bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shedding Light on SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccination, and Auditory Symptoms: Causality or Spurious Conjunction?
Authors: Saunders Gabrielle H. , Beukes Eldre , Uus Kai , Armitage Christopher J. , Kelly Jack , Munro Kevin J.
Published: February 2022

There are reports of associations between SARS-CoV2, COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines, and auditory symptoms (hearing difficulty, tinnitus). However, most studies have relied on self-report and lack baseline and/or non-COVID control groups. This makes it problematic to differentiate if symptoms are associated with SARS-CoV2, COVID-19, the vaccine, psychosocial factors or recall bias. In this study, we differentiate these by comparing hearing and tinnitus survey data collected pre- and during the pandemic. The survey conducted during the pandemic asked about the onset and change in three types of symptom. Type One—known association (loss of smell, memory/concentration issues, persistent fatigue), Type Two—indeterminate association (auditory symptoms), and Type Three—no established association with COVID-19 (toothache). We hypothesized that if auditory symptoms are directly associated with COVID-19, their onset and change would be similar to Type One symptoms, but if indirectly associated (reflecting psychosocial factors and/or recall bias) would be more similar to Type Three symptoms. Of the 6,881 individuals who responded, 6% reported confirmed COVID-19 (positive test), 11% probably had COVID-19, and 83% reported no COVID-19. Those with confirmed or probable COVID-19 more commonly reported new and/or worsened auditory symptoms than those not reporting COVID-19. However, this does not imply causality because: (1) new auditory symptoms coincided with COVID-19 illness among just 1/3 of those with confirmed or probable COVID-19, and another 1/3 said their symptoms started before the pandemic—despite reporting no symptoms in the pre-pandemic survey. (2) >60% of individuals who had COVID-19 said it had affected their Type 3 symptoms, despite a lack of evidence linking the two. (3) Those with confirmed COVID-19 reported more Type 1 symptoms, but reporting of Type 2 and Type 3 symptoms did not differ between those with confirmed COVID-19 and those without COVID-19, while those who probably had COVID-19 most commonly reported these symptom types. Despite more reports of auditory symptoms in confirmed or probable COVID-19, there is inconsistent reporting, recall bias, and possible nocebo effects. Studies that include appropriate control groups and use audiometric measures in addition to self-report to investigate change in auditory symptoms relative to pre-COVID-19 are urgently needed.
Nebula-Relay Hypothesis: The Chirality of Biological Molecules in Molecular Clouds
Authors: Feng Lei
Published: February 2022

The chiral puzzle of biological molecules is thought to be closely related to the origin of life and is still a mystery so far. Previously, we proposed a new model on the origin of life, Nebula-Relay hypothesis, which assumed that the life on Earth originated at the planetary system of the Sun’s predecessor star and then filled in the pre-solar nebula after its death. As primitive lives existed in the pre-solar nebula for a long time, did the chiral biomolecules form during this period? We explore such a possibility in this work and find that the ultra-low temperature environment of molecular clouds is beneficial to generating the chiral polymer chain of biological molecules.
Anatomical Fundamentals and Current Surgical Knowledge of Prostate Anatomy Related to Functional and Oncological Outcomes for Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Hoeh Benedikt , Wenzel Mike , Hohenhorst Lukas , Köllermann Jens , Graefen Markus , Haese Alexander , Tilki Derya , Walz Jochen , Kosiba Marina , Becker Andreas , Banek Severine , Kluth Luis A. , Mandel Philipp , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Chun Felix K. H. , Preisser Felix
Published: February 2022

Context

Meticulous knowledge about the anatomy of the prostate and surrounding tissue represents a crucial and mandatory requirement during radical prostatectomy for reliable oncological and excellent replicable, functional outcomes. Since its introduction two decades ago, robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) has evolved to become the predominant surgical approach in many industrialized countries.

Objective

To provide and highlight currently available literature regarding prostate anatomy and to help in improving oncological and functional outcomes in RALP.

Methods/Evidence Acquiring

PubMed database was searched using the following keywords: “robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy,” “anatomy,” “neurovascular bundle,” “nerve,” “periprostatic fascia,” “pelvis,” “sphincter,” “urethra,” “urinary incontinence,” and “erectile dysfunction.” Relevant articles and book chapters were critically reviewed and if eligible, they were included in this review.

Results

New evidence in regards to prostatic anatomy and surgical approaches in RALP has been reported in recent years. Besides detailed anatomical studies investigating the meticulous structure of the fascial structures surrounding the prostate and neurovascular bundle preservation, debate about the optimal RALP approach is still ongoing, inspired by recent publications presenting promising functional outcomes following modifications in surgical approaches.

Conclusions

This review provides a detailed overview of the current knowledge of prostate anatomy, its surrounding tissue, and its influence on key surgical step development for RALP.
Construction of a Training Content System for New Nurses in Cancer Hospital Based on Competency
Authors: Liu Miao , Geng Jingzhi , Gao Jian , Mei Zhihong , Wang Xueyan , Wang Sicong , Liu Yan
Published: February 2022

Objective

To construct a training content system for new nurses in cancer hospitals based on postcompetency and to provide guidance for clinical new nurse training.

Methods

Based on literature review, semistructured interviews, and questionnaire surveys, a new draft of the nurse training content system was initially established, and 17 experts were selected to make two rounds of inquiry on the system by the Delphi method, so as to construct a new nurse training content system.

Results

The effective rate of recovery of the two rounds of expert correspondence was 100%, the cooperation among experts was high, and the authoritative coefficient of experts was 0.89. The content system of new nurse training constructed included 2 first-class indexes, 5 second-class indexes, and 45 third-class indexes.

Conclusion

The new nurse training content system is closely combined with clinical work, pays attention to improving nurses' competence, reflects the characteristics of nursing work in cancer hospitals, has a certain scientific and practical significance, and can provide guidance for the training of new nurses in cancer hospitals.
Composite Paraganglioma of the Celiac Trunk: A Case Report and a Comprehensive Review of the Literature
Authors: Tzikos Georgios , Menni Alexandra , Cheva Angeliki , Pliakos Ioannis , Tsakona Anastasia , Apostolidis Stilianos , Iakovou Ioannis , Michalopoulos Antonios , Papavramidis Theodosios
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Composite paragangliomas consist of two components, paraganglioma and ganglioneuroma, representing a rare subgroup of paragangliomas. The purpose of the study is to describe a case of composite paraganglioma of the celiac trunk and a brief review of the existing literature.

Case Presentation

A 64-year-old female patient with a history of epigastric abdominal pain and a 51 mm-diameter tumor found in a Computerized Tomography of the abdomen was admitted to our surgical department for further evaluation and treatment. After a brief preoperative surgical assessment, the patient underwent a mini-laparotomy for the excision of this tumor. After having the results of the pathology report, a comprehensive review of the international literature was carried out by applying the appropriate search terms.

Results

As it was found intraoperatively, the tumor was located at the cephalad aspect of the common hepatic artery, over the portal vein and the inferior vena cava. A negative-margin resection was achieved and the tumor was sent for pathology analysis. The final pathology report revealed a composite paraganglioma, with α paraganglioma and a ganglioneuroma component. Seventeen cases of extra-adrenal composite paraganglioma have been reported in the international literature so far. This case was the first one found in the area of the celiac trunk.

Conclusions

Composite paragangliomas comprise rare and potentially malignant tumors with variable prognosis. Establishing their diagnosis promptly is of vital significance. Due to the first-described location of the composite paraganglioma in our case, the differential diagnosis of tumors in this area should also include composite paragangliomas.
Therapeutic Potential of Menstrual Blood-Derived Stem Cell Transplantation for Intrauterine Adhesions
Authors: He Yantao , Han Yanhua , Ye Yun
Published: February 2022

An increasing number of women experience intrauterine adhesion as a result of intrauterine operations, such as induced abortion, which can cause infertility, recurrent abortion and amenorrhea. Although some strategies have been applied clinically, such as hysteroscopy adhesiolysis of intrauterine adhesions, the results have not been promising. As regenerative medicine develops, research on menstrual blood-derived stem cell transplantation is increasing due to the properties of these cells, including self-renewal, differentiation, angiogenesis, anti-inflammation and immunomodulation. As a result, menstrual blood-derived stem cells may be an ideal cell source for the treatment of intrauterine adhesion. Excitingly, it has been reported that autologous menstrual blood stem cells could recovery injured endometrium and improve infertility in patients with refractory intrauterine adhesion. In this review, we discuss the possible potential of menstrual blood-derived stem cell transplantation for intrauterine adhesion, including the antifibrosis, angiogenesis, anti-inflammation and immunoregulation properties of the cells, which brings hopes for clinical therapy.
Approximation of the Riesz–Caputo Derivative by Cubic Splines
Authors: Pitolli Francesca , Sorgentone Chiara , Pellegrino Enza
Published: February 2022

Differential problems with the Riesz derivative in space are widely used to model anomalous diffusion. Although the Riesz–Caputo derivative is more suitable for modeling real phenomena, there are few examples in literature where numerical methods are used to solve such differential problems. In this paper, we propose to approximate the Riesz–Caputo derivative of a given function with a cubic spline. As far as we are aware, this is the first time that cubic splines have been used in the context of the Riesz–Caputo derivative. To show the effectiveness of the proposed numerical method, we present numerical tests in which we compare the analytical solution of several boundary differential problems which have the Riesz–Caputo derivative in space with the numerical solution we obtain by a spline collocation method. The numerical results show that the proposed method is efficient and accurate.
Classification and Merging Techniques to Reduce Brokerage Using Multi-Objective Optimization
Authors: Bettahalli Kengegowda Dhanalakshmi , Kamidoddi Chowdaiah Srikantaiah , Lokesh Gururaj Harinahalli , Flammini Francesco
Published: February 2022

Cloud computing is concerned with effective resource utilization and cost optimization. In the existing system, the cost of resources is much higher. To overcome this problem, a new model called Classification and Merging Techniques for Reducing Brokerage Cost (CMRBC) is designed for effective resource utilization and cost optimization in the cloud. CMRBC has two benefits. Firstly, this is a cost-effective solution to service providers and customers. Secondly, for every job, virtual machine (VM) creations are avoided to reduce brokerage. The allocation, creation or selection of resources of VM is carried out by broker. The main objective is to maximize the resource utilization and minimize brokerage in cloud computing by using Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO). It considered a multi-attribute approach as it has more than two objectives. Likewise, CMRBC implements efficient resource allocation to reduce the usage cost of resources. The outcome of the experiment shows that CMRBC outperforms 60 percent of reduction in brokerage and 10 percent in response time.
Improved Multi-Plant Disease Recognition Method Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks in Six Diseases of Apples and Pears
Authors: Gu Yeong Hyeon , Yin Helin , Jin Dong , Zheng Ri , Yoo Seong Joon
Published: February 2022

Plant diseases are a major concern in the agricultural sector; accordingly, it is very important to identify them automatically. In this study, we propose an improved deep learning-based multi-plant disease recognition method that combines deep features extracted by deep convolutional neural networks and k-nearest neighbors to output similar disease images via query image. Powerful, deep features were leveraged by applying fine-tuning, an existing method. We used 14,304 in-field images with six diseases occurring in apples and pears. As a result of the experiment, the proposed method had a 14.98% higher average similarity accuracy than the baseline method. Furthermore, the deep feature dimensions were reduced, and the image processing time was shorter (0.071–0.077 s) using the proposed 128-sized deep feature-based model, which processes images faster, even for large-scale datasets. These results confirm that the proposed deep learning-based multi-plant disease recognition method improves both the accuracy and speed when compared to the baseline method.
A Digital Advisor Twin for Crop Nitrogen Management
Authors: Weckesser Fabian , Beck Michael , Hülsbergen Kurt-Jürgen , Peisl Sebastian
Published: February 2022

Farmers and consultants face an unmanageable amount of diverse knowledge and information for crop management decisions. To determine optimal actions, decision makers require knowledge-based support. In this way, decisions can be improved and heuristics can be replaced over time. The study presents a digital knowledge base with an integrated decision support system (DSS), using the example of nutrient supply, specifically nitrogen (N), fertilization. Therefore, the requirements of farmers and crop consultants for DSS to inform fertilization decisions for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were elaborated using surveys, expert interviews, and a prototype test. Semantic knowledge was enriched by expert knowledge and combined in a web application, the Crop Portal. To map regional and personal decision making patterns and experiences, the tacit knowledge on the complex advisory problem of N fertilization is made digitally usable. For this purpose, 16 fuzzy variables were specified and formalized. Individual decision trees and their interactions with an integrative knowledge base were used to multiply the consulting reach of experts. Using three consultants and nine model farms from different soil–climate areas in Germany, the Crop Portal was tested under practical conditions and the perceived pragmatic and hedonic quality of the system was evaluated using a standardized questionnaire. The field test showed that the variation in fertilizer recommendations from the ‘digital advisor twin’ ranged from 5 kg N ha−1 to 16 kg N ha−1 when compared with the decisions of the experts in the field. The study presents the participatory development and evaluation of a rule-based DSS prototype in agricultural practice.
The Changes in Soil Microorganisms and Soil Chemical Properties Affect the Heterogeneity and Stability of Soil Aggregates before and after Grassland Conversion
Authors: Ren Cheng , Liu Kesi , Dou Pengpeng , Li Jiahuan , Wang Kun
Published: February 2022

The conversion of grasslands to croplands is common in the agro-pastoral ecotone and brings potential risks to soil health and environmental safety. As the forming unit of soil structure, the status of soil aggregates determines soil health and is affected by multiple factors. This study investigated the changes in soil aggregate and main related factors in conversion grasslands with different managed years. Grassland conversion ages were selected as experimental treatments, which included unmanaged grassland, 3 years, 10 years, 30 years, and 50 years since grassland conversion. After grassland conversion, the proportion of large macro-aggregates with a particle size of >2 mm in the 0–10 cm soil layer decreased, small macro-aggregates with a particle size of 2–0.25 mm and micro-aggregates with a particle size of 0.25–0.053 mm increased, while aggregates with a particle size of <0.053 mm had no significant change. Soil chemical properties, most microorganisms and the soil aggregate stability indices MWD and GMD decreased at the early stage (<30 years) of the managed grasslands. After about 50 years of cultivation, soil chemical properties and microorganisms returned to equal or higher levels compared to unmanaged grasslands. However, the stability of aggregates (mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD)) did not recover to the initial state. MWD and GMD were positively correlated with most bacterial factors (total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, actinomycetes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)) and some soil chemical properties (carbon, nitrogen and polysaccharides). According to the partial least square structural equation model, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and phosphorus in the 0–10 cm soil layer explained 33.0% of the variance in MWD by influencing microorganisms. These results indicated that the stability of aggregates was directly driven by microorganisms and indirectly affected by soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and phosphorus.
Dynamic Resistant Starch Accumulation in Contrasting Wheat Genotypes Highlights the Lipid Metabolic Pathway Related to Resistant Starch Synthesis
Authors: Wang Hong-Pan , Cai Hai-Ya , Zhu Jing-Huan , Wei Xia , Zhang Shuo , Liu Gang , He Yong-Gang , Li Bo , Xu Le , Jiao Chun-Hai , Hua Wei , Xu Yan-Hao
Published: February 2022

Resistant starch (RS) shows several health benefits. Enhancing the RS content of wheat is of major commercial importance. However, knowledge regarding the RS synthesis mechanism in wheat remains limited. In this study, the dynamic accumulation of RS during the filling process in two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes with contrasting RS contents (H242, high RS content; H189, low RS content) were investigated. The results demonstrate that beyond 25 days after pollination (DAP), the RS content of H189 was relatively stable, but that of H242 continued to increase. Secondary accumulation was observed in the high-RS-content wheat genotype. A comparative transcriptome analysis between H242 and H189 at 20 DAP and 35 DAP showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in glycerolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism and glucuronate interconversions. Furthermore, weighted gene coexpression network analysis suggested that lipid metabolic pathways such as the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway might be involved in RS synthesis, and lipid-related genes upregulated beyond 25 DAP resulted in RS secondary accumulation. This work provides insight into the characteristics and mechanisms of RS synthesis.
The Role of FAIR Data towards Sustainable Agricultural Performance: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Ali Basharat , Dahlhaus Peter
Published: February 2022

Feeding a growing global population requires improving agricultural production in the face of multidimensional challenges; and digital agriculture is increasingly seen as a strategy for better decision making. Agriculture and agricultural supply chains are increasingly reliant on data, including its access and provision from the farm to the consumer. Far-reaching data provision inevitably needs the adoption of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) that offer data originators and depository custodians with a set of guidelines to safeguard a progressive data availability and reusability. Through a systematic literature review it is apparent that although FAIR data principles can play a key role in achieving sustainable agricultural operational and business performance, there are few published studies on how they have been adopted and used. The investigation examines: (1) how FAIR data assimilate with the sustainability framework; and (2) whether the use of FAIR data by the agriculture industry, has an impact on agricultural performance. The work identifies a social science research gap and suggests a method to guide agriculture practitioners in identifying the specific barriers in making their data FAIR. By troubleshooting the barriers, the value propositions of adopting FAIR data in agriculture can be better understood and addressed.
Temporal Movement of a Dieback Front in a Population of Parkinsonia in Northern Australia
Authors: Diplock Naomi D. , Galea Victor J.
Published: February 2022

The temporal progress of Parkinsonia aculeata dieback through a well-established, naturally occurring dieback affected site was monitored using two transects over a seven-year period. This revealed the time and spatial dynamics underlying the nature of this disorder. Assessment of this site demonstrated a decline in individual plant health over consecutive years, with 98% of parkinsonia plants dying over the study period. Minimal recruitment of new plants led to a collapse in the parkinsonia population. Macrophomina phaseolina (Botryosphaeriaceae) was the only species with known pathogenicity on parkinsonia found in the transect site. This information provides a valuable insight into the timeframe involved in this disease process from infection through to plant death. This is the first research to date to assess the temporal movement of parkinsonia dieback.
Utilisation of Oil Palm’s Empty Fruit Bunch Spikelets for Oil-Spill Removal
Authors: Puasa Nurul Aini , Ahmad Siti Aqlima , Zakaria Nur Nadhirah , Shaharuddin Noor Azmi , Khalil Khalilah Abdul , Azmi Alyza Azzura , Gomez-Fuentes Claudio , Merican Faradina , Zulkharnain Azham , Kok Yih-Yih , Wong Chiew-Yen
Published: February 2022

Agricultural sorbents have received attention for their effectiveness in oil removal. In Malaysia, oil palm’s empty fruit bunch (EFB) spikelets are an abundant agricultural waste that provides a non-toxic, renewable resource of cellulosic materials. In this study, the effectiveness of EFB spikelets to remove oil spills from seawater pollution in a filter system was investigated and the best optimisation approach for filtering conditions was determined. Experiments for oil spill clean-up were performed using a filter-based oil sorption system with a series of conditions such as temperature, time, packing density, and oil concentration to evaluate sorption capacity, oil and water absorbed efficiency. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterise the physicochemical properties of untreated and treated EFB fibres. Based on one-factor-at -a-time (OFAT) analysis conducted at 160 °C for 30 min on 0.1 g/cm3 of packing density containing 25% diesel, 8.667 mL of oil and 5 mL of water was absorbed. In response surface methodology (RSM), the three parameters of temperature, packing density and diesel concentration were observed as significant. From RSM fitting model analysis, the predicted value obtained for both oil and water absorbed were 8.805 and 5.213 mL, respectively. The experimental RSM values of 9 and 5 mL of oil and water absorbed were obtained. The result demonstrated the validity of the model as the experimental RSM values were close to the RSM model’s prediction. As compared to OFAT, the RSM method is more efficient in oil removal. This research contributes to a better knowledge of the usage of a natural sorbent as a method of diesel pollution remediation.
Assessing Soil Organic Carbon, Soil Nutrients and Soil Erodibility under Terraced Paddy Fields and Upland Rice in Northern Thailand
Authors: Arunrat Noppol , Sereenonchai Sukanya , Kongsurakan Praeploy , Hatano Ryusuke
Published: February 2022

Terracing is the oldest technique for water and soil conservation on natural hilly slopes. In Northern Thailand, terraced paddy fields were constructed long ago, but scientific questions remain on how terraced paddy fields and upland rice (non-terraced) differ for soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, soil nutrients and soil erodibility. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate and compare SOC stocks, soil nutrients and soil erodibility between terraced paddy fields and upland rice at Ban Pa Bong Piang, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Topsoil (0–10 cm) was collected from terraced paddies and upland rice fields after harvest. Results showed that SOC stocks were 21.84 and 21.61 Mg·C·ha−1 in terraced paddy and upland rice fields, respectively. There was no significant difference in soil erodibility between terraced paddies (range 0.2261–0.2893 t·h·MJ−1·mm−1) and upland rice (range 0.2238–0.2681 t·h·MJ−1·mm−1). Most soil nutrients (NH4-N, NO3-N, available K, available Ca and available Mg) in the terraced paddy field were lower than those in the upland rice field. It was hypothesized that the continuous water flows from plot-to-plot until lowermost plot caused dissolved nutrients to be washed and removed from the flat surface, leading to a short period for accumulating nutrients into the soil. An increase in soil erodibility was associated with decreasing SOC stock at lower toposequence points. This study suggested that increasing SOC stock is the best strategy to minimize soil erodibility of both cropping systems, while proper water management is crucial for maintaining soil nutrients in the terraced paddy field.
Acclimatization of In Vitro Banana Seedlings Using Root-Applied Bio-Nanofertilizer of Copper and Selenium
Authors: Shalaby Tarek A. , El-Bialy Said M. , El-Mahrouk Mohammed E. , Omara Alaa El-Dein , El-Beltagi Hossam S. , El-Ramady Hassan
Published: February 2022

The production of in vitro banana transplants has become an important practice in the global banana production. Proper and enough nutrients are needed for banana production particularly during the acclimatization period. To avoid the environmental problem resulting from the chemical fertilizers, nanofertilizers of Se and Cu were separately applied during the acclimatization of banana. The biological form of nano-Cu (50 and 100 mg L−1) and nano-Se (25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L−1) were studied on acclimatized banana transplants under greenhouse conditions. Both applied nanofertilizers enhanced the growth of transplant by 10.9 and 12.6% for dry weight after nano-Se and nano-Cu application up to 100 mg L−1, respectively. The survival rate was also increased by increasing applied doses of both nanofertilizers up to 100 mg L−1, whereas the highest survival rate (95.3%) was recorded for nano-Cu. All studied photosynthetic pigments and its fluorescence were improved by applying nanofertilizers. Studied antioxidant enzymatic activities (CAT, PPO, and POX) were also increased. A pH decrease in the growing medium was noticed after applying nano-Cu, which may explain the high bioavailability of studied nutrients (N, P, K, Cu, Fe, Se, and Zn) by banana transplants.
Comparison of Flunixin Meglumine, Meloxicam and Ketoprofen on Mild Visceral Post-Operative Pain in Horses
Authors: Lemonnier Louise C. , Thorin Chantal , Meurice Antoine , Dubus Alice , Touzot-Jourde Gwenola , Couroucé Anne , Leroux Aurélia A.
Published: February 2022

The analgesic efficacy of meloxicam and ketoprofen against equine visceral pain is unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of meloxicam (M) and ketoprofen (K) to flunixin meglumine (F) following inguinal castration. Horses undergoing inguinal castration under general anesthesia were randomly assigned F (1.1 mg/kg), M (0.6 mg/kg) or K (2.2 mg/kg) intravenously two hours pre-operatively and 24 h later. A pain score (out of 31) was recorded blindly by a senior clinician and veterinary student before NSAIDs administration (T0), and after the first (T1) and second (T2) administrations, using a modified post-abdominal surgery pain assessment scale (PASPAS). Pain was classified as mild (score ≤ 7), moderate (score = 8–14) or severe (score > 14). Thirty horses (12 F, 10 M, 8 K) aged 6.2 ± 4.9 years, mostly warmbloods, were included. Horse welfare was not compromised regardless of the drug assigned. There was no statistically significant effect of NSAIDs on pain score. Mean pain scores were significantly higher at T1 than T0 for each NSAID (F: 5.08 ± 2.50 vs. 1.58 ± 1.38 (p < 0.001); M: 4.60 ± 2.32 vs. 1.10 ± 1.20 (p < 0.001); K: 5.25 ± 1.39 vs. 1.50 ± 1.51 (p < 0.0001)) and lower at T2 than T1 for F (2.92 ± 2.423 vs. 5.08 ± 2.50 (p < 0.001)) and M (2.90 ± 1.37 vs. 4.60 ± 2.32 (p < 0.0325)). At T1, senior pain scores were significantly different than for junior (5.56 ± 0.54 vs. 3.22 ± 0.62, p = 0.005). This study indicates that meloxicam and ketoprofen provide a similar level of analgesia to flunixin meglumine for the management of mild visceral pain in horses. PASPAS is not reliable for junior evaluators.
Effect of the In Ovo Injection Site of Electrolytes on Some Biochemical Blood Parameters and Quality of Layer Chicks
Authors: Pawłowska Joanna , Sosnówka-Czajka Ewa , Skomorucha Iwona
Published: February 2022

The effects of the in ovo injection site of electrolytes on selected biochemical blood parameters and the quality of layer chicks were investigated. A total of 120 fertile eggs from Rhode Island Red breeders were randomly distributed into 4 groups, with each group including 30 birds. The groups were as follows: untreated control and groups with different injection sites/locations of 500 µL of 0.9% saline (NaCl) on day 18 of incubation, i.e., into the air cell (AC), through the air cell into the amniotic fluid (AFA), and directly into the amniotic fluid (AF). Measurement at 1 day of age showed that regardless of the injection site, embryos injected with 500 µL of saline had significantly higher Tona score (95/100 points) compared to the control group (90/100 points). Chick length was similar among the injected groups (mean 14.7 cm) and shorter in the control group (13.9 cm). There was no significant effect of in ovo injection on the biochemical blood parameters: total protein, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, glucose, urea, and uric acid. The highest concentration of sodium was noted in the control group (141.59 mmol/L). Regardless of the injection site/location, chicks treated with 500 µL of NaCl were characterized by a significantly lower blood sodium concentration (by 7.45% (AC), 7.90% (AFA), and 4.84% (AF) compared with birds from the control group (p ≤ 0.01)). The influence of saline solution administration in ovo on the blood potassium content of chicks was demonstrated. The concentration of potassium in the control group was significantly higher (by 11.36%) than in the AC group (p ≤ 0.01). In conclusion, the injection of 500 µL of saline solution into the developing chick embryo during the last days of incubation may have a positive effect on the quality of day-old chicks.
Statins Induce Actin Cytoskeleton Disassembly and an Apoptosis-Like Process in Acanthamoeba spp.
Authors: Rodríguez-Expósito Rubén L. , Sifaoui Ines , Reyes-Batlle María , Maciver Sutherland K. , Piñero José E. , Lorenzo-Morales Jacob
Published: February 2022

Acanthamoeba is a ubiquitous opportunistic protozoan pathogen that is known to cause blinding keratitis and rare, but usually fatal, granulomatous encephalitis. The difficulty in treating infections and the toxicity issues of the current treatments emphasize the need to use alternative agents with amoebicidal activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antiamoebic activity of three third-generation statins—cerivastatin, pitavastatin and rosuvastatin—against both cysts and trophozoites of the following four strains of Acanthamoeba: A. castellanii Neff, A. polyphaga, A. griffini and A. quina. Furthermore, programmed cell death (PCD) induction traits were evaluated by measuring chromatin condensation, damages at the mitochondrial level, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the distribution of actin cytoskeleton fibers. Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff was the strain most sensitive to all the statins, where cerivastatin showed the lowest amoebicidal activity for both trophozoite and cyst forms (0.114 ± 0.050 and 0.704 ± 0.129 µM, respectively). All the statins were able to cause DNA condensation, collapse in the mitochondrial membrane potential and a reduction in ATP level production, and disorganization of the total actin fibers in the cytoskeleton of all the evaluated Acanthamoeba strains. Our results showed that the tested statins were able to induce PCD compatible events in the treated amoebae, including chromatin condensation, collapse in the mitochondrial potential and ATP levels, cytoskeleton disassembly and ROS generation.
Quantitative Risk Assessment for the Introduction of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) into Dutch Livestock Farms
Authors: Dankittipong Natcha , Fischer Egil A. J. , Swanenburg Manon , Wagenaar Jaap A. , Stegeman Arjan J. , de Vos Clazien J.
Published: February 2022

Early detection of emerging carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in food-producing animals is essential to control the spread of CPE. We assessed the risk of CPE introduction from imported livestock, livestock feed, companion animals, hospital patients, and returning travelers into livestock farms in The Netherlands, including (1) broiler, (2) broiler breeder, (3) fattening pig, (4) breeding pig, (5) farrow-to-finish pig, and (6) veal calf farms. The expected annual number of introductions was calculated from the number of farms exposed to each CPE source and the probability that at least one animal in an exposed farm is colonized. The total number of farms with CPE colonization was estimated to be the highest for fattening pig farms, whereas the probability of introduction for an individual farm was the highest for broiler farms. Livestock feed and imported livestock are the most likely sources of CPE introduction into Dutch livestock farms. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the number of fattening pig farms determined the number of high introductions in fattening pigs from feed, and that uncertainty on CPE prevalence impacted the absolute risk estimate for all farm types. The results of this study can be used to inform risk-based surveillance for CPE in livestock farms.
Ursolic Acid Protects Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Induced Drosophila Ulcerative Colitis Model by Inhibiting the JNK Signaling
Authors: Wei Tian , Wu Lei , Ji Xiaowen , Gao Yan , Xiao Guiran
Published: February 2022

Ursolic acid (UA) is a bioactive molecule widely distributed in various fruits and vegetables, which was reported to play a therapeutic role in ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by toxic chemicals. However, the underlying mechanism has not been well clarified in vivo. Here, using a Drosophila UC model induced by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), we investigated the defensive effect of UA on intestinal damage. The results showed that UA could significantly protect Drosophila from the damage caused by SDS exposure. Further, UA alleviated the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) induced by SDS and upregulated the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT). Moreover, the proliferation and differentiation of intestine stem cells (ISCs) as well as the excessive activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent JAK/STAT signaling pathway induced by SDS were restored by UA. In conclusion, UA prevents intestine injury from toxic compounds by reducing the JNK/JAK/STAT signaling pathway. UA may provide a theoretical basis for functional food or natural medicine development.
Metabolism, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Redox Homeostasis in Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Colon Hidalgo Daniel , Elajaili Hanan , Suliman Hagir , George Marjorie Patricia , Delaney Cassidy , Nozik Eva
Published: February 2022

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) represents a group of disorders characterized by elevated mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressure, progressive right ventricular failure, and often death. Some of the hallmarks of pulmonary hypertension include endothelial dysfunction, intimal and medial proliferation, vasoconstriction, inflammatory infiltration, and in situ thrombosis. The vascular remodeling seen in pulmonary hypertension has been previously linked to the hyperproliferation of PA smooth muscle cells. This excess proliferation of PA smooth muscle cells has recently been associated with changes in metabolism and mitochondrial biology, including changes in glycolysis, redox homeostasis, and mitochondrial quality control. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms that have been reported to contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic changes, and redox biology in PH.
Experimental Study on the Impact of CO2 Treatment on Different Lithofacies in Shale Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Tao Jiaping , Meng Siwei , Li Dongxu , Cao Gang , Gao Yang , Liu He
Published: February 2022

CO2 technology has been progressively used in the development of shale oil. After injection, CO2 can react with formation water to form carbonic acid, which then reacts with carbonate and silicate minerals, resulting in changes in porosity and permeability. However, there are some debates as to whether the effect of CO2 improves or damages porosity and permeability. So, in this paper, systematic experiments were carried out to clarify the interaction between CO2 and shale in different lithofacies and to draw a pertinent conclusion. The results showed that the shale in Qingshankou Formation could be divided into three main lithofacial types: foliaceous shale, laminated feisic shale and laminated diamictic shale. There were relatively more pores, some natural microfractures and small mineral particles in foliaceous shale, a few micropores and large mineral particles in laminated feisic shale, some biogenic calcium carbonate minerals and hardly any micropores in laminated diamictic shale. Due to the diversity of micromorphology and mineral composition, the effects of CO2 treatment had significant differences. For foliaceous shale, CO2 treatment had both improving and damaging effects on porosity and permeability; for laminated shale, both porosity and permeability improved significantly. So, it is necessary to identify the main lithofacies of target formation before the application of CO2 technology in shale oil reservoirs.
Robust Resource Allocation and Trajectory Planning of UAV-Aided Mobile Edge Computing in Post-Disaster Areas
Authors: Cao Peng , Liu Yi , Yang Chao
Published: February 2022

When natural disasters strike, users in the disaster area may be isolated and unable to transmit disaster information to the outside due to the damage of communication facilities. Unmanned aerial vehicles can be exploited as mobile edge servers to provide emergency service for ground users due to its mobility and flexibility. In this paper, a robust UAV-aided wireless-powered mobile edge computing (MEC) system in post disaster areas is proposed, where the UAV provides charging and computing service for users in the disaster area. Considering the estimation error of users’ locations, our target is to maximize the energy acquisition of each user by jointly optimizing the computing offloading process and the UAV trajectory. Due to the strongly coupled connectionbetween optimization variables and the non-convex nature for trajectory optimization, the problem is difficult to solve. Furthermore, the semi-infinity of the users’ possible location makes the problem even more intractable. To tackle these difficulties, we ignore the estimation error of users’ location firstly, and propose an iterative algorithm by using Lagrange dual method and successive convex approximation (SCA) technology. Then, we propose a cutting-set method to deal with the uncertainty of users’ location. In this method, we degrade the influence of location uncertainty by alternating between optimization step and pessimization step. Finally, simulation results show that the proposed robust algorithm can effectively improve the user energy acquisition.
Performance of Transmit Aperture Selection to Mitigate Jamming
Authors: Chauhan Isha , Bhatnagar Manav R.
Published: February 2022

In this work, we investigate the impact of the transmit aperture selection technique to alleviate the effect of jamming on a free space optical (FSO) communication system. We consider the FSO system to suffer from a jamming signal and Gaussian noise concurrently. The analysis in this paper is conducted on the assumption that all wireless optical links follow the negative exponential distribution with pointing error. A general N×1 FSO system is studied, which allows the transmitter to select a link with the maximum channel gain to transmit the information. We derive a closed-form expression of the bit error rate (BER) of the considered FSO system in the presence of a jammer. We extract the analytical coding gain and diversity order from the asymptotic behavior of the derived BER. We show that the transmit aperture selection allows the FSO system corrupted by a jammer to attain a diversity order of 0.5 N, equal to that of a multiple-input single-output FSO system, while appreciably reducing the power requirements of (N − 1) transmitters. The theoretical analysis is verified by simulations. We also make a quantitative comparison with repetitive coding (RC) and optical space shift keying (OSSK) and show that the transmit aperture selection has a 3 dB advantage over RC; moreover, for a 2×1 system, it provides twice the diversity offered by OSSK. The tenacity of aperture selection is also studied numerically for Gamma-Gamma fading FSO channels.
Terahertz Imaging for Formalin Fixed Malignant Liver Tumors Using Two-Band Beamline at the Accelerator Facility of Nihon University
Authors: Kawashima Yusuke , Masaaki Suemitsu , Kuyama Kayo , Sakai Takeshi , Hayakawa Yasushi , Kaneda Takashi , Sei Norihiro
Published: February 2022

We investigated the transmission characteristics of formalin fixed human liver samples in which normal liver tissue and malignant liver tumor were mixed using terahertz (THz) coherent synchrotron radiation at an infrared free-electron laser (FEL) facility at Nihon University. Infrared-FEL imaging has indicated that the amount of water molecules in the tumor tissue is not different from that in the normal tissue. However, the transmission of the incipient tumor tissue was lower than that of the normal tissue in THz imaging because the tumor tissue contained more water molecular clusters than the normal tissue. The tumor tissue became more permeable owing to the development of fibrous tissue around it. THz imaging will be more useful for discriminating liver tissues by increasing the spatial resolution.
Robotic Platforms for Assistance to People with Disabilities
Authors: Jara Carlos A. , Corrales Juan A.
Published: February 2022

People with congenital and/or acquired disabilities constitute a great number of dependents in today’s society [...]
Single-Phase, Bidirectional, 7.7 kW Totem Pole On-Board Charging/Discharging Infrastructure
Authors: Kumar Vinit , Yi KangHyun
Published: February 2022

In the present scenario of the fossil fuel crisis, a shift from conventional transportation to electric vehicles (EVs) is the goal, and it is necessary to make it economically feasible. Developing an efficient charger with mid-range power level may successfully resolve this problem. In this direction, an EV charging infrastructure has been proposed to achieve grid-to-vehicle (G2V) charging, with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability. In G2V mode, the proposed infrastructure consists of an on-board, single-phase, 7.7 kW totem pole converter in continuous conduction mode to achieve high-power factor correction (PFC). Additionally, instead of conventional Si power MOSFET, an SiC-based converter is introduced to lower the switching losses at high switching frequency with smaller filters. Using an SiC-based converter leads to increased efficiency (more than 98%) and reduced total harmonic distortion (less than 5%), making the system economical. Simultaneously, to make the system more economical, the proposed converter works as an inverter to feedback the power to the grid in V2G mode. Furthermore, to analyse the feasibility, the proposed infrastructure has been simulated and its performance is validated using the simpower tool in MATLAB/Simulink environment.
Design of Particle Dampers for Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Ehlers Tobias , Lachmayer Roland
Published: February 2022

Additively manufactured particle dampers can significantly improve component damping. However, if designed incorrectly, the damping can be worsened. For the design of additively manufactured particle dampers, there are not yet sufficient design rules and models to describe the effect due to numerous design parameters. The research question answered in this paper describes how the effect of particle damping can be characterised as a function of excitation force and excitation frequency for different cavity sizes. To characterise the effect of particle damping, a 33 full factorial test plan is constructed, and the damping is determined experimentally. It is shown that the damping can be reliably evaluated with the circle-fit method. The effect of particle damping is investigated for beams made of AlSi10Mg, 1.2709 and Ti6Al4V. As a result, a positive effect of the particle damping in a frequency range from 500 to 30,000 Hz and partly up to the 9th bending mode can be proven. It is shown that, for the first bending mode, there is an optimum at approx. 2000 Hz. For the optimum, the increase of the damping for the tool steel 1.2709 to 28 and for the aluminium alloy AlSi10Mg to 18 can be proven.
A New Methodology for Type Synthesis of Planar Linkages for Exoskeletons up to Five Angular Outputs
Authors: Helal Mahmoud , Alghtani Abdulaziz H. , Hu Jong Wan , Eleashy Hasan
Published: February 2022

Mechanical linkage systems are a very important issue for exoskeleton design to meet the required number of angular outputs. In this paper, a new methodology is developed for type synthesis of planar linkages to establish a complete set of one degree of freedom (DOF) planar linkages with up to five angular outputs. Modified graphical representation is introduced for a four-bar mechanism as the initial angular output linkage. Then, a computerized procedure is presented to generate multiple angular outputs graphically by adding RRR dyads with parallel and series connections using Visual C++. A complete database of planar linkages with up to five angular outputs is successfully constructed. That helps designers to select the proper linkage for a given number of angular outputs. Some case studies have been discussed to validate the importance and efficiency of the proposed methodology that can be extended to generate linkage systems with any number of angular outputs for general robotic applications.