bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The human P2X7 receptor alters microglial morphology and cytokine secretion following immunomodulation
Authors: von Mücke-Heim Iven-Alex , Martin Jana , Uhr Manfred , Ries Clemens , Deussing Jan M.
Published: April 2023

Introduction: In recent years, purinergic signaling via the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) on microglia has repeatedly been implicated in depression genesis. However, it remains unclear which role the human P2X7R (hP2X7R) plays in regulating both microglia morphology and cytokine secretion upon different environmental and immune stimuli, respectively.

Methods: For this purpose, we used primary microglial cultures derived from a humanized microglia-specific conditional P2X7R knockout mouse line to emulate different gene-environment interactions between microglial hP2X7R and molecular proxies of psychosocial and pathogen-derived immune stimuli. Microglial cultures were subjected to treatments with the agonists 2′(3′)-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-ATP (BzATP) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) combined with specific P2X7R antagonists (JNJ-47965567, A-804598).

Results: Morphotyping revealed overall high baseline activation due to the in vitro conditions. Both BzATP and LPS + BzATP treatment increased round/ameboid microglia and decreased polarized and ramified morphotypes. This effect was stronger in hP2X7R-proficient (CTRL) compared to knockout (KO) microglia. Aptly, we found antagonism with JNJ-4796556 and A-804598 to reduce round/ameboid microglia and increase complex morphologies only in CTRL but not KO microglia. Single cell shape descriptor analysis confirmed the morphotyping results. Compared to KO microglia, hP2X7R-targeted stimulation in CTRLs led to a more pronounced increase in microglial roundness and circularity along with an overall higher decrease in aspect ratio and shape complexity. JNJ-4796556 and A-804598, on the other hand, led to opposite dynamics. In KO microglia, similar trends were observed, yet the magnitude of responses was much smaller. Parallel assessment of 10 cytokines demonstrated the proinflammatory properties of hP2X7R. Following LPS + BzATP stimulation, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα levels were found to be higher and IL-4 levels lower in CTRL than in KO cultures. Vice versa, hP2X7R antagonists reduced proinflammatory cytokine levels and increased IL-4 secretion.

Discussion: Taken together, our results help disentangle the complex function of microglial hP2X7R downstream of various immune stimuli. In addition, this is the first study in a humanized, microglia-specific in vitro model identifying a so far unknown potential link between microglial hP2X7R function and IL-27 levels.
Perception and kairomonal response of the coccinellid predator (Harmonia axyridis) to the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) sex pheromone
Authors: Zhan Yidi , Wang Jiaojiao , Kong Xiaona , Liu Yong
Published: April 2023

Pheromone cues released from hosts or prey are of crucial importance to natural enemies for prey and habitat location. The use of herbivorous insect sex pheromones has long been considered as a potential pest control alternative that is non-toxic and harmless to beneficials. We hypothesized that Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a major predatory coccinellid beetle of the devastating migratory pest Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), could perceive and use the sex pheromone of S. frugiperda to locate its habitat. Here we tested the electrophysiological and behavioral responses of H. axyridis to the two components Z7-12:Ac and Z9-14:Ac of S. frugiperda sex pheromone by using electroantennography (EAG) and Y-tube bioassay. The 3D modeling of H. axyridis odorant-binding proteins (HaxyOBPs) and molecular docking were also performed. The results showed that both female and male H. axyridis exhibited significantly higher electrophysiological and behavioral responses to Z9-14:Ac at the concentrations of 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 μg/μL, while no significant electrophysiological and behavioral responses of H. axyridis were observed to Z7-12:Ac. The blend of Z7-12:Ac and Z9-14:Ac at the ratio of 1:100 had a significant attraction to both male and female H. axyridis at the concentrations of 0.01 and 0.1 μg/μL based on electrophysiological and behavioral assays, but no significant behavioral responses were observed at the ratios of 1:9. According to the 3D modeling of HaxyOBPs and molecular docking, HaxyOBP12 has a good affinity with Z9-14:Ac. Z9-14:Ac is bound to the HaxyOBP12 by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. However, there were no credible docking results between HaxyOBPs and Z7-12:Ac. Our findings revealed that H. axyridis can perceive Z9-14:Ac and could use it as a chemical cue to locate prey habitat. We speculated that Z7-12:Ac, which showed some antagonistic effect toward the response of H. axyridis to Z9-14:Ac, could improve the adaptability of S. frugiperda in the presence of predators. This study provides new insights into the application of pheromones to manipulate natural enemy behavior for pest control.
Identification and expression analysis of chemosensory receptors in the tarsi of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)
Authors: Dong Jun-Feng , Yang Hai-Bo , Li Ding-Xu , Yu Hong-Qi , Tian Cai-Hong
Published: April 2023

Chemosensation of tarsi provides moths with the ability to detect chemical signals which are important for food recognition. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the chemosensory roles of tarsi are still unknown. The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda is a serious moth pest that can damage many plants worldwide. In the current study, we conducted transcriptome sequencing with total RNA extracted from S. frugiperda tarsi. Through sequence assembly and gene annotation, 23 odorant receptors 10 gustatory receptors and 10 inotropic receptors (IRs) were identified. Further phylogenetic analysis with these genes and homologs from other insect species indicated specific genes, including ORco, carbon dioxide receptors, fructose receptor, IR co-receptors, and sugar receptors were expressed in the tarsi of S. frugiperda. Expression profiling with RT-qPCR in different tissues of adult S. frugiperda showed that most annotated SfruORs and SfruIRs were mainly expressed in the antennae, and most SfruGRs were mainly expressed in the proboscises. However, SfruOR30, SfruGR9, SfruIR60a, SfruIR64a, SfruIR75d, and SfruIR76b were also highly enriched in the tarsi of S. frugiperda. Especially SfruGR9, the putative fructose receptor, was predominantly expressed in the tarsi, and with its levels significantly higher in the female tarsi than in the male ones. Moreover, SfruIR60a was also found to be expressed with higher levels in the tarsi than in other tissues. This study not only improves our insight into the tarsal chemoreception systems of S. frugiperda but also provides useful information for further functional studies of chemosensory receptors in S. frugiperda tarsi.
A B5G Non-Terrestrial-Network (NTN) and Hybird Constellation Based Data Collection System (DCS)
Authors: Jiang Yifei , He Wanxia , Liu Wenzheng , Wu Shufan , Wei Xiao , Mo Qiankun
Published: April 2023

In beyond 5G (B5G) non-terrestrial network (NTN) systems, satellite technologies play an important role. Especially for data collection systems (DCS), low-earth orbit satellites have many advantages. Such as global coverage, low latency, and high efficiency. As a miniaturization technology, CubeSat has attracted extensive attention from a large number of scholars. Satellite constellations can coordinate for distributed tasks. This paper proposes a B5G NTN-based data collection system. A CubeSat constellation achieves global coverage as the basic space platform for DCS. The 5G terrestrial network is used as the data bearer network of the gateway station. A traffic load balance strategy is proposed to optimize the system’s efficiency. As a unified hardware platform, software-defined radio (SDR) is compatible with various sensor data models. Finally, the design was verified by a series of experiments.
Classification of Codling Moth-Infested Apples Using Sensor Data Fusion of Acoustic and Hyperspectral Features Coupled with Machine Learning
Authors: Ekramirad Nader , Khaled Alfadhl Y. , Donohue Kevin D. , Villanueva Raul T. , Adedeji Akinbode A.
Published: April 2023

Codling moth (CM) is a major apple pest. Current manual method of detection is not very effective. The development of nondestructive monitoring and detection methods has the potential to reduce postharvest losses from CM infestation. Previous work from our group demonstrated the effectiveness of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and acoustic methods as suitable techniques for nondestructive CM infestation detection and classification in apples. However, both have limitations that can be addressed by the strengths of the other. For example, acoustic methods are incapable of detecting external CM symptoms but can determine internal pest activities and morphological damage, whereas HSI is only capable of detecting the changes and damage to apple surfaces and up to a few mm inward; it cannot detect live CM activity in apples. This study investigated the possibility of sensor data fusion from HSI and acoustic signals to improve the detection of CM infestation in apples. The time and frequency domain acoustic features were combined with the spectral features obtained from the HSI, and various classification models were applied. The results showed that sensor data fusion using selected combined features (mid-level) from the sensor data and three apple varieties gave a high classification rate in terms of performance and reduced the model complexity with an accuracy up to 94% using the AdaBoost classifier, when only six acoustic and six HSI features were applied. This result affirms that the sensor fusion technique can improve CM infestation detection in pome fruits such as apples.
Development of a Cereal–Legume Intercrop Model for DSSAT Version 4.8
Authors: Pierre Jacques Fils , Singh Upendra , Ruiz-Sánchez Esaú , Pavan Willingthon
Published: April 2023

Intercropping is extensively used to increase land productivity and agricultural benefits. In developing countries, intercropping has historically been one of the most widely used cropping systems. Crop models have been used to assess risk productivity over time and space, particularly in monocropping systems. Crop models, such as the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT), have been widely used to improve crop growth, development, and yield predictions; however, this model has some limitations when assessing interspecific competition in intercropping systems (e.g., it does not have a subroutine capable of running two crops simultaneously). Therefore, in this study, we developed a new approach to allow DSSAT to run two crop species in intercropping systems. A light interception algorithm and modified source code were integrated into the DSSAT to simulate the relay-strip intercropping system. The intercrop model developed in this study is the first intercrop model for DSSAT. This model is generic and can be employed to build other cereal–legume intercrop models for DSSAT Version 4.8. Regarding risk assessment of crop production, the model can evaluate long-term cereal–legume intercrop yields in low-input cropping systems. Therefore, before officially launching the new model in DSSAT, more field trials are recommended to rigorously evaluate and improve the model with data from different environments. The intercrop model developed in this study is simple, so this modeling approach can be employed to develop other cereal–noncereal intercrop models.
Residues and Dietary Risk Assessment of Imidacloprid in Bamboo Shoot (Phyllostachys praecox), Winter Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. Dongzao), Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, and Fritillaria
Authors: Lei Yuan , Luo Yuqin , Fang Nan , Li Yanjie , Wang Xiangyun , He Hongmei , Jiang Jinhua , Yu Jianzhong , Zhang Changpeng , Zhao Xueping
Published: April 2023

The widespread use of pesticides poses significant risks to food and environmental safety. Imidacloprid is one of the most effective neuroactive neonicotinoid insecticides and is effective against a broad spectrum of piercing–sucking pests. A rapid, efficient, and high-throughput analysis method for the determination of imidacloprid was developed in four minor crops with six matrices (bamboo shoot, winter jujube, fresh and dry D. officinale, and fresh and dry Fritillaria) by solid-phase extraction and HPLC-MS/MS. The procedure showed satisfying recoveries (72~111%) and RSDs (1~13%). A total of 288 samples were tested in China (Aba and Luan). Imidacloprid residues were 100% detected in fresh and dry D. officinale and winter jujube, with concentrations ranging from 0.048 to 1.550 mg·kg−1. Imidacloprid residues were also abundant in fresh and dry Fritillaria (maximal concentration of 0.021 and 0.063 mg·kg−1, respectively), followed by bamboo shoot, which had the lowest detection rate of imidacloprid (6%). Using the risk quotient (RQ) method, the long-term (RQc) and short-term (RQa) dietary risks of imidacloprid in bamboo shoot, winter jujube, fresh and dry D. officinale, and fresh and dry Fritillaria were further monitored. Based on the imidacloprid residues in this paper, the RQc and RQa were 15.03% and 0.0008~1.7604%, respectively. The RQ values were far less than 100%, showing that Chinese consumers face little health risk as a result of imidacloprid intake.
Isolation and Activity Analysis of Phytoene Synthase (ClPsy1) Gene Promoter of Canary-Yellow and Golden Flesh-Color Watermelon
Authors: Cao Yue , Fang Xufeng , Liu Shi , Luan Feishi
Published: April 2023

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an economically important cucurbit crop. Its pulp is rich in antioxidant carotenoids, which confer a variety of flesh colors. ClPsy1 (Phytoene Synthase) is the rate-limiting enzyme for carotenoid synthesis; however, the promoter activity of ClPsy1 is still unknown. In the present study, promoter sequences were isolated from four watermelon accessions: Cream of Saskatchewan pale yellow (COS), canary yellow flesh (PI 635597), golden flesh (PI 192938), and red flesh (LSW-177), all of which express ClPsy1 at extremely high levels. Sequence alignment and cis-element analysis disclosed six SNPs between the four lines all in COS, two of which (at the 598th and 1257th positions) caused MYC and MYB cis-element binding sequence variations, respectively. To confirm ClPsy1 gene promoter activity, full-length and deletion fragments of the promoter were constructed and connected to a β-D-glucosidase (GUS) vector and transferred into tomato fruits. GUS staining was performed to analyze the key segment of the promoter. The activity of the PI 192938 ClPsy1 full-length promoter exceeded that of COS. The deletion fragment from −1521 bp to −1043 bp exhibited strong promoter activity, and contained a MYB transcription factor-binding site mutation. We combined RNA-seq with qRT-PCR to analyze the gene expression pattern between the MYB transcription factor Cla97C10G196920 and ClPsy1 gene and found that Cla97C10G196920 (ClMYB21) showed the same expression trend with ClPsy1, which positively regulates carotenoid synthesis and metabolism.
Phytochemicals in Gastrointestinal Nematode Control: Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of the Ivermectin plus Carvone Combination
Authors: Miró María Victoria , Costa-Júnior Livio Martins , Lloberas Mercedes , Cardozo Patricia , Lanusse Carlos , Virkel Guillermo , Lifschitz Adrián
Published: April 2023

A wide variety of plant-derived phytochemicals with anthelmintic effects have been described. Most of them have shown activity against parasites in vitro but have not been extensively explored in vivo. The aim of the current work was to study the pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic relationship of the combined administration of carvone (R-CNE) and ivermectin (IVM) to lambs. Three trials were conducted to evaluate the pharmacological interaction between R-CNE and IVM in lambs infected with resistant nematodes. Drug concentrations were measured in plasma, target tissues, and H. contortus by HPLC with fluorescent (IVM) and ultraviolet (R-CNE) detection. The effect of both compounds on parasites was estimated by the fecal egg count reduction. Coadministration with R-CNE significantly increased the plasma bioavailability of IVM. R-CNE showed a moderate anthelmintic effect, which was greater on the susceptible isolate of H. contortus. After the combination of R-CNE and IVM as an oral emulsion, both compounds were quantified in H. contortus recovered from infected lambs. However, R-CNE concentrations were much lower than those reported to achieve anthelmintic effects in the in vitro assays. Optimization of the pharmaceutical formulation, dose rate, and administration schedule is needed to take advantage of the intrinsic anthelmintic activity of phytochemicals.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacteria Isolated from Freshwater Mussels in the Wildcat Creek Watershed, Indiana, United States
Authors: Ekakoro John E. , Guptill Lynn F. , Hendrix G. Kenitra , Dorsey Lauren , Ruple Audrey
Published: April 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis that threatens the health of humans and animals. The spread of resistance among species may occur through our shared environment. Prevention of AMR requires integrated monitoring systems, and these systems must account for the presence of AMR in the environment in order to be effective. The purpose of this study was to establish and pilot a set of procedures for utilizing freshwater mussels as a means of surveillance for microbes with AMR in Indiana waterways. One hundred and eighty freshwater mussels were sampled from three sites along the Wildcat Creek watershed in north-central Indiana. Specimens were evaluated for the presence of ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter species), Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and Salmonella species, and the isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance. A total of 24 bacterial isolates were obtained from tissue homogenates of freshwater mussels collected at a site directly downstream from Kokomo, Indiana. Of these, 17 were Enterobacter spp., five were Escherichia coli, one was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and one was Klebsiella pneumoniae. All isolates were resistant to three or more antimicrobial drug classes. Further work is necessary to determine the source of the bacterial species found in the mussels.
The Prophylactic Effect of Single vs. Dual Antibiotic-Loaded Bone Cement against Periprosthetic Joint Infection Following Hip Arthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fracture: An Analysis of the German Arthroplasty Registry
Authors: Szymski Dominik , Walter Nike , Krull Paula , Melsheimer Oliver , Lang Siegmund , Grimberg Alexander , Alt Volker , Steinbrück Arnd , Rupp Markus
Published: April 2023

Background: Antibiotic-loaded bone cement in arthroplasties is currently experiencing increased usage. Therefore, single and double antibiotic-loaded bone cements are commercially available and used in orthopedic surgery. The aim of this investigation was to compare the clinical use of single compared to dual antibiotic-loaded bone cement for implant fixation after femoral neck fracture. Further infection rates were to be compared in (partial) arthroplasty for the treatment of femoral neck fracture for both treatment options. Methods: On the basis of the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD), all cases of femoral neck fracture treated with hemiarthroplasty (HA), or total hip arthroplasty (THA) with single and dual antibiotic-loaded bone cement, were included into the data analysis. The infection risk was compared using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Results: In total, 26,845 cases (HA 76.3%–THA: 23.7%) with femoral neck fracture were included. Within recent years, an increasing usage of dual antibiotic-loaded cement in Germany, with a current proportion of 7.30% in arthroplasty procedures for femoral neck fracture treatment, has been observed. In patients treated with HA, the proportion of dual antibiotic-loaded cement was 7.86%, while in those treated with THA, 5.46% of all prostheses were fixated with a two antibiotic component cement. For all arthroplasty procedures using single antibiotic-loaded bone cement after six months 1.8%, after one year 1.9%, and after five years 2.3%, of the cases failed due to periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), while in the same time period, in cases with dual antibiotic-loaded bone cement 1.5%, 1.5% and 1.5% suffered from infection (p = 0.34). A infection rate of 1.1% after HA with dual antibiotic-loaded bone cement was reported, compared to a 2.1% infection rate whilst using single antibiotic-loaded bone cement after five years (p = 0.098). The number required for treatment when using HA was 91. Conclusions: The use of dual antibiotic-loaded bone cement is increasingly used in arthroplasty procedures after femoral neck fractures. It demonstrates a reduction of PJI after HA and seems, therefore, to be a useful method for the prevention of infection, especially in patients with increased risk factors for PJI.
GEE-Based Ecological Environment Variation Analysis under Human Projects in Typical China Loess Plateau Region
Authors: Tang Jingya , Sui Lichun , Ma Ting , Dan Yang , Yang Qian , Zhao Ruofan , Qiang Xinhuan
Published: April 2023

The China Loess Plateau (CLP) is a unique geomorphological unit with abundant coal resources but a fragile ecological environment. Since the implementation of the Western Development plan in 2000, the Grain for Green Project (GGP), coal mining, and urbanization have been extensively promoted by the government in the CLP. However, research on the influence of these human projects on the ecological environment (EE) is still lacking. In this study, we investigated the spatial–temporal variation of EE in a typical CLP region using a Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE). We obtained a long RSEI time series from 2002–2022, and used trend analysis and rescaled range analysis to predict changing trends in EE. Finally, we used Geodetector to verify the influence of three human projects (GGP, coal mining, and urbanization). Our results show that GGP was the major driving factor of ecological changes in the typical CLP region, while coal mining and urbanization had significant local effects on EE. Our research provides valuable support for ecological protection and sustainable social development in the relatively underdeveloped region of northwest China.
Preclinical Evaluation of Bioactive Scaffolds for the Treatment of Mandibular Critical-Sized Bone Defects: A Systematic Review
Authors: Desnica Jana , Vujovic Sanja , Stanisic Dragana , Ognjanovic Irena , Jovicic Bojan , Stevanovic Momir , Rosic Gvozden
Published: April 2023

This systematic review evaluated current in vivo research on regenerating critical-sized mandibular defects and discussed methodologies for mandibular bone tissue engineering. Out of the 3650 articles initially retrieved, 88 studies were included, and all studies that used a scaffold reported increased bone formation compared to negative controls. Combining scaffolds with growth factors and mesenchymal stem cells improved bone formation and healing. Bone morphogenic proteins were widely used and promoted significant bone formation compared to controls. However, discrepancies between studies exist due to the various methodologies and outcome measures used. The use of scaffolds with bioactive molecules and/or progenitor cells enhances success in mandibular bone engineering. Scaffold-based mandibular bone tissue engineering could be introduced into clinical practice due to its proven safety, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.
Evaluation of System Identification Methods for Free Vibration Flutter Derivatives of Long-Span Bridges
Authors: Awan Muhammad Saqlain , Javed Ali , Afzal Muhammad Faheem Ud Din , Vilchez Luis Federico Navarro , Mehrabi Armin
Published: April 2023

The significance of long-span bridges being susceptible to wind-induced vibrations and the need for evaluating their aerodynamic performance is the focus of this study. The main emphasis is on experimental methods for assessing the bridges’ aerodynamic stability, using sectional model tests with the free vibration technique. The dynamic properties of the model are determined from the measured response, using various system identification methods, including the modified Ibrahim time domain (MITD) and iterative least squares (ILS) for two-degree-of-freedom systems and the logarithmic decrement method (LDM) and the Hilbert transform method (HTM) for single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems. A new dynamic testing setup was designed to facilitate single-degree-of-freedom (heave and pitch) and coupled two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) motion in a wind tunnel section model. The vertical and torsional stiffnesses of the model were adjusted with elastic springs. A Great Belt Bridge section model was selected for testing due to its streamlined aerodynamic shape. The direct and crossflow derivatives were extracted from the measured response using the system identification methods mentioned. Additionally, analytical studies and numerical computational fluid dynamics simulations were conducted to validate the experimental results. The study found that HTM is most effective in SDOF due to its ability to extract both damping and frequency from the nonlinear response, whereas the MITD method is faster in converging system parameters in 2DOF system tests. The experimental and numerical results are comparable to the flat plate, which confirms the streamlined behavior of the Great Belt section from an aerodynamic perspective.
Adaptive Thermal Control of Cell Groups to Extend Cycle Life of Lithium-Ion Battery Packs
Authors: Connor Wesley D. , Advani Suresh G. , Prasad Ajay K.
Published: April 2023

We present a novel approach for a battery management system in which adaptive thermal control is employed to balance the capacities of individual groups of cells within a lithium-ion battery pack. Maintaining capacity balance within the battery pack in this manner can significantly extend its cycle life. We explore the physical implementation of this concept and demonstrate that it is a viable way to extend the life of battery packs. The experimental setup consists of three pairs of cells connected electrically in series and supplied with coolant flow from a chiller. All cells are initially in capacity balance and are cooled uniformly for the first 50 fast charge/discharge cycles. Subsequently, cooling is halted to specific cell pairs to deliberately unbalance their capacities. Finally, cooling is selectively restored to correct the capacity imbalance between the cell groups by the end of 100 charge/discharge cycles. These results suggest that adaptive thermal control can be used effectively to maintain capacity balance within the battery pack.
Study on the Effects of Different Water Content Rates on the Strength and Brittle Plasticity of Limestone
Authors: Zhang Quan , Liu Yuanming , He Guohua , Chen Qingzhi , Ou Xun , Tian Jiao
Published: April 2023

Water can deteriorate the compositional properties of rock through softening and dissolution. The water content rate of rock has a certain effect and can cause changes in rock properties caused by the water action. In this research, to study the effects of the water content rate on the strength and brittle plasticity of limestone, uniaxial compression tests with different water content rate states were conducted, and the form of limestone damage under different water content rate conditions was analyzed. The effects of the different water content rates on the modulus of elasticity, uniaxial compressive strength, brittleness index B value, and brittleness correction index BIM value (BIM: the ratio of dissipated strain energy to releasable elastic strain energy at the peak point of the specimen) of limestone were investigated. It was found that as the rate of water content in the limestone increased from 0% to 0.27%, the penetration shear surface on the limestone’s damaged surface decreased. The modulus of elasticity decreased from 8.85 to 6.76 GPa, the uniaxial compressive strength decreased from 74.11 to 57.60 MPa, the brittleness index B value decreased from 1.17 to 1.04, and the brittleness correction index BIM value increased from 0.09 to 0.26. As the rate of water content on the limestone increased, the rock’s modulus of elasticity and uniaxial compressive strength decreased. Additionally, the rock’s brittleness decreased, and the percentage of plastic deformation in the total deformation increased.
Microstructure, Magnetic Properties, and Application of FINEMET-Type Alloys with Co Addition
Authors: Łukiewska Agnieszka , Łukiewski Mirosław , Hasiak Mariusz , Łukiewska Hanna
Published: April 2023

The choice of materials for cores of electrotechnical devices is currently related to energy saving and global warming problems. Nanocrystalline alloys are emerging as materials for cores in these devices in addition to amorphous materials already commonly used due to their better magnetic properties at high operating frequencies. The thermal stability of the magnetic properties of cores is also an important criterion. Keeping these criteria in mind, a study of microstructure and magnetic properties was carried out in this work, and FeCoNbBCu-type material was selected for use as the core of a choke operating in a DC/DC converter in interleaved topology. On the basis of the conducted studies, it was found that good magnetic properties and the best thermal stability were shown by Fe58Co25Nb3B13Cu1 alloy. Using RALE software, the technical parameters of the choke core were determined and compared with the same parameters for a choke core made of FINEMET-type alloy.
Automatic Detection of Diabetic Hypertensive Retinopathy in Fundus Images Using Transfer Learning
Authors: Nagpal Dimple , Alsubaie Najah , Soufiene Ben Othman , Alqahtani Mohammed S. , Abbas Mohamed , Almohiy Hussain M.
Published: April 2023

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Therefore, there is a need to detect DR in the early stages to reduce the risk of blindness. Transfer learning is a machine learning technique where a pre-trained model is used as a starting point for a new task. Transfer learning has been applied to diabetic retinopathy classification with promising results. Pre-trained models, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), can be fine-tuned on a new dataset of retinal images to classify diabetic retinopathy. This manuscript aims at developing an automated scheme for diagnosing and grading DR and HR. The retinal image classification has been performed using three phases that include preprocessing, segmentation and feature extraction techniques. The pre-processing methodology has been proposed for reducing the noise in retinal images. A-CLAHE, DNCNN and Wiener filter techniques have been applied for the enhancement of images. After pre-processing, blood vessel segmentation in retinal images has been performed utilizing OTSU thresholding and mathematical morphology. Feature extraction and classification have been performed using transfer learning models. The segmented images were then classified using Modified ResNet 101 architecture. The performance for enhanced images has been evaluated on PSNR and shows better results as compared to the existing literature. The network is trained on more than 6000 images from MESSIDOR and ODIR datasets and achieves the classification accuracy of 98.72%.
Lightweight Model for Botnet Attack Detection in Software Defined Network-Orchestrated IoT
Authors: Negera Worku Gachena , Schwenker Friedhelm , Debelee Taye Girma , Melaku Henock Mulugeta , Feyisa Degaga Wolde
Published: April 2023

The Internet of things (IoT) is being used in a variety of industries, including agriculture, the military, smart cities and smart grids, and personalized health care. It is also being used to control critical infrastructure. Nevertheless, because the IoT lacks security procedures and lack the processing power to execute computationally costly antimalware apps, they are susceptible to malware attacks. In addition, the conventional method by which malware-detection mechanisms identify a threat is through known malware fingerprints stored in their database. However, with the ever-evolving and drastic increase in malware threats in the IoT, it is not enough to have traditional antimalware software in place, which solely defends against known threats. Consequently, in this paper, a lightweight deep learning model for an SDN-enabled IoT framework that leverages the underlying IoT resource-constrained devices by provisioning computing resources to deploy instant protection against botnet malware attacks is proposed. The proposed model can achieve 99% precision, recall, and F1 score and 99.4% accuracy. The execution time of the model is 0.108 milliseconds with 118 KB size and 19,414 parameters. The proposed model can achieve performance with high accuracy while utilizing fewer computational resources and addressing resource-limitation issues.
Long Eared Owls (Asio otus Linnaeus, 1758) as Field-Assistants in an Integrative Taxonomy Survey of a Peculiar Microtus savii (Rodentia, Cricetidae) Population
Authors: Lucentini Livia , Brunet-Lecomte Patrick , Brustenga Leonardo , La Porta Gianandrea , Barili Angelo , Gaggi Angela , Gentili Sergio , Nappi Armando , Paci Andrea Maria
Published: April 2023

Voles from the Genus Microtus are rodents with a subterranean lifestyle. Central Italy is populated by two species of the Genus, the North-Western Microtus savii and the South-Eastern endemic Microtus brachycercus. Although morphometric features able to help distinguish M. savii from M. brachycercus are lacking, a peculiar morphology of the anterior end of the first lower molar is typical, but not exclusive, of M. brachycercus. Since some skulls with a compatible dental morphology were collected from Long-eared owl pellets in Umbria (Central Italy), a genetic assessment was deemed necessary to verify the possible presence of M. brachycercus outside of its known distribution range. Hemimandibles were isolated and used for both genetic and morphometric dental analyses. Despite the fact that this could suggest the presence of a M. brachycercus population, genetic analyses confirmed the species attribution to the M. savii complex, showing peculiar genetic polymorphisms that can either be due to the wide sampling area, represented by the owls’ hunting grounds, or to the recent evolutive history of the analysed population. This study, once again, underlines the importance of integrative taxonomy, suggesting the key role of predators as field-assistants to minimize the impact of sampling campaign on natural populations.
Design and Feasibility Study of Novel Flying Wing Carrier for Launching Small Satellites in Low Earth Orbit
Authors: Chiarelli Mario R. , Borrometi Fabiano B. , Cipolla Vittorio , Binante Vincenzo , Abu Salem Karim , Palaia Giuseppe
Published: April 2023

In recent years, there has been a considerable growth in the demand for low-orbit satellites, leading to a need for more flexible and cost-effective launch systems. This study presents a low-cost “carrier-launcher” configuration designed for space missions in low earth orbit. The carrier is a remote-controlled unmanned flying wing that can fulfil the role of the first stage of a multi-stage earth-to-orbit launcher rocket. Making the carrier a flying wing increases its effectiveness and efficiency compared to other state-of-the-art options. The flying wing architecture allows for a significantly lighter carrier compared to the traditional aircraft. The launcher is carried on the wing’s upper surface and is released during a high-altitude almost “zero g” parabolic manoeuvre. A state-of-the-art analysis has been conducted to initialize and develop the carrier’s conceptual configuration. The aerodynamics and flight mechanics of the flying wing carrier were studied using the potential aerodynamic code Athena Vortex Lattice. The high-altitude launcher’s release manoeuvre has been investigated to properly assess the required installed thrust. Finite element analyses were also performed using NASTRAN to preliminarily evaluate the aeroelastic behaviour of the proposed “carrier-launcher” configuration. The overall results show the conceptual feasibility of the flying wing carrier for launching small satellites in low earth orbit. This study provides valuable insights into the development of cost-effective launch systems for the growing demand in the low-orbit satellite sector. Our proposed design has a maximum take-off mass of 122,000 kg, uses 4 Rolls-Royce UltraFan model engines, has a wingspan of 54 m, and can carry a 10,000 kg launcher to put a 460 kg payload in LEO. As it is an initial conceptual study, this investigation establishes an initial benchmark for forthcoming inquiries, hence providing a starting point of a breakthrough concept to foster its future development.
Interactive Design and Implementation of a Digital Museum under the Background of AR and Blockchain Technology
Authors: Hu Wangming , Han Hyunsuk , Wang Gulong , Peng Tao , Yang Zhiqiang
Published: April 2023

A museum is the destination of the crystallization of history and culture, and a museum is the center for the development of heritage culture. The display and exhibition of historical relics can promote the harmonious development of society. However, there are many defects in traditional museums. The collection in the museum is scattered. The exhibition needs a specific time and place to open, and the exhibition mode is boring and lacks entertainment, which seriously limits the museum’s dissemination of history and culture. In order to improve the public’s number of visits, museums need to keep pace with the times. Using augmented reality technology can digitize the information in the museum and integrate it with the user’s real environment, which solves the limitation of time and space for most users to visit the museum, and greatly increases the entertainment of users to visit the museum. In addition, the application of blockchain technology in digital museums can effectively ensure the security of museum cultural relics data and quickly restore the lost cultural relics information. The digital museum can help tourists realize cross-region viewing. Through multimedia software and hardware, it can greatly stimulate tourists’ interest and attract tourists of different ages to visit. This article uses digital technology to present physical museums in a digital form on the network, but it is difficult for digital museums to conduct targeted analysis on tourists of different ages. This article will analyze the attraction ability of digital museums to tourists of different ages, thereby attracting tourists of different ages to visit. This paper compared traditional museums with digital museums based on augmented reality technology and blockchain technology. The experimental results showed that from the perspective of young people, the average interactivity of traditional museums and digital museums was 47.20% and 78.20%, respectively; from the perspective of the elderly, the average interactivity of traditional museums and digital museums was 59.04% and 70.36%, respectively. Therefore, the digital museum built by using augmented reality technology and blockchain technology can effectively improve the interaction with users. The digital museum can improve the interaction with tourists of different ages, attract a large number of tourists for virtual visits, and improve the cultural transmission and economic development of the digital museum.
The Process of Reconstructing the Ancient Magnetic Field Direction: A New Approach to Paleomagnetic Data for a Better Estimate of Accuracy
Authors: Khokhlov Andrey , Gvozdik Georgy
Published: April 2023

Traditionally, the accuracy of paleomagnetic data obtained from samples of igneous rocks relies on the widely known method a95. We propose here a novel statistical method to estimate the ancient field direction using information from Zijderveld diagrams. We show a way to detect outliers in a sample of directions by constructing a confidence domain (convex, but complex in shape) on the direction sphere. Such a region statistically localizes the common direction of the ancient field over a given set of specimens from the lava flow. Often, even for a small sample, this confidence domain is much smaller than the confidence domain that the a95 method gives for the average direction over the sample. Improving the accuracy is obviously important for describing the evolution of the magnetic field.
A Semi-Analytical Approach for the Linearized Vibration of Clamped Beams with the Effect of Static and Thermal Load
Authors: Yang Xuan , Li Yanbin , Chen Qiang , Fei Qingguo
Published: April 2023

The geometric nonlinearity due to static and thermal load can significantly alter the vibration response of structures. This study presents a semi-analytical approach to illustrate the nonlinear vibration of clamped-clamped beams under static and thermal loads. The von Karman strain and Hamilton’s principle are employed to derive the nonlinear static equilibrium equation and nonlinear governing equation. The vibration equation’s coefficient is variable. The transfer-matrix method and local homogenization are used to solve the equation. The proposed method’s accuracy is validated by commercial software and literature. The numerical results indicate that uniform stress caused by thermal load only reduces the structural mode frequencies. The geometric nonlinearity of the structural static deformation affects both the mode frequencies and mode shapes. And the mode shapes cannot be approximated by harmonic functions. When the static deformation is significant, the structure’s local RMS response is substantially affected. The combined loads have a more significant impact on the acceleration response than the superposition of individual load effects.
Energy–Water Management System Based on MPC for a Greenhouse in a Mapuche Indigenous Community
Authors: Endo Alvaro , Parra Sebastian , Cartagena Oscar , Sáez Doris , Muñoz Carlos , Huircan Juan Ignacio
Published: April 2023

Rural communities usually settle in territories where crop self-consumption is the main source of sustenance. In this context, climate change has made these environments of crop control susceptible to water shortages, impacting crop yields. The implementation of greenhouses has been proposed to address these problems, together with strategies to optimize water and energy consumption. In this study, an energy–water management system based on a model predictive control strategy is proposed. This control strategy consists of a fuzzy optimizer used to determine the optimal consumption from isolated microgrids considering the local resources available. The proposed controller is implemented on two timescales. First, medium-term optimization over one month is used to estimate the necessary water demand required to support crop growth and a high yield. Second, short-term optimization is used to determine the optimal climate conditions inside the greenhouse for managing crop irrigation, refilling the reserve water tank, and providing ventilation. Experiments were conducted to test this approach using a case study of an isolated community. For such a case, energy consumption was reduced, and the irrigation process was optimized. The results indicated that the proposed controller is a viable alternative for implementing intelligent management systems for greenhouses.
The Thermal Resistance Performance of WTi Alloy-Thin-Film Temperature Sensors Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Wu Zhengtao , Zhang Yintuan , Wang Qimin , Kim Kwang-Ho , Kwon Se-Hun
Published: April 2023

The microstructure and properties of WTi alloy films with 0~23 at.% Ti prepared by magnetron sputtering were investigated. The electrical resistivity gradually increased with the increase in the Ti content. When the Ti content was 6.8 at.%, the temperature coefficient of resistance of the alloy film reached the maximum value of 19.5 × 10−4 K−1, which is 3.6 times higher than that of the pure W film. After several thermal resistance tests, the temperature coefficient of resistance of the WTi alloy film with 6.8 at.% Ti decreased gradually. After five measurements, the temperature coefficient of resistance decreased gradually from 19.5 × 10−4 to 16.3 × 10−4 K−1. After annealing at 500 °C for 30 min, the grain size of the WTi alloy film (6.8 at.% Ti) increased, a few pores appeared, and the density of the film decreased. The temperature coefficient of resistance decreased from 19.5 × 10−4 K−1 to 14 × 10−4 K−1. When the annealing time was increased to 60 min, the structure and properties of the WTi alloy film remained basically unchanged. After conducting the annealing treatment for 30 min, the WTi films showed excellent stability in the thermal resistance tests, and their temperature coefficient of resistance was basically consistent after cyclic thermal loading, which has promising application prospects for the temperature measurement of tools and dies.
The Feasibility and Performance of Total Hip Replacement Prediction Deep Learning Algorithm with Real World Data
Authors: Chen Chih-Chi , Huang Jen-Fu , Lin Wei-Cheng , Cheng Chi-Tung , Chen Shann-Ching , Fu Chih-Yuan , Lee Mel S. , Liao Chien-Hung , Chung Chia-Ying
Published: April 2023

(1) Background: Hip degenerative disorder is a common geriatric disease is the main causes to lead to total hip replacement (THR). The surgical timing of THR is crucial for post-operative recovery. Deep learning (DL) algorithms can be used to detect anomalies in medical images and predict the need for THR. The real world data (RWD) were used to validate the artificial intelligence and DL algorithm in medicine but there was no previous study to prove its function in THR prediction. (2) Methods: We designed a sequential two-stage hip replacement prediction deep learning algorithm to identify the possibility of THR in three months of hip joints by plain pelvic radiography (PXR). We also collected RWD to validate the performance of this algorithm. (3) Results: The RWD totally included 3766 PXRs from 2018 to 2019. The overall accuracy of the algorithm was 0.9633; sensitivity was 0.9450; specificity was 1.000 and the precision was 1.000. The negative predictive value was 0.9009, the false negative rate was 0.0550, and the F1 score was 0.9717. The area under curve was 0.972 with 95% confidence interval from 0.953 to 0.987. (4) Conclusions: In summary, this DL algorithm can provide an accurate and reliable method for detecting hip degeneration and predicting the need for further THR. RWD offered an alternative support of the algorithm and validated its function to save time and cost.