport model in the OmniTRANS program. The selected location for the case study in this article is the internal traffic circuit of Kosice, which borders the historic core of the city. Currently, the proposal is being prepared to change the organization of transport in the town’s monument reserve and its protection zone. The transition to a one-way road around the historic center is being considered. Before introducing the new proposed change in traffic, it is necessary to test this proposed change and determine how it will affect the traffic situation. The aim of this article is to compare the current transport organization with the proposed change in transport organization in terms of traffic intensity. The use of transport models in the world is not a new concept, but it is often not used in the conditions of the Slovak Republic. However, traffic and simulation models can save money and time and avoid possible unexpected problems before putting the proposed changes into practice. Solving the given problem is an excellent benefit for transport planning and traffic engineering for Kosice and other places with a similar arrangement of the historical center and a similar number of inhabitants. The proposed changes can be tested by modelling traffic and then to adjust them when the cons are identified. Thanks to the traffic simulation model, it is possible to compare the capacity load of the inner traffic circuit of the city before and after the introduction of the one-way circuit.
Functional Antibacterial Nanometer Zinc Ion Yarns: Manufacturing Technique and Antimicrobial Efficacy against Escherichia coli
Authors: Lou Ching-Wen , Hsieh Ming-Chun , Lai Mei-Feng , Lee Mong-Chuan , Lin Jia-Horng
Published: May 2021

People are no longer satisfied with only comfortable textile clothing with advanced technology and elevated standard of living and, thus, are gradually preferring functional textiles. In the meanwhile, the spread of medical knowledge has educated the public about the antimicrobial concept. In this study, composed of different twist coefficients and different numbers of plies, the zinc ion twisted yarns are made into knitted fabrics. Next, the knitted fabrics are examined for water vapor transmission rate and antimicrobial efficacy. The test results indicate that the water vapor transmission rate is 1013 g/m2/day for 2Zn-0C-K and 981 g/m2/day for 3Zn-0C-K. However, a rise in the twist coefficient adversely affects the water vapor transmission rate. The fabric 2Zn-3C-K exhibits the maximal air permeability of 265 cm3/cm2/s and 3Zn-3C-K 186 cm3/cm2/s. Regardless of whether it is at OD600, colony count observation, or antibacterial rate, 3Zn-5C-K exhibits the maximal antibacterial rate with the value being 0.45 at OD600 and the optimal antimicrobial efficacy being 85%. To sum up, based on the interest of the test results, production cost, and manufacturing process evaluation, 2Zn-5C-K is the optimal nonwoven fabric that achieved the maximal effects.
Drying Stress and Strain of Wood: A Review
Authors: Yin Qin , Liu Hong-Hai
Published: May 2021

Wood drying stress causes various drying defects, which result from the wood microstructure and the transfer of heat and mass during the drying. It is the fundamental way to solve the problem of defects to clarify the law and mechanism of wood stress and strain development during drying. In this paper, based on the defects of wood drying, the theory and experimental testing methods of drying stress and strain were summarized. Meanwhile, artificial neural networks (ANN) and their application in the wood drying field were also investigated. The traditional prong and slicing methods were used practically in the research and industry of wood drying, but the stress changes in-process cannot be trapped. The technologies of image analysis and near-infrared spectroscopy provide a new opportunity for the detection of drying stress and strain. Hence, future interest should be attached to the combination of the theory of heat and mass transfer and their coupling during drying with the theory of microscopic cell wall mechanics and macroscopic drying. A more complete image acquisition and analysis system should be developed to realize the real-time monitoring of drying strain and cracking, practically. A more feasible and reasonable prediction model of wood drying stress and strain should be established to achieve the accuracy of the prediction.
Photovoltaic Prediction Software: Evaluation with Real Data from Northern Spain
Authors: González-Peña David , García-Ruiz Ignacio , Díez-Mediavilla Montserrat , Dieste-Velasco Mª. Isabel , Alonso-Tristán Cristina
Published: May 2021

Prediction of energy production is crucial for the design and installation of PV plants. In this study, five free and commercial software tools to predict photovoltaic energy production are evaluated: RETScreen, Solar Advisor Model (SAM), PVGIS, PVSyst, and PV*SOL. The evaluation involves a comparison of monthly and annually predicted data on energy supplied to the national grid with real field data collected from three real PV plants. All the systems, located in Castile and Leon (Spain), have three different tilting systems: fixed mounting, horizontal-axis tracking, and dual-axis tracking. The last 12 years of operating data, from 2008 to 2020, are used in the evaluation. Although the commercial software tools were easier to use and their installations could be described in detail, their results were not appreciably superior. In annual global terms, the results hid poor estimations throughout the year, where overestimations were compensated by underestimated results. This fact was reflected in the monthly results: the software yielded overestimates during the colder months, while the models showed better estimates during the warmer months. In most studies, the deviation was below 10% when the annual results were analyzed. The accuracy of the software was also reduced when the complexity of the dual-axis solar tracking systems replaced the fixed installation.
Modeling Soil Water Content and Reference Evapotranspiration from Climate Data Using Deep Learning Method
Authors: Alibabaei Khadijeh , Gaspar Pedro D. , Lima Tânia M.
Published: May 2021

In recent years, deep learning algorithms have been successfully applied in the development of decision support systems in various aspects of agriculture, such as yield estimation, crop diseases, weed detection, etc. Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater. Due to challenges such as lack of natural resources and climate change, an efficient decision support system for irrigation is crucial. Evapotranspiration and soil water content are the most critical factors in irrigation scheduling. In this paper, the ability of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Bidirectional LSTM (BLSTM) to model daily reference evapotranspiration and soil water content is investigated. The application of these techniques to predict these parameters was tested for three sites in Portugal. A single-layer BLSTM with 512 nodes was selected. Bayesian optimization was used to determine the hyperparameters, such as learning rate, decay, batch size, and dropout size.The model achieved the values of mean square error values within the range of 0.014 to 0.056 and R2 ranging from 0.96 to 0.98. A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model was added to the LSTM to investigate potential performance improvement. Performance dropped in all datasets due to the complexity of the model. The performance of the models was also compared with CNN, traditional machine learning algorithms Support Vector Regression, and Random Forest. LSTM achieved the best performance. Finally, the impact of the loss function on the performance of the proposed models was investigated. The model with the mean square error as loss function performed better than the model with other loss functions.
Grounding Electrodes with Internal Resistance: Application to Feasibility Study of the Driven-Rod Method for Modeling the Soil Electrical Resistivity Profile
Authors: Denche Gregorio , Faleiro Eduardo , Asensio Gabriel , Moreno Jorge
Published: May 2021

The paper presents a model to include the internal resistance of the grounding electrodes in the calculation of its electrical features. The semi-analytical expressions for the calculation of the grounding resistance arising from the model are used to study the feasibility of the driven-rod method for the estimation of the soil resistivity profile since, unlike other methods, the internal resistance of the conductors can be of great influence for a correct estimate. From the grounding resistance profile an inverse problem based on the minimization of the quadratic differences between the resistance measured and that calculated from the model is posed. Several synthetic examples are used to assess the limitations of the method in conditions close to real situations. Finally, some real cases involving data measured in the field are analyzed. Whether in synthetic examples or in real soils it is found that the spatial frequency of the driven-rod resistance sampling is a determinant factor in order to study the feasibility of the driven–rod method.
Cognitive Mechatronic Devices for Reconfigurable Production of Complex Parts
Authors: Karagiannis Panagiotis , Michalos George , Andronas Dionisis , Matthaiakis Aleksandros-Stereos , Giannoulis Christos , Makris Sotiris
Published: May 2021

This paper discusses a robotic cell that handles geometrically complex products, exploiting cognitive control and actuation systems for the manipulation, assembly and packaging. The individual mechatronic components, namely a 6-DoF gripper and a flexible assembly mechanism, have been designed via functional decomposition of the actual assembly and handling tasks. The flexibility of these mechanisms is exploited through control modules, performing different cognition functions at cell, resource and device level. The design approach can be generalized for tasks requiring dexterity and adaptation to products. A case study from the consumer goods sector, showcases the system’s reconfigurability and efficiency.
Fuzzy and Neural Network Approaches to Wind Turbine Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Farsoni Saverio , Simani Silvio , Castaldi Paolo
Published: May 2021

The fault diagnosis of safety critical systems such as wind turbine installations includes extremely challenging aspects that motivate the research issues considered in this paper. Therefore, this work investigates two fault diagnosis solutions that exploit the direct estimation of the faults by means of data-driven approaches. In this way, the diagnostic residuals are represented by the reconstructed faults affecting the monitored process. The proposed methodologies are based on fuzzy systems and neural networks used to estimate the nonlinear dynamic relations between the input and output measurements of the considered process and the faults. To this end, the considered prototypes are integrated with auto-regressive with exogenous input descriptions, thus making them able to approximate unknown nonlinear dynamic functions with arbitrary degree of accuracy. These residual generators are estimated from the input and output measurements acquired from a high-fidelity benchmark that simulates the healthy and the faulty behaviour of a wind turbine system. The robustness and the reliability features of the developed solutions are validated in the presence of model-reality mismatch and modelling error effects featured by the wind turbine simulator. Moreover, a hardware-in-the-loop tool is implemented for testing and comparing the performance of the developed fault diagnosis strategies in a more realistic environment and with respect to different fault diagnosis approaches. The achieved results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the developed schemes also with respect to more complex model-based and data-driven fault diagnosis methodologies.
Measurement of Water Mole Fraction from Acoustically Levitated Pure Water and Protein Water Solution Droplets via Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) at 1.37 µm
Authors: Perlitz Julian F. A. , Broß Heiko , Will Stefan
Published: May 2021

In order to understand the evaporation and particle formation processes of sprays in technical applications such as fuel injectors or drying processes in the food and pharmaceutical industries in detail, single droplet drying experiments, for example, acoustic levitation, are widely used as model experiments. We combined acoustic levitation and tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) to measure the absolute H2O concentration in the exhaust gas of a levitation chamber to investigate drying and particle formation processes from single droplets of pure water and protein–water solutions. To that end, we designed and developed a non-invasive, calibration-free TDLAS-based hygrometer to analyze the 1.4 µm overtone band. To increase the detection range of the developed hygrometer and to track the complete drying process of protein solution droplets even after the critical point of drying, the absorption length was extended to a path length of 18 m using an astigmatic multipass cell of the Herriott type. The setup was validated by drying pure water droplets, resulting in a determination of the water mole fraction in a range from 73 ppm to 1314 ppm, with a single scan resolution of 1.7 ppm. For protein solution droplets, the entire drying process, even beyond the critical point of drying, can be tracked and the different phases of the drying process can be characterized at different drying temperatures.