bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and Test of a Tangential-Axial Flow Picking Device for Peanut Combine Harvesting
Authors: Yang Hongguang , Cao Mingzhu , Wang Bing , Hu Zhichao , Xu Hongbo , Wang Shenying , Yu Zhaoyang
Published: January 2022

This study presents a tangential-axial flow picking device for peanut combine harvesting. The device was designed with reference to the tangential-axial flow threshing mechanism of the grain combine harvesters. The main purpose of this study was to solve the problem of the high rate of loss and damage in the picking operation of the peanut combine harvesters in China. Through the theoretical analysis and design calculation of the key components of the peanut picking device, the structural and working parameters were determined. The orthogonal test was carried out by taking the feeding amount of the peanut plant, the picking clearance, the speed of the tangential cylinder, and the speed of the axial cylinder as the test factors. Additionally, the non-picking loss rate, entrainment loss rate, and damage rate of the peanut pods were used as the test indexes. The test results were analyzed by range analysis and analysis of variance, and the test parameters were optimized by fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The optimal parameter combination for the tangential-axial flow picking device was determined as follows. The feeding amount of the peanut plant was 2 kg/s, the picking clearance was 35 mm, the speed of the tangential cylinder was 360 r/min, the speed of the axial cylinder was 425 r/min. At this time, the non-picking loss rate was 0.52%, the entrainment loss rate was 0.54%, and the damage rate was 0.75%. The test results fully met the standard requirements of the peanut picking operation. This research provides a technical basis for the application of the tangential-axial flow picking device in peanut combine harvesters.
Agro-Dealers’ Knowledge, Perception, and Willingness to Stock a Fungal-Based Biopesticide (ICIPE 20) for Management of Tuta absoluta in Kenya
Authors: Ogutu Francis , Muriithi Beatrice W. , Mshenga Patience M. , Khamis Fathiya M. , Mohamed Samira A. , Ndlela Shepard
Published: January 2022

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), tomato is an economically important crop that contributes not only to employment and income, but also food security. Like the rest of the SSA countries, tomato production in Kenya is constrained mainly by pests and diseases, key among them being the tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta), which can cause 80–100% losses if not properly managed. To suppress this pest, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) and partners are introducing a fungal-based biopesticide (ICIPE 20) in an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach as a sustainable alternative to the sole use of synthetic pesticides. This study was carried out before the introduction of the biopesticide to assess its commercial feasibility among agro-dealers, using Kirinyaga County in Kenya where tomato production is predominant, as the study area. Specifically, the study assessed the knowledge, perception, and willingness to stock biopesticide using a market survey involving 141 agro-dealers. Successful commercialization of a new product is assumed to be the cumulative result of traders’ and buyers’ knowledge and perceptions about the product. The results show that a higher proportion of agro-dealers were willing to pay for ICIPE 20 at a higher price than Coragen®, the most popular insecticide for management of T. absoluta. The regression analysis revealed that individual characteristics such as age, education, access to social networks and credit facilities, and information are correlated to the agro-dealer’s knowledge, perception, and willingness to stock the biopesticide. Training agro-dealers may promote greater uptake of the biopesticides through enhancing their knowledge and perception towards the effectiveness of the product.
Salt Tolerant Eggplant Rootstocks Modulate Sodium Partitioning in Tomato Scion and Improve Performance under Saline Conditions
Authors: Sanwal Satish Kumar , Mann Anita , Kumar Arvind , Kesh Hari , Kaur Gurpreet , Rai Arvind Kumar , Kumar Raj , Sharma Parbodh C. , Kumar Ashwani , Bahadur Anant , Singh Bijendra , Kumar Pradeep
Published: January 2022

Grafting on salt tolerant eggplant rootstocks can be a promising approach for enhancing the salinity tolerance of tomato. In this study, the performance of tomato cv. Kashi Aman grafted on two salt tolerant eggplant rootstocks (IC-111056 and IC-354557) was evaluated against non-grafted control under saline (ECiw 6 and 9 dS m−1) and non-saline (ECiw ~1 dS m−1) irrigation for 2 years. Grafting improved tomato plant performance under salt stress. Moreover, rootstock IC-111056 outperformed IC-354557. An increase in the average fruit yield of grafted plants compared with non-grafted control at 6 and 9 dS m−1 was 24.41% and 55.84%, respectively with rootstock IC-111056 and 20.25% and 49.08%, respectively with IC-354557. Grafted plants maintained a superior water status under saline irrigation, evidenced with the relative water content and chlorophyll SPAD index, along with higher proline and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase). Rootstocks mediated the partitioning of toxic saline ions in the scions by promoting higher Na+ accumulation (14% of mean accumulation) in the older leaves and lower (24%) in the younger leaves of grafted plants. This resulted in higher K+/Na+ ratios within the younger (active) leaves of the grafted plants. Our study demonstrates that grafting tomato seedlings on selected salt tolerant eggplant rootstocks is a viable alternative for improving plant physiological status and fruit yield under salt stress, through favorable modulation of salt ion partitioning in the scions.
The Role of Water Relations and Oxidative Stress in the Vase Life Response to Prolonged Storage: A Case Study in Chrysanthemum
Authors: Fanourakis Dimitrios , Papadakis Vassilis M. , Psyllakis Evangelos , Tzanakakis Vasileios A. , Nektarios Panayiotis A.
Published: January 2022

Long storage periods have been associated with decreased vase life. In this study, the processes underlying the vase life response to prolonged storage were investigated, along with the potential of light reflectance profiles to estimate storage duration. Three cut chrysanthemum cultivars were exposed to four cold (5 °C) storage periods (0, 7, 14, and 21 d). Stomata were present on the leaves (either side) and stem, but not on petals. As compared to the leaves, stomata on the stem were non-functional, smaller, and less dense. Floral transpiration was a small portion of the whole-cut flower transpiration, with the major contributor being the leaves or stem depending on the cut flower hydration. Storage duration linearly decreased vase life, with the rate of decrease being cultivar specific. Storage duration (0–21 d) did not affect leaf stomatal functioning, non-leaf tissue transpiration, or the relative contribution of each organ to the whole-cut flower transpiration. Cut flower hydration was generally enhanced by storage, while water uptake restoration ability was not impaired. Membrane lipid oxidation increased in response to storage duration owing to enhanced H2O2 accumulation. A strong correlation between membrane lipid oxidation level and the vase life response to cold storage was apparent. By examining the light reflectance profiles (400–1050 nm) of leaves (either side) and flowers (top view), an indication of the storage period could not be deduced. In conclusion, cultivar differences in vase life response to cold storage were attributed to variation in oxidative state, whereas cut flower water relations are clearly not involved.
Phenotypic Correlation Analysis in F2 Segregating Populations of Gossypiumhirsutum and Gossypiumarboreum for Boll-Related Traits
Authors: Iqbal Zubair , Hu Daowu , Nazeer Wajad , Ge Hao , Nazir Talha , Fiaz Sajid , Gul Alia , Iqbal Muhammad Shahid , El-Sabrout Ahmed M. , Maryum Zahra , Pan Zhaoe , Du Xiongming
Published: January 2022

Cotton is an important agro-industrial crop across the globe. Improving the fiber quality and yield potential of cotton are major commercial targets for cotton breeders. The cotton lint yield is computed by multiplying three fundamental yield constituents: average boll weight, boll number per unit ground area, and lint percentage. The cotton species Gossypium arboreum exhibits a wide range of desirable traits, which are absent in the congener Gossypium hirsutum. Four parental lines of G. hirsutum and G. arboreum, with significant differences in boll-related traits, were used to develop the following four F2 populations: Mei Zhongmian × Chimu Heizi (MC), Mei Zhongmian × L-02292-3 (ML), Dixie king × Suyuan 04-44 (DS), and Dixie king × Pamuk (DP), in order to study complex traits, such as boll weight (BW) (g), lint percentage (LP) (%), boll upper width (BUW), boll medium width (BMW), boll lower width (BLU), and boll length (BL) (mm). In segregation populations, extensive phenotypic differences and transgressive segregation were observed. The results show that most of the correlation clusters were negatively associated with boll weight and lint percentage. The positive correlation clusters were observed among boll upper width (BUW), boll medium width (BMW), boll lower width (BLW), and boll length (BL). Seven of the twenty-four extracted principal components had eigenvalues > 1. This accounted for 62.2% of the difference between the four F2 populations. Principal component 1 accounted for 15.1% of the overall variability. The variation in principal component 1 was mainly attributed to boll lower width (BLW), boll medium width (BMW), boll upper width (BUW), boll length (BL), and boll weight (BW) of the ML population. The heritability estimates varied between high, medium, and low for various traits among the studied F2 populations. Interestingly, all traits demonstrated low genetic advance, which indicates that non-additive genes controlled these characters and that direct selection for these traits is not beneficial. The outcome of the present investigation will help to develop cotton cultivars with improved boll weight and lint percentage.
Clarifying Soil Texture and Salinity Using Local Spatial Statistics (Getis-Ord Gi* and Moran’s I) in Kazakh–Uzbekistan Border Area, Central Asia
Authors: Liu Wen , Ma Long , Smanov Zhassulan , Samarkhanov Kanat , Abuduwaili Jilili
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this paper was to study the spatial characteristics and possible influencing factors of farmland soil texture and salt content in the Syr Darya River Basin. Data on the soil grain size and salt content were collected at 56 sampling sites in the southern part of the Shardara Reservoir and the left bank of the Syr Darya River irrigation area. With the methods of local spatial statistics (Getis-Ord Gi* and Moran’s I), the hotspots of soil salinity and grain size in the study area were revealed, and along with the use of correlation analysis, the possible factors affecting soil salt distribution were discussed. Among the 56 soil sampling sites, sandy loam, loamy loam, and chalky loam accounted for 20%, 50%, and 30%, respectively, and mildly, moderately, and severely saline soils accounted for 80.36%, 14.28%, and 5.36%, respectively. There was statistically significant spatial autocorrelation between sand, silt, and clay content in the soils, but the spatial autocorrelation for salt content was weak. The results show that high and high-cluster areas (hotspots) with statistically significant salt content are mainly distributed in the northwest of the study area and that the hotspot distribution of salt content is mainly affected by topography (altitude), but the effect of soil texture on salt content is not significant. The control of soil salinity should prioritize low-altitude areas, especially in the northwestern region. The results are of great significance for the regulation and control of soil salinity and the sustainable utilization of soil in arid Central Asia.
Bunch Weight Determination in Relation to the Source-Sink Balance in 12 Cavendish Banana Cultivars
Authors: Rapetti Manon , Dorel Marc
Published: January 2022

This study was carried out to compare bunch weight determination in relation to the source-sink balance in a selection of 12 Cavendish banana cultivars. Fruit number and individual fruit weight are the main bunch weight components. The fruit number depended on the growth potential during floral induction, which we estimated according to the active leaf area at floral induction (ALAfi). We studied fruit weight determination by measuring the source-sink balance during bunch growth, carbohydrate reserves and bunch-sucker biomass partitioning. Throughout the experiment, we monitored the global radiation (Rg), which exhibited seasonal variations. We noted a source variation from the first to the second cycle during bunch growth because of a decrease in the Rg and active leaf area. Our results showed significant differences between Cavendish cultivars regarding bunch weight, fruit number and susceptibility to source variations. There was an overall positive linear relation between ALAfi and fruit number, but the ALAfi/fruit number ratio varied between cultivars. We also found that the bunch weight was mainly determined by the fruit number rather than the fruit weight when the source was not limited. Finally, we assessed the cultivar susceptibility to source decreases, thereby revealing some cultivars of interest for agroecological cropping systems.
Assessment of Biostimulation Methods Based on Chemical Communication in Female Doe Reproduction
Authors: Villamayor Paula R. , Gullón Julián , Yáñez Uxía , Sánchez María , Sánchez-Quinteiro Pablo , Martínez Paulino , Quintela Luis
Published: January 2022

Biostimulation is an animal management practice that helps improve reproductive parameters by modulating animal sensory systems. Chemical signals, mostly known as pheromones, have a great potential in this regard. This study was conducted to determine the influence of short-term female rabbit exposure to different conditions, mainly pheromone-mediated, on reproductive parameters of inseminated does. Groups of 60 females/each were exposed to (1) female urine, (2) male urine, (3) seminal plasma and (4) female–female (F–F) separated, just before artificial insemination, and compared to a ‘golden method’ female–female interaction. The following reproductive parameters were analyzed for each group: receptivity (vulvar color), fertility (kindling rate), prolificacy and number of born alive and dead kits/litter. Our results showed that the biostimulation methods employed in this experiment did not significantly improve any of the analyzed parameters. However, female doe exposure to urine, especially to male urine, showed no significant higher fertility values (95.4%) when compared to the rest of the experimental conditions (on average 92.4%). Female–female interaction before artificial insemination, which is a common practice in rabbit farms, showed similar results as not establishing social interaction (F–F separated), which suggests that F–F interaction could be replaced by F–F separated, therefore avoiding unnecessary animal management and time cost. On the other hand, fertility ranges were lower for animals with a pale vulvar color whereas no differences were noticed among the other three colors which measure receptivity (pink, red, purple), thus suggesting that these three colors could be grouped together. Future studies should aim at determining potential chemical cues/pheromones released through bodily secretions that influence reproduction in rabbits, therefore contributing to animal welfare and to a natural image of animal production.
Resveratrol Improves Intestinal Morphology and Anti-Oxidation Ability in Deoxynivalenol-Challenged Piglets
Authors: Hong Qihua , Li Xin , Lin Qian , Shen Zhuojun , Feng Jie , Hu Caihong
Published: January 2022

This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of resveratrol (RES) on intestinal function and oxidative stress in deoxynivalenol (DON)-challenged piglets. Twenty-four healthy Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace weaned piglets at the age of 28 ± 1 days were randomly divided into four groups with six repetitions per group. The four groups were as follows: the control group (CON), fed with a basic diet; the RES group, fed with a basal diet + 300 mg/kg RES; the DON group, fed with a basal diet containing 2.65 mg/kg DON; and the DON + RES group, fed with a basal diet containing 2.65 mg/kg DON + 300 mg/kg RES. The results showed that the growth performance and intestinal function of DON-challenged piglets were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Compared with the DON group, the average daily feed intake of piglets in the DON + RES group was significantly increased (p < 0.05). Additionally, dietary RES ameliorated DON-induced intestinal morphology impairment, as indicated by the increased (p < 0.05) jejunal villi height and the ratio of the jejunal villi height/crypt depth. Furthermore, after the addition of RES, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the jejunum mucosa were significantly increased, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly declined (p < 0.05). In addition, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the mitochondria was significantly reduced by RES, while the mitochondrial membrane potential in jejunum was significantly increased by RES (p < 0.05). However, there was no obvious difference between DON + RES and DON groups on average daily gain and the ratio of feed togain, except for the significant inhibition of average daily feed intake (p < 0.05). In conclusion, RES could effectively alleviate the DON-induced oxidative stress on weaned piglets, and reduce the damage to mitochondria and intestinal morphology, so as to improve the growth performance of piglets.
Effect of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 Spores as a Probiotic Feed Supplement on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Diarrhea Score, Intestinal Microbiota, and Excreta Odor Contents in Weanling Piglets
Authors: Hu Jing , Kim In-Ho
Published: January 2022

It has been well-documented that the dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis could improve piglet performance. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 spores as a probiotic feed supplement on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal score, intestinal microbiota, and excreta odor contents in weanling piglets. A total of 150 crossed ((Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc) weanling piglets (28-days-old), with an average initial body weight of 7.53 ± 1.23 kg, were divided into two treatment groups according to sex and initial body weight (BW) for a 6-week experiment. In each group, fifteen replicate pens consisting of five piglets per pen (three gilts and two barrows) were used in a randomized complete block design. Treatments consisted of (1) CON, a basal diet; (2) BSC, a diet of CON + 300 g Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) C-3102 spores per ton of feed. Supplementation with the B. subtilis C-3102 spores in the diet increased the BW, average daily gain (ADG), and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) throughout the whole trial (p < 0.05). Weanling piglets that were fed B. subtilis C-3102 spores had increased dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and energy (E) digestibility compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Lower diarrhea scores were observed in the B. subtilis C-3102 spores group on Day 7 (p < 0.05). Taken together, our results suggest that dietary supplementation with B. subtilis C-3102 spores could benefit the BW, ADG, and G:F of weanling piglets and improve the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of the DM, CP, and E.
Metformin Reverses tmexCD1-toprJ1- and tet(A)-Mediated High-Level Tigecycline Resistance in K. pneumoniae
Authors: Xiao Xia , Huan Quanmin , Huang Yanhu , Liu Yuan , Li Ruichao , Xu Xilan , Wang Zhiqiang
Published: January 2022

Tigecycline (TIG) is one of the last effective options against multidrug resistance bacteria. Recently, the RND (resistance–nodulation–division) efflux pump gene cluster, tmexCD1-toprJ1, and the tetracycline-efflux pump tet(A) mutation were reported to mediate high level resistance to TIG in clinically important pathogens, weakening the efficacy of TIG. In this study, we report the potent synergistic effect of the antidiabetic drug metformin in combination with TIG against tet(A) mutant and tmexCD1-toprJ1 positive K. pneumoniae. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of TIG and metformin were less than 0.05 for all the tested isolates. The time–kill curve assay showed that the combination of TIG and metformin exhibited much better antimicrobial effect than TIG alone. The synergistic effect was also confirmed in vivo using a well-studied Galleria mellonella larvae model. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that metformin disrupted the important component of proton motive force, the electric potential (Δψ) and the function of efflux pump, thereby increasing the intracellular concentration of TIG. This finding revealed that metformin might be a possible adjuvant of TIG for combating with superbugs carrying the tet(A) mutant and tmexCD1-toprJ1 genes.
The Role of Selenium in Pathologies: An Updated Review
Authors: Barchielli Giulia , Capperucci Antonella , Tanini Damiano
Published: January 2022

Selenium is an essential microelement required for a number of biological functions. Selenium—and more specifically the amino acid selenocysteine—is present in at least 25 human selenoproteins involved in a wide variety of essential biological functions, ranging from the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration to the biosynthesis of hormones. These processes also play a central role in preventing and modulating the clinical outcome of several diseases, including cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, mental disorders, cardiovascular disorders, fertility impairments, inflammation, and infections (including SARS-CoV-2). Over the past years, a number of studies focusing on the relationship between selenium and such pathologies have been reported. Generally, an adequate selenium nutritional state—and in some cases selenium supplementation—have been related to improved prognostic outcome and reduced risk of developing several diseases. On the other hand, supra-nutritional levels might have adverse effects. The results of recent studies focusing on these topics are summarized and discussed in this review, with particular emphasis on advances achieved in the last decade.
Modeling for Spatial Overlap Effect of End-Pumped Passively Q-Switched Nd:YVO4/Cr4+:YAG Laser and Its Experimental Verification
Authors: Tu Yueh-Chi , Hsieh Min-Xiang , Liang Hsing-Chih , Yu Yan-Ting
Published: January 2022

In this work, the spatial effects of the pumping and lasing were considered into the coupled rate equations of passively Q-switched lasers for the condition of no saturation in the gain medium. A transcendental equation of energy utilization was derived, and the solution to the equation was approximated by an analytic model developed in previous work. The reflection factor of output coupler with low reflectivity was modified for more accurate output energy evaluations. Experimentally, an end-pumped Nd:YVO4/Cr4+:YAG laser in a concave-plano cavity with output coupling reflectivity ranging from 10% to 92% was demonstrated, and two different pumping spot sizes of laser diode were adopted for validating the developed spatial model. The experimental results showed good agreements with the theoretical calculations.
A Suitability Evaluation Method of Urban Underground Space Based on Rough Set Theory and Conditional Entropy: A Case Study in Wuhan Changjiang New Town
Authors: Tong Defu , Tan Fei , Ma Bangchuang , Jiao Yu-Yong , Wang Jun
Published: January 2022

In order to make full use of underground space resources and reasonably determine the development function and scale, it is important to evaluate the suitability evaluation of urban underground space (UUS). The development and utilization of underground space is affected by many factors, such as topography, geomorphology, geotechnical characteristics, hydrogeology and so on. Taking the starting area of Changjiang New Town in Wuhan as a case study, this paper introduces the rough set theory and conditional entropy and establishes a suitability evaluation model of UUS. Rough set theory is used to construct a decision information table, preprocess sample data and classify the knowledge base, while conditional entropy is employed to calculate the attributes’ own and relative importance. Then, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, the most unfavorable grade discrimination method and the exclusive method are used to evaluate the model, and the partition map of regional underground space development suitability is obtained. In this method, any prior knowledge and additional information will not be needed except the sample data, and the obtained weights are more objective and reasonable. The results show that the overall suitability of underground space development and utilization in the starting area of Wuhan Changjiang New Town is good.
Improvement of Heat Transfer Properties through TiO2 Nanosphere Monolayer Embedded Polymers as Thermal Interface Materials
Authors: Moon Jinuk , Jung Uijin , Jung Bomseumin , Park Jinsub
Published: January 2022

A thermal interface material (TIM) is a substance that reduces the thermal resistance between a heat source and heat sink, which facilitates heat conduction towards the outside. In this study, a TiO2 nanosphere (NS)-filler based TIM was fabricated via facile processes such as spin-coating and icing methods. Thermal conductivity of the fabricated TiO2 NS-based TIM was enhanced by increasing the loading contents of the TiO2 NS-filler and successfully cooling down the GPU chipset temperature from 62 °C to 50 °C. Moreover, the TIM with the TiO2 NS-monolayer additionally lowered the GPU temperature by 1–7 °C. The COMSOL simulation results show that the TiO2 NS-monolayer, which was in contact with the heat source, boosts the heat transfer characteristics from the heat source toward the inside of the TIM. The suggested metal oxide monolayer-based TIM is an effective structure that reduces the temperature of the device without an additional filler loading, and it is expected to have a wide range of applications for the thermal management of advanced devices.
Sensors for Continuous Measuring of Sucrose Solutions Using Surface Plasmon Resonance
Authors: Pérez-Ocón Francisco , Pozo Antonio M. , Serrano José M. , Rabaza Ovidio
Published: January 2022

We propose two new sensors based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and optical fibers to determine the concentration of sucrose in products such as beverages, honey, condensed milk, etc., in real-time during the fabrication process or when the product has been manufactured. The sensors have been made with a hemispherical prism, a layer of MgF2, and another of Ag or Al with the Kretschmann configuration, and they are modulated in intensity. We have optimized these sensors from the modeling of reflectance curves. We have carried out a numerical simulation with these sensors to show how they can detect small changes in the refractive index depending on the concentration of sucrose where the device is immersed. The maximum sensitivity of the sensors is 11.9 RIU−1 and 5.7 RIU−1, the resolutions 1.7 × 10−4 RIU and 7.9 × 10−4 RIU, and the detection limits between 0-78Brix. Moreover, the sensors have an alarm system that is triggered when the sucrose concentration is insufficient or excessive. Data can also be sent in real-time to a remote place.
A Systematic Review of Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Terms of Different Application Domains and Tasks
Authors: Islam Mir Riyanul , Ahmed Mobyen Uddin , Barua Shaibal , Begum Shahina
Published: January 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have recently been radically improved and are now being employed in almost every application domain to develop automated or semi-automated systems. To facilitate greater human acceptability of these systems, explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) has experienced significant growth over the last couple of years with the development of highly accurate models but with a paucity of explainability and interpretability. The literature shows evidence from numerous studies on the philosophy and methodologies of XAI. Nonetheless, there is an evident scarcity of secondary studies in connection with the application domains and tasks, let alone review studies following prescribed guidelines, that can enable researchers’ understanding of the current trends in XAI, which could lead to future research for domain- and application-specific method development. Therefore, this paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) on the recent developments of XAI methods and evaluation metrics concerning different application domains and tasks. This study considers 137 articles published in recent years and identified through the prominent bibliographic databases. This systematic synthesis of research articles resulted in several analytical findings: XAI methods are mostly developed for safety-critical domains worldwide, deep learning and ensemble models are being exploited more than other types of AI/ML models, visual explanations are more acceptable to end-users and robust evaluation metrics are being developed to assess the quality of explanations. Research studies have been performed on the addition of explanations to widely used AI/ML models for expert users. However, more attention is required to generate explanations for general users from sensitive domains such as finance and the judicial system.
Analysis of the Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour of the EU DEMO Water-Cooled Lithium Lead Central Outboard Blanket Segment under an Optimized Thermal Field
Authors: Catanzaro Ilenia , Bongiovì Gaetano , Di Maio Pietro Alessandro
Published: January 2022

Within the framework of the EUROfusion research activities on the DEMO Water-Cooled Lithium Lead (WCLL) Breeding Blanket (BB) design, a research study was performed to preliminarily optimize, from the thermal point of view, the WCLL Central Outboard Blanket (COB) segment in order to investigate its structural behaviour under a realistic thermal field. In particular, a study of thermal analyses was performed to optimize the Double Walled Tubes and Segment Box cooling channels’ geometric configurations along the poloidal extension of the WCLL COB segment, in order to obtain a spatial temperature distribution fulfilling the thermal design requirement. Then, the thermo-mechanical analysis of the WCLL COB segment under Normal Operation (NO, representing nominal conditions), Upper Vertical Displacements Event (UVDE, representing a plasma disruption event) and Over-Pressurization (OP, representing an in-box loss of coolant accident) scenarios were carried out, assuming the previously obtained thermal field, to realistically predict displacement and stress fields. Finally, a stress linearization procedure allowed comparing the stress values obtained in some critical regions of the structure with the criteria prescribed by the reference design standard RCC-MRx. A theoretical–numerical approach based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) was followed using the commercial code Abaqus v. 6.14.
Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant and Wound Healing Potential of Three Artemisia Species: In Vitro and In Ovo Evaluation
Authors: Minda Daliana , Ghiulai Roxana , Banciu Christian Dragos , Pavel Ioana Zinuca , Danciu Corina , Racoviceanu Roxana , Soica Codruta , Budu Oana Daniela , Muntean Delia , Diaconeasa Zorita , Dehelean Cristina Adriana , Avram Stefana
Published: January 2022

Skin injuries, and especially wounds of chronic nature, can cause a major negative impact on the quality of life. New efficient alternatives are needed for wound healing therapy and herbal products are being investigated due to a high content of natural compounds with promising healing activity. For this purpose, we investigated three Artemisia species, Artemisia absinthium L. (AAb), Artemisia dracunculus L. (ADr) and Artemisia annua L. (AAn). Ethanolic extracts, containing different polyphenolic compounds, elicited strong antioxidant activities in the DPPH assay, comparable to ascorbic acid. Human ketratinocyte proliferation was stimulated and wound closure was enhanced by all three extracts at concentrations of 100 µg/mL. The Artemisia extracts modulated angiogenesis by increasing vessel formation, especially following treatment with A. annua and A. dracunculus, extracts with a significantly higher content of chlorogenic acid. Good tolerability and anti-irritative effects were also registered in ovo, on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The three Artemisia species represent promising low-cost, polyphenol-rich, antioxidant, safe alternatives for wound care treatment.
Investigating the Link between Microalgal Nutrition and the Environment in Hen Clam (Mactra chinensis) Larvae Growth and Survival
Authors: Jwa Min-Seok , Hong Chang-Yu
Published: January 2022

Historically, various types of shellfish inhabited the Jeju area to the extent that large mounds of shells were found. However, the most endangered of such species, Mactra chinensis, currently inhabits only a few villages on Jeju Island. This pioneering study aimed to explore the effect of the environment on M. chinensis larval growth on Jeju Island. First, we assume that the findings of this study are based on the specific environmental situations and conditions of Jeju Island. This study mostly explored the effects of environment and food diversity (microalgal species) on the growth and survival of M. chinensis (hen clam) larvae. The average seawater temperature ranges between 19 and 22 °C during the summer season. We tested analogous seawater temperature conditions specific to the Jeju coastal environment: 17, 22, 27 and 32 °C. M. chinensis larvae reared at higher temperatures experienced higher growth but lower survival rates, reaching shell lengths of >220 μm at 15 days after hatching. The larvae exhibited the lowest growth (149.3 μm shell length) at 17 °C. Moreover, the M. chinensis larvae had the highest daily growth and survival rate of 10.3 μm and 75.5%, respectively, at a salinity of 30 practical salinity units (psu). For breeding Jeju hen clams, we found that the optimal water temperature and salinity for larval rearing were 22 °C and 30–35 psu, respectively. Larvae fed only I. galbana or Isochrysis sp. also exhibited high growth and survival rates. However, larvae restricted to a diet containing only P. lutheri exhibited low growth and survival rates. Therefore, the optimal diet of M. chinensis larvae should include more than one species of microalga, particularly I. galbana and Isochrysis sp., to increase their growth and survival rates, and hence the productivity of this clam species.
The Dependence of InAs/InAsSb Superlattice Detectors’ Spectral Response on Molecular Beam Epitaxy Growth Temperature
Authors: Michalczewski Krystian , Jureńczyk Jarosław , Kubiszyn Łukasz , Martyniuk Piotr
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we report on the influence of molecular beam epitaxial (MBE) growth temperature on the spectral response of the long-wavelength infrared radiation (LWIR), three-stage thermoelectrically (TE) cooled (T = 210, 230 K) InAs/InAsSb type-II superlattice (T2SL)-based detectors grown on the GaSb/GaAs buffer layers/substrates. Likewise, antimony (Sb) composition and the superlattice (SL) period could be used for spectral response selection. The presented results indicate that the growth temperature affects the 50% cut-off (λ50%cut-off) of the fabricated devices and could be used for operating wavelength tunning. Assuming constant Sb composition and T2SL period during MBE process, the growth temperature is presented to influence λ50%cut-off covering entire LWIR (e.g., temperature growth change within the range of 400–450 °C contributes to the λ50%cut-off ~ 11.6–8.3 μm estimated for operating temperature, T = 230 K). An increase in temperature growth makes a blueshift of the λ50%cut-off, and this is postulated to be a consequence of a modification of the SL interfaces. These results show an approach to the T2SL InAs/InAsSb deposition optimization by the growth temperature in terms of the spectral response, without influencing the T2SLs’ structural properties (Sb composition, SL period).
High Frequency Bipolar Electroporator with Double-Crowbar Circuit for Load-Independent Forming of Nanosecond Pulses
Authors: Novickij Vitalij , Staigvila Gediminas , Murauskas Arūnas , Rembialkowska Nina , Kulbacka Julita , Novickij Jurij
Published: January 2022

In this work, a novel electroporation system (electroporator) is presented, which is capable of forming high frequency pulses in a broad range of parameters (65 ns–100 µs). The electroporator supports voltages up to 3 kV and currents up to 40 A and is based on H-bridge circuit topology. A synchronized double crowbar driving sequence is introduced to generate short nanosecond range pulses independently of the electroporator load. The resultant circuit generates pulses with repetition frequencies up to 5 MHz and supports unipolar, bipolar, and asymmetrical pulse sequences with arbitrary waveforms. The shortest pulse duration step is hardware limited to 33 ns. The electroporator was experimentally tested on the H69AR human lung cancer cell line using 20 kV/cm bipolar and unipolar 100 ns–1 μs pulses. Based on a YO-PRO-1 permeabilization assay, it was determined that the electroporator is suitable for applied research on electroporation. The system offers high flexibility in experimental design to trigger various electroporation-based phenomena.
Image Reconstruction Using Autofocus in Single-Lens System
Authors: Zhou Xuyang , Wen Xiu , Ji Yu , Li Yutong , Liu Shutian , Liu Zhengjun
Published: January 2022

To reconstruct the wavefront in a single-lens coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) system, we propose a closed-loop cascaded iterative engine (CIE) algorithm based on the known information of the imaging planes. The precision of diffraction distance is an important prerequisite for a perfect reconstruction of samples. For coherent diffraction imaging with a lens, autofocus is investigated to accurately determine the object distance and image distance. For the case of only the object distance being unknown, a diffuser is used to scatter the coherent beam for speckle illumination to improve the performance of autofocus. The optimal object distance is obtained stably and robustly by combing speckle imaging with clarity evaluation functions. SSIM and MSE, using the average pixel value of the reconstructed data set as a reference, are applied on two-unknown-distance autofocus. Simulation and experiment results are presented to prove the feasibility of the CIE and proposed auto-focusing method.
Robotic Assistance in Medication Intake: A Complete Pipeline
Authors: Kostavelis Ioannis , Kargakos Andreas , Skartados Evangelos , Peleka Georgia , Giakoumis Dimitrios , Sarantopoulos Iason , Agriomallos Ioannis , Doulgeri Zoe , Endo Satoshi , Stüber Heiko , Janjoš Faris , Hirche Sandra , Tzovaras Dimitrios
Published: January 2022

During the last few decades, great research endeavors have been applied to healthcare robots, aiming to develop companions that extend the independent living of elderly people. To deploy such robots into the market, it is expected that certain applications should be addressed with repeatability and robustness. Such application is the assistance with medication-related activity, a common need for the majority of elderly people, referred from here on as medication adherence. This paper presents a novel and complete pipeline for assistance provision in monitoring and serving of medication, using a mobile manipulator embedded with action, perception and cognition skills. The challenges tackled in this work comprise, among others, that the robot locates the medication box placed in challenging spots by applying vision based strategies, thus enabling robust grasping. The grasping is performed with strategies that allow environmental contact, accommodated by the manipulator’s admittance controller which offers compliance behavior during interaction with the environment. Robot navigation is applied for the medication delivery, which, combined with active vision methods, enables the automatic selection of parking positions, allowing efficient interaction and monitoring of medication intake activity. The robot skills are orchestrated by a partially observable Markov decision process mechanism which is coupled with a task planner. This enables assistance scenario guidance and offers repeatability as well as gentle degradation of the system upon a failure, thus avoiding uncomfortable situations during human–robot interaction. Experiments have been conducted on the full pipeline, including robot’s deployment in 12 real house environments with real participants that led to very promising results with valuable findings for similar future applications.
Design and Performance of L-CaPaMan2
Authors: Titov Alexander , Russo Matteo , Ceccarelli Marco
Published: January 2022

The improved solution of L-CaPaMan design is elaborated with solutions for low-cost lightweight features. A new prototype is presented as a result of design improvements by using market components and 3D printing manufacturing. The new prototype as L-CaPaMan (Light CaPaMan) is characterised with new components for a new slider solution and light-structure links. The prototype construction is discussed up to a testing layout for design validation and operation characterization. Results of testing are discussed to outline the operation performance of L-CaPaMan by using Arduino controller with basic sensors for motion and action monitoring.
Use of Different Digitization Methods for the Analysis of Cut Marks on the Oldest Bone Found in Brittany (France)
Authors: Barreau Jean-Baptiste , Gagnier Adeline , Gaugne Ronan , Marchand Grégor , Gómez Jorge Calvo , Gouranton Valérie , Colleter Rozenn
Published: January 2022

Archaeological 3D digitization of skeletal elements is an essential aspect of the discipline. Objectives are various: archiving of data (especially before destructive sampling for biomolecular studies for example), study or for pedagogical purposes to allow their manipulation. As techniques are rapidly evolving, the question that arises is the use of appropriate methods to answer the different questions and guarantee sufficient quality of information. The combined use of different 3D technologies for the study of a single Mesolithic bone fragment from Brittany (France) is here an opportunity to compare different 3D digitization methods. This oldest human bone of Brittany, a clavicle constituted of two pieces, was dug up from the mesolithic shell midden of Beg-er-Vil in Quiberon and dated from ca. 8200 to 8000 years BP. They are bound to post-mortem processing, realized on fresh bone in order to remove the integuments, which it is necessary to better qualify. The clavicle was studied through a process that combines advanced 3D image acquisition, 3D processing, and 3D printing with the goal to provide relevant support for the experts involved in the work. The bones were first studied with a metallographic microscopy, scanned with a CT scan, and digitized with photogrammetry in order to get a high quality textured model. The CT scan appeared to be insufficient for a detailed analysis; the study was thus completed with a µ-CT providing a very accurate 3D model of the bone. Several 3D-printed copies of the collarbone were produced in order to support knowledge sharing between the experts involved in the study. The 3D models generated from µCT and photogrammetry were combined to provide an accurate and detailed 3D model. This model was used to study desquamation and the different cut marks, including their angle of attack. These cut marks were also studied with traditional binoculars and digital microscopy. This last technique allowed characterizing their type, revealing a probable meat cutting process with a flint tool. This work of crossed analyses allows us to document a fundamental patrimonial piece, and to ensure its preservation. Copies are also available for the regional museums.
Multi-Technique Diagnostic Investigation in View of the Restoration of “The Glory of St. Barbara” Painting by Mattia Preti
Authors: Caridi Francesco , Ricca Michela , Paladini Giuseppe , Crupi Vincenza , Majolino Domenico , Donato Antonio , Guido Sante , Mantella Giuseppe , Randazzo Luciana , La Russa Mauro Francesco , Venuti Valentina
Published: January 2022

The present paper illustrates the results of a diagnostic investigation performed on the oil on canvas painting “The Glory of St. Barbara” (1680–1688) by Mattia Preti. The painting is located inside the St. Barbara Church in Taverna (Catanzaro, Italy), the city that gave birth to the artist. In situ, non-invasive studies, by applying X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, along with laboratory micro-destructive analytical investigations, by employing electron probe microanalyses (EPMA) coupled with energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and micro-Raman (µ-Raman) spectroscopy, were combined to retrieve the color palette and identify the painting technique and style of the famous master. As a result of this multi-scale characterization, an extraordinary pictorial technique was revealed, enriching knowledge about one of the oldest pictorial traditions outlined by Mattia Preti, and solving doubts still existing about many of his investigated artworks. Moreover, the achieved results represent useful and essential tools to address management issues of the artwork, by providing valuable information for planning and monitoring future restoration interventions of the canvas.
Geminated Maxillary Incisors: The Success of an Orthodontic Conservative Approach: 15 Years Follow-Up Study
Authors: Einy Shmuel , Avezov Katia , Aizenbud Dror
Published: January 2022

Tooth gemination is often presented clinically and radiologically as merged crowns or “megadonts” with or without a longitudinal fissure, single root, and a single pulp chamber. The increased mesiodistal width of these teeth results in poor anterior aesthetics, anterior crowding, and incisor rotation. Our aim is to present a conservative non-extraction orthodontic approach that provides both good aesthetics and long-term stability. It aims to achieve extra space to incorporate the megadonts into the dental arch and to exceed “super” class I dental relationships. Accordingly, this study shows that geminated teeth were successfully retained by means of conservative non-extraction orthodontic mechanotherapy and without premolar extractions or enamel reduction. It demonstrated stability during a long-term 15-year follow-up, in addition to high patient satisfaction, good aesthetics, and periodontal health. The solution protocol is definitive and achieved the aesthetic, psychological, and functional objectives at a feasible cost. Thus, this treatment has proven to be preferable to other alternative surgical prosthodontic and endodontic approaches in terms of its long-term stability, and by providing a solution that does not necessitate further multidisciplinary interventions. Dental practitioners in the fields of pediatric dentistry, endodontics and prosthodontics should be well aware of this option.
Femtosecond Green Light Generation Using a MgO-Doped Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate Crystal Pumped by a Yb-Doped Fiber Laser
Authors: Yu Binghao , Hao Qiang , Tang Cheng , Yang Kangwen , Chen Huaixi , Liang Wanguo , Zeng Heping
Published: January 2022

We demonstrate, in this paper, the creation of a femtosecond green laser achieved from a MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate crystal pumped by a home-made Yb-doped MOPA laser system. With an incident fundamental average power of 2 W, 820 mW (41 nJ) is produced at 515 nm with pulse duration of ~540 fs, corresponding to conversion efficiency of 40%. The standard deviation of the 515 nm pulse-to-pulse intensity is calculated as 0.007 (normalized), and the average power keeps stable with a root-mean-square value of 0.18% in an eight hour measurement. The spectral characters of the green laser and laser-induced damage thresholds of the crystal are also investigated. This stable laser system provides a compact and portable laser source for two-photon photopolymerization application.