bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Multiple-Step, Randomly Delayed, Robust Cubature Kalman Filter for Spacecraft-Relative Navigation
Authors: Mu Rongjun , Chu Yanfeng , Zhang Hao , Liang Hao
Published: March 2023

This study is focused on addressing the problem of delayed measurements and contaminated Gaussian distributions in navigation systems, which both have a tremendous deleterious effect on the performance of the traditional Kalman filtering. We propose a non-linear, multiple-step, randomly delayed, robust filter, referred to as the multiple-step, randomly delayed, dynamic-covariance-scaling cubature Kalman filter (MRD-DCSCKF). First, Bernoulli random variables are adopted to describe the measurement system in the presence of multiple-step random delays. Then, the MRD-DCSCKF uses the framework of the multiple-step randomly delayed filter, based on a state-augmentation approach, to address the problem of delayed measurements. Meanwhile, it depends on a dynamic-covariance-scaling (DCS) robust kernel to reject the outliers in the measurements. Consequently, the proposed filter can simultaneously address the problem of delayed measurements and inherit the virtue of robustness of the DCS kernel function. The MRD-DCSCKF has been applied to vision-based spacecraft-relative navigation simulations, where quaternions are adopted to represent spacecraft’s attitude kinematics, and the attitude update is completed with quaternions and generalized Rodrigues parameters. Monte Carlo simulations have illustrated that MRD-DCSCKF is superior to other well-known algorithms by providing high-accuracy position and attitude estimations in an environment with different delay probabilities and/or different outlier-contamination probabilities. Therefore, the proposed filter is robust to delayed measurements and can suppress outliers.
A Review of Key Techniques for in Ovo Sexing of Chicken Eggs
Authors: Jia Nan , Li Bin , Zhu Jun , Wang Haifeng , Zhao Yuliang , Zhao Wenwen
Published: March 2023

The identification of chicken sex before hatching is an important problem in large-scale breeding applications in the poultry industry. This paper systematically reviews the key techniques for in ovo sexing of chicken eggs before hatching and presents recent research on molecular-based, spectral-based, acoustic-based, morphology-based, and volatile organic compound (VOC)-based technologies. Molecular-based methods are standard techniques for accurate sexing but require perforations by skilled technicians in certified laboratories to extract egg contents. Spectral-based techniques show great potential as noninvasive methods but require complex data processing and modeling. Acoustic-based techniques are sensitive to environmental noise. Morphology-based studies on the outer shape of the eggshell and distribution of blood vessels provide novel methods for in ovo sexing of chicken eggs. However, they face challenges such as the color, thickness, and smoothness of the eggshell. VOC profiling of chicken eggs allows sexing in the early stages of incubation; however, the VOC composition may be influenced by species or feed, and more research is required to explore potential applications. In addition, recent breakthroughs on in ovo chicken egg sexing are discussed. Physiological changes in chicken eggs during the whole incubation period have been well studied using metabolism and phenotype tools to enhance mechanism recognition. Furthermore, various sensing techniques, from the X-ray to terahertz range, and deep learning algorithms have been employed for data acquisition, processing, mining, and modeling to capture and analyze key features. Finally, commercialization and practical applications are discussed. This study provides a reference for in ovo sexing of chicken eggs before hatching in the poultry industry.
Maize Stem Contour Extraction and Diameter Measurement Based on Adaptive Threshold Segmentation in Field Conditions
Authors: Zhou Jing , Wu Yushan , Chen Jian , Cui Mingren , Gao Yudi , Meng Keying , Wu Min , Guo Xinyu , Wen Weiliang
Published: March 2023

Solving the problem of the stem contour extraction of maize is difficult under open field conditions, and the stem diameter cannot be measured quickly and nondestructively. In this paper, maize at the small and large bell stages was the object of study. An adaptive threshold segmentation algorithm based on the color space model was proposed to obtain the stem contour and stem diameter of maize in the field. Firstly, 2D images of the maize stem in the field were captured with an RGB-D camera. Then, the images were processed by hue saturation value (HSV) color space. Next, the stem contour of the maize was extracted by maximum between-class variance (Otsu). Finally, the reference method was used to obtain the stem diameter of the maize. Scatter plots and Dice coefficients were used to compare the contour extraction effects of the HSV + fixed threshold algorithm, the HSV + Otsu algorithm, and the HSV + K-means algorithm. The results showed that the HSV + Otsu algorithm is the optimal choice for extracting the maize stem contour. The mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and root mean square error (RMSE) of the maize stem diameter at the small bell stage were 4.30 mm, 10.76%, and 5.29 mm, respectively. The mean absolute error, MAPE, and RMSE of the stem diameter of the maize at the large bell stage were 4.78 mm, 12.82%, and 5.48 mm, respectively. The MAPE was within 10–20%. The results showed that the HSV + Otsu algorithm could meet the requirements for stem diameter measurement and provide a reference for the acquisition of maize phenotypic parameters in the field. In the meantime, the acquisition of maize phenotypic parameters under open field conditions provides technical and data support for precision farming and plant breeding.
Effect of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride and Zinc Methionine on Growth, Carcass Traits, Meat Quality, Fatty Acid Profile and Gene Expression in Longissimus dorsi Muscle of Sheep in Intensive Fattening
Authors: Guerrero-Bárcena Manuel , Domínguez-Vara Ignacio Arturo , Morales-Almaraz Ernesto , Sánchez-Torres Juan Edrei , Bórquez-Gastelum José Luis , Hernández-Ramírez Daniel , Trujillo-Gutiérrez Daniel , Rodríguez-Gaxiola Miguel Angel. , Pinos-Rodríguez Juan Manuel , Velázquez-Garduño Gisela , Grageola-Nuñez Fernando
Published: March 2023

Zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) redistributes ingested energy and improves feed efficiency by increasing muscle mass and reducing fat in sheep and cattle carcasses in fattening; however, by increasing lipolysis and reducing intramuscular fat (IMF), it can affect meat quality in terms of the attributes of tenderness, juiciness, taste and color; in contrast, Zn methionine (ZM), due to its lipogenic effect, can improve meat marbling without affecting production efficiency. In the current study, 36 male Suffolk sheep were used (25 ± 0.58 kg live weight, LW) to evaluate the supply of ZH and ZM on growth, carcass traits, meat quality, fatty acid content and expression of genes which regulate the deposition of fatty acids (FA) in IMF. A completely randomized design was used, with factorial arrangement of 2 × 2 ZH (0 and 0.2 mg kg−1 LW) and ZM (0 and 80 mg Zn kg−1 dry matter, DM). The results showed that ZH increased (p < 0.05) carcass yield, compactness index and chop eye area and decreased greasing (p < 0.02). The content of ether extract in meat increased (p < 0.05) in sheep with ZM plus ZH, and in sheep with ZM (p < 0.01). ZH (p < 0.05) reduced (p < 0.02) the meat’s color index L*, a*, b*, C* and H*. The content in IMF of stearic (C18:0) and arachidic (C20:0) FA was reduced (p ≤ 0.05) by the effect of ZH, but the palmitoleic (C16:1), eicosatetraenoic (C20:4n6) and conjugated linoleic FA were increased (p ≤ 0.05) by the effect of ZH. ZM increased (p ≤ 0.05) palmitoleic (C16:1) and conjugated linoleic FA; the ZH interaction with ZM increased (p ≤ 0.05) linoleic (C18:2 c 9 c 12), linolenic (C18:3 c 9c12c15) and eicosatetraenoic (C20:4n6) FA. The ZH interaction with ZM influenced (p ≤ 0.05) the total saturated fatty acids (SFA), unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PFA). ZH increased (p ≤ 0.05) the relative expression of mRNA from the enzymes lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), glycerol -3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT1) and diglyceride acyltransferase (DGAT1). ZM increased (p ≤ 0.05) the relative expression of mRNA from the enzyme gene acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and HSL, monoglyceride lipase (MGL). The ZM interaction with ZH increased (p ≤ 0.05) the relative expression of mRNA genes of the enzymes HSL and ACC. It was concluded that ZH improved feed conversion (FC), increased yield and reduced fat in carcasses; ZM increased IMF in Longissimus dorsi. ZH and ZM influenced the FA composition, reduced the SFA and increased the UFA and PFA; both additives also influenced the relative mRNA expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism.
Comparison of Agronomic Parameters and Nutritional Composition on Red and Green Amaranth Species Grown in Open Field Versus Greenhouse Environment
Authors: Managa Gudani Millicent , Nemadodzi Lufuno Ethel
Published: March 2023

Previously, researchers have not paid attention to indigenous African leafy vegetables such as nightshade and kale, however, amaranth species have recently gained popularity due to their adaptability to various climatic conditions and their cultivation in both open fields and hydroponics. Amaranth species are ranked among the underutilized leafy vegetables with medicinal properties, economic values, nutritional and health benefits. This study aimed to compare the growth parameters and nutritional composition of two consumed red (Amaranthus Cruentus L.) and green (Amaranthus Graecizans L.) amaranth species in South Africa, cultivated in an open field versus a greenhouse. The findings showed a high chlorophyll content and large leaf area under open field conditions on red and green species. The number of leaves and stem height were higher in the greenhouse cultivation system. In open field cultivation, minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, aluminium, copper and manganese for both species were significantly higher whilst potassium, sodium, boron, sulphur were significantly higher in the greenhouse production. The sufficient total nitrogen and ash were recorded in the open field production, and no significant difference was observed between the open field and greenhouse on moisture and ash content of A. Cruentus. In conclusion, A. Cruentus and A. Graecizansn grown in an open field had higher proximate and mineral composition over the greenhouse cultivation system.
Photoreceptors Modulate the Flowering and Morphogenesis Responses of Pelargonium × hortorum to Night-Interruption Light Quality Shifting
Authors: Park Yoo Gyeong , Jeong Byoung Ryong
Published: March 2023

This study examines how the day neutral plant (DNP) Pelargonium × hortorum L.H. Bailey ‘Ringo 2000 Violet’ is impacted by LED night-interruption light (NIL) quality shifting in terms of flowering, morphogenesis, and transcription of photoreceptor genes. A closed-type plant factory with white (W) LEDs providing 180 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD light for long day (LD, 16 h light, 8 h dark), short day (SD, 10 h light, 14 h dark), or SD with 4 h night interruption (NI) with 10 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD LEDs was used to grow the plants. Two NIL qualities were employed, where after the first two hours, the NIL quality was switched from one to another among white (W), far-red (Fr), red (R), and blue (B). A total of 12 SD treatments with NIL quality shifting were used, with the LD and SD serving as the control: NI-BR (from B to R), NI-RB (from R to B), NI-RFr (from R to Fr), NI-FrR (from Fr to R), NI-BFr (from B to Fr), NI-FrB (from Fr to B), NI-WB (from W to B), NI-BW (from B to W), NI-FrW (from Fr to W), NI-WFr (from W to Fr), NI-RW (from R to W), and NI-WR (from W to R). LD refers to a 16 h long-day treatment. Geranium plants were taller in NI treatments that included Fr light than those in other NI treatments and were the shortest in the NI-WB treatment. Flowering was seen in all treatments and was notably encouraged by NI with Fr light, regardless of the sequence of light quality applied. In NI-FrR and NI-RFr, high expressions of phyA, phyB, and cry1 were observed. Flower formation and plant morphogenesis were both impacted by the photoperiod. Both morphogenesis and flowering were strongly impacted by the second NIL, but the first NIL had no effects on either. These findings indicate that NI-RFr and NI-FrR improve flowering, which may be used for commercial DNP production.
Comparison between Standardized and Modified EZ-DripLoss Determination Methods in Chicken Breast Meat
Authors: Kaić Ana , Janječić Zlatko , Golub Karla , Potočnik Klemen
Published: March 2023

The EZ-DripLoss method is relatively new gravimetric method that is used for the determination of excessive drip in meat. The literature reports diversity regarding the use of EZ-DripLoss methodology. In the standardized EZ-DripLoss method, drip loss is calculated as the change in the container weight, whereas in the modified EZ-DripLoss method, it is calculated as the change in sample weight. This technical note aimed to research the relationship between these two methods on chicken breast meat (40 broilers from the line Ross 308) during the measurement interval of 24, 48, and 72 h. The results showed statistically a significant positive linear increase in drip loss values regardless of the used method during all of the investigated measurement intervals. At 24, 48, and 72 h of storage, the average drip loss in the weighed samples was 0.77, 1.40, and 2.23 percentage points greater than in the not weighed samples (p < 0.0001), respectively. A strong and positive estimate of correlation coefficients between the drip loss of weighed and not weighed samples was found after 24 h (r = 0.95), 48 h (r = 0.92), and 72 h (r = 0.86). This technical report indicates that the used EZ-DripLoss methodology highly influences the drip loss in chicken breast meat and the comparisons of the EZ-DripLoss results should be performed with great caution.
Fermented Total Mixed Ration Alters Rumen Fermentation Parameters and Microbiota in Dairy Cows
Authors: Song Jiamei , Ma Yuansheng , Zhang Hengwei , Wang Lijun , Zhang Yonggen , Zhang Guangning
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to determine changes and interactions of ruminal microbiota and chemical parameters in dairy cows fed FTMR. Twelve multiparous Holstein dairy cows (Body weight = 616 ± 13.4 kg; day in milk = 106 ± 7.55 d; and parity = 2.31 ± 0.49; mean ± standard deviation) were divided randomly into two treatments depending on the day in milk, milk production, and parity. The two treatments were: (1) total mixed ration (TMR) and (2) FTMR. Illumina MiSeq sequencing was used to explore the changes in the ruminal microbiota. The results revealed that the bacterial and fungal diversity of the FTMR group were significantly higher than the TMR group. The predominant microbiota phyla in the bacteria and fungi showed significant differences between TMR and FTMR, as follows: Verrucomicrobia (p = 0.03) and Tenericutes (p = 0.01), Ascomycota (p = 0.04) and Basidiomycota (p = 0.04). The dominant bacterial genera in the bacteria, fungi, protozoan, and archaea that showed significant differences between TMR and FTMR were Unclassified_Bacteroidales (p = 0.02), Unclassified_RFP12 (p = 0.03), Candida (p = 0.0005), Bullera (p = 0.002), Cryptococcus (p = 0.007), and Ostracodinium (p = 0.01). LefSe analysis was performed to reveal the biomarker genera of the rumen microbiota community (bacteria, fungi, protozoan, and archaea) in the TMR and FTMR were the genera Shuttleworthia, Ruminococcus, Cryptococcus, Mycosphaerella, Bullera, Candida, and Ostracodinium. NH3-N concentration (p < 0.0001), total VFA concentration (p = 0.003), and molar proportion in total VFA of acetate (p = 0.01) were higher for the cows fed FTMR compared with the cows fed the TMR. Several bacterial genera showed significant correlations with rumen fermentation parameters. The genus Unclassified_Bacteroidales and Bullera were positively correlated with total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and acetate, whereas Candida and Ostracodinium showed negative correlations. Meanwhile, propionate was positively correlated with Candida and negatively correlated with Bullera. The PICRUSt functional profile prediction indicated that the xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism, the lipid, amino acid, terpenoids, and polyketides metabolisms of the FTMR group were significantly higher than that of the TMR group. The results imply that FTMR can increase lipid and amino acid metabolism, and modulate the rumen microbiome and improve ruminal fermentation.
Seasonal Variation of Melatonin Concentration and mRNA Expression of Melatonin-Related Genes in Developing Ovarian Follicles of Mares Kept under Natural Photoperiods in the Southern Hemisphere
Authors: Coelho Lia Alencar , Silva Luciano Andrade , Reway Ana Paula , Buonfiglio Daniella Do Carmo , Andrade-Silva Jéssica , Gomes Patrícia Rodrigues Lourenço , Cipolla-Neto José
Published: March 2023

This study investigated the seasonal variations in mRNA expression of FSH (Fshr), LH (Lhr) receptors, melatonin (Mt1 and Mt2) receptors, melatonin-synthetizing enzymes (Asmt and Aanat) and melatonin concentration in developing follicles from mares raised in natural photoperiods. For one year, ultrasonographic follicular aspiration procedures were performed monthly, and small (<20 mm), medium (20 to 35 mm) and large (>35 mm) follicles were recovered from five mares. One day before monthly sample collections, an exploratory ultrasonography conducted to record the number and the size of all follicles larger than 15 mm. The total number of large follicles were higher during the spring/summer (8.2 ± 1.9) than during autumn/winter (3.0 ± 0.5). Compared to autumn/winter seasons, there was an increase of Fshr and Aanat mRNA expressions in small, medium and large follicles, an increase of Lhr and Asmt mRNA expressions in medium and large follicles and an increase of Mt1 and Mt2 mRNA expressions in small and large follicles during spring/summer. The melatonin levels in follicular fluid were also higher during the spring/summer seasons. The present data show that melatonin locally upregulates the mRNA expression of Mt1 and Mt2 receptors and melatonin-forming enzymes in mare developing follicles during reproductive seasons.
Efficacy of Cefoperazone Sulbactam in Patients with Acinetobacter Infections: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Kogilathota Jagirdhar Gowthami Sai , Rama Kaanthi , Reddy Shiva Teja , Pattnaik Harsha , Qasba Rakhtan K. , Elmati Praveen Reddy , Kashyap Rahul , Schito Marco , Gupta Nitin
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) is a multidrug-resistant pathogen commonly associated with nosocomial infections. The resistance profile and ability to produce biofilm make it a complicated organism to treat effectively. Cefoperazone sulbactam (CS) is commonly used to treat AB, but the associated data are scarce. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of articles downloaded from Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (through June 2022) to study the efficacy of CS in treating AB infections. Our review evaluated patients treated with CS alone and CS in combination with other antibiotics separately. The following outcomes were studied: clinical cure, microbiological cure, and mortality from any cause. Results: We included 16 studies where CS was used for the treatment of AB infections. This included 11 studies where CS was used alone and 10 studies where CS was used in combination. The outcomes were similar in both groups. We found that the pooled clinical cure, microbiological cure, and mortality with CS alone for AB were 70%, 44%, and 20%, respectively. The pooled clinical cure, microbiological cure, and mortality when CS was used in combination with other antibiotics were 72%, 43%, and 21%, respectively. Conclusions: CS alone or in combination needs to be further explored for the treatment of AB infections. There is a need for randomized controlled trials with comparator drugs to evaluate the drug’s effectiveness.
Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Humboldt Penguins—Susceptibility Patterns and Molecular Epidemiology of Clinical and Environmental Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from a Belgian Zoo, 2017–2022
Authors: Debergh Hanne , Becker Pierre , Vercammen Francis , Lagrou Katrien , Haesendonck Roel , Saegerman Claude , Packeu Ann
Published: March 2023

Aspergillus fumigatus is the main causative agent of avian aspergillosis and results in significant health problems in birds, especially those living in captivity. The fungal contamination by A. fumigatus in the environment of Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti), located in a Belgian zoo, was assessed through the analysis of air, water, sand and nest samples during four non-consecutive days in 2021–2022. From these samples, potential azole-resistant A. fumigatus (ARAF) isolates were detected using a selective culture medium. A total of 28 veterinary isolates obtained after necropsy of Humboldt penguins and other avian species from the zoo were also included. All veterinary and suspected ARAF isolates from the environment were characterized for their azole-resistance profile by broth microdilution. Isolates displaying phenotypic resistance against at least one medical azole were systematically screened for mutations in the cyp51A gene. A total of 14 (13.6%) ARAF isolates were identified from the environment (n = 8) and from Humboldt penguins (n = 6). The TR34/L98H mutation was observed in all resistant environmental strains, and in two resistant veterinary strains. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of this mutation in A. fumigatus isolates from Humboldt penguins. During the period 2017–2022, pulmonary aspergillosis was confirmed in 51 necropsied penguins, which reflects a death rate due to aspergillosis of 68.0%, mostly affecting adults. Microsatellite polymorphism analysis revealed a high level of diversity among environmental and veterinary A. fumigatus isolates. However, a cluster was observed between one veterinary isolate and six environmental strains, all resistant to medical azoles. In conclusion, the environment of the Humboldt penguins is a potential contamination source of ARAF, making their management even more complex.
PrivacyGLUE: A Benchmark Dataset for General Language Understanding in Privacy Policies
Authors: Shankar Atreya , Waldis Andreas , Bless Christof , Andueza Rodriguez Maria , Mazzola Luca
Published: March 2023

Benchmarks for general language understanding have been rapidly developing in recent years of NLP research, particularly because of their utility in choosing strong-performing models for practical downstream applications. While benchmarks have been proposed in the legal language domain, virtually no such benchmarks exist for privacy policies despite their increasing importance in modern digital life. This could be explained by privacy policies falling under the legal language domain, but we find evidence to the contrary that motivates a separate benchmark for privacy policies. Consequently, we propose PrivacyGLUE as the first comprehensive benchmark of relevant and high-quality privacy tasks for measuring general language understanding in the privacy language domain. Furthermore, we release performances from multiple transformer language models and perform model–pair agreement analysis to detect tasks where models benefited from domain specialization. Our findings show the importance of in-domain pretraining for privacy policies. We believe PrivacyGLUE can accelerate NLP research and improve general language understanding for humans and AI algorithms in the privacy language domain, thus supporting the adoption and acceptance rates of solutions based on it.
The Effect of Food Processing on the Antioxidant Properties of Ipomoea batatas
Authors: Alves Tiago , Luís Ângelo , Duarte Ana Paula
Published: March 2023

It is known that heat treatment can lead to physical and chemical changes that can decrease or alter the properties of food. This work evaluated the influence on the antioxidant activity of boiling, pressure, and microwave cooking processes on three selected sweet potato varieties (purple, orange, and yellow). The samples were analyzed for total phenols and anthocyanin content and antioxidant capacity. The cooking water of the boiling and pressure processing were also analyzed. The results demonstrated that the purple sweet potato had better phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity profiles than the other varieties studied. On the other hand, the yellow sweet potato was the variety that showed the lowest antioxidant activity after applying the different culinary processes. Microwave processing, particularly when applied to purple sweet potato samples, seemed to be the most suitable cooking process to extract the bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity. Related to the cooking water, there were discrepancies between the behavior of different sweet potato varieties, since not all the samples followed similar profiles. In conclusion, it is necessary to study sweet potatoes processed through various cooking methods for antioxidant properties and other characteristics, such as texture, flavor, and nutritional value.
An Unsupervised Anomaly Detection Based on Self-Organizing Map for the Oil and Gas Sector
Authors: Concetti Lorenzo , Mazzuto Giovanni , Ciarapica Filippo Emanuele , Bevilacqua Maurizio
Published: March 2023

Anomaly detection plays a crucial role in preserving industrial plant health. Detecting and identifying anomalies helps prevent any production system from damage and failure. In complex systems, such as oil and gas, many components need to be kept operational. Predicting which parts will break down in a time interval or identifying which ones are working under abnormal conditions can significantly increase their reliability. Moreover, it underlines how the use of artificial intelligence is also emerging in the process industry and not only in manufacturing. In particular, the state-of-the-art analysis reveals a growing interest in the subject and that most identified algorithms are based on neural network approaches in their various forms. In this paper, an approach for fault detection and identification was developed using a Self-Organizing Map algorithm, as the results of the obtained map are intuitive and easy to understand. In order to assign each node in the output map a single class that is unique, the purity of each node is examined. The samples are identified and mapped in a two-dimensional space, clustering all readings into six macro-areas: (i) steady-state area, (ii) water anomaly macro-area, (iii) air-water anomaly area, (iv) tank anomaly area, (v) air anomaly macro-area, (vi) and steady-state transition area. Moreover, through the confusion matrix, it is found that the algorithm achieves an overall accuracy of 90 per cent and can classify and recognize the state of the system. The proposed algorithm was tested on an experimental plant at Università Politecnica delle Marche.
Real-Time Path Planning of Driverless Mining Trains with Time-Dependent Physical Constraints
Authors: Ren Xiaojiang , Guo Hui , Sheng Kai , Mao Guoqiang
Published: March 2023

While the increased automation levels of production and operation equipment have led to the improved productivity of mining activity in open pit mines, the capacity of the mine transport system has become a bottleneck. The optimisation of the mine transport system is of great practical significance to reduce the production and operation cost and improve the production and organizational efficiency of mines. In this paper, we first formulate a multiobjective optimisation problem for mine railway scheduling by introducing a set of mathematical constraints. As the problem is NP-hard, we then devise a mixed integer programming-based solution to solve this problem and develop an online framework accordingly. We finally conduct test cases to evaluate the performance of the proposed solution. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed solution is efficient and able to generate a train schedule in a real-time manner.
Near-Eye Holographic 3D Display and Advanced Amplitude-Modulating Encoding Scheme for Extended Reality
Authors: Lee Hyoung , Son Wookho , Kim Minseok , Yoon Yongjin , Yoon MinSung
Published: March 2023

Electronic holographic displays can reconstruct the optical wavefront of object light, exhibiting the most realistic three-dimensional (3D) images, in contrast to conventional stereoscopic displays. In this paper, we propose a novel, near-eye holographic 3D display (NEHD) applicable to AR/MR/holographic devices and experimentally demonstrate the proposed module’s performance with 360° full-viewed holographic 3D movie at 30 fps. To realize high-quality of reconstructed holographic 3D (H3D) images, we also propose an advanced amplitude-modulating (AM) encoding scheme suited for the proposed amplitude-modulating NEHD. We experimentally verify that the new hologram-encoding approach can improve the image quality of H3D reconstructions through quantitative statistical analyses, by using evaluation methods for H3D images that are suggested in the paper. Two holograms at different viewing directions of the same 3D scene are designed to be displayed onto the proposed NEHD prototype for two eyes of an observer, respectively. The presented techniques for the proposed NEHD enable the observer to experience the depth cue, a realistic accommodation effect, and high-quality H3D movies at each eye.
Nature-Inspired Cellulose-Based Active Materials: From 2D to 4D
Authors: Magalhães Marta I. , Almeida Ana P. C.
Published: March 2023

Multifunctional materials and devices with captivating properties can be assembled from cellulose and cellulose-based composite materials combining functionality with structural performance. Cellulose is one of the most abundant renewable materials with captivating properties, such as mechanical robustness, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Cellulose is a low-cost and abundant biodegradable resource, CO2 neutral, with a wide variety of fibers available all over the world. Over thousands of years, nature has perfected cellulose-based materials according to their needs, such as function vs. structure. Mimicking molecular structures at the nano-, micro-, and macroscales existing in nature is a great strategy to produce synthetic cellulose-based active materials. A concise background of cellulose and its structural organization, as well as the nomenclature of cellulose nanomaterials, are first addressed. Key examples of nature-designed materials with unique characteristics, such as “eternal” coloration and water-induced movement are presented. The production of biomimetic fiber and 2D fiber-based cellulosic materials that have attracted significant attention within the scientific community are represented. Nature-inspired materials with a focus on functionality and response to an external stimulus are reported. Some examples of 3D-printed cellulosic materials bioinspired, reported recently in the literature, are addressed. Finally, printed cellulosic materials that morph from a 1D strand or 2D surface into a 3D shape, in response to an external stimulus, are reported. The purpose of this review is to discuss the most recent developments in the field of “nature-inspired” cellulose-based active materials regarding design, manufacturing, and inspirational sources that feature existing tendencies.
Power Curve Modeling of Wind Turbines through Clustering-Based Outlier Elimination
Authors: Paik Chunhyun , Chung Yongjoo , Kim Young Jin
Published: March 2023

The estimation of power curve is the central task for efficient operation and prediction of wind power generation. It is often the case, however, that the actual data exhibit a great deal of variations in power output with respect to wind speed, and thus the power curve estimation necessitates the detection and proper treatment of outliers. This study proposes a novel procedure for outlier detection and elimination for estimating power curves of wind farms by employing clustering algorithms of vector quantization and density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise. Testing different parametric models of power output curve, the proposed methodology is demonstrated for obtaining power curves of individual wind turbines in a Korean wind farm. It is asserted that the outlier elimination procedure for power curve modeling outlined in this study can be highly efficient at the presence of noises.
Preface to State-of-the-Art in Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring through Low-Cost Technologies
Authors: Suriano Domenico
Published: March 2023

Air pollution represents one of the biggest concerns worldwide [...]
Chlorogenic Acid Restores Ovarian Functions in Mice with Letrozole-Induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Via Modulation of Adiponectin Receptor
Authors: Shah Mohd Zahoor ul Haq , Shrivastava Vinoy Kumar , Sofi Shazia , Jamous Yahya F. , Khan Mohd Faiyaz , Alkholifi Faisal K. , Ahmad Wasim , Mir Manzoor Ahmad
Published: March 2023

Around the world, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine-metabolic condition that typically affects 6–20% of females. Our study’s major goal was to examine how chlorogenic acid (CGA) affected mice with endocrine and metabolic problems brought on by letrozole-induced PCOS. Group I served as the control for 81 days; Group II was given Letrozole (LETZ) orally at a dose of 6 mg/kg bw for 21 days to induce PCOS; Group III was given LETZ (6 mg/kg) for 21 days, followed by treatment with CGA (50 mg/kg bw daily) for 60 days. The study indicated that LETZ-treated mice displayed symptoms of PCOS, such as dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, elevated testosterone, increases in inflammatory markers and malonaldehyde, and a decline in antioxidants (Ar, lhr, fshr, and esr2) in the ovaries. These alterations were affected when the mice were given CGA and were associated with reduced levels of adiponectin. Adiponectin showed interactions with hub genes, namely MLX interacting protein like (MLXIPL), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma Coactivator 1- alpha (PPARGC1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg), and adiponectin receptor 1 (Adipor1). Lastly, the gene ontology of adiponectin revealed that adiponectin was highly involved in biological processes. The findings from our research suggest that adiponectin has direct impacts on metabolic and endocrine facets of PCOS.
ACTH Stimulation Test for the Diagnosis of Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency: Light and Shadow
Authors: Birtolo Maria Francesca , Antonini Simone , Saladino Andrea , Zampetti Benedetta , Lavezzi Elisabetta , Chiodini Iacopo , Mazziotti Gherardo , Lania Andrea G. A. , Cozzi Renato
Published: March 2023

Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency (SAI) is a condition characterized by inappropriately low ACTH secretion due to a disease or injury to the hypothalamus or the pituitary. The evaluation when suspected is often challenging for the non-specific symptoms, the rarity of the disease, and the pitfalls associated with laboratory tests. A prompt and correct diagnosis of SAI is essential because although an adequate hormonal replacement therapy could be lifesaving, inappropriate life-long therapy with steroids can be harmful. The gold standard test for assessing the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) is the insulin tolerance test (ITT), but due to safety issues is not widely used. Conversely, the ACTH stimulation test is a safer and well-tolerated tool for SAI diagnosis. However, data about its diagnostic accuracy show great variability due to both technical and interpretative aspects, such as dose, route of administration, the timing of the test, and assay used for cortisol measurements. Consequently, the clinical background of the patient and the pretest probability of HPA axis impairment become of paramount importance. We aimed to summarize the recent literature evidence in the conduction and interpretation of the ACTH stimulation test for the diagnosis of SAI to provide updated insights on its correct use in clinical practice.
A Preclinical Investigation on the Role of IgG Antibodies against Coagulant Components in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Hadjiagapiou Maria S. , Krashias George , Deeba Elie , Christodoulou Christina , Pantzaris Marios , Lambrianides Anastasia
Published: March 2023

The coagulation-inflammation interplay has recently been identified as a critical risk factor in the early onset of multiple sclerosis (MS), and antibodies against coagulation components have been recognized as contributing factors to thrombotic and inflammatory signaling pathways in diseases with overlapping symptoms to MS, paving the way for further research into their effects on MS pathology. The current study aimed to enlighten the role of IgG antibodies against coagulation components by performing a preclinical study, analyzing the astrocytic activation by purified IgG antibodies derived from 15 MS patients, and assessing their possible pro-inflammatory effects using a bead-based multiplexed immunoassay system. The results were compared with those obtained following astrocyte treatment with samples from 14 age- and gender-matched healthy donors, negative for IgG antibody presence. Serum samples collected from 167 MS patients and 40 age- and gender-matched controls were also analyzed for pro- and anti-inflammatory factors. According to our results, astrocytic activation in response to IgG treatment caused an upregulation of various pro-inflammatory factors, including cytokines, chemokines, and interleukins. Conversely, in serum samples from patients and controls, the pro-inflammatory factors did not differ significantly; medication may lower the levels in patients. Our findings suggest that antibodies may function as effectors in neuroinflammation and serve as targets for new treatments that eventually benefit novel therapeutic approaches.
Quantitative Image Processing for Three-Dimensional Episcopic Images of Biological Structures: Current State and Future Directions
Authors: Holroyd Natalie Aroha , Walsh Claire , Gourmet Lucie , Walker-Samuel Simon
Published: March 2023

Episcopic imaging using techniques such as High Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM) and its variants, allows biological samples to be visualized in three dimensions over a large field of view. Quantitative analysis of episcopic image data is undertaken using a range of methods. In this systematic review, we look at trends in quantitative analysis of episcopic images and discuss avenues for further research. Papers published between 2011 and 2022 were analyzed for details about quantitative analysis approaches, methods of image annotation and choice of image processing software. It is shown that quantitative processing is becoming more common in episcopic microscopy and that manual annotation is the predominant method of image analysis. Our meta-analysis highlights where tools and methods require further development in this field, and we discuss what this means for the future of quantitative episcopic imaging, as well as how annotation and quantification may be automated and standardized across the field.
An Amperometric Acetylcholine Biosensor Based on Co-Immobilization of Enzyme Nanoparticles onto Nanocomposite
Authors: Ahlawat Jyoti , Sharma Minakshi , Pundir Chandra Shekhar
Published: March 2023

An electrochemical biosensor was fabricated using nanoparticles of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline oxidase (ChO)/Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs)/porous graphene oxide nanosheet (GONS) composite. A pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was used for the electrodeposition of nanocomposite and the determination of acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter. Various techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used for characterization. This biosensor (AChENPs-ChONPs/GONS/PtNPs/PGE) indicated a very short response time (3 s), a lower limit of detection (0.001 µM), good linearity (0.001–200 µM), longer storage stability (6 months) and better reproducibility. The percent analytical recoveries of added acetylcholine in serum (5.0 and 10 µM) were found to be 97.6 ± 0.7 and 96.5 ± 0.3 for the present biosensor. The coefficients of variation were obtained to be 8% and 3.25%, correspondingly. The biosensor was applied to measure the ACh amount in the serum of healthy individuals and patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The number of interferents had no effect on the biosensor at their physiological concentrations.
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers among Schizophrenia Inpatients
Authors: Więdłocha Magdalena , Zborowska Natalia , Marcinowicz Piotr , Dębowska Weronika , Dębowska Marta , Zalewska Anna , Maciejczyk Mateusz , Waszkiewicz Napoleon , Szulc Agata
Published: March 2023

Background. Finding the associations between schizophrenia symptoms and the biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and the kynurenine pathway may lead to the individualization of treatment and increase its effectiveness. Methods. The study group included 82 schizophrenia inpatients. The Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) and the Calgary Depression in Schizophrenia Scale were used for symptom evaluation. Biochemical analyses included oxidative stress parameters and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Results. Linear models revealed the following: (1) malondiadehyde (MDA), N-formylkynurenine (N-formKYN), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), advanced glycation end-products of proteins (AGE) and total oxidative status (TOS) levels are related to the PANSS-total score; (2) MDA, reduced glutathione (GSH) and BDNF levels are related to the PANSS-negative score; (3) TOS and kynurenine (KYN) levels are related to the PANSS-positive score; (4) levels of total antioxidant status (TAS) and AOPP along with the CDSS score are related to the BACS-total score; (5) TAS and N-formKYN levels are related to the BACS-working memory score. Conclusions. Oxidative stress biomarkers may be associated with the severity of schizophrenia symptoms in positive, negative and cognitive dimensions. The identification of biochemical markers associated with the specific symptom clusters may increase the understanding of biochemical profiles in schizophrenia patients.
Feasibility of Automated Black Ice Segmentation in Various Climate Conditions Using Deep Learning
Authors: Lee Sang-Yum , Jeon Je-Sung , Le Tri Ho Minh
Published: March 2023

Black ice has recently been identified as a major cause of transportation accidents due to detecting difficulties on the road surface. It is crucial to provide traffic users with black ice warnings beforehand to sustain commuting safety. The identification of black ice, however, is a difficult initiative, since it necessitates the installation of sophisticated monitoring stations and demands frequently manual inspection. In order to build an economical automatic black ice detection technique, the datasets are built upon a variety of weather conditions, including clear, snowy, rainy, and foggy conditions, as well as two distinct forms of pavement: asphalt and concrete pavement. The Mask R-CNN model was performed to construct the black ice detection via image segmentation. The deep learning architecture was constructed based on pre-trained convolutional neural network models (ResNetV2) for black ice detection purposes. Different pretrained models and architecture (Yolov4) were then compared to determine which is superior for image segmentation of black ice. Afterward, through the retrieved bounding box data, the degree of danger area is determined based on the number of segmentation pixels. In general, the training results confirm the feasibility of the black ice detection method via the deep learning technique. Within “Clear” weather conditions, the detecting precision can be achieved up to 92.5%. The results also show that the increase in the number of weather types leads to a noticeable reduction in the training precision. Overall, the proposed image segmentation method is capable of real-time detection and can caution commuters of black ice in advance.
Antiandrogen-Equipped Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Selectively Inhibit Androgen Receptor (AR) and AR-Splice Variant (AR-SV) in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC)
Authors: Chandrasekaran Balaji , Tapadar Subhasish , Wu Bocheng , Saran Uttara , Tyagi Ashish , Johnston Alexis , Gaul David A. , Oyelere Adegboyega K. , Damodaran Chendil
Published: March 2023

Background: Epigenetic modification influences androgen receptor (AR) activation, often resulting in prostate cancer (PCa) development and progression. Silencing histone-modifying enzymes (histone deacetylases-HDACs) either genetically or pharmacologically suppresses PCa proliferation in preclinical models of PCa; however, results from clinical studies were not encouraging. Similarly, PCa patients eventually become resistant to androgen ablation therapy (ADT). Our goal is to develop dual-acting small molecules comprising antiandrogen and HDAC-inhibiting moieties that may overcome the resistance of ADT and effectively suppress the growth of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Methods: Several rationally designed antiandrogen-equipped HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) were synthesized, and their efficacy on CRPC growth was examined both in vitro and in vivo. Results: While screening our newly developed small molecules, we observed that SBI-46 significantly inhibited the proliferation of AR+ CRPC cells but not AR- CRPC and normal immortalized prostate epithelial cells (RWPE1) or normal kidney cells (HEK-293 and VERO). Molecular analysis confirmed that SBI-46 downregulated the expressions of both AR+ and AR-splice variants (AR-SVs) in CRPC cells. Further studies revealed the downregulation of AR downstream (PSA) events in CRPC cells. The oral administration of SBI-46 abrogated the growth of C4-2B and 22Rv1 CRPC xenograft tumors that express AR or both AR and AR-SV in xenotransplanted nude mice models. Further, immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that SBI-46 inhibits AR signaling in xenografted tumor tissues. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that SBI-46 is a potent agent that inhibits preclinical models of CRPC by downregulating the expressions of both AR and AR-SV. Furthermore, these results suggest that SBI-46 may be a potent compound for treating CRPC.