bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and Testing of an Automatic Strip-Till Machine for Conservation Tillage of Corn
Authors: Wang Qi , Wang Bo , Sun Mingjun , Sun Xiaobo , Zhou Wenqi , Tang Han , Wang Jinwu
Published: September 2023

Successive years of straw mulching and returning straw to the fields in Northeast China have made strip-tillage necessary, and reasonable strip-tillage operations can create conditions for crop growth. However, there are limited research studies on the related equipment applicable to this area. In this paper, an automatic control strip-tillage machine is designed. According to the conventional planting pattern of maize in this region, the operative processes of the machine were determined, and a suitable strip seedbed structure could then be constructed under straw mulching conditions. The type of coulters and the structural parameters of the V-type soil-crushing wheel were determined through theoretical analysis. Based on the air spring and electric linear actuator, the plowing depth control system and the straw width control system were developed, respectively, so as to improve the stability of the machine operation. Field tests showed that when the forward speed, tillage depth, and theoretical width were 6–12 km/h, 6–12 cm, and 18–24 cm, respectively, the straw clearing rate, soil crushing rate, and tillage depth and breadth stability were higher than 90%, and the soil flatness was less than 2 cm. All the indexes satisfied the agronomic and technological requirements of corn cultivation. The results of this study can provide equipment and technical support for the further popularization of conservation tillage technology.
De Novo Transcriptome Analysis of Solanum lycopersicum cv. Super Strain B under Drought Stress
Authors: Al-Zahrani Hassan S. , Moussa Tarek A. A. , Alsamadany Hameed , Hafez Rehab M. , Fuller Michael P.
Published: September 2023

Tomato cv. super strain B was widely cultivated in Saudi Arabia under drought stress. Illumina Hiseq-2000 was used to create the transcriptional profile of tomato cultivar super strain B. A total of 98,069 contigs were gathered, with an average length of 766 bp. Most of the genes in the gene ontology (GO) analysis were categorized into molecular function (MF) of ATP binding (1301 genes), metal ion binding (456 genes), protein kinase activity (392 genes), transferase activity (299 genes), Biological process (BP) of DNA-templated genes (366 genes), and regulation of transcription genes (209 genes), while cellular components (CC) of integral component of membrane (436 genes). The most dominant enzymes expressed were transferases (645 sequences). According to the KEGG pathway database, 15,638 transcripts were interpreted in 125 exclusive pathways. The major pathway groups were metabolic pathways (map01100, 315 genes) and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (map01110, 188 genes). The total number of variants in the twelve chromosomes of super strain B compared with the tomato genome was 5284. The total number of potential SSRs was 5047 in 4806 unigenes. Trinucleotide repeats (3006, 59.5%) were the most found type in the transcriptome. A total of 4541 SNPs and 744 INDELs in tomato super strain B were identified when compared with the tomato genome.
Two-Fold ND5 Genes, Three-Fold Control Regions, lncRNA, and the “Missing” ATP8 Found in the Mitogenomes of Polypedates megacephalus (Rhacophridae: Polypedates)
Authors: Cai Ling-Na , Zhang Li-Hua , Lin Yi-Jie , Wang Jing-Yan , Storey Kenneth B. , Zhang Jia-Yong , Yu Dan-Na
Published: September 2023

In prior research on the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Polypedates megacephalus, the one copy of ND5 gene was translocated to the control region (CR) and the ATP8 gene was not found. Gene loss is uncommon among vertebrates. However, in this study, we resequenced the mitogenomes of P. megacephalus from different regions using a “primer bridging” approach with Sanger sequencing technologies, which revealed the “missing” ATP8 gene in P. megacephalus as well as three other previously published Polypedates. The mitogenome of this species was found to contain two copies of the ND5 genes and three copies of the control regions. Furthermore, multiple tandem repeats were identified in the control regions. Notably, we observed that there was no correlation between genetic divergence and geographic distance. However, using the mitogenome, gene expression analysis was performed via RT-qPCR of liver samples and it was thus determined that COIII, ND2, ND4, and ND6 were reduced to 0.64 ± 0.24, 0.55 ± 0.34, 0.44 ± 0.21 and 0.65 ± 0.17, respectively, under low-temperature stress (8 °C) as compared with controls (p < 0.05). Remarkably, the transcript of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) between positions 8029 and 8612 decreased significantly with exposure to low-temperature stress (8 °C). Antisense ND6 gene expression showed a downward trend, but this was not significant. These results reveal that modulations of protein-coding mitochondrial genes and lncRNAs of P. megacephalus play a crucial role in the molecular response to cold stress.
Comparison between the Effect of Lidocaine or Ropivacaine Hematoma Block and of Different Timings of Administration on Post-Operative Pain in Dogs Undergoing Osteosynthesis of Long-Bone Fractures
Authors: Dimopoulou Irene , Anagnostou Tilemachos , Savvas Ioannis , Karamichali Panagiota , Prassinos Nikitas
Published: September 2023

Objective: We aimed to compare the efficacy of intra-operative lidocaine hematoma block (HB) to ropivacaine HB and to compare the efficacy of different timings of ropivacaine HB in controlling post-operative pain in dogs undergoing the osteosynthesis of long-bone fractures. Study Design: We conducted a randomized, blinded, prospective clinical study. Animals: Forty-eight dogs with long-bone fractures were included and were randomly allocated to four groups: lidocaine (L), ropivacaine (Rmid), ropivacaine pre- (Rpre) and ropivacaine post- (Rpost) groups. Methods: The dogs in group L (n = 14) and in group Rmid (n = 11) received a lidocaine or ropivacaine HB, respectively, after fracture reduction and before osteosynthesis material placement. Rpre dogs (n = 11) received ropivacaine HB before fracture reduction, and Rpost dogs (n = 12) received ropivacaine HB after osteosynthesis material placement. Eight post-operative pain assessments were performed using the University of Melbourne Pain Scale (UMPS) and an algometer. Rescue analgesia was administered based on UMPS scoring. For data analysis, the Shapiro–Wilk test of normality, chi-square, Student t test and Split Plot analysis were used. The level of significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: Rescue analgesia was administered to one dog in group L, one in group Rmid and one in group Rpost, with no significant differences detected. Compared to group Rmid, group L dogs exhibited significantly higher mean mechanical pain thresholds (p = 0.049) and lower mean UMPS scores (p = 0.001). Group Rpost dogs had statistically significantly higher mean pain thresholds compared to group Rmid (p = 0.009). Clinical Implications: When performed after fracture reduction and before osteosynthesis material placement, lidocaine HB seems to be more effective than ropivacaine HB in controlling post-operative pain in dogs undergoing osteosynthesis of long-bone fractures. The administration of ropivacaine HB after osteosynthesis material placement seems to be more effective than administration after fracture reduction and before osteosynthesis material placement or administration before fracture reduction in controlling post-operative pain in dogs undergoing osteosynthesis of long-bone fractures.
Nociception in Chicken Embryos, Part III: Analysis of Movements before and after Application of a Noxious Stimulus
Authors: Süß Stephanie C. , Werner Julia , Saller Anna M. , Weiss Larissa , Reiser Judith , Ondracek Janie M. , Zablotski Yury , Kollmansperger Sandra , Anders Malte , Potschka Heidrun , Schusser Benjamin , Fenzl Thomas , Baumgartner Christine
Published: September 2023

Many potentially noxious interventions are performed on chicken embryos in research and in the poultry industry. It is therefore essential and in the interest of animal welfare to be able to precisely define the point at which a chicken embryo is capable of nociception in ovo. The present part III of a comprehensive study examined the movements of developing chicken embryos with the aim of identifying behavioral responses to a noxious stimulus. For this purpose, a noxious mechanical stimulus and a control stimulus were applied in a randomized order. The recorded movements of the embryos were evaluated using the markerless pose estimation software DeepLabCut and manual observations. After the application of the mechanical stimulus, a significant increase in beak movement was identified in 15- to 18-day-old embryos. In younger embryos, no behavioral changes related to the noxious stimulus were observed. The presented results indicate that noxious mechanical stimuli at the beak base evoke a nocifensive reaction in chicken embryos starting at embryonic day 15.
Histomorphological Changes in Fish Gut in Response to Prebiotics and Probiotics Treatment to Improve Their Health Status: A Review
Authors: De Marco Giuseppe , Cappello Tiziana , Maisano Maria
Published: September 2023

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) promotes the digestion and absorption of feeds, in addition to the excretion of waste products of digestion. In fish, the GIT is divided into four regions, the headgut, foregut, midgut, and hindgut, to which glands and lymphoid tissues are associated to release digestive enzymes and molecules involved in the immune response and control of host-pathogens. The GIT is inhabited by different species of resident microorganisms, the microbiota, which have co-evolved with the host in a symbiotic relationship and are responsible for metabolic benefits and counteracting pathogen infection. There is a strict connection between a fish’s gut microbiota and its health status. This review focuses on the modulation of fish microbiota by feed additives based on prebiotics and probiotics as a feasible strategy to improve fish health status and gut efficiency, mitigate emerging diseases, and maximize rearing and growth performance. Furthermore, the use of histological assays as a valid tool for fish welfare assessment is also discussed, and insights on nutrient absorptive capacity and responsiveness to pathogens in fish by gut morphological endpoints are provided. Overall, the literature reviewed emphasizes the complex interactions between microorganisms and host fish, shedding light on the beneficial use of prebiotics and probiotics in the aquaculture sector, with the potential to provide directions for future research.
A Comparative Analysis of Carbon Footprint in the Andalusian Autochthonous Dairy Goat Production Systems
Authors: Mancilla-Leytón Juan Manuel , Morales-Jerrett Eduardo , Muñoz-Vallés Sara , Mena Yolanda
Published: September 2023

The small ruminant livestock sector faces the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Carbon footprint (CF) studies on dairy goats, the most widely used indicator to quantify the impact of livestock farming on global warming, are still few. The aim of this study was to calculate the CF of the different production systems of autochthonous dairy goat breeds presently occurring in Andalusia (S Spain) and identify systems and practices that can minimize their environmental impact in these terms. Twenty-one farms were monitored during a year, obtaining valuable information that allowed the CF calculation on a “cradle-to-gate” approach, taking into account both GHG emissions at the farm level and carbon sink by vegetation associated with land-based systems. Results showed similar CF values for the analyzed systems (1.42, 1.04, 1.15, and 1.17 kg CO2-eq kg−1 fat–protein corrected milk for indoor systems without associated crops, indoor systems with associated crops, grazing systems with high feed supply, and pastoral systems, respectively). To minimize their environmental impact, specific actions must be developed for each system, particularly regarding genetic improvement, reproductive and feeding management, including pasture management, and the integration of livestock activity into the bio-circular economy with the help of professional advice.
Assessment of Luteal Function Using Rectal Palpation, B-Mode Ultrasonography, and Progesterone Determination to Improve Recipient Selection in Embryo Transfer Programs
Authors: Yáñez Uxía , Barrio Mónica , Fernández Ismael , Becerra Juan J. , Herradón Pedro G. , Peña Ana I. , Quintela Luis A.
Published: September 2023

Proper selection of recipients determines the success of embryo transfer (ET) programs. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess the accuracy of rectal palpation (RP) in selecting recipients according to the size and firmness of their corpus luteum (CL) compared to ultrasonography (US) and progesterone determination (P4); to check if US or P4 provide additional information to RP with regard to selecting animals with higher odds of maintaining the pregnancy; and to verify the reliability of the presence of a cavity and the volume of the CL within the ovary (%CLOV) as predictors of the ET outcome. In Experiment 1, measurements for the largest and minor diameter (LADCL and MIDCL), CL area, and P4 at ET day were collected, as well as the RP score, in 94 heifers. In Experiment 2, measurements for the LADCL, MIDCL, CL volume, %CLOV, and presence of a cavity were collected, as well as data about the procedure and metabolic markers, in 108 heifers. No differences were found in Experiment 1, whereas in Experiment 2, just a tendency was observed for the variable of veterinarian. Consequently, these results suggest that RP and US are useful methods to select recipients with, that US and P4 do not offer additional data to use to select animals with higher odds of maintaining pregnancy, and that neither %CLOV nor cavitary CL were good indicators for pregnancy rates.
Classifying Chewing and Rumination in Dairy Cows Using Sound Signals and Machine Learning
Authors: Abdanan Mehdizadeh Saman , Sari Mohsen , Orak Hadi , Pereira Danilo Florentino , Nääs Irenilza de Alencar
Published: September 2023

This research paper introduces a novel methodology for classifying jaw movements in dairy cattle into four distinct categories: bites, exclusive chews, chew-bite combinations, and exclusive sorting, under conditions of tall and short particle sizes in wheat straw and Alfalfa hay feeding. Sound signals were recorded and transformed into images using a short-time Fourier transform. A total of 31 texture features were extracted using the gray level co-occurrence matrix, spatial gray level dependence method, gray level run length method, and gray level difference method. Genetic Algorithm (GA) was applied to the data to select the most important features. Six distinct classifiers were employed to classify the jaw movements. The total precision found was 91.62%, 94.48%, 95.9%, 92.8%, 94.18%, and 89.62% for Naive Bayes, k-nearest neighbor, support vector machine, decision tree, multi-layer perceptron, and k-means clustering, respectively. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the nutritional behavior and dietary patterns of dairy cattle. The understanding of how cows consume different types of feed and the identification of any potential health issues or deficiencies in their diets are enhanced by the accurate classification of jaw movements. This information can be used to improve feeding practices, reduce waste, and ensure the well-being and productivity of the cows. The methodology introduced in this study can serve as a valuable tool for livestock managers to evaluate the nutrition of their dairy cattle and make informed decisions about their feeding practices.
Molecular Identification and Evolutionary Divergence of the Sri Lankan Sambar Deer, Rusa unicolor (Kerr 1792)
Authors: Jayasundara Subodha Lakruwani , Algewatta Hirusha Randimal , Jayawardana Suhada , Perera Minoli , Peiris L. Dinithi C.
Published: September 2023

The Sambar is one of the largest deer species distributed mainly in Asia, and it has been listed as a vulnerable species. Taxonomy based on morphological characterization has been the gold standard method used to identify the Sambar deer species. Yet, morphological identification is challenging and requires expertise. To conduct species identification and taxonomic decisions, we performed the molecular identification of R. unicolor found in Sri Lanka using DNA barcodes, COI, and Cyt b to compare the Sri Lankan R. unicolor with the Indian R. unicolor and other R. unicolor subspecies. We obtained mitochondrial DNA sequences from COI and Cyt b from blood samples collected from the wet zone in Sri Lanka. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the Bayesian analyses using MrBayes 3.2.7. Molecular dating was implemented in Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis Sampling Trees (BEAST v1.8.2) on the concatenated sequence using a log-normal relaxed clock and Yule species tree prior, with four categories. The results showed that the Sri Lankan R. unicolor is genetically different from the Indian R. unicolor and other R. unicolor subspecies. The divergence occurred approximately 1.1 MYA (million years ago) in the Pleistocene era. The results are essential for designing new conservation platforms for these Sambar deer species.
Pose Estimation and Behavior Classification of Jinling White Duck Based on Improved HRNet
Authors: Zhao Shida , Bai Zongchun , Meng Lili , Han Guofeng , Duan Enze
Published: September 2023

In breeding ducks, obtaining the pose information is vital for perceiving their physiological health, ensuring welfare in breeding, and monitoring environmental comfort. This paper proposes a pose estimation method by combining HRNet and CBAM to achieve automatic and accurate detection of duck’s multi-poses. Through comparison, HRNet-32 is identified as the optimal option for duck pose estimation. Based on this, multiple CBAM modules are densely embedded into the HRNet-32 network to obtain the pose estimation model based on HRNet-32-CBAM, realizing accurate detection and correlation of eight keypoints across six different behaviors. Furthermore, the model’s generalization ability is tested under different illumination conditions, and the model’s comprehensive detection abilities are evaluated on Cherry Valley ducklings of 12 and 24 days of age. Moreover, this model is compared with mainstream pose estimation methods to reveal its advantages and disadvantages, and its real-time performance is tested using images of 256 × 256, 512 × 512, and 728 × 728 pixel sizes. The experimental results indicate that for the duck pose estimation dataset, the proposed method achieves an average precision (AP) of 0.943, which has a strong generalization ability and can achieve real-time estimation of the duck’s multi-poses under different ages, breeds, and farming modes. This study can provide a technical reference and a basis for the intelligent farming of poultry animals.
The Effects of Dietary Protein Level on the Growth Performance, Body Composition, Intestinal Digestion and Microbiota of Litopenaeus vannamei Fed Chlorella sorokiniana as the Main Protein Source
Authors: Yuan Hang , Song Wanlin , Tan Jianqiang , Zheng Yudong , Wang Hongming , Shi Lili , Zhang Shuang
Published: September 2023

This study investigated the effect of dietary protein levels on Litopenaeus vannamei. Five isolipid diets with protein levels of 32%, 36%, 40%, 44% and 48% were prepared using C. sorokiniana as the main protein source. L. vannamei (initial body weight 0.83 ± 0.02 g) were fed these five diets for 8 weeks and referred to as the CHL32, CHL36, CHL40, CHL44 and CHL48 groups, respectively. When the feeding trial was finished, the growth performance, body composition, intestinal digestion and microbiota of L. vannamei were studied. The results showed that the maximum weight gain rate (WGR) of L. vannamei was in the CHL40 group while the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was in the CHL48 group. According to the regression analysis using WGR as the evaluation index, the best growth performance of L. vannamei was obtained when the dietary protein level was 40.81%. The crude protein content of whole shrimp showed an increasing and then decreasing trend with increasing dietary protein levels. Furthermore, the L. vannamei muscle amino acid composition was relatively stable and, to some extent, independent of dietary protein levels. Trypsin, lipase and amylase (AMS) activity increased and then decreased with increasing dietary protein levels and, significantly, peaked in the CHL44 group. Analysis of the alpha diversity of the intestinal microbiota showed that the Chao1 index peaked in the CHL40 group and was significantly lower in the CHL48 group. Additionally, the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria decreased significantly while the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria increased significantly in the intestine of L. vannamei as the dietary protein levels increased. The functional prediction of the intestinal microbiota revealed that dietary protein levels may influence the growth of L. vannamei by regulating various metabolic activities, and the highest WGR in the CHL40 group may have been related to the significant enrichment of nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism and biotin metabolism functions. In summary, the optimal protein requirement for L. vannamei was around 40% when C. sorokiniana was used as the primary protein source. Too high or too low dietary protein levels could adversely affect shrimp body composition, intestinal digestion and microbiota.
Preoperative and Surgical Predictors of the Treatment Outcome of Dairy Cows with Right Abomasal Displacement—A Retrospective Study of 234 Cases
Authors: Proios Ioannis , Grünberg Walter
Published: September 2023

The displacement of the abomasum to the right (RDA) is a common condition regularly encountered in dairy cows, which requires urgent surgical correction. The survival of the patient primarily depends on early diagnosis and timely treatment, but other factors contributing to the outcome have been discussed in the literature. The objective of this study was to identify preoperative clinical, hematological, as well as intraoperative parameters that are associated with the prognosis of cows with RDA or abomasal volvulus (AV). This retrospective study included patients admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital over a period of 6 years with a diagnosis of RDA or AV. A total of 234 cows were included, of which 193 were discharged after treatment and thus classified as survivors. In contrast, 41 cases died or were euthanized during or after surgery and were categorized as non-survivors. Non-survivors showed more severe dehydration, higher heart rate, lower sodium, as well as higher L-lactate and phosphorus concentration in their blood prior to surgery compared with the survivors. During surgery, the abomasum of non-survivors was markedly dilated and twisted more frequently than in survivors. The results presented here can facilitate the early identification of animals with poor prognosis requiring more intensive peri- and postoperative care.
Prevalence and Factors Related to Leishmania infantum Infection in Healthy Horses (Equus caballus) from Eastern Spain
Authors: Martínez-Sáez Lola , Dulac Quentin , Montaner-Angoiti Esperanza , Marín-García Pablo Jesús , Llobat Lola
Published: September 2023

Leishmaniosis is a zoonosis caused by Leishmania spp., an intracellular protozoan parasite. This parasite is transmitted by sandflies, and the disease is endemic in the Mediterranean basin. In recent years, the number of species which could be a reservoir of the parasite is increased. One of the most relevant species is the horse, due to their contact with humans and ability to control the disease, thus being a possible silent reservoir. In this study, we have analyzed the prevalence and factors related to L. infantum infection in healthy horses in the Mediterranean region. Epidemiological data and serum samples were obtained from 167 apparently healthy horses, and the presence of L. infantum was evaluated via the ELISA method and real-time PCR. The results show 27.5% of prevalence and that the main factors related to infection are equine breed, morphotype, outdoor living, use, and season. In conclusion, the prevalence of L. infantum infection in apparently healthy horses from eastern Spain (Mediterranean basin) is elevated. To control this zoonosis, it would be advisable to carry out more studies on this and other species that could be silent reservoirs of the parasite, as well as carry out measures such as the use of repellents on a regular basis.
Automating Predictive Phage Therapy Pharmacology
Authors: Abedon Stephen T.
Published: September 2023

Viruses that infect as well as often kill bacteria are called bacteriophages, or phages. Because of their ability to act bactericidally, phages increasingly are being employed clinically as antibacterial agents, an infection-fighting strategy that has been in practice now for over one hundred years. As with antibacterial agents generally, the development as well as practice of this phage therapy can be aided via the application of various quantitative frameworks. Therefore, reviewed here are considerations of phage multiplicity of infection, bacterial likelihood of becoming adsorbed as a function of phage titers, bacterial susceptibility to phages also as a function of phage titers, and the use of Poisson distributions to predict phage impacts on bacteria. Considered in addition is the use of simulations that can take into account both phage and bacterial replication. These various approaches can be automated, i.e., by employing a number of online-available apps provided by the author, the use of which this review emphasizes. In short, the practice of phage therapy can be aided by various mathematical approaches whose implementation can be eased via online automation.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility from a One Health Perspective Regarding Porcine Escherichia coli from Bavaria, Germany
Authors: Ade Julia , Riehm Julia M. , Stadler Julia , Klose Corinna , Zablotski Yury , Ritzmann Mathias , Kümmerlen Dolf
Published: September 2023

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most crucial One Health topics worldwide. Consequently, various national and international surveillance programs collect data and report trends regularly. Ceftiofur, colistin and enrofloxacin belong to the most important and critical class of anti-infective medications in both human and veterinary medicine. In the present study, antimicrobial resistance was analyzed using the epidemiological cut-off (ECOFF) value on 6569 Escherichia coli isolated from pigs in Bavaria, Germany, during five years, from 2016 to 2020. The statistically relevant results regarding antimicrobial resistance revealed a decrease for colistin, an increase for enrofloxacin, and a constant level for ceftiofur. In Germany, the usage of all three antimicrobial substances in livestock has fallen by 43.6% for polypeptides, 59.0% for fluoroquinolones and 57.8% for the 3rd + 4th generation cephalosporines during this time. Despite the decline in antimicrobial usage, a reduction regarding antimicrobial resistance was solely observed for colistin. This finding illustrates that in addition to the restriction of pharmaceutical consumption, further measures should be considered. Improved biosecurity concepts, a reduction in crowding, and controlled animal movements on farms may play a key role in finally containing the resistance mechanisms of bacteria in farm animals.
Incidence of Drug-Resistant Hospital-Associated Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections, the Accompanying Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes with Treatment
Authors: Badger-Emeka Lorina , Al Rashed Abdullatif S. , Aljindan Reem Y. , Emeka Promise Madu , Quadri Sayed A. , Almutairi Hayfa Habes
Published: September 2023

Extensive drug resistance to bacterial infections in hospitalised patients is accompanied by high morbidity and mortality rates due to limited treatment options. This study investigated the clinical outcomes of single and combined antibiotic therapies in extensive (XDR), multidrug-resistant (MDR) and susceptible strains (SS) of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Cases of hospital-associated drug-resistant infections (HADRIs) and a few susceptible strains from hospital wards were selected for this study. Bacteria identifications (IDs) and antimicrobial susceptibility tests (ASTs) were performed with a Vitek 2 Compact Automated System. Patients’ treatment types and clinical outcomes were classified as alive improved (AI), alive not improved (ANI), or died. The length of hospital stay (LOHS) was acquired from hospital records. The HAI pathogens were Acinetobacter baumannii (28%), Escherichia coli (26%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (22%), Klebsiella (2%) species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%), Proteus mirabilis (4%), and other Enterobacteriaceae. They were MDR (40.59%), XDR (24.75%), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE, 21.78%) and susceptible (12%) strains. The treatments were either monotherapy or combined therapy with different outcomes. Monotherapy produced positive significant outcomes with E. coli infections, while for P. aeruginosa, there were no differences between the number of infections treated with either mono/combined therapies (50% each). Nonetheless, combined therapy had significant effects (p < 0.05) as a treatment for A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae infections. Clinical outcomes and LOHS varied with infecting bacteria. The prevalence of XDR and MDR HAIs was found to be significantly high, with no association with treatment type, LOHS, or outcome.
Gossypetin Is a Novel Modulator of Inflammatory Cytokine Production and a Suppressor of Osteosarcoma Cell Growth
Authors: Proença Carina , Rufino Ana Teresa , Santos Isabela , Albuquerque Hélio M. T. , Silva Artur M. S. , Fernandes Eduarda , Ferreira de Oliveira José Miguel P.
Published: September 2023

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a common childhood sarcoma, and its treatment is hindered by adverse effects, chemoresistance, and recurrence. Interleukin (IL)-6 production by tumors plays a significant role in inflammation, carcinogenesis, and metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative potential of luteolin derivatives in OS and to evaluate interleukin production. MG-63, Saos-2, HOS, and 143B human OS cell lines were incubated with luteolin and eight derivatives containing hydroxy, chlorine, or alkyl substitutions. The cell viability and growth were evaluated in the presence of these compounds. Apoptosis was also examined through the analysis of the Bax expression and caspase-3 activity. Finally, the gossypetin effects were measured regarding the production of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and IL-12p70. Our findings show that gossypetin was the most potent compound, with proliferation-suppressing activities that induced a series of critical events, including the inhibition of the cell viability and growth. Apoptosis was associated with enhanced caspase-3 activity and increased Bax expression, indicating the involvement of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Moreover, pre-/co-treatment with gossypetin significantly reduced the autocrine production of proinflammatory cytokines. Further investigation is required; nevertheless, considering the link between inflammation, carcinogenesis, and metastasis in OS, our findings suggest that gossypetin exhibits anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties that are potentially relevant in the clinical context.
Effect of HHP and UHPH High-Pressure Techniques on the Extraction and Stability of Grape and Other Fruit Anthocyanins
Authors: Morata Antonio , del Fresno Juan Manuel , Gavahian Mohsen , Guamis Buenaventura , Palomero Felipe , López Carmen
Published: September 2023

The use of high-pressure technologies is a hot topic in food science because of the potential for a gentle process in which spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms can be eliminated; these technologies also have effects on the extraction, preservation, and modification of some constituents. Whole grapes or bunches can be processed by High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP), which causes poration of the skin cell walls and rapid diffusion of the anthocyanins into the pulp and seeds in a short treatment time (2–10 min), improving maceration. Grape juice with colloidal skin particles of less than 500 µm processed by Ultra-High Pressure Homogenization (UHPH) is nano-fragmented with high anthocyanin release. Anthocyanins can be rapidly extracted from skins using HHP and cell fragments using UHPH, releasing them and facilitating their diffusion into the liquid quickly. HHP and UHPH techniques are gentle and protective of sensitive molecules such as phenols, terpenes, and vitamins. Both techniques are non-thermal technologies with mild temperatures and residence times. Moreover, UHPH produces an intense inactivation of oxidative enzymes (PPOs), thus preserving the antioxidant activity of grape juices. Both technologies can be applied to juices or concentrates; in addition, HHP can be applied to grapes or bunches. This review provides detailed information on the main features of these novel techniques, their current status in anthocyanin extraction, and their effects on stability and process sustainability.
A Study on Defect Detection in Organic Light-Emitting Diode Cells Using Optimal Deep Learning
Authors: Chung Myung-Ae , Kim Tae-Hoon , Kim Kyung-A , Kang Min-Soo
Published: September 2023

In this study, we applied an optimal deep learning algorithm to detect defects in OLED cells. This study aims to enhance the yield of OLEDs by reducing the number of defective products through defect detection in OLED cells. Defects in OLED cells can arise owing to various factors, but dark spots are predominantly identified and studied. Therefore, actual dark spot images were required for this study. However, obtaining real data is challenging because of security concerns in the OLED industry. Therefore, a Solver program utilizing the finite element method (FEM) was employed to generate 2000 virtual dark spot images. The generated images were categorized into two groups: initial images of dark spots and images obtained after 10,000 h. The pixel values of these dark spot images were adjusted for efficient recognition and analysis. Furthermore, CNN, ResNet-50, and VGG-16 were implemented to apply the optimal deep learning algorithms. The results showed that the VGG-16 algorithm performed the best. A defect detection model was created based on the performance metrics of the deep learning algorithms. The model was trained using 1300 dark spot images and validated using 600 dark spot images. The validation results indicated an accuracy of 0.988 and a loss value of 0.026. A defect detection model that utilizes the VGG-16 algorithm was considered suitable for distinguishing dark spot images. To test the defect detection model, 100 images of dark spots were used. The experimental results indicated an accuracy of 89%. The images were classified as acceptable or defective based on the threshold values. By applying the VGG-16 deep learning algorithm to the defect detection model, we can enhance the yield of OLED products, reduce production costs, and contribute significantly to the advancement of OLED display manufacturing technology.
Local Differential Privacy Image Generation Using Flow-Based Deep Generative Models
Authors: Shibata Hisaichi , Hanaoka Shouhei , Cao Yang , Yoshikawa Masatoshi , Takenaga Tomomi , Nomura Yukihiro , Hayashi Naoto , Abe Osamu
Published: September 2023

Diagnostic radiologists need artificial intelligence (AI) for medical imaging, but access to medical images required for training in AI has become increasingly restrictive. To release and use medical images, we need an algorithm that can simultaneously protect privacy and preserve pathologies in medical images. To address this, we introduce DP-GLOW, a hybrid that combines the local differential privacy (LDP) algorithm with GLOW, one of the flow-based deep generative models. By applying a GLOW model, we disentangle the pixelwise correlation of images, which makes it difficult to protect privacy with straightforward LDP algorithms for images. Specifically, we map images to the latent vector of the GLOW model, where each element follows an independent normal distribution. We then apply the Laplace mechanism to this latent vector to achieve ϵ-LDP, which is one of the LDP algorithms. Moreover, we applied DP-GLOW to chest X-ray images to generate LDP images while preserving pathologies. The ϵ-LDP-processed chest X-ray images obtained with DP-GLOW indicate that we have obtained a powerful tool for releasing and using medical images for training AI.
Modeling of Digital Twin Workshop in Planning via a Graph Neural Network: The Case of an Ocean Engineering Manufacturing Intelligent Workshop
Authors: Li Jinghua , Yin Wenhao , Yang Boxin , Chen Li , Dong Ruipu , Chen Yidong , Yang Hanchen
Published: September 2023

In the era of Industry 4.0 to 5.0, the manufacturing industry is dedicated to improving its production efficiency, control capability and competitiveness with intelligent enhancement. As a typical discrete manufacturing industry, it is difficult for ocean engineering (OE) manufacturers to accurately control the entire production process, and the establishment of an integrated system supported by digital twin (DT) technology is a better solution. This paper proposes a comprehensive set of system architectures for the DT workshop. It focuses on planning, which is the main line of control, to establish a model based on graph neural networks (GNNs) and suggests five decision-support approaches associated with the model from a practical application perspective. The utilization of complete twin data for prediction and visual simulation effectively eliminates the problem of unexpected factors interfering with scheduling in enterprise production planning and achieves the goals of rapid processing and just-in-time completion. The planning model is based on the attention mechanism, which characterizes the disjunctive graph, extracts the input GNN, and outputs the scheduling decision by constructing the multi-attention network of operations and machines to deal with the complicated “operation–machine” combination relationship. The proposed method has been verified in the case of structural assembly and welding workshops, has validity and reliability, and is superior to the traditional priority scheduling rules and heuristics in terms of precision rate and rapidity. Furthermore, the DT system completes the production line application, and its proven reliability supports its full-scale application in future smart factories.
A Comprehensive Evaluation and Analysis of Ground Surface Damage Due to Mining under Villages Based on GIS
Authors: Zhao Bingchao , Chen Pan , Wang Jingbin , Zhang Jingui , Zhai Di
Published: September 2023

This paper aims to evaluate the severities and causes of ground surface building and cropland damages after coal mining in a better way, and to clarify the correlation between the damage assessment indexes that influence mining. Against the backdrop of multi-seam mining in certain coal mines in China, the estimated results of each displacement and deformation were analyzed using GIS technology. The damage range determined for each deformation index is divided according to the displacement and deformation combined with the virtue of damage judgment threshold. The damage ranges on the ground surface based on the comprehensive value of each displacement and deformation index were obtained through superimposing those ranges delineated by each displacement and deformation index, and the law on influence from displacement indexes upon various levels of damage was analyzed in a quantitative manner accordingly. The results showed that coal mining destroyed 14 buildings and a cropland area of 11.96 hm2; among them, building damage was only associated with displacement indexes E (horizontal deformation) and T (inclined deformation). Seven buildings were solely destroyed by T alone; five buildings were solely damaged by E; two buildings were damaged jointly by E and T; and, moreover, with the aggravation in building damage level, the proportion of building damage due to E decreased while the proportion of building damage under the same level due to T increased. Regarding cropland destruction, the damage due to T accounted for 33.48% while the damage jointly caused by W (Subsidence), E and T accounted for 30.45%. Moreover, the proportion of damaged cropland area due to inclined deformation T was positively correlated with cropland damage level. These findings can provide a reference for rational judgment regarding civilian building and cropland destruction on the ground surface after coal mining.
TA-DARTS: Temperature Annealing of Discrete Operator Distribution for Effective Differential Architecture Search
Authors: Shin Jiyong , Park Kyongseok , Kang Dae-Ki
Published: September 2023

In the realm of machine learning, the optimization of hyperparameters and the design of neural architectures entail laborious and time-intensive endeavors. To address these challenges, considerable research effort has been directed towards Automated Machine Learning (AutoML), with a focus on enhancing these inherent inefficiencies. A pivotal facet of this pursuit is Neural Architecture Search (NAS), a domain dedicated to the automated formulation of neural network architectures. Given the pronounced impact of network architecture on neural network performance, NAS techniques strive to identify architectures that can manifest optimal performance outcomes. A prominent algorithm in this area is Differentiable Architecture Search (DARTS), which transforms discrete search spaces into continuous counterparts using gradient-based methodologies, thereby surpassing prior NAS methodologies. Notwithstanding DARTS’ achievements, a discrepancy between discrete and continuously encoded architectures persists. To ameliorate this disparity, we propose TA-DARTS in this study—a temperature annealing technique applied to the Softmax function, utilized for encoding the continuous search space. By leveraging temperature values, architectural weights are judiciously adjusted to alleviate biases in the search process or to align resulting architectures more closely with discrete values. Our findings exhibit advancements over the original DARTS methodology, evidenced by a 0.07%p enhancement in validation accuracy and a 0.16%p improvement in test accuracy on the CIFAR-100 dataset. Through systematic experimentation on benchmark datasets, we establish the superiority of TA-DARTS over the original mixed operator, thereby underscoring its efficacy in automating neural architecture design.
Lipid Composition and Physicochemical Parameters of Flaxseed Oil (Linum usitatissimum L.) from Bulgaria
Authors: Gandova Vanya , Teneva Olga , Petkova Zhana , Iliev Ivan , Stoyanova Albena
Published: September 2023

Flaxseed oil is a prevalent food supplement. On one hand, vegetable oil is used in the food industry and pharmacy due to its health benefits; on the other hand, it has an application as a lubricant oil. The fatty acid composition of the investigated oil was determined as follows: the main fatty acids were α-linolenic (57.5%), oleic (17.5%), linoleic (12.5%), palmitic (6.0%), and stearic acid (4.3%). The content of unsaponifiable matter was 1.4%. The total sterol content was determined (0.5%), with identified β-sitosterol (79.7%) as a main component, followed by stigmasterol. The content of tocopherols was found to be 243 mg/kg. The compound γ-tocopherol predominated (68%) in the tocopherol fraction, followed by γ-tocotrienol (32%). Some physicochemical indicators were also determined—density, surface tension, and dynamic and kinematic viscosity—at the following temperatures: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C. The increase in temperature led to a decrease in all indexes and good linear dependence was observed. The determined physicochemical indicators provided information about the stability of flaxseed oil, which is very important considering its use in food and technical products.
The Impression of Phones and Prosody Choice in the Gibberish Speech of the Virtual Embodied Conversational Agent Kotaro
Authors: Gonzalez Antonio Galiza Cerdeira , Lo Wing-Sum , Mizuuchi Ikuo
Published: September 2023

The number of smart devices is expected to exceed 100 billion by 2050, and many will feature conversational user interfaces. Thus, methods for generating appropriate prosody for the responses of embodied conversational agents will be very important. This paper presents the results of the “Talk to Kotaro” experiment, which was conducted to better understand how people from different cultural backgrounds react when listening to prosody and phone choices for the IPA symbol-based gibberish speech of the virtual embodied conversational agent Kotaro. It also presents an analysis of the responses to a post-experiment Likert scale questionnaire and the emotions estimated from the participants’ facial expressions, which allowed one to obtain a phone embedding matrix and to conclude that there is no common cross-cultural baseline impression regarding different prosody parameters and that similarly sounding phones are not close in the embedding space. Finally, it also provides the obtained data in a fully anonymous data set.
Machine Learning Ensemble Modelling for Predicting Unemployment Duration
Authors: Gabrikova Barbora , Svabova Lucia , Kramarova Katarina
Published: September 2023

Predictions of the unemployment duration of the economically active population play a crucial assisting role for policymakers and employment agencies in the well-organised allocation of resources (tied to solving problems of the unemployed, whether on the labour supply or demand side) and providing targeted support to jobseekers in their job search. This study aimed to develop an ensemble model that can serve as a reliable tool for predicting unemployment duration among jobseekers in Slovakia. The ensemble model was developed using real data from the database of jobseekers (those registered as unemployed and actively searching for a job through the Local Labour Office, Social Affairs, and Family) using the stacking method, incorporating predictions from three individual models: CART, CHAID, and discriminant analysis. The final meta-model was created using logistic regression and indicates an overall accuracy of the prediction of unemployment duration of almost 78%. This model demonstrated high accuracy and precision in identifying jobseekers at risk of long-term unemployment exceeding 12 months. The presented model, working with real data of a robust nature, represents an operational tool that can be used to check the functionality of the current labour market policy and to solve the problem of long-term unemployed individuals in Slovakia, as well as in the creation of future government measures aimed at solving the problem of unemployment. The measures from the state are financed from budget funds, and by applying the appropriate model, it is possible to arrive at the rationalization of the financing of these measures, or to specifically determine the means intended to solve the problem of long-term unemployment in Slovakia (this, together with the regional disproportion of unemployment, is considered one of the most prominent problems in the labour market in Slovakia). The model also has the potential to be adapted in other economies, taking into account country-specific conditions and variables, which is possible due to the data-mining approach used.