bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crop Residue Return Rather Than Organic Manure Increases Soil Aggregate Stability under Corn–Soybean Rotation in Surface Mollisols
Authors: Xiao Yang , Zhou Meng , Li Yansheng , Zhang Xingyi , Wang Guanghua , Jin Jian , Ding Guangwei , Zeng Xiannan , Liu Xiaobing
Published: February 2022

Fertilization practices change soil organic carbon content and distribution, which is relevant to crop rotation and soil aggregates. However, how fertilization management under corn–soybean rotation affects soil organic carbon and aggregate stability at different soil depths in Mollisols is unclear. The effects of 6–yr fertilization under corn–soybean rotation on aggregate stability, soil organic carbon content and storage, and size distribution in soil aggregates were investigated. Five different fertilization practices were carried out in 2013: corn and soybean without fertilizer; corn with chemical fertilizer, soybean without fertilizer; corn with chemical fertilizer, soybean without fertilizer, returning the corn and soybean residues; corn and soybean with chemical fertilizer; and corn with chemical fertilizer, soybean with farmyard manure. Compared with corn and soybean without fertilizer, returning the corn and soybean residues increased bulk SOC content, and enhanced mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter values at 0–10 cm because of increased water–stable aggregates (WSA) larger than 2 mm proportion and decreased WSA<0.053mm proportion. Simultaneously, corn with chemical fertilizer and soybean with farmyard manure increased bulk soil organic carbon content but reduced mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter values at 0–20 cm due to increased WSA<0.053mm proportion and decreased WSA>2mm proportion. Altogether, the application of consecutive returning crop residues and chemical fertilizer in alternate years is the most favorable approach for soil organic carbon accumulation and aggregate stability at 0–10 cm under corn–soybean rotation in Mollisols.
Short-Term Resilience of Soil Microbial Communities and Functions Following Severe Environmental Changes
Authors: Mocali Stefano , Gelsomino Antonio , Nannipieri Paolo , Pastorelli Roberta , Giagnoni Laura , Petrovicova Beatrix , Renella Giancarlo
Published: February 2022

Soil microorganisms are key drivers of soil biochemical processes, but the resilience of microbial communities and their metabolic activity after an extreme environmental change is still largely unknown. We studied structural (bacterial and fungal communities) and functional responses (soil respiration, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, hydrolase activities involved in the mineralization of organic C, N, P and S, and microbial community-level physiological profiles (CLPPs)) during the microbial recolonization of three heat-sterilized forest soils followed by cross- or self-reinoculation and incubation for 1, 7 and 30 days. Soil ATP content, biochemical activities and CLPP were annihilated by autoclaving, whereas most of the hydrolase activities were reduced to varying extents depending on the soil and enzyme activity considered. During the incubation period, the combination of self- and cross-reinoculation of different sterilized soils produced rapid dynamic changes in enzymatic activity as well as in microbial structure and catabolic activity. Physicochemical properties of the original soils exerted a major influence in shaping soil functional diversity, while reinoculation of sterilized soils promoted faster and greater changes in bacterial community structure than in fungal communities, varying with incubation period and soil type. Our results also confirmed the importance of microbial richness in determining soil resilience under severe disturbances. In particular, the new microbial communities detected in the treated soils revealed the occurrence of taxa which were not detected in the original soils. This result confirmed that rare microbial taxa rather than the dominant ones may be the major drivers of soil functionality and resilience.
The Analysis of Partial Sequences of the Flavonone 3 Hydroxylase Gene in Lupinus mutabilis Reveals Differential Expression of Two Paralogues Potentially Related to Seed Coat Colour
Authors: Guilengue Norberto , Azinheira Helena G. , Alves Sofia , Neves-Martins João , Talhinhas Pedro , Morais-Cecílio Leonor
Published: February 2022

Flavonone 3 hydroxylases (EC 1.14.11.9) are key enzymes in the synthesis of anthocyanins and other flavonoids. Such compounds are involved in seed coat colour and stem pigmentation. Lupinus mutabilis (tarwi) is a legume crop domesticated in the Andean region, valued for the high protein and oil content of its seeds. Tarwi accessions are being selected for cultivation in Europe under defined breeding criteria. Seed coat colour patterns are relevant breeding traits in tarwi, and these are conditioned by anthocyanin content. We identified and isolated part of the tarwi flavonone 3-hydroxylase gene (LmF3h) from two accessions with distinct seed coat colour patterns. Two partial LmF3h paralogues, with predicted 20% amino-acid changes but little predicted tertiary structure alterations, were identified in the coloured seed genotype, while only one was present in the white seed genotype. Upon selection and validation of appropriate reference genes, a RT-qPCR analysis showed that these paralogues have different levels of expression during seed development in both genotypes, although they follow the same expression patterns. DNA and transcription analyses enabled to highlight potential F3H paralogues relatable to seed coat pigmentation in tarwi and, upon biochemical and genetic confirmation, prompt marker-assisted breeding for relevant phenotypic traits associated with flavonoid synthesis.
Investigation of Soils and Pine Needles Using WDXRF and TXRF Techniques for Assessment of the Environmental Pollution of Shelekhov District, Eastern Siberia, by the Aluminum Industry and Heat Power Engineering
Authors: Chubarov Victor , Cherkashina Tatiana , Maltsev Artem , Chuparina Elena , Amosova Alena , Prosekin Sergey
Published: February 2022

X-ray fluorescence analysis was applied to assess the ecological state of the area potentially polluted by emissions of the aluminum industry and heat power engineering. Soil and pine needle samples were collected in areas with industrial activity and analyzed using wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) and total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) techniques. Both techniques were validated using the matrix-matched certified reference materials. Different sample preparation procedures, such as fusion and pressing for WDXRF and acid digestion and suspensions for TXRF as well as quantification approaches (the external calibration for WDXRF and the internal standard for TXRF) were applied according to the features of the analyzed samples. The rock-forming oxides (Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO, and Fe2O3) and trace elements (V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Ba, and Pb) were quantified in soils, as well as several elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Pb, and Ba) were quantified in pine needles. Comparing the results of soils and pine needles analysis with the regional background values indicated a significant contamination pollution level of the studied area.
De Novo Domestication Concept for Potato Germplasm Enhancement
Authors: Egorova Anastasiya A. , Chalaya Nadezhda A. , Fomin Ivan N. , Barchuk Alisa I. , Gerasimova Sophia V.
Published: February 2022

Wild potato germplasm serves as a natural pool of agronomically valuable traits for potato breeding, such as resistance to pathogens and abiotic stresses, quality, and consumer-oriented traits. The introgression of these traits into cultivated potato is hampered by the different kinds of incompatibility and linkages between desirable and undesirable features in hybrid progeny. The trait donor improvement via correction of negative characteristics prior to hybridization to domestic potato can be a solution to the linkage drag problem. The de novo domestication concept for developing new crops using gene editing technologies was previously proposed and performed for tomato and physalis. In this review, we collected information about donor properties of different wild potato species and developed a strategy for potato germplasm enhancement using the de novo domestication approach. The possible modifications of several candidate genes responsible for undesirable traits in wild potato, including high steroidal glycoalkaloid content, self-incompatibility, tuberization under short day conditions, and long stolons are proposed. The current challenges and future prospects of implementing the de novo domestication strategy for potato are discussed.
Metabolomic Response to Drought Stress in Belosynapsis ciliata (Blume) ‘Qiuhong’
Authors: Li Yongquan , Zhang Bipei , Huang Runsheng , Wen Min , Huang Leying , Su Yiting , Sun Yanjun , Wang Ning , Guo Wei
Published: February 2022

The drought stress responses of plants are complex regulatory mechanisms that include various physiological responses reflected by the global metabolic status. Metabolomics is an effective, analytical, and instrumental technique for informatics/statistics for the acquisition of comprehensive information on metabolites. We investigate the effect of drought stress on a Belosynapsis ciliata cultivar, ‘Qiuhong’ (a drought-tolerant cultivar), using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based on a widely targeted metabolomic approach. ‘Qiuhong’ leaves are subjected to 15- and 30-day drought treatments and are then compared to a control group without drought stress and a rehydration group. In total, 290 differentially accumulated metabolites were detected between drought and normal conditions through multivariate statistical analyses, of which 65 metabolites (36 upregulated and 29 downregulated) were highlighted for their significant contribution to drought tolerance, including an anthocyanin (peonidin 3-O-galactoside) that caused the purple-red hue in leaves under drought stress. In addition, we found that two significantly altered pathways (citrate cycle and purine metabolism) were related to enhanced drought tolerance in plants. Notably, the synthesis of three compounds (p-coumaroyl putrescine, apigenin 6-C-glucoside, and β-nicotinamide mononucleotide) was specifically induced in the drought-treated ‘Qiuhong’, indicating their critical roles in drought resistance. Our results provide a foundation for further research on drought-resistant mechanisms in B. ciliata.
Comprehensive Analysis of Imipenemase (IMP)-Type Metallo-β-Lactamase: A Global Distribution Threatening Asia
Authors: Pongchaikul Pisut , Mongkolsuk Paninee
Published: February 2022

Antibiotic resistance, particularly beta-lactam resistance, is a major problem worldwide. Imipenemase or IMP-type metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) has become a more prominent enzyme, especially in Asia, since it was discovered in the 1990s in Japan. There are currently 88 variants of IMP-type enzymes. The most commonly identified variant of IMP-type enzymes is IMP−1 variant. IMP-type MBLs have been detected in more than ten species in Enterobacterales. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most frequent carrier of IMP-type enzymes worldwide. In Asia, IMP-type MBLs have been distributed in many countries. This work investigated a variety of currently available IMP-type MBLs at both a global level and a regional level. Out of 88 variants of IMP-type MBLs reported worldwide, only 32 variants were found to have susceptibility profiles. Most of the bacterial isolates carrying IMP-type MBLs were resistant to Carbapenems, especially Imipenem and Meropenem, followed by the 3rd-generation cephalosporins, and interestingly, monobactams. Our results comprehensively indicated the distribution of IMP-type MBLs in Asia and raised the awareness of the situation of antimicrobial resistance in the region.
Treatment Outcomes of Tocilizumab in Critically-Ill COVID-19 Patients, Single-Centre Retrospective Study
Authors: Hafez Wael , Ziade Mohamad Azzam , Arya Arun , Saleh Husam , Abdelshakor Mahmoud , Fadl Alla Osman , Agrawal Pragati , Ali Sara , Rao Srinivasa Raghu , Gupta Subrata , Abdelli Ikram , Sebastian Honeymol , Ali Mohamed , Gador Muneir , Al Baha Ziad , Abdelrahman Ahmed
Published: February 2022

(1) Background: Severe COVID-19 outcomes are associated with cytokine release syndrome, characterized by the release of several immune modulators, including Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Tocilizumab (TCZ) is an IL-6 receptor antagonist used to treat rheumatic arthritis. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCZ against COVID-19. (2) Methods: This was a retrospective study including 49 severe COVID-19 patients who received TCZ therapy in NMC Royal Hospital, UAE. (3) Results: Before Tocilizumab administration, the median temperature was 37.0 (IQR 36.0–39.6), and after day seven, the median reduced to 36.5 (IQR 35.8–37.9), p > 0.001. Thirty (61.2%) patients were admitted to the ICU, of which, eight (16.3%) were on WHO scale 4, sixteen (32.6%) on scale 5, and six (20.0%) on scale 6. TCZ reduced inflammatory markers over time, including CRP, D-Dimer, Ferritin, and Fibrinogen. By the end of week seven, 14 patients died (28.6%) while 35 (71.4%) improved and were discharged. (4) Conclusions: The study showed limited improvements in COVID-19 outcomes with TCZ therapy and highlighted the importance of D-Dimer monitoring for possible risk of thrombosis. Additionally, it could be recommended to upgrade the anti-coagulation dose to therapeutic levels once TCZ therapy is decided upon.
Thermal, High Pressure, and Ultrasound Inactivation of Various Fruit Cultivars’ Polyphenol Oxidase: Kinetic Inactivation Models and Estimation of Treatment Energy Requirement
Authors: Zawawi Nur Aribah Fatini , Hazmi Nurul Ashikin Md. , How Muhammad Syahmeer , Kantono Kevin , Silva Filipa V. M. , Sulaiman Alifdalino
Published: February 2022

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) catalyses the browning reaction during fruit processing and storage. It is considered a threat to clean labels and minimally processed fruit products. Unwanted changes in fruits’ appearance and quality represent a cost to the industry. High pressure and ultrasound, in addition to thermal treatment, are effective in reducing PPO activity and producing high-quality products. PPO from different fruit cultivars behaves differently when submitted to different treatments. A systematic review was conducted, where treatment parameters, PPO inactivation data (≥80% inactivation), and kinetic inactivation parameters (rate constant (k), activation energy (Ea), D-value, and z-value) by different treatments were collected. Additionally, the estimated energy requirements for the inactivation of PPO (≥80%) by different treatments were calculated and compared. Resistance to various treatments varies between fruit cultivars. For the same temperature, the inactivation of PPO by ultrasound combined with heat is more effective than thermal treatment alone, and the high pressure combined thermal process. The majority of the thermal, HPP, and ultrasound inactivation of PPO in fruits followed first-order behaviour. Some fruit cultivars, however, showed biphasic inactivation behaviour. The estimated specific energy requirements calculated based on the mass of processed fruit sample to inactivate ≥80% polyphenol oxidase for the thermal process was 87 to 255 kJ/kg, while for high pressure processing it was 139 to 269 kJ/kg and for ultrasound it was 780 to 10,814 kJ/kg.
Determinants of Y-Shaped Agility Test in Basketball Players
Authors: Horníková Henrieta , Zemková Erika
Published: February 2022

Y-shaped agility test is a reactive agility test that includes both sensory and motor components. However, there is a lack of information about the contribution of these components to reactive agility in basketball players. Therefore, this study investigates: (i) the relationship between Y-shaped agility performance and reaction speed, sprint speed, change of direction speed, muscle strength, and (ii) determinants of this reactive agility test. Eleven male basketball players performed a Y-shaped agility test, 5 m and 20 m sprints, a 505 Agility test, squat, countermovement and drop jumps, and simple and two-choice reaction time tests. The results revealed a significant relationship between the time in Y-shaped agility test and 5 m sprint time (r = 0.795, p = 0.003, R2 = 0.632), 20 m sprint time (r = 0.676, p = 0.022, R2 = 0.457), and reactive strength index (r = −0.619, p = 0.042, R2 = 0.383), but not with simple and choice-based reaction times. These findings indicate that performance in the Y-shaped agility test is more profoundly determined by a motor rather than a sensory component. This may be ascribed to the structure of a predominantly velocity-oriented Y-shaped agility test with a small contribution of responses to visual stimuli. The adaptation of basketball players to training aimed at increasing speed and strength may also play a role. The structure of the Y-shaped agility test should be modified so as to better reflect the sensory component of reactive agility and more sensitively reveal within- and between-group differences.
Ecosystem Service Assessments within the EU Water Framework Directive: Marine Mussel Cultivation as a Controversial Measure
Authors: Ritzenhofen Lukas , Schumacher Johanna , Karstens Svenja , Schernewski Gerald
Published: February 2022

To combat the persistent eutrophication in coastal waters, sustainable sea-based measures are recommended. Yet, they are the subject of controversial stakeholder discussion, which hampers the implementation and planning process. The aim of this study is to evaluate if a participatory mapping (PM) approach and ecosystem service assessments (ESA) can be suitable tools within Water Framework Directive (WFD) implementation to support the communication with different target groups to improve and accelerate the planning and realization of new sea-based mitigation measures. We conducted three stakeholder-based PMs to visualize the perception of sea-based mitigation measures in coastal waters and seven different ESAs to investigate the perceptions of different mussel cultivation scenarios as mitigation measures. The PMs showed that ecological measures were preferred. The ESA approach showed that, while experts rated mussel cultivation scenarios positively overall, non-expert stakeholders still seemed skeptical and preferred alternative measures like floating wetlands. The methodological results indicate that PM can be a cost-effective tool to visualize stakeholders’ perceptions, but it needs to be applied with an ESA to be beneficial for the WFD implementation process. A web-based ESA improves the discussion with stakeholders and can reveal potential misperceptions and concerns faster and lead to a more focused discussion.
Anisotropic Effective Elastic Properties for Multi-Dimensional Fractured Models
Authors: Jian Shikai , Fu Liyun , Cheng Yifan
Published: February 2022

The size, distribution, and orientation of fractures are generally multiscale and multi-dimensional in nature, leading to complex anisotropic characteristics. Theoretical or semi-analytical methods to determine the effective elastic properties depend on several assumptions, including the absence of the stress interaction and idealized fractures. On the basis of finite-element models, we conduct numerical oscillatory relaxation tests for determining the effective elastic properties of fractured rocks. The numerical approach for calculating equivalent stiffness tensors in two-dimensions is compared to the theoretical models for different fracture densities. Due to fracture interactions at high fracture densities, the suggested model makes a physical prediction. The effective elastic properties obtained from the application to a real fractured model, established from an outcrop, obviously disperse at different frequencies, which can be used to investigate fracture interactions and dynamic stress disturbances. The algorithm is extended to three-dimensional cases and also validated by using conventional effective medium theories. It is found that the fracture density obviously impacts the effective anisotropy properties, and the proposed method gives a reasonable prediction for high-fracture density. This work is significant because it enables the calculation of effective elastic properties of multi-dimensional fractured models and the fracture interaction mechanism.
Proactive Management of Requirement Changes in the Development of Complex Technical Systems
Authors: Gräßler Iris , Oleff Christian , Preuß Daniel
Published: February 2022

Requirement changes and cascading effects of change propagation are major sources of inefficiencies in product development and increase the risk of project failure. Proactive change management of requirement changes yields the potential to handle such changes efficiently. A systematic approach is required for proactive change management to assess and reduce the risk of a requirement change with appropriate effort in industrial application. Within the paper at hand, a novel method for Proactive Management of Requirement Changes (ProMaRC) is presented. It is developed in close collaboration with industry experts and evaluated based on workshops, pilot users’ feedback, three industrial case studies from the automotive industry and five development projects from research. To limit the application effort, an automated approach for dependency analysis based on the machine learning technique BERT and semi-automated assessment of change likelihood and impact using a modified PageRank algorithm is developed. Applying the method, the risks of requirement changes are assessed systematically and reduced by means of proactive change measures. Evaluation shows high performance of dependency analysis and confirms the applicability and usefulness of the method. This contribution opens up the research space of proactive risk management for requirement changes which is currently almost unexploited. It enables more efficient product development.
AraConv: Developing an Arabic Task-Oriented Dialogue System Using Multi-Lingual Transformer Model mT5
Authors: Fuad Ahlam , Al-Yahya Maha
Published: February 2022

Task-oriented dialogue systems (DS) are designed to help users perform daily activities using natural language. Task-oriented DS for English language have demonstrated promising performance outcomes; however, developing such systems to support Arabic remains a challenge. This challenge is mainly due to the lack of Arabic dialogue datasets. This study introduces the first Arabic end-to-end generative model for task-oriented DS (AraConv), which uses the multi-lingual transformer model mT5 with different settings. We also present an Arabic dialogue dataset (Arabic-TOD) and used it to train and test the proposed AraConv model. The results obtained are reasonable compared to those reported in the studies of English and Chinese using the same mono-lingual settings. To avoid problems associated with a small training dataset and to improve the AraConv model’s results, we suggest joint-training, in which the model is jointly trained on Arabic dialogue data and data from one or two high-resource languages such as English and Chinese. The findings indicate the AraConv model performed better in the joint-training setting than in the mono-lingual setting. The results obtained from AraConv on the Arabic dialogue dataset provide a baseline for other researchers to build robust end-to-end Arabic task-oriented DS that can engage with complex scenarios.
Applicability Evaluation of Soil Algae Pipe Assay in Silver Nanoparticle-Contaminated Soils
Authors: Kwak Jin Il , Nam Sun-Hwa , An Youn-Joo
Published: February 2022

Due to pervasive and resilient soil contaminants, heterogeneously contaminated soil poses unpredictable potential threats to ecosystems. In this study, the extension of a previously developed soil algae pipe assay for evaluating heterogeneously contaminated soil under an open system is described. The assay can be used in soil that is heterogeneously contaminated with silver nanoparticles in combination with the examination of morphological changes (e.g., in vivo chlorophyll a, cell granularity, cell size, and mucilaginous sheath) and lipid contents. In addition, we attempted to extend the exposure duration under an open system. We evaluated the applicability of this soil algae pipe assay using green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to heterogeneous and homogeneous polyvinylpyrrolidone capping silver nanoparticles in contaminated soils. The results demonstrated that this method is an applicable bioassay that can be employed to better evaluate soil algal toxicity under an open system, with significant changes in the measured endpoints. The developed assay showed decent predictivity, which can be a useful tool when evaluating heterogeneous soil algae contamination.
Effect of Elastomeric Expandable Additive on Compressive Strength and Linear Expansion of Fly-Ash-Based Strength-Enhanced Geopolymer Cement for Shrinkage-Resistant Oil-Well Cementing
Authors: Abd Rahman Siti Humairah , Farhan Syed Ahmad , Sazali Yon Azwa , Shafiee Luqmanul Hakim , Husna Nadzhratul , Abd Hamid Afif Izwan , Shafiq Nasir , Zulkarnain Nurul Nazmin , Habarudin Mohd Firdaus
Published: February 2022

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of an expandable additive on the compressive strength and linear expansion of geopolymer cement, which is an alternative to ordinary Portland cement, for oil-well cementing. Fly-ash-based geopolymer cement samples, with the addition of slag cement as a strength enhancer, were prepared by using an elastomeric expandable additive (R-additive), which consists of styrene–butadiene rubber with a specific gravity of 0.945, at concentrations of 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% by weight of the solid blend, and cured in a water bath at 60 °C and atmospheric pressure, and a curing chamber at 90 °C and 3000 psi, or approximately 20.68 MPa. Mixability, amount of free water and slurry density were studied, and the effects of the concentration of R-additive on the compressive strength (F) and linear expansion (∆l/l0) of the samples were analyzed. When cured at 60 °C and atmospheric pressure, the highest F of 15.01 MPa was obtained when the concentration of R-additive was 10%, while the highest ∆l/l0 of 0.9985% was obtained when the concentration of R-additive was 25%. An increase in the curing temperature and pressure to 90 °C and 3000 psi (≈20.68 MPa) resulted in the reduction of F from 15.01 to 14.62 MPa and from 10.33 to 9.61 MPa, and the increase in ∆l/l0 from 0.52% to 0.63%, and from 0.99% to 1.32%, when the concentrations of R-additive were 10% and 25%, respectively. The findings suggest that the formulations adopted, which contain R-additive at concentrations ranging from 10% to 25%, fulfilled the requirements of the oil and gas industry.
Noise Modeling to Build Training Sets for Robust Speech Enhancement
Authors: Wang Yahui , Zhang Wenxi , Wu Zhou , Kong Xinxin , Wang Yongbiao , Zhang Hongxin
Published: February 2022

DNN-based Speech Enhancement (SE) models suffer from significant performance degradation in real recordings due to the mismatch between the synthetic datasets employed for training and real test sets. To solve this problem, we propose a new Generative Adversarial Network framework for Noise Modeling (NM-GAN) that creates realistic paired training sets by imitating real noise distribution. The proposed framework combines a novel 7-layer U-Net with two bidirectional long short-term memory (LSTM) layers that act as a generator to construct complex noise. NM-GAN generates enough recall (diversity) and precision (noise quality) in its samples through adversarial and alternate training, effectively simulating real noise, which is then utilized to compose realistic paired training sets. Extensive experiments employing various qualitative and quantitative evaluation metrics verify the effectiveness of the generated noise samples and training sets, demonstrating our framework’s capabilities.
Preparation, Characterization, and Life Cycle Assessment of Aerated Concrete Blocks: A Case Study in Guayaquil City, Ecuador
Authors: Reyes-Quijije Melissa , Rocha-Tamayo Alid , García-Troncoso Natividad , Baykara Haci , Cornejo Mauricio H.
Published: February 2022

In the current manuscript, we aimed to evaluate the application of aerated concrete blocks for the construction of single-family homes in Guayaquil, Ecuador, through a comparison with conventional materials. The design of the structural elements was carried out according to the NEC-2015 and ACI 318-14 standards, in which a 36% reduction in the dead load of the structure was achieved by using aerated concrete blocks in the masonry of the house. With a life cycle analysis, a quantification of the most relevant impacts generated during the production and construction phases was obtained. In this way, the most contributing process was found to be the clinker production, generating 7998 kgCO2-Eq. for traditional housing, and 5113 kgCO2-Eq. for non-traditional housing, thus reaching a difference of 36%. Therefore, it was shown that the use of lower-density materials is viable and, due to their easy and fast application, allows for a reduction of up to 10% in the project execution time; a savings of 10% in the total cost, in addition, evidences its potential to access sustainable construction in Ecuador.
Reducing the Total Product Cost at the Product Design Stage
Authors: Relich Marcin , Nielsen Izabela , Gola Arkadiusz
Published: February 2022

Currently used decision support systems allow decision-makers to evaluate the product performance, including a net present value analysis, in order to enable them to make a decision regarding whether or not to carry out a new product development project. However, these solutions are inadequate to provide simulations for verifying a possibility of reducing the total product cost through changes in the product design phase. The proposed approach provides a framework for identifying possible variants of changes in product design that can reduce the cost related to the production and after-sales phase. This paper is concerned with using business analytics to cost estimation and simulation regarding changes in product design. The cost of a new product is estimated using analogical and parametric models that base on artificial neural networks. Relationships identified by computational intelligence are used to prepare cost estimation and simulations. A model of product development, production process, and admissible resources is described in terms of a constraint satisfaction problem that is effectively solved using constraint programming techniques. The proposed method enables the selection of a more appropriate technique to cost estimation, the identification of a set of possible changes in product design towards reducing the total product cost, and it is the framework for developing a decision support system. In this aspect, it outperforms current methods dedicated for evaluating the potential of a new product.
Stray Light Analysis and Elimination of an Optical System Based on the Structural Optimization Design of an Airborne Camera
Authors: Li Jinliang , Yang Yang , Qu Xiaohai , Jiang Chenpin
Published: February 2022

An aspherical airborne camera has excellent performance in the field of photoelectric reconnaissance equipment. However, the image plane contrast of the optical system will be reduced by stray light originating from inside or outside of the optical system. In the present work, the self-designed aspheric airborne camera is manufactured with a baffle and vanes to reduce the impact of stray light on the camera imaging quality. TracePro software is used to analyze the stray light and establish an ABg mathematical model based on the scattering intensity measurement. The incident angle of the light parallel to the optical axis is set, and ray tracing is performed on the optical machine model to verify whether it conforms to the optical system design. The results showed that when the incident angle of the light source is greater than 0.5°, the point source transmittance (PST) value drops rapidly, and when the incident angle is 30°, the PST value of the system is in the order of 10−8. Stray light analysis verifies that the self-designed aspheric surface-based camera optomechanical structure has the ability to suppress stray light. The design of the baffle and vanes further enhances the ability of the optical system to suppress stray light, which can provide a reference for the design of a stray light elimination structure.
Mechanical Performance of Cement Bound Granular Mixtures Using Recycled Aggregate and Coconut Fiber
Authors: Crucho João , Picado-Santos Luís , Neves José
Published: February 2022

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) and coconut husk are frequently discharged into landfills, creating an environmental problem. However, the CDW can be used to obtain good-quality recycled aggregates (RA), and the coconut husk can be processed into coconut fiber (CF). These materials can be used in the construction of cement bound granular mixtures (CBGM) to be applied as base and sub-base layers of road pavements. Such a large-scale application would bring value to these materials and reduce the extraction of non-renewable natural resources. In this work, the mechanical performance of CBGM with RA and CF reinforcement was evaluated and compared with a conventional CBGM with natural aggregate (NA). The mechanical performance was assessed through the immediate bearing index (IBI), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), indirect tensile strength (ITS), and flexural strength (FLS) tests. The results of the experimental program allow the conclusion that the CBGM with RA present similar performance to the CBGM with NA. Furthermore, the use of CF effectively reinforced the integrity of the CBGM specimens at post-test, indicating potential gains in durability after cracking occurrence.
Classification of Potato Varieties Drought Stress Tolerance Using Supervised Learning
Authors: Boguszewska-Mańkowska Dominika , Ruszczak Bogdan , Zarzyńska Krystyna
Published: February 2022

The presented study was aimed at investigating the variability for drought tolerance among potato cultivars. To achieve this, the stability of drought tolerance of potato cultivars under different water regime conditions was inspected during 11 years of consecutive experiments. The data on 50 potato cultivars’ responses to drought stress, based on the morphological features of plants, i.e., leaf and stem mass and size of the assimilation area, have been collected. The tuber yield, as well as calculated plant tolerance indexes and Climatic Water Balance for each growing season, were analyzed. The studied cultivars were later assigned into one of three tolerance groups for soil drought. The highest linear relationship was found between the mass of leaves and stems and the tuber yield but was found too weak to raise any conclusions. Thus, the ensemble learning models have been evaluated and returned better performance results, and the final classifier is the implementation of extreme gradient boosting. The final classifier of the 96.7% accuracy, which used several measured potato parameters (Relative yield decrease, Stem mass, Maturity, Assimilation area, Leaves mass, Yield per plant, calculated Climatic water balance, and indices: MSTI and DSI) that could distinguish the different tolerance groups were evaluated in the study.
Effects of Synaptic Pruning on Phase Synchronization in Chimera States of Neural Network
Authors: Zhang Zhengyuan , Dai Liming
Published: February 2022

This research explores the effect of synaptic pruning on a ring-shaped neural network of non-locally coupled FitzHugh–Nagumo (FHN) oscillators. The neurons in the pruned region synchronize with each other, and they repel the coherent domain of the chimera states. Furthermore, the width of the pruned region decides the precision and efficiency of the control effect on the position of coherent domains. This phenomenon gives a systematic comprehension of the relation between pruning and synchronization in neural networks from a new aspect that has never been addressed. An explanation of this mechanism is also given.
Modern Methods and Techniques in Landscape Shaping with Various Functions on the Example of Southern Poland
Authors: Kwoczynska Boguslawa , Litwin Urszula , Piech Izabela
Published: February 2022

The aim of this publication is to present the detailed results of research on the formation of landscapes with different functions. The research was conducted in areas typical for southern Poland in Kasinka Mala and Kamionka Wielka communes using the WIT statistical method and photogrammetric techniques. Among the landscape evaluation methods, the publication uses the WIT method of site significance indices, which employs a wide representation of features describing the spatial structure of villages. Using these indicators, the “value” and changes that have occurred in the landscape of each designated area were assessed. Three indicators were determined: WIT 1—for agricultural activities, WIT 2—for non-agricultural activities, and WIT 3—for recreational activities, for each of the villages of the Kamionka Wielka commune, comparing them in a tabular and graphical form. The indicators were used to determine the suitability of the land for agricultural activities, its potential for economic activity, and the development of recreational and tourist activities in the area. Most of the factors determining the character of a landscape can be properly captured using photogrammetric and remote-sensing materials. Thanks to the technological advances provided by photogrammetric methods, visualizations of landscapes with different functions were also used in this study. For landscape analysis, photogrammetric materials in the form of aerial photographs, digital orthophotomaps taken in different time periods (1963–1977–1997–2010–2013), and data from airborne laser scanning were used, which allowed visualization of the studied areas in the form of a DSM and 3D models of Kasinka Mala and Kamionka Wielka.
Radial Thermal Conductivity Measurements of Cylindrical Lithium-Ion Batteries—An Uncertainty Study of the Pipe Method
Authors: Koller Markus , Unterkofler Johanna , Glanz Gregor , Lager Daniel , Bergmann Alexander , Popp Hartmut
Published: February 2022

A typical method for measuring the radial thermal conductivity of cylindrical objects is the pipe method. This method introduces a heating wire in combination with standard thermocouples and optical Fiber Bragg grating temperature sensors into the core of a cell. This experimental method can lead to high uncertainties due to the slightly varying setup for each measurement and the non-homogenous structure of the cell. Due to the lack of equipment on the market, researchers have to resort to such experimental methods. To verify the measurement uncertainties and to show the possible range of results, an additional method is introduced. In this second method the cell is disassembled, and the thermal conductivity of each cell component is calculated based on measurements with the laser flash method and differential scanning calorimetry. Those results are used to numerically calculate thermal conductivity and to parameterize a finite element model. With this model, the uncertainties and problems inherent in the pipe method for cylindrical cells were shown. The surprising result was that uncertainties of up to 25% arise, just from incorrect assumption about the sensor position. Furthermore, the change in radial thermal conductivity at different states of charge (SOC) was measured with fully functional cells using the pipe method.
Effect of Internal AC Heating on the Temperature Homogeneity of Different Size Battery Cells
Authors: Richards Howard , Vagg Christopher
Published: February 2022

Rapidly warming up batteries is an important challenge both for conventional lithium-ion batteries, which operate best over 15 °C, and for most solid-state batteries, which currently require operating temperatures over 60 °C. Internal heating using an alternating current (AC) has been proposed as a possible solution in automotive applications, with faster heating rates possible than conventional external heating methods. This paper investigates the performance of internal AC heating on cells of different sizes, for both cylindrical and pouch formats. A novel experimental arrangement is used in which two cells are tested in series while connected with opposing polarity to create a zero-voltage string, allowing the use of less expensive testing equipment. The results show that larger cells exhibit a considerably greater distribution of surface temperature than smaller format cells during internal heating. This is likely due to the more extreme spatial variation in current density in the current collectors, causing an uneven distribution of internal heat generation. This highlights a significant difference compared to external heating methods, which are not affected by this, and has important implications for temperature measurement and battery management if this type of internal heating is to be used, since temperature sensors must be placed in hot spots or supplemented by validated models to ensure all parts of the battery stay within safe temperature limits.
Making a Virtue of Necessity: The Use of Wild Edible Plant Species (Also Toxic) in Bread Making in Times of Famine According to Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti (1766)
Authors: Paura Bruno , Di Marzio Piera
Published: February 2022

In 1766, the agricultural scientist Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti described for the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the wild and cultivated plant species that could be used, in times of famine, to increase the quantity of flour or vegetable mass in bread making. These wild plants can be defined as wild edible plants (WEPs) or “alimurgic species”, a concept usually traced back to Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti himself. The 342 plant names mentioned in the text are in the Tuscan vernacular, so a research work was done on bibliographic sources from the 1800s in order to match them with their current nomenclature. This process led to an “alimurgic flora” repertoire based on the writing of Targioni Tozzetti; and a comparison with our AlimurgITA database of 1103 wild edible plants used in Italy. It is particularly interesting that in his short treatise, Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti identified eight toxic plants (corresponding to 14 species), indicating how to eliminate the poisonous substances from their useful roots. We treat them in detail, examining their current and past use, their geographical distribution in Italy, and their eventual toxicity. We obtained 343 matches, of which 198 were reliable (certain matches) and 145 possessed some degree of uncertainty (due to generic or collective vernacular names). Among the 198 certain identifications, 140 species are present in the AlimurgITA database (92 mentioned for Tuscany) and 58 are not; for bread-making there are only documentary traces of 53 species for Italy and 7 for Tuscany. Moreover, among the total 198 species, 84 showed some degree of hazard. Researching edible toxic spontaneous species allows: (1) investigation, from an unusual perspective, of a historical period in which the poor conditions of some social strata led to finding unusual solutions to food provision; (2) idea generation to re-enable potentially useful WEPs whose use has been lost. Making a virtue of necessity!
Detection of Carbapenem Resistance of Proteus mirabilis Strains Isolated from Foxes, Raccoons and Minks in China
Authors: Lv Penghao , Hao Guijuan , Cao Yanli , Cui Lulu , Wang Guisheng , Sun Shuhong
Published: February 2022

Proteus mirabilis, an opportunistic pathogen, is found to be an emerging threat to both animals and humans for a variety of infections. However, the characteristics of P. mirabilis infections from foxes, raccoons and minks remain unclear. In this context, we identified the antibiotic resistance genes and virulence genes of P. mirabilis isolates from foxes, raccoons and minks in China. Most isolates showed resistance to florfenicol (90.57%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (73.58%), and imipenem (71.70%). A total of 73.58% of isolates were resistant to antibiotics from at least three or more classes, and were categorized as multi-drug resistant. A total of 33.33% of the isolates were resistant to antibiotics from seven classes. The most prevalent resistant were sul1 (94.34%), followed by floR, blaTEM, aac(6’)Ib-cr and blaOXA-1 with the detection rate of 88.68%, 83.02%, 71.70% and 60.38%, respectively. Among the 51 P. mirabilis isolates that were resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, all isolates carried at least one beta-lactam gene. In addition, blaNDM and blaOXA-24 genes were firstly reported in carbapenem-resistant P. mirabilis isolates from foxes, raccoons and minks. All isolates exhibited the virulence genes ureC, zapA, pmfA, atfA and mrpA. P. mirabilis isolates carrying all detected 10 virulence genes from different animal species showed different lethal abilities in a G. mellonella larvae model. More importantly, the profiles of antibiotic resistance genes of isolates from fur animals and the environment were generally similar, and phylogenetic analysis showed that the P. mirabilis isolates from farm environment samples may have close relatedness with that from animals.
Quantifying the Patterns of Metabolic Plasticity and Heterogeneity along the Epithelial–Hybrid–Mesenchymal Spectrum in Cancer
Authors: Muralidharan Srinath , Sahoo Sarthak , Saha Aryamaan , Chandran Sanjay , Majumdar Sauma Suvra , Mandal Susmita , Levine Herbert , Jolly Mohit Kumar
Published: February 2022

Cancer metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality and the process of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial for cancer metastasis. Both partial and complete EMT have been reported to influence the metabolic plasticity of cancer cells in terms of switching among the oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid oxidation and glycolysis pathways. However, a comprehensive analysis of these major metabolic pathways and their associations with EMT across different cancers is lacking. Here, we analyse more than 180 cancer cell datasets and show the diverse associations of these metabolic pathways with the EMT status of cancer cells. Our bulk data analysis shows that EMT generally positively correlates with glycolysis but negatively with oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid metabolism. These correlations are also consistent at the level of their molecular master regulators, namely AMPK and HIF1α. Yet, these associations are shown to not be universal. The analysis of single-cell data for EMT induction shows dynamic changes along the different axes of metabolic pathways, consistent with general trends seen in bulk samples. Further, assessing the association of EMT and metabolic activity with patient survival shows that a higher extent of EMT and glycolysis predicts a worse prognosis in many cancers. Together, our results reveal the underlying patterns of metabolic plasticity and heterogeneity as cancer cells traverse through the epithelial–hybrid–mesenchymal spectrum of states.