bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automated Model Hardening with Reinforcement Learning for On-Orbit Object Detectors with Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Shi Qi , Li Lu , Feng Jiaqi , Chen Wen , Yu Jinpei
Published: January 2023

On-orbit object detection has received extensive attention in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in space research. Deep-learning-based object-detection algorithms are often computationally intensive and rely on high-performance devices to run. However, those devices usually lack space-qualified versions, and they can hardly meet the reliability requirement if directly deployed on a satellite platform, due to software errors induced by the space environment. In this paper, we evaluated the impact of space-environment-induced software errors on object-detection algorithms through large-scale fault injection tests. Aside from silent data corruption (SDC), we propose an extended criterial SDC-0.1 to better quantify the effect of the transient faults on the object-detection algorithms. Considering that a bit-flip error could cause severe detection result corruption in many cases, we propose a novel automated model hardening with reinforcement learning (AMHR) framework to solve this problem. AMHR searches for error-sensitive kernels in a convolutional neural network (CNN) through trial and error with a deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) agent and has fine-grained modular-level redundancy to increase the fault tolerance of the CNN-based object detectors. Compared to other selective hardening methods, AMHR achieved the lowest SDC-0.1 rates for various detectors and could tremendously improve the mean average precision (mAP) of the SSD detector by 28.8 in the presence of multiple errors.
Prediction of Single Disc Seeding System Forces, Using a Semi-Analytical and Discrete Element Method (DEM) Considering Rotation Effects
Authors: Khosravani Ali , Desbiolles Jacky M. A. , Saunders Chris , Ucgul Mustafa , Fielke John M.
Published: January 2023

Disc seeders are commonly used in no-till farming systems, and their performance evaluation generally rely on expensive and time-consuming field experiments. Mathematical models can help speed up force-related evaluations and improve the understanding of soil-disc interactions, to assist the performance optimisation processes. Previous analytical force prediction models of disc blades have not accounted for the free rotation aspect of the disc blade. This paper develops an analytical force prediction model from the wide blade failure theory adapted to suit rotating flat disc blades operating at different sweep and tilt angles and compares predictions with Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations. To validate the two models, experiments were performed on a remoulded sandy soil condition using a rotating flat disc set at two tilt angles of 0° and 20°, and four sweep angles of 6, 26, 45 and 90° the 3-dimensional force components of draught, vertical and side forces were measured. Results showed a higher coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.95) was obtained with analytical model predictions compared to DEM predictions (R2 = 0.85) for their agreement with the test results. It was found that both the developed analytical approach and the DEM model can be used to predict tillage forces at different sweep and tilt angles acting on a rotating flat disc blade.
Potential Anti-Sarcopenia Effect and Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Rice Protein Hydrolysate Prepared through High-Pressure Processing
Authors: Chen Shih-Hsiao , Li Po-Hsien , Chan Yung-Jia , Cheng Yu-Tsung , Lin Hui-Yao , Lee Shih-Chieh , Lu Wen-Chien , Ma Yu-Xu , Li Min-Ying , Song Tuzz-Ying
Published: January 2023

Rice protein is a suitable alternative protein source for dairy protein in infant formulas on account of its unique nutrition and hypoallergenicity. Rice protein was isolated through enzymatic hydrolysis (Alcalase, papain, bromelain, Flavourzyme®) in combination with high-pressure processing (HPP) (400 MPa for 15 min at 25 °C) to enhance its functional properties and broaden its food processing applications. The effect of the HPP-treated rice protein hydrolysate on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced atrophy in C2C12 myotubes was also studied. The length of myotubes was observed under a light microscope, and periodic acid Schiff staining. The results showed that even though enzymatic hydrolysis and HPP treatment affected the color of the resulting rice protein, the protein content (3120.31 ± 42.15), branched chain amino acid (BCAA) content (15.12 ± 1.03), peptide content (31.25 ± 0.55), and amino acid composition of the rice protein were significantly increased. Moreover, the combined enzymatic and HPP treatment effectively overcame the problem of limited solubility and water-holding capacity. Rice protein produced through enzymatic and HPP treatment exhibited a higher free radical scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorbance capacity. It also alleviated DEX-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes as indicated by the increase in myotube length. In short, the enzymatic and HPP treatment of rice protein not only overcame limitations, but also produced rice protein with high functionality in terms of antioxidant and therapeutic effects on muscle atrophy. The rice protein hydrolysate produced through enzymatic hydrolysis and HPP treatment showed the potential for use as an ingredient for functional foods in the nutraceutical industry.
Relationship of Physiographic Position to Physicochemical Characteristics of Soils of the Flooded-Savannah Agroecosystem, Colombia
Authors: Salamanca-Carreño Arcesio , Vélez-Terranova Mauricio , Vargas-Corzo Oscar Mauricio , Pérez-López Otoniel , Castillo-Pérez Andrés Fernando , Parés-Casanova Pere M.
Published: January 2023

Savannah floodplains are a natural agroecosystem located in the eastern plains of Colombia, with soils considered to be of low fertility. This assumption has not been rigorously validated by direct experimental studies. The aim of the study was to analyze the soils’ physicochemical characteristics of the “banks” and “lows”, which are physiographic positions, from the floodplain savannah in Arauca, Colombia. Soil samples were collected in “low” (n = 14) and “bank” (n = 15) physiographic positions. For each soil sample, the following chemical variables were determined: pH, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, exchange acidity, cation-exchange capacity (CEC), Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B, and physical variable (texture). The Wilcoxon non-parametric test (Mann–Whitney) was applied for the comparison of the soil’s physicochemical variables in each physiographic position (p < 0.05). The highest values for each variable analyzed correspond to the physiographic position of “low” (p < 0.05). The pH, T.N., Na, K and B were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The physiographic positions of “bank” and “low” of floodplain savannah presented low levels of most nutrients, with slightly higher values in the “low” physiographic position. Corrective measures must be applied to improve the nutritional values of savannah soils and, consequently, the productivity of native forages. Despite these deficiencies, the vegetation cover is given by very well-adapted native grasses, reflecting the conditions of said agroecosystem.
A Deep Learning Model of Radio Wave Propagation for Precision Agriculture and Sensor System in Greenhouses
Authors: Cama-Pinto Dora , Damas Miguel , Holgado-Terriza Juan Antonio , Arrabal-Campos Francisco Manuel , Martínez-Lao Juan Antonio , Cama-Pinto Alejandro , Manzano-Agugliaro Francisco
Published: January 2023

The production of crops in greenhouses will ensure the demand for food for the world’s population in the coming decades. Precision agriculture is an important tool for this purpose, supported among other things, by the technology of wireless sensor networks (WSN) in the monitoring of agronomic parameters. Therefore, prior planning of the deployment of WSN nodes is relevant because their coverage decreases when the radio waves are attenuated by the foliage of the plantation. In that sense, the method proposed in this study applies Deep Learning to develop an empirical model of radio wave attenuation when it crosses vegetation that includes height and distance between the transceivers of the WSN nodes. The model quality is expressed via the parameters cross-validation, R2 of 0.966, while its generalized error is 0.920 verifying the reliability of the empirical model.
Organo-Mineral Fertilization Based on Olive Waste Sludge Compost and Various Phosphate Sources Improves Phosphorus Agronomic Efficiency, Zea mays Agro-Physiological Traits, and Water Availability
Authors: Bouhia Youness , Hafidi Mohamed , Ouhdouch Yedir , Zeroual Youssef , Lyamlouli Karim
Published: January 2023

In the context of intensive and sustainable agriculture, limiting soil degradation and the loss of organic matter has become an obligation to maintain food security. The use of organo-mineral fertilizer (OMF) products is an innovative technology that may solve the different challenges raised. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of various organo-mineral fertilizer (OMF) formulations on Zea mays agro-physiological traits, phosphorus (P)-related parameters, and water conservation during a 90-day pot experiment. The OMF formulations consisted of blending several doses of a stable OMWS compost (10 t /ha(OMF1), 50 t/ha (OMF2), or 100 t/ha (OMF3)) with different sources of mineral P, namely diammonium phosphate (DAP), rock phosphate (RP), or phosphate washing sludge (PWS), compared with separate applications. The results indicated that the effect of an OMF on the soil and plants was strongly dependent on the source of P used and the dose of OMWS compost. The best agronomic performance was attributed to OMF1-based DAP, which resulted in a significant improvement in the shoot and root biomass dry weight by more than 260% and 40%, respectively. However, using an OMF2 formulation was more optimal when using RP and PWS as mineral P sources. Independently of the type of P fertilizer, the addition of stable OM systematically improved multiple soil properties, including water availability, and the nutrient concentrations, such as the available P, exchangeable potassium, and magnesium. Furthermore, the plant’s respiration, photosynthetic activity, and nutrient assimilations were positively affected by the OMF formulations. Overall, our results demonstrate that organo-mineral fertilization is a promising solution for increasing the efficiency of low-P and high-P mineral fertilizers in alkaline soils through direct and indirect mechanisms involving improved soil properties and higher P solubilization.
Effects on Soil Bacterial Organisms in an Alfalfa Monocropping System after Corn Insertion and Nitrogen Fertilization
Authors: Tong Zongyong , Wang Lixue , Wang Yu , Li Xianglin , He Feng
Published: January 2023

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) are common forage plants for feeding livestock, and their effects on soil bacterial organisms have been extensively studied. However, there is little comprehensive research on soil bacterial organisms and their function in a long-term alfalfa monocropping system after corn insertion and fertilization. The effects of alfalfa–corn rotation (AF: alfalfa monocropping, RA: alfalfa and corn rotation) and nitrogen fertilization (RA0 and RA15) were investigated in a field experiment. The results showed that fertilization significantly increased the aboveground biomass (AGB) and soil nitrate nitrogen, and corn insertion significantly decreased the nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) (p < 0.05). In addition, the bacterial community structure among the treatments was significantly changed by the rotation and fertilization. The rotational system of RA significantly increased the soil bacterial diversity compared with AF (p < 0.01), and most of the soil bacterial communities were of the phyla Actinobacterota and Proteobacteria. The RA system had a lower relative abundance of Actinobacterota than the AF system. The bacterial function prediction found that the soil carbon and nitrogen cycle processes in RA were more active than those in AF. The RDA analysis revealed that NO3−-N and pH were the main environmental factors affecting the bacterial community structure in the RA system.
Evaluation of Monitored Erosion Events in the Context of Characteristics of Source Areas in Czech Conditions
Authors: Gebhart Michal , Dumbrovský Miroslav , Šarapatka Bořivoj , Drbal Karel , Bednář Marek , Kapička Jiří , Pavlík František , Kottová Blanka , Zástěra Vojtěch , Muchová Zlatica
Published: January 2023

Since the year 2012, nationwide monitoring of erosion on agricultural land has been carried out in the Czech Republic with more than 2,300 cases of erosion events recorded so far. The evaluation of the relationships between the actual manifestation of erosion and the characteristics of the 5600 erosion enclosed areas (EEAs), on which surface runoff develops after erosion-forming rainfall, are presented in this contribution. Most frequently grown crops during an erosion event include maize (49.8% of cases), rapeseed (13.7%), potatoes (8.1%) and sugar beets (2.1%). The distributions of affected erosion enclosed areas (EEAs) in terms of shares of soils with low susceptibility and medium susceptibility to compaction, drainage systems and contributing areas of critical points are bimodal; the low percentage (<10%) being more prominent than the high one (>90%). The percentage of hydrologic soil group B in EEA has the high share dominant over the low one. Unsurprisingly, erosion events have been recorded predominantly in EEAs with low forest cover and on arable land (share >90%). The distribution of EEAs across altitudes corresponds with the relief of the country. Obtained results will be used to validate the implementation of erosion-monitoring systems and for the adaptation of soil erosion prevention and mitigation measures in the sustainable land use policy.
Challenges and Opportunities of Agriculture Digitalization in Spain
Authors: Sadjadi Ebrahim Navid , Fernández Roemi
Published: January 2023

Motivated by the ongoing debate on food security and the global trend of adopting new emerging technologies in the aftermath of COVID-19, this research focuses on the challenges and opportunities of agriculture digitalization in Spain. This process of digital transformation of the agricultural sector is expected to significantly affect productivity, product quality, production costs, sustainability and environmental protection. For this reason, our study reviews the legal, technical, infrastructural, educational, financial and market challenges that can hinder or impose barriers to the digitalization of agriculture in Spain. In addition, the opportunities that digitalization can bring are identified, with the intention of contributing to provide insights that helps strengthen the Spanish agricultural model and make the necessary decision so that professionals in the sector are prepared to adapt to this intense change.
Removal of Two Triazole Fungicides from Agricultural Wastewater in Pilot-Scale Horizontal Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands
Authors: Parlakidis Paraskevas , Gounari Ioanna , Georgiou Aristidis , Adamidis George , Vryzas Zisis , Gikas Georgios D.
Published: January 2023

Myclobutanil is a systemic fungicide belonging to the triazole group, which is frequently detected in environmental samples. Triticonazole, also a triazole fungicide, controls soil and seed-borne diseases and it is mainly used as a seed-coating pesticide. Both myclobutanil and triticonazole are considered as persistent pollutants in the environment, raising concerns about their environmental fate and ecotoxicity potential. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficiency of four pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow (HSF) constructed wetlands (CWs) to remediate myclobutanil and triticonazole from artificially polluted water. Daily loading of the four CWs took place from March 2022 to July 2022 with contaminated water fortified with myclobutanil and triticonazole. Three of the CWs, encoded WMG-R, WMG-C, and WMG-U, with medium gravel (MG) as porous media and the fourth, with code name WFG-R, fine gravel (FG). Common reed (R, Phragmites australis) was planted in the WMG-R and WFG-R units, and cattail (C, Typha latifolia) in the WMG-C unit. The WMG-U unit with no plant was used as a control unit. The results showed that the removal rate follows the pattern: WFG-R (88.4%) > WMG-R > (83.4%) > WMG-C (59.3%) > WMG-U (36.6%) and WFG-R (88.5%) > WMG-C (71.0%) > WMG-R > (70.9%) > WMG-U (49.2%) for myclobutanil and triticonazole, respectively. The most significant factors influencing the fungicides’ dissipation were the porous media content and the plant species.
Effect of Temperature and Humidity on Milk Urea Nitrogen Concentration
Authors: Tshuma Takula , Fosgate Geoffrey , Webb Edward , Swanepoel Corlia , Holm Dietmar
Published: January 2023

This study investigated the effect of ambient temperature and humidity on milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentration in Holstein cows. Meteorological data corresponding to the dates of milk sampling were collected over six years. A linear mixed-effects model including a random effect term for cow identification was used to assess whether temperature and humidity were predictive of MUN concentration. Age, days in milk, temperature humidity index (THI), ration, milk yield, parity and somatic cell count were also evaluated as main effects in the model. A general linear model including all variables as random effects was then fitted to assess the contribution of each variable towards the variability in MUN concentration. Maximum daily temperature and humidity on the sampling day were positively associated with MUN concentration, but their interaction term was negatively associated, indicating that their effects were not independent and additive. Variables that contributed the most to the variability of MUN concentration were dietary crude protein (21%), temperature (18%) and other factors (24%) that were not assessed in the model (error term). Temperature has a significant influence on urea nitrogen concentration and should therefore always be considered when urea nitrogen concentration data are used to make inferences about the dietary management of dairy cows.
Altered miRNA Expression Profiles in the Serum of Beagle Dogs Experimentally Infected with Toxocara canis
Authors: Zheng Wen-Bin , Cai Lang , Zou Yang , Gao Wen-Wei , Liu Qing , Zhu Xing-Quan
Published: January 2023

Toxocara canis is a neglected roundworm, which can cause debilitating disease in dogs and humans worldwide. Serum is an excellent material for monitoring the occurrence of many diseases. However, no information is available on the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the serum of dogs infected with T. canis. In this study, RNA-seq analysis was performed to identify the serum miRNA profiles in Beagle dogs infected with T. canis at different stages of infection. A total of 3, 25 and 25 differently expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were identified in dog serum at 24 h post-infection (hpi), 10 days post-infection (dpi) and 36 dpi, respectively, such as cfa-let-7g, cfa-miR-16, cfa-miR-92b, cfa-miR-93, cfa-miR-122, cfa-miR-485 and cfa-miR-451. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that these miRNAs could regulate the pathways related to parasitic infectious diseases and immune system, such as amoebiasis, toxoplasmosis, platelet activation, IL-17 signaling pathway and chemokine signaling pathway. These results provide a foundation to explore the underlying regulatory role of miRNAs in definitive hosts after T. canis infection.
Undocked Tails, Mycoplasma-like Lesions and Gastric Ulcers in Slaughtering Pigs: What Connection?
Authors: Scollo Annalisa , Abbas Mustansar , Contiero Barbara , Gottardo Flaviana
Published: January 2023

Tail biting is an economical and behavioral problem in the pork production system worldwide and systematic tail docking has been applied for decades to decrease the risk of its onset. However, legal and market-driven requirements are leading pig producers to rear undocked animals. The aim of this work was to monitor tail, pluck (lungs, pleurae, and liver), stomach, carcass, and thigh lesions in slaughtering pigs belonging to either docked or undocked batches. A total of 525 batches were evaluated at slaughter: 442 docked and 83 undocked batches. The presence of tail lesions was only recorded in undocked batches (44.0 ± 0.402 vs. 0.2 ± 0.2% compared to docked ones, p < 0.001), with a prevalence of severe chronic lesions of 27.3% ± 0.032, suggesting that more and alternative wide efforts to manage long-tailed animals are needed. On the contrary, docked animals showed more frequent ear lesions (9.6% ± 0.037 vs. 4.6% ± 0.019; p = 0.0001). Severe lung lesions were found more frequently in undocked animals (9.2% ± 0.043 vs. 6.6% ± 0.011, p = 0.006), as well as gastric ulcers (26.1% ± 0.021 vs. 20.3% ± 0.37, p = 0.006). These lesions might share the same predisposing factors of tail lesions; the latter might be investigated as an iceberg indicator for other pathological conditions in undocked pigs and eventual causal association among lesions in these organs should be explored.
Differential Expression of Innate and Adaptive Immune Genes during Acute Physical Exercise in American Quarter Horses
Authors: Wilson Judith , De Donato Marcos , Appelbaum Brooke , Garcia Carly Turner , Peters Sunday
Published: January 2023

Overtraining syndrome (OTS) is the reduction in performance due to excess training and lack of proper recovery, which can lead to a chronic deprivation of energy and reduction in the repair of damage that can accumulate over time. Here, the effect of acute, intense physical exercise on the expression of innate and adaptive immune genes in 12 racing-bred American Quarter Horses, after resting for 3 days and immediately after intense exercise for 1.8 miles were compared. The expression of 84 genes related to innate and adaptive immune responses was analyzed. Significant variation among individuals and between sexes was observed. The analysis showed that five genes were differentially expressed in both females and males, three only in females, and two in males. The upregulated genes were IL13 (male only), CCR4 (female only), TLR6, TLR9 (female only), NFKBIA, CXCR3, and TLR4, while the downregulated genes were IL6 (female only), CD4 (male only), and MYD88. The three main pathways containing genes that were affected by acute, intense physical exercise were Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, and the NF-kappa B and chemokine signaling pathways, suggesting the activation of the proinflammatory responses as a result of the stress from the acute exercise. Gene expression could be used to assess indications of OTS.
Post-Thaw Quality of Spermatozoa Frozen with Three Different Extenders in the Murciano Granadina Goat Breed
Authors: Galián Sonia , Peinado Begoña , Almela Laura , Poto Ángel , Ruiz Salvador
Published: January 2023

Artificial insemination (AI) with frozen semen in goats still presents serious difficulties, especially in certain goat breeds, in spite of technological progress. The aim of this work is the in vitro study of seminal extenders adapted from those used on other species to evaluate the response of goat sperm to several homeostatic conditions in order to achieve optimal post-thaw semen quality. Three different extenders based on different activity principles were used: (1) extender according to the methodology proposed for pigs, (2) skimmed-milk-based extender according to the methodology proposed for goats in France, and (3) a new egg-yolk-based extender replacing membrane-protective surfactants with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and named by our team as extender “IMIDA”. The freezing guidelines were those proposed for the freezing of porcine semen. The results obtained show that the egg-yolk-based extenders have good parameters of sperm motility at thawing, studied objectively using the computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system and also subjectively. In particular, in the sperm resistance test after five hours, the thawed sperm containing SDS in their composition showed an optimal average on every evaluated parameter. The new IMIDA extender provided the highest sperm quality averages, so it could be a good extender to use in cryopreservation of semen in the caprine species.
A Case of Bovine Eosinophilic Myositis (BEM) Associated with Co-Infection by Sarcocystis hominis and Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Dini Filippo Maria , Caffara Monica , Jacinto Joana G. P. , Benazzi Cinzia , Gentile Arcangelo , Galuppi Roberta
Published: January 2023

Bovine eosinophilic myositis (BEM) is a specific inflammatory myopathy, often associated with Sarcocystis spp., with multifocal gray-green lesions leading to carcass condemnation with considerable economic losses. Here is described a peculiar case of BEM that occurred in an adult (16 month) cattle, born in France, bred, and slaughtered in Italy at the end of 2021. On inspection, muscles showed the typical multifocal gray-green lesions that were sampled for, cytological, histological, and molecular investigations, while meat juice was subjected to IFAT for Toxoplasma IgG. Genomic DNA was extracted from lesions, portions of healthy muscle and from meat juice pellet and analyzed by PCR targeting 18S rDNA, COI mtDNA and B1 genes, and sequenced. The cytology showed inflammatory cells mostly referable to eosinophils; at histology, protozoan cysts and severe granulomatous myositis were observed. A BEM lesion and meat juice pellet subjected to PCR showed, concurrently, sequences referable both to S. hominis and T. gondii. Meat juice IFAT resulted negative for T. gondii IgG. Our findings highlight the first detection of T. gondii DNA in association with S. hominis in a BEM case, suggesting a multiple parasite infection associated with this pathology, although the actual role of T. gondii infection in the pathophysiology of the diseases should be clarified.
Therapeutic Phage Display-Derived Single-Domain Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness
Authors: Daly Janet M. , Lim Theam Soon , Gough Kevin C.
Published: January 2023

Driven by necessity, the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has accelerated the development and implementation of new vaccine platforms and other viral therapeutics. Among these is the therapeutic use of antibodies including single-domain antibodies, in particular the camelid variable heavy-chain fragment (VHH). Such therapies can provide a critical interim intervention when vaccines have not yet been developed for an emerging virus. It is evident that an increasing number of different viruses are emerging and causing epidemics and pandemics with increasing frequency. It is therefore imperative that we capitalize on the experience and knowledge gained from combatting COVID-19 to be better prepared for the next pandemic.
Studying the Association between Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Insertion Sequences in Metagenomes: Challenges and Pitfalls
Authors: Galiot Lucie , Monger Xavier C. , Vincent Antony T.
Published: January 2023

Antibiotic resistance is an issue in many areas of human activity. The mobilization of antibiotic resistance genes within the bacterial community makes it difficult to study and control the phenomenon. It is known that certain insertion sequences, which are mobile genetic elements, can participate in the mobilization of antibiotic resistance genes and in the expression of these genes. However, the magnitude of the contribution of insertion sequences to the mobility of antibiotic resistance genes remains understudied. In this study, the relationships between insertion sequences and antibiotic resistance genes present in the microbiome were investigated using two public datasets. The first made it possible to analyze the effects of different antibiotics in a controlled mouse model. The second dataset came from a study of the differences between conventional and organic-raised cattle. Although it was possible to find statistically significant correlations between the insertion sequences and antibiotic resistance genes in both datasets, several challenges remain to better understand the contribution of insertion sequences to the motility of antibiotic resistance genes. Obtaining more complete and less fragmented metagenomes with long-read sequencing technologies could make it possible to understand the mechanisms favoring horizontal transfers within the microbiome with greater precision.
Preliminary Results Detailing the Effect of the Cultivation System of Mulched Ridge with Double Row on Solanaceous Vegetables Obtained by Using the 2ZBX-2A Vegetable Transplanter
Authors: He Tengfei , Li Hui , Shi Song , Liu Xuechuan , Liu Hu , Shi Yupeng , Jiao Wei , Zhou Jilei
Published: January 2023

China is the largest vegetable producer in the world, and vegetable production is more geographically concentrated in the Huang-Huai-Hai region and the Yangtze River Basin. There are significant challenges ahead for increasing the average yields of the vegetables in this region. The effects of a cultivation system, a mulched ridge with a double row (MRDR), were evaluated by using the 2ZBX-2A vegetable transplanter newly designed in this paper. The key parameters of the equipment were designed and optimized by using the human–computer interaction method and the discrete element method according to agronomy requirements. Compared with the traditional ridge (TR) system on two typical solanaceous vegetables (eggplant and capsicum), the uniformities of the plant spacing and the planting depth in the MRDR system were significantly improved. Finally, the fresh fruit yield in the MRDR system increased significantly (p < 0.05) by 40.8% and 35.3% compared with that in the TR system for eggplant and capsicum, respectively. In addition, the water use efficiency (WUE) was also 54.9~59.7% higher under the MRDR system than under the TR system. All the results indicate that the MRDR system has the potential to improve the yields and WUE of solanaceous vegetables in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China.
The Efficacy of Three Types of Disinfectants on the Microbial Flora from the Surface of Impression Materials Used in Dentistry—In Vitro Study
Authors: Cerghizan Diana , Jánosi Kinga Mária , Ciurea Cristina Nicoleta , Popelea Oana , Baloș Monica Dora , Crăciun Adriana Elena , Hănțoiu Liana Georgiana , Albu Aurița Ioana
Published: January 2023

During impressions, bacteria, viruses, and fungi remain on the impression material, representing a significant risk for the medical team (dentists, dental assistants, and laboratory technicians). Impression disinfectants have been introduced into dentistry to reduce the risk of cross-infection. This study was performed by examining the surface disinfection of five commonly used impression materials in prosthodontics: alginate-Tropicalgin (Zhermack®), condensation silicone-Zetaplus (Zhermack®), Oranwash L (Zhermack®); and addition silicone-Elite HD + Putty Soft (Zhermack®), Elite + Light Body (Zhermack®) after the disinfection with three disinfectants: Zeta 3 Soft (Zhermack®), Zeta 7 Spray (Zhermack®) and Zeta 7 Solution (Zhermack®). Before disinfection, the impression materials were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Candida albicans ATCC 10213. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of the two examined specific disinfectants in reducing cross-infection risk. The surface disinfectant-spray is not adequate for impression disinfection. A high number of bacterial colonies were found on the surface of all impressions disinfected with this spray. The immersion-disinfection method effectively eliminates the risk of cross-infections (Kruskal–Wallis test showed a p < 0.001).
Study of Dynamics in Metallic MEMS Cantilevers—Pull-In Voltage and Actuation Speed
Authors: Yang Xiaohui , Kästner Philipp , Käkel Eireen , Smolarczyk Marek , Liu Shujie , Li Qingdang , Hillmer Hartmut
Published: January 2023

For different metals and varying geometries, this paper presents simulations of electrostatically actuated MEMS cantilevers regarding their influence on pull-in voltage and actuation speed. Three-dimensional electromechanical modeling including many non-linearities has been performed to study some static but mainly dynamic features. The results show that the involved parameters have different influences on the actuation speed and pull-in voltage: lower length, higher thickness as well as lower density and higher Young’s modulus of material diminish the actuation time, while longer length, smaller thickness, and smaller Young’s modulus reduce the actuation voltages. Shorter actuation times and smaller actuation voltages cannot be obtained and optimized simultaneously. Different metals such as Au, Ag, Cu, Ti, Ni, Al, W, Cr, Ta, and Mo as well as artificial metals are studied and compared. In this study, Al is found to be the best material for achieving shorter actuation times and smaller actuation voltages. The design rules of MEMS cantilevers are derived considering the large variety of studied parameters. Many involved non-linearities are discussed in detail influencing the MEMS dynamics. Finally, the actuation times are related to the existing experimental actuation times of optical MEMS shutters and MEMS cantilevers.
Neurophysiological Evaluation of the Functional State of Muscular and Nervous Systems in High-Maneuvering Jet Fighters
Authors: Wesołek Angelika , Daroszewski Przemysław , Huber Juliusz
Published: January 2023

The present study aimed to assess the function of muscular and nervous systems in high-maneuvering jet fighters with the chosen method of clinical neurophysiology, which methodologically has not yet been presented in detail. Fifteen pilots with the experience of more than 1700 flying hours at 7G overloading on average and fifteen healthy subjects for the comparison of health status declared to participate in this study. The dermatomal perception from C4 to S1 was examined using von Frey’s filaments tactile method. Surface electromyography (sEMG) recordings examined the activity of proximal and distal muscles in the upper and lower extremities, the transmission of motor nerve impulses peripherally was diagnosed by electroneurography (ENG), the efferent transmission from C5–C7 and L4–L5 spinal centers to muscles was entirely verified with recordings of motor-evoked potentials induced oververtebrally with the magnetic field (MEP). The pilots estimated more lumbosacral than cervical pain at about 2 on the 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). Sensory perception studies did not reveal abnormal symptoms in the C2–S1 dermatomes innervation. Clinical neurophysiology studies indicated, in general, the lack of pathology during sEMG tests in comparison to healthy subjects or even better muscle motor unit contractile properties in pilots, both in the upper and lower extremities. In pilots, the parameters of ENG and MEP examinations show a statistically significant sensitivity for detecting the slight changes and their consequences in the transmission of neural impulses within L4–L5 ventral root fibers. The research results enable specifying the algorithm of future preventing rehabilitative treatment in high-maneuvering jet fighters with an average flight experience of 2000 h and working conditions at 7G on average. This study, for the first time, describes the application of a set of diagnostic neurophysiological methods with the particular importance of MEPs in the clinical evaluation of the jet fighters’ health status.
Rotor Fault Diagnosis Method Based on VMD Symmetrical Polar Image and Fuzzy Neural Network
Authors: Zhou Xiaolong , Wang Xiangkun , Wang Haotian , Cao Linlin , Xing Zhongyuan , Yang Zhilun
Published: January 2023

Rotor fault diagnosis has attracted much attention due to its difficulties such as non-stationarity of fault signals, difficulty in fault feature extraction and low diagnostic accuracy of small samples. In order to extract fault feature information of rotors more effectively and to improve fault diagnosis precision, this paper proposed a fault diagnosis method based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) symmetrical polar image and fuzzy neural network. Firstly, the original rotor vibration signal is decomposed by using the VMD method and the relevant parameter selection algorithm of the VMD method is also proposed. Secondly, the intrinsic mode functions (IMF), which are sensitive to the signal characteristics, are selected for signal reconstruction based on a comprehensive evaluation factor method. As well, the reconstructed signal is transformed into a two-dimensional snowflake image through using the symmetrical polar coordinate method. Finally, the image features are extracted by the gray level co-occurrence matrix to form the state feature vector, which is input into the fuzzy neural network to realize the rotor fault diagnosis. Through the analysis of measured signals, the experimental results show that the proposed method can reach a higher recognition rate of 98% and the k-cross-validation experiment is used to demonstrate the robustness of the fuzzy neural network, and the average recognition accuracy of this experiment is 99.2%. Compared with some similar methods, the proposed method still has the highest fault recognition precision 98.4%, and the smallest standard deviation 0.5477.
Soluble Elements Released from Organic Wastes to Increase Available Nutrients for Soil and Crops
Authors: Rodríguez-Espinosa Teresa , Navarro-Pedreño Jose , Gómez Lucas Ignacio , Almendro Candel María Belén , Pérez Gimeno Ana , Zorpas Antonis A.
Published: January 2023

Member States of the European Union must ban burning arable stubble by 2023 and improve the recycling of organic waste into fertilizers and organic farming practices by 2030. The current lack of nutrients from soils and crops leads to food insecurity, human malnutrition and diseases. Consequently, innovative solutions are required, as technosols are constructed by waste. The objective of this paper is to educate on the nutrients that some pruning residues can provide. This work characterizes elemental composition, nutrients soluble fraction and physical and chemical properties of the following organic wastes: almond tree pruning, commercial peat substrate, olive tree pruning, pine needle, date palm leaf pruning, sewage sludge compost and vine pruning. The results show significant differences between macro (Na, K, Ca, Mg) and micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) content and their solubility. Sewage sludge compost, olive pruning and pine needle are the three residues with the highest presence of nutrients in their elemental composition. Nevertheless, if a farmer applies pruning residues as a nutritional supplement for crops, it will be key to finding the short-term soluble nutrient rate and synchronizing the nutritional requirement curve of a plant’s life cycle with its nutrient release. Consequently, organic waste (without composting treatment) obtains higher solubility rates, being date palm leaf residue the one with the greatest value. The solubility index of organic wastes can be significant in providing short-term nutrients to crops. Hence, our results can help in choosing the proper waste to enhance plant nutrient supply, mainly K, Ca, Mg and Na for crop nutrition, to ensure efficient biofertilization.
Concept of a 3D-Printed Voronoi Egg-Shaped Habitat for Permanent Lunar Outpost
Authors: Juračka David , Katzer Jacek , Kobaka Janusz , Świca Izabela , Seweryn Karol
Published: January 2023

The article presents a concept of a lunar base that would take advantage of the natural shape of an egg. Several versions of egg-shaped habitat structures characterized by different sizes are presented. Possible locations of habitats both on lunar surface and in craters were discussed. Advantages and disadvantages of particular locations were also pointed out. The proposed in the paper concept of an egg-shaped structure is characterised by a spatial character based on Voronoi diagram and would be implemented using a 3D-printed method. The presented 3D-printed structure was designed to be light and suitable to be covered by lunar soil. As a necessity in the developed concept, in situ resources utilization was addressed in order to generate products using local sources to reduce the number of materials that would be required to be transported from Earth. At the end of the paper, future areas of research and tests are highlighted.
Parameters Calibration of Discrete Element Model for Corn Straw Cutting Based on Hertz-Mindlin with Bonding
Authors: Liu Wenhang , Su Qiang , Fang Mei , Zhang Jianchao , Zhang Wenjie , Yu Zhihong
Published: January 2023

Aiming at the lack of a precise discrete element model in the simulation analysis of corn straw crushing, this paper established bond models with different structure and particle models with different properties of corn straw based on Hertz-Mindlin with bonding, and verified the discrete element model by combining physical test and simulation optimization design methods. Firstly, this study generates the bonded particle models based on Hertz-Mindlin with bonding for epidermis-epidermis, inner flesh-internal flesh, and epidermis-internal flesh, respectively. The bonding parameters of the model are calibrated with the help of a bending damage test, bending damage simulation test, and actual test with 2 mm/min speed. It shows that the maximum destructive force errors of the epidermis and inner flesh are 2.4% and 1.6%, respectively. On this basis, a discrete element model of corn straw is established by combining the calibrated parameters of the bonding parameters of epidermis—epidermis, inner flesh—inner flesh, and epidermis—inner flesh bond. The bending failure test shows that the mechanical properties of corn straw are similar between the simulated test and the actual test, and the maximum destructive power is 288 N and 292 N, respectively. The relative error is 1.36%. The feasibility of the discrete element model for simulation analysis is verified, which shows that the established discrete element model can be applied to the simulation analysis of corn straw cutting and crushing process.
Span-Based Fine-Grained Entity-Relation Extraction via Sub-Prompts Combination
Authors: Yu Ning , Liu Jianyi , Shi Yu
Published: January 2023

With the development of information extraction technology, a variety of entity-relation extraction paradigms have been formed. However, approaches guided by these existing paradigms suffer from insufficient information fusion and too coarse extraction granularity, leading to difficulties extracting all triples in a sentence. Moreover, the joint entity-relation extraction model cannot easily adapt to the relation extraction task. Therefore, we need to design more fine-grained and flexible extraction methods. In this paper, we propose a new extraction paradigm based on existing paradigms. Then, based on it, we propose SSPC, a method for Span-based Fine-Grained Entity-Relation Extraction via Sub-Prompts Combination. SSPC first decomposes the task into three sub-tasks, namely S,R Extraction, R,O Extraction and S,R,O Classification and then uses prompt tuning to fully integrate entity and relation information in each part. This fine-grained extraction framework makes the model easier to adapt to other similar tasks. We conduct experiments on joint entity-relation extraction and relation extraction, respectively. The experimental results show that our model outperforms previous methods and achieves state-of-the-art results on ADE, TACRED, and TACREV.
Prediction of Emotional Empathy in Intelligent Agents to Facilitate Precise Social Interaction
Authors: Alanazi Saad Awadh , Shabbir Maryam , Alshammari Nasser , Alruwaili Madallah , Hussain Iftikhar , Ahmad Fahad
Published: January 2023

The research area falls under the umbrella of affective computing and seeks to introduce intelligent agents by simulating emotions artificially and encouraging empathetic behavior in them, to foster emotional empathy in intelligent agents with the overarching objective of improving their autonomy. Raising the emotional empathy of intelligent agents to boost their autonomic behavior can increase their independence and adaptability in a socially dynamic context. As emotional intelligence is a subset of social intelligence, it is essential for successful social interaction and relationships. The purpose of this research is to develop an embedded method for analyzing empathic behavior in a socially dynamic situation. A model is proposed for inducing emotional intelligence through a deep learning technique, employing multimodal emotional cues, and triggering appropriate empathetic responses as output. There are 18 categories of emotional behavior, and each one is strongly influenced by multimodal cues such as voice, facial, and other sensory inputs. Due to the changing social context, it is difficult to classify emotional behavior and make predictions based on modest changes in multimodal cues. Robust approaches must be used to be sensitive to these minor changes. Because a one-dimensional convolutional neural network takes advantage of feature localization to minimize the parameters, it is more efficient in this exploration. The study’s findings indicate that the proposed method outperforms other popular ML approaches with a maximum accuracy level of 98.98 percent when compared to currently used methods.
The Safe Passage Redundancy Analysis of Airport Taxiway Bridge Based on Aircraft Load Fatigue Accumulation
Authors: Zhang Yuhui , Zhao Yuanyuan
Published: January 2023

This paper is centered around the theoretical, experimental, and simulation analysis of safe passage redundancy and the mechanical deformation of the taxiway bridge under the fatigue accumulation state, and we define the redundancy as the remaining times that the aircraft can pass safely on the taxiway bridge. Based on the principle of stress control, the entity of the taxiway bridge was scaled to establish a laboratory model. The accuracy of the simulation model was verified by the comparative analysis between the experimental and the simulation data. The fatigue–life curve (S–N curve) was introduced to overlay the material fatigue state cycle into the simulation model of the taxiway bridge, and the safe passage redundancy and mechanical deformation of the bridge under the fatigue accumulation state were analyzed. By analyzing and processing the simulation data, a calculation model for the safe passage degree of the taxiway bridge under the fatigue state and a prediction calculation model for the remaining passage life were constructed. By comparing the simulation data with the model data, the accuracy of the established model was verified to be higher than 95%, which provides an important theoretical reference for the development of research on the safety life detection and evaluation of the subsequent taxiway bridge under the fatigue state.