bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enteric Methane Emissions from Dairy–Beef Steers Supplemented with the Essential Oil Blend Agolin Ruminant
Authors: Miller Gemma A. , Bowen Jenna M. , Dewhurst Richard J. , Zweifel Beatrice , Spengler Katrin , Duthie Carol-Anne
Published: June 2023

Agriculture is the largest source of methane globally, and enteric methane accounts for 32% of methane emissions globally. Dairy–beef is an increasingly important contributor to the beef industry. The objective of this study was to investigate if supplementation with a blend of essential oils (Agolin Ruminant) reduced enteric methane emissions from dairy-bred steers. Methane was measured from thirty-six Holstein Friesian steers (18 control and 18 treatment) in open-circuit respiration chambers, at three time-points relative to the introduction of Agolin Ruminant: (i) −3 (pre-additive introduction co-variate), (ii) 46 days after introduction, and (iii) 116 days after introduction. A significantly lower methane yield was observed in treated animals compared to control animals at both 46 days (p < 0.05) and 116 days (p < 0.01) after the introduction of Agolin Ruminant, although there was no difference in methane production (g/day). Control animals appeared to be more affected by isolation in respiration chambers than animals receiving Agolin Ruminant, as indicated by a significant reduction in dry matter intake by control animals in respiration chambers.
The Interaction between Feed Bioactive Compounds and Chicken Genome
Authors: Gvozdanović Kristina , Kralik Zlata , Radišić Žarko , Košević Manuela , Kralik Gordana , Djurkin Kušec Ivona
Published: June 2023

Consumer demand for high quality and safe foods that will have a positive impact on their health has increased in recent years. Today, it is possible to meet those demands by combining the genetic potential of domestic animals and applying different feeding strategies. Nutrigenomics is one of the “omics” sciences that studies the interaction between nutrients and the genome together with their influence on metabolic and physiological processes in the body. While nutrition of domestic animals is solely based on studying the influence of nutrients on animal health and production traits, nutrigenomics integrates the fields of nutrition, genomics, molecular genetics and bioinformatics. By understanding the molecular relationships between different forms and/or concentrations of nutrients in feed and genes, it is possible to answer the question of how small changes in the diet of farm animals can produce a quality product with positive effects on human health. The aim of this article is to describe how the manipulation of adding different nutrients in the feed affects the expression of different genes in chicken and consequently alters their phenotype.
Anaerobutyricum and Subdoligranulum Are Differentially Enriched in Broilers with Disparate Weight Gains
Authors: Liu Jing , Robinson Kelsy , Lyu Wentao , Yang Qing , Wang Jing , Christensen Karen D. , Zhang Guolong
Published: June 2023

The intestinal microbiota is critically important for animal health and productivity. However, the influence of the intestinal microbiota on animal growth efficiency remains elusive. This current study was aimed at identifying the intestinal bacteria that are associated with the growth rate of broilers in a commercial production setting. Ross 708 broilers with extremely high, medium, and extremely low body weight (BW) were separately selected for each sex from a house of approximately 18,000 chickens on day 42. The cecal content of each animal was subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing for microbiota profiling. Our results indicate that a number of bacteria were differentially enriched among different groups of broilers, with several showing a significant correlation (p < 0.05) with BW in both sexes or in a sex-specific manner. Subdoligranulum was drastically diminished in high-BW birds with a strong negative correlation with BW in both males and females. While one Anaerobutyricum strain showed a positive correlation with BW in both sexes, another strain of Anaerobutyricum was positively correlated with BW only in females. These sex-dependent and -independent bacteria could be targeted for improving the growth efficiency and may also be explored as potential biomarkers for the growth rate of broiler chickens.
An In Vitro Study of Local Oxygen Therapy as Adjunctive Antimicrobial Therapeutic Option for Patients with Periodontitis
Authors: Müller-Heupt Lena Katharina , Eckelt Anja , Eckelt John , Groß Jonathan , Opatz Till , Kommerein Nadine
Published: June 2023

Periodontitis is a common global disease caused by bacterial dysbiosis leading to tissue destruction, and it is strongly associated with anaerobic bacterial colonization. Therapeutic strategies such as oxygen therapy have been developed to positively influence the dysbiotic microbiota, and the use of oxygen-releasing substances may offer an added benefit of avoiding systemic effects commonly associated with antibiotics taken orally or hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Therefore, the oxygen release of calcium peroxide (CaO2) was measured using a dissolved oxygen meter, and CaO2 solutions were prepared by dissolving autoclaved CaO2 in sterile filtered and deionized water. The effects of CaO2 on planktonic bacterial growth and metabolic activity, as well as on biofilms of Streptococcus oralis and Porphyromonas gingivalis, were investigated through experiments conducted under anaerobic conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of CaO2 as an antimicrobial agent for the treatment of periodontitis. Results showed that CaO2 selectively inhibited the growth and viability of P. gingivalis (p < 0.001) but had little effect on S. oralis (p < 0.01), indicating that CaO2 has the potential to selectively affect both planktonic bacteria and mono-species biofilms of P. gingivalis. The results of this study suggest that CaO2 could be a promising antimicrobial agent with selective activity for the treatment of periodontitis.
Uncovering the Important Genetic Factors for Growth during Cefotaxime-Gentamicin Combination Treatment in blaCTX-M-1 Encoding Escherichia coli
Authors: Alobaidallah Mosaed Saleh A. , García Vanesa , De Mets Richard , Wellner Sandra M. , Thomsen Line E. , Herrero-Fresno Ana , Olsen John Elmerdahl
Published: June 2023

Due to the rapid spread of CTX-M type ESBLs, the rate of resistance to third-generation cephalosporin has increased among Gram-negative bacteria, especially in Escherichia coli, and there is a need to find ways to re-sensitize ESBL E. coli to cephalosporin treatment. A previous study showed that genes involved in protein synthesis were significantly up-regulated in the presence of subinhibitory concentration of cefotaxime (CTX) in a CTX-M-1-producing E. coli. In this study, the interaction between CTX and gentamicin (GEN), targeting protein synthesis, was evaluated in MG1655/pTF2, and the MIC of CTX was strongly reduced (128-fold) in the presence of this combnation therapy. Since the underlying mechanism behind this synergy is not known, we constructed a saturated transposon mutant library in MG1655/pTF2::blaCTX-M-1 containing 315,925 unique transposon insertions to measure mutant depletion upon exposure to CTX, GEN, and combination treatment of CTX and GEN by Transposon Directed Insertion-site Sequencing (TraDIS). We identified 57 genes that were depleted (log2FC ≤ −2 and with q.value ≤ 0.01) during exposure to CTX, 18 for GEN, and 31 for combination treatment of CTX and GEN. For validation, we deleted eight genes that were either uniquely identified in combination treatment, overlapped with monotherapy of GEN, or were shared between combination treatment and monotherapy with CTX and GEN. Of these genes, we found that the inactivation of dnaK, mnmA, rsgA, and ybeD increased the efficacy of both CTX and GEN treatment, the inactivation of cpxR and yafN increased the efficacy of only CTX, and the inactivation of mnmA, rsgA, and ybeD resulted in increased synergy between CTX and GEN. Thus, the study points to putative targets for helper drugs that can restore susceptibility to these important drugs, and it indicates that genes involved in protein synthesis are essential for the synergy between these two drugs. In summary, the study identified mutants that sensitize ESBL-producing E. coli to CTX and a combination of CTX and GEN, and it increased our understanding of the mechanism behind synergy between β-lactam and aminoglycoside drugs. This forms a framework for developing new strategies to combat infections caused by resistant bacteria.
Bacterial Adhesion Strength on Titanium Surfaces Quantified by Atomic Force Microscopy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tardelli Juliana Dias Corpa , Bagnato Vanderlei Salvador , Reis Andréa Cândido dos
Published: June 2023

Few studies have been able to elucidate the correlation of factors determining the strength of interaction between bacterial cells and substrate at the molecular level. The aim was to answer the following question: What biophysical factors should be considered when analyzing the bacterial adhesion strength on titanium surfaces and its alloys for implants quantified by atomic force microscopy? This review followed PRISMA. The search strategy was applied in four databases. The selection process was carried out in two stages. The risk of bias was analyzed. One thousand four hundred sixty-three articles were found. After removing the duplicates, 1126 were screened by title and abstract, of which 57 were selected for full reading and 5 were included; 3 had a low risk of bias and 2 moderated risks of bias. (1) The current literature shows the preference of bacteria to adhere to surfaces of the same hydrophilicity. However, this fact was contradicted by this systematic review, which demonstrated that hydrophobic bacteria developed hydrogen bonds and adhered to hydrophilic surfaces; (2) the application of surface treatments that induce the reduction of areas favorable for bacterial adhesion interfere more in the formation of biofilm than surface roughness; and (3) bacterial colonization should be evaluated in time-dependent studies as they develop adaptation mechanisms, related to time, which are obscure in this review.
Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb): Unavoidable Bystander or Protective Player?
Authors: Carrola André , Romão Carlos C. , Vieira Helena L. A.
Published: June 2023

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a cytoprotective endogenous gas that is ubiquitously produced by the stress response enzyme heme-oxygenase. Being a gas, CO rapidly diffuses through tissues and binds to hemoglobin (Hb) increasing carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels. COHb can be formed in erythrocytes or in plasma from cell-free Hb. Herein, it is discussed as to whether endogenous COHb is an innocuous and inevitable metabolic waste product or not, and it is hypothesized that COHb has a biological role. In the present review, literature data are presented to support this hypothesis based on two main premises: (i) there is no direct correlation between COHb levels and CO toxicity, and (ii) COHb seems to have a direct cytoprotective and antioxidant role in erythrocytes and in hemorrhagic models in vivo. Moreover, CO is also an antioxidant by generating COHb, which protects against the pro-oxidant damaging effects of cell-free Hb. Up to now, COHb has been considered as a sink for both exogenous and endogenous CO generated during CO intoxication or heme metabolism, respectively. Hallmarking COHb as an important molecule with a biological (and eventually beneficial) role is a turning point in CO biology research, namely in CO intoxication and CO cytoprotection.
Contribution of Physical Activity to the Oxidative and Antioxidant Potential in 60–65-Year-Old Seniors
Authors: Sołtysik Bartłomiej K. , Karolczak Kamil , Kostka Tomasz , Stephenson Serena S. , Watala Cezary , Kostka Joanna
Published: June 2023

Both acute exercise and regular physical activity (PA) are directly related to the redox system. However, at present, there are data suggesting both positive and negative relationships between the PA and oxidation. In addition, there is a limited number of publications differentiating the relationships between PA and numerous markers of plasma and platelets targets for the oxidative stress. In this study, in a population of 300 participants from central Poland (covering the age range between 60 and 65 years), PA was assessed as regards energy expenditure (PA-EE) and health-related behaviors (PA-HRB). Total antioxidant potential (TAS), total oxidative stress (TOS) and several other markers of an oxidative stress, monitored in platelet and plasma lipids and proteins, were then determined. The association of PA with oxidative stress was determined taking into the account basic confounders, such as age, sex and the set of the relevant cardiometabolic factors. In simple correlations, platelet lipid peroxides, free thiol and amino groups of platelet proteins, as well as the generation of superoxide anion radical, were inversely related with PA-EE. In multivariate analyses, apart from other cardiometabolic factors, a significant positive impact of PA-HRB was revealed for TOS (inverse relationship), while in the case of PA-EE, the effect was found to be positive (inverse association) for lipid peroxides and superoxide anion but negative (lower concentration) for free thiol and free amino groups in platelets proteins. Therefore, the impact of PA may be different on oxidative stress markers in platelets as compared to plasma proteins and also dissimilar on platelet lipids and proteins. These associations are more visible for platelets than plasma markers. For lipid oxidation, PA seems to have protective effect. In the case of platelets proteins, PA tends to act as pro-oxidative factor.
Review of the Interfacial Bonding Properties between Ultrahigh-Performance Concrete and Normal Concrete
Authors: Xu Liying , Yao Yong , Li Yuxiang , Su Jiazhan , Wu Yingxiong
Published: June 2023

As a high-quality building material exhibiting excellent toughness and durability, ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) is increasingly being used in the construction industry and as building reinforcement. During the reinforcement of existing concrete structures with UHPC, their interface is the weakest part of a structure. Interface bonding ensures the operation of two types of materials together. However, existing studies rarely report the bonding of the UHPC–normal concrete (NC) interface. Herein, the existing test methods and interface bonding mechanisms are summarized. Subsequently, the differences among relevant design codes are investigated by comparing different theoretical formulas. Important influencing factors of the reinforcement method, namely, interface roughness, fiber type and content, interface agent type and content, moisture content, existing concrete strength, cementitious material content, curing conditions, freeze–thaw cycles, and chloride ions, are also considered. Further, the enhancement mechanism of the characteristics of the UHPC–NC interface is clearly described. Finally, the shortcomings and application prospects of the interfacial bonding properties are highlighted.
Antioxidant Activities of Plant Extracts (Ammannia multiflora, Ammannia coccinea, and Salix gracilistyla) Activate the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Jayasingha Jayasingha Arachchige Chathuranga Chanaka , Choi Yung Hyun , Kang Chang-Hee , Lee Mi-Hwa , Heo Moon-Soo , Kim Gi-Young
Published: June 2023

To identify potent plant extracts with strong antioxidant activity, we evaluated the free radical scavenging activity of 184 plant extracts obtained from the Freshwater Bioresources Culture Collection (FBCC) of Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources (Republic of Korea), as various plant extracts have been used therapeutically to prevent chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress. From them, three plant extracts (FBCC-EP858 from Ammannia multiflora, FBCC-EP920 from Ammannia coccinea, and FBCC-EP1014 from Salix gracilistyla) were selected based on their abilities to scavenge the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical with more than 80% efficiency. We found that these extracts had in vitro half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 11.89 to 14.26 μg/mL and strong total antioxidant activity (corresponding to approximately 0.18, 0.22, and 0.23 mM Trolox, respectively). We also studied the effect of these extracts on RAW 264.7 macrophages and found that FBCC-EP920 significantly downregulated relative cell viability at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. However, the other two extracts, FBCC-EP858 and FBCC-EP1014, did not affect cell viability at the same concentration. Additionally, all three extracts inhibited hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential in RAW 264.7 macrophages. An additional experiment in zebrafish larvae showed that the three extracts reduced 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) fluorescent intensity induced by H2O2. The extracts also upregulated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, and an HO-1 inhibitor, zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP), attenuated the extract-induced antioxidant activity both in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, these findings suggest that the extracts from A. multiflora, A. coccinea, and S. gracilistyla have potential free radical scavenging and antioxidant capacities both in vivo and in vitro by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. These results could be useful for the prevention and treatment of various oxidative stress-mediated human diseases.
Laser Cavitation Peening: A Review
Authors: Soyama Hitoshi , Iga Yuka
Published: June 2023

During submerged laser peening using a pulsed laser, a bubble that behaves like cavitation is generated after laser ablation (LA). The bubble is referred to as laser cavitation (LC). The amplitude of the shockwave in water generated by LA is larger than that of LC; however, the impact passing through the target metal during LC is larger than that of LA. LC impact can be utilized for peening at optimized conditions. Thus, submerged laser peening is referred to as “laser cavitation peening”, as the peening method using the cavitation impact is known as “cavitation peening”. The impact induced by a hemispherical bubble is more aggressive than that of a spherical bubble with a microjet. Laser cavitation peening can improve the fatigue strength of metallic materials by producing work-hardening and introducing compressive residual stress. Three-dimensional additively manufactured metals (3D metals) such as titanium alloy are attractive materials for aviation components and medical implants; however, the fatigue strength of as-built components is nearly half of that of bulk metals, and this is an obstacle for the applications of 3D metals. In the present study, published research papers are reviewed to identify the key factors of laser cavitation peening, with additional visualization of LC and data. Then, improvements in the fatigue strength of metallic materials, including 3D metals treated by laser cavitation peening, are summarized.
Vehicle Control Strategy Evaluation Based on the Driving Stability Region
Authors: Wang Xianbin , Li Zexuan , Zhang Fugang , Li Weifeng , Bao Wenlong
Published: June 2023

Vehicle stability control strategies can improve driving safety effectively; however, there is still a lack of unified evaluation criteria for different control strategies. This paper proposes a vehicle control strategy evaluation method based on the driving stability region and is analyzed by using direct yaw moment control (DYC) and four-wheel steering (4WS) as examples. Firstly, the five-degree-of-freedom (5DOF) vehicle system models including DYC and 4WS are established, and the effectiveness of the control strategies is verified by nonlinear analysis methods; the dynamic characteristics of the system are also analyzed. Following this, a hybrid algorithm combining the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) methods is used to solve the system equilibrium points, and the driving stability regions under different control strategies are obtained. Finally, the driving stability regions are tested based on the CarSim and Simulink simulations, and the control performance is evaluated. The results indicate that DYC and 4WS can improve vehicle stability and expand the range of driving stability regions. When the initial longitudinal velocity is below 30 m/s, the driving stability regions under DYC and 4WS expand to different extents compared to the original driving stability region. The expanded driving stability regions show that the stability region of the vehicle with DYC is larger than that of 4WS; thus, the control effect of DYC is better than that of 4WS. The proposed method can be used to evaluate the effective range of different control strategies.
Substructure Pseudo-Dynamic Test Study for a Structure Including Soil–Pile–Structure Dynamic Interaction
Authors: Ge Qi , Zheng Tiancai , Xiong Feng , Ran Mingming , Chen Jiang , Lu Yang
Published: June 2023

An improved Penzien model is proposed in this paper as a simplified model of soil–pile–structure interaction. The dynamic nonlinearity of soil under earthquake excitation is simulated by ANSYS in a free-field model and added to the original Penzien model. The improved Penzien model uses the finite element software ANSYS 2021 to simulate the dynamic nonlinearity of soil. The improved Penzien model is then used as a simplified calculation model of the numerical substructure. A substructure pseudo-dynamic test based on the improved Penzien model is carried out. The realization of the substructure pseudo-dynamic test verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of this method, which provides a convenient test method for the study of soil–pile–structure interaction in general laboratories. Soil and structure interaction reduces the acceleration of the structure, and the response exhibited a hysteresis phenomenon because of the nonlinear characteristics of the soil. The influences of soil–pile–structure interaction on velocity and displacement are very complex. The conclusions are reasonable, which proves that the substructure pseudo-dynamic test method of soil–pile–structure dynamic interaction using the improved Penzien model is feasible.
Application of Wood Composites III
Authors: Lee Seng Hua , Antov Petar , Kristak Lubos , Reh Roman , Lubis Muhammad Adly Rahandi
Published: June 2023

Composite wood materials, also known as engineered wood products, are fabricated from wood veneer, particles, strands, flakes, or fibers that are bonded together with synthetic or renewable, biobased adhesive systems and designed to meet a wide range of structural and non-structural applications [...]
Non-Linear Analytical Model for the Study of Double-Layer Supercapacitors in Different Industrial Uses
Authors: Pedrayes Joaquín F. , Quintana Maria F. , Cabanas Manés F. , Melero Manuel G. , Orcajo Gonzalo A. , González Andrés S.
Published: June 2023

It is generally considered that the representation of a double layer supercapacitor (DLSC) cannot be performed with the usual capacitance and resistance series connected, as it induces a relatively high level of inaccuracy in the results. In multiple previous studies, more advanced models have been developed with very different approaches: models with distributed parameter circuits, based on artificial neural networks (ANNs), fractional order, etc. A non-linear model, less complex than the previous ones and whose behavior adequately represents the DLSCs, is the one formed by a variable capacitance, dependent on its internal voltage. This paper presents a mathematical study to obtain analytical expressions of all the electrical variables of DLSCs, voltage, current, dissipated power and so on, by means of a previous model. This study is carried out considering that the DLSC is charged and discharged through a voltage source and also discharged through a resistor. In later sections, the operational conditions of the DLSC in numerous industrial applications are presented. Finally, a comparative analysis is made between the results produced by the conventional model, with constant capacitance, and the developed model. This analysis is finally followed by the conclusions.
Exploring the Potential Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on International Students in Higher Education: Generative AI, Chatbots, Analytics, and International Student Success
Authors: Wang Ting , Lund Brady D. , Marengo Agostino , Pagano Alessandro , Mannuru Nishith Reddy , Teel Zoë A. , Pange Jenny
Published: June 2023

International students face unique challenges in pursuing higher education in a foreign country. To address these challenges and enhance their academic experience, higher education institutions are increasingly exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) applications. This research essay aims to investigate the impact of AI on the education of international students. Instead of a traditional literature review, it employs a research approach to examine the potential applications of AI and discuss associated concerns. The research paper explores various AI applications, such as personalized learning experiences, adaptive testing, predictive analytics, and chatbots for learning and research. By analyzing the role of AI in education for international students, this research paper sheds light on how AI can improve learning efficiency and provide customized educational support. Additionally, it identifies significant risks and limitations, including privacy concerns, cultural differences, language proficiency, and ethical implications, which must be effectively addressed. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the potential impact of AI on international students’ educational experiences and offer insights into the integration of AI into educational administration and learning processes.
A Millimeter-Wave Radar Tunnel Obstacle Detection Method Based on Invalid Target Filtering
Authors: Pan Yue , Huo Fulin , Wang Zhichong , Zhai Shengyu , Geng Zhongcheng
Published: June 2023

Underground obstacle detection is the premise of unmanned driving. Aiming at the problem of obstacle detection in coal mines using a millimeter-wave radar, this paper proposes a filtering algorithm for invalid targets in roadways. Firstly, the target information output by millimeter-wave radar is analyzed, and the obstacle information of the underground roadway is extracted. Then, the filter algorithm is used to filter the resolved empty targets, false targets and non-potentially dangerous targets. The empty target whose target distance is zero in radar data is filtered directly. The pseudo targets generated by the radar performance or the instability of the echo signal are filtered through the radar-effective target life cycle method. The non-threatening targets beyond the horizontal range threshold and longitudinal range threshold are filtered directly. The experimental results show that the average filtering rate of the algorithm is more than 87.82% in the static state. When the speed is 5 km/h, the average filter rate is 87.70% for smooth driving and 86.83% for uneven road surfaces. When the speed is 7 km/h, the smooth driving rate is 87.54%, and the uneven road surface is 86.56%. When the speed is 10 km/h, the smooth driving rate is 86.50%, and the uneven road surface is 86.44%. Although the filter rate decreases with the increase of speed or vehicle vibration in the running state, the average filter rate of the proposed algorithm can reach more than 86% under all conditions.
Inter-Story Drift Ratio Detection of High-Rise Buildings Based on Ambient Noise Recordings
Authors: Peng Zhen , Guo Zhen , Shen Yifan , Wang Xu
Published: June 2023

The inter-story drift ratio (IDR) is a crucial parameter in structural health monitoring to judge the safety, stability, and serviceability of buildings. Real-time, continuous, and widely applicable detection on IDRs is essential. However, the current methods present some challenges in conducting such detection, including adverse effects from weather, the requirement for large amounts of space, and fragile instruments. This study proposes an alternative method to overcome these defects to measure IDRs and evaluate the structural conditions using ambient noise recordings. Ambient noise is a random and continuous wave signal with various sources and is modified by its propagating medium. Taking the Zhonghe Building on the campus of Tongji University, Shanghai, China, as an example, 24 three-component seismometers were deployed to capture and record the ambient noise continuously from 20 November 2021 to 9 December 2021. Using analysis of the polarization parameters of ambient noise during the building’s most dangerous time and ordinary time, a deflection curve, IDRs, and harmful IDRs of the Zhonghe Building during the most dangerous time were calculated. The computed maximum drift was 0.06 m, the maximum IDR was 1.140×10−3, and the maximum harmful IDR was −2.573×10−4. These results were compared with the relevant specifications in China, and it was found that the structure was in good condition. The study proposes an alternative method to measure IDRs with high applicability and continuity in real time and underscores the need for further research to achieve a localized and real-time structural health monitoring system.
A Twitter-Based Comparative Analysis of Emotions and Sentiments of Arab and Hispanic Football Fans
Authors: Alhadlaq Aseel , Alnuaim Abeer
Published: June 2023

Twitter is one of the best online platforms for social interaction, introducing unique means of story-telling through tweets and enabling multiple approaches to the analysis of their content. This study was motivated by the increasing practice of incorporating Twitter into cultural studies and the research gap in Twitter-based cultural studies between emerging nations. This research aims to examine the emotional and sentimental cultural traits of Arabic and Hispanic viewers of a specific football match, as shown through their tweets, regardless of their distinct languages, to determine whether cultural diversity can be noticed in online interaction. Hundreds of tweets from both communities were translated into English as an intermediate language and then evaluated and contrasted using machine learning (ML) models. According to the research, Arabs are more collectivistic (as opposed to individualistic) and, as a result, exhibit less emotional arousal than Hispanics, which was partially supported by the collected Twitter data. This demonstrates how Twitter could play a key part in cultural research, and, therefore, this study contributes to cross-national comparative cultural research. We demonstrate that our method can also be used to evaluate the quality of machine translation based on how effectively it captures the emotions and sentiments of original languages.
Power Transformer Condition-Based Evaluation and Maintenance (CBM) Using Dempster–Shafer Theory (DST)
Authors: Blažević Damir , Keser Tomislav , Glavaš Hrvoje , Noskov Robert
Published: June 2023

Transformers are the most important elements in the power system. Due to their mass and complexity, they require constant monitoring and maintenance. Maintenance of power transformers increases the availability of the power system. The large number of substations and the specifics of their locations make condition-based maintenance (CBM) useful as part of the system's on-demand response. Unlike other system responses, the transformer contains a large amount of uncertain information, both qualitative and numerical. A large amount of information is necessary to implement CBM, but due to the often incomplete information, an analysis tool is essential. In this paper, a multi-level condition assessment framework based on evidential reasoning is proposed. A model for condition-based maintenance of a power transformer and procedures for the aggregation process based on evidential reasoning are presented. The implementation of the decomposition model with appropriate weights of a baseline and general attributes was made. Based on the decomposition model, the data and ratings of baseline attributes were collected. By carrying out the aggregation process, the ratings of the baseline attributes, as well as the ratings of the condition of the individual elements and the overall rating of the system condition as a whole, for several points in time, were obtained. The scientific contribution of the work is the proposal of an analysis that provides an insight into the condition of a complex technical system based on a single numerical value, thus determining its priority in the maintenance process.
Evaluation of Magonia pubescens A. St.-Hill. Roots Extract against Phytopathogens: Searching for Eco-Friendly Crop Protection Products
Authors: Moraes Acácio R. A. , Sabina Samuel R. , Expósito Daniela G. , Giménez Cristina , Espinel Guacimara , Sousa Grasiely F. , Duarte Lucienir P. , Jiménez Ignacio A. , Cabrera Raimundo , Bazzocchi Isabel L.
Published: June 2023

Botanical biopesticides have emerged as sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides, whose indiscriminate use leads to several drawbacks to human and environmental health. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports on M. pubescens’ bioactivity on phytopathogens affecting crops as a potential fungicide or antifeedant. This has encouraged us to investigate the potential of the roots of this plant as a source of biopesticides. The present study reports on the evaluation of the roots extract from Magonia pubescens A. St.-Hill., a species from the Cerrado (Brazilian savannah), on the phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, and Alternaria alternata. In addition, its insect antifeedant effect was assayed against Chrysodeixis chalcites. Thus, an in vitro test-assay was used to determine the fungicide potential (percentage growth inhibition, % GI) of the ethanolic extract of this plant species, whereas a leaf-disk bioassay on the 5th instar larvae of C. chalcites was performed to evaluate its insecticidal potential. The ethanolic extract was further fractionated by liquid–liquid partition using solvents of increasing polarity. The hexane/dichloromethane fraction exhibited a moderated potency and was similar to the ethanolic extract on the three assayed fungi (around % GI 30 at 1 mg/mL), whereas the n-butanol fraction showed a slight improvement of the fungicide effect against B. cinerea (% GI 39.18 at 1 mg/mL). Moreover, the ethanolic extract exhibited a strong antifeedant activity, with a refusal rate (FR) higher than 90% in both choice and non-choice assays against C. chalcites, while the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions behaved as appetite suppressors. These results highlight M. pubescens as a promising source of biopesticides and deserve further investigations to optimize extraction procedures.
Prediction of Chatter Stability in Bull-Nose End Milling of Thin-Walled Cylindrical Parts Using Layered Cutting Force Coefficients
Authors: Zhou Xu , Zhang Congpeng , Xu Minggang , Wu Baohai , Zhang Dinghua
Published: June 2023

During the bull-nose end milling operations of thin-walled structures, chatter usually occurs and adversely affects cutter performance, finished surface quality, and production efficiency. To accurately predict chatter stability, a suitable dynamic model with effective system parameters is required. In this article, a three-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) dynamic model is developed to analyze the milling stability of the thin-walled cylinders, in which the dynamics of the bull-nose end mill along the x-axis and y-axis directions and the dynamic of the workpiece along the z-axis direction are taken into account. Then, the cutter-workpiece engagement (CWE) is extracted by employing a slice-intersection-based approach. And the layered cutting force coefficients are identified by considering the influences of varying cutter diameters on the cutting speed. Thereafter, the semi-discretization method (SDM) is adopted to compute the stability lobe diagram (SLD). In the end, a group of milling tests are carried out on a thin-walled cylinder to validate the accuracy and reliability of the proposed model, and the results show that the model predictions agree well with the experimental data.
Nicola Guerra (1865–1942) at the Budapest Opera: A Crucial Turning Point for Hungarian Ballet
Authors: Falcone Francesca
Published: June 2023

This study aims to investigate the contribution that the Italian maestro Nicola Guerra brought to the Budapest Opera House Ballet (from 1902 to 1915), founding a corps de ballet capable of competing with the best corps de ballet of other international theatres and endowing the theatre with a consistent and valuable number of choreographies, some of which were performed even after Guerra had left Hungary. It also aims to investigate the transnational career of a choreographer in the early twentieth century, exploring the circulation of mindsets in a range of dance concepts. The investigation explores first-hand sources, many of which come from the Guerra family archives, dwelling also on the notations transcribed by the maestro himself, in particular of the ballet Havasi Gyopár (Edelweiss), which allow us to draw with some reliability on his compositional style that was particularly fruitful in choreographies for large groups.
Street Guide as a Literary Genre: La Manada City
Authors: López-Cabrales María del Mar , Cabeza-Lainez Joseph , Rodriguez-Cunill Inmaculada
Published: June 2023

This study thoroughly examines La Manada (The Wolf Pack) City, an artwork that illuminates the various forms of violence and oppression experienced by urban communities, particularly women and marginalized groups. Our research specifically focuses on the literary elements of this painted map which demonstrates the transition from defensive to artistic strategies as a means of survival. Initially, we aim to provide a comprehensive background of the artwork, including its title, social context, the incidents that inspired the idea, and the author’s activism. Subsequently, we scrutinize the literary resources of the 257 items that comprise the street guide of the map. By analysing the various names given to locations on the map, including literary devices and semantic fields, we observe reminiscences of classic surrealist paintings and the artist’s ability to protect herself while revealing the violence hidden behind the guise of antithesis, alliteration, metaphor, and other literary devices. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our research, we compared it to two other maps with different intentions. Our findings confirm the strength of La Manada City, which operates both locally and globally. As a representation of the former emporium city of Seville, our map exposes the adverse impact of dominant capitalistic strategies on community life, perpetuating inequalities for countless “poor owners of the world” by disregarding nature and culture.
Sensitivity Analysis of the Data Assimilation-Driven Decomposition in Space and Time to Solve PDE-Constrained Optimization Problems
Authors: D’Amore Luisa , Cacciapuoti Rosalba
Published: June 2023

This paper is presented in the context of sensitivity analysis (SA) of large-scale data assimilation (DA) models. We studied consistency, convergence, stability and roundoff error propagation of the reduced-space optimization technique arising in parallel 4D Variational DA problems. The results are helpful to understand the reliability of DA, to assess what confidence one can have that the simulation results are correct and to determine its configuration in any application. The main contributions of the present work are as follows. By using forward error analysis, we derived the number of conditions of the parallel approach. We found that the parallel approach reduces the number of conditions, revealing that it is more appropriate than the standard approach usually implemented in most operative software. As the background values are used as initial conditions of local PDE models, we analyzed stability with respect to time direction. Finally, we proved consistency of the proposed approach by analyzing local truncation errors of each computational kernel.
On Green’s Function of the Dirichlet Problem for the Polyharmonic Equation in the Ball
Authors: Karachik Valery
Published: June 2023

The paper gives an explicit representation of the Green’s function of the Dirichlet boundary value problem for the polyharmonic equation in the unit ball. The solution of the homogeneous Dirichlet problem is found. An example of solving the homogeneous Dirichlet problem with the simplest polynomial right-hand side of the polyharmonic equation is given.
Strategies to Target Microbial Attack in Chronic Skin Wounds: From Classic to Innovative Approaches
Authors: Oliveira Cláudia S. , Laurano Rossella
Published: June 2023

Chronic skin wounds, namely diabetic/non-diabetic ulcers and post-surgical wounds, present key obstacles to achieve anatomic and functional regeneration within approximately 3 months [...]
Bisphenol A (BPA) Directly Activates the G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 and Triggers the Metabolic Disruption in the Gonadal Tissue of Apostichopus japonicus
Authors: Yuan Jieyi , Yang Jingwen , Xu Xiuwen , Wang Zexianghua , Jiang Zhijing , Ye Zhiqing , Ren Yucheng , Wang Qing , Wang Tianming
Published: June 2023

The sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, is a marine benthic organism that feeds on small benthic particulate matter and is easily affected by pollutants. Bisphenol A (BPA, 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol) has been identified as an endocrine disruptor. It is ubiquitously detectable in oceans and affects a variety of marine animals. It functions as an estrogen analog and typically causes reproductive toxicity by interfering with the endocrine system. To comparatively analyze the reproductive effects of estradiol (E2) and BPA on sea cucumbers, we identified a G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) in A. japonicus and investigated its effects on reproduction. The results showed that BPA and E2 exposure activated A. japonicus AjGPER1, thereby mediating the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. High-level expression of AjGPER1 in the ovarian tissue was confirmed by qPCR. Furthermore, metabolic changes were induced by 100 nM (22.83 μg/L) BPA exposure in the ovarian tissue, leading to a notable increase in the activities of trehalase and phosphofructokinase. Overall, our findings suggest that AjGPER1 is directly activated by BPA and affects sea cucumber reproduction by disrupting ovarian tissue metabolism, suggesting that marine pollutants pose a threat to the conservation of sea cucumber resources.
A Rat Model of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Polymorphism Shows Attenuated Motivation for Alcohol Self-Administration and Diminished Propensity for Cue-Induced Relapse in Females
Authors: Jaehne Emily J. , McInerney Elizabeth , Sharma Ronan , Genders Shannyn G. , Djouma Elvan , van den Buuse Maarten
Published: June 2023

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in alcohol use disorder. The Val66Met polymorphism is a common variant of the BDNF gene (rs6265) which reduces activity-dependent BDNF release, and has been suggested as a risk factor for psychiatric disorders and substance use. Using an operant self-administration paradigm, this study aimed to investigate ethanol preference and ethanol seeking in a novel rat model of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism, Val68Met rats. Male and female BDNF Val68Met rats of three genotypes (Val/Val, Val/Met and Met/Met) were trained to lever press for a 10% ethanol solution. There was no effect of Val68Met genotype on acquisition of stable response to ethanol or its extinction. Met/Met rats of both sexes had a slight, but significantly lower breakpoint during progressive ratio sessions while female rats with the Met/Met genotype demonstrated a lower propensity for reinstatement of responding to cues. There were no effects of Val68Met genotype on anxiety-like behaviour or locomotor activity. In conclusion, Met/Met rats showed lower motivation to continue to press for a reward, and also a decreased propensity to relapse, suggesting a possible protective effect of the Met/Met genotype against alcohol use disorder, at least in females.
Cardiac Molecular Remodeling by Anticancer Drugs: Doxorubicin Affects More Metabolism While Mitoxantrone Impacts More Autophagy in Adult CD-1 Male Mice
Authors: Brandão Sofia , Reis-Mendes Ana , Duarte-Araújo Margarida , Neuparth Maria , Rocha Hugo , Carvalho Félix , Ferreira Rita , Costa Vera
Published: June 2023

Doxorubicin (DOX) and mitoxantrone (MTX) are classical chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer that induce similar clinical cardiotoxic effects, although it is not clear if they share similar underlying molecular mechanisms. We aimed to assess the effects of DOX and MTX on the cardiac remodeling, focusing mainly on metabolism and autophagy. Adult male CD-1 mice received pharmacologically relevant cumulative doses of DOX (18 mg/kg) and MTX (6 mg/kg). Both DOX and MTX disturbed cardiac metabolism, decreasing glycolysis, and increasing the dependency on fatty acids (FA) oxidation, namely, through decreased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) content and decreased free carnitine (C0) and increased acetylcarnitine (C2) concentration. Additionally, DOX heavily influenced glycolysis, oxidative metabolism, and amino acids turnover by exclusively decreasing phosphofructokinase (PFKM) and electron transfer flavoprotein-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETFDH) content, and the concentration of several amino acids. Conversely, both drugs downregulated autophagy given by the decreased content of autophagy protein 5 (ATG5) and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3B), with MTX having also an impact on Beclin1. These results emphasize that DOX and MTX modulate cardiac remodeling differently, despite their clinical similarities, which is of paramount importance for future treatments.
Targeting Mitochondrial DNA Transcription by POLRMT Inhibition or Depletion as a Potential Strategy for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Daglish Sabrina C. D. , Fennell Emily M. J. , Graves Lee M.
Published: June 2023

Transcription of the mitochondrial genome is essential for the maintenance of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and other functions directly related to this unique genome. Considerable evidence suggests that mitochondrial transcription is dysregulated in cancer and cancer metastasis and contributes significantly to cancer cell metabolism. Recently, inhibitors of the mitochondrial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (POLRMT) were identified as potentially attractive new anti-cancer compounds. These molecules (IMT1, IMT1B) inactivate cancer cell metabolism through reduced transcription of mitochondrially-encoded OXPHOS subunits such as ND1-5 (Complex I) and COI-IV (Complex IV). Studies from our lab have discovered small molecule regulators of the mitochondrial matrix caseinolytic protease (ClpP) as probable inhibitors of mitochondrial transcription. These compounds activate ClpP proteolysis and lead to the rapid depletion of POLRMT and other matrix proteins, resulting in inhibition of mitochondrial transcription and growth arrest. Herein we present a comparison of POLRMT inhibition and ClpP activation, both conceptually and experimentally, and evaluate the results of these treatments on mitochondrial transcription, inhibition of OXPHOS, and ultimately cancer cell growth. We discuss the potential for targeting mitochondrial transcription as a cancer cell vulnerability.