bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of a Deep-Learning Model to Detect CRP Level from the Electrocardiogram
Authors: Jiang Junrong , Deng Hai , Liao Hongtao , Fang Xianhong , Zhan Xianzhang , Wu Shulin , Xue Yumei
Published: May 2022

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP), as a non-specific inflammatory marker, is a predictor of the occurrence and prognosis of various arrhythmias. It is still unknown whether electrocardiographic features are altered in patients with inflammation.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of a deep learning model in detection of CRP levels from the ECG in patients with sinus rhythm.

Methods: The study population came from an epidemiological survey of heart disease in Guangzhou. 12,315 ECGs of 11,480 patients with sinus rhythm were included. CRP > 5mg/L was defined as high CRP level. A convolutional neural network was trained and validated to detect CRP levels from 12 leads ECGs. The performance of the model was evaluated by calculating the area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and balanced F Score (F1 score).

Results: Overweight, smoking, hypertension and diabetes were more common in the High CRP group (p < 0.05). Although the ECG features were within the normal ranges in both groups, the high CRP group had faster heart rate, longer QTc interval and narrower QRS width. After training and validating the deep learning model, the AUC of the validation set was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.85–0.88) with sensitivity, specificity of 89.7 and 69.6%, while the AUC of the testing set was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.84–0.87) with sensitivity, specificity of 90.7 and 67.6%.

Conclusion: An AI-enabled ECG algorithm was developed to detect CRP levels in patients with sinus rhythm. This study proved the existence of inflammation-related changes in cardiac electrophysiological signals and provided a noninvasive approach to screen patients with inflammatory status by detecting CRP levels.
Assessment of Mineral Nutrient Efficiency in Genetically Diverse Spinach Accessions by Biochemical and Functional Marker Strategies
Authors: Rashid Madiha , Yousaf Zubaida , Din Ahmad , Munawar Muneeb , Aftab Arusa , Riaz Nadia , Younas Afifa , Alaraidh Ibrahim A. , Okla Mohammad K. , AbdElgawad Hamada
Published: May 2022

Leafy vegetable crops are considered as a natural source of mineral nutrients that could decrease the risk factor of many growth issues in children and adults. Spinach is globally considered as the most desirable leafy crop, due to its taste and nutrient richness along with greater nitrate contents and better nitrogen use efficiency. To evaluate the mineral nutrient efficiency of this crop, thirty genetically diverse spinach accessions were analyzed through nutritional and functional marker strategies. The accession 163,310 from Pakistan was found to be rich in minerals (sodium, calcium, potassium, zinc, and manganese) and nitrates. However, the oxalate contents were lesser in the accessions that had greater quantity of nutrients. These represented a negative correlation between mineral availability and oxalate accumulation in the leaves. To study the relationship of oxalates and minerals in the accessions, a functional marker analysis was performed, based on the genes involved in oxalate metabolism and disease resistance in spinach. High level of genetic polymorphism was observed among the accessions represented with 115 polymorphic bands out of 130 bands. Heat map clustering represented the accessions from Asian countries (Pakistan, India, China, and Iran) as the most adaptable accessions to the local environment. The correlation between nutritional and genetic analysis also revealed the nutrient richness of these accessions along with good oxalate metabolism and disease resistance. Hence, these accessions could be considered as useful genotypes in future breeding programs.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Long Non-coding RNAs Involved in Nodule Senescence in Medicago truncatula
Authors: Yu Lin , Huang Tengda , Qi Xinyu , Yu Jingsu , Wu Tian , Luo Zupeng , Zhou Lei , Li Yixing
Published: May 2022

Plant long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely accepted to play crucial roles during diverse biological processes. In recent years, thousands of lncRNAs related to the establishment of symbiosis, root nodule organogenesis and nodule development have been identified in legumes. However, lncRNAs involved in nodule senescence have not been reported. In this study, senescence-related lncRNAs were investigated in Medicago truncatula nodules by high-throughput strand-specific RNA-seq. A total of 4576 lncRNAs and 126 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were identified. We found that more than 60% lncRNAs were associated with transposable elements, especially TIR/Mutator and Helitron DNA transposons families. In addition, 49 DElncRNAs were predicted to be the targets of micro RNAs. Functional analysis showed that the largest sub-set of differently expressed target genes of DElncRNAs were associated with the membrane component. Of these, nearly half genes were related to material transport, suggesting that an important function of DElncRNAs during nodule senescence is the regulation of substance transport across membranes. Our findings will be helpful for understanding the functions of lncRNAs in nodule senescence and provide candidate lncRNAs for further research.
The Influence Mechanism of Learning Orientation on New Venture Performance: The Chain-Mediating Effect of Absorptive Capacity and Innovation Capacity
Authors: Yang Yanling , Zheng Yanling , Xie Guojie , Tian Yu
Published: May 2022

New ventures have stronger learning motivation but higher failure rates. In the era of the digital economy, it is necessary to clarify whether and how learning orientation gives scientific guidance for new ventures. We developed a chain multiple intermediary model following the paradigm of “orientation → capability → performance,” which was empirically analyzed using data from 214 Chinese new ventures. The results show that learning orientation not only has a direct positive impact on new venture performance (NVP) but also has an indirect positive effect through the chain-mediating effect of absorptive capacity and innovation capacity. The study advances theoretical understanding of the effect and path of learning orientation on NVP, fosters in-depth research on organizational learning and dynamic capability, and provides targeted organizational learning solutions for new ventures in emerging economies.
A Corpus-Based Investigation of Extra-Textual, Connective, and Emphasizing Additions in English-Chinese Conference Interpreting
Authors: Li Ruitian , Cheung Andrew K. F. , Liu Kanglong
Published: May 2022

Findings from conference interpreting research in the Chinese context have suggested that interpreters barely produce extra-textual additions in rigidly structured press conferences, and that adding connectives and intensifiers is only required to help the English-speaking audience capture the logic embedded in implicit Chinese interclausal relations. Previous research in the Chinese context has tended to draw data almost exclusively from the Chinese Premier's Press Conference interpreting, which features interpreting from Chinese into English. In order to enrich conference interpreting corpora in Asia and to examine additions in the opposite interpreting direction for the same language pair, this study drew on authentic materials of six interpreted press conferences held at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Contrary to previous research, our results showed that conference interpreters exhibited a certain degree of “visibility” through producing extra-textual additions, which is typical of interpreting in various community-based settings. Moreover, the addition of extra connectives and intensifiers that are common in Chinese-to-English interpreting was also identified. It is proposed that the interpreters' production of extra-textual additions is connected with the specific context of the AIT, whereas the connective and emphasizing additions are to a large extent caused by the grammaticalization process wherein particular linguistic devices change into discourse markers to fulfill the communicative needs in both English and Chinese.
Correlation Analysis Between Japanese Literature and Psychotherapy Based on Diagnostic Equation Algorithm
Authors: Shen Jun , Jiang Leping
Published: May 2022

Literary therapy theory provides a new field for contemporary literature research and is of great significance for maintaining the physical and mental health of modern people. The quantitative evaluation of psychotherapy effects in Japanese healing literature is a hot research topic at present. In this study, a text convolutional neural network (Text-CNN) was selected to extract psychological therapy features with different levels of granularity by using multiple convolutional kernels of different sizes. Bidirectional threshold regression neural network (BiGRU) can characterize the relationship between literature research and the psychotherapy effect. On the basis of the CNN-BilSTM model, a parallel hybrid network integrated with the attention mechanism was constructed to analyze the correlation between literature and psychotherapy. Through experimental verification, the model in this study further improves the accuracy of correlation classification and has strong adaptability.
COVID-19 Vaccination in Pediatric Population: A Necessity or Obstruction to the Protection of the Right to Health? Biojuridical Perspective
Authors: Bilotta Clio , Perrone Giulio , Zerbo Stefania , Argo Antonina
Published: May 2022

One of the most recently debated topics worldwide is the mass vaccination of children against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Next, the risk/benefit ratio of COVID-19 vaccination and infection in children are compared. Nonetheless, the real question in this debate is as follows: Does the vaccine represent a necessary tool or is it an obstacle in protecting the right to health? From a public health point of view, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, in Canada, recommends COVID-19 vaccination in the pediatric population. Based on Article 25 of the Draft Articles on State responsibility, vaccination can be considered a social act necessary for protecting the individual's right to health. The 1989 New York Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Regulation number 219/1111 state that the opinion of a minor aged >12 years is considerable. However, this validity of opinion is related to age and degree of discernment. The onset of adverse events following the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine may lead to compensation in the near future. Recent studies have identified a new COVID-19-related pediatric pathology, known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Other studies have demonstrated that myocarditis in the pediatric population might occur following COVID-19 vaccine administration. In June 2021 in the USA, the Center for Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices declared that the benefits of vaccination against COVID-19 in the pediatric population outweighed the risks. In the meantime, whereas the bioethical debate remains open, monitoring the real risk/benefit ratio of vaccination in the pediatric population is crucial.
Transparency of AI in Healthcare as a Multilayered System of Accountabilities: Between Legal Requirements and Technical Limitations
Authors: Kiseleva Anastasiya , Kotzinos Dimitris , De Hert Paul
Published: May 2022

The lack of transparency is one of the artificial intelligence (AI)'s fundamental challenges, but the concept of transparency might be even more opaque than AI itself. Researchers in different fields who attempt to provide the solutions to improve AI's transparency articulate different but neighboring concepts that include, besides transparency, explainability and interpretability. Yet, there is no common taxonomy neither within one field (such as data science) nor between different fields (law and data science). In certain areas like healthcare, the requirements of transparency are crucial since the decisions directly affect people's lives. In this paper, we suggest an interdisciplinary vision on how to tackle the issue of AI's transparency in healthcare, and we propose a single point of reference for both legal scholars and data scientists on transparency and related concepts. Based on the analysis of the European Union (EU) legislation and literature in computer science, we submit that transparency shall be considered the “way of thinking” and umbrella concept characterizing the process of AI's development and use. Transparency shall be achieved through a set of measures such as interpretability and explainability, communication, auditability, traceability, information provision, record-keeping, data governance and management, and documentation. This approach to deal with transparency is of general nature, but transparency measures shall be always contextualized. By analyzing transparency in the healthcare context, we submit that it shall be viewed as a system of accountabilities of involved subjects (AI developers, healthcare professionals, and patients) distributed at different layers (insider, internal, and external layers, respectively). The transparency-related accountabilities shall be built-in into the existing accountability picture which justifies the need to investigate the relevant legal frameworks. These frameworks correspond to different layers of the transparency system. The requirement of informed medical consent correlates to the external layer of transparency and the Medical Devices Framework is relevant to the insider and internal layers. We investigate the said frameworks to inform AI developers on what is already expected from them with regards to transparency. We also discover the gaps in the existing legislative frameworks concerning AI's transparency in healthcare and suggest the solutions to fill them in.
“BAA, BAA”: Can Sheep Talk to Each Other?
Authors: Siwiaszczyk Marine , Love Scott A. , Chaillou Elodie
Published: May 2022

If you have ever been out to the countryside in the spring, you might have heard sheep bleating to their lambs. Sheep also bleat when they are separated from the flock or stressed in some other way. To us, all these bleats sound very similar. But do you think they also sound similar to the lambs? Or do you think the lambs know whose mother is calling and what they are saying? Scientists try to interpret the bleats of sheep by observing their behavior when they hear these sounds. They study the sound waves of recorded bleats to identify each sheep’s unique voice and even determine which emotions the sheep are feeling. They also investigate the brain to find out what is going on inside the heads of sheep when they hear and understand the sounds of other sheep. Studies show that sheep really can recognize each other’s voices and communicate vocally.
A Multi-Technique Analysis of Surface Materials From Blood Falls, Antarctica
Authors: Sklute Elizabeth C. , Mikucki Jill A. , Dyar M. Darby , Lee Peter A. , Livi Ken J. T. , Mitchell Sarina
Published: May 2022

Aperiodic discharge of brine at Blood Falls forms a red-tinged fan at the terminus of Taylor Glacier, Antarctica. Samples from this discharge provide an opportunity for mineralogical study at a Martian analogue study site. Environmental samples were collected in the field and analyzed in the laboratory using Fourier transform infrared, Raman, visible to near-infrared, and Mössbauer spectroscopies. Samples were further characterized using microprobe and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy for chemistry, and x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy for mineralogy, crystallography, and chemistry. The mineralogy of these samples is dominated by the carbonate minerals calcite and aragonite, accompanied by quartz, feldspar, halide, and clay minerals. There is no strong evidence for crystalline iron oxide/hydroxide phases, but compositionally and morphologically diverse iron- and chlorine-rich amorphous nanospheres are found in many of the samples. These results showcase the strengths and weaknesses of different analytical methods and underscore the need for multiple complementary techniques to inform the complicated mineralogy at this locale. These analyses suggest that the red color at Blood Falls arises from oxidation of dissolved Fe2+ in the subglacial fluid that transforms upon exposure to air to form nanospheres of amorphous hydroxylated mixed-valent iron-containing material, with color also influenced by other ions in those structures. Finally, the results provide a comprehensive mineralogical analysis previously missing from the literature for an analogue site with a well-studied sub-ice microbial community. Thus, this mineral assemblage could indicate a habitable environment if found elsewhere in the Solar System.
SQUARE2: Spacecraft in QUAdrature for Solar Exploration—A Mission Concept for Synergetic Observations of the Sun and Heliosphere
Authors: Telloni D.
Published: May 2022

SQUARE2 is the acronym for Spacecraft in QUAdrature for solaR Exploration, and is a mission concept for multi-instrumental two-point observations of the Sun and its environment. It stems from the need to have two probes that are systematically in orbital configurations of interest, such as quadratures or radial alignments, in order to successfully address some science topics that joint measurements by different spacecraft, not specifically designed though to operate in synergy, can only partially solve. This perspective paper describes the mission profile that SQUARE2 should have in order to achieve a better understanding of how the Sun creates and controls the heliosphere. Specifically, the combined use of remote-sensing and in-situ instrumentation aboard the twin SQUARE2 probes would allow the connection of the locally sampled solar-wind plasma flow with its coronal drivers and a proper investigation of solar wind evolution, dynamics, and transient events in the inner heliosphere. The potential impact of SQUARE2 and the science topics covered by such a solar mission are here discussed.
Physiological Responses and Phytoremediation Abilities of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under Cesium and Strontium Contaminated Soils
Authors: Ali Shahzaib , Wang Dan , Kaleri Abdul Rasheed , Baloch Sadia Babar , Brtnicky Martin , Kucerik Jiri , Mustafa Adnan
Published: May 2022

Soils contaminated with radionuclides pose a long-term radiation hazard to human health through food chain exposure and other pathways. The uptake, accumulation, and distribution of 133Cs, individual 88Sr, and combined 88Sr + 133Cs, with their physiological and biochemical responses in greenhouse-potted soil-based cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), were studied. The results from the present study revealed that the uptake, accumulation, TF, and BCF ability of cucumber for 88Sr + 133Cs were greater than for 133Cs and 88Sr while the concentration was the same in the soil (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg kg−1). The highest 88Sr + 133Cs accumulation was 2128.5 µg g−1dw, and the highest accumulation values of 133Cs and 88Sr were 1738.4 µg g−1dw and 1818.2 µg g−1dw (in 160 mg kg−1), respectively. The lowest 88Sr + 133Cs, 133Cs, and 88Sr accumulation values were 416.37 µg g−1dw, 268.90 µg g−1dw, and 354.28 µg g−1dw (10 mg kg−1), respectively. MDA content was higher under 88Sr and 133Cs stress than under 88Sr + 133Cs stress. Chlorophyll content increased at 10 and 20 mg kg−1; however, it decreased with increasing concentrations (40, 80, and 160 mg kg−1). Proline content and the activities of CAT, POD, and SOD were lower under 133Cs and 88Sr than 88Sr + 133Cs stress. The 88Sr, 133Cs, and 88Sr + 133Cs treatment concentrations sequentially induced some enzymes over 60 days of exposure, suggesting that this complex of antioxidant enzymes—CAT, POD, and SOD—works in combination to reduce the impact of toxicity of 88Sr, 133Cs, and 88Sr + 133Cs, especially in young leaves. It is concluded that cucumber reveals considerable phytoremediation capabilities due to unique growth potential in contaminated substrate and is suitable for the bioreclamation of degraded soils. The plant is especially applicable for efficient phytoextraction of 88Sr + 133Cs contamination.
Impact of Short-Term Atmospheric Heat Transfer on the Survival of Granary Weevil in Stored Winter Wheat
Authors: Lukács Helga , Pál-Fám Ferenc , Varga-Visi Éva , Rolbiecki Roman , Percze Attila , Keszthelyi Sándor
Published: May 2022

The granary weevil Sitophilus granarius L. is a pest causing substantial damage to stored wheat worldwide, against which the elaboration of sustainable control methods has recently been gaining importance. Our objective was to assess the efficacy of a rapid atmospheric convection heat transfer method against S. granarius under laboratory conditions. We examined the changes in adult mortality and progeny survival triggered by heat and the effect of this on the quality parameters of treated wheat items. The insecticidal efficacy, achieved by the treatment of infested grains, was also analyzed at 37, 47, 67, 87, and 107 °C for 5, 6, and 7 min under 40% and 60% rh exposure to atmospheric heating with the progeny production assessed 45 days after the treatment. The quality parameters of the treated wheat were analyzed by a germination test and NIR grain analysis. Our findings showed that adequate eradication of S. granarius was obtained at 107 °C for 5 min of exposure under suboptimal (40% rh) relative humidity values. At 60% relative humidity, mortality averages were more dispersed, and efficacies above the expected 95% occurred over longer exposures. The progeny-suppression effect from short-term heating was affirmed. The atmospheric convection heat transfer method, under the applied temperature and exposure time combinations, did not induce detectable changes in the quality parameters or the germination ability of the treated wheat. Overall, our findings indicated that the use of short-term heating for the post-harvest protection of cereals is feasible, which may contribute to the realization of residuum-free pest management and provide an effective and sustainable technique in integrated pest management.
Reclaimed Water Use in Agriculture: Effects on Soil Chemical and Biological Properties in a Long-Term Irrigated Citrus Farm
Authors: Leogrande Rita , Pedrero Francisco , Nicolas Emilio , Vitti Carolina , Lacolla Giovanni , Stellacci Anna Maria
Published: May 2022

In Mediterranean regions, the scarcity of freshwater for agricultural purposes is leading to the use of alternative water sources. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of long-term irrigation with reclaimed water on chemical and biological soil properties. On a mandarin tree orchard (Citrus clementina, cv. Orogrande), freshwater (FW) and tertiary reclaimed water (RW) were supplied for irrigation. In spring 2017, a soil sampling was carried out, collecting from each experimental plot four samples at 0–0.20 m depth. Chemical and biochemical soil properties were determined on air dried and sieved soil and on fresh and field-moist soil, respectively. The irrigation with reclaimed water significantly increased the soil water extractable organic carbon (WEOC), available P, Mg, and Na content, and the electrical conductivity (EC). Although not significant, the respiration rates and enzymatic activities were higher in RW treatment. The results of this research highlighted that the irrigation with reclaimed water, providing organic carbon and other nutrients, could have, in the long-term, beneficial effects on soil microorganism and their activities. In any case, especially in arid and semi-arid environments, a proper management of wastewater should be recommended to avoid soil degradation due to salt accumulation in the rootzone.
The Potassium-Dependent Transcriptome Analysis of Maize Provides Novel Insights into the Rescue Role of Auxin in Responses to Potassium Deficiency
Authors: Zhou Dongying , Wang Kai , Zhang He , Du Qi , Liu Yingyan , Wang Jing , Wang Xiaoguang , Yu Haiqiu , Zhao Xinhua
Published: May 2022

Potassium (K+) deficiency is a key factor limiting maize growth and yield. Auxin plays an important role in maize adaptation to K+ deficiency, but its physiological and molecular mechanisms are largely unclear. In this study, the exogenous application of 0.01 μmol·L–1 α-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) could effectively alleviate the growth inhibition of maize roots caused by K+ deficiency, especially in the low-K-sensitive maize inbred line D937. The transcriptome results showed that 3924 and 5458 genes were differentially expressed by exogenous NAA in D937 (sensitive to K+ deficiency) and 90-21-3 (tolerant to K+ deficiency) under K+ deficiency, respectively. The exogenous application of NAA to D937 results in maintenance of the indole acetic acid (IAA) levels by inducing an upregulation in the expression of YUCCA-encoding genes and decreases abscisic acid (ABA) content by inducing the differential expression of genes encoding NCED (downregulated), ABA2 (downregulated), and PP2C (upregulated), thereby reducing growth damage caused by K+ deficiency. In 90-21-3, exogenous NAA can decrease ABA content and increase IAA/ABA by inducing the differential expression of CYP707- and ABF-related genes, inhibiting the excess accumulation of reactive oxygen species by inducing the differential expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, and maintain cellular K+ homeostasis by regulating the expression of genes encoding K+ channels and transporters, thus enhancing plant tolerance to K+ deficiency. This study lays the foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying maize adaptation to K+ deficiency.
Life Cycle Assessment of Biofuels Production Processes in Viticulture in the Context of Circular Economy
Authors: Kovacs Eniko , Hoaghia Maria-Alexandra , Senila Lacrimioara , Scurtu Daniela Alexandra , Varaticeanu Cerasel , Roman Cecilia , Dumitras Diana Elena
Published: May 2022

Globally, as the population and the living standards expanded, so did the use of energy and materials. Renewable energy resources are being used to help address the energy issue and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Because lignocellulosic biomass resources are widely available and renewable, various processes are used to convert these resources into bioenergy. In the current study, two production processes were evaluated, namely the transformation of vine shoot waste into value-added biofuels, i.e., pellets/briquettes and bioethanol. The life cycle assessment (LCA) technique was used for simulating and documenting the environmental performance of two biomass waste to biofuels pathways, possible candidates for closing loops in the viticulture production, according to the circular economy models. The SimaPro software was used to perform the LCA. The results show that the pellets/briquettes production process has a lower negative influence on the studied environmental impact categories compared to the production of bioethanol.
Regulation of Tight Junctions by Sex Hormones in Goat Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Zhu Hongmei , Jia Qianqian , Zhang Yanyan , Liu Dongming , Yang Diqi , Han Li , Chen Jianguo , Ding Yi
Published: May 2022

The sex hormones of estrogen and progesterone (P4) play a vital role in mammary gland development and milk lactation in ruminants. The tight junction (TJ) between adjacent secretory epithelial cells is instrumental in establishing the mammary blood–milk barrier. However, whether estrogen and P4 exert their effect on mammary function via regulating TJ remain unclear. Here, to clarify the role of 17-β estradiol (E2) and P4 in the regulation of TJ in goat mammary gland, we first explored the relationships between the concentrations of E2, P4, and the protein expression of claudin-1, claudin-3, occludin, and ZO-1 during the mammary gland development in goat. Then, we further explored the mRNA and protein expression of claudin-1, claudin-3, occludin, and ZO-1 in the goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs) in vitro under different concentrations of E2 and P4. The results demonstrated that the protein expression of claudin-1 decreased, but occludin and ZO-1 increased with the decline in E2 and P4 during the transition from pregnancy to lactation. In the in vitro studies, E2 exerted a positive effect on the mRNA expression of claudin-1, and accelerated the proteins’ expression of claudin-1 and ZO-1 in GMECs; P4 upregulated the mRNA expression of claudin-1, claudin-3, occludin, and ZO-1, and also improved the protein expression of claudin-1, claudin-3, and ZO-1 in the GMECs. The results demonstrated that E2 and P4 play an important role in regulating the expression of the mammary TJ components, which may ultimately affect the mammary gland development and milk lactation.
Prevalence and Virulence Characteristics of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium in Bovine Mastitis Milk Compared to Bovine Normal Raw Milk in South Korea
Authors: Kim Hyeon-Jin , Youn Hye-Young , Kang Hye-Jeong , Moon Jin-San , Jang Yong-Seok , Song Kwang-Young , Seo Kun-Ho
Published: May 2022

Enterococcus spp. are pathogens that cause environmental mastitis and are difficult to eliminate owing to their resistance to antibiotics. To compare the virulence characteristics of isolates from bovine mastitis milk (BMM) and bovine normal raw milk (NRM), we isolated Enterococcus spp. from 39 dairy farms in South Korea from 2015–2020. A total of 122 Enterococcus spp. were identified, with Enterococcus faecalis (73.8%) accounting for the majority, followed by Enterococcus faecium (26.2%). E. faecalis isolated from BMM harbored gelE, asa1, esp, and cylA genes with a prevalence of 85.7, 71.4, 54.3, and 30.0%, respectively. These genes were significantly more abundant in BMM than in NRM, except for asa1 (p < 0.0001). Interestingly, strong biofilm and gelatinase formation was predominately observed for BMM isolates and this was significantly correlated to the presence of esp and gelE genes (p < 0.05). BMM isolates demonstrated higher resistance to tetracycline (59.3%), followed by chloramphenicol (21.0%), rifampicin (18.5%), doxycycline (4.9%), ciprofloxacin (1.2%), and nitrofurantoin (1.2%), than those from NRM. E. faecalis harboring esp, gelE, and cylA may be causative agents for bovine mastitis and act as a reservoir for the transmission of virulence factors to humans.
Characteristics of Acoustic Emission Caused by Intermittent Fatigue of Rock Salt
Authors: Cui Yao , Liu Changjun , Qiao Nan , Qi Siyu , Chen Xuanyi , Zhu Pengyu , Feng Yongneng
Published: May 2022

This paper compares classic (continuous) fatigue tests and fatigue tests carried out with time intervals of no stress in rock salt using a multifunctional testing machine and acoustic emission equipment. The results show that time intervals of no stress have a strong impact on the fatigue activity of rock salt. In fatigue tests with intervals, the residual strain in circles following an interval (α circles) is generally larger than that in circles before the intervals (β circles). The insertion of a time interval with no stress in the fatigue process accelerates the accumulation of residual strain: the longer the interval, the faster the residual strain accumulates during the fatigue process and the shorter the fatigue life of the rock salt. α circles produce a greater number of acoustic emission counts than β circles, which demonstrates that residual stress leads to internal structural adjustment of rock salt on a mesoscopic scale. During intervals of no stress, acoustic emission activity becomes more active in α circles because of reverse softening caused by the Bauschinger effect, which accelerates the accumulation of plastic deformation. A qualitative relationship between the accumulated damage variable and the time interval is established. A threshold in the duration of the time interval exists (around 900 s).
Design and Analysis of an Optical–Acoustic Cooperative Communication System for an Underwater Remote-Operated Vehicle
Authors: He Jun , Li Jie , Zhu Xiaowu , Xiong Shangkun , Chen Fangjiong
Published: May 2022

Underwater wireless communication technology plays a key role in the field of marine equipment technology. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate an underwater optical–acoustic cooperative communication platform for an underwater wireless data transmission system. The system utilizes an underwater Remote-Operated Vehicle (ROV) as a carrier, equipped with LEDbased optical communication and acoustic communication modems. In particular, the system applies optical communication to transmit large-scale data and applies acoustic communication to provide acoustic-assisted signaling exchange before optical transmission and Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) during optical transmission. By experimentally measuring the transmission distance under different water quality conditions, we found that the system can achieve a data rate of up to 5 Mb/s over a laboratory underwater channel of 7.6 m. By comparing the attenuation coefficients for the outdoor underwater environment with that in clear seawater, we estimate that the achievable link distance in clear seawater can reach 11 m with a data rate of 3.125 MB/s. The proposed system takes both implementation complexity and cost into consideration and also provides significant guidance for future real-time high-speed underwater optical–acoustic communications.
Assessment of Selected Parameters for Determining the Internal Quality of White Grape Cultivars Grown in Cold Climates
Authors: Czaplicka Marta , Parypa Kacper , Szewczuk Adam , Gudarowska Ewelina , Rowińska Magdalena , Zubaidi Muhamad Alfiyan , Nawirska-Olszańska Agnieszka
Published: May 2022

Viticulture in a cool climate is more challenging than in traditional wine regions. Due to the weather conditions, the berries may not achieve their full maturation composition. Therefore, suitable grape cultivars should be selected for cultivation in cool climate regions. The aim of this research was to compare selected grape cultivars grown under the same climatic conditions in terms of their antioxidant activity, chemical composition, and macronutrient contents. Their dry matter content, total soluble solids, pH, total acidity, and vitamin C were also analyzed. This research confirmed the existence of differences between the cultivars regarding their antioxidant activity, total soluble solids and polyphenols, and content of vitamin C and macronutrients.
Algorithm of Smart Building Supervision for Detecting and Counting Column Ties Using Deep Learning
Authors: Kim Taehoon , Hong Soonmin , Choo Seungyeon
Published: May 2022

The Building Supervision of South Korea has been developed under the government′s desire to prevent poor construction and improve the quality of buildings to promote a safer life for the people. Although the building environment of today has been achieved through several improvements, the introduction of such technology is insufficient. Especially since building supervision is primarily carried out almost by manpower, in an era where numerous convergence technologies from the 4th industry are being utilized. Therefore, this study aimed to solve this inefficiency in the building supervision system by using the object detection technology of deep learning in the BIM environment. As a basic study to develop a smart supervision checking system that checks whether the information on the construction site matches the design information, the column ties were selected as a supervision item, and research was conducted. For this, we constructed the tie detection network and suggested an algorithm for information checking between the construction site and BIM environment. Through this, it was possible to confirm the possibility of practical supervision work and improve the efficiency of the work, and furthermore, to see the possibility of using convergence technology.
Shear Strength Improvement of Clay Soil Stabilized by Coffee Husk Ash
Authors: Munirwan Reza Pahlevi , Taha Mohd Raihan , Mohd Taib Aizat , Munirwansyah Munirwansyah
Published: May 2022

Finding alternatives to natural resources is important for a sustainable future and is essential to infrastructure projects. Among these replacements is the use of coffee waste as soil stabilizers. Coffee husk ash (CHA) is a solid waste obtained by the processing of coffee beans on a farm or factory. The main aim of this study is to determine the geotechnical properties of clay soil treated with CHA to develop a low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative composition. Laboratory tests were conducted to investigate the influence of CHA on the physical properties and the mechanical properties of clay. The CHA concentration was adjusted from 5% to 25% by the dry weight of clay in 5% increments. The clay classification of the mixture becomes coarser following the addition of the CHA. At 25% CHA, a peak UCS of 130.83 kN/m2 was measured compared with the untreated clay of 89.17 kN/m2. In addition, the cohesion values and internal friction angles of soil for 0% and 25% CHA increased from 80.1 kN/m2 to 148.7 kN/m2 and from 16.1° to 25.8°, respectively. It was found that CHA can improve the strength of clay by forming a pozzolanic and hydration process that fills soil voids and binds particles together.
Hybrid Harmonic Suppression Method at DC Link of Series-Connected 18-Pulse Rectifier
Authors: Li Quanhui , Yin Xinyu , Meng Fangang , He Xiao , Wang Gaojie , Guo Changxing
Published: May 2022

To suppress the harmonics of series-connected 18-pulse rectifier, a hybrid harmonic suppression method is proposed in this paper. According to the structure of the converter and the KVL, the injection voltages are expressed. According to the injection voltages, the relation between the input voltage THD and the injection transformer turn ratio is obtained. Based on the relationship, when the THD of the input voltage researches the lowest value, the optimal injection transformer turn ratio is determined. Testing result shows that after using the proposed reduction method, the input side THD values of the converter are reduced. The capacity of the suppression circuit is only about 2% of the load power. The proposed converter is qualified for the interface between the AC generator and the DC bus of the aircraft electrical system.
Random Noise Suppression Method of Micro-Seismic Data Based on CEEMDAN-FE-TFPF
Authors: Chen Jianting , Fu Jianfei , Cheng Hao , Jia Sanshi , Yao Yuzeng , Yan Di
Published: May 2022

As rock fractures caused by micro-seismic events has potential safety hazards to underground workers, it is often necessary to accurately locate the micro-seismic source for hidden danger investigation. Micro-seismic data are generated in complex underground environments which are significantly affected by random noise. These data greatly influence subsequent micro-seismic source location, energy estimation, and disaster monitoring. In this paper, a new denoising method based on Time-Frequency Peak Filtering (TFPF) and Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN) is proposed for micro-seismic data. Micro-seismic data are decomposed into several Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) by CEEMDAN. Then, discriminant factors are used to determine which IMF needs to be denoised by TFPF. Finally, the denoised result is reconstructed by inverse CEEMDAN. By comparing and analyzing different entropies, Fuzzy Entropy (FE) is selected as the best discriminant factor. The CEEMDAN-FE-TFPF denoising method can effectively avoid the influence of fixed window length of the conventional TFPF method. The effectiveness and superiority of this method are verified by experiments of synthetic and actual data.
The Application of Image Texture Analysis Techniques on the Effects of Dry Needling versus Placebo in Low-Back Pain Patients: A Pilot-Study
Authors: Del-Canto-Fernández Alba , Calleja-Martínez Pablo , Descalzo-Hoyas Borja , Rodríguez-Posada Sebastián , Cuenca-Zaldívar Nicolás , Fernández-Carnero Samuel , Naranjo-Cinto Fermin , Gallego-Izquierdo Tomas
Published: May 2022

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in the world, with a significant socio-economic impact. Deep dry needling is effective in the treatment of this pain, and it is one of the techniques preferred by physiotherapists. In this field, the use of ultrasound provides information of interest such as length, thickness, diameter, cross-sectional area, or muscle volume, among others. Objective: To find out whether the tissue changes (thickness, histogram, and contraction rate) that occur in the lumbar multifidus after application of the deep dry needle are related to changes in the pain and the disability of the patient. Design: Randomized, double-blind, parallel-group clinical trial. Setting: University of Alcalá, Department of Physiotherapy. Subjects: 21 voluntary patients (women and men) with non-specific low-back pain aged 18–65 years. Intervention: Patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group received dry needling and the other group a dry needling placebo. Initial post-needling and one week post-needling assessments were performed by a therapist blinded to the intervention. Variables: Lumbar multifidus thickness measured by RUSI, contraction time measured by M-mode, histograms measured by image analysis, muscle area, pain measured by VAS, pressure pain threshold measured by pressure algometer, and disability measured by Roland–Morris questionnaire. Conclusions: The contraction speed, resting thickness, and pain demonstrated significant differences within each group, but not between groups. There were significant differences in contraction ratio and in PPT between groups. There was excellent intra-examiner reliability in image collection for histogram analysis. Histogram analysis showed no significant differences between groups and measurements, neither for the parameters nor for the parameters combined with the outcome variables. A robust method for the image texture analyses in future histogram muscle analyses has been performed.
Direct Mobile Coaching as a Paradigm for the Creation of Mobile Feedback Systems
Authors: Dobiasch Martin , Oppl Stefan , Stöckl Michael , Baca Arnold
Published: May 2022

In sports feedback systems, digital systems perform tasks such as capturing, analysing and representing data. These systems not only aim to provide athletes and coaches with insights into performances but also help athletes learn new tasks and control movements, for example, to prevent injuries. However, designing mobile feedback systems requires a high level of expertise from researchers and practitioners in many areas. As a solution to this problem, we present Direct Mobile Coaching (DMC) as a design paradigm and model for mobile feedback systems. Besides components for feedback provisioning, the model consists of components for data recording, storage and management. For the evaluation of the model, its features are compared against state-of-the-art frameworks. Furthermore, the capabilities are benchmarked using a review of the literature. We conclude that DMC is capable of modelling all 39 identified systems while other identified frameworks (MobileCoach, Garmin Connect IQ SDK, RADAR) could (at best) only model parts of them. The presented design paradigm/model is applicable for a wide range of mobile feedback systems and equips researchers and practitioners with a valuable tool.
Functional and Clean Label Dry Fermented Meat Products: Phytochemicals, Bioactive Peptides, and Conjugated Linoleic Acid
Authors: Karwowska Małgorzata , Munekata Paulo E. S. , Lorenzo Jose M. , Tomasevic Igor
Published: May 2022

Consumer demand for specific dietary and nutritional characteristics in their foods has risen in recent years. This trend in consumer preference has resulted in a strong emphasis in the meat industry and scientific research on activities aimed at improving the nutritional value of fermented meat products. These types of meat products are valued by modern consumers due to their nutritional value resulting, among others, from the method of production. One of the major focuses of the current innovations includes the incorporation of bioactive compounds from plant-based food, in relation to the replacement of additives that may raise concerns among consumers (mainly nitrate and nitrite) as well as the modification of processing conditions in order to increase the content of bioactive compounds. Many efforts have been focused on reducing or eliminating the presence of additives, such as curing agents (nitrite or nitrate) in accordance with the idea of “clean label”. The enrichment of fermented meat products in compounds from the plant kingdom can also be framed in the overall strategies of functional meat products design, so that the meat products may be used as the vehicle to deliver bioactive compounds that may exert benefits to the consumer.
Evaluation of Different Oxygen Carriers for Chemical Looping Reforming of Toluene as Tar Model Compound in Biomass Gasification Gas: A Thermodynamic Analysis
Authors: Wang Zhiqi , Zhang Jinzhi , Wu Jingli , He Tao , Wu Jinhu
Published: May 2022

A thermodynamic study on a toluene chemical looping reforming process with six metal oxides was conducted to evaluate the product distribution for selecting an appropriate oxygen carrier with thermodynamic favorability towards high syngas yield. The results show that a suitable operation temperature for most oxygen carriers is 900 °C considering syngas selectivity and solid C formation whether the toluene is fed alone or together with fuel gas. The syngas selectivity of all oxygen carriers decreases with the increasing equivalence ratio, but the decrease degrees are quite different due to their different thermodynamic natures. With the increasing amounts of H2 and CO, the syngas selectivity for various oxygen carriers correspondingly decreases. The addition of CO2 and H2O(g) benefits reducing the solid C formation, whereas the addition of CH4 leads to more solid C being produced. Under the simulated gasification gas atmosphere, a synergetic elimination of solid C and water–gas shift reactions are observed. In terms of syngas selectivity, Mn2O3 possesses the best performance, followed by CaFe2O4 and Fe2O3, but NiO and CuO exhibit the lowest performance. BaFe2O4 presents a high H2 selectivity but a very poor CO selectivity due to the formation of BaCO3, which has a high thermodynamic stability below 1200 °C. Nevertheless, Mn2O3 is more likely to form solid C than feeding toluene alone and has a lower melting point. Considering syngas selectivity, carbon deposit and melting point, CaFe2O4 exhibits the highest performance concerning the tar chemical looping.