bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
rTMS Therapy Reduces Hypofrontality in Patients With Depression as Measured by fNIRS
Authors: Kawabata Yasuo , Imazu Shin-ichi , Matsumoto Koichi , Toyoda Katsunori , Kawano Makoto , Kubo Yoichiro , Kinoshita Shinya , Nishizawa Yoshitaka , Kanazawa Tetsufumi
Published: June 2022

Multichannel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a tool used to capture changes in cerebral blood flow. A consistent result for depression is a decrease in blood flow in the frontal cortex leading to hypofrontality, which indicates multidomain functional impairment. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and elective convulsive therapy (ECT) are alternatives to antidepressant drugs for the treatment of depression but the underlying mechanism is yet to be elucidated. The aim of the current study was to evaluate cerebral blood flow using fNIRS following rTMS treatment in patients with depression. The cerebral blood flow of 15 patients with moderate depression after rTMS treatment was measured using fNIRS. While there was clear hypofrontality during pre-treatment (5 ± 2.5), a notable increase in oxygenated hemoglobin was observed after 30 sessions with rTMS (50 ± 15). This increased blood flow was observed in a wide range of channels in the frontal cortex; however, the centroid values were similar between the treatments. Increased blood flow leads to the activation of neuronal synapses, as noted with other neuromodulation treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy. This study describes the rTMS-induced modulation of blood oxygenation response over the prefrontal cortex in patients with depression, as captured by fNIRS. Future longitudinal studies are needed to assess cerebral blood flow dynamics during rTMS treatment for depression.
Dysbindin-1, BDNF, and GABAergic Transmission in Schizophrenia
Authors: Jun Rachel , Zhang Wen , Beacher Nicholas J. , Zhang Yan , Li Yun , Lin Da-Ting
Published: June 2022

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by hallucinations, anhedonia, disordered thinking, and cognitive impairments. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to schizophrenia. Dysbindin-1 (DTNBP1) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are both genetic factors associated with schizophrenia. Mice lacking Dtnbp1 showed behavioral deficits similar to human patients suffering from schizophrenia. DTNBP1 plays important functions in synapse formation and maintenance, receptor trafficking, and neurotransmitter release. DTNBP1 is co-assembled with 7 other proteins into a large protein complex, known as the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1 (BLOC-1). Large dense-core vesicles (LDCVs) are involved in the secretion of hormones and neuropeptides, including BDNF. BDNF plays important roles in neuronal development, survival, and synaptic plasticity. BDNF is also critical in maintaining GABAergic inhibitory transmission in the brain. Two studies independently showed that DTNBP1 mediated activity-dependent BDNF secretion to maintain inhibitory transmission. Imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neural activities is thought to contribute to schizophrenia. In this mini-review, we will discuss a potential pathogenetic mechanism for schizophrenia involving DTNBP1, BDNF, and inhibitory transmission. We will also discuss how these processes are interrelated and associated with a higher risk of schizophrenia development.
Fitness Apps, Live Streaming Workout Classes, and Virtual Reality Fitness for Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Lockdown: An Empirical Study
Authors: Liu Ru , Menhas Rashid , Dai Jianhui , Saqib Zulkaif Ahmed , Peng Xiang
Published: June 2022

Background

Physical activity is an essential need of the human body that helps improve the physical fitness of an individual and creates a positive impact on overall wellbeing. Smartphone applications play an essential role in providing several benefits to consumers by offering various capabilities in terms of health and fitness.COVID-19 preventive measures shut down public places, and people cannot go to the gym and parks for physical activity. Smart applications for physical activity are an effective way to keep active while staying at home.

Objective

The objective of the present study was to assess the mediating role of the e-platforms physical activity among the Chinese people in China during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Method

The participants in this study were Chinese citizens living in home isolation during the early stages of the epidemic in China. The primary data was collected via an online survey using a convenience sample strategy in accordance with the study purpose. The collected data were cleaned by using the SPSS-25 statistical software. SmartPLS 3.0 software was used to investigate the suggested study framework utilizing the structural equation modeling technique.

Results

Descriptive statistics shows that the ratio of gender includes 49% (n = 2,626) male and 51% females in the entire sample. SEM results show that all hypotheses (H1: β = 0.497, T = 43.068, P = <0.001; H2: β = 0.498, T = 41.078, P = <0.001; H3: β = 0.498, T = 41.078, P = <0.001; H4: β = 0.471, T = 39.103, P = <0.001; H5: β = 0.468, T = 42.633, P = <0.001; H6: β = 0.251, T = 11.212, P = <0.001; H7: β = 0.367, T = 16.032, P = <0.001; H8: β = 0.170, T = 13.750, P = <0.001; H9: β = 0.125, T = 10.604, P = <0.001; H10: β = 0.173, T = 14.842, P = <0.001) were statistically confirmed.

Conclusion

In COVID-19, when there are limited physical activity resources, smart applications play an essential role as an alternative to gyms and change people's perspective regarding the adoption of health and fitness. Smart applications have made exercise and physical activity accessible and convenient to adopt.
Adaptation of a Community Clinical Linkages Intervention to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Community Case Study
Authors: Coulter Kiera , Ingram Maia , Lohr Abby , Figueroa Carlos , Coronado Gloria , Espinoza Cynthia , Esparza Maria , Monge Stacey , Velasco Maria , Itule-Klasen Lee , Bowen Magdalena , Wilkinson-Lee Ada , Carvajal Scott
Published: June 2022

In this community case study, we describe the process within an academic-community partnership of adapting UNIDOS, a community health worker (CHW)-led community-clinical linkages (CCL) intervention targeting Latinx adults in Arizona, to the evolving landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistent with community-based participatory research principles, academic and community-based partners made decisions regarding changes to the intervention study protocol, specifically the intervention objectives, participant recruitment methods, CHW trainings, data collection measures and management, and mode of intervention delivery. Insights from this case study demonstrate the importance of community-based participatory research in successfully modifying the intervention to the conditions of the pandemic and also the cultural background of Latinx participants. This case study also illustrates how a CHW-led CCL intervention can address social determinants of health, in which the pandemic further exposed longstanding inequities along racial and ethnic lines in the United States.
Identifying Frail Patients by Using Electronic Health Records in Primary Care: Current Status and Future Directions
Authors: Luo Jianzhao , Liao Xiaoyang , Zou Chuan , Zhao Qian , Yao Yi , Fang Xiang , Spicer John
Published: June 2022

With the rapidly aging population, frailty, characterized by an increased risk of adverse outcomes, has become a major public health problem globally. Several frailty guidelines or consensuses recommend screening for frailty, especially in primary care settings. However, most of the frailty assessment tools are based on questionnaires or physical examinations, adding to the clinical workload, which is the major obstacle to converting frailty research into clinical practice. Medical data naturally generated by routine clinical work containing frailty indicators are stored in electronic health records (EHRs) (also called electronic health record (EHR) data), which provide resources and possibilities for frailty assessment. We reviewed several frailty assessment tools based on primary care EHRs and summarized the features and novel usage of these tools, as well as challenges and trends. Further research is needed to develop and validate frailty assessment tools based on EHRs in primary care in other parts of the world.
Screening of Gene Expression Markers for Corona Virus Disease 2019 Through Boruta_MCFS Feature Selection
Authors: Sun Yanbao , Zhang Qi , Yang Qi , Yao Ming , Xu Fang , Chen Wenyu
Published: June 2022

Since the first report of SARS-CoV-2 virus in Wuhan, China in December 2019, a global outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been aroused. In the prevention of this disease, accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 is the center of the problem. However, due to the limitation of detection technology, the test results are impossible to be totally free from pseudo-positive or -negative. Improving the precision of the test results asks for the identification of more biomarkers for COVID-19. On the basis of the expression data of COVID-19 positive and negative samples, we first screened the feature genes through ReliefF, minimal-redundancy-maximum-relevancy, and Boruta_MCFS methods. Thereafter, 36 optimal feature genes were selected through incremental feature selection method based on the random forest classifier, and the enriched biological functions and signaling pathways were revealed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Also, protein-protein interaction network analysis was performed on these feature genes, and the enriched biological functions and signaling pathways of main submodules were analyzed. In addition, whether these 36 feature genes could effectively distinguish positive samples from the negative ones was verified by dimensionality reduction analysis. According to the results, we inferred that the 36 feature genes selected via Boruta_MCFS could be deemed as biomarkers in COVID-19.
The Association of Volunteer Motivation and Thriving at Work of College Students During COVID-19: Job Burnout and Psychological Capital as Mediators
Authors: Li Jun , Ge Cao , Li Shiyi
Published: June 2022

Thriving at work is a type of mental state in which an individual feels vigorous and learning at the same time in the job. Previous studies have shown that individual internal motivation is relevant to thriving at work and volunteer behaviors, but the role of motivation is still to be further explored. Based self-determination theory, this study focuses on the mediating effects of job burnout and psychological capital on the relationship between volunteer motivation and thriving at work. Three hundred forty-nine college student volunteers who participated in psychological assistance volunteer activities during the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated using the Volunteer Function Motivation Inventory, Maslach Burnout Inventory, PsyCap Questionnaire, and Thriving at work scale. The results indicated that job burnout and psychological capital mediate the relationship between volunteer motivation and thriving at work. The results not only offer important theoretical insights of Volunteer Motivation and Thriving at Work, but also generate practical implications regarding how to use motivating Volunteer behavior and enhanced wellbeing at work.
A Case Study of Co-production Within a Mental Health Recovery College Dementia Course: Perspectives of A Person With Dementia, Their Family Supporter and Mental Health Staff
Authors: West Juniper , Birt Linda , Wilson Danielle , Mathie Elspeth , Poland Fiona
Published: June 2022

Background

Undertaking co-production as a power-sharing way to improve mental health dementia services remains uncommon, suggesting opportunities to apply knowledge from lived experience of people with dementia, may often be missed. One barrier is stigma, assuming people with progressive cognitive impairment cannot manage this level of participation, support peers nor offer a “valid” perspective.

Purpose

This paper shares knowledge gained from a service evaluation that explored various experiences of a person with dementia, their family supporter and mental health staff, involved in co-producing a course about “living well” with dementia, within a mental health Recovery College.

Design

A qualitative, case study approach used semi-structured interviewing and inductive thematic analysis.

Findings

Co-production activities generated a shared sense of positivity, pride and privilege, highlighting positive effects in breaking down the “them and us” barriers common in traditional healthcare professional-service user relationships. Each individual had both something to offer and something to gain during the process. Staff identified challenges in the co-production process; in that balancing all the voices during meetings could be complex at times, and the process overall required considerable time commitment.

Conclusion

Taking part in co-production at an appropriate level and with peer support is a relational activity seen to be valuable in powerfully, yet gently, challenging stigma and assumptions around dementia. Findings show that while the process of co-production requires time and dedication, there is overall value in involving people living with dementia both in co-production and in peer support. This provided a straightforward and beneficial means to inclusively improve post-diagnosis support and care quality within a memory service.
A Heart Rate Based Algorithm to Estimate Core Temperature Responses in Elite Athletes Exercising in the Heat
Authors: de Korte Johannus Q. , Veenstra Bertil J. , van Rijswick Mark , Derksen Eline J. K. , Hopman Maria T. E. , Bongers Coen C. W. G. , Eijsvogels Thijs M. H.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Non-invasive non-obtrusive continuous and real-time monitoring of core temperature (Tc) may enhance pacing strategies, the efficacy of heat mitigation measures, and early identification of athletes at risk for heat-related disorders. The Estimated Core Temperature (ECTemp™) algorithm uses sequential heart rate (HR) values to predict Tc. We examined the validity of ECTemp™ among elite athletes exercising in the heat.

Methods

101 elite athletes performed an exercise test in simulated hot and humid environmental conditions (ambient temperature: 31.6 ± 1.0°C, relative humidity: 74 ± 5%). Tc was continuously measured using a validated ingestible telemetric temperature capsule system. In addition, HR was continuously measured and used to compute the estimated core temperature (Tc−est) using the ECTemp™ algorithm.

Results

Athletes exercised for 44 ± 10 min and n = 5,025 readouts of Tc (range: 35.8–40.4°C), HR (range: 45–207 bpm), and Tc−est (range: 36.7–39.9°C) were collected. Tc−est demonstrated a small yet significant bias of 0.15 ± 0.29°C (p < 0.001) compared to Tc, with a limit of agreement of ±0.45°C and a root mean square error of 0.35 ± 0.18°C. Utilizing the ECTemp™ algorithm as a diagnostic test resulted in a fair to excellent sensitivity (73–96%) and specificity (72–93%) for Tc−est thresholds between 37.75 and 38.75°C, but a low to very-low sensitivity (50–0%) for Tc−est thresholds >39.0°C, due to a high prevalence of false-negative observations.

Conclusion

ECTemp™ provides a valuable and representative indication of thermal strain in the low- to mid-range of Tc values observed during exercise in the heat. It may, therefore, be a useful non-invasive and non-obtrusive tool to inform athletes and coaches about the estimated core temperature during controlled hyperthermia heat acclimation protocols. However, the ECTemp™ algorithm, in its current form, should not solely be used to identify athletes at risk for heat-related disorders due to low sensitivity and high false-negative rate in the upper end of the Tc spectrum.
Development of the InTelligence And Machine LEarning (TAME) Toolkit for Introductory Data Science, Chemical-Biological Analyses, Predictive Modeling, and Database Mining for Environmental Health Research
Authors: Roell Kyle , Koval Lauren E. , Boyles Rebecca , Patlewicz Grace , Ring Caroline , Rider Cynthia V. , Ward-Caviness Cavin , Reif David M. , Jaspers Ilona , Fry Rebecca C. , Rager Julia E.
Published: June 2022

Research in environmental health is becoming increasingly reliant upon data science and computational methods that can more efficiently extract information from complex datasets. Data science and computational methods can be leveraged to better identify relationships between exposures to stressors in the environment and human disease outcomes, representing critical information needed to protect and improve global public health. Still, there remains a critical gap surrounding the training of researchers on these in silico methods. We aimed to address this gap by developing the inTelligence And Machine lEarning (TAME) Toolkit, promoting trainee-driven data generation, management, and analysis methods to “TAME” data in environmental health studies. Training modules were developed to provide applications-driven examples of data organization and analysis methods that can be used to address environmental health questions. Target audiences for these modules include students, post-baccalaureate and post-doctorate trainees, and professionals that are interested in expanding their skillset to include recent advances in data analysis methods relevant to environmental health, toxicology, exposure science, epidemiology, and bioinformatics/cheminformatics. Modules were developed by study coauthors using annotated script and were organized into three chapters within a GitHub Bookdown site. The first chapter of modules focuses on introductory data science, which includes the following topics: setting up R/RStudio and coding in the R environment; data organization basics; finding and visualizing data trends; high-dimensional data visualizations; and Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability (FAIR) data management practices. The second chapter of modules incorporates chemical-biological analyses and predictive modeling, spanning the following methods: dose-response modeling; machine learning and predictive modeling; mixtures analyses; -omics analyses; toxicokinetic modeling; and read-across toxicity predictions. The last chapter of modules was organized to provide examples on environmental health database mining and integration, including chemical exposure, health outcome, and environmental justice indicators. Training modules and associated data are publicly available online (https://uncsrp.github.io/Data-Analysis-Training-Modules/). Together, this resource provides unique opportunities to obtain introductory-level training on current data analysis methods applicable to 21st century science and environmental health.
Microbial Safety of Beef Along Beef Value Chains in the Ashaiman Municipality of Ghana
Authors: Adjei Vida Yirenkyiwaa , Mensah Gloria Ivy , Parry-Hanson Kunadu Angela , Tano-Debrah Kwaku , Ayi Irene , Addo Kennedy Kwasi
Published: June 2022

Food from animal sources continues to be a significant food safety hazard. This study determined the microbial quality and safety of beef along beef value chains with case studies in the Ashaiman Municipality of Ghana. Raw beef samples were collected from four slaughter slabs in the Ashaiman Municipality and analyzed using standard microbiological methods to determine the quality and prevalence of specific pathogens, including Salmonella species, Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), and Brucella species, as well as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), Cyclospora cayetanensis (C. cayetanensis), and Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum). Data regarding food safety knowledge and practices were collected and observed from stakeholders (cattle farmers, butchers, and beef retailers). Salmonella typhimurium was isolated from 7.5% (6/80) of the total raw beef samples. However, L. monocytogenes, Brucella spp., T. gondii, C. cayetanensis, and C. parvum were not isolated in this study. The mean level of microbial contamination of beef from the slaughter slabs/abattoir [5.2 Log10 colony-forming unit (CFU)/g] was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from the mean level observed at retail points (5.4 Log10 CFU/g). However, the mean coliform count of 4.3 Log10 CFU/g recorded at retail shops exceeded the permissible limits of 104 CFU/g (4 Log10 CFU/g) required by the Ghana Standards Authority for safety of meat and carcasses. Knowledge on food safety was at average level for butchers and retailers. Unhygienic practices and poor sanitary conditions at the abattoirs and retail shops observed could be the main contributing factors to microbial contamination of raw beef. Continuous education for meat handlers on issues of food safety and monitoring of slaughter activities will reduce the rate and level of contamination of beef.
Characteristics of Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Normal Testes and Epididymis Besides Angiography of Testicular Artery in Dromedary Camel
Authors: Sary Ramadan , Khalil Karim , Sindi Ramya A. , Mohamed Ragab H. , Hussein Hassan A. , Eid Refaat A. , Samir Haney , Alkahtani Mohammed M. , Swelum Ayman A. , Ahmed Ahmed E.
Published: June 2022

Decreasing male fertility encouraged the investigators to innovate accurate diagnostic non-invasive methods for detection of changes in the testicular parenchyma. Ultrasonography (US) has the potential to be used in this manner for decades, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is still of limited application in animals for this purpose. The current study was designed to describe appearances and quantitative MRI attributes of the normal testes, epididymis besides angiography of testicular artery in camels. About 30 apparently healthy male dromedary camels aged 8–14 years were slaughtered during the rutting season. Immediately after slaughtering, the male gonads (n = 30 pairs of testicles and epididymis) were subjected to morphometric evaluation using a Vernier caliper and ultrasound scanning. Epididymial sperms were evaluated for motility, vitality and abnormality. MRI was performed for testes (n=16) by using a 1.5T Excite-II MRI apparatus of Sigma. Radiography and angioarchitecture of testicular artery (n=24) were done. Camel testicular length, width, and depth showed non-significant differences between a Vernier caliper or sonar. The MRI results revealed that both the testis and epididymis have homogenously intermediate signal (T1) and testes have hyperintense signal, with slightly lower signal in the epididymis (T2). In conclusion, both the ultrasonography and MRI techniques, with each respective computer-assisted imaging, could be used to detect the histomorphological changes of the camels' testicles. However, US imaging remains the first diagnostic technique for evaluating the reproductive health in men for its lower cost and accuracy. MRI is beneficial when the sonograms are inconclusive and/or equivocal. It shows the examined tissues in greater anatomical details compared to ultrasonography. Further studies are needed to compare between characteristics of US and MRI of normal testes and epididymis with testicular artery angiography in living camel during rut season and non-rut season and between normal healthy and affected diseased genitalia.
Treatment Effects of Intra-Articular Allogenic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome in an Equine Model of Joint Inflammation
Authors: Kearney Clodagh M. , Khatab Sohrab , van Buul Gerben M. , Plomp Saskia G. M. , Korthagen Nicoline M. , Labberté Margot C. , Goodrich Laurie R. , Kisiday John D. , Van Weeren P. R. , van Osch Gerjo J. V. M. , Brama Pieter A. J.
Published: June 2022

Background

Allogenic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) secretome is a novel intra-articular therapeutic that has shown promise inin vitroand small animal models and warrants further investigation.

Objectives

To investigate if intra-articular allogenic MSC-secretome has anti-inflammatory effects using an equine model of joint inflammation.

Study Design

Randomized positively and negatively controlled experimental study.

Method

In phase 1, joint inflammation was induced bilaterally in radiocarpal joints of eight horses by injecting 0.25 ng lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After 2 h, the secretome of INFy and TNFα stimulated allogeneic equine MSCs was injected in one randomly assigned joint, while the contralateral joint was injected with medium (negative control). Clinical parameters (composite welfare scores, joint effusion, joint circumference) were recorded, and synovial fluid samples were analyzed for biomarkers (total protein, WBCC; eicosanoid mediators, CCL2; TNFα; MMP; GAGs; C2C; CPII) at fixed post-injection hours (PIH 0, 8, 24, 72, and 168 h). The effects of time and treatment on clinical and synovial fluid parameters and the presence of time-treatment interactions were evaluated. For phase 2, allogeneic MSC-secretome vs. allogeneic equine MSCs (positive control) was tested using a similar methodology.

Results

In phase 1, the joint circumference was significantly (p< 0.05) lower in the MSC-secretome treated group compared to the medium control group at PIH 24, and significantly higher peak synovial GAG values were noted at PIH 24 (p< 0.001). In phase 2, no significant differences were noted between the treatment effects of MSC-secretome and MSCs.

Main Limitations

This study is a controlled experimental study and therefore cannot fully reflect natural joint disease. In phase 2, two therapeutics are directly compared and there is no negative control.

Conclusions

In this model of joint inflammation, intra-articular MSC-secretome injection had some clinical anti-inflammatory effects. An effect on cartilage metabolism, evident as a rise in GAG levels was also noted, although it is unclear whether this could be considered a beneficial or detrimental effect. When directly comparing MSC-secretome to MSCs in this model results were comparable, indicating that MSC-secretome could be a viable off-the-shelf alternative to MSC treatment.
Simulating Growth and Evaluating the Regional Adaptability of Cotton Fields with Non-Film Mulching in Xinjiang
Authors: Wang Desheng , Wang Chengkun , Xu Lichao , Bai Tiecheng , Yang Guozheng
Published: June 2022

Planting with non-film mulching is the fundamental means to eliminate the pollution of residual film in cotton fields. However, this planting approach should have regional adaptability. Therefore, the calibrated WOFOST model and an early mature cultivar CRI619 (Gossypium hirsutum Linn) were employed to simulate the cotton growth, and regions were then evaluated for planting in Xinjiang. A field experiment was conducted in 2019–2020 at the experimental irrigation station of Alar City, and the data were used to calibrate and validate the WOFOST model. The field validation results showed that the errors of the WOFOST simulation for emergence, flowering, and maturity were +1 day, +2 days, and +1 day, respectively, with good simulation accuracy of phenological development time. The simulated WLV, WST, WSO, and TAGP agreed well with measured values, with R2 = 0.96, 0.97, 0.99, and 0.99, respectively. The RMSE values of simulated versus measured WLV, WST, WSO, and TAGP were 175, 210, 199, and 251 kg ha−1, and showed high accuracy. The simulated soil moisture (SM) agreed with the measured value, with R2 = 0.87. The calibration model also showed high SM simulation accuracy, with RMSE = 0.022 (cm3 cm−3). Under all treatments, the simulated TAGP and yield agreed well with the measured results, with R2 of 0.76 and 0.70, respectively. RMSE of simulated TAGP and yield was 465 and 200 kg ha−1, and showed high accuracy. The percentage RMSE values (ratio of RMSE to the average measured value, NRMSE) of ETa and WUE were 9.8% and 11.7%, indicating extremely high precision (NRMSE < 10%) and high precision (10% < NRMSE ≤ 20%), respectively. The simulated results for phenology length at the regional scales showed that the effective accumulation temperature in counties such as Yingjisha and Luntai was not enough for the phenological maturity of the studied cotton cultivar. The southern area of Xinjiang had a generally higher yield than the northern area but required more irrigation. This research can provide a method for evaluating the adaptability of filmless cultivation techniques for cotton in different counties.
Predicting the Feed Intake of Cattle Based on Jaw Movement Using a Triaxial Accelerometer
Authors: Ding Luyu , Lv Yang , Jiang Ruixiang , Zhao Wenjie , Li Qifeng , Yang Baozhu , Yu Ligen , Ma Weihong , Gao Ronghua , Yu Qinyang
Published: June 2022

The use of an accelerometer is considered as a promising method for the automatic measurement of the feeding behavior or feed intake of cattle, with great significance in facilitating daily management. To address further need for commercial use, an efficient classification algorithm at a low sample frequency is needed to reduce the amount of recorded data to increase the battery life of the monitoring device, and a high-precision model needs to be developed to predict feed intake on the basis of feeding behavior. Accelerograms for the jaw movement and feed intake of 13 mid-lactating cows were collected during feeding with a sampling frequency of 1 Hz at three different positions: the nasolabial levator muscle (P1), the right masseter muscle (P2), and the left lower lip muscle (P3). A behavior identification framework was developed to recognize jaw movements including ingesting, chewing and ingesting–chewing through extreme gradient boosting (XGB) integrated with the hidden Markov model solved by the Viterbi algorithm (HMM–Viterbi). Fourteen machine learning models were established and compared in order to predict feed intake rate through the accelerometer signals of recognized jaw movement activities. The developed behavior identification framework could effectively recognize different jaw movement activities with a precision of 99% at a window size of 10 s. The measured feed intake rate was 190 ± 89 g/min and could be predicted efficiently using the extra trees regressor (ETR), whose R2, RMSE, and NME were 0.97, 0.36 and 0.05, respectively. The three investigated monitoring sites may have affected the accuracy of feed intake prediction, but not behavior identification. P1 was recommended as the proper monitoring site, and the results of this study provide a reference for the further development of a wearable device equipped with accelerometers to measure feeding behavior and to predict feed intake.
Rooftop Greenhouse: (1) Design and Validation of a BES Model for a Plastic-Covered Greenhouse Considering the Tomato Crop Model and Natural Ventilation Characteristics
Authors: Yeo Uk-Hyeon , Lee Sang-Yeon , Park Se-Jun , Kim Jun-Gyu , Choi Young-Bae , Kim Rack-Woo , Shin Jong Hwa , Lee In-Bok
Published: June 2022

Energy management of a building-integrated rooftop greenhouse (BiRTG) is considered one of the important factors. Accordingly, the interest in energy simulation models has increased. Energy load computed from the simulation model can be used for appropriate capacity calculation and optimal operation of the environmental control system. In particular, because the thermal environment of greenhouses is sensitive to the external weather environment, dynamic energy simulations, such as building energy simulation (BES), play an essential role in understanding the complex mechanisms of heat transfer in greenhouses. Depending on the type and crop density, there is a significant difference in the thermal energy loads of greenhouses. Furthermore, ventilation is also an important factor affecting the energy input of the greenhouse. Therefore, this study aimed to design and validate BES models considering the crop and ventilation characteristics of a naturally ventilated greenhouse before designing and evaluating a BES model for the BiRTG. First, the BES module for the greenhouse and crop models was designed using field-measured data, and the ventilation characteristics were analysed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The greenhouse BES model was designed and then validated by comparing air temperature (Ta) and relative humidity (RH) measured at the greenhouse with the BES-computed results of the greenhouse model. The results showed that the average absolute error of Ta was 1.57 °C and RH was 7.7%. The R2 of the designed BES model for Ta and RH were 0.96 and 0.89, respectively. These procedures and sub-modules developed were applied to the energy load calculation of BiRTG.
Design and Experiment of Gripper for Greenhouse Plug Seedling Transplanting Based on EDM
Authors: Tian Zhiwei , Ma Wei , Yang Qichang , Yao Sen , Guo Xiangyu , Duan Famin
Published: June 2022

Many plug seedling grippers have a complex structure and bulky volume in design. They have poor performance in holding substrate and keeping a high integrity rate. In this paper, a new multi-needle seedling gripper is proposed. Based on the elasto-plastic contact model (ECM) in the EDEM, numerous particles with different material properties are modeled to simulate real seedling substrate and to study the interaction between steel needle and growing substrate. Taking the medium integrity rate as an evaluation index, explore the influence of different needle diameters, insertion depths, and insertion and grabbing speeds on the substrate integrity through the response surface method. The optimized technical parameters of the gripper was obtained through Design-Expert. The results show that the insertion depth of needles has a significant effect on the integrity of the raising medium, and the optimal depth is 40 mm. Insertion and grasping speed and depth have an interaction effect, while other factors have no significant influence on substrate integrity. Optimization results imply that when the diameter of the needle was 3 mm, the insertion depth was 40 mm, and the insertion and grabbing speed was 1 m/s, the growing medium integrity rate was the highest, reaching 89.10%. Under these parameters, prototype tests were conducted, and the highest medium integrity rate was 87.34%, which increased by an average of 7.25% compared with existing studies. The research has reference value for improving the operation quality of the plug seedling transplanter and the design of the seedling gripper. It also shows that solving problems of needle-discrete substrate interaction based on the discrete element method is feasible.
Opuntia spp. as Alternative Fodder for Sustainable Livestock Production
Authors: Pastorelli Grazia , Serra Valentina , Vannuccini Camilla , Attard Everaldo
Published: June 2022

During the past decades, livestock production has increased significantly, which has led to the degradation of rangelands due to overgrazing. The lack of water in several arid areas has led to a decline in crop and animal husbandry. As a consequence, the demand for drought-resistant crops has increased significantly so as to keep crop and animal husbandry systems viable and sustainable. Cactaceae have adaptive characteristics that ensure their development progress under drought conditions. The present review provides information on the nutritive value of Opuntia in animal fodder production, its effects on animal performance, and the quality of the animal-derived products. In conclusion, the use of Opuntia as innovative alternative feed would render animal production systems more sustainable.
New Challenges in Cryopreservation: A Reproductive Perspective
Authors: Bebbere Daniela , Succu Sara
Published: June 2022

Cryopreservation is a fundamental procedure to preserve the structure and function of cells and tissues by storing them at low temperatures for long periods [...]
A Potential Role of the Translation Elongation Factor eef1a1 in Gonadal High-Temperature Perception in Chinese Tongue Sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)
Authors: Wang Qian , Liu Qian , Ma Wenxiu , Wang Rui , Li Shuo , Dong Zhongdian , Shao Changwei
Published: June 2022

The eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha (eef1a) gene has a well-defined role in protein synthesis. However, its role in external temperature perception and internal sex differentiation and development is still unclear. In this study, eef1a1 was identified and functionally analyzed in Chinese tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). The eef1a1 cDNA, 1809 bp in length, had a 1386 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encoded a 461 amino acid polypeptide containing one EF-1_alpha domain. eef1a1 expression levels were investigated across different tissues and during gonadal development. In the gonad, eef1a1 showed a sexually dimorphic expression pattern with a statistically higher expression level in the ovary than in the testis from 6 months postfertilization to 3 years postfertilization. Under high temperature (28 °C) treatment during C. semilaevis sex differentiation (from 30 days postfertilization to 3 months postfertilization), eef1a1 was statistically down-regulated in males, while the difference was not detected in females. In addition, the dual-luciferase assay exhibited that eef1a1 can respond to high temperature rapidly. Based on these results, C. semilaevis eef1a1 might have a dual role in the perception of external temperature changes and sex differentiation regulation.
Virulence Profiling, Multidrug Resistance and Molecular Mechanisms of Campylobacter Strains from Chicken Carcasses in Tunisia
Authors: Béjaoui Awatef , Gharbi Manel , Bitri Sarra , Nasraoui Dorsaf , Ben Aziza Wassim , Ghedira Kais , Rfaik Maryem , Marzougui Linda , Ghram Abdeljelil , Maaroufi Abderrazek
Published: June 2022

Antibiotic resistance in foodborne pathogens is an emergent global health concern. The objectives of this study were to assess antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Campylobacter isolates from chicken carcasses and to investigate the AMR molecular mechanisms as well as the presence of virulence determinants. The study was performed on 257 samples collected from abattoirs and retail shops in northeastern Tunisia. Forty-eight Campylobacter isolates were recovered and identified as C. jejuni (n = 33) and C. coli (n = 15). Antibiotic resistance was tested against eight antibiotics and high resistance rates were observed against tetracycline (100%), erythromycin (97.9%), ciprofloxacin (73%), nalidixic acid (85.4%), ampicillin (83.3%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (22.9%), chloramphenicol (75%), and gentamicin (27.1%). All isolates were multidrug-resistant, and 22 resistance patterns were found. All isolates were screened for AMR genes (tet(O), tet(A), tet(B), tet(L), cmeB, ermB, blaOXA-61, and aphA-3), and for point mutations in gyrA (C257T substitution) and 23SrRNA (A2075G/A2074C) genes. All screened AMR genes, as well as the C257T and the A2075G mutations, were detected. The virulence genotypes were also determined, and all isolates carried the motility (flaA) and invasion (cadF) genes. Most of them also harbored the cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC genes, encoding the Campylobacter toxin. The screening of the cgtB and the wlaN genes, involved in Guillain-Barré Syndrome expression, revealed the presence of the cgtB in 21.2% of C. jejuni strains, whereas none of them carried the wlaN gene. Our findings highlight the emergence of Campylobacter strains simultaneously harboring several virulence and AMR determinants, which emphasizes the risk of transmission of MDR strains to humans via the food chain. Hence, controlling the dissemination of foodborne pathogens “from the farm to the fork” as well as restricting the use of antimicrobials in husbandry are mandatory to prevent the risk for consumers and to mitigate the dissemination of MDR pathogens.
Combustion and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Engine Fueled with Crude Palm Oil Blends at Various Idling Speeds
Authors: Ge Jun Cong , Yoon Sam Ki , Song Jun Hee
Published: June 2022

At present, the preparation cost of biodiesel is still higher than that of diesel. Thus, directly using vegetable oil before transesterification can greatly reduce the cost. This study investigated the application characteristics of the direct use of crude palm oil (CPO) in a common rail direct injection (CRDI) diesel engine. In this study, the combustion characteristics, engine performance, and emission characteristics of the CRDI diesel engine operated with CPO0 (neat diesel fuel), CPO10 (10% CPO blended with 90% diesel fuel by volume), CPO30 (30% CPO blended with 70% diesel fuel by volume), and CPO50 (50% CPO blended with 50% diesel fuel by volume) at three idling speeds (750 rpm, 1500 rpm, and 2250 rpm) were evaluated. The results obtained from the experiment elucidate that combustion starts earlier by increasing the idling speed. The addition of CPO to diesel fuel resulted in a decrease in the peak in-cylinder pressure at all idle speeds and a decrease in the maximum heat release rate (HRRmax) at 750 and 1500 rpm, but an increase in HRRmax at 2250 rpm. On the other hand, increasing idle speed is beneficial for reducing carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx), but it increases smoke emissions. In addition, adding 10% and 30% CPO to diesel fuel can reduce both HC, NOx, and smoke emissions simultaneously.
EEG Signals Based Internet Addiction Diagnosis Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Sun Siqi , Yang Jie , Chen Yun-Hsuan , Miao Jiaqi , Sawan Mohamad
Published: June 2022

Internet addiction (IA), as a new and often unrecognized psychosocial disorder, endangers people’s health and their lives. However, the common biometric analysis based on the combination of EEG signals and results of questionnaires is not quantitative, and thus difficult to ensure a specific biomarker. This work aims to develop a deep learning algorithm (no need to identify biomarkers) used for diagnosing IA and evaluating therapy efficacy. Herein, a five-layer CNN model combined with a fast Fourier transform is proposed to diagnose IA quantitatively. This algorithm is validated in the Lemon dataset by using it to process raw data, full spectral power, and alpha-beta-gamma spectral power (related to IA). In contrast to alpha-beta-gamma spectral power, the results based on full spectral power show better performance (87.59% accuracy, 88.80% sensitivity, and 86.41% specificity), which confirms that the proposed algorithm can diagnose IA without biomarkers. In addition, this proposed CNN model presents obvious advantages in processing raw data, achieving 81.1% accuracy. Such results verify that this method can contribute to the reduction of diagnosis time and be potentially used in real-time health monitoring systems. This work provides a quantitative approach to diagnose IA and evaluate therapy efficacy, as a general strategy, and can be widely used in other disorder diagnoses that affect EEG signals, such as psychiatric disorders, substance dependence, and depression.
A Multiview Representation Learning Framework for Large-Scale Urban Road Networks
Authors: Chen Kaiqi , Chu Guowei , Lei Kaiyuan , Shi Yan , Deng Min
Published: June 2022

Methods to learn informative representations of road networks constitute an important prerequisite to solve multiple traffic analysis tasks with data-driven models. Most existing studies are only developed from a topology structure or traffic attribute perspective, and the resulting representations are biased and cannot fully capture the complex traffic flow patterns that are attributed to human mobility in road networks. Moreover, real-world road networks usually contain millions of segments, which poses a great challenge regarding the memory usage and computational efficiency of existing methods. Consequently, we proposed a novel multiview representation learning framework for large-scale urban road networks to simultaneously preserve topological and human mobility information. First, the road network was modeled as a multigraph, and a multiview random walk method was developed to capture the structure function of the road network from a topology-aware graph and vehicle transfer pattern from a mobility-aware graph. In this process, a large-scale road network organization method was established to improve the random walk algorithm efficiency. Finally, word2vec was applied to learn representations based on sequences that were generated by the multiview random walk. In the experiment, two real-world datasets were used to demonstrate the superior performance of our framework through a comparative analysis.
2D Sonic Acoustic Barrier Composed of Multiple-Row Cylindrical Scatterers: Analysis with 1:10 Scaled Wooden Models
Authors: Bevilacqua Antonella , Iannace Gino , Lombardi Ilaria , Trematerra Amelia
Published: June 2022

Theory regarding metamaterials was developed in the 1960s, aiming to control the propagation of electromagnetic waves. Under this scope, research has been focused on the realization of materials having specific characteristics to be invisible to the electromagnetic and optics fields. These principles have been expanded only recently to the acoustic sector, with metamaterials capable of controlling the sound propagation due to the interference effect between the soundwaves and the periodic structural elements composing the system. This paper deals with sound attenuation and analyzes a metamaterial acoustic barrier characterized by multiple rows in different configurations. The variety of configurations depends on different diameters of the wooden scatterers (i.e., 9 mm and 15 mm) and the distance between the sound source and the closest edge of the barrier (i.e., 400 mm and 800 mm). Despite having the same height (i.e., 300 mm) of a scaled model, the combination of different diameters in creating an acoustic barrier highlights an increase of the overall Insertion Loss (IL) and a broadened (instead of sharp) sound attenuation of the band gap, captured between 4 kHz and 12.5 kHz.
Failure Behavior Attributed to Internal Erosion Caused by Conduit Cracks in Homogeneous Embankment
Authors: Lee Young-Hak , Ryu Jung-Hyun , Lee Tae-Ho , Shim Jae-Woong , Kim Cheol-Han , Lee Dal-Won
Published: June 2022

This study determines the effects of leakage attributed to conduit defects on the failure behavior on the downstream slope of a homogeneous reservoir. To analyze the failure mechanism, model experiments and a three-dimensional deformation–seepage analysis were conducted based on the failure shape, pore-water pressure, hydraulic gradient, and settlement, and the results were compared with the changes in the water storage capacity of the failed reservoir owing to conduit defects. The comparison showed that failure estimation based on settlement gauges and water storage capacity is limited in its ability to detect rapid changes compared with monitoring methods. An area of potential failure owing to internal erosion was formed at a location that is 1.4–2.4 times the conduit height on the downstream slope. The findings of this study can provide insights for determining the pre-reinforcement required to prevent or minimize reservoir failure due to the fact of leakage.
Web Based Spatio-Temporal Data Bidirectional Relationship Visualization—A Case Study of Oceanographic Data
Authors: Ivanković Damir , Dadić Vlado , Šerić Ljiljana , Ivanda Antonia
Published: June 2022

Environmental data visualization tools are used for data validation, maintenance, and assessment of status and trends of environmental variables. However, currently available visualization tools do not meet all the requirements needed for efficient data management. In this paper, we propose a new approach and present a web-based implementation of a visualization tool that focuses on efficient visualization and seamless integration of maps and graphs. Our approach emphasizes the spatio-temporal relationship of environmental data stored in a relational database. Several new advantages emerge with this approach. Through a case study of two oceanographic datasets—the HarmoNIA project database and the Croatian national monitoring database—we show how this approach enables intuitive status and trend assessments, simplifies data validation, enables the updating of corrections, and is suitable for a web-based implementation that works efficiently even with large datasets.
Contribution of X-ray Fluorescence Techniques in Cultural Heritage Materials Characterization
Authors: Galli Anna , Bonizzoni Letizia
Published: June 2022

Archaeometry and cultural heritage have lately taken great advantage of developments in scientific techniques, offering valuable information to archaeology, art history, and conservation science, involving both instrumental and non-instrumental approaches [...]