bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance Evaluation of UAVs in Wheat Disease Control
Authors: Zhou Qingqing , Zhang Songchao , Xue Xinyu , Cai Chen , Wang Baokun
Published: August 2023

Plant protection unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) were developed rapidly in China. The operation performances of different models of UAVs were different. This paper systematically studied droplet deposition distribution; pesticide-mixture utilization rate; operational efficiency; wheat-disease control efficacy; and a comprehensive score of three types of UAVs, a boom sprayer, and a knapsack sprayer. The results showed the descending order of the droplet penetration rate of the pesticide application equipment (PAE) was boom sprayer; UAVs; and knapsack sprayer. The pesticide-mixture utilization rates of the UAVs and boom sprayer were more than 50% while that of the knapsack electric sprayer was only 27.8%. The UAVs’ average labor productivity was 5.75 ha per man-hour, which was slightly less than that of the boom sprayer and 21.3 times that of the knapsack sprayer. The control efficacy of each machine on wheat Fusarium head blight was more than 90%. The average performance comprehensive score of the UAVs was 0.812, which was slightly lower than the score of 0.929 for the 3WPZ-700 self-propelled boom sprayer but much higher than the score of 0.399 for the 3WBD-18 knapsack electric sprayer. The results clearly showed the potential of UAVs for improving the pesticide-mixture utilization rate and operational efficiency, as well as the wheat Fusarium head blight control efficacy.
Analysis of the Genetic Diversity of Crops and Associated Microbiota
Authors: De Ron Antonio M. , Rodiño Ana Paula
Published: August 2023

Plant genetic resources are the basis for genetic improvements in cultivated plants and in future food and feed security [...]
Behavioural Indicators of Pain and Suffering in Arthropods and Might Pain Bite Back?
Authors: Elwood Robert W
Published: August 2023

Pain in response to tissue damage functions to change behaviour so that further damage is minimised whereas healing and survival are promoted. This paper focuses on the behavioural criteria that match the function to ask if pain is likely in the main taxa of arthropods. There is evidence consistent with the idea of pain in crustaceans, insects and, to a lesser extent, spiders. There is little evidence of pain in millipedes, centipedes, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs but there have been few investigations of these groups. Alternative approaches in the study of pain are explored and it is suggested that studies on traumatic mating, agonistic interactions, and defensive venoms might provide clues about pain. The evolution of high cognitive ability, sensory systems, and flexible decision-making is discussed as well as how these might influence the evolution of pain-like states.
Can Gender Nouns Influence the Stereotypes of Animals?
Authors: Neves Joao , Costa Inês , Oliveira Joao , Silva Bruno , Maia Joana
Published: August 2023

Educating about animals in zoos and aquariums poses daily challenges for education teams, who must not only master biological content but also possess communication skills to adapt information for diverse ages and cultures. This research consists of two sequential studies designed to investigate the impact of grammatical genders on animal stereotypes and elicited emotions. In Study 1, four animals were independently chosen based on a set of predefined conditions, which were then used in Study 2. The second study explored whether the presence of grammatical genders in the Portuguese language influenced the perceived stereotypes of four animals (panda bear, giraffe, polar bear, and cheetah) using the Stereotype Content Model framework. For comparison, English-speaking participants were also surveyed, as English lacks grammatical genders. The results demonstrated that grammatical genders influenced the perceived gender, as well as, although only slightly, the warmth, competence, and elicited emotions of some animals. All animals under study were associated with the protective stereotype, regardless of the presence of grammatical gender. This study emphasizes the significance of subtle yet crucial elements in communication, such as grammatical genders, in shaping stereotypes and innate emotional associations concerning animals.
Methionine Supplementation Affects Fecal Bacterial Community and Production Performance in Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)
Authors: Wu Yan , Zhu Yongzhen , Guo Xiaolan , Wang Xiaoxu , Yuan Weitao , Ma Cuiliu , Chen Xiaoli , Xu Chao , Wang Kaiying
Published: August 2023

Amino acid balance is central to improving the efficiency of feed protein utilization and for reducing environmental pollution caused by intensive farming. In previous studies, supplementation with limiting amino acids has been shown to be an effective means of improving animal nutrient utilization and performance. In this experiment, the effects of methionine on the apparent digestibility of nutrients, antler nutrient composition, rumen fluid amino acid composition, fecal volatile fatty acids and intestinal bacteria in antler-growing sika deer were investigated by randomly adding different levels of methionine to the diets of three groups of four deer at 0 g/day (CON), 4 g/day (LMet) and 6 g/day (HMet). Methionine supplementation significantly increased the apparent digestibility of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in the LMet group (p < 0.05). The crude protein and collagen protein of antlers were significantly higher in the LMet and HMet groups compared to the CON group and also significantly higher in the HMet group compared to the LMet group, while the calcium content of antlers was significantly lower in the HMet group (p < 0.05). Ruminal fluid free amino acid composition was altered in the three groups of sika deer, with significant changes in aspartic acid, citrulline, valine, cysteine, methionine, histidine and proline. At the phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were highest in the rectal microflora. Unidentified bacterial abundance was significantly decreased in the HMet group compared to the CON group. Based on the results of principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and Adonis analysis, there was a significant difference in the composition of the intestinal flora between the CON and HMet groups (p < 0.05). At the genus level, compared with the CON group, the abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010 in the LMet group increased significantly (p < 0.05), the abundance of dgA-11_gut_group in the HMet group decreased significantly (p < 0.05) and the abundance of Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010, Saccharofermentans and Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group increased significantly. Taken together, the results showed that methionine supplementation was beneficial in increasing the feed utilization efficiency and improving antler quality in sika deer, while affecting the composition of fecal bacteria.
Comparative Morphology of the Digestive Tract of African Bush Fish (Ctenopoma acutirostre) and Paradise Fish (Macropodus opercularis) Inhabiting Asian and African Freshwaters
Authors: Adamek-Urbańska Dobrochna , Kamaszewski Maciej , Wiechetek Wiktoria , Wild Rafał , Boczek Julia , Szczepański Adrian , Śliwiński Jerzy
Published: August 2023

Anabantidae is a large and diverse group of fish cultured both under aquaculture conditions and as a hobby. These fish share a common structural feature in the form of an additional respiratory organ. Despite the enormous availability of these fish worldwide, little is known about their feeding preferences in husbandry and their influence on homeostasis under both industrial and domestic conditions. This study describes, for the first time, the structure of the digestive tracts of two Anabantoidei fishes: African bush fish (Ctenopoma acutirostre) and paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis). The overall structure of the digestive tract and its histological structure were analyzed and compared in both fish species. Physiological predispositions indicated a predominance of omnivorous fish traits in M. opercularis in contrast to C. acutirostre, which has several morphological traits indicating greater adaptation to carnivory, particularly ichthyophagy. The results obtained will allow further research to be conducted in the future to optimize the nutrition and feeding of these fish and to develop appropriate dietary recommendations.
Age-Related Change in the Association Choices of Two Species of Juvenile Flamingos
Authors: Loader Abbie , Rose Paul
Published: August 2023

Flamingos are colonial species commonly kept in zoos, well known for their bright plumage and elaborate courtship displays. This project aimed to determine the differences in flock position and association preferences of juvenile Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) and Caribbean Flamingos (P. ruber) housed in the same zoological collection. Little research has been conducted on the association preferences of juvenile flamingos, especially in captive flocks, and therefore this study collected data using photographs taken throughout 2014 and 2015 to further understand association patterns. Data were collected on the age category of each juvenile flamingo observed, the age of their nearest neighbour and their position within the flock, and the location within an enclosure zone at different times of the day. The results showed that Greater Flamingo juveniles mainly associated with individuals of their own age and were most likely positioned at the periphery of their flock significantly more of the time until approximately 24 months of age. Sub-adult Greater Flamingos spent significantly more time associating with adult flamingos at the centre of the flock. In contrast, data collected on Caribbean Flamingos indicated that juveniles did not segregate themselves from the adults as distinctively. Birds aged 13–24 months were observed significantly more at the centre of the flock and had more associations with adult flamingos, in a similar manner to that observed in Greater Flamingos. Due to population management needs, juvenile Caribbean Flamingos were removed from the flock at the start of 2015 and this may have influenced the association and location preferences of the remaining young flamingos. In conclusion, these results indicated that captive juvenile flamingos were often seen away from adult birds and that sub-adult flamingos returned to the heart of their natal flock to associate significantly more with other adult individuals, potentially preparing for mate selection and breeding. Captive enclosure should therefore be spacious enough to enable young flamingos to remove themselves from adult birds so that behavioural development can be unaffected by artificially high rates of aggression.
Dietary Curcumin Supplementation Could Improve Muscle Quality, Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and the Gut Microbiota Structure of Pelodiscus sinensis
Authors: Jiang Jia-Yuan , Wen Hua , Jiang Ming , Tian Juan , Dong Li-Xue , Shi Ze-Chao , Zhou Tong , Lu Xing , Liang Hong-Wei
Published: August 2023

This experiment aimed to assess the impact of different dietary curcumin (CM) levels on growth, muscle quality, serum-biochemical parameters, antioxidant-enzyme activities, gut microbiome, and liver transcriptome in Chinese soft-shelled turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis). Five experimental diets were formulated to include graded levels of curcumin at 0 (control, CM0), 0.5 (CM0.5), 1 (CM1), 2 (CM2) and 4 g/kg (CM4). Each diet was randomly distributed to quadruplicate groups of turtles (164.33 ± 5.5 g) for 6 weeks. Our findings indicated that dietary curcumin supplementation did not have a significant influence on growth performance (p > 0.05); however, it significantly improved the muscular texture profiles (p < 0.05). Serum total superoxide dismutase (SOD), liver catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activities increased significantly as dietary curcumin levels rose from 0.5 to 4 g/kg (p < 0.05). Dietary curcumin supplementation improved gut microbiota composition, as evidenced by an increase in the proportion of dominant bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Flavobacterium. Liver transcriptome analysis revealed that curcumin altered metabolic pathways in the liver. In conclusion, based on the evaluation of the activities of SOD in serum and CAT in liver under current experimental design, it was determined that the appropriate dietary curcumin supplementation for Chinese soft-shelled turtles is approximately 3.9 g/kg.
Laboratory Surveillance, Quality Management, and Its Role in Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance in Africa: A Narrative Review
Authors: Musa Khalid , Okoliegbe Ijeoma , Abdalaziz Tassabeeh , Aboushady Ahmed Taha , Stelling John , Gould Ian M.
Published: August 2023

AMR is a major public health concern that calls for extensive work and a multidisciplinary team approach. The high prevalence of infectious diseases in African nations leads to widespread antibiotic usage and eventual antimicrobial resistance, which has significant negative effects on people’s health, the economy, and society. Additionally, inadequate or nonexistent antimicrobial drug regulations, inappropriate prescription practices, and restrictions on public health prevention initiatives such as immunization, water and sanitation, and sexual health may all contribute to the emergence of AMR. Despite the need for laboratory quality assurance, many African laboratories confront substantial difficulties in implementing efficient quality assurance programs. AMR surveillance in Africa is hampered by a lack of laboratory capacity, insufficient data collection and analysis, and poor stakeholder collaboration. Several initiatives and programs, including the World Health Organization’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (AMRSNET), and the Fleming Fund, a UK government initiative aimed at tackling AMR in low- and middle-income countries, have been established to strengthen AMR surveillance in Africa and globally.
Response Surface Optimization for the Enhancement of the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Citrus limon Peel
Authors: Chatzimitakos Theodoros , Athanasiadis Vassilis , Kotsou Konstantina , Bozinou Eleni , Lalas Stavros I.
Published: August 2023

Citrus limon is among the species of the genus Citrus that dominates the world market. It is highly nutritious for humans as it contains twice the amount of the suggested daily intake of ascorbic acid and is also a good source of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds. This study aimed to identify the optimal extraction procedures and parameters to obtain the maximum quantity of bioactive components from lemon peel by-products. Various extraction techniques, including stirring, ultrasound, and pulsed electric field, were evaluated, along with factors such as extraction time, temperature, and solvent composition. The results revealed that simple stirring for 150 min at 20 °C proved to be the most effective and practical method. The ideal solvent mixture consisted of 75% ethanol and 25% water, highlighting the crucial role of solvent composition in maximizing extraction efficiency. Among the extracted compounds were phenolics, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids. Under optimum extraction conditions, the extract was found to contain high total phenolic content (TPC) (51.2 mg of gallic acid equivalents, GAE/g dry weight), total flavonoid content (TFC) (7.1 mg of rutin equivalents, RtE/g dry weight), amounts of ascorbic acid (3.7 mg/g dry weight), and total carotenoids content (TCC) (64.9 μg of β-carotene equivalents, CtE/g). Notably, the extracts demonstrated potent antioxidant properties (128.9 μmol of ascorbic acid equivalents, AAE/g; and 30.3 μmol of AAE/g as evidenced by FRAP and DPPH assays, respectively), making it a promising ingredient for functional foods and cosmetics. The study’s implications lie in promoting sustainable practices by converting lemon peel into valuable resources and supporting human health and wellness through the consumption of natural antioxidants.
Dietary Fruit By-Products Improve the Physiological Status of Nile Tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus) and the Quality of Their Meat
Authors: Chotolli Andrey P. , da Fonseca Victor E. , Bermejo-Poza Rubén , Ferraz Isabella G. , de Souza Letícia C. C. , Brasil Mariana L. , Santana Ronnie F. , Games Isadora M. M. , Ferraz Murilo C. , Theophilo Gabrielly , Salmaso Pedro H. L. , Balbino André L. S. , dos Santos Filipe D. R. , Ponsano Elisa H. G.
Published: August 2023

By-products from fruit industrialization retain nutritional and functional components; thus, they may find use in animal feeding. This study aimed to assess the effects of dietary fruit industrial by-products on the tilapias blood biochemical and oxidative parameters and on the composition and lipid peroxidation of their fillets. Four diets were supplied to the tilapias: a C-control diet, with no fruit meal, and three diets containing 5% of either acerola (ACM), apple (APM) or grape (GRM) meal. The phenolic compounds and the carotenoids in the meals and their antioxidant capacities were measured. Fish were weighed and measured for the calculation of the growth performance data, their blood was analyzed for health and oxidative status biomarkers and their fillets were analyzed for proximal composition and lipid peroxidation. Grape meal had the highest concentration of phenolics and carotenoids and the highest antioxidant activity, followed by acerola and apple meals. The productive performance was similar among the treatments. The fruit by-product diets either maintained or improved the biochemical biomarkers of health and improved the oxidative status of the fish. The fruit by-product diets increased the concentration of lipids in the fillets and slowed down the onset of the lipid peroxidation during frozen storage.
Kinetic Potentiometry as a Method for Studying the Interactions of Antioxidants with Peroxyl Radicals
Authors: Gerasimova Elena , Salimgareeva Elena , Magasumova Dinara , Ivanova Alla
Published: August 2023

This work presents a new method using kinetic potentiometry to study the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the reactions of antioxidants with peroxyl radicals. The rate constants of the reaction of antioxidants with radicals have been determined, and the groups of “fast” and “slow” antioxidants have been conventionally distinguished. Fast antioxidants include ascorbic, uric, gallic, chlorogenic, caffeic acids, glutathione, L-cysteine, and catechol with constant values from (1.05–9.25) × 103 M·s−1; “slow” antioxidants are α-tocopherol (in aqueous media), ionol, 2,6-ditretbutylphenol, and compounds of the azoloazine series, modified with polyphenolic fragments, with constant values from (4.00–8.50) × 102 M·s−1. It is shown that the value of the rate constant is directly related to the type of kinetic dependence of the potential recorded when an antioxidant is introduced into the solution of the radical initiator. It is shown that the method with the determination of the induction period is difficult in the study of “slow” antioxidants. It has been established that the area above the curve of the kinetic dependence Exp(∆E) is directly related to the amount of inhibited peroxyl radicals and can be used to assess the inhibitory properties of an antioxidant from a thermodynamic point of view. “Fixed time method” and “Initial rate method” were used. Positive correlations between the described method have been established. The utility of the parameter of the area above the curve of the kinetic dependence Exp(∆E) in the study of objects of complex composition is shown.
Low Vitamin C Concentrations in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia Resolved with Pragmatic Administration of Intravenous and Oral Vitamin C
Authors: Carr Anitra C. , Vlasiuk Emma , Zawari Masuma , Scott-Thomas Amy , Storer Malina , Maze Michael , Chambers Stephen T.
Published: August 2023

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is characterized by elevated markers of inflammation and oxidative stress and depleted circulating concentrations of the antioxidant nutrient vitamin C. A feasibility trial of intravenous and oral vitamin C supplementation, matched to the timing of intravenous and oral antibiotic formulations, was carried out and changes in vitamin C status were monitored to determine whether saturating status could be achieved throughout the administration period. Patients with moderate and severe CAP (CURB-65 ≥ 2; n = 75) who were receiving intravenous antimicrobial therapy were randomized to placebo (n = 39) or intravenous vitamin C (2.5 g per 8 h; n = 36) before moving to oral vitamin C (1 g three times daily) when prescribed oral antimicrobials. Blood samples were collected at baseline and then daily whilst in the hospital. Vitamin C concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The inflammatory and infection biomarkers C-reactive protein and procalcitonin were elevated at baseline (158 (61, 277) mg/L and 414 (155, 1708) ng/L, respectively), and vitamin C concentrations were depleted (15 (7, 25) µmol/L). There was an inverse association between vitamin C and C-reactive protein concentrations (r = −0.312, p = 0.01). Within one day of intervention initiation, plasma vitamin C concentrations in the vitamin C group reached median concentrations of 227 (109, 422) µmol/L, and circulating concentrations remained at ≥150 µmol/L for the duration of the intervention, whilst median vitamin C concentrations in the placebo group remained low (≤35 µmol/L). There was a trend toward decreased duration of hospital stay (p = 0.07) and time to clinical stability (p = 0.08) in the vitamin C group. In conclusion, patients with moderate to severe CAP have inadequate plasma vitamin C concentrations for the duration of their hospital stay. The administration of intravenous or oral vitamin C, titrated to match the antimicrobial formulation, provided saturating plasma vitamin C concentrations whilst in the hospital. There were trends toward shorter duration of hospital stay and time to clinical stability. Thus, larger trials assessing the impact of intravenous and oral vitamin C intervention on CAP clinical outcomes are indicated.
Evaluation of Lens Doses among Medical Staff Involved in Nuclear Medicine: Current Eye Radiation Exposure among Nuclear-Medicine Staff
Authors: Fujisawa Masaki , Haga Yoshihiro , Sota Masahiro , Abe Mitsuya , Kaga Yuji , Inaba Yohei , Suzuki Masatoshi , Meguro Taiichiro , Hosoi Yoshio , Chida Koichi
Published: August 2023

The International Commission on Radiological Protection has lowered the annual equivalent eye-lens dose to 20 mSv. Although occupational exposure can be high in nuclear medicine (NM) departments, few studies have been conducted regarding eye-lens exposure among NM staff. This study aimed to estimate the annual lens doses of staff in an NM department and identify factors contributing to lens exposure. Four nurses and six radiographers performing positron emission tomography (PET) examinations and four radiographers performing radioisotope (RI) examinations (excluding PET) were recruited for this study. A lens dosimeter was attached near the left eye to measure the 3-mm-dose equivalent; a personal dosimeter was attached to the left side of the neck to measure the 1-cm- and 70-µm-dose equivalents. Measurements were acquired over six months, and the cumulative lens dose was doubled to derive the annual dose. Correlations between the lens and personal-dosimeter doses, between the lens dose and the numbers of procedures, and between the lens dose and the amounts of PET drugs (radiopharmaceuticals) injected were examined. Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test was used to compare lens and personal-dosimeter doses. The estimated annual doses were 0.93 ± 0.13 mSv for PET nurses, 0.71 ± 0.41 mSv for PET radiographers, and 1.10 ± 0.53 mSv for RI radiographers. For PET nurses, but not for PET or RI radiographers, there was a positive correlation between the numbers of procedures and lens doses and between amounts injected and lens doses. There was a significant difference between the lens and personal-dosimeter doses of PET nurses. The use of protective measures, such as shielding, should prevent NM staff from receiving lens doses > 20 mSv/year. However, depending on the height of the protective shield, PET nurses may be unable to assess the lens dose accurately using personal dosimeters.
Determining Wind Energy Potential Using Geographic Information System Functions: A Case Study in Balıkesir, Turkey
Authors: Yildiz Selim Serhan
Published: August 2023

With developing technology, energy consumption and requirements are steadily rising. Wind energy emerges as an indispensable energy source in the world, where energy requirements are increasing gradually due to important features such as being renewable, sustainable, easily accessible, and environmentally friendly. In recent years, wind energy investments in Turkey have increased significantly, in line with the rest of the world. In recent decades, a significant number of investors have performed investment studies in this area. In this study, the wind energy potential of the Balıkesir Province in Turkey was calculated using geographical information system (GIS) functions. A wind speed map was created by using wind speed data measured at a 10 m altitude at 32 meteorological stations. The wind speeds were extrapolated to 100 m considering the land cover data, and a wind speed map of the Balıkesir Province was created using GIS functions. An equation was produced to calculate the number of turbines that can be placed in a certain area depending on the national regulation, which is also the novelty of this study. By using this equation, the wind energy potential values of the Balıkesir Province and its districts were obtained according to varying wind speed ranges. The results obtained in this study were compared with the wind energy potential atlas of Turkey (REPA).
The Quality Control System of Planks Using Machine Vision
Authors: Cinal Mariusz , Sioma Andrzej , Lenty Bartosz
Published: August 2023

This article presents a vision method of identifying and measuring wood surface parameters to detect defects resulting from errors occurring during machining. The paper presents the method of recording a three–dimensional image of the wood surface using the laser triangulation method. It discusses parameters related to imaging resolution and the impact of vision system configuration parameters on the measurement resolution and image acquisition time. For the recorded image, proposed algorithms detect defects like wade and bark at the board edges. Algorithms for measuring characteristic parameters describing the surface of the wood are presented. Validation tests performed using the prepared system in industrial conditions are provided and discussed. The proposed solution makes it possible to detect board defects in flow mode on belt conveyors operating at a speed of up to 1000 mm/s.
Effects of Blue-Light Laser Irradiation on the Enzymatic Activities and Sporulation of Trichoderma atroviride Grown on Rice Husks
Authors: Bala Ioana-Alexandra , Tritean Naomi , Enache Alin Alexandru , Trică Bogdan , Constantinescu-Aruxandei Diana , Oancea Florin
Published: August 2023

Light is known to impact various aspects of Trichoderma, with possible implications for industrial and agricultural applications. In this study, we investigated the irradiation of Trichoderma atroviride with blue light using a laser source system. We determined the cellulase and protease activities and the effects of UV–Vis absorption of the filtrated culture on conidia formation, dimension, and behavior, and on the apparent chlamydospore abundance, as a function of irradiation duration, dose of irradiation, and moment of irradiation. We show that the effects on the enzymatic activities range from positive to neutral to negative. Compared with previous studies, our stimulation with light does not show a drastic negative effect on the cellulase (CMC-ase) activity, but it seems to delay the maximum activity over time. The effects on the proteases are partially in agreement with the only previous study reported for the light effects on protease activity. The number of conidia is increased upon irradiation, representing an expected behavior, and we show for the first time to the best of our knowledge that the conidia dimensions and chlamydospore number also increase. Our data also suggest that the highest dose resulted in the conidia clustering around the liquid–air interface, suggesting an increased hydrophobic character.
Prevention and Rehabilitation Gaming Support for Ankle Injuries Usable by Semi-Professional Athletes Using Commercial Off-the-Shelf Sensors
Authors: Galli Jonas , Baranyi René , Hoelbling Dominik , Pinter Karl , Aigner Christoph , Hörner Werner , Grechenig Thomas
Published: August 2023

Ankle injuries are amongst the most common musculoskeletal injuries. The necessity of prevention measurements before or an early rehabilitation start after an injury, is essential for (semi-) professional sports like soccer to decrease healing duration. Sensor-supported serious games could complement a therapeutic program to support resilience and motivation during the prevention or rehabilitation process. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop and evaluate a user-centered prototype of a serious game using a commercial Off-The-Shelf MetaMotion IMU sensor. A semi-structured interview with a soccer club therapist, followed by an online questionnaire containing 48 questions (n = 91), was performed to ensure a user-centered approach. Based on this, a prototype, including five identified functional requirements and seven exercises (comprising: horizontal/vertical in- and eversion, dorsi- and plantarflexion, knee bend and squat, and toe and heel rise), was developed in an iterative process and evaluated by two participants with an acute ankle injury. The questionnaire outcomes showed averages of 3.3 ankle injuries per participant and 40 absence days per incident. Additionally, 85% of the participants reported needing more prevention time for such injuries. The evaluation phase (total training duration: 2 h 52 min) consisted of playing two different game types (1 and 2 degrees of freedom) and three different levels, where an avatar needs to be controlled while running and avoiding obstacles or collecting trophies. Both range of motion (ROM) and scores, which are directly measured by the game, showed significant improvements (ROM: t = 5.71; p < 0.01; Score: t = 3.98; p < 0.01) between the first and last session in both participants (P1: ROM +3.56°; Score +7.00%, P2: ROM +6.59°; Score +9.53%), indicating high effectiveness, despite a short training period (1 and 2 weeks). ROM improvement results and athlete feedback coincide in that the sensor-assisted serious game might be beneficial for ankle prevention and rehabilitation. At the same time, the increased scores indicate substantial motivation over several training sessions.
A Novel Remaining Useful Life Probability Prediction Approach for Aero-Engine with Improved Bayesian Uncertainty Estimation Based on Degradation Data
Authors: Hu Yanyan , Bai Yating , Fu En , Liu Pengpeng
Published: August 2023

As the heart of aircraft, the aero-engine is not only the main power source for aircraft flight but also an essential guarantee for the safe flight of aircraft. Therefore, it is of great significance to find effective methods for remaining useful life (RUL) prediction for aero-engines in order to avoid accidents and reduce maintenance costs. With the development of deep learning, data-driven approaches show great potential in dealing with the above problem. Although many attempts have been made, few works consider the error of the point prediction result caused by uncertainties. In this paper, we propose a novel RUL probability prediction approach for aero-engines with prediction uncertainties fully considered. Before forecasting, a principal component analysis (PCA) is first utilized to cut down the dimension of sensor data and extract the correlation between multivariate data to reduce the network computation. Then, a multi-layer bidirectional gate recurrent unit (BiGRU) is constructed to predict the RUL of the aero-engine, while prediction uncertainties are quantized by the improved variational Bayesian inference (IVBI) with a Gaussian mixture distribution. The proposed method can give not only the point prediction of RUL but also the confidence interval of the prediction result, which is very helpful for real-world applications. Finally, the experimental study illustrates that the proposed method is feasible and superior to several other comparative models.
Photobiomodulation and Orthodontic Treatment with Clear Aligners: A Case Report of Severe Crowding and Agenesis
Authors: Fani Eda , Coli Giulia , Messina Andrea , Sampalmieri Francesco , Bambini Fabrizio , Memè Lucia
Published: August 2023

This paper aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation in accelerating orthodontic treatment with clear aligners in correcting an orthodontic malocclusion characterized by severe crowding and agenesis in an adult subject. An adult male patient with Class I malocclusion, a mild Class III skeletal base and severe crowding was treated with 88 Invisalign® (Align Technology, Santa Clara, CA, USA) pairs of aligners replaced every 5 days in combination with an Orthopulse™ (Biolux Research, Vancouver, BC, Canada) photobiomodulation device for home use by the patient. The total orthodontic treatment time was 440 days. Orthopulse™ is a photobiomodulation device that generates continuous beams of near-infrared light (NIR—near-infrared) with a wavelength of 850 nm and a power of 42 mW/cm2 to produce an average energy density on the surface of the silicone impression of 9.3 J/cm2. The combined use of clear aligners and the Orthopulse™ device allowed the patient to replace the aligners according to an experimental 5-day protocol to speed up the orthodontic therapy and, thus, resolve the malocclusion in less time than the manufacturer’s standard.
Study on the Particle Surface Fractal Characteristics of Sulfide Ores
Authors: Cui Yan , Wang Jimeng , Cheng Chuan , You Bo , Liu Yong , Li Ming
Published: August 2023

The fractal dimension is widely used in many fields as a parameter to characterize the geometric complexity and geometric distribution relationship of research objects. To study the surface characteristics of sulfide ore particles, the fractal theory was applied to quantitatively characterize the surface fractal dimension Ds of sulfide ore microparticles in three particle size ranges, 60–100 mesh, 100–140 mesh and >200 mesh, based on the area–perimeter method. Using an optical microscope, grain projection images of the particles were obtained. The grain shape and characteristics of sulfide ore particles were studied by means of an image processing system. The results demonstrate that the grain shape of sulfide ore particles can be expressed by fractal dimension, and the particle surface fractal dimension ranges from 2.4392 to 2.5492. It was found that the fractal properties begin to decrease due to the increasing of the particle size. The larger the fractal dimension, the finer the particles are. The fractal dimension of sulfide ore particles can be used as an important indicator of their particle shape distribution characteristics, which can provide important information for further study of the relevant physical and chemical properties of sulfide ore particles and provide a new theoretical method and basis for the adhesion and removal of sulfide ore dust. With the quantitative description of the fractal distribution of sulfide ore particles, a new way to study the adhesive force between particles is offered for further research.
Analysis of Mobile Device Dual Tasking on the Move: Normal Cognitive Decline of Aging as Ground Truth for Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Hervás Ramón , Barragán Alfonso , Cabañero Luis , Villa Laura , Mondéjar Tania
Published: August 2023

The widespread use of mobile phones in daily life makes them a fundamental tool for the study of human behavior. In particular, they can be used as a source of additional information to help to diagnose diseases. This work is based on contrasted dual-tasking tests where cognitive performance is studied by performing tasks of high cognitive load while walking. In this case, we study significant differences in mobile device use among groups of people of different ages and examine whether they are more characteristic when the interaction takes place on the move. A study is conducted by monitoring the interaction with the mobile device for one consecutive week and analyzing the correlations between these interactions and the participants’ ages. Additionally, a user profiling model is designed to help to use this ground truth in future works focused on the early diagnosis of cognitive deficits. The results obtained contribute to preliminarily characterizing how age-related normotypical cognitive decline affects interactions with mobile devices. In addition, the pilot study generates a dataset with monitored events and interactions of 45 users that includes more than 4.5 million records.
Energy Management Strategy Based on V2X Communications and Road Information for a Connected PHEV and Its Evaluation Using an IDHIL Simulator
Authors: Ha Seongmin , Lee Hyeongcheol
Published: August 2023

Conventional energy management strategies (EMSs) of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) only utilize in-vehicle information, such as an acceleration pedal, velocity, acceleration, engine RPM, state of charge (SOC), and radar. This paper presents a new EMS using out-vehicle information obtained by vehicle to everything (V2X) communication. The new EMS integrates cooperative eco-driving (CED) guidance and an adaptive equivalent consumption minimum strategy (A-ECMS) based on V2X communication information and road information. CED provides a guide signal and a guide speed to the driver. It guides pedal behavior in terms of coasting driving, acceleration and deceleration, and target speed. A-ECMSs calculate the target SOC based on the simplified road information of the planned route and reflects it in the equivalent factor. An integrated driving hardware-in-the-loop (IDHIL) simulator is also built to prove the new EMS by integrating a V2X communication device, a VANET simulator, and a vehicle simulator. The IDHIL test results demonstrate the validity and performance of the proposed EMS in a V2X communication environment.
Anticancer Activity of Mineral-Supplemented Organically Cultivated Carrot on HT-29 Cells and Its Anti-Inflammatory Effect on Mice Splenocytes
Authors: Pan Yanni , Lee Yeon-Jun , Sin Sin-Il , Park Seung-Hwan , Park Kun-Young
Published: August 2023

Carrot (Daucus carota) is one of the world’s most significant root vegetables, with various bioactivities. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer activity and anti-inflammatory effects of natural dream cultivation carrot (NC). Natural dream cultivation is a cultivation method based on organic farming incorporating minerals. An MTT assay was used to evaluate the inhibitory rate of carrot samples on HT-29 human colon cancer cells, and qPCR was used to assess the mRNA expression of the cell cycle and apoptosis-related genes in the cancer cells. The nitrite oxide (NO) concentration was determined using the Griess method. The levels of inflammatory cytokines in LPS-induced mouse splenocytes were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the activity of NK cells was determined using LDH analysis. The results revealed that NC effectively inhibited cancer cell growth rate. Moreover, NC upregulated the mRNA expression of cell-cycle-arrest-related genes (p53 and p21) and apoptosis-related genes (Bim, Bad, Bax, Bak, caspase-9, and caspase-3) in cancer cells while downregulating the expression of anti-apoptotic genes, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. NC inhibited NO production and the release of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and IL-12) in LPS-induced mouse splenocytes. NC also demonstrated the ability to stimulate NK cell activation. This study explored the potential mechanisms underlying carrots’ anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties by investigating their inhibitory effects on cancer cells and regulating the inflammatory response. The innovative mineral-supplemented organic cultivation method, as explored in this study, opens new avenues for harnessing the potential of carrots as a functional food source with promising applications in cancer and inflammation management. This research not only provides insights into the bioactive potential of carrots but also contributes to the future development of novel dietary interventions and therapeutics.
The Combination of Transformer and You Only Look Once for Automatic Concrete Pavement Crack Detection
Authors: Zheng Xin , Qian Songrong , Wei Shaodong , Zhou Shiyun , Hou Yi
Published: August 2023

The real-time detection of cracks is an important part of road maintenance and an important initiative to reduce traffic accidents caused by road cracks. In response to the lack of efficiency of current research results for the real-time detection of road cracks and the low storage and computational capacity of edge devices, a new automatic crack detection algorithm is proposed: BT–YOLO. We combined Bottleneck Transformer with You Only Look Once (YOLO), which is more conducive to extracting the features of small cracks than YOLOv5s. The introduction of DWConv to the feature extraction network reduced the number of parameters and improved the inference speed of the network. We embedded the SimAM (Simple, Parameter-Free Attention Module) non-parametric attention mechanism to make the crack features more prominent. The experimental results showed that the accuracy of BT–YOLO in crack detection was increased by 4.5%, the mapped value was increased by 8%, and the parameter amount was decreased by 24.9%. Eventually, we deployed edge devices for testing. The frame rate reached 89, which satisfied the requirements of real-time crack detection.
State-Sensitive Black-Box Web Application Scanning for Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability Detection
Authors: Zhang Tianxiang , Huang Hui , Lu Yuliang , Zhu Kailong , Zhao Jiazhen
Published: August 2023

Black-box web application scanning has been a popular technique to detect Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities without prior knowledge of the application. However, several limitations lead to low efficiency of current black-box scanners, including (1) the scanners waste time by repetitively visiting similar states, such as similar HTML forms of two different products, and (2) using a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) fuzzing order for the collected forms has led to low efficiency in detecting XSS vulnerabilities, as different forms have different potential possibilities of XSS vulnerability. In this paper, we present a state-sensitive black-box web application scanning method, including a filtering method for excluding similar states and a heuristic ranking method for optimizing the fuzzing order of forms. The filtering method excludes similar states by comparing readily available characteristic information that does not require visiting the states. The ranking method sorts forms based on the number of injection points since it is commonly observed that forms with a greater number of injection points have a higher probability of containing XSS vulnerabilities. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our scanning method, we implement it in our black-box web scanner and conduct experimental evaluations on eight real-world web applications within a limited scanning time. Experimental results demonstrate that the filtering method improves the code coverage about 17% on average and the ranking method helps detect 53 more XSS vulnerabilities. The combination of the filtering and ranking methods helps detect 81 more XSS vulnerabilities.
Location-Aware Measurement for Cyber Mimic Defense: You Cannot Improve What You Cannot Measure
Authors: Huang Zhe , Yuan Yali , Fu Jiale , He Jiajun , Zhu Hongyu , Cheng Guang
Published: August 2023

Cyber mimic defense is designed to ensure endogenous security, effectively countering unknown vulnerabilities and backdoors, thereby addressing a significant challenge in cyberspace. However, the immense scale of real-world networks and their intricate topology pose challenges for measuring the efficacy of cyber mimic defense. To capture and quantify defense performance within specific segments of these expansive networks, we embrace a partitioning approach that subdivides large networks into smaller regions. Metrics are then established within an objective space constructed on these smaller regions. This approach enables the establishment of several fine-grained metrics that offer a more nuanced measurement of cyber mimic defense deployed in complex networks. For example, the common-mode index is introduced to highlight shared vulnerabilities among diverse nodes, the transfer probability computes the likelihood of risk propagation among nodes, and the failure risk assesses the likelihood of cyber mimic defense technology failure within individual nodes or entire communities. Furthermore, we provide proof of the convergence of the transfer probability. A multitude of simulations are conducted to validate the reliability and applicability of the proposed metrics.
Wood Utilization in Windmill Mechanisms on Sikinos Island (Greece)
Authors: Agnantopoulou Evangelia , Barboutis Ioannis , Kamperidou Vasiliki
Published: August 2023

Windmills constitute a valuable part of cultural heritage, especially in Greece, as unique structures of popular architecture and know-how of the pre-industrial era. Their wooden mechanisms were of exceptional constructional ingenuity, with the Mediterranean ones bearing a vertical wing and a rotating roof (“trula”), with a manual torsion mechanism that allowed for operation in all wind directions. Sikinos is a small Aegean island characterized by rich landscapes, which do not have wood-producing forests, but only sparse Juniperus phoenicea shrub land mixed with evergreen hardwood species and the presence of numerous sclerophyllus vegetation species (maquis). Three abandoned windmills are still preserved on the island today, but only two of them appear to have their wooden mechanisms left. In the one windmill mechanism examined, it was found that different wood species were used to manufacture its individual parts. Oak wood was used in most of the large elements, with the exception of the sprattle beam (“zigos”), which is made of fir wood. The local juniper was not used in any crucial part of the mechanism, though it was used only as a structural material on the first floor (“anogio”) flooring, along with large-diameter olive trunks. The findings of this study highlighted the thorough knowledge of the properties of various wood species and the effective use of simple tools toward the construction of functional and effective windmill mechanisms.