bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Domestication of the Dromedary Revisited and Its Consequences for Legislation as to Keeping Livestock or Pet Animals
Authors: Smits Marcel , Joosten Han , Faye Bernard , Burger Pamela
Published: June 2023

Being in an advanced stage of domestication is a newly proposed requirement to decide which animals can be safely kept by humans. Dutch legislators were the first to apply it and other European countries may be tempted to adopt a similar approach. Unexpectedly, the Dutch assessors considered the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) as being insufficiently domesticated and this species will therefore no longer be able to be kept as a production animal from 2024 onwards. In a recent publication on this topic, we showed that the domestication of the dromedary is actually very advanced. In this paper, we apply the same criteria that were used by the Dutch assessors to determine the degree of domestication, taking into account the most recent scientific developments in this area, even though it should be noted that these criteria have neither been peer-reviewed, nor published in an international scientific journal. For the sake of comparison, and in order to validate the procedure, we also applied these criteria to the house cat. The results confirm that the dromedary is highly domesticated, but also that the house cat (Felis silvestris catus) is at most semi-domesticated. Obviously, we agree with the decision of the Dutch legislators to place the house cat on the positive list, but our analysis demonstrates that this was decided on false grounds. Our analysis makes it clear that the requirement of being in an advanced stage of domestication is not suitable. Instead of maintaining this requirement, we recommend implementing evidence-based, peer-reviewed methods to decide which animals can be kept by humans, and to include species specific-guidelines in the legislation on how this can be achieved safely.
Quercetin Alleviates Inflammation and Energy Deficiency Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Chicken Embryos
Authors: Yu Jinhai , Hu Guoliang , Guo Xiaoquan , Cao Huabin , Zhang Caiying
Published: June 2023

Energy deficiency causes multiple organ dysfunctions after LPS induction. Quercetin is a phenolic compound found in herbal medicines. However, the effects of quercetin in alleviating LPS-induced energy deficiency remain unclear. In the present study, an in vivo LPS-induced inflammation model was established in chicken embryos. Specific pathogen-free chicken embryos (n = 120) were allocated to control, PBS with or without ethanol, quercetin (10, 20, or 40 nmol, respectively), and LPS (125 ng/egg) with or without quercetin groups. Fifteen day old embryonated eggs were injected with the abovementioned solutions via the allantoic cavity. On embryonic day 19, the tissues of the embryos were collected for histopathological examination using frozen oil red O staining, RNA extraction, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemical investigations. The glycogen and lipid contents in the liver increased after LPS stimulation as compared with the PBS group, whereas quercetin decreased the accumulation as compared with the LPS group. The mRNA expressions of AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 in the duodena, ceca, and livers were upregulated after LPS induction as compared with the PBS group, while quercetin could downregulate these expressions as compared with the LPS group. The immunopositivity of AMPKα2 in the villus, crypt, lamina propria, tunica muscularis, and myenteric plexus in the duodena and in the cytoplasms of hepatocytes significantly increased after LPS induction when compared with the PBS group (p < 0.01), whereas the immunopositivity to AMPKα2 in the quercetin treatment group significantly decreased when compared with the LPS group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). The LPS-induced high expressions of transcription factor PPARα and glucose transporter (SGLT1) were blocked by quercetin in the duodena, ceca, and livers. Quercetin treatment improved the LPS-induced decrease in APOA4 in the duodena, ceca, and livers. The mRNA expression of PEPT1 in the duodena and ceca increased after LPS challenge, whereas quercetin could downregulate PEPT1 gene expression. These data demonstrate that quercetin improved the energy deficiency induced by LPS in chicken embryos. The LPS-induced inflammation model was established to avoid the effect of LPS exposure from the environment and intestinal flora. The results form the basis the administration of quercetin pretreatment (in ovo infection) to improve the energy state of chicken embryos and improve the inflammation response.
Transcriptomic Response of the Liver Tissue in Trachinotus ovatus to Acute Heat Stress
Authors: Li Qian-Qian , Zhang Jing , Wang Hong-Yang , Niu Su-Fang , Wu Ren-Xie , Tang Bao-Gui , Wang Qing-Hua , Liang Zhen-Bang , Liang Yan-Shan
Published: June 2023

Trachinotus ovatus is a major economically important cultured marine fish in the South China Sea. However, extreme weather and increased culture density result in uncontrollable problems, such as increases in water temperature and a decline in dissolved oxygen (DO), hindering the high-quality development of aquaculture. In this study, liver transcriptional profiles of T. ovatus were investigated under acute high-temperature stress (31 °C and 34 °C) and normal water temperature (27 °C) using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology. Differential expression analysis and STEM analysis showed that 1347 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and four significant profiles (profiles 0, 3, 4, and 7) were screened, respectively. Of these DEGs, some genes involved in heat shock protein (HSPs), hypoxic adaptation, and glycolysis were up-regulated, while some genes involved in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and fatty acid metabolism were down-regulated. Our results suggest that protein dynamic balance and function, hypoxia adaptation, and energy metabolism transformation are crucial in response to acute high-temperature stress. Our findings contribute to understanding the molecular response mechanism of T. ovatus under acute heat stress, which may provide some reference for studying the molecular mechanisms of other fish in response to heat stress.
Effect of Atomized Black Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Supplementation in the Cryopreservation of Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) Epididymal Spermatozoa
Authors: Levano Gloria , Quispe Juana , Vargas Diego , García Marlon , López Alberto , Aguila Luis , Valdivia Martha
Published: June 2023

Artificial insemination is an important assisted reproductive technology that has been applied in several mammalian species. However, successful cryopreservation of semen of South American camelids has been limited, hindering the commercial application of artificial insemination in alpaca species. In this scenario, the addition of antioxidants to semen extenders provides a strategy to improve the freezability of mammalian sperm. Bioactive metabolites from natural extracts of black maca have shown valuable antioxidant properties. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of atomized black maca in the freezing medium of epididymal spermatozoa of alpacas. Fifteen pairs of epididymis were collected from a local slaughterhouse. Each sample was divided into six groups: (1) fresh, (2) yolk medium (YM), (3) 10 mg/mL maca, (4) 20 mg/mL maca, (5) 30 mg/mL maca, and (6) resveratrol (as an antioxidant control). Sperm cryopreservation was performed through the slow freezing method. Markers associated with functionality, such as motility, viability, and plasma membrane integrity, as well as markers associated with oxidative damage, such as DNA integrity, total ROS production, and mitochondrial function, were analyzed. The results show that the supplementation with black maca (20 mg/mL) improved the sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial function evaluated according to an index of formazan deposits. Similarly, the ROS production decreased with maca at 20 mg/mL, although the DNA integrity did not show any differences among the groups. These results suggest that maca at 20 mg/mL has cytoprotective effects during freezing/thawing of epididymal sperm of alpaca species. Further research will be focused on assessing the effects of maca supplementation on semen extenders by using biomolecular markers (proAKAP4) associated with fertility.
Counteracting the Toxic Hidroarsenicism Effects upon Reproductive-Physiological Outcomes in Male Goats: The Selenium and Vitamin-E Mitigation Approach
Authors: Ortega-Morales Natalia B. , Cueto-Wong Jose A. , Velez-Monroy Leonardo I. , Chavez-Solis Adan U. , Barrientos-Juarez Eutiquio , Duarte-Sustaita Jesús Jaime , Veliz-Deras Francisco G. , Calderon-Leyva Guadalupe , Moran-Martinez Javier
Published: June 2023

This study was to evaluate whether selenium and vitamin-E counteract the toxic effects of arsenic on reproductive aspects and physiological conditions of male goats. Male goats [Criollo, n = 20, 4–5 yr-old, 72 kg live weight (LW)] were distributed in homogeneous groups (n = 5), and received during 12 weeks: (1) Sodium arsenite 2 mg/kg of LW/day (AG, LW = 69 kg); (2) Sodium selenite 6 mg + vitamin-E 420 I.U. every 14 days during the 12 weeks (SG, LW = 68 kg); (3) Both AG and SG treatments (ASG, LW = 77 kg); and (4) 1 mL of physiological solution every 14 days during the 12 weeks (CG, LW = 72 kg). The animals had access to water from a well with a concentration of 35 μg/L of arsenic. The SG had the highest percentage of sperm viability (80.6%) followed by the CG, ASG (74.7; p > 0.05), and AG (64.3; p ≤ 0.05). The ASG and SG had a lower heart rate as compared to the CG and AG (58.8, 58 vs. 65.4, 63.5; respectively, p ≤ 0.05). The CG and SG showed a lower respiratory rate than the AG and ASG (19.2, 18.7 vs. 22.1, 21.0, respectively; p ≤ 0.05). Selenium and vitamin-E were efficient in reducing the damage caused by sodium arsenite in sperm quality and maintaining heart and respiratory rates and increases in odor in male goats.
Isavuconazole Exposure in Critically Ill Patients Treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Two Case Reports and a Narrative Literature Review
Authors: Mertens Beatrijs , Elkayal Omar , Dreesen Erwin , Wauters Joost , Meersseman Philippe , Debaveye Yves , Degezelle Karlien , Vermeersch Pieter , Gijsen Matthias , Spriet Isabel
Published: June 2023

Effective dosing of isavuconazole in patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is important due to the role of isavuconazole as a first-line treatment in patients with influenza- and COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. To date, robust pharmacokinetic data in patients supported by ECMO are limited. Therefore, it is unknown whether ECMO independently impacts isavuconazole exposure. We measured isavuconazole plasma concentrations in two patients supported by ECMO and estimated individual pharmacokinetic parameters using non-compartmental analysis and two previously published population pharmacokinetic models. Furthermore, a narrative literature review on isavuconazole exposure in adult patients receiving ECMO was performed. The 24 h areas under the concentration–time curve and trough concentrations of isavuconazole were lower in both patients compared with exposure values published before. In the literature, highly variable isavuconazole concentrations have been documented in patients with ECMO support. The independent effect of ECMO versus critical illness itself on isavuconazole exposure cannot be deduced from our and previously published (case) reports. Pending additional data, therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended in critically ill patients, regardless of ECMO support.
Screening of Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities in Pomegranate, Quince, and Persimmon Leaf, Peel, and Seed: Valorization of Autumn Fruits By-Products for a One Health Perspective
Authors: Silva Vanessa , Silva Adriana , Ribeiro Jessica , Aires Alfredo , Carvalho Rosa , Amaral Joana S. , Barros Lillian , Igrejas Gilberto , Poeta Patrícia
Published: June 2023

Antimicrobial resistance is increasing globally and is now one of the major public health problems. Therefore, there is a need to search for new antimicrobial agents. The food industry generates large amounts of by-products that are rich in bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, which are known to have several health benefits, including antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Thus, we aimed to characterize the phenolic compounds present in pomegranate, quince, and persimmon by-products, as well as their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Phenolic compounds were extracted from pomegranate, quince, and persimmon leaves, seeds, and peels using a mixture of ethanol/water (80/20). The polyphenol profile of the extracts was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. In general, leaves showed higher concentrations of phenolics than the peel and seeds of fruits. In total, 23 phenolic compounds were identified and quantified, with sanguiin and apigenin-3-O-galactoside being present in the highest concentrations. Leaf extracts of pomegranate showed higher antioxidant activities than the other components in all methods used. In general, all extracts had a greater antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Persimmon leaf and seed extracts inhibited a greater number of bacteria, both Gram-positive and -negative. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) detected among Gram-positive and -negative bacteria was 10 mg/mL for pomegranate peel and leaf extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and S. pseudintermedius and for pomegranate leaf extract against Escherichia coli. Our results reinforce the need to value food industry by-products that could be used as food preservatives and antibiotic adjuvants against multiresistant bacteria.
N-acetylcysteine Pharmacology and Applications in Rare Diseases—Repurposing an Old Antioxidant
Authors: Sahasrabudhe Siddhee A. , Terluk Marcia R. , Kartha Reena V.
Published: June 2023

N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor of cysteine and, thereby, glutathione (GSH), acts as an antioxidant through a variety of mechanisms, including oxidant scavenging, GSH replenishment, antioxidant signaling, etc. Owing to the variety of proposed targets, NAC has a long history of use as a prescription product and in wide-ranging applications that are off-label as an over-the-counter (OTC) product. Despite its discovery in the early 1960s and its development for various indications, systematic clinical pharmacology explorations of NAC pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamic targets, drug interactions, and dose-ranging are sorely limited. Although there are anecdotal instances of NAC benefits in a variety of diseases, a comprehensive review of the use of NAC in rare diseases does not exist. In this review, we attempt to summarize the existing literature focused on NAC explorations in rare diseases targeting mitochondrial dysfunction along with the history of NAC usage, approved indications, mechanisms of action, safety, and PK characterization. Further, we introduce the research currently underway on other structural derivatives of NAC and acknowledge the continuum of efforts through pre-clinical and clinical research to facilitate further therapeutic development of NAC or its derivatives for rare diseases.
Antioxidant Effects of Catechins (EGCG), Andrographolide, and Curcuminoids Compounds for Skin Protection, Cosmetics, and Dermatological Uses: An Update
Authors: Messire Gatien , Serreau Raphaël , Berteina-Raboin Sabine
Published: June 2023

Here we have chosen to highlight the main natural molecules extracted from Camellia sinensis, Andrographis paniculata, and Curcuma longa that may possess antioxidant activities of interest for skin protection. The molecules involved in the antioxidant process are, respectively, catechins derivatives, in particular, EGCG, andrographolide, and its derivatives, as well as various curcuminoids. These plants are generally used as beverages for Camellia sinensis (tea tree), as dietary supplements, or as spices. The molecules they contain are known for their diverse therapeutic activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, antidiabetic, and dermatological treatment. Their common antioxidant activities and therapeutic applications are widely documented, but their use in cosmetics is more recent. We will see that the use of pharmacomodulated derivatives, the addition of co-antioxidants, and the use of various formulations enable better skin penetration and greater ingredient stability. In this review, we will endeavor to compile the cosmetic uses of these natural molecules of interest and the various structural modulations reported with the aim of improving their bioavailability as well as establishing their different mechanisms of action.
Adherence to Mediterranean Diet: Any Association with NAFLD?
Authors: Barrea Luigi , Verde Ludovica , Savastano Silvia , Colao Annamaria , Muscogiuri Giovanna
Published: June 2023

Oxidative stress is considered one of the main determinants in the pathophysiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity. The alterations of oxidant/antioxidant balance are related to chronic impairment of metabolism leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. Increased oxidative stress also triggers hepatocytes stress pathways, leading to inflammation and contributing to the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Currently, the first-line therapeutic treatment of NAFLD is based on lifestyle interventions, suggesting the Mediterranean Diet (MD) as a preferable nutritional approach due to its antioxidant properties. However, it is still debated if adherence to MD could have a role in determining the risk of developing NAFLD directly or indirectly through its effect on weight. We enrolled 336 subjects (aged 35.87 ± 10.37 years; BMI 31.18 ± 9.66 kg/m2) assessing anthropometric parameters, lifestyle habits, metabolic parameters (fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, low-density (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and γ-glutamyltransferase (γGT), cardio-metabolic indices [Homeostatic Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HoMA-IR), visceral adipose index (VAI) and fatty liver index (FLI)] and adherence to MD [with the PREvención con DIetaMEDiterránea (PREDIMED) questionnaire]. Subjects with NAFLD had significantly higher anthropometric parameters, cardio-metabolic indices and lower adherence to MD than subjects without NAFLD. In a multiple regression analysis, PREDIMED score was the main predictor of FLI (p < 0.001) and came in first, followed by HoMA-IR, while VAI was not a predictor. A PREDIMED score value of <6 could serve as a threshold to identify patients who are more likely to have NAFLD (p < 0.001). In conclusion, high adherence to MD resulted in a lower risk of having NAFLD. Adherence to MD could have a direct role on the risk of developing NAFLD, regardless of visceral adipose tissue.
Green Tea Catechins as Therapeutic Antioxidants for Glaucoma Treatment
Authors: Ng Tsz Kin , Chu Kai On , Wang Chi Chiu , Pang Chi Pui
Published: June 2023

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness and visual impairment, affecting more than 80 million individuals worldwide. Oxidative stress and inflammation-induced neurodegenerative insults to retinal ganglion cells are the main pathogenesis of glaucoma. Retinal ganglion cells, the retinal neurons transmitting the visual signals to the visual cortex in the brain, have very limited regeneration or recovery capacity after damages. Apart from intraocular pressure-lowering treatments, there is still no clinically effective treatment to rescue the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma. Dietary antioxidants are easily accessible and can be applied as supplements assisting in the clinical treatments. Catechins, a chemical family of flavonoids, are the phenolic compounds found in many plants, especially in green tea. The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of green tea catechins in vitro and in vivo have been well proven. They could be a potential treatment ameliorating retinal ganglion cell degeneration in glaucoma. In this review, the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic properties of green tea catechins were summarized. Research updates on the biological effects of green tea catechins in cellular and animal experimental glaucoma models were reviewed. In addition, clinical potentials of green tea catechins for glaucoma treatment were also highlighted.
Nitric Oxide and Globin Glb1 Regulate Fusarium oxysporum Infection of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Terrón-Camero Laura C. , Molina-Moya Eliana , Peláez-Vico M Ángeles , Sandalio Luisa M. , Romero-Puertas María C.
Published: June 2023

Plants continuously interact with fungi, some of which, such as Fusarium oxysporum, are lethal, leading to reduced crop yields. Recently, nitric oxide (NO) has been found to play a regulatory role in plant responses to F. oxysporum, although the underlying mechanisms involved are poorly understood. In this study, we show that Arabidopsis mutants with altered levels of phytoglobin 1 (Glb1) have a higher survival rate than wild type (WT) after infection with F. oxysporum, although all the genotypes analyzed exhibited a similar fungal burden. None of the defense responses that were analyzed in Glb1 lines, such as phenols, iron metabolism, peroxidase activity, or reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, appear to explain their higher survival rates. However, the early induction of the PR genes may be one of the reasons for the observed survival rate of Glb1 lines infected with F. oxysporum. Furthermore, while PR1 expression was induced in Glb1 lines very early on the response to F. oxysporum, this induction was not observed in WT plants.
Changes in the Cell Division of Chang Liver Cells Induced by Simulated Microgravity
Authors: Tran Minh Thi , Doan Chung Chinh , Hoang Son Nghia , Ly Cang Ngoc , Nguyen Mai Thi Phuong , To Quan Minh , Truong Nhung Hai , Ho Chi Nguyen Quynh , Le Long Thanh
Published: June 2023

Background: Simulated microgravity (SMG) has not been well characterized in terms of its impact on cell division structures. This research aimed to assess the changes in cell division in Chang liver cells (CCL-13 cells) under SMG conditions. Methods: CCL-13 cells were exposed to SMG conditions via a 3D clinostat for 72 h. The cells from the control group were kept under the same conditions, without exposure to SMG. The changes in cell division were assessed via cell cycle progression analysis, the transcript expression of the genes associated with the cell cycle, and the appearance of the contractile ring, microvilli, and spindle in CCL-13 cells. Results: The CCL-13 cells from both the control group and the SMG group exhibited a typical epithelial-like shape. The CCL-13 cells of both groups displayed normal nuclear morphologies and were devoid of fragmentation and condensation, which are signs of apoptosis. There were changes in the cell cycle of CCL-13 cells in the SMG condition, which were shown via an increase in the cell percentage in the G0/G1 phase and a decrease in the S phase and G2/M phase. The cell area of the SMG-exposed CCl-13 cells increased, while their nuclear area decreased, which led to a reduction in the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. Moreover, the transcript expression of cyclin b1, cyclin d1, cdk2, and cdk6 was downregulated in CCL-13 cells under SMG conditions compared to the control group. Interestingly, SMG-exposed CCL-13 cells exhibited a decreased appearance of microvilli, changes in the formation of the contractile ring, and polar spindle microtubules during cytokinesis. Conclusions: SMG attenuated the cell division of CCL-13 cells by driving cells into the arrest phase and altering the cell division structures.
Research on a Ship Deflection Anti-Collision Method Based on a Water-Jet Interference Flow Field
Authors: Yu Kui , Wang Hongming , Liu Xianqing , Peng Bingli
Published: June 2023

Currently, water jets are mainly used in the fields of mechanical processing and mining collection. This paper creatively introduces them to the field of safety assurance for inland navigation. Compared with the traditional bridge anti-striking methods such as intelligent early warning and passive anti-striking, this method can form an “interference zone” by changing the water flow conditions in the local bridge water areas, causing the yawing moment of the yaw ship to change, thereby causing the ship’s course to change, and thus guiding the ship to move away from the bridge pier to realize active anti-striking of the ship. In this paper, a combination of generalized model testing and numerical simulation was used to study the effects of different nozzle pressures and different ship pier distances of the water-jet generator on the trajectory and drift angle of the stalled ship. The results showed that the numerical simulation was in good agreement with the model test results. Within the interference zone, the distance between the ship and the pier increased rapidly after the action of the disturbance zone to 9.1, 5.8, and 6.2 times the ship’s width, respectively, reaching a safe distance. During the process of being affected by the interference zone, the maximum drift angle of the yaw ship was less than 20°, the course of the ship was generally stable, and the drift angle comparison error was a maximum of 10.6%, a minimum of 3.5%, and an average error of 6.7%. A negative peak and a positive peak of four times the absolute value of the negative peak occurred in the yaw-moment ephemeral curve during the ship’s passage through the interference area. The method had a notable effect on the anti-striking of stalled ships and two invention patents applied for in the course of research.
Performance Studies of High-Power Optical Parametric Oscillators Pumped by a Pulsed Fiber Laser
Authors: Hu Liemao , Shao Yuning , Lv Xinjie , Ning Jian , Zhao Gang , Zhu Shining
Published: June 2023

High-power optical parametric oscillators (OPOs), as mature radiation sources in mid-infrared (MIR), degenerate gradually with wavelength increase, mainly above 3700 nm. Using a periodically poled magnesium-oxide-doped lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN) as the nonlinear crystal, we build a high-power signal-resonant OPO pumped by ytterbium-doped fiber laser (YDFL). To improve the OPO’s output power at ~3.8 μm, the parameters, such as the pump beam’s waist diameter and location, the curvature radius of the output coupler and the length of MgO:PPLN, are discussed in detail. When pump power is 79 ± 4 W with a repetition rate of 200 kHz, the OPO provides up to 8 ± 0.4 W average power in beam quality with M2 factors of ~1.84 and ~1.69 in the two axes. Under the highest output power, the center wavelength of the idler beam is 3768.4 nm with a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) bandwidth of ~18.6 nm. When the output power reaches ~6.3 W, its power stability is 1.6% root mean square (RMS) over 7 h. Further analysis of the factors affecting OPO’s performance and simple structure are critically essential for compact OPO prototypes with a capacity of high output power.
Substation Operation Sequence Inference Model Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Chen Tie , Li Hongxin , Cao Ying , Zhang Zhifan
Published: June 2023

At present, substation operation ticket system is developed based on an expert system, which has some problems such as knowledge base redundancy, intelligence deficiency and automatic learning ability. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an operation sequence reasoning model based on the knowledge base of the Neo4j knowledge graph and DuelingDQN (Dueling Deep Q Network) algorithm. Firstly, the diagram structure model of substation main wiring was established using the Neo4j knowledge graph. Based on the diagram structure model, the operable equipment set of the operation task was searched to form the task space, action space and action selection model of DuelingDQN. The reward and punishment function was designed based on the “five defense” rules and the state change of equipment. Make DuelingDQN model and Neo4j model interact in real time, and automatically learn the operation sequence. The test results show that the method proposed in this paper can automatically deduce the correct operation steps under different wiring modes and realize the transfer within the station, which is of great significance to the intellectualization of the operation ticket system.
Attention-Based Mechanisms for Cognitive Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Gao Yue , Li Di , Chen Xiangjian , Zhu Junwu
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we propose a cognitive reinforcement learning method based on an attention mechanism (CRL-CBAM) to address the problems of complex interactive communication, limited range, and time-varying communication topology in multi-intelligence collaborative work. The method not only combines the efficient decision-making capability of reinforcement learning, the representational capability of deep learning, and the self-learning capability of cognitive learning but also inserts a convolutional block attention module to increase the representational capability by using the attention mechanism to focus on important features and suppress unnecessary ones. The use of two modules, channel and spatial axis, to emphasize meaningful features in the two main dimensions can effectively aid the flow of information in the network. Results from simulation experiments show that the method has more rewards and is more efficient than other methods in formation control, which means a greater advantage when dealing with scenarios with a large number of agents. In group containment, the agents learn to sacrifice individual rewards to maximize group rewards. All tasks are successfully completed, even if the simulation scenario changes from the training scenario. The method can therefore be applied to new environments with effectiveness and robustness.
Design of Pyrolysis Plant for Waste Methyl Ethyl Ketone from the Polarizer Manufacturing Process
Authors: Zhang Yan-Quan , Huang Chih-Hsiang , Wu Chao-Yuan , Tseng Yao-Hsuan
Published: June 2023

The rapid growth of the semiconductor industry has made significant strides in addressing clean energy concerns. However, there are still unresolved issues related to waste solvents. One promising approach to tackle these challenges is through pyrolysis. This study selected waste methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) from the industrial sector as the feedstock for pyrolysis, resulting in various residual products such as fixed carbon (char), carbon soot, and fuel gases. Experimental results demonstrated that operating temperatures between 750 and 900 °C under anaerobic conditions yielded 5% to 10 wt% of fixed carbon, along with a small amount of tar and 80% to 90% of fuel gases. The research included lab-scale pilot experiments and field-scale system studies to develop a comprehensive concept for a thermal cracking plant. SolidWorks and Aspen Plus software were applied for calculations involving heat-transfer coefficients, residence time, and the utilization of fuel gases with a boiler or burner. A field system was constructed to scale up the pyrolysis process and effectively eliminate waste solvents, incorporating an automated procedural process.
The Machine Vision Dial Automatic Drawing System—Based on CAXA Secondary Development
Authors: Zhang Ning , Li Fei , Zhang Enxu
Published: June 2023

Whether the pointer recognition of an SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride) density controller is correct or not is directly related to enterprise security. Therefore, a pointer recognition system that is highly efficient, precise, and secure is required. In this paper, we set up a detection platform for efficient detection of pointer readings. To detect the pointer with high accuracy, we propose a dial pointer angle detection method based on OpenCV that obtains high-precision dial pointer angle information. We then use Socket communication to transmit the dial pointer information to the secondary development program. Finally, we use the ObjectCRX development software package based on Visual Studio 2015 to quickly access the CAXA electronic drawing board graphics database, carry out secondary development of the CAXA electronic drawing board 2021, and comprehensively apply various functions to draw the overall outline of the dial. Finally, we read the dial pointer angle in order to draw the current test product dial CAD drawing. After verification, the average error rate of pointer angle recognition is 0.69°, which is much lower than the enterprise standard of 2.7°. Based on machine vision technology, we researched and designed an SF6 density controller dial automatic drawing system, and after many tests, the system runs stably and the accuracy meets the needs of enterprises.
Microbial Dynamics in Sour–Sweet Wine Vinegar: Impacts on Chemical and Sensory Composition
Authors: Vilela Alice
Published: June 2023

The most known and traditional vinegar is the one that is made from wine. For its production, the grape must undergo alcohol fermentation and the posterior oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid. Yeasts and acetic acid bacteria (AAB) carry out the biochemical processes in sequence. The process of wine acetification can be achieved by slow traditional processes (the Orléans or French methods) or by a quick submerged industrial process. High-quality vinegar is usually produced by traditional methods using oak casks, once the wood allows the continuous aeration of the acetic bacteria culture. Sour–sweet vinegar presents a balance of both bitter/sour and sweet flavors. The sourness typically comes from acetic acid, while the sweetness can come from the type of fruit or the amount of sugar present at the end of vinegar production. In general, sour-sweet vinegar has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile compared to regular vinegar, which is often simply sour. One kind of vinegar produced by wine acetification where yeasts and bacteria co-exist and produce savory vinegar is traditional balsamic vinegar (TBV), from Italy. In Spain, fortified sherry wine has also been used for vinegar production. In Portugal, some wine companies have produced port wine vinegar since 2018. These three distinctive vinegar products have in common the sweetness that can be found, well balanced with the acetic acid sourness. In this review, we analyze the sour-sweat wine vinegar process, bearing in mind the possible interactions between yeasts and AAB that occur during vinegar production and considering the symbiotic or competitive features of a diverse microbiota.
YOLOv5-FF: Detecting Floating Objects on the Surface of Fresh Water Environments
Authors: Zhang Xiaohong , Min Changzhuo , Luo Junwei , Li Zhiying
Published: June 2023

Real-time detection and timely treatment of floating objects on rivers, lakes and reservoirs is very essential to protect water environment and maintain the safety of navigation and water projects. YOLOv5, as a one-stage object detection solution, is very suitable for real-time floating object detection. However, it suffers from the problem of the false detection and missed detection of floating objects especially of small floating objects. In this paper, we conducts a series of improvements on YOLOv5 to alleviate the problem. Concretely, we propose a hybrid attention mechanism supporting the interaction among channels over a long distance while preserving the direct correspondence between channels and their weights. Base on the attention mechanism, we propose an adaptive feature extraction module to capture the feature information of objects in the case of the feature loss caused by downsampling operations. Based on the attention mechanism and dilated encoder, we construct a feature expression enhancement module to cover large objects while not losing small objects in the same certain scale range. We also add a detection layer for small objects to improve the performance in detecting small floating objects. The experiments on the data set verify the usefulness and effectiveness of our work.
Dynamic Modeling of Flue Gas Desulfurization Process via Bivariate EMD-Based Temporal Convolutional Network
Authors: Liu Quanbo , Li Xiaoli , Wang Kang
Published: June 2023

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) can cause detrimental impacts on the ecosystem. It is well known that coal-fired power plants play a dominant role in SO2 emissions, and consequently industrial flue gas desulfurization (IFGD) systems are widely used in coal-fired power plants. To remove SO2 effectively such that ultra-low emission standard can be satisfied, IFGD modeling has become urgently necessary. IFGD is a chemical process with long-term dependencies between time steps, and it typically exhibits strong non-linear behavior. Furthermore, the process is rendered non-stationary due to frequent changes in boiler loads. The above-mentioned properties make IFGD process modeling a truly formidable problem, since the chosen model should have the capability of learning long-term dependencies, non-linear dynamics and non-stationary processes simultaneously. Previous research in this area fails to take all the above points into account at a time, and this calls for a novel modeling approach so that satisfactory modeling performance can be achieved. In this work, a novel bivariate empirical mode decomposition (BEMD)-based temporal convolutional network (TCN) approach is proposed. In our approach, BEMD is employed to generate relatively stationary processes, while TCN, which possesses long-term memory ability and uses dilated causal convolutions, serves to model each subprocess. Our method was validated using the operating data from the desulfurization system of a coal-fired power station in China. Simulation results show that our approach yields desirable performance, which demonstrates its effectiveness in the IFGD dynamic modeling problem.
Privacy-Preserving Federated Singular Value Decomposition
Authors: Liu Bowen , Pejó Balázs , Tang Qiang
Published: June 2023

Singular value decomposition (SVD) is a fundamental technique widely used in various applications, such as recommendation systems and principal component analyses. In recent years, the need for privacy-preserving computations has been increasing constantly, which concerns SVD as well. Federated SVD has emerged as a promising approach that enables collaborative SVD computation without sharing raw data. However, existing federated approaches still need improvements regarding privacy guarantees and utility preservation. This paper moves a step further towards these directions: we propose two enhanced federated SVD schemes focusing on utility and privacy, respectively. Using a recommendation system use-case with real-world data, we demonstrate that our schemes outperform the state-of-the-art federated SVD solution. Our utility-enhanced scheme (utilizing secure aggregation) improves the final utility and the convergence speed by more than 2.5 times compared with the existing state-of-the-art approach. In contrast, our privacy-enhancing scheme (utilizing differential privacy) provides more robust privacy protection while improving the same aspect by more than 25%.
Optimization of Multistage Coilgun Based on Neural Network and Intelligent Algorithm
Authors: He Yi , Yang Xiaoqing , Tian Haojie
Published: June 2023

The parameter optimization of a multistage synchronous induction coilgun (SICG) is a time-consuming task. Traditional machine learning methods can accelerate the process by building predictive models, but they require separate modeling for an SICG with different stages, which requires numerous datasets and is a cumbersome process. This paper proposes a method for building a predictive model for an SICG with different stages based on a recurrent neural network (RNN). In this method, the feed time of a 2- to 10-stage SICG is selected from the standard orthogonal design table as the training and test datasets, and the current filament method (CFM) is used to calculate the dataset label. The gate recurrent unit (GRU) neural network is used to study the training dataset, and the predictive model has good accuracy with respect to the test dataset, with an average error of 0.022. The predictive model and a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm are applied to optimize the feed time of the SICG with different stages. The results show that the three-stage SICG can achieve a muzzle velocity of 50 m/s for a projectile, while the maximum muzzle velocity of the three-stage SICG in all datasets is 46.87 m/s.
Concrete Dam Deformation Prediction Model Research Based on SSA–LSTM
Authors: Madiniyeti Jiedeerbieke , Chao Yang , Li Tongchun , Qi Huijun , Wang Fei
Published: June 2023

In the context of dam deformation monitoring, the prediction task is essentially a time series prediction problem that involves non-stationarity and complex influencing factors. To enhance the accuracy of predictions and address the challenges posed by high randomness and parameter selection in LSTM models, a novel approach called sparrow search algorithm–long short-term memory (SSA–LSTM) has been proposed for predicting the deformation of concrete dams. SSA–LSTM combines the SSA optimization algorithm with LSTM to automatically optimize the model’s parameters, thereby enhancing the prediction performance. Firstly, a concrete dam was used as an example to preprocess the historical monitoring data by cleaning, normalizing, and denoising, and due to the specificity of the data structure, multi-level denoising of abnormal data was performed. Second, some of the data were used to train the model, and the hyperparameters of the long and short-term memory neural network model (LSTM) were optimized by the SSA algorithm to better match the input data with the network structure. Finally, high-precision prediction of concrete dam deformation was carried out. The proposed model in this study significantly improves the prediction accuracy in dam deformation forecasting and demonstrates effectiveness in long-term time series deformation prediction. The model provides a reliable and efficient approach for evaluating the long-term stability of dam structures, offering valuable insights for engineering practices and decision-making.
Multi-Label Classification of Chinese Rural Poverty Governance Texts Based on XLNet and Bi-LSTM Fused Hierarchical Attention Mechanism
Authors: Wang Xin , Guo Leifeng
Published: June 2023

Hierarchical multi-label text classification (HMTC) is a highly relevant and widely discussed topic in the era of big data, particularly for efficiently classifying extensive amounts of text data. This study proposes the HTMC-PGT framework for poverty governance’s single-path hierarchical multi-label classification problem. The framework simplifies the HMTC problem into training and combination problems of multi-class classifiers in the classifier tree. Each independent classifier in this framework uses an XLNet pretrained model to extract char-level semantic embeddings of text and employs a hierarchical attention mechanism integrated with Bi-LSTM (BiLSTM + HA) to extract semantic embeddings at the document level for classification purposes. Simultaneously, this study proposes that the structure uses transfer learning (TL) between classifiers in the classifier tree. The experimental results show that the proposed XLNet + BiLSTM + HA + FC + TL model achieves micro-P, micro-R, and micro-F1 values of 96.1%, which is 7.5~38.1% higher than those of other baseline models. The HTMC-PGT framework based on XLNet, BiLSTM + HA, and transfer learning (TL) between classifier tree nodes proposed in this study solves the hierarchical multi-label classification problem of poverty governance text (PGT). It provides a new idea for solving the traditional HMTC problem.
The Use of Exoskeletons and Molts of Farmed Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) for the Removal of Reactive Dyes from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Jóźwiak Tomasz , Filipkowska Urszula , Bakuła Tadeusz
Published: June 2023

The study aim was to test the applicability of exoskeletons and molts from mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) cultures as sorbents for anionic dyes: Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Reactive Yellow (RY84). Factors investigated included: characteristics of sorbents (FTIR, pHPZC), the influence of pH on sorption efficiency, sorption kinetics (pseudo-first, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion models), and determination of the maximum sorption capacity (Langmuir 1, Langmuir 2, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich models). The sorption efficiency of anionic dyes on the tested sorbents was the highest at pH 2. The time needed to reach the sorption equilibrium for both dyes was 120–150 min. The sorption kinetics of the dyes were best described by the pseudo-second-order model. Maximum sorption capacity data showed the best fit to Langmuir 2 isotherm, suggesting that at least two types of sorption centers played an important role in dye sorption. Presumably, for both of the tested sorbents, the active sites in question were protonated amine (-NH3+), acetamide (NH2COCH3+), and hydroxyl groups (-OH2+) of chitin and protein. The maximum RB5 and RY84 sorption capacity of the tested sorbents was 78.70 mg/g and 60.49 mg/g, respectively, for mealworm exoskeletons, as well as 55.72 mg/g and 44.25 mg/g, respectively, for mealworm molts.
On the Use of FOPID Controllers for Maintenance Phase of General Anesthesia
Authors: Paolino Nicola , Schiavo Michele , Latronico Nicola , Padula Fabrizio , Paltenghi Massimiliano , Visioli Antonio
Published: June 2023

This paper investigates the performance achievable with a fractional-order PID regulator controlling the Depth of Hypnosis (measured via the Bispectral Index Scale) through the administration of propofol during the maintenance phase of total intravenous anesthesia. In particular, two different methodologies were applied to tune the controller: in the first case, genetic algorithms (GAs) were used to minimize the integrated absolute error, while in the second case, the isodamping approach—a method that targets phase margin invariance with respect to the process dc gain—was employed. In both cases, the performance was extensively analyzed and compared with that of a standard PID controller by simulating multiple patients through a Monte Carlo method. The results demonstrate that a fractional-order PID controller can be effectively used to control the Depth of Hypnosis, but the improvement with respect to a standard PID controller is marginal.