bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Equine Social Behaviour: Love, War and Tolerance
Authors: Torres Borda Laura , Auer Ulrike , Jenner Florien
Published: April 2023

Sociality is an ethological need of horses that remained unchanged by domestication. Accordingly, it is essential to include horses’ social behavioural requirements and the opportunity to establish stable affiliative bonds in equine management systems and welfare assessment. Thus, this systematic review aims to provide an up-to-date analysis of equine intraspecific social ethograms. A literature review yielded 27 papers that met the inclusion criteria by studying adult (≥2 years) equine social behaviour with conspecifics using a well-defined ethogram. Social interactions were observed in 851 horses: 320 (semi-)feral free-ranging, 62 enclosed (semi-)feral and 469 domesticated, living in groups averaging 9.1 (mean +/− 6.8 s.d., range: 2–33) horses. The ethograms detailed in these 27 studies included a total of 40 (mean: 12.8/paper, range: 2–23) social behaviours, of which 60% (24/40) were agonistic, 30% (12/40) affiliative, 7.5% (3/40) investigative and 2.5% (1/40) neutral. The 27 publications included 67.7% agonistic and only 26% affiliative, 5.1% investigative and 1.2% neutral social behaviours in their methodology, thus focusing predominantly on socio-negative interactions. The strong emphasis on agonistic behaviours in equine ethology starkly contrasts with the rare occurrence of agonistic behaviours in stable horse groups and the well-established importance of affiliative interactions for equine welfare. The nuanced and complex equine social behaviour requires refinement of the ethogram with a greater focus on affiliative, ambivalent and indifferent interactions and the role of social tolerance in equine social networks to advance equine welfare assessment.
Vitamin B12 in Cats: Nutrition, Metabolism, and Disease
Authors: Siani Gerardo , Mercaldo Beatrice , Alterisio Maria Chiara , Di Loria Antonio
Published: April 2023

Cobalamin is a water-soluble molecule that has an important role in cellular metabolism, especially in DNA synthesis, methylation, and mitochondrial metabolism. Cobalamin is bound by intrinsic factor (IF) and absorbed in the ileal tract. The IF in cats is synthesized exclusively by pancreatic tissue. About 75% of the total plasma cobalamin in cats is associated with transcobalamin II, while in this species, transcobalamin I is not present. In cats, the half-life of cobalamin is 11–14 days. Diagnostic biomarkers for B12 status in cats include decreased levels of circulating total cobalamin and increased levels of methylmalonic acid. The reference interval for serum cobalamin concentrations in cats is 290–1500 ng/L, and for the serum methylmalonic acid concentration, it is 139–897 nmol/L. Therapy for hypocobalaminemia mainly depends on the underlying disease. In some cases, subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of 250 μg/cat is empirically administered. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that oral cobalamin supplementation can also be used successfully in dogs and cats as a less invasive alternative to parental administration. This review describes the current knowledge regarding B12 requirements and highlights improvements in diagnostic methods as well as the role of hypocobalaminemia in its associated diseases.
Modulation of Apoptosis and Autophagy by Melatonin in Juglone-Exposed Bovine Oocytes
Authors: El-Sheikh Marwa , Mesalam Ahmed Atef , Kang Seon-Min , Joo Myeong-Don , Soliman Seham Samir , Khalil Atif Ali Khan , Ahn Mi-Jeong , Kong Il-Keun
Published: April 2023

Melatonin, an antioxidant hormone secreted by the pineal gland, has been recognized as a regulator for numerous biological events. The deleterious effects of juglone, a polyphenolic extract of walnut trees, on embryo development has been previously reported. In the current study, we aimed to display the impact of melatonin administrated during in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) on juglone-treated oocytes. Thus, in vitro matured oocytes were collected after 24 h post incubation with juglone in the presence or absence of melatonin. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) content, mitochondrial distribution, and the relative abundance of mRNA transcription levels were assessed in oocytes, in addition, oocytes were in vitro fertilized to check the competency levels of oocytes to generate embryos. We found that administration of melatonin during the maturation of oocytes under juglone stress significantly improved the cleavage rate, 8-16 cell-stage embryos and day-8 blastocysts when compared to the sole juglone treatment. In addition, the fluorescence intensity of ROS increased, whereas the GSH decreased in juglone-treated oocytes compared to melatonin–juglone co-treated and untreated ones. Additionally, a significant increase in the mitochondrial aberrant pattern, the pattern that was normalized following melatonin supplementation, was observed following juglone administration. The mRNA analysis using RT-qPCR revealed a significant upregulation of autophagy and oxidative-stress-specific markers in the juglone-treated group compared to the co-treatment and control. In conclusion, the study reveals, for the first time, a protective effect of melatonin against the oxidative stress initiated following juglone treatment during the in vitro maturation of oocytes.
Effects of Feeding Low Protein Diets with Different Energy-to-Protein Ratios on Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Nitrogen Excretion of Broilers
Authors: Strifler Patrik , Horváth Boglárka , Such Nikoletta , Farkas Valéria , Wágner László , Dublecz Károly , Pál László
Published: April 2023

This study shows the effects of feeding low protein (LP) diets with different energy-to-protein ratios were evaluated on the production parameters, carcass composition, meat quality, nitrogen retention, and excreta composition of broilers. A total of 576-day-old Ross 308 broilers were fed a control diet (C) and three LP diets containing 1.5% less crude protein than diet C for 41 days. The LP1 treatment was isocaloric with diet C, while the dietary apparent metabolizable energy corrected by nitrogen (AMEn) levels in the case of the LP2 and LP3 treatments were reduced by 1.5% and 3%, respectively. The LP diets were supplemented with six crystalline essential amino acids (AA) to meet the standardized ileal digestible AA requirements of broilers. The LP1 treatment did not affect the performance parameters of broilers and increased the breast meat yield, the nitrogen retention and decreased drip loss of breast meat and the total-N and uric acid-N nitrogen excretion of birds in comparison with the C group. Although the energy-reduced LP2 and LP3 diets resulted in lower final body weight, they did not affect the carcass composition, breast meat quality, nitrogen retention, and excreta composition of birds compared with the control treatment.
The Genus Neoseiulus Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in Shanxi, China
Authors: Liu Yu , Ren Fang-Xu , Fan Qing-Hai , Ma Min
Published: April 2023

The genus Neoseiulus in Shanxi Province is reviewed and seven species are recorded from the province. Four of these are redescribed and detailed taxonomic information are provided. Neoseiulus paraki (Ehara) is recorded for the first time in China and Neoseiulus neoreticuloides (Liang and Hu) is considered a new junior synonym of Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein). Additionally, a diagnostic key to the known species of Neoseiulus in Shanxi is provided.
Life Cycle Assessment Project for the Brazilian Egg Industry
Authors: Maciel Fabiane de Fátima , Gates Richard Stephen , Tinôco Ilda de Fátima Ferreira , Sousa Fernanda Campos de , Pelletier Nathan , Ibarburu-Blanc Maro A. , Oliveira Carlos Eduardo Alves
Published: April 2023

Brazil is among the ten largest egg producers in the world. The domestic consumption of Brazilian eggs is 99.6%, the rest being exported to more than 82 countries, with an expectation of growth in the foreign market. The Brazilian egg industry has evolved considerably in recent decades, incorporating new technologies and smart practices. However, there is no assessment of how production could become more sustainable over the years. The LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) approach aims to recognize the polluting potential, identify the environmental impacts generated and reduce these impacts throughout production. On a global scale, researchers approach LCA as a constructive and quantitative technique, and there is great interest in implementing an LCA for the Brazilian egg production sector. With the aim of introducing the LCA methodology to the Brazilian egg industry, this review presents the concept and accounting structure of LCA through LCI (Life Cycle Inventory) and LCIA (Life Cycle Impact Assessment), based on the ISO 14040 and 14044:2006 standards, to quantify the environmental performance of production and identify areas for future improvement, thus promoting the environmental footprint of the Brazilian egg industry.
Exploring the Experiences of Volunteer Assistance Dog Puppy Raisers from the Same Program at Two Australian University Campuses
Authors: Morwood Sam , Mai Dac , Bennett Pauleen C. , Benton Pree , Howell Tiffani J.
Published: April 2023

Assistance dogs are beneficial; however, accessing one can be challenging due to the time, cost, and high failure rates associated with training. A major factor contributing to a high failure rate appears to be the competency of volunteer puppy raisers (PRs), with returning PRs typically more effective than first-time PRs. However, there remains a gap in the literature dedicated to examining PRs’ experiences and how they are affected by the raising programs. This study analysed two groups of PRs (N = 16) from the same university-based program in different Australian regions (i.e., one regional and one suburban). Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed both inductively and deductively. The inductive approach identified four major themes that helped to understand the PRs experiences throughout the program: expectations as a PR, organisational and environmental support and suitability, the intensity of PR workload, and practical support. The deductive analysis identified four functions of volunteerism relevant to PRs’ motivations: altruism (values), egoism (enhancement), interacting with others (social), and learning new skills (understanding). Overall, the results obtained from the two groups were consistent with past findings suggesting the benefits of organisational and practical support. These findings further develop our understanding of how to enhance puppy-raising experiences.
Changes in Sperm Morphology, Morphometry, and Motility from the Epididymis to the Vas Deferens in Rheas (Rhea americana, Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Bezerra Luana G. P. , Silva Andréia M. , Jurema Artur P. , Dantas Maiko R. T. , Pereira Ana G. , Oliveira Moacir F. , Comizzoli Pierre , Silva Alexandre R.
Published: April 2023

The objective was to characterize morphological, morphometric, and ultrastructural changes in rhea spermatozoa between the epididymis and the vas deferens. Sperm samples were collected from the reproductive tracts of seven adult individuals and evaluated for sperm characteristics using brightfield microscopy as well as ultrastructural features using scanning electron microscopy (SM). Mean sperm count tended to increase in the vas deferens (378.0 ± 135.0 × 106) compared to the epididymis (201.0 ± 77.4 × 106). Percentages of motile sperm grew from 37.0 ± 4.9% in the epididymis to 58.5 ± 7.7% in the vas deferens. The proportion of normal spermatozoa was 75.6 ± 1.8% and most common defects were bent tails (9.7 ± 0.9%). However, these proportions were not different between epididymis and vas deferens. SM analysis revealed further features of rhea spermatozoa. Normal rhea spermatozoa were threadlike with an acrosome (0.95 ± 0.0 µm), head (7.53 ± 0.01 µm), midpiece (2.08 ± 0.01 µm), and tail (30.7 ± 0.06 µm). Lengths of sperm acrosome, head, midpiece, and tail were longer in the vas deferens compared to the epididymis. Our findings suggest that rhea spermatozoa undergo a maturation process during the passage from the epididymis to the vas deferens.
Insertion/Deletion (InDel) Variants within the Sheep Fat-Deposition-Related PDGFD Gene Strongly Affect Morphological Traits
Authors: Luo Yunyun , Zhang Mengyang , Guo Zhengang , Wijayanti Dwi , Xu Hongwei , Jiang Fugui , Lan Xianyong
Published: April 2023

Platelet-derived growth factor D (PDGFD) is a member of the PDGF gene family, and it plays an important role in the regulation of adipocyte development in mammals. Furthermore, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have previously identified it as a candidate gene associated with fleece fiber variation, body size, and the fat-tail phenotype in domestic Chinese sheep. In this study, a total of 1919 indigenous Chinese sheep were genotyped to examine the association between nucleotide sequence variations in PDGFD and body morphology. Our results detected both a 14 bp insertion in intron 2 and a 13 bp deletion in intron 4 of PDGFD. Moreover, these two InDel loci had low to moderate polymorphism. Notably, the 13 bp deletion mutation of PDGFD was found to significantly affect sheep body size. Yearling rams in the Luxi black-headed sheep (LXBH) containing a heterozygous genotype (insertion/deletion, ID) were found to have larger body length, chest depth, and body weight than those with wild genotypes. Furthermore, adult ewes in the Guiqian semi-fine wool sheep (GSFW) containing a homozygous mutation (deletion/deletion, DD) were found to have smaller chest width than their peers. Moreover, yearling ewes in this group with the same homozygous mutation were found to have lower body weight, chest width, and cannon circumference compared to those of other individuals. This study demonstrates that PDGFD InDel polymorphisms have the potential to be effective molecular markers to improve morphological traits in domestic Chinese sheep.
COVID-19’s Impact on the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance: Challenging Times and Resilience from Its Members
Authors: Bennamoun Nora , Campera Marco , Tully Gregg , Nekaris K.A.I.
Published: April 2023

The worldwide pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 challenged conservation organizations. The lack of tourism has benefited or negatively affected wildlife organizations in various ways, with several primate sanctuaries struggling to cope with the COVID-19 crisis and to keep providing for their inhabitants. In addition, the genetic similarity between great apes and humans puts them at higher risk than any other species for the transmission of COVID-19. PASA is a non-profit organization comprising 23 sanctuaries, and cares for many species of primate, including African great apes. In light of the pandemic, we aimed to understand the direct effects of COVID-19 on PASA management throughout three time periods: before (2018–2019), at the start of (2019–2020), and during (2020–2021) the pandemic. We collected data via annual surveys for PASA members and ran Generalized Linear Mixed Models to highlight any significant differences in their management that could be linked to COVID-19. Our findings demonstrated no particular impact on the number of primates rescued, employees, or expenses. However, revenues have been decreasing post-COVID-19 due to the lack of income from tourism and volunteer programs. Nonetheless, our results reveal a form of resilience regarding the sanctuaries and the strategy applied to maintain their management. Consequently, we emphasize the specific impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak and its repercussions for conservation work. We discuss the difficulties that sanctuaries have faced throughout the crisis and present the best measures to prevent future outbreaks and protect biodiversity.
Metabolomic Analysis of the Effect of Lippia origanoides Essential Oil on the Inhibition of Quorum Sensing in Chromobacterium violaceum
Authors: Cáceres Marlon , Hidalgo William , Stashenko Elena E. , Torres Rodrigo , Ortiz Claudia
Published: April 2023

Bacteria can communicate through quorum sensing, allowing them to develop different survival or virulence traits that lead to increased bacterial resistance against conventional antibiotic therapy. Here, fifteen essential oils (EOs) were investigated for their antimicrobial and anti-quorum-sensing activities using Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 as a model. All EOs were isolated from plant material via hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC/MS. In vitro antimicrobial activity was determined using the microdilution technique. Subinhibitory concentrations were used to determine anti-quorum-sensing activity by inhibition of violacein production. Finally, a possible mechanism of action for most bioactive EOs was determined using a metabolomic approach. Among the EOs evaluated, the EO from Lippia origanoides exhibited antimicrobial and anti-quorum activities at 0.37 and 0.15 mg/mL, respectively. Based on the experimental results, the antibiofilm activity of EO can be attributed to the blockage of tryptophan metabolism in the metabolic pathway of violacein synthesis. The metabolomic analyses made it possible to see effects mainly at the levels of tryptophan metabolism, nucleotide biosynthesis, arginine metabolism and vitamin biosynthesis. This allows us to highlight the EO of L. origanoides as a promising candidate for further studies in the design of antimicrobial compounds against bacterial resistance.
Awareness and Knowledge of Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial Stewardship and Barriers to Implementing Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing among Medical Laboratory Scientists in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Huang Sheng , Eze Ukpai A.
Published: April 2023

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now considered one of the greatest global health threats. This is further compounded by a lack of new antibiotics in development. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes can improve and optimize the use of antibiotics, thereby increasing the cure rates of antibiotic treatment and decreasing the problem of AMR. In addition, diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardships in the pathology laboratories are useful tools to guide clinicians on patient treatment and to stop the inappropriate use of antibiotics in empirical treatment or narrow antibiotics. Medical Laboratory Scientists are at the forefront of performing antibiotics susceptibility testing in pathology laboratories, thereby helping clinicians to select the appropriate antibiotics for patients suffering from bacterial infections. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed personal antimicrobial usage, the knowledge and awareness on AMR, and antimicrobial stewardship, as well as barriers to antimicrobial susceptibility testing among medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria using pre-tested and validated questionnaires administered online. The raw data were summarized and exported in Microsoft Excel and further analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26. Results: Most of the respondents were males (72%) and 25–35 years old (60%). In addition, the BMLS degree was the highest education qualification most of the respondents (70%) achieved. Of the 59.2% of the respondents involved in antibiotics susceptibility testing, the disc diffusion method was the most commonly used (67.2%), followed by PCR/Genome-based detection (5.2%). Only a small percentage of respondents used the E-test (3.4%). The high cost of testing, inadequate laboratory infrastructure, and a lack of skilled personnel are the major barriers to performing antibiotics susceptibility testing. A higher proportion of a good AMR knowledge level was observed in male respondents (75%) than females (42.9%). The knowledge level was associated with the respondent’s gender (p = 0.048), while respondents with a master’s degree were more likely to possess a good knowledge level of AMR (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 0.33, 8.61). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that Nigerian medical laboratory scientists had moderate awareness of AMR and antibiotic stewardship. It is necessary to increase investments in laboratory infrastructure and manpower training, as well as set up an antimicrobial stewardship programme to ensure widespread antibiotics susceptibility testing in hospitals, thereby decreasing empirical treatment and the misuse of antibiotics.
Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Shigella spp. in Bangladesh: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 44,519 Samples
Authors: Ahmed Saleh , Chowdhury Md Imrul Hasan , Sultana Shabiha , Alam Sayeda Sadia , Marzan Mahfuza , Islam Md Asiful
Published: April 2023

Shigella is the leading global etiological agent of shigellosis, especially in poor and underdeveloped or developing nations with insufficient sanitation such as Bangladesh. Antibiotics are the only treatment option for the shigellosis caused by Shigella spp. as no effective vaccine exists. However, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious global public health concern. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to establish the overall drug resistance pattern against Shigella spp. in Bangladesh. The databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant studies. This investigation comprised 28 studies with 44,519 samples. Forest and funnel plots showed any-drug, mono-drug, and multi-drug resistance. Any fluoroquinolone had a resistance rate of 61.9% (95% CI: 45.7–83.8%), any trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole—60.8% (95% CI: 52.4–70.5%), any azithromycin—38.8% (95% CI: 19.6–76.9%), any nalidixic acid—36.2% (95% CI: 14.2–92.4%), any ampicillin—34.5% (95% CI: 25.0–47.8%), and any ciprofloxacin—31.1% (95% CI: 11.9–81.3%). Multi-drug-resistant Shigella spp. exhibited a prevalence of 33.4% (95% CI: 17.3–64.5%), compared to 2.6% to 3.8% for mono-drug-resistant strains. Since resistance to commonly used antibiotics and multidrug resistance were higher, a judicious use of antibiotics, the promotion of infection control measures, and the implementation of antimicrobial surveillance and monitoring programs are required to tackle the therapeutic challenges of shigellosis.
Intraoperative Hemi-Diaphragm Electrical Stimulation Demonstrates Attenuated Mitochondrial Function without Change in Oxidative Stress in Cardiothoracic Surgery Patients
Authors: Mankowski Robert T. , Wohlgemuth Stephanie E. , Bresciani Guilherme , Martin A. Daniel , Arnaoutakis George , Martin Tomas , Jeng Eric , Ferreira Leonardo , Machuca Tiago , Rackauskas Mindaugas , Smuder Ashley J. , Beaver Thomas , Leeuwenburgh Christiaan , Smith Barbara K.
Published: April 2023

Mechanical ventilation during cardiothoracic surgery is life-saving but can lead to ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD) and prolong ventilator weaning and hospital length of stay. Intraoperative phrenic nerve stimulation may preserve diaphragm force production to offset VIDD; we also investigated changes in mitochondrial function after stimulation. During cardiothoracic surgeries (n = 21), supramaximal, unilateral phrenic nerve stimulation was performed every 30 min for 1 min. Diaphragm biopsies were collected after the last stimulation and analyzed for mitochondrial respiration in permeabilized fibers and protein expression and enzymatic activity of biomarkers of oxidative stress and mitophagy. Patients received, on average, 6.2 ± 1.9 stimulation bouts. Stimulated hemidiaphragms showed lower leak respiration, maximum electron transport system (ETS) capacities, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and spare capacity compared with unstimulated sides. There were no significant differences between mitochondrial enzyme activities and oxidative stress and mitophagy protein expression levels. Intraoperative phrenic nerve electrical stimulation led to an acute decrease of mitochondrial respiration in the stimulated hemidiaphragm, without differences in biomarkers of mitophagy or oxidative stress. Future studies warrant investigating optimal stimulation doses and testing post-operative chronic stimulation effects on weaning from the ventilator and rehabilitation outcomes.
Skill Level Classification in Basketball Free-Throws Using a Single Inertial Sensor
Authors: Guo Xiaoyu , Brown Ellyn , Chan Peter P. K. , Chan Rosa H. M. , Cheung Roy T. H.
Published: April 2023

Wearable sensors are an emerging technology, with growing evidence supporting their application in sport performance enhancement. This study utilized data collected from a tri-axial inertial sensor on the wrist of ten recreational and eight professional basketball players while they performed free-throws, to classify their skill levels. We employed a fully connected convolutional neural network (CNN) for the classification task, using 64% of the data for training, 16% for validation, and the remaining 20% for testing the model’s performance. In the case of considering a single parameter from the inertial sensor, the most accurate individual components were upward acceleration (AX), with an accuracy of 82% (sensitivity = 0.79; specificity = 0.84), forward acceleration (AZ), with an accuracy of 80% (sensitivity = 0.78; specificity = 0.83), and wrist angular velocity in the sagittal plane (GY), with an accuracy of 77% (sensitivity = 0.73; specificity = 0.79). The highest accuracy of the classification was achieved when these CNN inputs utilized a stack-up matrix of these three axes, resulting in an accuracy of 88% (sensitivity = 0.87, specificity = 0.90). Applying the CNN to data from a single wearable sensor successfully classified basketball players as recreational or professional with an accuracy of up to 88%. This study represents a step towards the development of a biofeedback device to improve free-throw shooting technique.
Machine Learning-Based Adaptive Genetic Algorithm for Android Malware Detection in Auto-Driving Vehicles
Authors: Hammood Layth , Doğru İbrahim Alper , Kılıç Kazım
Published: April 2023

The growing trend toward vehicles being connected to various unidentified devices, such as other vehicles or infrastructure, increases the possibility of external attacks on“vehicle cybersecurity (VC). Detection of intrusion is a very important part of network security for vehicles such as connected vehicles, that have open connectivity, and self-driving vehicles. Consequently, security has become an important requirement in trying to protect these vehicles as attackers have become more sophisticated in using malware that can penetrate and harm vehicle control units as technology advances. Thus, ensuring the vehicles and the network are safe is very important for the growth of the automotive industry and for people to have more faith in it. In this study, a machine learning-based detection approach using hybrid analysis-based particle swarm optimization (PSO) and an adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) is presented for Android malware detection in auto-driving vehicles. The “CCCS-CIC-AndMal-2020” dataset containing 13 different malware categories and 9504 hybrid features was used for the experiments. In the proposed approach, firstly, feature selection is performed by applying PSO to the features in the dataset. In the next step, the performance of XGBoost and random forest (RF) machine learning classifiers is optimized using the AGA. In the experiments performed, a 99.82% accuracy and F-score were obtained with the XGBoost classifier, which was developed using PSO-based feature selection and AGA-based hyperparameter optimization. With the random forest classifier, a 98.72% accuracy and F-score were achieved. Our results show that the application of PSO and an AGA greatly increases the performance in the classification of the information obtained from the hybrid analysis.
An Interface Pressure Detection Method of Cable Silicone Rubber-XLPE Based on Nonlinear Ultrasound
Authors: Fang Chunhua , Liu Jianben , Sun Aoqi , Wu Junxiong , Xia Rong , Ouyang Benhong , Zhang Yilin , Li Fang
Published: April 2023

The interface pressure between the cable attachment and the body is crucial for the stable long-term operation of the cable. To solve the issue of interface insulation characteristics’ damage caused by the pressure transducer measurement method, a non-destructive testing method of silicone rubber interface pressure using nonlinear ultrasound is presented. Initially, the study analyzes the propagation characteristics of ultrasonic waves at the interface of cross-linked polyethylene and silicone rubber. The study also establishes the relationship between the nonlinear coefficient and the interface pressure. Subsequently, a nonlinear ultrasonic test platform is constructed using the pulse reflection method to measure the interface pressure of flat silicone rubber and cross-linked polyethylene through nonlinear ultrasonic testing. Theoretical and experimental results indicate that the fundamental amplitude of the frequency domain of the interface reflection wave decreases, and the second harmonic amplitude and nonlinear coefficient both increase as pressure increases. These results demonstrate that the nonlinear ultrasound, non-destructive testing method can accurately evaluate the interfacial pressure state of the cable accessories.
The Generalized Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
Authors: Tian Dongshuai , Zheng Hong
Published: April 2023

With the construction of supertall buildings such as high earth dams, the linear envelope of the Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) failure criterion fitted to lower confined pressure would significantly underestimate the loading capacity of foundations, causing a huge increase in the amount of earthwork. Given that the M-C criterion has dominated in the stability analysis of geotechnical structures, it is proposed in this study that the M-C criterion remain invariant in form but the cohesion c and the frictional factor f be related to the coefficient of intermediate principal stress b, called the Generalized Mohr-Coulomb (GMC) criterion. In other words, c and f are both functions of b, written as c(b) and f(b). In the simplest way, the GMC criterion for soils, a true three-dimensional failure criterion, can be established by using a piece of conventional triaxial apparatus. The GMC has a non-smooth strength surface like its conventional version. However, we prove from true triaxial tests and the characteristic theory of stress tensors that the failure surfaces in the stress space should be non-smooth per se for b = 0 or 1. Comparisons with other prominent failure criteria indicate that the GMC fits the test data best.
The Effect of Seed Removal and Extraction Time on the Phenolic Profile of Plavac Mali Wine
Authors: Jagatić Korenika Ana-Marija , Kozina Bernard , Preiner Darko , Tomaz Ivana , Volarević Josip , Jeromel Ana
Published: April 2023

The maceration process is one of the indispensable winemaking steps in red wine production that has a marked impact on phenolic compound extraction and can strongly influence the color and gustatory quality. Seed removal can have a substantial impact on the intensity of bitterness and astringency which are mainly influenced by the presence of flavanols. The main aim of this study was to investigate the influence of seed removal and extraction time on the phenolic composition, color parameters, and organoleptic properties of Plavac mali wines produced from the grapes from the Pelješac Peninsula. The achieved results showed that the control wines differ in terms of their highest content of total anthocyanins in both years and total flavonols in one year of investigation, while prolonged maceration without seeds decreases the concentration of phenolic acids as well as that of flavan-3-ols. A prolonged extraction time influenced the color intensity and tonality, moving it towards more yellow pigments. These changes could possibly be explained by the pronounced interaction between phenolic compounds and the formation of the new ones. Interestingly, seed removal probably diminished that change because the potential absorption of the anthocyanins by grape seeds and tannins were excluded. The highest quality was sensory defined in wines produced by prolonged maceration without seeds.
A Meta Reinforcement Learning-Based Task Offloading Strategy for IoT Devices in an Edge Cloud Computing Environment
Authors: Yang He , Ding Weichao , Min Qi , Dai Zhiming , Jiang Qingchao , Gu Chunhua
Published: April 2023

Developing an effective task offloading strategy has been a focus of research to improve the task processing speed of IoT devices in recent years. Some of the reinforcement learning-based policies can improve the dependence of heuristic algorithms on models through continuous interactive exploration of the edge environment; however, when the environment changes, such reinforcement learning algorithms cannot adapt to the environment and need to spend time on retraining. This paper proposes an adaptive task offloading strategy based on meta reinforcement learning with task latency and device energy consumption as optimization targets to overcome this challenge. An edge system model with a wireless charging module is developed to improve the ability of IoT devices to provide service constantly. A Seq2Seq-based neural network is built as a task strategy network to solve the problem of difficult network training due to different dimensions of task sequences. A first-order approximation method is proposed to accelerate the calculation of the Seq2Seq network meta-strategy training, which involves quadratic gradients. The experimental results show that, compared with existing methods, the algorithm in this paper has better performance in different tasks and network environments, can effectively reduce the task processing delay and device energy consumption, and can quickly adapt to new environments.
Discovery and Classification of Defects on Facing Brick Specimens Using a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Beskopylny Alexey N. , Shcherban’ Evgenii M. , Stel’makh Sergey A. , Mailyan Levon R. , Meskhi Besarion , Razveeva Irina , Kozhakin Alexey , El’shaeva Diana , Beskopylny Nikita , Onore Gleb
Published: April 2023

In recent years, visual automatic non-destructive testing using machine vision algorithms has been widely used in industry. This approach for detecting, classifying, and segmenting defects in building materials and structures can be effectively implemented using convolutional neural networks. Using intelligent systems in the initial stages of manufacturing can eliminate defective building materials, prevent the spread of defective products, and detect the cause of specific damage. In this article, the solution to the problem of building elements flaw detection using the computer vision method was considered. Using the YOLOv5s convolutional neural network for the detection and classification of various defects of the structure, the appearance of finished products of facing bricks that take place at the production stage is shown during technological processing, packaging, transportation, or storage. The algorithm allows for the detection of foreign inclusions, broken corners, cracks, and color unevenness, including the presence of rust spots. To train the detector, our own empirical database of images of facing brick samples was obtained. The set of training data for the neural network algorithm for discovering defects and classifying images was expanded by using our own augmentation algorithm. The results show that the developed YOLOv5s model has a high accuracy in solving the problems of defect detection: mAP0.50 = 87% and mAP0.50:0.95 = 72%. It should be noted that the use of synthetic data obtained by augmentation makes it possible to achieve a good generalizing ability from the algorithm, it has the potential to expand visual variability and practical applicability in various shooting conditions.
Nonlinear Tank-Level Control Using Dahlin Algorithm Design and PID Control
Authors: Dlabač Tatijana , Antić Sanja , Ćalasan Martin , Milovanović Alenka , Marvučić Nikola
Published: April 2023

Liquid-level control in tanks is widely used in various industrial sectors. Due to problems arising from the case that the liquid level is above or below the recommended, the process of its control is of great significance. The proportional integral differential (PID) controller is one of the most widely used controllers in applications that require accuracy and optimal automatic control. In this paper, single and coupled ship fuel tank systems are discussed. In addition, mathematical models and their linearization using two different approaches are presented. The two control approaches are used to maintain the specified liquid level in tanks. The first is based on the design of standard PID controllers, with the application of the Ziegler–Nichols, Takahashi tuning, and Auto-tuning methods. The second approach, proposed by the authors, is based on the application of the Dahlin algorithm. The simple modification of the Dahlin controller, which can avoid the “ringing” of the control signal, is suggested in the paper. Moreover, the lower limit of the decrease in the desired time constant, which ensures the desired behavior of the system, is determined. The comparisons provided for different performance indexes show the advantages of the modified Dahlin algorithm approach compared to the standard PID controllers. Furthermore, the comparison with the literature-known approaches is realized.
Oral and Dental Needs and Teledentistry Applications in the Elderly: Real-Time Surveillance Using Google Trends
Authors: Di Spirito Federica , Bramanti Alessia , Cannatà Davide , Coppola Nicoletta , Di Palo Maria Pia , Savarese Giulia , Amato Massimo
Published: April 2023

Considering the increasing need for oral and dental care in the elderly, teledentistry has been proposed to improve the education of elderly patients in oral health maintenance and risk factor control, identify patients’ concerns in advance, facilitate monitoring, and save time and money. The present cross-sectional analysis of Google search data through real-time surveillance with Google Trends aimed to determine Google users’ interest in oral and dental needs and teledentistry applications in the elderly, and to compare search volumes before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Extracted CVS data were qualitatively analyzed. Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were performed between searches for “elderly” and “teledentistry”, and all the oral and dental needs and teledentistry applications. The Mann–Whitney U test compared search volumes in the 36 months before and after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Google users’ interest in the elderly and related oral and dental needs was diffusely medium–high, while teledentistry and its applications were of lower interest. Interest in teledentistry and its applications was strongly related to interest in the older population, which is consistent with the assumption that older adults represent the population segment that could benefit most from these tools. A positive correlation was also found between searches for “Elderly” and searches for almost all oral and dental needs typical of the geriatric population. Search volumes increased significantly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. More information about teledentistry should be disseminated to increase knowledge and awareness, especially among older patients, about its indications, applications, and advantages.
Ontology-Based Architecture Process of System-of-Systems: From Capability Development to Operational Modeling
Authors: Feng Yimin , Zou Qiang , Zhou Chenchu , Liu Yusheng , Peng Qibo
Published: April 2023

System-of-systems (SoS) architecture is crucial in managing complex and interconnected systems. However, the description and modeling of SoS architecture pose significant challenges and require a structured and organized approach. In this study, a metamodel for SoS architecture that considers both structural and behavioral perspectives is defined. The metamodel is then mapped to ontologies that are enhanced with a flow-based extension to characterize architecture views. On this basis, an SoS capability ontology (SoSCO) and an SoS operational ontology (SoSOO) are built with factors, relationships, and flows. A four-step architecture process for developing capabilities and a five-step architecture process for operational modeling are provided based on the ontologies. The proposed approach is applied in a search and rescue case study, demonstrating its ability to improve operability in the early design stage. The process is implemented using the Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) so that various stakeholders and engineers can better understand and develop an SoS.
Geographical Distribution of Global Radiation and Sunshine Duration over the Island of Cyprus
Authors: Pashiardis Stelios , Pelengaris Alexandros , Kalogirou Soteris A.
Published: April 2023

In this work, hourly measurements of global solar irradiances obtained from pyranometers and sunshine duration data using either Kipp & Zonen CSD3 automatic sensors or Campbell–Stokes sunshine recorders were assessed through an extensive quality control procedure and statistical analysis on the measured and derived solar parameters for all the actinometric stations installed in various locations over the island of Cyprus, covering mainly the period 2019–2021. This information is useful for engineers concerning the solar energy capture systems and energy efficiency who can therefore take knowledge of the local radiation levels. Monthly mean hourly values of global radiation and sunshine duration are calculated and shown through isoline diagrams. During June or July, daily global irradiations ranged between 25 MJ/m2 and 30 MJ/m2, with the lowest occurring in the mountainous locations. On the other hand, in January or December, they ranged between 6.5 MJ/m2 and 10.5 MJ/m2. The total annual number of hours of sunshine duration ranged between 2500 and 3500, with the lowest values recorded at the mountainous sites. The clearness index and relative sunshine duration were used for the classification of the weather conditions over the island. Furthermore, the interrelationships between the said indices were used for the estimation of global radiation. This work has specifically contributed to the characterization and analysis of hourly and daily solar global radiation. Furthermore, the measurements on the ground level could be compared with satellite observations in order to improve the geographical distribution of global radiation, especially in areas where no measurements exist. The analysis could be also extended for the other shortwave radiation components (Direct, Diffuse and Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR)) in order to assess the solar radiation regime over the island.
Parasitic Motions of 3-PRS Parallel Mechanisms with Two Different Branch Chain Arrangements
Authors: Yao Yinyin , Wu Wenge , Li Ruiqin , Zhao Yaohong
Published: April 2023

The kinematics of 3-PRS parallel mechanisms (PMs), an important category of 2R1T PMs, is very important for the motion control and error compensation of PMs. In order to produce a spindle head that could meet the requirements of various machining accuracy levels, a definite kinematics analysis of the PMs par should be taken with caution firstly. Here, the mathematical models of two 3-PRS PMs with different branch chain arrangements were established using the Euler angle. The kinematic equations of two 3-PRS PMs were obtained by establishing the closed-vector loop equation according to structural conditions. Parasitic motions that would cause a great effect were obtained, and their variations with structural and kinematic parameters were also obtained through MATLAB. Since the relationship between parasitic motions, and the given structural and kinematic parameters, is inextricable, an analysis is performed for the purpose of reducing or eliminating parasitic motion to ensure the accuracy of end-effector movement. The caused effect of parasitic motion can be improved with scale optimization and precision compensation. Lastly, two improved 3-PRS PMs without the parasitic motion of different branch chain arrangements used as the spindle head were obtained. Parasitic motion was related to the mechanism configuration and could be avoided in the configuration design stage with the comprehensive optimization of the structural and kinematic parameters, which provides a reference to obtain a sufficient workspace and improve the precision of traditional five-axis CNC machine tools.
Dynamic Measures of Balance during a 90° Turn in Self-Selected Gait in Individuals with Mild Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Alderink Gordon , Harro Cathy , Hickox Lauren , Zeitler David W. , Bourke Marie , Gosla Akeya , Rustmann Sarah
Published: April 2023

The risk of falls is common in the aging and Parkinson’s disease (PD) populations. There is limited research on dynamic gait stability, i.e., margin of stability (MOS), in the PD population while turning. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the dynamic balance control in individuals with mild to moderate PD and healthy individuals while walking and performing 90° turns utilizing computerized three-dimensional gait analysis. Specifically, we examined the anteroposterior and mediolateral margins of stability and their effect on the dynamic balance during turning in participants. A total of 11 individuals with mild to moderate idiopathic PD and 10 healthy controls (CON) participated in this study. Individuals with PD were tested during the “on phase” of PD medication. The Vicon Nexus camera system, force plates, and Visual3D software were utilized for three-dimensional motion analysis of three right and three left turning trials. A mixed-model ANOVA was used to analyze the primary dependent variables of dynamic balance (p < 0.0028) and the secondary dependent variables of spatiotemporal gait parameters (p < 0.0056). No significant differences in the spatiotemporal parameters or dynamic balance variables were observed between the groups. Gait velocity, center of mass-center of pressure (COM–COP) inclination angle at midstance, and MOS variables showed marginally significant group differences. We found no differences in dynamic balance during gait while performing turns betweenthe healthy elderly and individuals with PD. This finding may be related to the early stage of disease progression in the PD group.
Improving Robotic Bin-Picking Performances through Human–Robot Collaboration
Authors: Boschetti Giovanni , Sinico Teresa , Trevisani Alberto
Published: April 2023

The automation of bin-picking processes has been a research topic for almost two decades. General-purpose equipment, however, still does not show adequate success rates to find application in most industrial tasks. Human–robot collaboration in bin–picking tasks can increase the success rate by exploiting human perception and handling skills and the robot ability to perform repetitive tasks. The aim of this paper, starting from a general-purpose industrial bin picking equipment comprising a 3D–structured light vision system and a collaborative robot, consists in enhancing its performance and possible applications through human–robot collaboration. To achieve successful and fluent human–robot collaboration, the robotic workcell must meet some hardware and software requirements that are defined below. The proposed strategy is tested in some sample tests: the results of the experimental tests show that collaborative functions can be particularly useful to overcome typical bin picking failures and to improve the fault tolerance of the system, increasing its flexibility and reducing downtimes.