bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribution of Bemisia tabaci in different agro-ecological regions in Uganda and the threat of vector-borne pandemics into new cassava growing areas
Authors: Namuddu Annet , Seal Susan , van Brunschot Sharon , Malka Osnat , Kabaalu Richard , Morin Shai , Omongo Christopher , Colvin John
Published: February 2023

Previous studies in sub-Saharan Africa have showed the spread of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) pandemics into different cassava growing regions by high Bemisia tabaci populations. Studies did indicate that there were stark differences in some whitefly species, yet they have not looked extensively across agroecologies. Members of B. tabaci species complex termed sub-Saharan Africa 1 (SSA1) and SSA2 have been linked to the spread of CMD and CBSD viruses. During the period of a severe CMD pandemic in the 1990s, SSA2 was the most predominant until the resurgence of SSA1, particularly SSA1-subgroup1 (SSA1-SG1) from the early 2000s to date. Cassava being a drought resilient crop has become an important food security crop and has been introduced into new areas and regions. Considering the role B. tabaci in the spread of cassava virus pandemics into neighboring regions, we investigated the genetic diversity and distribution of B. tabaci in nine different agro-ecological regions of Uganda in 2017. Adult whiteflies were collected from cassava and 33 other host plants from cassava-growing areas, those with limited cassava and areas with no cassava, where it is being introduced as a food security crop. The partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (mtCO1) gene (657 bp) were used to determine the phylogenetic relationships between the sampled B. tabaci. Cassava B. tabaci SSA1 (-SG1, -SG2, -Hoslundia (previously called SSA1-SG1/2), -SG3), SSA2 and SSA3; non-cassava B. tabaci SSA6, SSA10, SSA11, SSA12, SSA13, MED-ASL, MED-Q1, MEAM1, Indian Ocean; and other Bemisia species, Bemisia afer and Bemisia Uganda1 were identified in the study. SSA3, one of the key B. tabaci species that occurs on cassava in West Africa, was identified for the first time in Uganda. The SSA1-SG1 was widely distributed, predominated on cassava and was found on 17 other host-plants. The ability of SSA1-SG1 to exist in environments with limited or no cassava growing poses the risk of continued spread of virus pandemics. Therefore, measures must be put in place to prevent the introduction of diseased materials into new areas, since the vectors exist.
Clinical effect of closed reduction minimally invasive fixation in intra-articular comminuted fractures of the femoral condyle
Authors: Lian Xiaodong , Zhang Heng , Guo Fan , Wang Zhongzheng , Zhao Kuo , Hou Zhiyong , Zhang Yingze
Published: February 2023

Objective

To evaluate the advantages of double reverse traction closed reduction combined with minimally invasive fixation in treating femoral condylar comminuted fractures.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled a total of 24 patients with femoral condylar comminuted fractures (AO = 33C3) admitted to Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from March 2018 to February 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: experimental group (double reverse traction, n = 12) and control group (conventional surgery, n = 12). Patient demographics, fracture characteristics, operation time, incision length, and postoperative complications were then collected. The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores were recorded at the last follow-up visit.

Results

The average surgical time was 52.2 (41–73) min in the experimental group and 71.2 (45–103) min in the control group. In addition, the mean total incision length was 13.8 (11–17) cm in the experimental group and 16.3 (14–19) cm in the control group. The average HHS scores at the final follow-up were 86.3 (78–93) and 82.7 (76–90) in the experimental group and control group, respectively.

Conclusion

It was found that double reverse traction closed reduction combined with minimally invasive fixation can provide good repositioning results and functional extremity. Moreover, patients tolerate postoperative functional knee exercises well.
Modeling of vertical transmission and pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus in pregnancy: Opportunities and challenges
Authors: Kirschen Gregory W. , Burd Irina
Published: February 2023

In addition to facilitating nutrient, oxygen, and waste transfer between developing fetus and mother, the placenta provides important immune barrier function against infection. Elucidation of the complexity of placental barrier function at the maternal-fetal interface has been greatly aided through experimental model organism systems. In this review, we focus on models of vertical transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV), a ubiquitous double-stranded DNA viruses whose vertical transmission during pregnancy can lead to devastating neurological and obstetric sequelae. We review the current evidence related to guinea pig and murine models of congenital CMV infection, discuss the possible translatability of a non-human primate model, and conclude with recently developed technology using human placental organoids.
Mortality of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias in China: Past and Future Decades
Authors: Lv Bin , Liang Li , Chen Anan , Yang Hua , Zhang Xiaolan , Guo Fangfang , Qian Hairong
Published: February 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the distribution features and trends of dementia mortality in China from 2011 to 2020 and make a prediction for the next decade.

Methods: Mortality-relevant data were gathered from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Disease Surveillance Points system. Joinpoint regression was applied to evaluate the trends.

Results: Crude Mortality Rate (CMR) of AD and other dementias increased from 3.7 per 100,000 to 6.2 per 100,000 in 2011–2020, with an Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC) of 5.3% (95% CI 4.4%–6.3%). Age-Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR) slightly decreased from 5.0 per 100,000 to 4.1 per 100,000 in 2011–2020, with AAPC of −0.4% (95% CI −2.5%–1.8%). CMR will increase to 9.66 per 100,000 while ASMR will decline to 3.42 per 100,000 in the following decade.

Conclusion: The upward trend in CMR and downward trend in ASMR suggested the further development of population aging and dementia mortality in the past and future decades. In China, there were gender, urban-rural, regional and age differences.
Process Mining IPTV Customer Eye Gaze Movement Using Discrete-Time Markov Chains
Authors: Chen Zhi , Zhang Shuai , McClean Sally , Hart Fionnuala , Milliken Michael , Allan Brahim , Kegel Ian
Published: February 2023

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research has extensively employed eye-tracking technologies in a variety of fields. Meanwhile, the ongoing development of Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) has significantly enriched the TV customer experience, which is of great interest to researchers across academia and industry. A previous study was carried out at the BT Ireland Innovation Centre (BTIIC), where an eye tracker was employed to record user interactions with a Video-on-Demand (VoD) application, the BT Player. This paper is a complementary and subsequent study of the analysis of eye-tracking data in our previously published introductory paper. Here, we propose a method for integrating layout information from the BT Player with mining the process of customer eye movement on the screen, thereby generating HCI and Industry-relevant insights regarding user experience. We incorporate a popular Machine Learning model, a discrete-time Markov Chain (DTMC), into our methodology, as the eye tracker records each gaze movement at a particular frequency, which is a good example of discrete-time sequences. The Markov Model is found suitable for our study, and it helps to reveal characteristics of the gaze movement as well as the user interface (UI) design on the VoD application by interpreting transition matrices, first passage time, proposed ‘most likely trajectory’ and other Markov properties of the model. Additionally, the study has revealed numerous promising areas for future research. And the code involved in this study is open access on GitHub.
About the Performance of a Calculus-Based Approach to Building Model Functions in a Derivative-Free Trust-Region Algorithm
Authors: Hare Warren , Jarry-Bolduc Gabriel
Published: February 2023

This paper examines a calculus-based approach to building model functions in a derivative-free algorithm. This calculus-based approach can be used when the objective function considered is defined via more than one blackbox. Two versions of a derivative-free trust-region method are implemented. The first version builds model functions by using a calculus-based approach, and the second version builds model functions by directly considering the objective function. The numerical experiments demonstrate that the calculus-based approach provides better results in most situations and significantly better results in specific situations.
Detection of Cyberattacks and Anomalies in Cyber-Physical Systems: Approaches, Data Sources, Evaluation
Authors: Tushkanova Olga , Levshun Diana , Branitskiy Alexander , Fedorchenko Elena , Novikova Evgenia , Kotenko Igor
Published: February 2023

Cyberattacks on cyber-physical systems (CPS) can lead to severe consequences, and therefore it is extremely important to detect them at early stages. However, there are several challenges to be solved in this area; they include an ability of the security system to detect previously unknown attacks. This problem could be solved with the system behaviour analysis methods and unsupervised or semi-supervised machine learning techniques. The efficiency of the attack detection system strongly depends on the datasets used to train the machine learning models. As real-world data from CPS systems are mostly not available due to the security requirements of cyber-physical objects, there are several attempts to create such datasets; however, their completeness and validity are questionable. This paper reviews existing approaches to attack and anomaly detection in CPS, with a particular focus on datasets and evaluation metrics used to assess the efficiency of the proposed solutions. The analysis revealed that only two of the three selected datasets are suitable for solving intrusion detection tasks as soon as they are generated using real test beds; in addition, only one of the selected datasets contains both network and sensor data, making it preferable for intrusion detection. Moreover, there are different approaches to evaluate the efficiency of the machine learning techniques, that require more analysis and research. Thus, in future research, the authors aim to develop an approach to anomaly detection for CPS using the selected datasets and to conduct experiments to select the performance metrics.
Effects of Inlet Swirl Distortion on a Multi-Stage Compressor with Inlet Guide Vanes and Stall Margin Enhancement Method
Authors: Fang Yibo , Sun Dakun , Dong Xu , Sun Xiaofeng
Published: February 2023

Inlet swirl distortion is generally considered as a type of velocity distortion, and inlet guide vanes (IGVs) are widely used in the multi-stage compressor of aero-engines to eliminate the tangential velocity of the swirl flow. However, few studies have explored whether there still exists some negative influence of inlet swirl distortion on the compressor, even after the installation of IGVs. Therefore, in this study, the influence of various types of inlet swirl distortions on a multi-stage compressor with the installation of IGVs is investigated. A swirl distortion generator installed in the inlet duct was designed to produce various types of swirl flow patterns. When the distortion intensity increased to some degree, there still existed a decrease in the compressive capability and an obvious additional efficiency loss. The inlet twin swirl distortion was accompanied by total pressure distortion, so even with the installation of IGVs, there was still a significantly negative influence on the performance of the multi-stage compressor, especially the stall margin. Subsequently, to improve the stall margin under inlet swirl distortion, the stall precursor-suppressed (SPS) casing treatment was installed in the first stage of the multi-stage compressor. It could enhance the stall margin of the compressor with no obvious change in the characteristic curves and no additional efficiency loss under various types of inlet swirl distortions, and its mechanism was verified by capturing the dynamic pressure characteristics.
Production Efficiency of Raw Milk and Its Determinants: Application of Combining Data Envelopment Analysis and Stochastic Frontier Analysis
Authors: Yu Zetian , Liu Hao , Peng Hua , Xia Qiantong , Dong Xiaoxia
Published: February 2023

China’s raw milk production is confronted with problems such as high production costs, stringent environmental constraints, weak industrial interest linkages, etc. The extensive and inefficient operation mode seriously restricts the further development of China’s dairy industry. How to increase the production efficiency of raw milk and realize the transition from “a country with high milk production” to “a country with high-efficiency milk production” has become the key to further developing China’s dairy industry. In order to explore the upgrading path of the raw milk industry in China, this study used the DEA-Malmquist model to estimate the production efficiency of raw milk in China and analyze its spatial and temporal distribution characteristics based on raw milk production input and output data at four scales (i.e., free-range, small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale) from 2004 to 2020. It then adopted the SFA model to explore the relationship between raw milk input and output factors and the driving factors of production efficiency. Finally, robustness was discussed according to the existing research differences. The study draws several valuable conclusions. First, the production efficiency of raw milk in China from 2004 to 2020 fluctuated upward and showed specific regular regional distribution characteristics, but the spatial–temporal differences were minor. Second, raw milk production efficiency is significantly influenced by various factors, including the proportion of concentrate to roughage consumption, medical and epidemic prevention investment, the price of raw milk, the wage level, and fixed assets. Third, the spatial–temporal distribution and driving factors of raw milk production efficiency are less robust, so efficiency analysis and improvement measures should fully consider analytical methods, scale heterogeneity, indicator systems, and temporal heterogeneity.
Seasonal and Long-Term Variability in Soil Structure and Erodibility under Different Land-Use Patterns in the Mollisols Region of Northeast China
Authors: Tian Jiayu , Wu Xu , Li Jianye , Guo Mingming , Zhang Xingyi , Chen Qiang
Published: February 2023

Soil structure and its change are good indicators for soil quality and environmental stability, and land-use change is known to be an important factor that affects soil structure. We investigated the seasonal and temporal variability in the soil structure and evaluated soil erodibility under different land-use and land-management practices in the Mollisols region of Northeast China. We considered five land-use and land-management modes in the sloping land (5°), i.e., bare land (BL), natural vegetation restoration (NVR), artificial forest (AF), no-tillage (NT), and conventional tillage (CT). The bulk density (BD), aggregate size distribution, and aggregate stability (AS) were determined for each mode. Meanwhile, we estimated the runoff depth (RD) and sediment yield (SY) to assess the soil erodibility. The lowest BD in CT occurred in May, but no seasonal change in BD was observed in other treatments. After 15 years, the NVR and CT had increased BD values, while the BD of NT declined significantly over time. The >2 mm size fractions and the AS of NVR, NT, and CT were the largest in August, while those of BL decreased during the growing season. Furthermore, the >2 mm size fractions and the AS of BL, NT, and CT decreased over the long-term study period, but NVR and AF exhibited no significant inter-annual changes in the AS. The BD and AS in NVR and AF were greater than those in BL. After 15 years, the BD of NT and CT were not significantly different, but NT had a greater AS. The AS was greater in the subsurface soil than in the topsoil of NT and CT. Moreover, the NVR and NT had significantly reduced RD and SY compared with BL and CT. These results provide a scientific basis for choosing sustainable agriculture and land development modes to control soil erosion in Northeast China.
An Automatic Jujube Fruit Detection and Ripeness Inspection Method in the Natural Environment
Authors: Xu Defang , Zhao Huamin , Lawal Olarewaju Mubashiru , Lu Xinyuan , Ren Rui , Zhang Shujuan
Published: February 2023

The ripeness phases of jujube fruits are one factor mitigating against fruit detection, in addition to uneven environmental conditions such as illumination variation, leaf occlusion, overlapping fruits, colors or brightness, similar plant appearance to the background, and so on. Therefore, a method called YOLO-Jujube was proposed to solve these problems. With the incorporation of the networks of Stem, RCC, Maxpool, CBS, SPPF, C3, PANet, and CIoU loss, YOLO-Jujube was able to detect jujube fruit automatically for ripeness inspection. Having recorded params of 5.2 m, GFLOPs of 11.7, AP of 88.8%, and a speed of 245 fps for detection performance, including the sorting and counting process combined, YOLO-Jujube outperformed the network of YOLOv3-tiny, YOLOv4-tiny, YOLOv5s, and YOLOv7-tiny. YOLO-Jujube is robust and applicable to meet the goal of a computer vision-based understanding of images and videos.
Identification of Pathogens Causing Alfalfa Fusarium Root Rot in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Wang Le , Wang Na , Yu Jialiang , Wu Jie , Liu Huan , Lin Kejian , Zhang Yuanyuan
Published: February 2023

Alfalfa Fusarium Root Rot (AFRR) is a serious soil-borne disease with a complex pathogenicity. Diseased samples suspected of AFRR were collected from Hohhot, Ordos, Hulunbeier, Chifeng, and Bayannur in Inner Mongolia, China, leading to 317 isolates. The isolates were identified as Fusarium acuminatum, F. solani, F. equiseti, F. incarnatum, F. oxysporum, F. avenaceum, F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, F. falciforme, F. tricinctum, F. virguliforme, and F. redolens, and the results of pathogenicity testing showed that 12 Fusarium species could cause alfalfa root rot. Among these, F. verticillioides, F. falciforme, and F. virguliforme have not previously been reported to cause AFRR in China. Although the population structure of the pathogens differed in different regions, the dominant pathogenic species was F. acuminatum. Fungicide toxicity tests showed that seven fungicides inhibited F. acuminatum, of which fludioxonil, kresoxim-methyl, and triadimefon were found to be strongly toxic towards F. acuminatum with EC50 values of 0.09, 2.28, and 16.37 μg/mL, respectively, suggesting that these could be used as alternative fungicides for the control of AFRR. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for exploring the occurrence and epidemiology of alfalfa root rot and strategies for its control.
Behavior of Piglets in an Observation Arena before and after Surgical Castration with Local Anesthesia
Authors: Miller Regina , Grott Andrea , Patzkéwitsch Dorian , Döring Dorothea , Abendschön Nora , Deffner Pauline , Reiser Judith , Ritzmann Mathias , Saller Anna M. , Schmidt Paul , Senf Steffanie , Werner Julia , Baumgartner Christine , Zöls Susanne , Erhard Michael , Bergmann Shana
Published: February 2023

Surgical castration of piglets is generally recognized as a painful procedure, but there is currently no gold standard for the assessment of pain behavior in piglets. However, pain assessment is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of local anesthetics. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of four local anesthetics in terms of pain relief during and after surgical castration in three sequential study parts. To do so, we filmed 178 piglets before the applied procedures, after injection of the local anesthetic, and up to 24 h after castration (five observation times in total) in an observation arena and compared their behavior before and after castration and between treatments and control groups. The results showed significant differences in the behavior of the piglets before and after castration and between the sham-castrated control group and the control group castrated without anesthesia. The different local anesthesia treatment groups showed diverging differences to the control groups. The most frequently shown pain-associated behaviors of the piglets were changes in tail position and hunched back posture. We observed a reduction but no complete elimination of the expressed pain-associated behaviors after local anesthesia. Several behavioral changes—such as changes in tail position, hunched back posture or tail wagging—persisted until the day after castration. Owing to the limited duration of the effects of the local anesthetics, local anesthesia did not influence long-term pain.
Histopathological Changes and Inflammatory Response in Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) with Porcine Circovirus Type 3 Infection
Authors: Deng Huidan , Zhu Song , Zhu Ling , Jian Zhijie , Zhou Yuancheng , Li Fengqin , Deng Lishuang , Deng Junliang , Deng Youtian , Lai Siyuan , Xu Zhiwen
Published: February 2023

Since the first report of PCV3 virus infection in 2016, it has been linked to multisystemic inflammation, reproductive failure, cardiac pathology, and clinical indications resembling porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS). However, the pathogenesis and clinical significance of PCV3 is still unclear. In this study, a PCV3 infection model was created using SPF pigs, and histopathology and fluorescence quantitative PCR were utilized to examine PCV3’s pathogenicity. Reductions in body weight gain and fever were observed during this study. However, other clinical signs such as Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome were not observed through the study. Viremia was detected in the PCV3-inoculated group from 17 days post-inoculation (p.i.) until the end of the study. Nasal shedding was detected from 21 to 35 dpi and fecal shedding was detected during 25–33 days and 39 days, respectively. Gross lesions and histological evaluation were detected in various tissues and organs, including the lung, heart, kidney, lymph nodes, spleen, liver, small intestine, and testis. The heart, lung, liver, kidney, lymph nodes, and spleen showed pathological changes. The pathological features include swelling, inflammation, cell degeneration, necrosis, and hemorrhage. The lesions are consistent with multisystemic inflammation. Tissue viral load results showed only heart, lung, liver, kidney, lymph nodes, and spleen was positive by qRT-PCR. Moreover, the pro-inflammation cytokines in serum increased a lot in the PCV3-inoculated group compared to the control group, demonstrating that the induced inflammation response may be the cause of tissue damage in PCV3-infection. This study demonstrated that PCV3 can produce mild pathological damage to multiple organs, especially multisystemic inflammatory cell infiltration and prolonged viremia, viral shedding in nasal secretions. This is the first in vivo characterization of PCV3 infection in the SPF piglets model using isolated PCV3 strain, and this is also the first time to show the gross and pathological lesion with all tissue and organs in the PCV3-inoculated group. Our findings might serve as a starting point for more investigation into PCV3’s pathogenic mechanism.
Next-Generation Sequencing of the Complete Huaibei Grey Donkey Mitogenome and Mitogenomic Phylogeny of the Equidae Family
Authors: Xia Jingjing , Chang Liang , Xu Dashuang , Jia Yuqing , Ding Yuanfei , Cao Chengcheng , Geng Zhaoyu , Jin Sihua
Published: February 2023

The Huaibei grey donkey (HGD) is an endangered species and a vital native breed in Anhui Province, China. However, its complete mitogenome, phylogeny, and maternal origin remain unclear. The objectives of this study were to detect the genetic diversity of the HGD and investigate its phylogenetic relationship with other breeds to inform conservation management. The complete mitogenome of the HGD was sequenced through next-generation sequencing, and the most variable region in the mitochondrial DNA displacement-loop (D-loop) was amplified via a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Next, we used the median-joining network (MJN) to calculate the genetic relationships among populations and the neighbor-jointing method to build a phylogenetic tree and speculate as to its origin. The results showed that the mitogenome contains 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, 13 PCGs, and 1 D-loop region. Analyzing the D-loop region of the HGDs, we identified 23 polymorphic sites and 11 haplotypes. The haplotype and nucleotide diversity were 0.87000 (Hd) and 0.02115 (Pi), respectively. The MJN analysis indicated that the HGD potentially has two maternal lineages, and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Somali lineage could be the most probable domestication center for this breed. Therefore, our mitogenome analysis highlights the high genetic diversity of the HGD, which may have originated from the Somali wild ass, as opposed to the Asian wild ass. This study will provide a useful resource for HGD conservation and breeding.
Detection of the Endangered Siamese Bat Catfish (Oreoglanis siamensis Smith, 1933) in Doi Inthanon National Park Using Environmental DNA
Authors: Rodpai Thanatrinan , Suwannapoom Chatmongkon , Osathanunkul Maslin
Published: February 2023

Siamese bat catfish (Oreoglanis siamensis Smith, 1993) has been listed as an endangered species, and its abundance has been severely declining due to habitat degradation and overfishing. To establish an appropriate management strategy, it is crucial to gain information about the distribution of this endangered species. As O. siamensis live under rocks in streams, detecting their presence is difficult. Recently, environmental DNA (eDNA)–based detection has been demonstrated to be a valid tool for monitoring rare species, such as O. siamensis. Therefore, this study developed an eDNA assay targeting a 160 bp fragment of the COI region to detect the presence of this species in its natural habitat. An amount of 300 mL of water samples (0.7 μm filtered) were collected from 15 sites in the Mae Klang sub-basin, where this fish species was visually detected at two locations. O. siamensis eDNA was detected at 12 of the 15 sites sampled with varying concentrations (0.71–20.27 copies/mL), including at the sites where this species was visually detected previously. The developed O. siamensis eDNA assay was shown to be effective for detecting the presence of this endangered species in the Klang Phat and Klang Rivers within the Doi Inthanon National Park.
The Association between Prematurity, Antibiotic Consumption, and Mother-Infant Attachment in the First Year of Life
Authors: Fuertes Marina , Faria Anabela , Gonçalves Joana L. , Antunes Sandra , Dionisio Francisco
Published: February 2023

Antibiotics have individual and public-health drawbacks. Nevertheless, mother-infant attachment quality and maternal sensitivity are associated with antibiotic use. Ambivalent-attached infants are more likely to consume antibiotics than other infants. Conceivably, the emotional over-externalization of ambivalent-attached infants and maternal anxiety when infants are ill raise concerns in healthcare professionals, leading to antibiotic over-prescriptions. However, because infants prematurely born, particularly those with less than 32 weeks of gestation, are under more accurate health vigilance, the impact of infant and maternal behavior on antibiotic prescription may vanish in this sample. To test this hypothesis, we performed a longitudinal study to compare antibiotic use and the quality of mother-infant attachment in three groups: 86 infants born at full-term, 44 moderate-to-late preterm infants (32–36 gestation weeks), and 58 very-to-extreme preterm infants (<32 gestation weeks). Infants’ attachment was observed with the Ainsworth Strange Situation’s experimental paradigm at 12 months of corrected age. Findings indicate that infant attachment strategy is associated with antibiotics uptake, but results vary across samples. The proportion of infants that used antibiotics is highest among ambivalent-attached infants in the full-term sample but highest among avoidant-attached infants in the very-to-extreme premature sample. Moreover, higher infant gestational age and lower maternal sensitivity determine higher antibiotic use.
Do Anti-Biofilm Antibiotics Have a Place in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis?
Authors: Senneville Eric , Gachet Benoit , Blondiaux Nicolas , Robineau Olivier
Published: February 2023

The choice of antibiotic regimens for use in patients presenting with diabetic foot osteomyelitis and their duration differs according to the situation. Antibiotics play a more important role in the medical option where no infected bone has been resected, while their role is reduced but not negligible in the case of surgical options. Some studies have reported the presence of biofilm structures in bone samples taken from patients with diabetic foot osteomyelitis, which raises the question of the place of anti-biofilm antibiotic regimens in this setting. During the last two decades, clinical studies have suggested a potential benefit for anti-biofilm antibiotics, mainly rifampicin against staphylococci and fluoroquinolones against gram-negative bacilli. However, no data from randomized controlled studies have been reported so far. The present work provides a summary of the available data on the question of the place of anti-biofilm antibiotics for the treatment of diabetic foot osteomyelitis, but also the potential limitations of such treatments.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Antibiotic Consumption in Navarre (Spain): An Interrupted Time Series Analysis
Authors: Alzueta Natalia , Echeverría Amaya , García Patricia , Sanz Lorea , Gil-Setas Alberto , Beristain Xabier , Aldaz Pablo , Garjón Javier
Published: February 2023

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) a global pandemic. This exceptional situation changed the world not only in terms of mortality and morbidity, but also in terms of epidemiology and health system resources consumption. The objective of this work was to analyze the consumption of antibiotics during the period around the pandemic in our region. A drug utilization study was performed comparing the antibiotic consumption in the community during the years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Quarterly antibiotic use (defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID)) and number of patients treated were the outcomes. Interrupted time series regression analysis was performed to estimate the statistical significance of the change in level of consumption before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The drop of global antibiotic consumption was statistically significant, both in number of patients and in DID when analyzing pre-pandemic period versus pandemic period. The use of strategic antibiotics for respiratory infections such as amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and levofloxacin also decreased significantly. Seasonal pattern of use of antibiotics disappeared due to the global measures imposed over the world to work against COVID-19.
The Role of Green Tea Catechin Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) and Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Inhibitor PP242 (Torkinib) in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Machova Urdzikova Lucia , Cimermanova Veronika , Karova Kristyna , Dominguez Jose , Stepankova Katerina , Petrovicova Michaela , Havelikova Katerina , D. Gandhi Chirag , Jhanwar-Uniyal Meena , Jendelova Pavla
Published: February 2023

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that has physical and psychological consequences for patients. SCI is accompanied by scar formation and systemic inflammatory response leading to an intense degree of functional loss. The catechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an active compound found in green tea, holds neuroprotective features and is known for its anti-inflammatory potential. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that exists in two functionally distinct complexes termed mTOR complex 1 and 2 (mTORC1; mTORC2). Inhibition of mTORC1 by rapamycin causes neuroprotection, leading to partial recovery from SCI. In this study the effects of EGCG, PP242 (an inhibitor of both complexes of mTOR), and a combination of EGCG and PP242 in SCI have been examined. It has been found that both EGCG and PP242 significantly improved sensory/motor functions following SCI. However, EGCG appeared to be more effective (BBB motor test, from 2 to 8 weeks after SCI, p = 0.019, p = 0.007, p = 0.006, p = 0.006, p = 0.05, p = 0.006, and p = 0.003, respectively). The only exception was the Von Frey test, where EGCG was ineffective, while mTOR inhibition by PP242, as well as PP242 in combination with EGCG, significantly reduced withdrawal latency starting from week three (combinatorial therapy (EGCG + PP242) vs. control at 3, 5, and 7 weeks, p = 0.011, p = 0.007, and p = 0.05, respectively). It has been found that EGCG was as effective as PP242 in suppressing mTOR signaling pathways, as evidenced by a reduction in phosphorylated S6 expression (PP242 (t-test, p < 0.0001) or EGCG (t-test, p = 0.0002)). These results demonstrate that EGCG and PP242 effectively suppress mTOR pathways, resulting in recovery from SCI in rats, and that EGCG acts via suppressing mTOR pathways.
Replacement of SO2 with an Unripe Grape Extract and Chitosan during Oak Aging: Case Study of a Sangiovese Wine
Authors: Fia Giovanna , Menghini Silvio , Mari Eleonora , Proserpio Cristina , Pagliarini Ella , Granchi Lisa
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of a Sangiovese wine aged in barrique with the addition of an unripe grape extract (UGE) as an alternative to sulfur dioxide. Three samples were considered: control wine (TQ) with free SO2 of approximately 15 mg/L; sample A with chitosan (100 mg/L) and UGE (200 mg/L); and sample B with UGE (400 mg/L). The results achieved in this work demonstrated that the UGE, either alone or in combination with chitosan, was able to maintain the color characteristics of the Sangiovese wine and its sensory quality. Moreover, the addition of UGE contributed to an early and better stabilization of the color through the formation of polymeric pigments. The microbiological stabilization was comparable to SO2 when UGE was used at 200 mg/L in combination with chitosan. The market survey conducted in the present study confirmed how the use of UGE as an alternative to sulfitation was positively accepted by consumers, who are increasingly attentive not only to the quality of the wines they select but also to the sustainability of the production processes from which they derive and to the fact that they are not harmful to human health.
The Role of Isoflavones in the Prevention of Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer
Authors: Pejčić Tomislav , Zeković Milica , Bumbaširević Uroš , Kalaba Milica , Vovk Irena , Bensa Maja , Popović Lazar , Tešić Živoslav
Published: February 2023

This narrative review summarizes epidemiological studies on breast cancer and prostate cancer with an overview of their global incidence distribution to investigate the relationship between these diseases and diet. The biological properties, mechanisms of action, and available data supporting the potential role of isoflavones in the prevention of breast cancer and prostate cancer are discussed. Studies evaluating the effects of isoflavones in tissue cultures of normal and malignant breast and prostate cells, as well as the current body of research regarding the effects of isoflavones attained through multiple modifications of cellular molecular signaling pathways and control of oxidative stress, are summarized. Furthermore, this review compiles literature sources reporting on the following: (1) levels of estrogen in breast and prostate tissue; (2) levels of isoflavones in the normal and malignant tissue of these organs in European and Asian populations; (3) average concentrations of isoflavones in the secretion of these organs (milk and semen). Finally, particular emphasis is placed on studies investigating the effect of isoflavones on tissues via estrogen receptors (ER).
A Two-Step Framework to Recognize Emotion Using the Combinations of Adjacent Frequency Bands of EEG
Authors: Zhang Zhipeng , Zhang Liyi
Published: February 2023

Electroencephalography (EEG)-based emotion recognition technologies can effectively help robots to perceive human behavior, which have attracted extensive attention in human–machine interaction (HMI). Due to the complexity of EEG data, current researchers tend to extract different types of hand-crafted features and connect all frequency bands for further study. However, this may result in the loss of some discriminative information of frequency band combinations and make the classification models unable to obtain the best results. In order to recognize emotions accurately, this paper designs a novel EEG-based emotion recognition framework using complementary information of frequency bands. First, after the features of the preprocessed EEG data are extracted, the combinations of all the adjacent frequency bands in different scales are obtained through permutation and reorganization. Subsequently, the improved classification method, homogeneous-collaboration-representation-based classification, is used to obtain the classification results of each combination. Finally, the circular multi-grained ensemble learning method is put forward to re-exact the characteristics of each result and merge the machine learning methods and simple majority voting for the decision fusion. In the experiment, the classification accuracies of our framework in arousal and valence on the DEAP database are 95.09% and 94.38% respectively, and that in the four classification problems on the SEED IV database is 96.37%.
An Overview of Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Reinforcement Learning-Based Techniques in Quantitative Finance: Recent Progress and Challenges
Authors: Sahu Santosh Kumar , Mokhade Anil , Bokde Neeraj Dhanraj
Published: February 2023

Forecasting the behavior of the stock market is a classic but difficult topic, one that has attracted the interest of both economists and computer scientists. Over the course of the last couple of decades, researchers have investigated linear models as well as models that are based on machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), reinforcement learning (RL), and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) in order to create an accurate predictive model. Machine learning algorithms can now extract high-level financial market data patterns. Investors are using deep learning models to anticipate and evaluate stock and foreign exchange markets due to the advantage of artificial intelligence. Recent years have seen a proliferation of the deep reinforcement learning algorithm’s application in algorithmic trading. DRL agents, which combine price prediction and trading signal production, have been used to construct several completely automated trading systems or strategies. Our objective is to enable interested researchers to stay current and easily imitate earlier findings. In this paper, we have worked to explain the utility of Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, and Deep Reinforcement Learning in Quantitative Finance (QF) and the Stock Market. We also outline potential future study paths in this area based on the overview that was presented before.
Biomechanical Modeling of Human–Robot Accident Scenarios: A Computational Assessment for Heavy-Payload-Capacity Robots
Authors: Asad Usman , Rasheed Shummaila , Lughmani Waqas Akbar , Kazim Tayyaba , Khalid Azfar , Pannek Jürgen
Published: February 2023

Exponentially growing technologies such as intelligent robots in the context of Industry 4.0 are radically changing traditional manufacturing to intelligent manufacturing with increased productivity and flexibility. Workspaces are being transformed into fully shared spaces for performing tasks during human–robot collaboration (HRC), increasing the possibility of accidents as compared to the fully restricted and partially shared workspaces. The next technological epoch of Industry 5.0 has a heavy focus on human well-being, with humans and robots operating in synergy. However, the reluctance to adopt heavy-payload-capacity robots due to safety concerns is a major hurdle. Therefore, the importance of analyzing the level of injury after impact can never be neglected for the safety of workers and for designing a collaborative environment. In this study, quasi-static and dynamic analyses of accidental scenarios during HRC are performed for medium- and low-payload-capacity robots according to the conditions given in ISO TS 15066 to assess the threshold level of injury and pain, and is subsequently extended for high speeds and heavy payloads for collaborative robots. For this purpose, accidental scenarios are simulated in ANSYS using a 3D finite element model of an adult human index finger and hand, composed of cortical bone and soft tissue. Stresses and strains in the bone and tissue, and contact forces and energy transfer during impact are studied, and contact speed limit values are estimated. It is observed that heavy-payload-capacity robots must be restricted to 80% of the speed limit of low-payload-capacity robots. Biomechanical modeling of accident scenarios offers insights and, therefore, gives confidence in the adoption of heavy-payload robots in factories of the future. The analysis allows for prediction and assessment of different hypothetical accidental scenarios in HRC involving high speeds and heavy-payload-capacity robots.
Speech Enhancement Based on Two-Stage Processing with Deep Neural Network for Laser Doppler Vibrometer
Authors: Cai Chengkai , Iwai Kenta , Nishiura Takanobu
Published: February 2023

The development of distant-talk measurement systems has been attracting attention since they can be applied to many situations such as security and disaster relief. One such system that uses a device called a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) to acquire sound by measuring an object’s vibration caused by the sound source has been proposed. Different from traditional microphones, an LDV can pick up the target sound from a distance even in a noisy environment. However, the acquired sounds are greatly distorted due to the object’s shape and frequency response. Due to the particularity of the degradation of observed speech, conventional methods cannot be effectively applied to LDVs. We propose two speech enhancement methods that are based on two-stage processing with deep neural networks for LDVs. With the first proposed method, the amplitude spectrum of the observed speech is first restored. The phase difference between the observed and clean speech is then estimated using the restored amplitude spectrum. With the other proposed method, the low-frequency components of the observed speech are first restored. The high-frequency components are then estimated by the restored low-frequency components. The evaluation results indicate that they improved the observed speech in sound quality, deterioration degree, and intelligibility.
SAgric-IoT: An IoT-Based Platform and Deep Learning for Greenhouse Monitoring
Authors: Contreras-Castillo Juan , Guerrero-Ibañez Juan Antonio , Santana-Mancilla Pedro C. , Anido-Rifón Luis
Published: February 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) and convolutional neural networks (CNN) integration is a growing topic of interest for researchers as a technology that will contribute to transforming agriculture. IoT will enable farmers to decide and act based on data collected from sensor nodes regarding field conditions and not purely based on experience, thus minimizing the wastage of supplies (seeds, water, pesticide, and fumigants). On the other hand, CNN complements monitoring systems with tasks such as the early detection of crop diseases or predicting the number of consumable resources and supplies (water, fertilizers) needed to increase productivity. This paper proposes SAgric-IoT, a technology platform based on IoT and CNN for precision agriculture, to monitor environmental and physical variables and provide early disease detection while automatically controlling the irrigation and fertilization in greenhouses. The results show SAgric-IoT is a reliable IoT platform with a low packet loss level that considerably reduces energy consumption and has a disease identification detection accuracy and classification process of over 90%.
Study on Actuator Performance Evaluation of Aerial Water-Powered System for Firefighting Applications
Authors: Huynh Thinh , Lee Dong-Hun , Kim Young-Bok
Published: February 2023

In this study, we propose and analyze three designs of a novel aerial system that aims for autonomous firefighting missions in the body or border of water areas. In such areas, it is difficult and even dangerous for human firefighters, and firefighting robots, to approach and put out the fire. Thus, the systems proposed in this paper make use of the available water source not only for suppressing the fire, but also for propelling and maneuvering themselves. The three designs are different in their ways of actuating, namely flow rate control, nozzle rotation control, and weight distribution control. The designs are first introduced. Then, mathematical models are formulated and reveal the motion characteristics of each system. A linear control framework is developed and implemented for all of them. Simulation studies were conducted to verify their motion performance and subsequently, to select the best solution. The results indicate that the weight distribution control system struggled to follow the required reference while the two other designs both provided adequate maneuverability. The nozzle rotation control system is the better one, with greater tracking results of the head part and smaller fluctuations of the water hose.
Thermodynamic Modeling of Formation Enthalpies of Amorphous and Crystalline Phases in Zr, Nd, and Ce-Substituted Fe-Si Systems
Authors: Kołodziej Mieszko , Śniadecki Zbigniew
Published: February 2023

The alloys that crystallize in a tetragonal ThMn12-type (space group I4/mmm) structure and are based on Fe and rare earth elements are believed to have a potential to plug the performance gap between ferrite and Nd-based magnets. Nevertheless, the progress is hindered by their poor structural stability, compared with other phases competing during the synthesis process, e.g., Th2Zn17-type. In this work, the enthalpies of the formation (and other thermodynamic parameters) of various phases in (Zr, Nd, Ce)-Fe-Si systems were calculated, with paramount focus on the Fe-rich compositions. We compared and discussed the stability range and stabilization routes for amorphous phases, solid solutions, and intermetallics. The beneficial influence of Zr and Si on the crystallization of intermetallic compounds was confirmed, simultaneously being valid for other phases. Among all of the analyzed Fe-rich phases, the lowest values for enthalpy of the formation of the amorphous phase and solid solution were determined for ZrFe10Si2 (−17.5 and −18.2 kJ/mol, respectively). Moreover, substitution by elements with a large atomic radius is indicated as a method for the introduction of topological disorder, giving possibility for the synthesis of metastable phases (even amorphous) and the utilization of more sophisticated synthesis routes in the future.