bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Converting Food Crops to Forage Crops Policy Implementation on Herbivorous Livestock Husbandry Development—Based on Policy Pilot Counties in Hebei, China
Authors: Zhang Huanhuan , Wang Guogang , Liu Jinge , Hao Shuai , Huang Shengnan
Published: November 2022

In the context of increasing consumption of herbivorous livestock products, competition between humans and animals for food, and increasing environmental constraints, it is necessary to solve the problem of sustainable development of China’s livestock industry and increase the protection and development of the grassland livestock industry while making good use of production resources in agricultural areas in order to explore the development potential of the herbivorous livestock industry in agricultural areas. The Converting Food Crops to Forage Crops Policy (CFFP), as an important measure of agricultural supply-side structural reform, aims to develop a high-quality forage industry and a high-quality herbivorous livestock industry. However, over the years of policy implementation, few studies have examined the impact effects of the policy on the development of the regional herbivorous livestock industry. To fill this research gap and provide theoretical support for subsequent policy implementation, the study used the synthetic control method to examine the impact of policy implementation on the development of herbivorous livestock production in the pilot counties in Hebei Province from 2010 to 2020. The study discovered that the policy’s implementation encouraged the expansion of herbivorous livestock production in the pilot counties, but the policy’s effects on various regions and livestock species varied due to the influence of local production bases and resource endowments.
Insights into Cadmium-Induced Morphophysiological Disorders in Althea rosea Cavan and Its Phytoremediation through the Exogeneous Citric Acid
Authors: Khan Amir Abdullah , Wang Tongtong , Nisa Zaib Un , Alnusairi Ghalia S. H. , Shi Fuchen
Published: November 2022

Cadmium (Cd) is taken in plants from soil and then travels through the food cycle, posing a major threat to all the units of the ecosystem. A pot experiment was conducted to understand the influence of citric acid (CA) on Cadmium (Cd) phytoextraction ability of hollyhock (Althea rosea Cavan.). A. rosea plants were exposed to Cd concentrations (100 and 200 mg·kg−1), either in simultaneous administration or without adding CA (5 mM·kg−1 dry weight). The results revealed that exposing A. rosea to different levels of Cd stress, i.e., 100 and 200 mg·kg−1, significantly decreased (p < 0.05) plant growth and biochemical attributes, such as root length (RL), shoot length (SL), fresh biomass (FW), dry biomass (DW), relative water content (RWC), and chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. Meanwhile, a net increase in MDA and REL indicated Cd-induced oxidative stress in plants. However, the application of citric acid (CA) as an organic chelator helped the plants to alleviate the phytotoxic effects of Cd stress on A. rosea, which is shown in terms of enhancing plant growth and biomass; that is, the root length (27.3% and 21.12%), shoot length (32.11% and 23.02%), fresh weight (39.66% and 29.8%), and dry weight (29.8% and 57.33%) under 100 and 200 mg·kg−1 of Cd stress, respectively, were observed. CA application also helped to alleviate the level of chlorophyll and carotenoid contents; foster high level of antioxidants, such as SOD, POD, CAT, and APX; and lower concentration of MDA and EL. In addition to enhancing plant-growth attributes, the application of CA also managed to increase the phytoextraction potential of the plants by enhancing the concentration of Cd in roots and shoots tissues. This is also demonstrated by rising levels of bioaccumulation (BAC) and translocation factors (TFs). These findings showed that CA application could be a practical strategy to apply to ornamental plants, such as A. rosea seedlings, cultivated in Cd-contaminated locations, opening ways to cope with Cd stress and enhanced phytoextraction.
Rhizome Weight and Number of Sectioning per Rhizome Determine Plantlet Growth and Propagation Rate of Hemerocallis citrina Baroni in Cutting Propagation
Authors: Xie Yue , Chen Tong , Ren Huazhong
Published: November 2022

Rhizome cutting is prevalent in propagation for Hemerocallis citrina Baroni. This study aimed to reveal the influence of rhizome weight on plantlet growth, and evaluate a new cutting protocol. Three levels of rhizome weight (big (BR), medium (MR) and small (SR)) were compared by measuring plantlet growth four times during cutting propagation. Sectioning rhizomes longitudinally along shaft axis of crown into 2, 3 or 4 parts (S2, S3 and S4), was tested on rhizomes with two bud sizes (Large bud (LB), Small bud (SB)). Propagation coefficient, the number of plantlets obtained per rhizome, kept similar regardless of rhizome weight, while S3 and S4 increased propagation coefficient. Rhizome weight changed the relative growth rates on different dates. SR resulted in lower aboveground dry biomass, leaf area, total fibrous root length, relative total fibrous root length growth rate and N deficiency compared to BR. Sucrose concentration in rhizome decreased with time and fructose concentration was lowest in MR at the end of experiment. Aboveground dry biomass and total fibrous root length were lowest in S4, followed by S3 and S2. Rhizome weight and number of sectioning per rhizome influence cutting propagation, and sectioning rhizomes into three pieces has higher propagation coefficient and less retardation on growth. According to N deficiency in plantlets during the propagation, N fertiliser is probably needed during cutting.
A Brief Review of Local Bacteriotherapy for Preventing Respiratory Infections
Authors: Ciprandi Giorgio , Damiani Valerio , Cordara Vittorio , Tosca Maria Angela
Published: November 2022

Recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) account for relevant economic and social implications and significantly affect family life. Local Bacteriotherapy (LB) represents an innovative option in preventing RRIs. Local bacteriotherapy consists of administering “good” and safe bacteria (probiotics) by nasal or oral route. In particular, two strains (Streptococcus salivarius 24SMB and Streptococcus oralis 89a) are commonly used. The present article presents and discusses the literature concerning LB. Infections of airways include the upper and lower respiratory tract. A series of clinical trials investigated the preventive role of LB in preventing upper and lower RIs. These studies demonstrated that LB safely reduced the prevalence and severity of RIs, the use of antibiotics, and absences from school. Therefore, Local Bacteriotherapy may be considered an interesting therapeutic option in RRI prevention.
Alpine Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster) Adjusts to a Human-Dominated Semi-Arid Mountain Ecosystem
Authors: Zhang Lixun , Sun Zhangyun , An Bei , Zhang Dexi , Chen Liuyang
Published: November 2022

Comprehension of whether human and livestock presence affects wildlife activity is a prerequisite for the planning and management of humans and livestock in protected areas. Xinglong Mountain Nature Reserve (XMNNR) in northwest China, as a green island in a semi-arid mountain ecosystem, is one of the scattered and isolated areas for Alpine musk deer (AMD), an endangered species. AMD cohabits their latent habitat area with foraging livestock and humans. Hence, habitat management within and outside the distribution areas is crucial for the effective conservation of AMD. We applied camera traps to a dataset of 2 years (September 2018–August 2020) to explore seasonal activity patterns and habitat use and assess the impacts of AMD habits in XMNNR. We investigated AMD responses to livestock grazing and human activities and provided effective strategies for AMD conservation. We applied MaxENT modeling to predict the distribution size under current conditions. The activity patterns of the AMD vary among seasons. The optimum habitat average distance to cultivated land ranges of AMD (150~3300 m during grass period/100~3200 m during withered grass period), distances to the residential area ranges (500~5700 m during the grass period/1000~5300 m during the withered grass period), elevation ranges (2350~3400 m during the grass period/2360~3170 m during the withered grass period), aspect ranges (0~50° and 270~360°), normalized vegetation index ranges (0.64~0.72 during the grass period/0.14~0.60 during the withered grass period), and land cover types (forest, shrub, and grassland). Results present that the predicted distributions of AMD were not confined to the areas reported but also covered other potential areas. The results provide evidence of strong spatial-temporal avoidance of AMD in livestock, but gradually adjusting to human activities. These camera trap datasets may open new opportunities for species conservation in much wider tracts, such as human-dominated landscapes, and may offer guidance and mitigate impacts from livestock, as well as increase artificial forest planting and strengthen the investigation of the potential population resources of AMD.
Effects of Prickly Burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach.) Control and Sheep Grazing on Hay Yield and Quality on Gökçeada Island, Turkey
Authors: Alatürk Fırat , Gökkuş Ahmet , Özaslan Parlak Altıngül , Baytekin Harun , Tölü Cemil
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: The effects of prickly burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum) control measures (pulling out, burning and cutting) and grazing on the botanical composition, grazeable dry matter (GDM) yield and nutritional values of rangeland were investigated on Imbros Island (Turkey) in 2010–2013. (2) Methods: The rangeland was grazed by Imbros sheep during the last year of the experiment. About 0.15 ha of rangeland was allocated to each sheep and five sheep were placed in each plot. Grazing was continuous throughout the year. (3) Results: Shrub levels decreased by 50–60% due to pulling out, burning and cutting in the first year and herbaceous species increased. Forbs increased more in the pulled and burnt plots and grasses increased more in the cut plots. In the third year, the shrub level increased to 60–65% and herbaceous species decreased. The decrease in herbaceous species was observed mostly in forbs. Plant cover was mostly (58%) composed of annual species. Development decreased plant cover ratios, but this decrease ceased in the burnt plot in the third year. Grazing also reduced plant cover. Crude protein (CP), NDF, ADF and digestible dry matter (DDM) content did not vary significantly over the experimental period. CP and DDM increased, NDF decreased and ADF did not change in the development plots. Overall, significant differences were not observed in GDM yield and nutritional values due to development efforts (pulling out, burning and cutting). (4) Conclusions: However, cutting is difficult over stony and rough terrain and pulling out creates erosion on sloping surfaces. Therefore, burning is recommended over the entire rangeland and burning or pulling out is recommended over smooth terrain for the temporary control of S. spinosum.
Neutralizing and Total/IgG Spike Antibody Responses Following Homologous CoronaVac vs. BNT162b2 Vaccination Up to 90 Days Post-Booster
Authors: Lau Chin Shern , Thundyil John , Oh May Lin Helen , Phua Soon Kieng , Liang Ya Li , Li Yanfeng , Huo Jianxin , Huang Yuhan , Zhang Biyan , Xu Shengli , Aw Tar Choon
Published: November 2022

Introduction: We documented the total spike antibody (S-Ab), IgG S-Ab and neutralizing antibody (N-Ab) responses of BNT162b2/CoronaVac vaccinees up to 90 days post-booster dose. Methods: We included 32 homologous regimen CoronaVac vaccinees and 136 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccinees. We tested their total S-Ab (Roche), IgG (Abbott) and N-Ab (Snibe) levels at set time points from January 2021 to April 2022. All subjects were deemed to be COVID-19-naïve either via clinical history (CoronaVac vaccinees) or nucleocapsid antibody testing (BNT162b2 vaccinees). Results: All antibodies peaked 20–30 days post-inoculation. In BNT162b2 vaccinees, all post-booster antibodies were significantly higher than second-dose peaks. In CoronaVac vaccinees, IgG showed no significant differences between peak third-/second-dose titers (difference of 56.0 BAU/mL, 95% CI of −17.1 to 129, p = 0.0894). The post-vaccination titers of all antibodies in BNT162b2 vaccinees were significantly higher than those in CoronaVac vaccinees at all time points. Post-booster, all antibodies declined in 90 days; the final total/IgG/N-Ab titers were 7536 BAU/mL, 1276 BAU/mL and 12.5 μg/mL in BNT162b2 vaccinees and 646 BAU/mL, 62.4 BAU/mL and 0.44 μg/mL in CoronaVac vaccinees. Conclusion: The mRNA vaccine generated more robust total S-Ab, IgG and N-Ab responses after the second and third vaccinations.
Dietary Intake of Carotenoids and Risk of Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yu Qiong , Xue Fengyu , Li Zhijun , Li Xinwei , Ai Lizhe , Jin Mengdi , Xie Mengtong , Yu Yaqin
Published: November 2022

Given the important role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of depression, the potential role of dietary antioxidant supplementation in the prevention of depression has attracted considerable attention. Most studies suggest that dietary carotenoids may play a role in maintaining depressive symptoms due to their antioxidant activity, but some studies concluded the contrary. This study conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies to test the relationship between carotenoid supplements and depressive symptoms. After a comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase Scopus, and Web of Science databases from their inception to 28 July 2022, 12 publications met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, of which 8 were cross-sectional studies, 3 were case–control studies, and 1 was a cohort study, involving a total of 33,466 participants. Pooled meta-analysis found that intake of total carotenoids (OR = 0.61, 95% CI [0.53, 0.71], p < 0.01), beta-carotene (OR = 0.61, 95% CI [0.52, 0.70], p < 0.01), alpha-carotene (OR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.60, 0.83], p < 0.01), lycopene (OR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.55, 0.90], p < 0.01), lutein, and/or corn xanthin (OR = 0.53, 95% CI [0.43, 0.66], p < 0.01) was significantly inversely associated with depressive symptoms, while beta-cryptoxanthin (OR = 1.07, 95% CI [0.52, 2.21], p = 0.86) had no significance. At the same time, this meta-analysis was free of publication bias and heterogeneity. Although further studies are needed to elucidate the causal relationship between carotenoids and depressive symptoms, and to further reveal the mechanism of their association, the results of our meta-analysis suggest that carotenoids are protective factors for depressive symptoms, and dietary intake may help in reducing the risk of depressive symptoms.
Identification and Expression Profiling of Two Saudi Arabia Catalase Genes from Wheat and Barley in Response to Abiotic and Hormonal Stresses
Authors: Ghorbel Mouna , Besbes Malek , Haddaji Najla , Bouali Nouha , Brini Faiçal
Published: November 2022

Catalase is a crucial enzyme in antioxidant defense systems protecting eukaryotes from oxidative stress. These proteins are present in almost all living organisms and play important roles in controlling plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses by catalyzing the decomposition of H2O2. Despite their importance, little is known about their expression in the majority of monocotyledonous species. Here, we isolated and characterized two novel catalase genes from Triticum turgidum and Hordeum vulgare, designated as TtCAT1 and HvCAT1, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that TtCAT1 and HvCAT1 presented 492 aa and shared an important identity with other catalase proteins belonging to subfamily 1. Using bioinformatic analysis, we predicted the 3D structure models of TtCAT1 and HvCAT1. Interestingly, analysis showed that the novel catalases harbor a peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS1) located at their C-terminus portion, as shown for other catalase proteins. In addition, this motif is responsible for the in silico peroxisomal localization of both proteins. Finally, RT-qPCR analysis showed that TtCAT1 and HvCAT1 are highly expressed in leaves in normal conditions but faintly in roots. Moreover, both genes are upregulated after the application of different stresses such as salt, osmotic, cold, heavy metal, and hormonal stresses. The positive responses of TtCAT1 and HvCAT1 to the various stimuli suggested that these proteins can help to protect both species against environmental stresses.
Altered Cellular Protein Quality Control System Modulates Cardiomyocyte Function in Volume Overload-Induced Hypertrophy
Authors: Gömöri Kamilla , Herwig Melissa , Hassoun Roua , Budde Heidi , Mostafi Nusratul , Delalat Simin , Modi Suvasini , Begovic Merima , Szabados Tamara , Pipis Judit , Farkas-Morvay Nikolett , Leprán István , Kovács Árpád , Mügge Andreas , Ferdinandy Péter , Görbe Anikó , Bencsik Péter , Hamdani Nazha
Published: November 2022

Volume-induced hypertrophy is one of the risk factors for cardiac morbidity and mortality. In addition, mechanical and metabolic dysfunction, aging, and cellular redox balance are also contributing factors to the disease progression. In this study, we used volume overload (VO), which was induced by an aortocaval fistula in 2-month-old male Wistar rats, and sham-operated animals served as control. Functional parameters were measured by transthoracic echocardiography at termination 4- or 8-months after VO. The animals showed hypertrophic remodeling that was accompanied by mechanical dysfunction and increased cardiomyocyte stiffness. These alterations were reversible upon treatment with glutathione. Cardiomyocyte dysfunction was associated with elevated oxidative stress markers with unchanged inflammatory signaling pathways. In addition, we observed altered phosphorylation status of small heat shock proteins 27 and 70 and diminished protease expression caspases 3 compared to the matched control group, indicating an impaired protein quality control system. Such alterations might be attributed to the increased oxidative stress as anticipated from the enhanced titin oxidation, ubiquitination, and the elevation in oxidative stress markers. Our study showed an early pathological response to VO, which manifests in cardiomyocyte mechanical dysfunction and dysregulated signaling pathways associated with enhanced oxidative stress and an impaired protein quality control system.
Study of Marine Particles Using Submersible Digital Holographic Camera during the Arctic Expedition
Authors: Dyomin Victor , Semiletov Igor , Chernykh Denis , Chertoprud Elena , Davydova Alexandra , Kirillov Nikolay , Konovalova Olga , Olshukov Alexey , Osadchiev Aleksandr , Polovtsev Igor
Published: November 2022

The paper presents the results of in situ studies of marine particles of different nature using a submersible digital holographic camera (DHC) during the Arctic expedition. It also describes the features, performance specifications, and possibilities of the DHC and the DHC technology. The DHC technology can be used for noninvasive automatic evaluation of spatial and temporal characteristics of plankton, including the distribution of plankton concentrations. The comparison of quantitative analysis of zooplankton net samples and classification results using the DHC revealed that the error of the DHC classification of mesoplankton at the level of the main systematic orders was about 30%. The results of determining the data on the medium, such as water turbidity, according to the radiation shielding factor (degree) by the particles of the Suspension taxon using the DHC technology are presented; the prospects for studying the size of gas bubbles and their volume content according to the Bubble taxon data are shown. The use of holographic data for in situ point estimates is considered.
Foreword to the Special Issue on Thulium-Doped Fiber Lasers
Authors: Michalska Maria
Published: November 2022

Fiber laser sources operating in the 2 µm wavelength region have gained extensive attention due to their wide range of applications, including in medicine, remote sensing, spectroscopy, plastic material processing, and mid-infrared generation [...]
Degreasing Efficiency of Electroplating Pretreatment Process Using Secondary Alcohol Ethoxylate as Nonionic Surfactant
Authors: Jeon Su-Byung , Son Byung-Ki , Choi Ji-Won , Son Injoon
Published: November 2022

In this study, the effect of the hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) number and cloud point (CP) of a secondary-alcohol ethoxylated nonionic surfactant on degreasing efficiency was investigated. A degreasing process was conducted for steel samples with different surfactants in a degreasing solution. The HLB number and CP increased with the increasing n of the hydrophilic ethylene oxide (OCH2CH2)n group. For a constant temperature of the degreasing solution (30–80 °C), the degreasing efficiency was investigated as a function of degreasing time. The highest degreasing efficiency was observed near the cloud point of the surfactant, and the degreasing efficiency decreased significantly at temperatures lower and greater than the cloud point. A Hogaboom test was carried out to observe oil stains on the surface of samples. Additionally, the contact angle of the surface with water droplets was measured after degreasing with various surfactants.
A Wideband Folded Dipole Antenna with an Improved Cross-Polarization Level for Millimeter-Wave Applications
Authors: Xue Lianpeng , Tan Qiangquan , Cheng Ke , Fan Kuikui
Published: November 2022

A low-profile planar millimeter-wave (MMW) folded dipole antenna fed by substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) is proposed in this letter. By etching the gaps at the proper position of 1.5λ dipole, an additional resonant mode is generated. Accordingly, the working bandwidth is greatly broadened. In addition, by appropriately adjusting the length of the dual-side parallel strip line (DSPSL), the radiated electric fields generated by the aperture of the feeding SIW and the connecting metallic vias of the folded dipole are designed with an out-of-phase potential. Hence, the cross-polarization of the presented folded dipole antenna is improved as well. As a demonstration, a prototype is fabricated and measured. The experimental results exhibit that the proposed folded dipole has a −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 58.5% (from 30.3 GHz to 53.7 GHz), a gain of around 5 dBi with more than 120 degrees beamwidth in H-plane, and a cross-polarization levels below −15 dB, covering the working frequency band. Compared with the up-to-date planar dipole antenna, the proposed folded dipole achieves the widest working bandwidth and low cross-polarization level. The proposed antenna can be used as the terminal antenna of the MMW communication system.
Microbial Growth Dynamics in Minced Meat Enriched with Plant Powders
Authors: Koskar Julia , Meremäe Kadrin , Püssa Tõnu , Anton Dea , Elias Terje , Rätsep Reelika , Mäesaar Mihkel , Kapp Karmen , Roasto Mati
Published: November 2022

Plant powders with antimicrobial properties can be used in food manufacturing and must comply with the demands of consumers regarding microbiological safety, nutritional value, and sensory properties of foods. The present study aimed to assess the microbial growth inhibitory ability of different plant powders, including by-products of horticultural primary processing (e.g., pomace) in raw and cooked minced pork. The total counts of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, pseudomonads, yeasts, and moulds were studied to assess the microbial growth dynamics in meat samples. Additionally, for the plant powders, which were able to suppress the microbial growth in a total counts dynamics study, the growth potential of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) minced meat samples was estimated by challenge testing. The results showed that the most effective combinations of plant powders in raw minced pork, in relation to the total counts of microorganisms, were 3% apple+1% onion+2% blackcurrant berries (Apple+On+BCber); 3% apple+1% garlic+2% tomato (Apple+Ga+Tom); and 3% apple+2% tomato+1% rhubarb petioles (Apple+Tom+Rhub). However, challenge tests revealed that some plant powders were unable to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes. The lowest L. monocytogenes growth potential (δ = 2.74 log cfu/g) was determined for cooked minced pork samples enriched with 2% rhubarb petioles, followed by Apple+On+BCber (δ = 3.63 log cfu/g) and Apple+Tom+Rhub (δ = 3.74 log cfu/g). In minced pork samples without plant additives, the L. monocytogenes growth potential was 7.30 log cfu/g. In conclusion, blends of plant powders may have good potential for developing meat products with acceptable microbiological quality.
Co-Operative Binary Bat Optimizer with Rough Set Reducts for Text Feature Selection
Authors: Adel Aisha , Omar Nazlia , Abdullah Salwani , Al-Shabi Adel
Published: November 2022

The process of eliminating irrelevant, redundant and noisy features while trying to maintain less information loss is known as a feature selection problem. Given the vast amount of the textual data generated and shared on the internet such as news reports, articles, tweets and product reviews, the need for an effective text-feature selection method becomes increasingly important. Recently, stochastic optimization algorithms have been adopted to tackle this problem. However, the efficiency of these methods is decreased when tackling high-dimensional problems. This decrease could be attributed to premature convergence where the population diversity is not well maintained. As an innovative attempt, a cooperative Binary Bat Algorithm (BBACO) is proposed in this work to select the optimal text feature subset for classification purposes. The proposed BBACO uses a new mechanism to control the population’s diversity during the optimization process and to improve the performance of BBA-based text-feature selection method. This is achieved by dividing the dimension of the problem into several parts and optimizing each of them in a separate sub-population. To evaluate the generality and capability of the proposed method, three classifiers and two standard benchmark datasets in English, two in Malay and one in Arabic were used. The results show that the proposed method steadily improves the classification performance in comparison with other well-known feature selection methods. The improvement is obtained for all of the English, Malay and Arabic datasets which indicates the generality of the proposed method in terms of the dataset language.
Low-Cost Assessment Method for Existing Adjacent Beam Bridges
Authors: Wang Siqi , Du Jinsheng , Su Han
Published: November 2022

Damage in grouted joints is an unavoidable early disease in adjacent box beam bridges and hollow-core slab bridges. Joint damage will lead to degradation of the transverse load transmission capacity of the bridge, causing beams of the bridge superstructure to bear loads higher than the designed value, and eventually fail prematurely. Precise assessment of bearing--capacity degradation degree of adjacent box beam bridges and hollow-core slab bridges that are of great number is the keypoint to maintaining the serviceability of traffic network. The current specifications regard grouted joints as individual components and cannot correctly assess the degradation degree of bearing capacity caused by joint damage. In this paper, the traditional hinge connected beam method is improved by modifying deformation compatibility conditions at grouted joints. By using a modified hinge connected beam method, the relationship of joints at different locations with the lateral load distribution factor (LLDF) is analyzed. Based on analysis results, this paper proposes a new low-cost assessment method and a new assessment index that can utilize visual inspection results. Based on the concept of standard deviation, the proposed method assesses the degradation degree of the lateral load transmission performance of bridge superstructures by calculating the variation in LLDFs of beams, which is expressed by the lateral load distribution performance rating number LDN. The proposed method is applied to three real bridges. The accuracy of the calculation results is verified by comparing the ranking of LDNs of three bridges with the ranking of the variation degrees of lateral deflection influence lines of three bridges obtained from static-load test results.
Investigation of the Causes of Premature Rain Erosion Evolution in Rotor Blade-like GFRP Structures by Means of CT, XRM, and Active Thermography
Authors: Jensen Friederike , Aoun Elie Abi , Focke Oliver , Krenz Andreas , Tornow Christian , Schlag Mareike , Lester Catherine , Herrmann Axel , Mayer Bernd , Sorg Michael , Fischer Andreas
Published: November 2022

Premature rain erosion damage development at the leading edges of wind turbine rotor blades impair the efficiency of the turbines and should be detected as early as possible. To investigate the causes of premature erosion damage and the erosion evolution, test specimens similar to the leading edge of a rotor blade were modified with different initial defects, such as voids in the coating system, and impacted with waterdrops in a rain erosion test facility. Using CT and XRM with AI-based evaluation as non-destructive measurement methods showed that premature erosion arises from the initial material defects because they represent a weak point in the material composite. In addition, thermographic investigations were carried out. As it shows results similar to the two lab-based methods, active thermography has a promising potential for future in-situ monitoring of rotor blade leading edges.
Zein and Spent Coffee Grounds Extract as a Green Combination for Sustainable Food Active Packaging Production: An Investigation on the Effects of the Production Processes
Authors: Drago Emanuela , Pettinato Margherita , Campardelli Roberta , Firpo Giuseppe , Lertora Enrico , Perego Patrizia
Published: November 2022

In this work, the effect of different production techniques was evaluated on the physical and antioxidant properties of bio-based packaging intended to prevent the premature oxidation of packaged foods. Spent coffee ground extract, rich in antioxidant molecules, obtained through high pressure and temperature extraction, was loaded on zein polymeric matrices. The techniques adopted in this work are particularly suitable due to their mild conditions to produce active packaging completely based on natural compounds: electrospinning, solvent casting, and spin coating. The novelty of this work lay in the investigation of the dependance of the properties of active packaging on the adopted production techniques; the results clearly indicated a strong dependence of the features of the films obtained by different production processes. Indeed, spin coated samples exhibited the best oxygen barrier properties, while a higher tensile strength was obtained for the casted samples, and the fastest release of active compounds was provided by electrospun mats. The films produced with different methods had different physical properties and the release of extract bioactive compounds can be tunable by varying the production technique, dependent on the variable to be considered. The products developed offer an alternative to traditional packaging solutions, being more eco-sustainable and promoting waste valorization.
Communication in Human–AI Co-Creation: Perceptual Analysis of Paintings Generated by Text-to-Image System
Authors: Lyu Yanru , Wang Xinxin , Lin Rungtai , Wu Jun
Published: November 2022

In recent years, art creation using artificial intelligence (AI) has started to become a mainstream phenomenon. One of the latest applications of AI is to generate visual artwork from natural language descriptions where anyone can interact with it to create thousands of artistic images with minimal effort, which provokes the questions: what is the essence of artistic creation, and who can create art in this era? Considering that, in this study, the theoretical communication framework was adopted to investigate the difference in the interaction with the text-to-image system between artists and nonartists. In this experiment, ten artists and ten nonartists were invited to co-create with Midjourney. Their actions and reflections were recorded, and two sets of generated images were collected for the visual question-answering task, with a painting created by the artist as a reference sample. A total of forty-two subjects with artistic backgrounds participated in the evaluated experiment. The results indicated differences between the two groups in their creation actions and their attitude toward AI, while the technology blurred the difference in the perception of the results caused by the creator’s artistic experience. In addition, attention should be paid to communication on the effectiveness level for a better perception of the artistic value.
Dependence Analysis of PM2.5 Concentrations in 295 Chinese Cities in the Winter of 2019–2020
Authors: Bai Chunmei , Yan Ping
Published: November 2022

Considering the current severe atmospheric pollution problems in China, a comprehensive understanding of the distribution and spatial variability of PM2.5 is critically important for controlling pollution and improving the future atmospheric environment. This study first explored the distribution of PM2.5 concentrations in China, and then developed a methodology of “dependence analysis” to investigate the relationship of PM2.5 in different cities in China. The data of daily PM2.5 concentrations were collected from the environmental monitoring stations in 295 cities in China. This study also developed a set of procedures to evaluate the spatial dependence of PM2.5 among the 295 Chinese cities. The results showed that there was a total of 154 city pairs with dependence type “11”, under a significance level of 0.5%. Dependence type “11” mainly occurred between nearby cities, and the distance between 89.0% of the dependent city pairs was less than 200 km. Furthermore, the dependent pairs mainly clustered in the North China Plain, the Northeast Plain, the Middle and Lower Yangtze Plain and the Fen-Wei Plain. The geographic conditions of the Plain areas were more conducive to the spread of PM2.5 contaminants, while the mountain topography was unfavorable for the formation of PM2.5 dependencies. The dependent city couples with distances greater than 200 km were all located within the Plain areas. The high concentration of PM2.5 did not necessarily lead to PM2.5 dependences between city pairs. The methodology and models developed in this study will help explain the concentration distributions and spatial dependence of the main atmospheric pollutants in China, providing guidance for the prevention of large-scale air pollution, and the improvement of the future atmospheric environment.
An Integrated Estimating Approach for Design Wind Speed under Extreme Wind Climate in the Yangtze River Inland Waterway
Authors: Li Juanjuan , Liu Lijun , Liang Youjia , He Chao , Jin Jiming
Published: November 2022

Developing the engineering design standard of wind speed is a key aspect of the climate research in the Yangtze River Inland Waterway (YRIW), which is highly sensitive to extreme weather and climate processes. An engineering design wind speed projection model was established to evaluate the distribution of extreme wind speeds in the YRIW region at spatiotemporal scales from 1979 to 2100, integrating the Weibull distribution and generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution characteristics. We also used high-precision climate model products and integrated analysis methods to predict the evolution of engineering design wind speeds in the study area in the future. The results show that: (1) The maximum wind speed in the study area shows a decline—recovery trend in the historical period in general and a weak increase in Wuhan and Shanghai. (2) The maximum wind speed does not follow the Weibull distribution, and the extracted extreme wind speed types include type I, II, and III GEV distributions. (3) The updated inland port project design wind speed can meet the climatic and topographic characteristics of the YRIW. (4) The model of CNRM-CM6-1-HR product accurately captures the spatial and temporal characteristics of the maximum wind speed. (5) In the future, the design wind speed shows a slight decrease in Shanghai, Jiujiang and Yueyang. These findings provide a scientific theoretical reference and engineering reference for the development of design wind speeds for inland port projects at various cross-sections in the YRIW.
A Climatological and Synoptic Analysis of Winter Cold Spells over the Balkan Peninsula
Authors: Tringa Efstathia , Tolika Konstantia , Anagnostopoulou Christina , Kostopoulou Effie
Published: November 2022

An extensive climatological and synoptic analysis of the winter cold spells that occurred in the Balkan Peninsula over a 59-year study period (1961–2019) is the aim of the present study. Winter cold spells (WCSPs hereafter) are defined as periods of at least three consecutive days when the daily minimum temperature is below the 5% of the empirical winter distributions. This diagnostic index is used to detect the occurrence of cold events during the study period, while the duration, frequency, and intensity of these extreme climate events are further analyzed. Moreover, in order to investigate the relation of the WCSPs with the atmospheric circulation, two daily circulation type calendars, derived from an advanced automatic flexible classification, were utilized. The automatic daily circulation type calendars were used, aiming at identifying the atmospheric conditions that prevail before or during WCSPs. The climatological analysis showed that the spatial distribution of the extreme minimum temperatures in the Balkan Peninsula presents a positive gradient from north to south, whereas coastal areas present more moderate minimum temperatures than inland areas of the region. In terms of WCSPs, the winter of 1962–1963 was the one with the longest WCSPs, for most of the stations under study. In general, a decreasing trend in the frequency of WCSP occurrence has been found towards the end of the study period. The circulation type investigation revealed that, during WCSPs in the Balkan region, the associated circulation at the 500 hPa is the Cne (cyclonic northeastern) and at the 1000 hPa is the Anw (anticyclonic northwest).
Flooded Extent and Depth Analysis Using Optical and SAR Remote Sensing with Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Soria-Ruiz Jesús , Fernandez-Ordoñez Yolanda M. , Ambrosio-Ambrosio Juan P. , Escalona-Maurice Miguel J. , Medina-García Guillermo , Sotelo-Ruiz Erasto D. , Ramirez-Guzman Martha E.
Published: November 2022

Recurrent flooding occurs in most years along different parts of the Gulf of Mexico coastline and the central and southeastern parts of Mexico. These events cause significant economic losses in the agricultural, livestock, and infrastructure sectors, and frequently involve loss of human life. Climate change has contributed to flooding events and their more frequent occurrence, even in areas where such events were previously rare. Satellite images have become valuable information sources to identify, precisely locate, and monitor flooding events. The machine learning models use remote sensing images pixels as input feature. In this paper, we report a study involving 16 combinations of Sentinel-1 SAR images, Sentinel-2 optical images, and digital elevation model (DEM) data, which were analyzed to evaluate the performance of two widely used machine learning algorithms, gradient boosting (GB) and random forest (RF), for providing information about flooding events. With machine learning models GB and RF, the input dataset (Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and DEM) was used to establish rules and classify the set in the categories specified by previous tags. Monitoring of flooding was performed by tracking the evolution of water bodies during the dry season (before the event) through to the occurrence of floods during the rainy season (during the event). For detection of bodies of water in the dry season, the metrics indicate that the best algorithm is GB with combination 15 (F1m = 0.997, AUC = 0.999, K = 0.994). In the rainy season, the GB algorithm had better metrics with combination 16 (F1m = 0.995, AUC = 0.999, Kappa = 0.994), and detected an extent of flooded areas of 1113.36 ha with depths of <1 m. The high classification performance shown by machine learning algorithms, particularly the so-called assembly algorithms, means that they should be considered capable of improving satellite image classification for detection of flooding over traditional methods, in turn leading to better monitoring of flooding at local, regional, and continental scales.
One-Time Deep Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer: A Potential Measure of Ammonia Mitigation in Grainland
Authors: Dong Wenxu , Zeng Tingting , Zhang Xiqun , Wu Hongliang , Liu Xiuping , Li Xiaoxin , Zhang Yuming , Hu Chunsheng
Published: November 2022

Ammonia (NH3) is one of the main precursors of secondary inorganic aerosols. In 2018, the NH3 emissions of China’s cereal production (rice, wheat and maize) were estimated to be 3.3 Mt NH3-N. Numerous NH3 mitigation strategies have been developed in agriculture to reduce the emissions and improve air quality. However, due to the cost and unfeasibility of some developed techniques, the application of these mitigation measures is relatively slow in cropland. Therefore, developing low-cost, easy-operation, and feasible mitigation measures is an important breakthrough to solve the pollution of ammonia emissions in grain fields. The one-time deep application of nitrogen fertilizer in crop growing season, referred to as one-time application, is a promising ammonia mitigation measure for grain fields. It is a low-cost mode of fertilizer application suitable for grain fields as it saves labor and reduces the input of agricultural machinery. Therefore, incentive policies should be formulated to promote it for wide-range application in the whole country, especially in the areas with serious ammonia pollution, in order to achieve the goal of green and sustainable agricultural production.
Fock Expansion for Two-Electron Atoms: High-Order Angular Coefficients
Authors: Liverts Evgeny Z. , Krivec Rajmund
Published: November 2022

The Fock expansion, which describes the properties of two-electron atoms near the nucleus, is studied. The angular Fock coefficients ψk,p(α,θ) with the maximum possible value of subscript p are calculated on examples of the coefficients with 5≤k≤10. The presented technique makes it possible to calculate such angular coefficients for any arbitrarily large k. The mentioned coefficients being leading in the logarithmic power series representing the Fock expansion, they may be indispensable for the development of simple methods for calculating the helium-like electronic structure. The theoretical results obtained are verified by other suitable methods. The Wolfram Mathematica is used extensively.
Tempered Fractional Trapezium Inequalities
Authors: Vivas-Cortez Miguel , Awan Muhammad Uzair , Ullah Muhammad Ubaid , Talib Sadia , Noor Muhammad Aslam , Noor Khalida Inayat
Published: November 2022

The main objective of this paper is to derive some new fractional analogs of trapezium-like inequalities essentially using the class of preinvex functions and the concepts of tempered fractional integrals. We discuss some special cases that show that our results are unifying. In order to demonstrate the significance of our results, we present some applications to means. To check the validity of our results, we also give some numerical examples.
Can Biological Traits Serve as Predictors for Fishes’ Introductions, Establishment, and Interactions? The Mediterranean Sea as a Case Study
Authors: Karachle Paraskevi K. , Oikonomou Anthi , Pantazi Maria , Stergiou Konstantinos I. , Zenetos Argyro
Published: November 2022

The Mediterranean Sea (MED) is prone to species’ introductions, induced by human activities and/or climate change. Recent studies focus on the biological traits that result in such introductions, yet on a single-area-type approach. Here, we used, analyzed, and compared biological traits derived from FishBase for MED, non-indigenous (NIS) and neonative (NEO) in the Mediterranean, and adjacent Atlantic (ATL) and Red Sea (RS) species. A quantitative trait-based analysis was performed using random forest to determine the importance of traits in the successful establishment in the Mediterranean. MED fishes were mainly demersal, slow growing and small-medium sized, preferring intermediate temperatures. Conversely, ATL were mainly deep-dwelling species, preferring low temperatures. RS and NIS were predominantly reef-associated, thermophilus, and stenothermic. NEO species were stenothermic with preference to intermediate-high temperatures. Omnivores with preference to animals was the most common trophic group among regions. MED species exhibited higher phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50) compared to RS and NIS, indicating that they have long ancestral branches and few descendants. Preferred temperature, habitat type preference and maximum reported length (Lmax) and infinite length (Linf) were the most important predictors in the establishment process. Overall, the results presented here could serve as a baseline for future research, especially by using more refined and/or additional biological trail estimates.
Filmy Ferns (Hymenophyllaceae) and Associated Spike-Mosses (Selaginellaceae) from the Mid-Cretaceous Kachin Amber, Myanmar
Authors: Li Ya , Wang Yong-Dong , Nosova Natalya , Lu Ning , Xu Yuan-Yuan
Published: November 2022

Filmy ferns (Hymenophyllaceae) are the most diverse lineage of the early-diverging leptosporangiate ferns with ca. 430 species widely distributed around the world but with the highest diversity in the humid tropics. However, their fossil record is scarce because of the low preservation potential of the delicate, membranous laminae. So far, no Hymenophyllaceae fossils have been reported from tropical Asia. Here, we describe some fern remains and their syninclusions (spike-mosses) in four pieces of Kachin amber from the mid-Cretaceous of Hukawng Valley, Northern Myanmar, as Hymenophyllites angustus sp. nov., H. kachinensis sp. nov., H. setosus sp. nov. (Hymenophyllaceae) and Selaginella alata sp. nov. (Selaginellaceae), respectively. These fern remains are assigned to Hymenophyllaceae based on the filmy, one-cell thick, decompound pinnatifid laminae and dichotomous venation. They represent the first fossil record of Hymenophyllaceae in tropical Asia. The growth habits of these ferns and associated spike-mosses and their implication for paleoenvironment are discussed. Our study expands the diversity of the cryptogams in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. Together with other contemporaneous findings, the present fossils indicate that Hymenophyllaceae have already accumulated some notable diversity in the Cretaceous.
Effects of β2 Integrins on Osteoclasts, Macrophages, Chondrocytes, and Synovial Fibroblasts in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Hu Tiantian , Zhang Zhan , Deng Chunbo , Ma Xun , Liu Xueyong
Published: November 2022

β2 integrins are transmembrane receptors that exist widely in human immune cells and participate in pathological processes such as chronic inflammation, thrombosis, and malignant tumor formation. They mainly mediate intercellular adhesion, coordinate the ingestion of extracellular matrix components, and regulate cytoskeleton formation, thereby regulating cell signaling. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease that causes joint pain and increases disease burden; it has a high prevalence among populations worldwide. Previous studies have reported that β2 integrins are overexpressed in OA and may play an essential role in the occurrence of OA. The important roles of β2 integrins in the maturation and differentiation of osteoclasts, the regulation of bone homeostasis, and the polarization and migration of macrophages have also been reported. The present review aims to highlight the role of β2 integrins in OA pathogenesis and outline their potential for serving as therapeutic targets.