bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Varroa destructor and its impacts on honey bee biology
Authors: Morfin Nuria , Goodwin Paul H. , Guzman-Novoa Ernesto
Published: October 2023

Varroa destructor is considered one of the greatest threats to the health of the honey bee, A. mellifera. In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in the number of studies on the mite and its interaction with the bee at a cellular and molecular level. However, these studies have also revealed just how complex the interaction is. A significant factor in the virulence of V. destructor is the proteins secreted in its saliva, but only a fraction of these have yet been examined. These proteins can negatively affect the bee’s immune system and promote viruses associated with mite parasitism. Initially, studies on parasitized bees concentrated on immune-related genes, but as more genes of the bees have been examined, it is clear that many other aspects of the bee are affected, such as metabolism and neural functioning. Some of those could be responsible for the detrimental changes in certain behaviors of parasitized bees, which compromises the health of the entire colony. Several viruses are associated with V. destructor parasitism, but it remains difficult to distinguish the effects of the viruses from those of the mite. Reduced immunity in parasitized bees also opens the possibility of secondary microbial infections, adding complexity to the mite-bee interaction. Further complicating studies is the impact of other factors, like agrochemicals, which can alter how V. destructor parasitism affects bee immunity, metabolism, and neural functioning. In addition, differences due to age and sex of the bee being parasitized is a factor that needs to be considered in all studies. While much has been learned in recent years about this complex interaction, the number of unanswered questions only increases.
System thinking approaches for circular economy: enabling inclusive, synergistic, and eco-effective pathways for sustainable development
Authors: Hassan Hamza , Faggian Robert
Published: October 2023

The Circular Economy (CE) concept is rapidly gaining space in mainstream policy in many developed countries, but it remains a contested and underdeveloped notion in scientific circles, largely due to its fragmented nature and absence of a unified framework. This fragmentation is attributed to the concept’s diverse roots, its varying utilization by distinct interest groups, and its evolution over time. Though there are strong implicit links between CE and sustainability, the explicit connections are seldom addressed. Current CE views tend to heavily concentrate on the economic aspect of sustainability, marginally on the environmental one, and largely neglect the social aspect. The prevailing reductive interpretations of CE often lead to subpar or even unsustainable results, thereby posing significant challenges to its implementation and questioning its legitimacy as a sustainable development model. This systematic literature review, through an examination of CE’s varied origins, its role in integrated socio-economic dialogues, its sustainability implications, and the challenges presented by its existing reductive approaches, underscores the necessity for a systemic exploration of the CE concept. Given that CE is rooted in Systems Ecology, adopting a pluralistic, transdisciplinary perspective is crucial to overcome challenges and limitation associated with CE implementation. The authors propose that the implementation of CE must be guided by holistic systemic evaluations of organizations with equal emphasis on environmental and social apprehensions along with economic concerns. Such systemic evaluations can ensure that CE meets its sustainability objectives and remain a legitimate pathway towards sustainable development.
Done with a degree? Immigration-specific disparities among holders of bachelor’s degrees in the transition to graduate studies in Germany
Authors: Neumeyer Sebastian , Pietrzyk Irena
Published: October 2023

In many Western societies, immigrants make more ambitious educational choices than their native counterparts of equal academic achievement and social origin. These ambitious decisions have been mainly observed at early and middle educational stages, whereas research on choices within higher education is scarce. Against this background, we investigate whether immigrants make more ambitious decisions than natives do also after having graduated from bachelor’s programs in Germany. We theoretically derive that variations in immigration-specific differences in educational choices can be expected based on social origin and country of origin, as well as between the application for and the actual enrollment in graduate studies. Using survey data on educational trajectories of bachelor’s degree holders, we observe our expectations to be confirmed for the investigated sample. First, immigration-specific differences in educational choices vary by social origin and are increased for graduates from low social origins. This finding supports that immigrants strive for status maximization, an idea that we understand as a theoretical specification of the motive for status gain. Second, they vary by country of origin, which suggests cultural factors to be subordinate. Third, immigration-specific differences in applications are more pronounced than differences in actual transitions, indicating that immigrants have fewer chances of transforming their aspirations into actual transitions. We conclude by discussing these three aspects more broadly.
Digital Twin for Acoustics and Stage Craft Facility Management in a Multipurpose Hall
Authors: Cairoli Maria , Tagliabue Lavinia Chiara
Published: October 2023

Digital twins aim to virtually replicate the static and dynamic building characteristics through real-time connectivity between virtual and physical counterparts. Despite its potential, research into digital twins for facility management (FM) in multipurpose spaces is at an early stage, especially to control and optimize the various uses and configuration layouts. One of the major barriers to the adoption of digital twin technology in multipurpose buildings is the lack of interoperability, primarily between building information modeling (BIM) and Internet of things (IoT) data sources. This paper presents a possible digital-twin architecture to enable digital-twin applications aiming to impact building performance, acting on the facility management of stagecraft and variable acoustic architectural elements to control the reverberation time in real time. The case study of Roberto De Silva Multipurpose Hall is presented, in which the indoor acoustic quality is controlled by the digital twin that returns the reverberation time output as a function of stage equipment layouts, variable acoustic elements and hall occupancy.
A New Composite Control Strategy for an Astronaut Virtual Operation Training System Based on Cable-Driven Technology
Authors: Xue Feng , Zhang Lixun , Li Lailu , Wang Zhenhan , Song Da
Published: October 2023

In recent years, virtual microgravity training technology for astronauts based on cable-driven designs has emerged, and it solves the following problems: high costs, short training times, and low safety of existing equipment. However, this technology does not solve the reduced motion accuracy problem of the operated object due to the elastic deformation of cables, and this problem will reduce the operational experience of astronauts during training. In view of this problem, a cable-driven virtual operation training system for astronauts is designed, and a new composite control strategy based on parallel cables is proposed, which effectively improves motion control accuracy by allocating cable tension and using a tension compliance control method to suppress the influence of cable deformation. In addition, the desired tension of cables is optimized based on the system’s workspace so that the system can achieve more complex virtual microgravity training tasks. Finally, verification via experiments demonstrated that the training system and the new composite control strategy are effective.
Anthropometric and Physical Fitness Profile of Adolescent Inter-County Ladies’ Gaelic Football Players
Authors: Molohan Teresa , Behan Stephen , MacNamara Áine
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study was to determine the anthropometric and physical fitness profiles of inter-county female Gaelic football players from under-14 to under-18 age levels. A total of 156 athletes (U14, n = 33; U16, n = 64; U18, n = 59) participated in this study. Testing was conducted in a single session for each group and included anthropometric measures of standing and sitting height, weight, estimated age of peak height velocity (PHV), and maturity offset. Physical performance tests included squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ), 0–5 m and 0–20 m sprint times, pro-agility test, medicine ball chest-pass throw, and YoYo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YoYoIR1). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate differences between the age groups. Significant differences were identified between age groups for measures of height (p < 0.001, ES = 0.127), body mass (p.002, ES = 0.076), and estimated age of PHV (p < 0.001, ES = 0.612). No significant differences were found between age groups for any of the physical fitness tests except for the YoYoIR1, where a significant difference was found between the U14 and U18 age groups (p.029, η2p = 0.048). These findings may assist coaches to better understand female athletic development, provide insight on talent identification and development programmes, and provide reference data when working with this cohort so that realistic and attainable training goals can be achieved.
Deep Learning-Based Semantic Segmentation of Urban Areas Using Heterogeneous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Datasets
Authors: Song Ahram
Published: October 2023

Deep learning techniques have recently shown remarkable efficacy in the semantic segmentation of natural and remote sensing (RS) images. However, these techniques heavily rely on the size of the training data, and obtaining large RS imagery datasets is difficult (compared to RGB images), primarily due to environmental factors such as atmospheric conditions and relief displacement. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery presents unique challenges, such as variations in object appearance due to UAV flight altitude and shadows in urban areas. This study analyzed the combined segmentation network (CSN) designed to train heterogeneous UAV datasets effectively for their segmentation performance across different data types. Results confirmed that CSN yielded high segmentation accuracy on specific classes and can be used on diverse data sources for UAV image segmentation. The main contributions of this study include analyzing the impact of CSN on segmentation accuracy, experimenting with structures with shared encoding layers to enhance segmentation accuracy, and investigating the influence of data types on segmentation accuracy.
A Hybrid Gate-to-Gate Simulation Environment for the Air Traffic System
Authors: Yildiz Bekir , Förster Peter , Langner Jonas , Feuerle Thomas , Hecker Peter
Published: October 2023

This paper presents a concept of a fast-time gate-to-gate simulation environment. The implementation is divided into an air traffic part that uses BADA performance parameters and a simulation of ground processes. The main objective of the flow-based hybrid simulation environment is to cover commercial European air traffic, in order to investigate network-related effects when exposed to disturbances. Based on historic traffic scenarios, the hybrid simulation platform enables the investigation of the local and global effects of a variety of disruptions. With respect to current flow-based models, it is intended to gain better insights into the underlying interdependencies by modelling higher levels of detail for selected parts, whilst covering the whole European air traffic network. After a validation and first calibration of the approach, Monte Carlo simulations, based on flight plans, are performed as proof of concept. This aims to illustrate the local effects of network-wide disturbances and is applied by means of stochastic influences of ground processes, gained from real operational data.
Physical–Chemical and Metataxonomic Characterization of the Microbial Communities Present during the Fermentation of Three Varieties of Coffee from Colombia and Their Sensory Qualities
Authors: Holguín-Sterling Laura , Pedraza-Claros Bertilda , Pérez-Salinas Rosangela , Ortiz Aristófeles , Navarro-Escalante Lucio , Góngora Carmenza E.
Published: October 2023

The microbial composition and physical-chemical characteristics were studied during the coffee fermentation of three Coffea arabica L. varieties, Var. Tabi, Var. Castillo General® and Var. Colombia. Mucilage and washed coffee seeds samples were collected at different stages of fermentation. Mucilage microbiology characterization and metataxonomic analysis were performed using 16S rDNA sequencing to determine bacterial diversity and ITS sequencing for fungal diversity. Additionally, the microorganisms were isolated into pure cultures. The molecular diversity analyses showed similarities in microorganisms present during the fermentation of Var. Castillo General and Var. Colombia, which are genetically closely related; mixed-acid bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae, Tatumella sp.) and lactic acid bacteria (Leuconostoc sp., Weissella sp. and Lactobacillaceae) were common and predominant, while in Var. Tabi, acetic acid bacteria (Gluconobacter sp. and Acetobacter sp.) and Leuconostoc sp. were predominant. At the end of the fermentation period, the fungi Saccharomycodaceae, Pichia and Wickerhamomyces were found in Var. Castillo General and Var. Colombia, while in Var. Tabi, Saccharomycodaceae, Pichia and Candida were recorded. Sensory analyses of the coffee beverages were carried out (SCA methodology) for all samples. Var. Tabi had the highest SCA score, between 82.7 and 83.2, while for Var. Colombia, the score ranged between 82.1 and 82.5. These three coffee varieties showed potential for the production of specialty coffees influenced by spontaneous fermentation processes that depend on microbial consortia rather than a single microorganism.
Isolation of Pathogenic Bacteria from Dairy Cow Mastitis and Correlation of Biofilm Formation and Drug Resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Jiangsu, China
Authors: Cao Wendi , Xu Yi , Huang Yicai , Xu Tianle
Published: October 2023

According to recent investigations, the proportion of mastitis caused by environmental pathogens, such as K. pneumoniae, has increased. In this research, the epidemiology of pathogens in milk samples collected from four farms in the Jiangsu Province was carried out. The results show that 16 pathogens were detected in 186 positive milk samples. It was found that K. pneumoniae had the lowest sensitivity to penicillin (0%) and amoxicillin (4%) compared to its sensitivity to gentamicin (92%) and piperacillin (89%). A total of eight ESBL-producing strains were detected. Crystal violet staining showed that 46 of the 68 isolates of K. pneumoniae had strong biofilm-forming ability, which was related to the tetracycline resistance phenotype (p < 0.05). The detection rate of the ESBL-resistant gene (blaSHV) reached 100%. The results show that resistance genes blaVIM, blaOXA-10, and blaTEM were correlated with drug-resistance phenotypes to varying degrees. The present study indicates the prevalence of bovine mastitis-derived pathogens in part of Jiangsu Province and reveals the distribution of β-lactam resistance genes and the strong biofilm-forming ability of K. pneumoniae and its relationship with tetracycline resistance. This study provided theoretical support and guidance for rational drug use and disease prevention and control on farms.
Modified CLEC3A-Derived Antimicrobial Peptides Lead to Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity against Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Authors: Meinberger Denise , Drexelius Marco G. , Grabeck Joshua , Hermes Gabriele , Roth Annika , Elezagic Dzemal , Neundorf Ines , Streichert Thomas , Klatt Andreas R.
Published: October 2023

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics. Sequence changes can significantly improve the therapeutic properties of antimicrobial peptides. In our study, we apply different sequence modifications to enhance the performance of the CLEC3A-derived AMPs HT-16 and HT-47. We truncated their sequences, inserting a triple-glycine linker, adding an N-terminal tryptophan residue, and generating a D-amino acid variant, resulting in the generation of seven new peptides. We investigated their antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, their cytotoxicity to murine cells, and the biostability of the modified peptides in serum. We identified a novel antimicrobial peptide, WRK-30, with enhanced antimicrobial potency against S. aureus and MRSA. Additionally, WRK-30 was less cytotoxic to eukaryotic cells, allowing its application in higher concentrations in an in vivo setting. In conclusion, we identified a novel CLEC3A-derived antimicrobial peptide WRK-30 with significantly improved therapeutic properties and the potential to widen the repertoire of conventional antibiotics.
Effects of the Oat Hay Feeding Method and Compound Probiotic Supplementation on the Growth, Antioxidant Capacity, Immunity, and Rumen Bacteria Community of Dairy Calves
Authors: Guo Yong-Qing , Hu Ya-Ru , Liu Su-Ran , Wang Meng , Xian Zhen-Yu , Liu De-Wu , Sun Bao-Li , Li Yao-Kun , Liu Guang-Bin , Deng Ming , Hu Wen-Feng , Liu Qing-Shen
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the oat hay feeding method and compound probiotics (CMP) on the growth, health, serum antioxidant and immune indicators, rumen fermentation, and bacteria community of dairy calves from 3 to 5 months of age. Forty-eight female Holstein calves (80 ± 7 days of age, 93.71 ± 5.33 kg BW) were selected and randomly divided into four groups. A 2 × 2 factorial design was adopted for the experiment, with the factors of the oat hay feeding method (fed as free-choice or 16.7% in the diet) and compound probiotics (CMP) inclusion (0.15% or 0%) in the pelleted starter. The results showed that, compared with giving oat hay as free-choice, feeding a diet of 16.7% oat hay increased the pelleted starter intake at 1–84 d (p < 0.05), with an average daily gain (ADG) at 61–84 d (p = 0.02); adding CMP to the pelleted starter did not significantly affect body weight, and reduced the fecal index (p < 0.05). Feeding 16.7% oat hay increased the concentration of IgA, IgG, and IgM (p < 0.01), while adding CMP increased the catalase (p < 0.01) and decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde (p < 0.01) in serum. Feeding 16.7% oat hay increased the ruminal concentration of propionic acid (p < 0.05) and isobutyric acid (p = 0.08), and decreased the ruminal pH (p = 0.08), the concentration of acetic acid (p < 0.05), and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid (p < 0.01). Feeding 16.7% oat hay reduced the relative abundance of ruminal Firmicutes, Unidentified-Bacteria, Actinobacteria, Prevotella, NK4A214-group, Olsenella, and Actinobacteriota (p < 0.05); adding CMP increased the relative abundance of ruminal Prevotella, Rikenellaceae-RC9-gut-group, Ruminococcus, NK4A214-group, and Ruminococcus (p < 0.05), and decreased the abundance of Desulfobacterora, Prevotella-7, and Erysipelotricaceae-UCG-002 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding a diet of 16.7% oat hay increased the pelleted starter intake and average daily gain, while slightly reducing the ruminal pH values; adding CMP to the pelleted starter resulted in reduced diarrhea incidence, increased serum antioxidant capacity and immunity, as well as ruminal richness and diversity of microorganisms in dairy calves from 3 to 5 months of age.
Dietary Taurine Improves Growth Performance and Intestine Health via the GSH/GSSG Antioxidant System and Nrf2/ARE Signaling Pathway in Weaned Piglets
Authors: Wang Lingang , Jiang Liwen , Chu Yunyun , Feng Fu , Tang Wenjie , Chen Chen , Qiu Yibin , Hu Zhijin , Diao Hui , Tang Zhiru
Published: October 2023

Early weaning of piglets was prone to increase reactive oxygen species, disrupt the redox balance, decrease antioxidant capacity, cause oxidative stress and intestinal oxidative damage, and lead to diarrhea in piglets. This research aimed to study dietary taurine (Tau) supplementation at a level relieving intestinal oxidative damage in early-weaned piglets. A total of 48 piglets were assigned to four groups of 12 individuals and fed a basal diet with 0.0% Tau (CON), 0.2% Tau (L-Tau), 0.3% Tau (M-Tau), or 0.4% Tau (H-Tau), respectively. The animal experiment lasted 30 days. The final weight, weight gain, average daily gain, and feed conversion rate increased with the increase in dietary Tau (Linear, p < 0.05; Quadratic p < 0.05), while the diarrhea index of piglets decreased with the increase in dietary Tau (Linear, p < 0.05). Serum malondialdehyde, nitric oxide (NO), D-lactose, and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations decreased with the increase in dietary Tau (Linear, p < 0.05). The O2•− and •OH clearance rate in serum, liver, and jejunum mucosa increased with the increase in dietary Tau (Linear, p < 0.05). Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, and peroxidase (POD) activity and total antioxidant capacity increased with the increase in dietary Tau (Linear, p < 0.05). The serum glutathione (GSH) concentration and the ratio of GSH to GSSG increased with the increase in dietary Tau (Linear, p < 0.05). The POD and glutathione synthase activity in the liver and jejunum mucosa increased with the increase in dietary Tau (Linear, p < 0.05). The mRNA abundances of HO-1 and GPX1 in the H-Tau group were higher than that in the L-Tau, M-Tau, and CON groups (p < 0.05). The mRNA abundances of SOD1 and Nrf2 in the M-Tau and H-Tau groups were higher than in the L-Tau and CON groups (p < 0.05). The mRNA abundance of SOD2 in the L-Tau, M-Tau, and H-Tau groups was higher than in the CON group (p < 0.05). The VH and the ratio of VH to CD of jejunum and ileum increased with the increase in dietary Tau (Linear, p < 0.05). The mRNA abundances of occludens 1 and claudin 1 in the H-Tau group were higher than that in the CON, L-Tau, and M-Tau (p < 0.05). The mRNA abundance of occludin in the L-Tau, M-Tau, and H-Tau groups was higher than that in CON (p < 0.05). The abundance of Firmicutes increased with the increase in dietary Tau (Linear, p < 0.05), while Proteobacteria and Spirochaetota decreased with the increase in dietary Tau (Linear, p < 0.05). Collectively, dietary supplementation of 0.3% and 0.4% Tau in feed could significantly improve the growth performance and enhance the antioxidant capacity of piglets.
Variability in Phytochemical Contents and Biological Activities among Adenophora triphylla Genotypes
Authors: Ajayi Oluwadamilola Elizabeth , Yoon Seon Young , Moon Suyun , Kim Ki Hyun , Kim Jung Hwan , Chung Jong-Wook , Jang Keum-Il , Hyun Tae Kyung
Published: October 2023

Genetic diversity can remarkably impact the quality of derived products. This study focused on Adenophora triphylla, an herbaceous perennial used in East Asian traditional medicine. It is known for its diverse therapeutic effects that are attributed to phytochemicals. However, despite its therapeutic potential, a comprehensive exploration of the influence of genetic diversity on the pharmaceutical properties of various A. triphylla genotypes remains unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we employed DNA barcoding regions (ITS2, matK, and psbA-trnH) to elucidate the genetic diversity among the collected genotypes. The combined application of these barcoding regions is a robust method to identify A. triphylla genotypes. In addition, leaf extracts consistently exhibited higher antioxidant potential than root extracts. Nitric oxide production was strongly inhibited by the leaf extracts of the BG genotype (IC50 = 124.52 ± 12.97 µg/mL), and the leaf extracts (200 µg/mL) of the BT genotype contained significant antimelanogenic properties (IC50 = 181.56 ± 16.17 µg/mL). Various genotypes displayed diverse levels of phytochemical content, and the total saponin content exhibited a strong correlation with various biological activities of A. triphylla, suggesting a genetic influence on their pharmaceutical attributes. These findings highlight the significance of genotype selection for optimizing health benefits and promoting the potential utilization of specific genotypes in various industries, such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
A Study of Apple Orchards Extraction in the Zhaotong Region Based on Sentinel Images and Improved Spectral Angle Features
Authors: Lu Jingming , Song Weiwei , Zuo Xiaoqing , Zhu Daming , Wei Qunlan
Published: October 2023

Zhaotong City in Yunnan Province is one of the largest apple growing bases in China. However, the terrain of Zhaotong City is complicated, and the rainy weather is more frequent, which brings difficulties to the identification of apple orchards by remote sensing. In this paper, an improved spectral angle feature is proposed by combining the Spectral Angle Mapper and Sentinel-1 data. Based on the Google Earth Engine and Sentinel image, a random forest classifier was used to extract apple orchards in the Ganhe Reservoir area, Zhaoyang District, Zhaotong City, which provides a theoretical basis for extracting the spatial distribution and sustainable development of the local apple industry. The classification results show that the improved spectral angle characteristics can improve the overall accuracy and F1 score of apple orchards. The RGB band combined with NDVI, GLCM, and improved spectral angle features obtained the most favorable results, and the F1 score and overall accuracy were 88.89% and 84.44%, respectively, which proved the reliability of the method in identifying apple orchards in Zhaotong City.
Electrophysical Properties of PZT-Type Ceramics Obtained by Two Sintering Methods
Authors: Niemiec Przemysław , Bochenek Dariusz , Dercz Grzegorz
Published: October 2023

This study demonstrates the impact of two sintering techniques on the fundamental properties of doped PZT-type ceramic materials (with Mn4+, Sb3+, Gd3+, and W6+), with the general chemical formula Pb(Zr0.49Ti0.51)0.94Mn0.021Sb0.016Gd0.012W0.012O3. The synthesis of ceramic powders was carried out through the calcination method. Two different methods were used in the final sintering process: (i) pressureless sintering (PS) and (ii) hot pressing (HP). The PZT-type ceramics were subjected to electrophysical measurements, encompassing various analyses such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), microstructure (scanning electron microscopy (SEM)), ferroelectric and dielectric properties, and DC electrical conductivity. The analysis of the crystal structure at room temperature showed that the material belongs to the perovskite structure from the tetragonal phase (P4mm space group) without foreign phases. Both sintering methods ensure obtaining the material with appropriate dielectric and ferroelectric parameters, and the tests carried out verified that the ceramic materials have a diverse range of parameters appropriate for use in micromechatronic and microelectronic applications. The obtained ceramic material has high permittivity values, low dielectric loss tangent values, and high resistance. At room temperature, the ceramic samples’ P-E hysteresis loops do not saturate at a field of 3.5 kV/mm (Pm maximum polarization is in the range from 12.24 to 13.47 μC/cm2). However, at higher temperatures, the P-E hysteresis loops become highly saturated, and, at 110 °C, the Pm maximum polarization values are in the range from 28.02 to 30.83 μC/cm2.
The Architecture of an Agricultural Data Aggregation and Conversion Model for Smart Farming
Authors: Žuraulis Vidas , Pečeliūnas Robertas
Published: October 2023

Monitoring and control systems integrated into agricultural machinery enable the development of agricultural analyses with advanced management tools, but the full use of all available data is often limited by the lack of uniformity among data transmitted from different agricultural machines. This paper presents an agricultural data aggregation and conversion model that allows for the collection and use of data captured from different agricultural machines in the course of work; these data differ in their original file formats and cannot be combined and used in a common analysis system. Programming work was carried out to create the model, and a specialised software interface enabled raster data processing using a Python library together with the open-source Hypertext Preprocessor and JavaScript programming language libraries. A PostGIS extension was utilised to engage field geometry and map-layering tools. Model validation showed that the data aggregation and conversion functions ensure the evaluation of semantic content and the transformation of the aggregated data into a unified format which is suitable for further use in intelligent farming management applications. The developed model will encourage precision agriculture, with the aim of improving work efficiency and the rational use of resources, the economy, and ecology in agriculture.
Chemical Composition, Anti-α-Glucosidase Activity, and Molecular Modelling Studies of Cleistocalyx operculatus Essential Oil
Authors: Tran Linh Thuy Thi , Nguyen Tan Khanh , Pham Ty Viet , Ha Tran Phuong , Tran Phan Thi Diem , Tam Vu Thi Thanh , Dat Ton That Huu , Thai Pham Hong , Cuong Le Canh Viet
Published: October 2023

In this study, chemical components, α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, and molecular modelling studies of the essential oil extracted from the Cleistocalyx operculatus leaves were investigated. In total, thirty compounds were identified using GC/MS, representing 98.3% of the oil. Of these, the two most dominant constituents of the essential oil were determined as (Z)-β-ocimene (30.4%) and allo-ocimene (31.6%). The α-glucosidase inhibitory experiments indicated that the essential oil exhibited potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, with IC50 values of 61.82 ± 3.91 µg/mL. For further investigation into inhibitory mechanisms, molecular docking simulations were performed to investigate structural interactions between two dominant constituents and the α-glucosidase protein. The simulation revealed that allo-ocimene (31.6%) and (Z)-β-ocimene (30.4%) have protein binding affinities of −5.358 and −5.330 kcal/mol, respectively. Moreover, molecular dynamic simulation indicated that the complexes of two compounds and the target protein were stable over 100 ns. Overall, these findings suggest that the essential oil of C. operculatus leaves could be a natural source of potential α-glucosidase inhibitors.
A Case Study on Distresses of Concrete Pavements Supported on a Retaining Wall
Authors: Lee Heejun , Koirala Niwesh , Choi Pangil , Seo Hoyoung
Published: October 2023

Embankments and retaining walls are integral parts of the bridge system and provide a smooth transition from lower elevations (i.e., roadways) to higher elevations (i.e., bridge decks). Performances of pavement structures supported on embankments or retaining walls are directly related to their conditions. This paper presents a comprehensive case study of the evaluation of pavement structures supported on an in-service mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall that showed significant distresses, such as lane separation, faulting, lane settlement, and tilting of the MSE wall. The conditions of the pavement structures were evaluated via visual observations, falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests, and coring through pavement structures. The conditions of the MSE wall were evaluated through dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) tests, cone penetration tests (CPTs), LiDAR surveys, and soil borings. Detailed analysis of the data obtained in this study provides valuable insights into potential distress mechanisms.
Detection of Ocean Internal Waves Based on Modified Deep Convolutional Generative Adversarial Network and WaveNet in Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Images
Authors: Jiang Zhongyi , Gao Xing , Shi Lin , Li Ning , Zou Ling
Published: October 2023

The generation and propagation of internal waves in the ocean are a common phenomenon that plays a pivotal role in the transport of mass, momentum, and energy, as well as in global climate change. Internal waves serve as a critical component of oceanic processes, contributing to the redistribution of heat and nutrients in the ocean, which, in turn, has implications for global climate regulation. However, the automatic identification of internal waves in oceanic regions from remote sensing images has presented a significant challenge. In this research paper, we address this challenge by designing a data augmentation approach grounded in a modified deep convolutional generative adversarial network (DCGAN) to enrich MODIS remote sensing image data for the automated detection of internal waves in the ocean. Utilizing t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) technology, we demonstrate that the feature distribution of the images produced by the modified DCGAN closely resembles that of the original images. By using t-SNE dimensionality reduction technology to map high-dimensional remote sensing data into a two-dimensional space, we can better understand, visualize, and analyze the quality of data generated by the modified DCGAN. The images generated by the modified DCGAN not only expand the dataset’s size but also exhibit diverse characteristics, enhancing the model’s generalization performance. Furthermore, we have developed a deep neural network named “WaveNet,” which incorporates a channel-wise attention mechanism to effectively handle complex remote sensing images, resulting in high classification accuracy and robustness. It is important to note that this study has limitations, such as the reliance on specific remote sensing data sources and the need for further validation across various oceanic regions. These limitations are essential to consider in the broader context of oceanic research and remote sensing applications. We initially pre-train WaveNet using the EuroSAT remote sensing dataset and subsequently employ it to identify internal waves in MODIS remote sensing images. Experiments show the highest average recognition accuracy achieved is an impressive 98.625%. When compared to traditional data augmentation training sets, utilizing the training set generated by the modified DCGAN leads to a 5.437% enhancement in WaveNet’s recognition rate.
Hurricane Wave Loads on Spar-Type Floating Wind Turbines: A Comparison of Simulation Schemes
Authors: Li Shaopeng , Wu Teng
Published: October 2023

Floating wind turbines are sensitive to hurricane events. Since the turbine rotors are parked and the blades are feathered during hurricanes, the aerodynamic loads due to boundary-layer winds are relatively small compared to the hydrodynamic loads due to sea surface elevations. Hence, accurate modeling of the hurricane wave loads is crucial to ensure the safety of floating wind turbines. During a hurricane, large wave heights with severe flow separation make it inaccurate to use either linear panel method-based models (without nonlinear consideration associated with fluid viscosity) or Morison equation-based models (without unsteady consideration associated with fluid memory). Efforts have been made to advance simulation schemes of hurricane wave loads on spar-type floating wind turbines. This study systematically compares and assesses the efficacy of six hydrodynamic models available in the literature along with a newly proposed model. The ability of these seven hydrodynamic models to capture nonlinear and/or unsteady effects is investigated. As a demonstration example, the wave loads on a spar-type wind turbine are calculated using these seven models to highlight the underlying role of each simulation scheme in accurately acquiring the dynamic responses of this type of offshore floating structure in severe hurricane seas. It is found that the nonlinear viscous term in the Morison equation and hybrid model serves as an important nonlinear damping mechanism. The reduction of the low-frequency wave load and added mass in the modified hybrid model collectively leads to larger displacements compared to those based on the hybrid model. While the displacements based on the stretching method and Rainey’s equation are similarly larger than those based on the Morison equation, their nonlinear wave loads are much smaller than those in FNV theory.
Preparation and Mercury Removal Performance of Mg-MOF-74 Composites
Authors: Yu Yue , Li Jizu , Cheng Peng , Nie Haotian , He Ling , Yan Qizhen , Zheng Yulan , Wu Yawen , Jia Li
Published: October 2023

A metal–organic framework (MOF) material Mg-MOF-74 was prepared by a solvothermal method, and the influence of the solvent volume and mass–liquid ratio on the preparation process was investigated. Based on the iron-based modified biochar FeCeCu/BC obtained by the sol–gel method, functionalized modified MOF-based biochar composites were prepared by the physical mixing method, co-pyrolysis method, sol–gel method and in situ growth method. The mercury removal performance and structural characteristics of the samples were studied, and the adsorption mechanism and key action mechanism were studied by using the adsorption kinetic model. Increasing the solvent volume and the mass liquid ratio will make the crystallization and pore structure of Mg-MOF-74 worse and its mercury removal performance poor. For MOF-based FeCeCu/BC composites, the mercury removal performance of the composite samples prepared by the sol–gel method and co-pyrolysis method is the best, at 31% and 46% higher than that of modified biochar, respectively. Mg-MOF-74 plays a role in promoting pyrolysis and changing the pore structure in the composite. The mercury removal process of composite materials is the result of physical adsorption and chemical adsorption, external mass transfer and internal diffusion.
Polarization Method-Based Research on Magnetic Field Data Associated with Earthquakes in Northeast Asia Recorded by the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite
Authors: Yang Muping , Zhang Xuemin , Ouyang Xinyan , Liu Jiang , Qian Geng , Li Tongxia , Shen Xuhui
Published: October 2023

Previous earthquake polarization (as the ratio of vertical and horizontal components) studies using geomagnetic data were all performed with ground data. The advantage of satellite data is that it is not limited by geography. Therefore, in this work, we tried to select 12 typical earthquakes in Northeast Asia with Ms > 5.0 and an epicenter depth ≤ 40 km within the longitude 105° E–145° E and latitude 38° N–58° N ranges from December 2018 to January 2023 for analysis by using the satellite data of the high-precision magnetometer (HPM) payload onboard the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) for the first time in a quiet magnetic environment. The geomagnetic three-component vector data were investigated, and the minimum study period was divided into 10 s intervals. Fourier transform was performed to obtain 0.01–0.2 Hz geomagnetic three-component dynamic spectra, and the time series of the polarization (as the ratio of vertical and horizontal components) data was then obtained. The average value of the polarization data over four years was used to obtain the time series of the polarization perturbation amplitude, after which joint research was conducted. The results showed that (1) earthquakes with larger magnitudes are more likely to exhibit anomaly perturbations recorded by satellites; (2) among all earthquakes with anomalies, the horizontal east–west component perturbation is the largest, the vertical component perturbation is the smallest, and the east–west component may be the dominant component in seismic anomaly observations; (3) the applicability of the polarization method to space-based earthquake-related data is limited; (4) the perturbation amplitude of polarization data can be used as a reference for extracting seismic anomalies; and (5) ion velocity Vx data from the plasma analyzer package (PAP) can be considered to approximately verify the physical mechanism of the anomaly perturbation of the horizontal component in the ionospheric magnetic field, and the two kinds of data (PAP and HPM) can be combined in seismic prediction research.
Tracking the Transport of SO2 and Sulphate Aerosols from the Tonga Volcanic Eruption to South Africa
Authors: Shikwambana Lerato , Sivakumar Venkataraman , Xongo Kanya
Published: October 2023

During a volcanic eruption, copious amounts of volcanic gas, aerosol droplets, and ash are released into the stratosphere, potentially impacting radiative feedback. One of the most significant volcanic gases emitted is sulphur dioxide, which can travel long distances and impact regions far from the source. This study aimed to investigate the transport of sulphur dioxide and sulphate aerosols from the Tonga volcanic eruption event, which occurred from the 13th to the 15th of January 2022. Various datasets, including Sentinel-5 Precursor (TROPOMI), the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS), were utilized to observe the transport of these constituents. The TROPOMI data revealed westward-traveling SO2 plumes over Australia and the Indian Ocean towards Africa, eventually reaching the Republic of South Africa (RSA), as confirmed by ground-based monitoring stations of the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS). Moreover, the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) demonstrated sulphate aerosols at heights ranging from 18 to 28 km with a plume thickness of 1 to 4 km. The results of this study demonstrate that multiple remote sensing datasets can effectively investigate the dispersion and long-range transport of volcanic constituents.
The Growth in Demand for Craft Beer and the Proliferation of Microbreweries in Slovenia
Authors: Faganel Armand , Rižnar Igor
Published: October 2023

The craft brewing industry is in a constant state of evolution. Over recent years, the craft beer sector has experienced rapid growth, and this trajectory is expected to persist. Microbreweries, in contrast to traditional industrial beer production, actively encourage the exploration of diverse beer styles, embrace the trend of championing local and regional ingredients, and maintain a strong focus on quality while resurrecting historic beer varieties. An analysis of interviews conducted with microbrewers in Slovenia featured in Slovenian daily newspapers revealed recurring categories that shed light on the drivers behind this flourishing artisanry. These findings are further discussed in the context of the existing scientific literature. Notably, a range of factors were identified as contributing to the growth of this sector. Among these factors, the desire for distinctive, authentic, locally rooted, and non-standardized flavours, styles, and ingredients, often accompanied by an inspiring and compelling brewer’s or creator’s narrative, played a pivotal role in attracting consumers. These results can inform microbrewers production, distribution, marketing, and pricing strategies. They are also relevant to the country policymakers supporting local hops production and local brewing.
Blood Speckle Imaging: An Emerging Method for Perioperative Evaluation of Subaortic and Aortic Valvar Repair
Authors: Sundström Elias , Jiang Michael , Najm Hani K. , Tretter Justin T.
Published: October 2023

Background: This article presents the use of blood speckle Imaging (BSI) as an echocardiographic approach for the pre- and post-operative evaluation of subaortic membrane resection and aortic valve repair. Method: BSI, employing block-matching algorithms, provided detailed visualization of flow patterns and quantification of parameters from ultrasound data. The 9-year-old patient underwent subaortic membrane resection and peeling extensions of the membrane from under the ventricular-facing surface of all three aortic valve leaflets. Result: Post-operatively, BSI demonstrated improvements in hemodynamic patterns, where quantified changes in flow velocities showed no signs of stenosis and trivial regurgitation. The asymmetric jet with a shear layer and flow reversal on the posterior aspect of the aorta was corrected resulting in reduced wall shear stress on the anterior aspect and reduced oscillatory shear index, which is considered a contributing element in cellular alterations in the structure of the aortic wall. Conclusion: This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential of BSI as an emerging echocardiographic approach for evaluating subaortic and aortic valvar repair. BSI enhances the quantitative evaluation of the left ventricular outflow tract of immediate surgical outcomes beyond traditional echocardiographic parameters and aids in post-operative decision-making. However, larger studies are needed to validate these findings and establish standardized protocols for clinical implementation.
Effects of Myostatin b Knockout on Offspring Body Length and Skeleton in Yellow Catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)
Authors: Zhang Xincheng , Wang Fang , Ou Mi , Liu Haiyang , Luo Qing , Fei Shuzhan , Zhao Jian , Chen Kunci , Zhao Qingshun , Li Kaibin
Published: October 2023

Based on obtaining mstnb gene knockout in Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, a study on the effect of the mstn gene on skeletal morphology and growth was performed by comparing the number and length of the vertebrae of mutant and wild-type fish in a sibling group of P. fulvidraco, combined with the differences in cells at the level of vertebral skeletal tissue. It was found that mstnb gene knockdown resulted in a reduction in the number of vertebrae, the length, and the intervertebral distance in P. fulvidraco, and these changes may be the underlying cause of the shorter body length in mutant P. fulvidraco. Further, histological comparison of the same sites in the mstn mutant and wild groups of P. fulvidraco also revealed that the number and density of osteocytes were greater in mstnb knockout P. fulvidraco than in wild-type P. fulvidraco. Our results demonstrated that when using genome editing technology to breed new lines, the effects of knockout need to be analyzed comprehensively and may have some unexpected effects due to insufficient study of the function of certain genes.
Immune Thrombosis: Exploring the Significance of Immune Complexes and NETosis
Authors: Perdomo José , Leung Halina H. L.
Published: October 2023

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are major contributors to inflammation and autoimmunity, playing a key role in the development of thrombotic disorders. NETs, composed of DNA, histones, and numerous other proteins serve as scaffolds for thrombus formation and promote platelet activation, coagulation, and endothelial dysfunction. Accumulating evidence indicates that NETs mediate thrombosis in autoimmune diseases, viral and bacterial infections, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. This article reviews the role and mechanisms of immune complexes in NETs formation and their contribution to the generation of a prothrombotic state. Immune complexes are formed by interactions between antigens and antibodies and can induce NETosis by the direct activation of neutrophils via Fc receptors, via platelet activation, and through endothelial inflammation. We discuss the mechanisms by which NETs induced by immune complexes contribute to immune thrombotic processes and consider the potential development of therapeutic strategies. Targeting immune complexes and NETosis hold promise for mitigating thrombotic events and reducing the burden of immune thrombosis.