bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corn Grain or Corn Silage: Effects of the Grain-to-Fodder Crop Conversion Program on Farmers’ Income in China
Authors: Wang Shukun , Liu Changquan , Han Lei , Li Tingting , Yang Guolei , Chen Taofeng
Published: July 2022

The Grain-to-Fodder Crop Conversion Program (GCCP) in China mainly promotes the green and sustainable development of grain crops, economic crops, and silage crops by subsidizing livestock farms to encourage farmers to plant silage crops, such as corn silage and alfalfa silage. In this context, this study assesses the impact of planting silage crops on farm household income. Based on a survey of 495 households in Henan and Hebei Provinces, China, we first constructed a theoretical model of the program’s effect on farmers’ income, and then used an ordinary least squares (OLS) method to estimate the magnitude of the GCCP on farmers’ income. To identify endogeneity and further test the stability of the results, we adopted instrumental variable estimation, subsample estimation, and matching methods. The GCCP significantly increased smallholder farm income. Compared with growing corn grain, corn silage increased income by approximately CNY 101/mu. Meanwhile, corn silage reduced the capital input cost of farmers by 10.71% per mu and labor input by 26.6% per mu. Heterogeneity analysis revealed that farmers who plant corn silage on a large scale, closer to dairy farms, have higher incomes. Few scholars have empirically analyzed the impact of GCCP on farm household income from a micro-farm household perspective. This study enriches the empirical literature on the effects of the GCCP on farmers in China, which can help policymakers understand policy implementation.
Coordinating High Yield and Superior Eating Quality of Rice: A Case Study of Hybrid Varieties Derived from Longke638S and Jing4155S
Authors: Yang Wenlong , Wang Kai , Xia Shengming , Du Ting , Fu Yifan , Yang Yuanzhu , Wang Fei
Published: July 2022

The planting area of hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) has continuously decreased in recent years partially because of the low eating quality. Longke638S and Jing4155S are two elite male sterile lines, which are used for developing many hybrid varieties with large planting areas in China. Here, 21 hybrid rice varieties of an incomplete diallel cross population with Longke638S and Jing4155S as female parents were planted under field conditions for two consecutive years, aiming to investigate the physiological and transcriptomic characteristics that is required for coordinating high yield and superior eating quality. As a result, grain yield ranged from 7.15 to 9.23 t ha−1 in 2019 and from 7.49 to 9.23 t ha−1 in 2020, and a negative relationship was identified between yield and quality-related traits. Hybrid varieties with Longke638S as the female parent (LLY) had higher yield but lower eating quality than those with Jing4155S as the female parent (JLY). The higher yield of LLY over JLY was due to higher biomass production and N uptake as well as higher yield stability across planting years, while their lower grain quality can be mainly ascribed to lower amylose content and alkali spreading value. Male parents significantly affected yield-related traits of LLY and eating quality-related traits of JLY. Candidate genes involved in grain starch biosynthesis were differentially expressed between LLYHZ, JLYHZ, and JLY1212, such as Wx and ALK. Overall, this study examined the relationship between grain yield and eating quality and identified the physiological and molecular traits that limited grain yield or eating quality of LLY and JLY hybrid varieties.
Management of the Common Vole in the Czech Lands: Historical and Current Perspectives
Authors: Aulicky Radek , Tkadlec Emil , Suchomel Josef , Frankova Marcela , Heroldová Marta , Stejskal Vaclav
Published: July 2022

The integrated management of a serious agricultural pest, the common vole (Microtus arvalis), should be based on modern and empirically proven approaches. The aim of this paper was to map the historical development of the monitoring and control practices of the common vole in the Czech Republic (CR) territory. Published records of vole population outbreaks and heavy crop damage have been documented in the Czech literature since the turn of the 20th century, and even in crops planted in highly fragmented and diversified agricultural landscapes. In the CR, systematic state monitoring was introduced in 1955. In the 1930’s, there were more than 100 various rodent preparations against the common vole, which were formulated as smoke generators, gases, baits, dusts, toxic mushy mass, and insecticide sprays. Currently, there are only six preparations with three active ingredients registered in the CR. Zinc phosphide is the only active ingredient that has been used from the 1940s to the present, whereas anticoagulants were banned for vole control in 2011 owing to the high environmental risks. The poisoning of nontarget animals by rodenticides is not a new phenomenon tied to synthetic pesticides; poisoning by botanical extracts (strychnine) was documented more than 100 years ago. This review may provide both historical lessons for current practice and new incentives for future research.
New Insights on Biofilm Antimicrobial Strategies, 2nd Volume
Authors: Azevedo Andreia S. , Melo Luís D. R.
Published: July 2022

In biofilms, microorganisms are able to communicate together and assemble by themselves, creating a consortium with different properties from the original free-floating microorganisms [...]
Intermittent Short-Term Infusion vs. Continuous Infusion of Piperacillin: Steady State Concentrations in Porcine Cervical Spine Tissue Evaluated by Microdialysis
Authors: Petersen Elisabeth Krogsgaard , Hanberg Pelle , Knudsen Martin , Tøstesen Sara Kousgaard , Jørgensen Andrea René , Öbrink-Hansen Kristina , Søballe Kjeld , Stilling Maiken , Bue Mats
Published: July 2022

Background: Piperacillin is a central drug in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa spondylodiscitis. Intermittent short-term infusion (STI) remains standard treatment in most centres, although the application of continuous infusion (CI) has shown promising results in other clinical settings. We aimed to evaluate time above the minimal inhibitory concentration (fT > MIC) of the free fraction of piperacillin in steady state conditions in porcine cervical spine tissue following CI and STI using microdialysis with MIC targets of 4, 8, and 16 μg/mL. Methods: 16 female pigs were randomized to receive piperacillin/tazobactam as STI (4/0.5 g every 6 h) or CI (4/0.5 g as a bolus followed by 12/1.5 g) for 18 h. Microdialysis catheters were placed for sampling of piperacillin concentrations from the intervertebral disc, vertebral cancellous bone, paravertebral muscle, and adjacent subcutaneous tissue during the third dosing interval (12–18 h). Blood samples were collected as reference. Results: CI resulted in fT > MIC > 82% across all compartments and targets, except for intervertebral disc (37%) and vertebral cancellous bone (28%) at MIC = 16 μg/mL. In Group STI, >72% fT > MIC was reached for MIC = 4 μg/mL in all investigated compartments, while for MIC = 16 μg/mL only subcutaneous tissue exhibited fT > MIC > 50%. Conclusion: CI of piperacillin resulted in higher fT > MIC compared to STI infusion across the investigated tissues and targets. CI should therefore be considered in spondylodiscitis cases requiring piperacillin treatment.
Efficacy of Short-Term High Dose Pulsed Dapsone Combination Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease/Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) and Associated Co-Infections: A Report of Three Cases and Literature Review
Authors: Horowitz Richard I. , Freeman Phyllis R.
Published: July 2022

Lyme disease and associated co-infections are increasing worldwide and approximately 20% of individuals develop chronic Lyme disease (CLD)/Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) despite early antibiotics. A seven- to eight-week protocol of double dose dapsone combination therapy (DDDCT) for CLD/PTLDS results in symptom remission in approximately 50% of patients for one year or longer, with published culture studies indicating higher doses of dapsone demonstrate efficacy against resistant biofilm forms of Borrelia burgdorferi. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to evaluate higher doses of dapsone in the treatment of resistant CLD/PTLDS and associated co-infections. A total of 25 patients with a history of Lyme and associated co-infections, most of whom had ongoing symptoms despite several courses of DDDCT, took one or more courses of high dose pulsed dapsone combination therapy (200 mg dapsone × 3–4 days and/or 200 mg BID × 4 days), depending on persistent symptoms. The majority of patients noticed sustained improvement in eight major Lyme symptoms, including fatigue, pain, headaches, neuropathy, insomnia, cognition, and sweating, where dapsone dosage, not just the treatment length, positively affected outcomes. High dose pulsed dapsone combination therapy may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of resistant CLD/PTLDS, and should be confirmed in randomized, controlled clinical trials.
Daptomycin Population Pharmacokinetics in Patients Affected by Severe Gram-Positive Infections: An Update
Authors: Balice Giuseppe , Passino Claudio , Bongiorni Maria Grazia , Segreti Luca , Russo Alessandro , Lastella Marianna , Luci Giacomo , Falcone Marco , Di Paolo Antonello
Published: July 2022

Daptomycin pharmacokinetics may not depend on renal function only and it significantly differs between healthy volunteers and severely ill patients. Herein, we propose a population pharmacokinetics model based on 424 plasma daptomycin concentrations collected from 156 patients affected by severe Gram-positive infections during a routine therapeutic drug monitoring protocol. Model building and validation were performed using NONMEM 7.2 (ICON plc), Xpose4 and Perl-speaks-to-NONMEM. The final pop-PK model was a one-compartment first-order elimination model, with a 2.7% IIV for drug clearance (Cl), influence of creatinine clearance on drug clearance and of sex on distribution volume. After model validation, we simulated 10,000 patients with the Monte-Carlo method to predict the efficacy and tolerability of different daptomycin daily dosages. For the most common 6 mg/kg daily dose, the simulated probability of overcoming the toxic minimum concentration (24.3 mg/L) was 14.8% and the efficacy (expressed as a cumulative fraction of response) against methicillin-resistant S. aureus, S. pneumoniae and E. faecium was 95.77%, 99.99% and 68%, respectively. According to the model-informed precision dosing paradigm, pharmacokinetic models such as ours could help clinicians to perform patient-tailored antimicrobial dosing and maximize the odds of therapy success without neglecting toxicity risks.
Monitoring and Analysis of Deformation Evolution Law of Fault Activation Caused by Deep Mining in Shizishan Copper Mine, China
Authors: Guo Yanhui , Luo Luo
Published: July 2022

In order to study the deformation evolution law of fault activation caused by deep mining in Shizishan Copper Mine, China, a monitoring system for fault activation slip is designed and implemented on the basis of the field investigation of footwall fault activation of the main orebody in the mining area. The displacement and stress of the fault are monitored by the multipoint displacement meter, bolt stress meter, and borehole stress meter. According to the measured results, the activation deformation laws of fault F2, fault F3, and fault F4 during deep continuous mining are analyzed in detail. The results show that, when the influence range of underground mining spreads to the fault, the increase in the additional tensile stress on the fault plane will reduce the shear strength of the fault and increase the slip of the fault. When the shear stress exceeds the shear strength of the fault plane, the shear failure of the fault plane occurs, the rock mass on both sides of the fault loses stability, and the fault becomes active; when the orebody in the deep sublevel 14 and sublevel 15 were continuously stoped, the development of the mining influence area to fault F2 leads to fault F2’s activation. When stoping the orebody in sublevel 16, fault F3 also activates. With the continuous downward mining of the deep part, the slip amount increases continuously. The fault activation sequence is from fault F2 to fault F3, and then to fault F4.
Influence of Home Indoor Dampness Exposure on Volatile Organic Compounds in Exhaled Breath of Mothers and Their Infants: The NELA Birth Cohort
Authors: Sola-Martínez Rosa A. , Lozano Terol Gema , Gallego-Jara Julia , Morales Eva , García-Marcos Luis , Noguera-Velasco José Antonio , Cánovas Díaz Manuel , de Diego Puente Teresa
Published: July 2022

Currently, the effect of exposure to indoor air contaminants and the presence of dampness at home on respiratory/atopic health is of particular concern to physicians. The measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath is a useful approach for monitoring environmental exposures. A great advantage of this strategy is that it allows the study of the impact of pollutants on the metabolism through a non-invasive method. In this paper, the levels of nine VOCs (acetone, isoprene, toluene, p/m-xylene, o-xylene, styrene, benzaldehyde, naphthalene, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol) in the exhaled breath of subjects exposed and not exposed to home dampness were assessed. Exhaled breath samples were collected from 337 mother–child pairs of a birth cohort and analysed by gas-chromatography–mass-spectrometry. It was observed that the levels of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in the exhaled breath of the mothers were significantly influenced by exposure to household humidity. In the case of the infants, differences in some of the VOC levels related to home dampness exposure; however, they did not reach statistical significance. In addition, it was also found that the eosinophil counts of the mothers exposed to home dampness were significantly elevated compared to those of the non-exposed mothers. To our knowledge, these findings show, for the first time, that exposure to home dampness may influence VOC patterns in exhaled breath.
Permeation Effect Analysis of Drug Using Raman Spectroscopy for Iontophoresis
Authors: Bi Jiachen , Li Shuyang , Bao Xiang , Chen Na , Fan Kai , Liu Shupeng
Published: July 2022

Iontophoresis technology could improve the efficiency of transdermal drug delivery through the skin and be a promising prospective tool for clinical drug therapy in the near future. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to analyze the concentration distribution of penicillin sodium in the skin of a mice model, and the iontophoresis delivery efficiency of drug percutaneous permeation was evaluated with various times and concentrations of penicillin sodium through Raman spectra. The results showed both the action time and drug concentration for iontophoresis can deeply influence transdermal drug delivery effects, and the Raman spectrum might be an effective method to evaluate transdermal drug delivery efficiency.
Automatic Screening of the Eyes in a Deep-Learning–Based Ensemble Model Using Actual Eye Checkup Optical Coherence Tomography Images
Authors: Hirota Masakazu , Ueno Shinji , Inooka Taiga , Ito Yasuki , Takeyama Hideo , Inoue Yuji , Watanabe Emiko , Mizota Atsushi
Published: July 2022

Eye checkups have become increasingly important to maintain good vision and quality of life. As the population requiring eye checkups increases, so does the clinical work burden of clinicians. An automatic screening algorithm to reduce the clinicians’ workload is necessary. Machine learning (ML) has recently become one of the chief techniques for automated image recognition and is a helpful tool for identifying ocular diseases. However, the accuracy of ML models is lower in a clinical setting than in the laboratory. The performance of ML models depends on the training dataset. Eye checkups often prioritize speed and minimize image processing. Data distribution differs from the training dataset and, consequently, decreases prediction performance. The study aim was to investigate an ML model to screen for retinal diseases from low-quality optical coherence tomography (OCT) images captured during actual eye chechups to prevent a dataset shift. The ensemble model with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and random forest models showed high screening performance in the single-shot OCT images captured during the actual eye checkups. Our study indicates the strong potential of the ensemble model combining the CNN and random forest models in accurately predicting abnormalities during eye checkups.
Ruthenium Complexes, an Emerging Class of Leishmanicidal Drug Candidates
Authors: Braga Susana Santos
Published: July 2022

This review addresses the search for activity enhancement of leishmanicidal organic compounds through their coordination chemistry with ruthenium. In an introduction to leishmaniasis, its clinical manifestations, geographical distribution, available forms of treatment, and challenges to disease management are presented. Ruthenium complexes, owing to their physico-chemical and biological properties, are introduced as a suitable molecular library from which to find alternatives to current medicines. The main sections of the review describe complexes reported in the literature, organised into two main groups: organometallics and inorganic complexes. The activity of the ruthenium complexes is presented compared with that of the ligands for a critical assessment of their utility in future clinical application.
We Know You Are Living in Bali: Location Prediction of Twitter Users Using BERT Language Model
Authors: Simanjuntak Lihardo Faisal , Mahendra Rahmad , Yulianti Evi
Published: July 2022

Twitter user location data provide essential information that can be used for various purposes. However, user location is not easy to identify because many profiles omit this information, or users enter data that do not correspond to their actual locations. Several related works attempted to predict location on English-language tweets. In this study, we attempted to predict the location of Indonesian tweets. We utilized machine learning approaches, i.e., long-short term memory (LSTM) and bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) to infer Twitter users’ home locations using display name in profile, user description, and user tweets. By concatenating display name, description, and aggregated tweet, the model achieved the best accuracy of 0.77. The performance of the IndoBERT model outperformed several baseline models.
A Novel Analytical Approach to Assessing Sorption of Trace Organic Compounds into Micro- and Nanoplastic Particles
Authors: Reichel Julia , Graßmann Johanna , Knoop Oliver , Letzel Thomas , Drewes Jörg E.
Published: July 2022

Assessing the sorption of trace organic compounds (TOrCs) into micro- and nanoplastic particles has traditionally been performed using an aqueous phase analysis or solvent extractions from the particle. Using thermal extraction/desorption–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD-Pyr-GC/MS) offers a possibility to analyze the TOrCs directly from the particle without a long sample preparation. In this study, a combination of two analytical methods is demonstrated. First, the aqueous phase is quantified for TOrC concentrations using Gerstel Twister® and TD-GC/MS. Subsequently, the TOrCs on the particles are analyzed. Different polymer types and sizes (polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), 48 µm; polyethylene (PE), 48 µm; polystyrene (PS), 41 µm; and PS, 78 nm) were analyzed for three selected TOrCs (phenanthrene, triclosan, and α-cypermethrin). The results revealed that, over a period of 48 h, the highest and fastest sorption occurred for PS 78 nm particles. This was confirmed with a theoretical calculation of the particle surface area. It was also shown for the first time that direct quantification of TOrCs from PS 78 nm nanoparticles is possible. Furthermore, in a mixed solute solution, the three selected TOrCs were sorbed onto the particles simultaneously.
Dyslipidaemia—Genotype Interactions with Nutrient Intake and Cerebro-Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Lee Sung-Bum , Choi Ja-Eun , Park Byoungjin , Cha Mi-Yeon , Hong Kyung-Won , Jung Dong-Hyuk
Published: July 2022

A comprehensive understanding of gene-diet interactions is necessary to establish proper dietary guidelines to prevent and manage cardio-cerebrovascular disease (CCD). We investigated the role of genetic variants associated with dyslipidaemia (DL) and their interactions with macro-nutrients for cardiovascular disease using a large-scale genome-wide association study of Korean adults. A total of 58,701 participants from a Korean genome and epidemiology study were included. Their dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Dyslipidaemia was defined as total cholesterol (TCHL) ≥ 240 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) < 40 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ≥ 160 mg/dL, triglycerides (TG) ≥ 200 mg/dL, or dyslipidaemia history. Their nutrient intake was classified as follows: protein intake: high ≥ 30%, 30% > moderate ≥ 20%, and 20% > low in daily total energy intake (TEI); carbohydrate intake: high ≥ 60%, 60% > moderate ≥ 50%, and 50% > low; fat intake: high ≥ 40%, 40% > moderate ≥ 30%, and 30% > low. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated after adjusting for age; sex; body mass index (BMI); exercise status; smoking status; alcohol intake; principal component 1 (PC1); principal component 2 (PC2); and intake of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. This analysis included 20,596 patients with dyslipidaemia and 1027 CCD patients. We found that rs2070895 related to LIPC was associated with HDL-cholesterol. Patients with the minor allele (A) in rs2070895 had a lower risk of CCD than those carrying the reference allele (G) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.8956, p-value = 1.78 × 10−2). Furthermore, individuals consuming protein below 20% TEI with the LIPC reference allele had a higher risk of CCD than those with the minor allele (interaction p-value 6.12 × 10−3). Our findings suggest that the interactions of specific polymorphisms associated with dyslipidaemia and nutrients intake can influence CCD.
Cross-Protection Induced by Virus-like Particles Derived from the Influenza B Virus
Authors: Kang Hae-Ji , Chu Ki-Back , Yoon Keon-Woong , Eom Gi-Deok , Mao Jie , Quan Fu-Shi
Published: July 2022

The mismatch between the circulating influenza B virus (IBV) and the vaccine strain contributes to the rapid emergence of IBV infection cases throughout the globe, which necessitates the development of effective vaccines conferring broad protection. Here, we generated influenza B virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines expressing hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, or both antigens derived from the influenza B virus (B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus, B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus. We found that irrespective of the derived antigen lineage, immunizing mice with the IBV VLPs significantly reduced lung viral loads, minimized bodyweight loss, and ensured 100% survival upon Victoria lineage virus B/Colorado/06/2017 challenge infection. These results were closely correlated with the vaccine-induced antibody responses and HI titer in sera, IgG, IgA antibody responses, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, germinal center B cell responses, and inflammatory cytokine responses in the lungs. We conclude that hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, or both antigen-expressing VLPs derived from these influenza B viruses that were circulating during the 2020/21 season provide cross-protections against mismatched Victoria lineage virus (B/Colorado/06/2017) challenge infections.
Inhibition of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Growth and Biofilm Formation by Tannic Acid
Authors: Jailani Afreen , Ahmed Bilal , Lee Jin-Hyung , Lee Jintae
Published: July 2022

Agrobacterium tumefaciens underlies the pathogenesis of crown gall disease and is characterized by tumor-like gall formation on the stems and roots of a wide variety of economically important plant species. The bacterium initiates infection by colonizing and forming biofilms on plant surfaces, and thus, novel compounds are required to prevent its growth and biofilm formation. In this study, we investigated the ability of tannic acid, which is ubiquitously present in woody plants, to specifically inhibit the growth and biofilm formation of A. tumefaciens. Tannic acid showed antibacterial activity and significantly reduced the biofilm formation on polystyrene and on the roots of Raphanus sativus as determined by 3D bright-field and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Furthermore, tannic acid dose-dependently reduced the virulence features of A. tumefaciens, which are swimming motility, exopolysaccharide production, protease production, and cell surface hydrophobicity. Transcriptional analysis of cells (Abs600 nm = 1.0) incubated with tannic acid for 24 h at 30 °C showed tannic acid most significantly downregulated the exoR gene, which is required for adhesion to surfaces. Tannic acid at 100 or 200 µg/mL limited the iron supply to A. tumefaciens and similarly reduced the biofilm formation to that performed by 0.1 mM EDTA. Notably, tannic acid did not significantly affect R. sativus germination even at 400 µg/mL. The findings of this study suggest that tannic acid has the potential to prevent growth and biofilm formation by A. tumefaciens and thus infections resulting from A. tumefaciens colonization.
Long-Term Systemic Treatment of a Mouse Model Displaying Chronic FSHD-like Pathology with Antisense Therapeutics That Inhibit DUX4 Expression
Authors: Lu-Nguyen Ngoc , Dickson George , Malerba Alberto , Popplewell Linda
Published: July 2022

Silencing the expression of the double homeobox 4 (DUX4) gene offers great potential for the treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Several research groups have recently reported promising results using systemic antisense therapy in a transgenic small animal model of FSHD, the ACTA1-MCM/FLExDUX4 mouse model. However, the treatment was applied in non-DUX4-induced mice or shortly after DUX4 activation, which resulted in conditions that do not correctly represent the situation in a clinic. Here, we generated progressive FSHD-like pathology in ACTA1-MCM/FLExDUX4 mice and then treated the animals with vivoPMO-PACS4, an antisense compound that efficiently downregulates DUX4. To best mimic the translation of this treatment in clinical settings, the systemic antisense oligonucleotide administration was delayed to 3 weeks after the DUX4 activation so that the pathology was established at the time of the treatment. The chronic administration of vivoPMO-PACS4 for 8 weeks downregulated the DUX4 expression by 60%. Consequently, the treated mice showed an increase by 18% in body-wide muscle mass and 32% in muscle strength, and a reduction in both myofiber central nucleation and muscle fibrosis by up to 29% and 37%, respectively. Our results in a more suitable model of FSHD pathology confirm the efficacy of vivoPMO-PACS4 administration, and highlight the significant benefit provided by the long-term treatment of the disease.
Fresh and Hardened Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete Comprising a Copper Slag
Authors: Prithiviraj Chidambaram , Swaminathan Packirisamy , Kumar Deivasigamani Ramesh , Murali Gunasekaran , Vatin Nikolai Ivanovich
Published: July 2022

Recycling trash and protecting natural resources are two of the many benefits of using copper slag as a fine aggregate in a concrete building. However, stakeholders need proven research output to build trust and initiate or enhance the use of such industrial waste in buildings. This study evaluated self-compacting concrete’s fresh and hardened characteristics (SCC) comprising a copper slag aggregate (CSA). For this purpose, six mixes were prepared by substituting river sand with CSA up to 50%, with a 10% increment. The properties of fresh SCC were evaluated using slump flow, V-funnel, and L-box tests. Several parameters of SCC were examined, including water absorption, sorptivity, chloride ion penetration, sulphate attack, and acid attack tests. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate the concrete microstructure. The results indicated that the fresh characteristics of SCC were enhanced as the amount of CSA increased consistently. The durability properties showed a considerable enhancement in SCC mixes comprising up to 20% of CSA.
Indoor Positioning Simulation for Examination and Correction of Occupancy Density Limits in Architectural Design
Authors: Stojanovic Djordje , Vujovic Milica
Published: July 2022

Occupancy density is a dynamic measurement that reveals the relationship between the floor area and occupant count, usually in a room or building. The research presented in this paper probes further into the relationship between the physical properties of space and occupants’ activity, to expand the understanding of occupancy density. The presented outcome is an evidence-based technique for determining room and activity-specific occupancy density limits that can support the design and be integrated into the design process. In this study, occupant information, namely, positioning, is simulated in the spatial context, including room dimensions and furniture layout. Controllable distancing variables, such as those globally introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in indoor environments, are used to assess occupancy density thresholds.
Synergistic Mechanism of Photocatalysis and Photo-Fenton by Manganese Ferrite and Graphene Nanocomposite Supported on Wood Ash with Real Sunlight Irradiation
Authors: Ferreira Maria Eliana Camargo , Soletti Lara de Souza , Bernardino Eduarda Gameleira , Quesada Heloise Beatriz , Gasparotto Francielli , Bergamasco Rosângela , Yamaguchi Natália Ueda
Published: July 2022

The present research aimed to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of reduced graphene oxide and manganese ferrite nanocomposite supported on eucalyptus wood ash waste (WA) from industrial boilers, for the decolorization of methylene blue (MB) solutions, using sunlight as an irradiation source. For this, the photocatalyst named MnFe2O4-G@WA was synthesized by a solvothermal method and characterized by analyzes of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and zeta potential. Firstly, the photocatalyst was evaluated for photocatalytic decolorization of MB under different reaction conditions. Then, the influence of pH, photocatalyst dose and H2O2 was evaluated. MnFe2O4-G@WA showed 94% of efficiency for photocatalytic decolorization of MB under operating conditions of solar irradiation, 0.25 g/L of catalyst, 300 mg/L of H2O2. The proposed degradation reaction mechanism suggested that the photodegradation of MB was through a synergistic mechanism of photocatalysis and photo-Fenton reactions, with the combined action of the three materials used. The data adjusted to the first order kinetics from the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. In addition, MnFe2O4-G@WA showed high stability, maintaining its efficiency above 90% after 5 cycles. The results indicated that the nanophotocatalyst is a potential technology for the decolorization of MB solutions.
Vascular Remodeling Is a Crucial Event in the Early Phase of Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rodent Models for Liver Tumorigenesis
Authors: Tulessin Margaret , Sarker Rim Sabrina Jahan , Griger Joscha , Leibing Thomas , Geraud Cyrill , Weichert Wilko , Steiger Katja , Mogler Carolin
Published: July 2022

The investigation of hepatocarcinogenesis is a major field of interest in oncology research and rodent models are commonly used to unravel the pathophysiology of onset and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. HCC is a highly vascularized tumor and vascular remodeling is one of the hallmarks of tumor progression. To date, only a few detailed data exist about the vasculature and vascular remodeling in rodent models used for hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study, the vasculature of HCC and the preneoplastic foci of alteration (FCA) of different mouse models with varying genetic backgrounds were comprehensively characterized by using immunohistochemistry (CD31, Collagen IV, αSMA, Desmin and LYVE1) and RNA in situ hybridization (VEGF-A). Computational image analysis was performed to evaluate selected parameters including microvessel density, pericyte coverage, vessel size, intratumoral vessel distribution and architecture using the Aperio ImageScope and Definiens software programs. HCC presented with a significantly lower number of vessels, but larger vessel size and increased coverage, leading to a higher degree of maturation, whereas FCA lesions presented with a higher microvessel density and a higher amount of smaller but more immature vessels. Our results clearly demonstrate that vascular remodeling is present and crucial in early stages of experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. In addition, our detailed characterization provides a strong basis for further angiogenesis studies in these experimental models.
Simulation Analysis of Organic–Inorganic Interface Failure of Scallop under Ultra-High Pressure
Authors: Chang Jiang , Gong Xue , Zhang Yinglei , Sun Zhihui , Xia Ning , Zhang Huajiang , Wang Jing , Zhang Xiang
Published: July 2022

Shell is a typical biomineralized inorganic–organic composite material. The essence of scallop deshelling is caused by the fracture failure at the interface of the organic and inorganic–organic matter composites. The constitutive equations were solved so that the stress distributions of the adductor in the radial, circumferential, and axial directions were obtained as σr = σθ = P, σz = 2(2 − ν)P/(2ν − 1), and the shear stress was τzr = 0. Using the method of finite element simulation analysis, the stress distribution laws at different interface states were obtained. The experimental results show that when the amplitude is constant, the undulation period is smaller than the diameter of the adductor or the angle between the bus of the adductor, and the reference horizontal plane gradually decreases, so the interface is more likely to yield. After the analysis, the maximum stress for the yielding of the scallop interface was about 247 MPa, and the whole deshelling process was gradually spread from the outer edge of the interface to the center. The study analyzed the scallop organic–inorganic material interface from the perspective of mechanics, and the mechanical model and simulation analysis results were consistent with the parameter optimization results, which can provide some theoretical basis for the composite material interface failure and in-depth research.
Capacitive Water-Cut Meter with Robust Near-Linear Transfer Function
Authors: Zabolotnyi Oleksandr , Zabolotnyi Vitalii , Koshevoy Nikolay
Published: July 2022

The water content in fuel–water emulsions can vary from 10% to 30%, and is under control during the process of emulsification. The main task of this study was to obtain near-linear static function for a water-cut meter with capacitive sensors, and to provide it with effective type-uncertainty compensation during the process of water–fuel emulsion moisture control. To fulfill the capacitive measurements, two capacitive sensors in the measuring channel and two capacitive sensors in the reference channel were used. The method of least squares and general linear regression instruments were used to obtain robust and near-linear transfer function of the capacitive water-cut meter. The prototype product of the water-cut meter was developed with the purpose of fulfilling multiple moisture measurements and checking the workability of the new transfer function. Values of moisture content for the new transfer function and the closest analog were compared with the help of dispersion analysis. The new transfer function provided minimal dispersions of repeatability and adequacy, and minimal F-test values, proving its better capability for type-uncertainty compensation and better adequacy for the nominal linear transfer function of the water-cut meter.
Latex Allergens in the Ear Straps of Face Coverings and Masks in the UK: Initial Findings
Authors: Mason Howard , Rosa Iwona
Published: July 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to an unprecedented demand for PPE and generated a small-scale industry making personalised face coverings. Concerns had been raised about the use of natural rubber latex (NRL) as an elastomeric material, with its health risks. We have investigated the levels of four NRL allergens and total protein in elastomeric ear-straps in manufactured face coverings and the material sold for their production, and a number of imported N95/KN95 PPE masks. None of the samples identified whether NRL was involved or not. NRL allergens levels in manufactured masks were low or not detectable; 3/10 of the N95/KN95 masks showed levels above the limit of detection, probably reflecting low-level cross-contamination during manufacture. Three batches of material sold for “the manufacture of ear straps for face coverings” had significant but variable levels of allergen (250–2526 ng/g of material). Historically, extractable protein measurements have been used as an indicator of possible NRL proteins. This study showed significant levels of apparent protein in sample extracts without measurable NRL allergens or confirmation by electrophoresis. Therefore, the immunochemical measurement of NRL allergens remains key to rule out elastomeric material with the potential to cause latex-related health problems.
Phylogenetic Tree Selection by Testing Substitution Number in Clade
Authors: Chen Weishan , Wang Hsiuying
Published: July 2022

The phylogenetic tree is a widely-used tool to show the evolutionary relationship between taxa. There are many types of phylogenetic trees proposed in the literature such as maximum likelihood, neighbor-joining, and UPGMA trees. The topologies of different types of trees are not the same. Even for the same type of tree, the topologies are different when they embed different nucleotide substitution models, such as the JC69 model, K80 model, TN93 model, and so on. Although each type of tree has its advantages, selecting a suitable tree among these choices becomes a challenging problem. In this study, we propose a method based on testing the nucleotide substitution number between sequences to select trees. An Ebolavirus example is used to illustrate the method. In addition, this approach can select a suitable nucleotide substitution model for a particular type of tree. For this ebolavirus example, the JC69 model is the selected substitution model for the maximum likelihood tree.
A Classification of Aperiodic Architected Cellular Materials
Authors: Ramirez-Chavez Irving E. , Anderson Daniel , Sharma Raghav , Lee Christine , Bhate Dhruv
Published: July 2022

Architected cellular materials encompass a wide range of design and performance possibilities. While there has been significant interest in periodic cellular materials, recent emphasis has included consideration of aperiodicity, most commonly in studies of stochastic and graded cellular materials. This study proposes a classification scheme for aperiodic cellular materials, by first dividing the design domain into three main types: gradation, perturbation, and hybridization. For each of these types, two design decisions are identified: (i) the feature that is to be modified and (ii) the method of its modification. Considerations such as combining different types of aperiodic design methods, and modulating the degree of aperiodicity are also discussed, along with a review of the literature that places each aperiodic design within the classification developed here, as well as summarizing the performance benefits attributed to aperiodic cellular materials over their periodic counterparts.
Do Not Miss Acute Diffuse Panbronchiolitis for Tree-in-Bud: Case Series of a Rare Lung Disease
Authors: Raedler Johannes , Hoelz Hannes , Zschocke Anna , Loeffler-Ragg Judith , Paolini Marco , Ley-Zaporozhan Julia , Griese Matthias
Published: July 2022

Acute bronchiolitis is a common disease of infants affecting the small airways. Rarely, acute bronchiolitis may occur in adolescents and adults. Here, we present four unrelated adolescent patients with severe clinical presentation and unique CT imaging with extensive tree-in-bud pattern, representing a rare clinical phenotype of acute diffuse panbronchiolitis. This characteristic disease pattern caused by inhalation injury from waterpipes, smoked tobacco, and cannabinoids must be differentiated from e-cigarette or vaping product-use-associated lung injury (EVALI). Visual diagnosis of CT and an early diagnostic procedure for detection and differentiation of inhaled hazards, including sample storage for future identification of novel noxious agents, are warranted.
Calculation of Aortic VAlve and LVOT Areas by a Modified Continuity Equation Using Different Echocardiography Methods: The CAVALIER Study
Authors: Ruf Tobias Friedrich , Cannard Béatrice Elise , Strasser Ruth H. , Linke Axel , Sveric Krunoslav M.
Published: July 2022

Background: The area of the left ventricular outflow tract (ALVOT) represents a major component of the continuity equation (CE), which is, i.a., crucial to calculate the aortic valve (AV) area (AAV). The ALVOT is typically calculated using 2D echo assessments as the measured anterior–posterior (a/p) extension, assuming a round LVOT base. Anatomically, however, usually an elliptical shape of the LVOT base is present, with the long diameter extending from the medial–lateral axis (m/l), which is not recognized by two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. Objective: We aimed to compare standard and three-dimensional (3D)-echocardiography-derived ALVOT calculation and its use in a standard CE (CEstd) and a modified CE (CEmod) to calculate the AAV vs. computed tomography (CT) multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) measurements of the anatomical ALVOT, and AAV, respectively. Methods: Patients were selected if 3D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and cardiac CT were all performed, and imaging quality was adequate. The ALVOT was assessed using 2D calculation, (a/p only), 3D-volume MPR, and 3D-biplane calculation (a/p and m/l). AAV was measured using both CEstd and CEmod, and 3D-volume MPR. Data were compared to corresponding CT analyses. Results: From 2017 to 2018, 107 consecutive patients with complete and adequate imaging data were included. The calculated ALVOT was smaller when assessed by 2D- compared to both 3D-volume MPR and 3D-biplane calculation. Calculated AAV was correspondingly smaller in CEstd compared to CEmod or 3D-volume MPR. The ALVOT and AAV, using data from 3D echocardiography, highly correlated and were congruent with corresponding measurements in CT. Conclusion: Due to the elliptic shape of the LVOT, use of measurements and calculations based on 2D echocardiography systematically underestimates the ALVOT and dependent areas, such as the AAV. Anatomically correct assessment can be achieved using 3D echocardiography and adapted calculations, such as CEmod.
Deep Multilabel Multilingual Document Learning for Cross-Lingual Document Retrieval
Authors: Feng Kai , Huang Lan , Xu Hao , Wang Kangping , Wei Wei , Zhang Rui
Published: July 2022

Cross-lingual document retrieval, which aims to take a query in one language to retrieve relevant documents in another, has attracted strong research interest in the last decades. Most studies on this task start with cross-lingual comparisons at the word level and then represent documents via word embeddings, which leads to insufficient structure information. In this work, the cross-lingual comparison at the document level is achieved through the cross-lingual semantic space. Our method, MDL (deep multilabel multilingual document learning), leverages a six-layer fully connected network to project cross-lingual documents into a shared semantic space. The semantic distances can be calculated when the cross-lingual documents are transformed into embeddings in semantic space. The supervision signals are automatically extracted from the data and then used to construct the semantic space via a linear classifier. The ambiguity of manual labels could be avoided and the multilabel supervision signals can be acquired instead of a single label. The representation of the semantic space is enriched by multilabel supervision signals, which improves the discriminative ability of the embeddings. The MDL is easy to extend to other fields since it does not depend on specific data. Furthermore, MDL is more efficient than the models training all languages jointly, since each language is trained individually. Experiments on Wikipedia data showed that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art cross-lingual document retrieval methods.
Feasible, Robust and Reliable Automation and Control for Autonomous Systems
Authors: Hamid Umar Zakir Abdul , Hu Chuan , Zolotas Argyrios
Published: July 2022

The global market for autonomous robotics platforms has grown rapidly due to the advent of drones, mobile robots, and driverless cars, while the mass media coverage examining the progress of robotics and autonomous systems field is widespread [...]
Real-Time Detection of Karstification Hazards While Drilling in Carbonates
Authors: Maksimov Danil , Pavlov Alexey , Sangesland Sigbjørn
Published: July 2022

The nature of carbonate deposition can cause the development of unique geological features such as cavities and vugs called karsts. Encountering karsts while drilling can lead to serious consequences. To improve drilling safety in intervals of karstification, it is important to detect karsts as early as possible. The use of state-of-the-art geophysical methods cannot guarantee early or even real-time detection of karsts or karstification zones. In this paper we demonstrate, based on an analysis of 20 wells drilled in karstified carbonates in the Barents Sea, that a karst that is dangerous for drilling is often surrounded by one or more other karstification objects, thus forming a karstification zone. These zones can be detected in real time through certain patterns in drillstring mechanics and mud flow measurements. They can serve as indicators of intervals with a high likelihood of encountering karsts. The identified patterns corresponding to various karstification objects are summarized in a table and can be used by drilling engineers. Apart from that, these patterns can also be utilized for training machine learning algorithms for the automatic detection of karstification zones.