bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dunning-Kruger Effect: Intuitive Errors Predict Overconfidence on the Cognitive Reflection Test
Authors: Coutinho Mariana V. C. , Thomas Justin , Alsuwaidi Alia S. M. , Couchman Justin J.
Published: April 2021

The Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) is a measure of analytical reasoning that cues an intuitive but incorrect response that must be rejected for successful performance to be attained. The CRT yields two types of errors: Intuitive errors, which are attributed to Type 1 processes; and non-intuitive errors, which result from poor numeracy skills or deficient reasoning. Past research shows that participants who commit the highest numbers of errors on the CRT overestimate their performance the most, whereas those with the lowest error-rates tend to slightly underestimate. This is an example of the Dunning-Kruger Effect (DKE). The present study examined how intuitive vs. non-intuitive errors contribute to overestimation in the CRT at different levels of performance. Female undergraduate students completed a seven-item CRT test and subsequently estimated their raw score. They also filled out the Faith in Intuition (FI) questionnaire, which is a dispositional measure of intuitive thinking. Data was separated into quartiles based on level of performance on the CRT. The results demonstrated the DKE. Additionally, intuitive and non-intuitive errors predicted miscalibration among low, but not high performers. However, intuitive errors were a stronger predictor of miscalibration. Finally, FI was positively correlated with CRT self-estimates and miscalibration, indicating that participants who perceived themselves to be more intuitive were worse at estimating their score. These results taken together suggest that participants who perform poorly in the CRT and also those who score higher in intuitive thinking disposition are more susceptible to the influences of heuristic-based cues, such as answer fluency, when judging their performance.
Gene Expression Differences Between Young Adults Based on Trauma History and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Bountress Kaitlin E. , Vladimirov Vladimir , McMichael Gowon , Taylor Z. Nathan , Hardiman Gary , Chung Dongjun , Adams Zachary W. , Danielson Carla Kmett , Amstadter Ananda B.
Published: April 2021

Background:The purpose of this study was to identify gene expression differences associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma exposure (TE) in a three-group study design comprised of those with and without trauma exposure and PTSD.

Methods:We conducted gene expression and gene network analyses in a sample (n= 45) composed of female subjects of European Ancestry (EA) with PTSD, TE without PTSD, and controls.

Results:We identified 283 genes differentially expressed between PTSD-TE groups. In an independent sample of Veterans (n= 78) a small minority of these genes were also differentially expressed. We identified 7 gene network modules significantly associated with PTSD and TE (Bonferroni correctedp≤ 0.05), which at a false discovery rate (FDR) ofq≤ 0.2, were significantly enriched for biological pathways involved in focal adhesion, neuroactive ligand receptor interaction, and immune related processes among others.

Conclusions:This study uses gene network analyses to identify significant gene modules associated with PTSD, TE, and controls. On an individual gene level, we identified a large number of differentially expressed genes between PTSD-TE groups, a minority of which were also differentially expressed in the independent sample. We also demonstrate a lack of network module preservation between PTSD and TE, suggesting that the molecular signature of PTSD and trauma are likely independent of each other. Our results provide a basis for the identification of likely disease pathways and biomarkers involved in the etiology of PTSD.
Prenatal and Intrapartum Factors Associated With Infant Temperament: A Systematic Review
Authors: Takegata Mizuki , Matsunaga Asami , Ohashi Yukiko , Toizumi Michiko , Yoshida Lay Myint , Kitamura Toshinori
Published: April 2021

Background:Temperament involves individual variations in behavioural tendencies of emotional responses and reactions to stimuli after birth. Because ‘foetal programming' is a strong hypothesis in developing temperament, prenatal and intrapartum factors may be significant determinants of infant temperament. This systematic literature review aims to elucidate the evidence of prenatal and intrapartum predictors, including genetic, biological, environmental, socio-demographic, psychological, and obstetric factors of parents and their child.

Methods:Relevant articles were searched using MEDLINE, PubMed, and SCOPUS. The inclusion criteria were (a) original research article, (b) written in English, (c) assessed the temperament of infants 12 months old or younger as an outcome variable, and (d) investigated prenatal and intrapartum factorial variables of infant temperament. Following the PRISMA guideline, the articles found in the three databases were screened and selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria before the final review.

Results:Finally, 35 articles were reviewed. This systematic review identified a variety of prenatal and intrapartum factors that were significantly associated with infant temperament: (1) genetic and biological factors: certain genotypes, maternal cortisol and ACTH, and CRHs, (2) environmental factors: substance use such as tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs, (3) socio-demographic factor: lower-income, (4) psychological factors: depression or anxiety, eating disorders, personality types of mothers, and domestic violence, and (5) obstetric factors: foetal growth (birth weight), hypertension in mothers, nausea (emesis), and preterm birth.

Conclusion:The findings support gene-environment interaction and biological mechanisms for developing infant temperament, suggesting the importance of ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for pregnant mothers, unborn infants, and families during pregnancy and delivery.
Melatonin and Depression: A Translational Perspective From Animal Models to Clinical Studies
Authors: Tonon André C. , Pilz Luísa K. , Markus Regina P. , Hidalgo Maria Paz , Elisabetsky Elaine
Published: April 2021

Daily rhythm of melatonin synchronizes the body to the light/dark environmental cycle. Several hypotheses have been raised to understand the intersections between melatonin and depression, in which changes in rest-activity and sleep patterns are prominent. This review describes key experimental and clinical evidence that link melatonin with the etiopathology and symptomatology of depressive states, its role in the follow up of therapeutic response to antidepressants, as well as the clinical evidence of melatonin as MDD treatment. Melatonin, as an internal temporal cue contributing to circadian organization and best studied in the context of circadian misalignment, is also implicated in neuroplasticity. The monoaminergic systems that underly MDD and melatonin production overlap. In addition, the urinary metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6) has been proposed as biomarker for antidepressant responders, by revealing whether the blockage of noradrenaline uptake has taken place within 24 h from the first antidepressant dose. Even though animal models show benefits from melatonin supplementation on depressive-like behavior, clinical evidence is inconsistent vis-à-vis prophylactic or therapeutic benefits of melatonin or melatonin agonists in depression. We argue that the study of melatonin in MDD or other psychiatric disorders must take into account the specificities of melatonin as an integrating molecule, inextricably linked to entrainment, metabolism, immunity, neurotransmission, and cell homeostasis.
Integrated Access and Backhaul: A New Type of Wireless Backhaul in 5G
Authors: Ronkainen Henrik , Edstam Jonas , Ericsson Anders , Östberg Christer
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we study the concept and the potentials of integrated access and backhaul (IAB) as one of the main innovative aspects of 5G networks. We study IAB networks from different perspectives. Particularly, we summarize the recent Rel-16 discussions on IAB, and highlight the main IAB-specific agreements on different protocol layers. Moreover, we present simulations and proof-of-concept testbed results to evaluate the performance of IAB networks in both urban and suburban areas. As show, for both suburban and urban scenarios, IAB is an attractive complement to fiber, with high flexibility and low time-to-market.
FaceGuard: A Wearable System To Avoid Face Touching
Authors: Michelin Allan Michael , Korres Georgios , Ba’ara Sara , Assadi Hadi , Alsuradi Haneen , Sayegh Rony R. , Argyros Antonis , Eid Mohamad
Published: April 2021

Most people touch their faces unconsciously, for instance to scratch an itch or to rest one’s chin in their hands. To reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), public health officials recommend against touching one’s face, as the virus is transmitted through mucous membranes in the mouth, nose and eyes. Students, office workers, medical personnel and people on trains were found to touch their faces between 9 and 23 times per hour. This paper introduces FaceGuard, a system that utilizes deep learning to predict hand movements that result in touching the face, and provides sensory feedback to stop the user from touching the face. The system utilizes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to obtain features that characterize hand movement involving face touching. Time-series data can be efficiently classified using 1D-Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with minimal feature engineering; 1D-CNN filters automatically extract temporal features in IMU data. Thus, a 1D-CNN based prediction model is developed and trained with data from 4,800 trials recorded from 40 participants. Training data are collected for hand movements involving face touching during various everyday activities such as sitting, standing, or walking. Results showed that while the average time needed to touch the face is 1,200 ms, a prediction accuracy of more than 92% is achieved with less than 550 ms of IMU data. As for the sensory response, the paper presents a psychophysical experiment to compare the response time for three sensory feedback modalities, namely visual, auditory, and vibrotactile. Results demonstrate that the response time is significantly smaller for vibrotactile feedback (427.3 ms) compared to visual (561.70 ms) and auditory (520.97 ms). Furthermore, the success rate (to avoid face touching) is also statistically higher for vibrotactile and auditory feedback compared to visual feedback. These results demonstrate the feasibility of predicting a hand movement and providing timely sensory feedback within less than a second in order to avoid face touching.
Simultaneous Vascular Reconstruction and Cervical Anastomosis in McKeown Esophagectomy
Authors: Chen Lei , Zhang Jiaheng , Chen Donglai , Sang Yonghua , Yang Wentao
Published: April 2021

A stomach was considered ineligible to be an ideal conduit conventionally if its right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) were injured. However, both sufficient blood flow and good venous return are crucial to the success of reconstruction. And there lacks robust evidence regarding the surgical techniques of reconstructing RGEA and right gastroepiploic vein (RGEV) and performing cervical anastomosis with gastric conduit simultaneously. Herein, we summarized the key surgical techniques for simultaneous vascular reconstruction and gastric conduit anastomosis in McKeown esophagectomy.
A Magneto-Active Elastomer Crawler with Peristaltic and Caterpillar Locomotion Patterns
Authors: You Tsam Lung , Philamore Hemma , Matsuno Fumitoshi
Published: April 2021

In this work we present a soft crawler fabricated using a magneto-active elastomer. The crawler is controlled by an external magnetic field to produce two locomotion patterns: peristaltic and caterpillar crawling. Due to its structural simplicity, low mass, wirelessly controlled actuation and compliant body the design of this crawler has the potential to address the key challenges faced by existing crawling robots. Experimental data were gathered to evaluate the performance of the crawler locomotion in a pipe. The results validated the mathematical models proposed to estimate the distance traveled by the crawler. The crawler shows potential for use in exploration of confined spaces.
Socioeconomic Determinants of Crop Diversity and Its Effect on Farmer Income in Guangxi, Southern China
Authors: Li Cheng , Chen Xinjian , Jiang Aiwu , Lee Myung-Bok , Mammides Christos , Goodale Eben
Published: April 2021

Encouraging crop diversity could be a “win–win” for farmers and biodiversity conservation, if having a variety of crops produces the heterogeneity that supports biodiversity, and if multiple crops decrease the risk of farmers to losses due to pests, climatic events or market fluctuations, without strongly reducing their incomes. However, data on the factors that influence the decision to plant multiple crops, and how that affects profit, are needed, especially for East Asia, where these questions have been little studied. We distributed a questionnaire on these issues to 301 farmers in 35 villages in an agricultural area close to the city of Nanning in Guangxi, south China. Crop diversity increased with land size and closeness to the city. We detected no relationship between profit variability and crop diversity, but farmers with greater crop diversity and more land were more profitable, a result driven by several rarely planted but lucrative types of crops. Crop diversity can be a focus for policy to improve farmers’ livelihoods; these policies need to encourage farmers with little land to form cooperatives. Further research is needed to understand the effect of crop diversity on profit variability, and in areas closer to protected areas where biodiversity is higher.
Influence of Different Lactation Stages on Circadian Rhythmicity of Metabolic Biomarkers in Dairy Cows: A Pilot Study
Authors: Couperus Anna Mareike , Schroeder Fabian , Klukas Robert , Huber Johann , Wittek Thomas , Peham Johannes R.
Published: April 2021

Currently, subclinical metabolic imbalances at the individual cow and herd level are detected by measuring biomarkers in single blood samples. However, diurnal variations have not been fully described yet but need to be considered when sampling for a robust ad consistent analysis. The study describes the influence of lactation phases on circadian rhythms and diurnal variations for non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), total bilirubin (tBIL) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in dairy cows. In an observational pilot study, we used 16 clinically healthy Simmental dairy cows subdivided in four different lactation stages (dry-off, fresh, high and late lactating). Every cow was monitored for 24 h, with blood sampling and assessment of clinical parameters every 2 h. Time and lactation stage influence the concentration of the biomarkers NEFA, BHB and tBIL in serum. Further, circadian rhythmicity was found in high lactating cows for NEFA peaking at 5:39 am and BHB peaking at 4:20 pm. We suggest blood sampling for single-point measurements within three hours after the first feeding until two hours after the last feeding of the day. The results provide a new insight into the physiology of circadian rhythms in dairy cows and enable improved metabolic monitoring.
Recent Advances in Camel Milk Processing
Authors: Konuspayeva Gaukhar , Faye Bernard
Published: April 2021

Camel milk is a newcomer to domestic markets and especially to the international milk market. This recent emergence has been accompanied by a diversification of processed products, based on the technologies developed for milk from other dairy species. However, technical innovations had to be adapted to a product with specific behavior and composition. The transformation of camel milk into pasteurized milk, fermented milk, cheese, powder, or other products was supported, under the pressure of commercial development, by technological innovations made possible by a basic and applied research set. Some of these innovations regarding one of the less studied milk sources are presented here, as well as their limitations. Technical investigations for an optimal pasteurization, development of controlled fermentation at industrial scale, control of cheese technology suitable for standardized production, and improvements in processes for the supply of a high-quality milk powder are among the challenges of research regarding camel milk.
Prime Vaccination with Chitosan-Coated Phipps BCG and Boosting with CFP-PLGA against Tuberculosis in a Goat Model
Authors: Contreras-Magallanes Yesenia Guadalupe , Durán-Aguilar Marina , Sosa-Gallegos Susana L. , Álvarez Ángel H. , Andrade-Santillán Fátima A. , Bárcenas-Reyes Isabel , González-Ruíz Sara , Rodríguez-Hernández Elba , Cantó-Alarcón Germinal J. , Milián-Suazo Feliciano
Published: April 2021

Attempts to improve the immune response and efficacy of vaccines against tuberculosis in cattle, goats, and other animal species have been the focus of research in this field during the last two decades. Improving the vaccine efficacy is essential prior to running long-lasting and expensive field trials. Studies have shown that vaccine protocols utilizing boosting with proteins improve the vaccine efficacy. The use of polymers such as chitosan and PolyLactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) improves the immune response against different diseases by improving the interaction of antigens with the cellular immune system and modulating the host immune response. This study shows that the prime BCG vaccination, boosted with a culture filtrate protein (CFP), alone or in combination with chitosan and PolyLactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA), have the potential to reduce tuberculosis (TB) dissemination by reducing the number of animals with lesions, the number of lesions per animal, and the size of the lesions in vaccinated animals, compared with those not vaccinated or those vaccinated with BCG alone. The vaccinated groups showed significantly higher Interferon-γ levels in the blood compared to the control, nonvaccinated group after vaccination, after boosting, and after the challenge with the wild-type Mycobacterium bovis strain.
Kid Growth Comparison between Murciano-Granadina and Crossbred Murciano-Granadina×Boer in a Mixed Rearing System
Authors: Fernández Nemesio , Palomares José L. , Pérez-Baena Ión , Rodríguez Martín , Peris Cristòfol J.
Published: April 2021

In dairy goats, the low average daily gain and the high conversion ratio for milk and concentrate of the kids mean that their sale price does not offset the costs generated. The hypothesis proposes that a crossbreeding of the Murciano-Granadina breed (MG) with the Boer breed (MG×Boer) will improve the profitability of the kids sold. Thus, the effect of two different groups of kids (purebred MG and crossbred MG×Boer) on birth weight (BW), mortality, average daily gain (ADG), the time for minimum slaughter weight (7 kg) and its variation factors were studied. MG×Boer kids had a 27% greater BW than purebred MG kids (2885 ± 84 g and 2275 ± 74 g, respectively), similar ADG (156 ± 6 g and 142 ± 6 g, respectively) and mortality (18% and 20%, respectively), and reached minimum slaughter weight a week sooner. ADG was less and less as the lactation period progressed due to a lower milk consumption and milk energy value, which highlights the importance of providing a concentrate that will compensate for this reduced energy content. In conclusion, the results show that MG×Boer crossbred kids reached the minimum slaughter weight a week earlier than purebred MG kids, and highlighted the improvement of farm profitability through the increase of milk sold and the need to provide a concentrate feed to enhance the growth of the kids.
Treatment of Rice Stubble with Pleurotus ostreatus and Urea Improves the Growth Performance in Slow-Growing Goats
Authors: Vorlaphim Thansamay , Paengkoum Pramote , Purba Rayudika Aprilia Patindra , Yuangklang Chalermpon , Paengkoum Siwaporn , Schonewille Jan Thomas
Published: April 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the fungal treatment (Pleurotus ostreatus) of urea-treated rice stubble on growth performance in slow-growing goats. Eighteen crossbred Thai-native x Anglo-Nubian male goats (average body weight: 20.4 ± 2.0 kg) were randomly assigned to three experimental total mixed rations containing 35% rice stubble (RS) that were either untreated (URS), urea treated (UTRS), or treated with urea and fungi (UFTRS). URS and UTRS were cultivated and harvested from an aseptically fungal spawn, incubated at 25–30 °C for 25 days. Indicators of growth performance were monitored, and feces were collected quantitatively to assess nutrient digestibility, during a 12-week feeding trial. All goats remained healthy throughout the experiment. The goats fed UFTRS had a lower feed conversion ratio (kg feed/kg growth) compared to goats fed URS or UTRS. Compared to URS, dietary UFTRS increased the nutrient digestibility of slow-growing goats, such as organic matter (OM) (+8.5%), crude protein (CP) (+5.5%), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (+39.2%), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (+27.4%). Likewise, dietary UFTRS tended to increase rumen ammonia concentrations, but rumen pH and volatile fatty acids were not affected by UFTRS. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the fungal treatment of RS is an effective tool to improve the growth performance of slow-growing goats.
Nitrergic and Substance P Immunoreactive Neurons in the Enteric Nervous System of the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Intestine
Authors: Bombardi Cristiano , Rambaldi Anna Maria , Galiazzo Giorgia , Giancola Fiorella , Graïc Jean-Marie , Salamanca Giulia , Cozzi Bruno , Chiocchetti Roberto
Published: April 2021

Compared with other mammals, the digestive system of cetaceans presents some remarkable anatomical and physiological differences. However, the neurochemical features of the enteric nervous system (ENS) in these animals have only been described in part. The present study gives a description of the nitrergic and selected peptidergic systems in the myenteric plexus (MP) and submucosal plexus (SMP) of the intestine of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). The distribution and morphology of neurons immunoreactive (IR) for the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and Substance P (SP) were immunohistochemically studied in formalin-fixed specimens from the healthy intestine of three animals, and the data were compared with those described in the literature on other mammals (human and non-human). In bottlenose dolphins, the percentages of nitrergic neurons (expressed as median and interquartile range—IQR) were 28% (IQR = 19–29) in the MP and 1% (IQR = 0–2) in the SMP, while the percentages of SP-IR neurons were 31% (IQR = 22–37) in the MP and 41% (IQR = 24–63) in the SMP. Although morphological features of nNOS- and SP-IR neurons were similar to those reported in other mammals, we found some noticeable differences in the percentages of enteric neurons. In fact, we detected a lower proportion of nNOS-IR neurons in the SMP and a higher proportion of SP-IR neurons in the MP compared to other mammals. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first description and quantification of nNOS-IR neurons and the first quantification of SP-IR neurons in the intestine of a cetacean species. As nNOS and SP are important mediators of intestinal functions and the nitrergic population is an important target for many neuroenteropathies, data obtained from a healthy intestine provide a necessary basis to further investigate and understand possible functional differences and motor intestinal dysfunctions/alterations in these special mammals.
Milk Quality and Animal Welfare as a Possible Marketing Lever for the Economic Development of Rural Areas in Southern Italy
Authors: Infascelli Lorenzo , Tudisco Raffaella , Iommelli Piera , Capitanio Fabian
Published: April 2021

The aim of the present work was to investigate the consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for dairy products obtained by grazing animals or fed with a high forage/concentrate ratio diet. To this aim, a survey was carried out on Italian consumers in the Campania Region and data collected were analyzed both by simple descriptive statistics and by an econometric model. Our results highlight that young age, knowledge of milk properties, and a healthy lifestyle are extremely important components in determining a higher WTP.
Fatty Acid Composition of Salami Made by Meat from Different Commercial Categories of Indigenous Dairy Cattle
Authors: Alabiso Marco , Maniaci Giuseppe , Giosuè Cristina , Di Grigoli Antonino , Bonanno Adriana
Published: April 2021

In autochthonous dairy cattle farms, the production of salami could represent an alternative commercial opportunity. Therefore, a study was carried out to investigate the fatty acid (FA) composition of salami made using the meat from grazing (GB) or housed (HB) young bulls and grazing adult cows (AC) of Cinisara breed. The products were manufactured by adding 20% of pork lard. Animal category influenced the FA composition, although the addition of lard mitigated the differences found in fresh meat. The salami from GB showed higher polyunsaturated FA content (p ≤ 0.01) and, in particular, a higher level of linoleic acid (p ≤ 0.05), than from other animal categories. Salami made from AC meat showed lower polyunsaturated/saturated FA ratio (p ≤ 0.05), but a better n-6/n-3 ratio compared to HB (p ≤ 0.05), due to the lower content of linoleic acid. Multivariate analysis showed an important influence of animal category on FA composition due to age, feeding system and meat fat content of animals, despite the addition of lard.
Practical Aspects of Twin Pregnancy Diagnosis in Cattle
Authors: Szelényi Zoltán , Szenci Ottó , Kovács Levente , Garcia-Ispierto Irina
Published: April 2021

Twin pregnancies are an economically unwanted phenomenon in dairy cattle, not only because they increase pregnancy losses, but also because antibiotics usage and culling rate of the dam are also dramatically increased due to them, furthermore animal welfare issues are also affected through them. In cattle, under field conditions using an early pregnancy determination tool, the first accurate diagnosis from the pregnancy status is available from around day 28, although further confirmations of pregnancy are required. Twin pregnancy diagnosis is available either by rectal palpation or ultrasonography. The measurement of pregnancy specific proteins are also available to determine gestation, but there is still a long way to go to properly identify twin pregnancies. In this commentary, we compared our own results with the literature data in this field with a special emphasis on the clinical practices.
Effects of Cornus and Its Mixture with Oregano and Thyme Essential Oils on Dairy Sheep Performance and Milk, Yoghurt and Cheese Quality under Heat Stress
Authors: Kalaitsidis Konstantinos , Sidiropoulou Erasmia , Tsiftsoglou Olga , Mourtzinos Ioannis , Moschakis Thomas , Basdagianni Zoitsa , Vasilopoulos Stylianos , Chatzigavriel Styliani , Lazari Diamanto , Giannenas Ilias
Published: April 2021

The effect of a diet supplemented with a novel cornus extract, enriched with essential oils of oregano and thyme, on the performance of Chios cross-bred dairy sheep was investigated during the summer period. The plant extracts were prepared using a “green” method based on aqueous extraction. A total of 45 lactating ewes were allocated into three equal groups in a randomized block design. The three groups were fed the same feed allowance, roughage based on Lucerne hay and wheat straw and a concentrate based on cereals and oil cakes (the control diet). The diet of two groups was fortified with cornus extract, with or without oregano and thyme essential oils, at a level 0.515 g of plant extract/essential oils per kg of concentrate. Individual milk yield was recorded weekly and feed refusals were recorded on a pen basis daily, during a six-week period of lactation. Milk samples were analyzed for the chemical composition of protein, fat, lactose and solids-not-fat constituents, somatic cell counts and total viable bacteria counts. Moreover, the milk of each group was used for yoghurt and Feta cheese production. The lipid oxidative stability, protein carbonyl content and fatty acid composition of milk, yoghurt and cheese samples were also evaluated. The results showed that the incorporation of novel plant extracts and essential oils increased the milk production per ewe. Dietary supplementation with cornus extracts and essential oils lowered lipid and protein oxidation in milk, yoghurt and cheese samples, compared to the control. However, diet supplementation with herbal extracts did not affect the fatty acid profile in milk, cheese and yoghurt or the serum biochemical parameters. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with cornus in combination with oregano and thyme has the potential to improve feed utilization and the performance of high-yield dairy Chios cross-bred ewes reared under heat stress.
Accumulation of Carbonyl Proteins in the Brain of Mouse Model for Methylglyoxal Detoxification Deficits
Authors: Koike Shin , Toriumi Kazuya , Kasahara Sakura , Kibune Yosuke , Ishida Yo-ichi , Dan Takashi , Miyata Toshio , Arai Makoto , Ogasawara Yuki
Published: April 2021

Recent studies have shown that carbonyl stress is a causative factor of schizophrenia, categorized as carbonyl stress-related schizophrenia (CS-SCZ). However, the correlation between carbonyl stress and the pathogenesis of this disease is not well established. In this study, glyoxalase 1(Glo1)-knockout and vitamin B6-deficient mice (KO/VB6 (-) mice), which are susceptible to methylglyoxal (MGO)-induced oxidative damages, were used as a CS-SCZ model to analyze MGO-modified protein and the carbonyl stress status in the brain. A comparison between Wild/VB6(+) mice and KO/VB6(−) mice for accumulated carbonyl proteins levels, with several advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the brain, revealed that carbonyl protein levels with the Nδ-(5-hydro-5-methyl-4-imidazolon-2-yl) ornithine (MG-H1) moiety were significantly increased in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, striatum, cerebral cortex, and brainstem regions of the brain in KO/VB6(−) mice. Moreover, two-dimensional electrophoresis and Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis showed MG-H1-modified arginine residues in mitochondrial creatine kinase, beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 1, and T-complex protein in the hippocampus region of KO/VB6(−) mice, but not in Wild/VB6(+) mice. In particular, MG-H1 modification of mitochondrial creatine kinase was quite notable. These results suggest that further studies focusing on MG-H1-modified and accumulated proteins in the hippocampus may reveal the onset mechanism of CS-SCZ induced by MGO-induced oxidative damages.
Novel Thiol Containing Hybrid Antioxidant-Nitric Oxide Donor Small Molecules for Treatment of Glaucoma
Authors: Amankwa Charles E. , Gondi Sudershan R. , Dibas Adnan , Weston Courtney , Funk Arlene , Nguyen Tam , Nguyen Kytai T. , Ellis Dorette Z. , Acharya Suchismita
Published: April 2021

Oxidative stress induced death and dysregulation of trabecular meshwork (TM) cells contribute to the increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in primary open angle (POAG) glaucoma patients. POAG is one of the major causes of irreversible vision loss worldwide. Nitric oxide (NO), a small gas molecule, has demonstrated IOP lowering activity in glaucoma by increasing aqueous humor outflow and relaxing TM. Glaucomatous pathology is associated with decreased antioxidant enzyme levels in ocular tissues causing increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production that reduce the bioavailability of NO. Here, we designed, synthesized, and conducted in vitro studies of novel second-generation sulfur containing hybrid NO donor-antioxidants SA-9 and its active metabolite SA-10 to scavenge broad-spectrum ROS as well as provide efficient protection from t-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP) induced oxidative stress while maintaining NO bioavailability in TM cells. To allow a better drug delivery, a slow release nanosuspension SA-9 nanoparticles (SA-9 NPs) was prepared, characterized, and tested in dexamethasone induced ocular hypertensive (OHT) mice model for IOP lowering activity. A single topical eye drop of SA-9 NPs significantly lowered IOP (61%) at 3 h post-dose, with the effect lasting up to 72 h. This class of molecule has high potential to be useful for treatment of glaucoma.
True Random Number Generator Based on Fibonacci-Galois Ring Oscillators for FPGA
Authors: Nannipieri Pietro , Di Matteo Stefano , Baldanzi Luca , Crocetti Luca , Belli Jacopo , Fanucci Luca , Saponara Sergio
Published: April 2021

Random numbers are widely employed in cryptography and security applications. If the generation process is weak, the whole chain of security can be compromised: these weaknesses could be exploited by an attacker to retrieve the information, breaking even the most robust implementation of a cipher. Due to their intrinsic close relationship with analogue parameters of the circuit, True Random Number Generators are usually tailored on specific silicon technology and are not easily scalable on programmable hardware, without affecting their entropy. On the other hand, programmable hardware and programmable System on Chip are gaining large adoption rate, also in security critical application, where high quality random number generation is mandatory. The work presented herein describes the design and the validation of a digital True Random Number Generator for cryptographically secure applications on Field Programmable Gate Array. After a preliminary study of literature and standards specifying requirements for random number generation, the design flow is illustrated, from specifications definition to the synthesis phase. Several solutions have been studied to assess their performances on a Field Programmable Gate Array device, with the aim to select the highest performance architecture. The proposed designs have been tested and validated, employing official test suites released by NIST standardization body, assessing the independence from the place and route and the randomness degree of the generated output. An architecture derived from the Fibonacci-Galois Ring Oscillator has been selected and synthesized on Intel Stratix IV, supporting throughput up to 400 Mbps. The achieved entropy in the best configuration is greater than 0.995.
Yielding Multi-Fold Training Strategy for Image Classification of Imbalanced Weeds
Authors: Trong Vo Hoang , Hyun Yu Gwang , Young Kim Jin , Bao Pham The
Published: April 2021

An imbalanced dataset is a significant challenge when training a deep neural network (DNN) model for deep learning problems, such as weeds classification. An imbalanced dataset may result in a model that behaves robustly on major classes and is overly sensitive to minor classes. This article proposes a yielding multi-fold training (YMufT) strategy to train a DNN model on an imbalanced dataset. This strategy reduces the bias in training through a min-class-max-bound procedure (MCMB), which divides samples in the training set into multiple folds. The model is consecutively trained on each one of these folds. In practice, we experiment with our proposed strategy on two small (PlantSeedlings, small PlantVillage) and two large (Chonnam National University (CNU), large PlantVillage) weeds datasets. With the same training configurations and approximate training steps used in conventional training methods, YMufT helps the DNN model to converge faster, thus requiring less training time. Despite a slight decrease in accuracy on the large dataset, YMufT increases the F1 score in the NASNet model to 0.9708 on the CNU dataset and 0.9928 when using the Mobilenet model training on the large PlantVillage dataset. YMufT shows outstanding performance in both accuracy and F1 score on small datasets, with values of (0.9981, 0.9970) using the Mobilenet model for training on small PlantVillage dataset and (0.9718, 0.9689) using Resnet to train on the PlantSeedlings dataset. Grad-CAM visualization shows that conventional training methods mainly concentrate on high-level features and may capture insignificant features. In contrast, YMufT guides the model to capture essential features on the leaf surface and properly localize the weeds targets.
Tensile Test of Human Lumbar Ligamentum Flavum: Age-Related Changes of Stiffness
Authors: Mihara Atsushi , Nishida Norihiro , Jiang Fei , Ohgi Junji , Imajo Yasuaki , Suzuki Hidenori , Funaba Masahiro , Yamagata Hiroki , Chen Xian , Sakai Takashi
Published: April 2021

The most common cause of lumbar spinal canal stenosis is age-related degenerative changes. The ligamentum flavum is said to become thicker and stiffer with age, based on several histological and cadaver studies. However, there are no studies determining the age-related changes of the mechanical properties of the ligamentum flavum in live patients. We examined the mechanical properties of the ligamentum flavum of live patients and evaluated the age-related changes. A total of 44 patients undergoing decompression surgery due to lumbar disease at our institute were included. The ligamentum flavum was harvested from the decompression site as a part of a necessary procedure for decompression. The tensile test was performed for the harvested ligamentum flavum within 24 h of harvest. Age-related changes in the stiffness of the ligamentum flavum were evaluated. Age was the only factor that showed a significant correlation with stiffness on multiple regression analysis. We demonstrated that the mechanical properties of the ligamentum flavum change with age.
Deep Learning-Based Automated Background Removal for Structural Exterior Image Stitching
Authors: Kang Myung Soo , An Yun-Kyu
Published: April 2021

This paper presents a deep learning-based automated background removal technique for structural exterior image stitching. In order to establish an exterior damage map of a structure using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a close-up vision scanning is typically required. However, unwanted background objects are often captured within the scanned digital images. Since the unnecessary background objects often cause serious distortion on the image stitching process, they should be removed. In this paper, the automated background removal technique using deep learning-based depth estimation is proposed. Based on the fact that the region of interest has closer working distance than the background ones from the camera, the background region within the digital images can be automatically removed using a deep learning-based depth estimation network. In addition, an optimal digital image selection based on feature matching-based overlap ratio is proposed. The proposed technique is experimentally validated using UAV-scanned digital images acquired from an in-situ high-rise building structure. The validation test results show that the optimal digital images obtained from the proposed technique produce the precise structural exterior map with computational cost reduction of 85.7%, while raw scanned digital images fail to construct the structural exterior map and cause serious stitching distortion.
Electrosynthesis of HKUST-1 with Flow-Reactor Post-Processing
Authors: Vepsäläinen Mikko , Macedo David S. , Gong Huan , Rubio-Martinez Marta , Bayatsarmadi Bita , He Brandon
Published: April 2021

Electrochemical synthesis has been proposed as an efficient method for cost-effective and large-scale production of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). This work investigates the combined electrochemical synthesis with flow synthesis post-treatment for the production of high surface area HKUST-1. The electrochemical synthesis process used in the experimental work did not require additional electrolytes or washing of the synthesis product. Batch electrosynthesis and electrosynthesis with flow synthesis were compared for the quality of the product using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (EIS). Batch electrosynthesis in 0.01 M benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (H3BTC) solution produced HKUST-1 with BET surface area of 1550 m2/g which was increased further to 1716 m2/g with post-flow-synthesis treatment. The greatest change in surface area after flow processing was observed when using 0.78 M H3BTC, with corresponding surface areas of 481 m2/g and 1531 m2/g. According to SEM and BET results, the product purity improved during the post-flow-synthesis treatment. The proposed method enables continuous flow synthesis of high-quality MOFs with minimal purification steps.
Isoprene Production from Municipal Wastewater Biosolids by Engineered Archaeon Methanosarcina acetivorans
Authors: Carr Sean , Aldridge Jared , Buan Nicole R.
Published: April 2021

Wastewater biosolids are a promising feedstock for production of value-added renewable chemicals. Methane-producing archaea (methanogens) are already used to produce renewable biogas via the anaerobic treatment of wastewater. The ability of methanogens to efficiently convert dissolved organic carbon into methane makes them an appealing potential platform for biorefining using metabolic engineering. We have engineered a strain of the methanogen Methanosarcina acetivorans to produce the volatile hemiterpene isoprene in addition to methane. The engineered strain was adapted to grow in municipal wastewater through cultivation in a synthetic wastewater medium. When introduced to municipal wastewater the engineered methanogens were able to compete with the indigenous microorganisms and produce 0.97 mM of isoprene (65.9 ± 21.3 g per m3 of effluent). The production of isoprene in wastewater appears to be dependent on the quantity of available methanogenic substrate produced during upstream digestion by heterotrophic fermenters. This shows that with minimal adaptation it is possible to drop-in engineered methanogens to existing wastewater environments and attain value-added products in addition to the processing of wastewater. This shows the potential for utilizing methanogens as a platform for low-cost production of renewable materials without expensive feedstocks or the need to build or adapt existing facilities.
Recent Progress Trend on Abrasive Waterjet Cutting of Metallic Materials: A Review
Authors: Llanto Jennifer Milaor , Tolouei-Rad Majid , Vafadar Ana , Aamir Muhammad
Published: April 2021

Abrasive water jet machining has been extensively used for cutting various materials. In particular, it has been applied for difficult-to-cut materials, mostly metals, which are used in various manufacturing processes in the fabrication industry. Due to its vast applications, in-depth comprehension of the systems behind its cutting process is required to determine its effective usage. This paper presents a review of the progress in the recent trends regarding abrasive waterjet cutting application to extend the understanding of the significance of cutting process parameters. This review aims to append a substantial understanding of the recent improvement of abrasive waterjet machine process applications, and its future research and development regarding precise cutting operations in metal fabrication sectors. To date, abrasive waterjet fundamental mechanisms, process parameter improvements and optimization reports have all been highlighted. This review can be a relevant reference for future researchers in investigating the precise machining of metallic materials or characteristic developments in the identification of the significant process parameters for achieving better results in abrasive waterjet cutting operations.
Study of Rock Mass Rating (RMR) and Geological Strength Index (GSI) Correlations in Granite, Siltstone, Sandstone and Quartzite Rock Masses
Authors: Somodi Gabor , Bar Neil , Kovács László , Arrieta Marco , Török Ákos , Vásárhelyi Balázs
Published: April 2021

A comprehensive understanding of geological, structural geological, hydrogeological and geotechnical features of the host rock are essential for the design and performance evaluation of surface and underground excavations. The Hungarian National Radioactive Waste Repository (NRWR) at Bátaapáti is constructed in a fractured granitic formation, and Telfer Gold Mine in Australia is excavated in stratified siltstones, sandstones and quartzites. This study highlights relationships between GSI chart ratings and calculated GSI values based on RMR rock mass classification data. The paper presents linear equations for estimating GSI from measured RMR89 values. Correlations between a and b constants were analyzed for different rock types, at surface and subsurface settings.
The Influence of Polystyrene Microspheres Abundance on Development and Feeding Behavior of Artemia salina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Albano Marco , Panarello Giuseppe , Di Paola Davide , Capparucci Fabiano , Crupi Rosalia , Gugliandolo Enrico , Spanò Nunziacarla , Capillo Gioele , Savoca Serena
Published: April 2021

In the present study, it has been evaluated how 10 µm of polyethylene microspheres can be ingested by Artemia salina (Linnaeus, 1758) larvae within the first 7 days of the life cycle, and the impact on their health. Twelve A. salina larvae (instar I) groups were exposed to different microplastics (MPs) concentrations (0-1-10-102-103-104 MPs/mL), with and without Dunaliella salina as a food source. The results highlighted that A. salina larvae ingest MPs in relation to the exposure times in a dose-dependent manner and are significantly influenced by food availability. The highest contamination found was 306.2 MPs/individual at 104 MPs/mL exposure without a food source. No MPs were found in the presence of the food source from 1 to 102 MPs/mL, while contamination was detected at all concentrations of MPs without a food source. The worst effect on the developmental stages was evaluated at 168 h with a food source, with a delay compared to the control of I and II instars at 103 and 104 MPs/mL, respectively. Furthermore, microalgal feeding was significantly reduced for about 50% in the presence of 104 MPs/mL. These results highlight that aquatic microplastics pollution could affect the A. salina’s feeding behavior and life cycle.
Recent Changes in the Low-Level Jet along the Subtropical West Coast of South America
Authors: Aguirre Catalina , Flores-Aqueveque Valentina , Vilches Pablo , Vásquez Alicia , Rutllant José A. , Garreaud René
Published: April 2021

Surface winds along the subtropical west coast of South America are characterized by the quasi-weekly occurrences of low-level jet events. These short lived but intense wind events impact the coastal ocean environment. Hence, identifying long-term trends in the coastal low-level jet (CLLJ) is essential for understanding changes in marine ecosystems. Here we use ERA5 reanalysis (1979–2019) and an objective algorithm to track anticyclones to investigate recent changes in CLLJ events off central Chile (25–43 °S). Results present evidence that the number of days with intense wind (≥10 ms−1), and the number and duration of CLLJ events have significantly changed off central Chile in recent decades. There is an increase in the number of CLLJ events in the whole study area during winter (June-July-August; JJA), while during summer (December–January–February; DJF) a decrease is observed at lower latitudes (29–34 °S), and an increase is found at the southern boundary of the Humboldt system. We suggest that changes in the central pressures and frequency of extratropical, migratory anticyclones that reach the coast of South America, which force CLLJs, have played an important role in the recent CLLJ changes observed in this region.