bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of eggshell waste and B4C particles on the mechanical and tribological properties of Al7075 alloy developed by friction stir processing
Authors: Dwivedi Rishabh , Srivastava Ashish Kumar , Singh Rakesh Kumar
Published: August 2022

The waste and hazardous materials have the potential to be used as reinforcement materials in the development of metal matrix composites (MMCs). In this regard, aluminium based MMCs have increased demand than conventionally manufactured materials due to their high strength to weight ratio, low cost and wear resistance. In this work, an attempt is made to develop the surface composite of Al7075 alloy by utilizing carbonized, ball-milled waste eggshell powder (ESP) and B4C particles as reinforcements through the solid-state friction stir processing technique. Three different samples are developed with volume percentages of 2%, 4%, and 6% of ESP/B4C particles. The developed surface composites are validated by light microscopic images, FE-SEM images linked with EDS mapping and distribution of reinforced particles. The microstructural image shows the uniform distribution of the reinforced particles. The specimens are also characterized by their mechanical and tribological properties like tensile test with fracture analysis, hardness test and wear loss supported by worn-out surface analysis. The result revealed that while increasing the reinforcement volume percentage, an increase in mechanical properties of the developed composites is found. The maximum ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and Brinell hardness number (BHN) obtained in the study are 355 MPa and 167 BHN, respectively for the developed composites AA7075/ 6% eggshell/B4C. The minimum wear loss was observed to be 2.5 to 6.2 × 10–3 g at a sliding distance of 600 m for a 6% reinforced sample.
Risk Factors for Maternal Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain in Twin Pregnancies
Authors: Schubert Julia , Timmesfeld Nina , Noever Kathrin , Behnam Susann , Vinturache Angela , Arabin Birgit
Published: August 2022

Objective This retrospective cohort study analyzes risk factors for abnormal pre-pregnancy body mass index and abnormal gestational weight gain in twin pregnancies.

Methods Data from 10 603/13 682 twin pregnancies were analyzed using uni- and multivariable logistic regression models to determine risk factors for abnormal body mass index and weight gain in pregnancy.

Results Multiparity was associated with pre-existing obesity in twin pregnancies (aOR: 3.78, 95% CI: 2.71 – 5.27). Working in academic or leadership positions (aOR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.45 – 0.72) and advanced maternal age (aOR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.95 – 0.98) were negatively associated with maternal obesity. Advanced maternal age was associated with a lower risk for maternal underweight (aOR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92 – 0.99). Unexpectedly, advanced maternal age (aOR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96 – 0.99) and multiparity (aOR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.41 – 0.88) were also associated with lower risks for high gestational weight gain. Pre-existing maternal underweight (aOR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.07 – 2.24), overweight (aOR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.39 – 1.86), obesity (aOR: 3.09, 95% CI: 2.62 – 3.65) and multiparity (aOR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.23 – 2.18) were all associated with low weight gain. Women working as employees (aOR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.73 – 0.98) or in academic or leadership positions were less likely to have a low gestational weight gain (aOR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.64 – 0.93).

Conclusion Risk factors for abnormal body mass index and gestational weight gain specified for twin pregnancies are relevant to identify pregnancies with increased risks for poor maternal or neonatal outcome and to improve their counselling. Only then, targeted interventional studies in twin pregnancies which are desperately needed can be performed.
Die Digitalisierung der Pneumologie und die Rolle der
Fachgesellschaften
Authors: Wollsching-Strobel Maximilian , Butt Uta , Majorski Daniel Sebastian , Mathes Tim , Stachwitz Philipp , Hagen Julia , Kroppen Doreen , Köhnlein Thomas , Windisch Wolfram , Schwarz Sarah Bettina
Published: August 2022

Hintergrund Medizin wird zunehmend digitalisiert. Digitale Anwendungen finden den
Weg in die Versorgung. Ziel der Studie war die Erfassung der Einstellung von Mitgliedern
der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin e.V. (DGP) zur
Digitalisierung.

Methoden Die Studie wurde in Kooperation mit der DGP, der Deutschen Atemwegsliga
e.V. sowie dem health innovation hub (hih) des Bundesministeriums für Gesundheit
durchgeführt. Die Datenerhebung erfolgte mittels Onlinefragebogen (Juli/August 2021). Die
Daten wurden deskriptiv ausgewertet und um einen Subgruppenvergleich hinsichtlich der
Proaktivität der Mitglieder ergänzt.

Ergebnisse 284 Fragebögen waren vollständig und wurden eingeschlossen (31%
weiblich). 76.4% glauben, dass die Digitalisierung innerhalb von 5 Jahren ihren
Berufsalltag verändert. 47.2% haben eine Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen (DiGA) verordnet
bzw. haben dies vor. Am kritischsten (49.3 und 47.5%) wurden mangelnde Technikkenntnisse
von Patient:innen und der Zeitaufwand für Gesundheitsberufe bewertet. Bezüglich DiGA
wurden der wissenschaftliche Wirksamkeitsnachweis (48.9%) und die einfache Handhabbarkeit
für Patient:innen (47.9%) als wichtig bewertet. Der Subgruppenvergleich zeigt, dass sich
42.7% aktiv über digitale Medizin informieren und dass diese Gruppe mehr Möglichkeiten für
einen sinnvollen Einsatz von DiGA sieht.

Schlussfolgerung Den erwarteten umfassenden Veränderungen durch digitale Medizin
stehen die Mitglieder größtenteils positiv gegenüber. Je aktiver die Rolle der
DGP-Mitglieder und anderer Fachgesellschaften, desto mehr können digitale Elemente in der
Praxis einen Mehrwert bieten.
EUS-guided radiofrequency ablation of pancreatic/peripancreatic tumors and oligometastatic disease: an observational prospective multicenter study
Authors: Van Laethem Jean-Luc , Borbath Ivan , Figueiredo Ferreira Mariana , Garces-Duran Rodrigo , Eisendrath Pierre , Devière Jacques , Deprez Pierre , Monino Laurent
Published: August 2022

Background and study aims Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) is an emerging and minimally invasive technique that seems promising for treatment of focal pancreatic and peripancreatic lesions. Our aim was to prospectively evaluate the feasibility, safety, and technical and clinical success of pancreatic and extra-pancreatic EUS-RFA.

Patients and methods We prospectively collected clinical and technical data for all patients who underwent EUS-RFA at two Belgian academic centers from June 2018 to February 2022. Feasibility, adverse events (AEs), and follow-up were also assessed.

Results Twenty-nine patients were included, accounting for 35 lesions: 10 non-functioning neuroendocrine tumors (29 %), 13 pancreatic insulinomas (37 %), one adenocarcinoma (3 %), and 11 intra-pancreatic and extra-pancreatic metastatic lesions (31 %). Technical success was achieved in 100 % of cases, with a median of three power applications per lesion (interquartile range 2). The majority of patients (59 %) presented no collateral effects, three (10.3 %) developed non-severe acute pancreatitis, and four (14 %) had mild abdominal pain. At 6 months follow-up (n = 25), 36 % of patients showed radiological complete response, 16 % presented a significant partial response and 48 % showed < 50 % decrease in diameter. At 12 months (n = 20), 30 % showed complete necrosis and 15 % > 50 % decrease in diameter. Hypoglycemia related to insulinoma was immediately corrected in all 13 cases, with no recurrence during follow-up.

Conclusions EUS-RFA is feasible, safe, and effective for treatment of pancreatic and peripancreatic tumors. Larger and longer multicenter prospective studies are warranted to establish its role in management of focal pancreatic lesions and oligometastatic disease. Symptomatic insulinoma currently represent the best indication.
Clinical Results and Quality of Life after Nonelective Cardiac Surgery in Octogenarians
Authors: Saha Shekhar , Lang Andrea , von der Linden Julia , Wassilowsky Dietmar , Peterss Sven , Pichlmaier Maximilian , Hagl Christian , Juchem Gerd , Joskowiak Dominik
Published: August 2022

Background We analyzed the short-term and mid-term outcomes as well as the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of octogenarians undergoing elective and urgent cardiac surgery.

Patients and Methods We retrospectively identified 688 consecutive octogenarians who underwent cardiac surgery at our center between January 2012 and December 2019. A propensity score matching was performed which resulted in the formation of 80 matched pairs. The patients were interviewed and the Short Form-36 survey was used to assess the HRQOL of survivors. Multivariable analysis incorporated binary logistic regression using a forward stepwise (conditional) model.

Results The median age of the matched cohort was 82 years (p = 0.937), among whom, 38.8% of patients were female (p = 0.196). The median EuroSCORE II of the matched cohort was 19.4% (10.1–39.1%). The duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation was found to be independently associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 1.01 [95% confidence interval: 1.0–1.02], p = 0.038). The survival rates at 1, 2, and 5 years was 75.0, 72.0, and 46.0%, respectively. There was no difference in the total survival between the groups (p = 0.080). The physical health summary score was 41 (30–51) for the elective patients and 42 (35–49) for the nonelective octogenarians (p = 0.581). The median mental health summary scores were 56 (48–60) and 58 (52–60), respectively (p = 0.351).

Conclusion Cardiac surgery can be performed in octogenarians with good results and survivors enjoy a good quality of life; however, the indication for surgery or especially for escalation of therapy should always be made prudently, reserved, and in consideration of patient expectations.
Homeopathic Medicines in Second Wave of COVID-19: Prognostic Factor Research
Authors: Manchanda Raj Kumar , Miglani Anjali , Chakraborty Moumita , Kalsi Amrit , Meena Baljeet Singh , Kaur Prabhjeet , Saini Beenu , Arora Amit , Nagrath Cheshta , Kannoth Jithesh Thavarayil , Kudiyarasu Ram Kumar , Vardaan Rahul , Brahmachari Smita , Kumar Yogesh , Amitav B. , Konthembath Pramod , Gupta Ankit , Lolugu Suresh Kumar , Goel Pawan , Arora Shelly , Balan Shirin , Sharma Kavita , Chawla Anu , Ray Malaya Kumar , Jacob Vineetha Susan , Kumar Udesh , Verma Vikas Kumar , Singh Rahul Kumar , Saha Abishes , Ghuliani Manjula , Kaur Paramjeet , Gora Shruti , Gupta Meeta , Sharma Brender , Rutten Lex
Published: August 2022

Background The clinical profile and course of COVID-19 evolved perilously in a second wave, leading to the use of various treatment modalities that included homeopathy. This prognostic factor research (PFR) study aimed to identify clinically useful homeopathic medicines in this second wave.

Methods This was a retrospective, multi-centred observational study performed from March 2021 to May 2021 on confirmed COVID-19 cases who were either in home isolation or at COVID Care Centres in Delhi, India. The data were collected from integrated COVID Care Centres where homeopathic medicines were prescribed along with conventional treatment. Only those cases that met a set of selection criteria were considered for analysis. The likelihood ratio (LR) was calculated for the frequently occurring symptoms of the prescribed medicines. An LR of 1.3 or greater was considered meaningful.

Results Out of 769 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported, 514 cases were selected for analysis, including 467 in home isolation. The most common complaints were cough, fever, myalgia, sore throat, loss of taste and/or smell, and anxiety. Most cases improved and there was no adverse reaction. Certain new symptoms, e.g., headache, dryness of mouth and conjunctivitis, were also seen. Thirty-nine medicines were prescribed, the most frequent being Bryonia alba followed by Arsenicum album, Pulsatilla nigricans, Belladonna, Gelsemium sempervirens, Hepar sulphuris, Phosphorus, Rhus toxicodendron and Mercurius solubilis. By calculating LR, the prescribing indications of these nine medicines were ascertained.

Conclusion Add-on use of homeopathic medicines has shown encouraging results in the second wave of COVID-19 in integrated care facilities. Further COVID-related research is required to be undertaken on the most commonly prescribed medicines.
A case for conducting business-to-business experiments with multi-arm multi-stage adaptive designs
Authors: Legare Jonathan , Yao Ping , Lo Victor S. Y.
Published: August 2022

Many businesses conduct experiments to scientifically test, measure, and optimize decisions in areas like sales, marketing, and operations efficiency. While randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or A/B tests are the dominant method for conducting business experiments especially for business-to-consumer marketing, adaptive designs have yet to make extensive inroads outside of the pharmaceutical and medical industries. In this study, we aim to raise awareness of the applicability and advantages of multi-arm multi-stage adaptive designs outside of clinical settings and we use simulations to demonstrate the value of these designs to modern business experiments, with a focus on business-to-business experiments such as testing alternative sales techniques. Our simulation results show that, compared to RCT, multi-arm multi-stage adaptive designs (MAMS) can reduce the sample size requirements and expected time to experiment completion whilst maintaining a similar level of statistical power. We also demonstrate that these benefits can translate into actual cost savings in conjunction with shorter time to market, resulting in higher overall efficiency over the traditional RCTs. MAMS serves as a strong alternative methodology in experiments where not all customers can be contacted at once such as business-to-business campaigns and general live channel programs which typically take weeks to months to complete.
From ‘world’ to ‘earth’: non-phenomenological subjectivity in Deleuze and Guattari's geophilosophy
Authors: Roberts Tom , Lapworth Andrew , Dewsbury J. D.
Published: August 2022

With the invention of the concept of ‘geophilosophy’, Deleuze and Guattari did not intend to invoke a new subfield of philosophy; for them, all philosophy is geophilosophy by virtue of its constitutive relationship with contingency. What is less well understood, however, are the implications of Deleuze and Guattari’s geophilosophical approach for how we think about subjectivity today. Working against phenomenological forms of ‘earth-thinking’ that tend to reduce the ‘geo-’ to a phenomenological concept of ‘world’, Deleuze and Guattari conceptualize the earth as an immanent plane of forces that both precedes and exceeds the subject. Turning to Deleuze’s earlier essay on the literature of Michel Tournier, this paper offers a reading of geophilosophy in which aesthetic practices help us to grapple with the unthought forces of the earth beyond the phenomenological logic of world, and where art itself becomes a process that radically refigures our sense of what subjectivity can become.
Unified modeling of cavitating sprays using a three-component volume of fluid method accounting for phase change and phase miscibility
Authors: McGinn P. , Tretola G. , Vogiatzaki K.
Published: August 2022

In this study, a new three-fluid volume of fluid framework is presented in order to be used as a tool for providing physical insight—in a unified manner—to cavitating sprays and other complex multi-fluid, multiphase fluid flows. The framework accounts for phase change across a sharp interface between two fluids (gas and liquid) including miscibility between the fluid generated due to phase change (liquid vapor due to cavitation in the investigated cases) and one of the existent fluids (gaseous air). Systematic validation of the framework was performed over three cases. The first case is a bubble rising test case that an analytical solution for a two-phase system is available. Comparisons based on previous results from other interface tracking solvers and against the analytical solution are presented. This test case was then expanded by the authors so that a third non-condensable gas phase with a free-surface interface over a rising bubble was present. This second test case was used to further validate the three-fluid system behavior. Finally, experimental comparisons were made with a more realistic orthogonal spray geometry that captures different cavitation characteristics over a range of flow intensities. The predicted link between cavitation and the subsequent jet formation was highlighted. This is the first study, to our knowledge, that presents the performance of a three-fluid framework over a range of realistic injection conditions covering turbulent two-phase flows (no cavitation) to supercavitation.
Under-actuated USV path following control under multiple constraints
Authors: Wang Hongbin , Dong Jiao , Zhang Jianqiang , Li Yan , Wang Shiqi
Published: August 2022

The path following control of an under-actuated unmanned surface vehicle (USV) under the constraints of rudder angle, rudder velocity, and rudder response time in the disturbing environment is studied, and a cascaded path following control system based on guidance law and heading control law is designed. First, the guidance law is designed on the basis of integral line-of-sight, while the tracking error state is introduced to design a variable gain disturbance observer, which not only ensures the stability of the convergence section but also takes into account the tracking accuracy of the stable section. The stability of the system is analyzed. Subsequently, the rudder maneuverability constraint and rudder effect delay are further imposed after fully considering the limited range of rudder angle, rudder velocity, and rudder response time in the process of path following. In addition, the heading control law is, therefore, designed on the basis of the rolling optimization strategy, which effectively reduces the oscillation while ensuring the convergence speed. The stability of the control law is further proved. Thereafter, a simulation experiment proves the effectiveness and advancement of the algorithm designed in this paper. In the end, based on the software and hardware design of the control system, “Sea Sturgeon” USV is used for the lake test of the proposed control algorithm to verify its feasibility in practical engineering applications.
Time-reversal, tori families,\query{Q1} and canards in the Sprott A and NE9 systems
Authors: Bakri Taoufik , Verhulst Ferdinand
Published: August 2022

Quadratic three-dimensional autonomous systems may display complex behavior. Studying the systems Sprott A and NE9, we find families of tori and periodic solutions both involving canards. Using time-reversal and symmetry, we are able to explain in these two systems both the analysis and origin of tori, periodic solutions, and the numerics of these objects. For system NE9, unbounded solutions exist that admit analytic description by singular perturbation theory of the flow near infinity, also we observe torus destruction and a new chaotic attractor (Kaplan–Yorke dimension 2.1544) produced by a period-doubling scenario. The subtle numerics of periodic solutions involving canards is explained in the final section.
Atomic resolution analysis of extended defects and Mg agglomeration in Mg-ion-implanted GaN and their impacts on acceptor formation
Authors: Kano Emi , Kataoka Keita , Uzuhashi Jun , Chokawa Kenta , Sakurai Hideki , Uedono Akira , Narita Tetsuo , Sierakowski Kacper , Bockowski Michal , Otsuki Ritsuo , Kobayashi Koki , Itoh Yuta , Nagao Masahiro , Ohkubo Tadakatsu , Hono Kazuhiro , Suda Jun , Kachi Tetsu , Ikarashi Nobuyuki
Published: August 2022

We carried out atomic-scale observations of Mg-ion-implanted GaN by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT) to clarify the crystallographic structures of extended defects and Mg agglomerations that form during post-implantation annealing. The complementary TEM and APT analyses have shown that Mg atoms agglomerate at dislocations that bound extended defects. The concentration of Mg is higher at the dislocations with a larger Burgers vector. This indicates that Mg agglomeration is caused by the pressure at the dislocations. Mg concentration in highly Mg-rich regions is 1 at. %, which exceeds the solubility limit of Mg in GaN. We investigated isothermal and isochronal evolution of the defects by TEM, cathodoluminescence analysis, and positron annihilation spectroscopy. The results indicated that the intensity of donor–acceptor pair emission increases with the annealing temperature and duration and reaches a maximum after elimination of the extended defects with highly Mg-rich regions. These results strongly suggest that such extended defects reduce the acceptor formation and that they as well as the previously reported compensating centers, such as N-related vacancies, can inhibit the formation of p-type GaN. The mechanism by which the extended defects reduce acceptor formation is discussed.
Beyond Boolean: Ternary networks and dynamics
Authors: Yao Yu-Xiang , Dong Jia-Qi , Zhu Jie-Ying , Huang Liang , Pei Duan-Qing , Lai Ying-Cheng
Published: August 2022

Boolean networks introduced by Kauffman, originally intended as a prototypical model for gaining insights into gene regulatory dynamics, have become a paradigm for understanding a variety of complex systems described by binary state variables. However, there are situations, e.g., in biology, where a binary state description of the underlying dynamical system is inadequate. We propose random ternary networks and investigate the general dynamical properties associated with the ternary discretization of the variables. We find that the ternary dynamics can be either ordered or disordered with a positive Lyapunov exponent, and the boundary between them in the parameter space can be determined analytically. A dynamical event that is key to determining the boundary is the emergence of an additional fixed point for which we provide numerical verification. We also find that the nodes playing a pivotal role in shaping the system dynamics have characteristically distinct behaviors in different regions of the parameter space, and, remarkably, the boundary between these regions coincides with that separating the ordered and disordered dynamics. Overall, our framework of ternary networks significantly broadens the classical Boolean paradigm by enabling a quantitative description of richer and more complex dynamical behaviors.
Temperature-dependent transition of charge transport in core/shell structured colloidal quantum dot thin films: From Poole–Frenkel emission to variable-range hopping
Authors: Lei Shiyun , Yu Kanglin , Xiao Biao , Zhang Mingrui , Tao Huan , Hu Liwen , Zou Liyong , You Qingliang , Wang Xunchang , Liu Xueqing , Liu Jiyan , Yang Renqiang
Published: August 2022

Solution-processed core/shell quantum dot films are of great significance for light-emitting diodes. It is well known that the operation of core/shell quantum dot-based light-emitting diodes largely relies on charge transport. However, the charge transport mechanism in quantum dot films is still under debate and inconclusive. Herein, the temperature-dependent charge transport properties of light-emitting core/shell colloidal quantum dot thin films are characterized and analyzed across a wide temperature range, and the charge transport mechanism is studied. The results reveal that Poole–Frenkel emission conduction is applicable in the high-temperature range. With the decrease in the temperature, the measured current can be described by the Efros–Shklovskii variable-range hopping model. It is worth noting that, in both cases, trap states and disorders in the quantum dot film play a very important role in charge transport. These findings are of great importance for optimizing quantum dot light-emitting diodes and understanding the effects of charge transport on the device performance.
The fusion of flow field data with multiple fidelities
Authors: Zhang Zhixing , Xiao Dandan , Choi Kwing-So , Mao Xuerui
Published: August 2022

We propose a spatial-temporal multi-fidelity Gaussian process regression framework for the fusion of flow field data with various availabilities and fidelities but not sufficiently large to train neural networks commonly encountered in fluid mechanics studies. For example, fluid experiments lead to data with high fidelity but sparse in time and space, while most of the numerical data are generally regarded as less accurate but are spatially temporally continuous. The proposed framework aims at generating a new set of fused data by combining the merits of those in the spatial-temporal space. Numerical simulations [e.g., direct numerical simulation (DNS), large eddy simulation, Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes] of flow around a National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics 0012 airfoil are performed to collect the original raw data with various fidelities, and a fraction of the DNS result is used to mimic the high-fidelity but sparse experimental data. It is found that the accuracy of the fused data increases with the density of high-fidelity points until reaching a threshold, above which the fusion accuracy becomes insensitive. This limit can be overcome by introducing extra dimensions, such as the gradients of the low-fidelity data field. By examining the error fields, it is found that the high-fidelity points can tune low-fidelity fields but only within a limited local region. The accuracy can be firmly improved by introducing more high-fidelity points or higher levels of spatial gradients if the data set captures the temporal development.
Mechanism of superconductivity in the Hubbard model at intermediate interaction strength
Authors: Dong Xinyang , Del Re Lorenzo , Toschi Alessandro , Gull Emanuel
Published: August 2022

We study the fluctuations responsible for pairing in thed-wave superconducting state of the two-dimensional Hubbard model at intermediate coupling within a cluster dynamical mean-field theory with a numerically exact quantum impurity solver. By analyzing how momentum- and frequency-dependent fluctuations generate thed-wave superconducting state in different representations, we identify antiferromagnetic fluctuations as the pairing glue of superconductivity in both the underdoped and the overdoped regime. Nevertheless, in the intermediate coupling regime, the predominant magnetic fluctuations may differ significantly from those described by conventional spin fluctuation theory.
In vitro
selection for disease resistance in plants - an alternative to genetic engineering
Authors: Jayasankar S. , Gray Dennis J.
Published: August 2022

Plant cell culture provides a unique opportunity to manipulate morphogenesis in a controlled environment, thus providing crop improvement with a powerful, complementary tool. Since the late 1970s, the process of
in vitro
selection has been applied to several cell culture systems to generate mutants with useful agronomic traits such as disease resistance. However, the promise of genetic engineering technology and some early failures among the
in vitro
selected plants stifled research in this area. Recent advances in molecular characterization of stress-related responses and the emergence of sensitive molecular analytical tools have reinvigorated research on
in vitro
selection. This technology is easy to use, and not encumbered by intellectual property issues and social concerns currently inhibiting development of transgenic crops. Thus it is an attractive complement to existing crop improvement strategies. The sub-cellular mechanisms that lead to altered phenotypes after
in vitro
selection are discussed.
Gastric ulcers
Authors: Friendship Robert M.
Published: August 2022

Gastric ulceration is a common cause of economic loss and a source of welfare concern in the pig industry worldwide. Stomach lesions tend to be restricted to the non-glandular area surrounding the oesophageal opening. Tissue damage occurs when acid, bile and digestive enzymes come in contact with this relatively unprotected area because of a breakdown in the normal pH gradient of the pig's stomach. The stomach contents become fluid and mixing occurs when finely ground feed is consumed or if the pig has not eaten for 12 to 24 hours. Helicobacter-like organisms are often found in the glandular region of the stomach but it seems unlikely that these bacteria play a major role in the development of lesions in the
pars oesophagea
, but more research is needed before this possibility is ruled out. Prevention of ulcers needs to be directed at ensuring pigs have feed in their stomachs, and that very fine feed particle size is avoided. Treatment is generally aimed at encouraging pigs to eat, and under exceptional circumstances acid secretion inhibitors can be used but generally economic circumstances prohibit their use.
BHV-1 infection in cattle: an update.
Authors: Turin L. , Russo S.
Published: August 2022

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) infection represents an important example of virus-host interaction and a major disease affecting livestock. Although the infection is hardly life-threatening, the introduction of BHV-1 into a cattle farm can cause severe economic losses, due to the disease
per se
, as well as the consequent restrictions in the international trade of livestock. Progressive market integration within the European Union (EU) and market extension to include Eastern countries can certainly facilitate trade of cattle, semen, and embryos between member states. However, the diversity in status of animal health and the lack of common rules concerning disease prophylaxis and eradication still make BHV-1 a major concern for health and a key restriction in trading. This review focuses on the recent updates in BHV-1 virology and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR). Strategies aimed at limiting or preventing BHV-1 spread in cattle are also discussed.
Heat stress and dietary vitamin supplementation of poultry diets
Authors: Sahin K. , Kucuk O.
Published: August 2022

A seasonal problem in many parts of the world, a high ambient temperature causes economic losses through reducing feed intake while decreasing nutrient utilization, live weight gain, egg production, egg quality and feed efficiency of poultry. Several methods are currently available to alleviate the negative effects of high environmental temperature on the performance of poultry. However, since it is expensive to cool buildings in which animals are housed, such methods are focused mostly on dietary manipulation. In terms of reducing the negative effects of environmental stress, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A are used in the poultry diet because of the reported benefits of these vitamins including their anti-stress effects and also due to the fact that their utilization and thus normal concentrations are reduced during heat stress. This review focuses on the effects of dietary vitamin (C, E and A) supplementation in poultry reared under chronic heat stress.
Use of enzyme supplements in pig diets based on soyabean meal
Authors: Kim S. W. , Baker D. H.
Published: August 2022

Widespread use of soyabean meal in pig diets brings forth issues dealing with soyabean antinutritional compounds, especially those that are heat-stable following processing into soyabean meals. Microbial enzyme supplements have been used in an attempt to eliminate these antinutritional compounds, which include phytate and flatulence-producing carbohydrates. The benefits of using phytase in pig diets are well-documented and been reviewed, whereas the information on supplemental enzymes targeting flatulence-producing compounds is rather limited. Eighteen papers and abstracts are reviewed here. Use of these enzymes successfully reduced flatulence-producing compounds in soyabean meals and improved nutrient digestibility as well as growth of pigs even though these effects were not consistent. The inconsistency may reside in the fact that the origin and type of enzymes used for each study were different. Use of enzyme supplements for flatulence-producing compounds in soyabean meal could be beneficial to the industry if the origin and type of enzymes could be better defined.
What we have learnt on impacts of
Bt
cotton on non-target organisms in China
Authors: Wu Kongming , Peng Yufa , Shirong Jia
Published: August 2022

Bt
transgenic cotton, containing a
Bacillus thuringiensis
toxin gene, has been widely planted in cotton growing areas in China since 1997. One of the major concerns of environmental risk is the impact on non-target organisms in the agriculture ecosystem. Results obtained in recent years indicate that the predator levels in
Bt
cotton fields are significantly higher than those in conventional cotton fields where insecticide has been used for control of the cotton bollworm,
Helicoverpa armigera
. However, the population density of parasitic wasps which parasitize on
H. armigera
larvae decreases dramatically due to the lower density and poor quality of
H. armigera
larvae in
Bt
cotton fields. As the predator population increases, the outbreak of cotton aphid [
Aphis gossypii
] in mid-season is effectively controlled, while the mirids become key insect pests in
Bt
cotton fields because of a reduced number of insecticides used against
H. armigera
. The diversity of the arthropod community in
Bt
cotton fields is higher than that in conventional cotton, suggesting that
Bt
cotton is highly favourable for integrated management of cotton pests. An assessment on the impact of
Bt
cotton pollen on two important economic insects, the Chinese tussah silkworm,
Antnaea perngicuerin
[
Antheraea pernyi
] and the silkworm,
Bombyx mori
, was conducted, from which it was concluded that the adverse effect is negligible.
The biosafety of molecular farming in plants
Authors: Commandeur Ulrich , Twyman Richard M. , Fischer Rainer
Published: August 2022

Molecular farming in plants provides an inexpensive and convenient way to produce biopharmaceutical molecules and other valuable proteins on a large scale. Proof of principle has been demonstrated for a large number of recombinant human proteins, subunit vaccines and antibodies, and detailed cost evaluations have been described for the production of technical proteins in maize. In terms of biosafety, plants have several advantages over traditional production systems, such as the absence of endotoxins, human pathogens and oncogenic DNA sequences. However, other biosafety concerns remain to be addressed. These not only reflect the quality and safety of the final product, but also the wider effects of molecular farming on health and the environment. In this review we discuss the technological basis of molecular farming in plants and identify potential biosafety risks: transgene spread in the environment, recombinant protein accumulation in the ecosystem, contamination of food and feed chains with transgenes and their products, and product quality and safety.
Generating transgenic plants by minimal addition of exogenous DNA - a novel selection marker based on plant tubulins
Authors: Nick P. , Christou P. , Breviario D.
Published: August 2022

Most transgenic crops available on the market contain antibiotic resistance genes as selection markers. Although scientifically not justified, this raises public concern about a potential spread of antibiotic resistance genes in soil and intestinal bacteria, possibly accentuated by the agricultural use of transgenic crops. These markers are necessary to generate the transgenic crop, but they are dispensable for the agricultural use of these plants. A selection system is proposed for plant transformation that is exclusively based on genetic information already present in the host plant and that does not require antibiotic resistance genes. The approach exploits the natural variability of plant tubulins as essential components of cell growth, cell division and stress tolerance in plants. There exist a panel of tubulin promoters that can drive expression either constitutively or, alternatively, in different tissues or in response to different signals. They can be fused with a panel of different tubulin isotypes with distinct physiological features to produce a versatile kit of combinations that will confer distinct properties such as stress or herbicide tolerance to specified target tissues. This is used to construct a selection marker that is based upon truncated tubulins lacking the binding site for aryl-carbamate herbicides. The expression of this truncated tubulin is driven by the homologous tubulin promotor within a DNA fragment free of exogenous sequences (minimal expression unit) using clean DNA technology. The suitability of this selection system is demonstrated for rice as a model system for Graminaceous crops.
Innovation and liability: "Oh no! what have we done?".
Authors: Smyth S.
Published: August 2022

This review article discusses the issues surrounding the biosafety of transgenic crops, their perception by consumers and the matter of socio-economic liability. The issue of liability management regarding transgenics would seem to be related to three key features of present day society. Firstly, consumer trust in government and industry has declined in all industrialized countries. Secondly, regulators in Canada and the United States have adamantly stuck to science-based risk assessment processes while, in Europe, regulators have tried to incorporate socioeconomic factors into the regulatory process. Thirdly, the whole concept of consumer empowerment has been badly dealt with by government, industry and, to a lesser degree, the judiciary. The stakeholders of government and industry have, for the most part, adopted the strategy of ignoring the consumer and hoping their concerns will go away. This hasn't worked and the willingness of the judiciary to hear large class action lawsuits against multinationals has forced reconsideration of this strategy. The key to socioeconomic liability management is to ensure that all stakeholders work together. Even though each stakeholder may have separate agendas, the goal needs to be consensus on the process objectives.
Novel products from transgenic oil palm.
Authors: Parveez G. K. A.
Published: August 2022

Oil palm (
Elaeis
) is an important economic crop in Malaysia and contributes significantly to the country's economy. Shortage of manpower, arable land and a fluctuating commodity price have forced the industry to widen its scope from being solely dependent on the edible oil market into more diverse applications and higher-return products. Genetic engineering, with all its advantages over conventional breeding, has been identified as a tool for synthesizing high-value-added products in transgenic oil palm. Genetic engineering requires reliable transformation and regeneration systems. Successful production of transgenic oil palm was achieved six years ago. The transgenic plants have started flowering and are still expressing the transgenes. Significant achievements in biochemical studies and isolation of useful oil palm genes and promoters have been reported. A wide range of transformation vectors are being constructed using the genes and promoters from oil palm and are being transformed into oil palm tissue cultures. The latest achievements in the production of transgenic oil palm carrying useful genes are reviewed.
Iron biofortification through genetic modification in rice, wheat, and cassava and its potential contribution to nutritional security
Authors: Narayanan Narayanan , Cueto-Reaño Maria Florida , Eroğlu Seçkin , Ludwig Yvonne , Okwuonu Ihuoma , Taylor Nigel J. , Grusak Michael A.
Published: August 2022

Micronutrient malnutrition is one of the major concerns noted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In developing countries, children under the age of five and pregnant women are at the highest risk of adverse events from micronutrient malnutrition. Staple food crops that are common in developing countries are rich in carbohydrates but low in micronutrients, especially iron. Genetic biofortification of staple food crops in farmer-preferred cultivars is a promising approach to deliver nutritious food, enhanced in iron concentration, to consumers who are at risk of malnutrition. In order to achieve biofortification, it is critical to understand the processes of iron uptake, regulation, transport dynamics, and whole-plant iron storage and how to manipulate them in individual crops. In this review, case studies of staple food crops including rice, wheat, and cassava are used to introduce iron biofortification strategies in both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species, along with a discussion of consumer-based considerations for the deployment of biofortified crops also presented.
Effect of chelated zinc on milk production in dairy cows: Meta-analysis
Authors: Hamad Yaser , Younis Marwa , Ibrahim Hussam , El-Ashker Maged , Youssef Mohamed , El-khodery Sabry
Published: August 2022

In this review, a systematic meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials that evaluate the effectiveness of supplementation of chelated zinc (Zn) on milk production in dairy cow has been performed. A total of 2106 transition dairy cows belonging to 23 studies from 7 papers were finally selected (treated, n = 1053; control, n = 1053). A meta-analysis of the effect of chelated Zn on milk production in dairy cow during lactation period was conducted following a search of literature. The data of cows either treated or controlled were extracted and analyzed by using comprehensive meta-analysis software program. I2statistic was used to estimate the degree of heterogeneity. Forest plot was used to present the means and their confidence intervals in a graphic manner and heterogeneous degree were explored with meta-regression; also, Begg’s test was conducted to investigate the publication bias. Overall, trial analysis of trials revealed that there was no significant effect of chelated Zn on milk production based on effect size (ES) and the confidence interval (95% CI) in comparison with the control cows (milk production ES = (0.941–1.183) 1.057,pvalue =0.337). A forest plot for the impact of chelated Zn on milk production was presented. The forest plots indicated that there is no heterogeneity between treated and control cows in response to supplementation of chelated Zn on milk production. The results of Begg’s test for publication bias were not significant. In conclusion, chelated Zn supplementation among dairy cows during lactation period provided a non-significant impact on milk yield.
Threat of

Xylella fastidiosa

and options for mitigation in infected plants
Authors: Burbank Lindsey P.
Published: August 2022

The bacterial pathogen
Xylella fastidiosa
continues to threaten agricultural production of many different crops around the world, with significant economic burden from crop loss, disease management, and surveillance costs. In addition to direct economic consequences, plant diseases caused by
X. fastidiosa
have had significant societal impacts in the most affected regions. Although
X. fastidiosa
infects long-term perennial crops and landscape plants, there has never been a truly effective treatment for plants once they become infected. This review discusses the threat of
X. fastidiosa
to agriculture, landscapes, and global commerce, in addition to the most recent progress in treatment for
X. fastidiosa
in infected plants. Current disease mitigation options include nutritional, chemical, biocontrol, and plant resistance-based strategies, with the potential to develop combined management approaches. Overall, several strategies are promising for disease suppression but there is still opportunity for innovation, especially in treatment approaches that can be administered systemically by soil or foliar spray routes. Prevention of severe disease outcomes and crop loss, and the ability to suppress pathogen populations and reduce transmission without heavy reliance on insecticides would have significant economic and environmental benefits.
Intelligent fault warning method of rotating machinery with intraclass and interclass infographic embedding
Authors: Sun Zejin , Wang Youren , Gao Jiahao
Published: August 2022

Rotating machinery is widely used in industrial production facilities, and once a failure occurs, it can be catastrophic. Alerting to potential defects in time to prevent further equipment degradation is a challenging task. In this paper, a novel two-stage fault warning framework is proposed for early fault warning of rotating machinery. Specifically, a new method based on intra-class and inter-class neighborhood information graph embedding orthogonal discriminant projection is firstly adopted in this framework to extract the global distribution feature information and local geometric structure information of the data so that the homogeneous distance is compressed and the heterogeneous distance is distanced. Secondly, the minimum quantization error between the sample to be measured and the optimal winning neuron weight vector is calculated by self-organizing map to characterize the health state change, and combined with the Beta distribution self-learning technique to establish the fault warning threshold to circumvent the defects brought by the traditional fixation and it. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified in the bearing and planetary gearbox test cases, and exciting conclusions are obtained under different working conditions in the gearbox case.
Comparison of 126 MeV antiproton and proton—a FLUKA-based microdosimetric approach
Authors: Chattaraj Arghya , Selvam T P
Published: August 2022

Objective. This study aims at comparing dosimetric parameters of 126 MeV antiprotons and protons using microdosimetric approach. Approach. Microdosimetric distributions of 126 MeV proton and antiproton beams at 1 μm site size are calculated using the Monte Carlo-based FLUKA code. The distributions are calculated at various depths along the central axis in water phantom as well as at different off-axis locations. The study also includes calculations of secondary radiations produced by antiprotons and protons. Mean quality factor,

Q
¯

is calculated using the ICRP 60 and ICRU 40 recommendations. The Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) of HSG tumour cell at 10% survival level is calculated based on Microdosimetric Kinetic Model. Main results.

Q
¯

I
C
R
P
,

Q

¯

ICRU

and RBE for antiprotons are higher by a factor of about 3.60, 3.41 and 1.24, respectively, at Bragg-peak and higher by a factor of about 1.41, 1.76 and 1.05, respectively, at plateau region of depth-dose profile when compared to protons. At 15 cm depth along the central axis,

Q

¯

ICRP

,

Q

¯

ICRU

and RBE for protons are higher by a factor of about 1.42, 1.66 and 1.26, respectively, when compared to antiprotons. At the off-axis distance (Ld
) of 6 cm (at 11.5 cm depth in water),

Q

¯

ICRP

and

Q

¯

ICRU

of protons are higher than that of antiproton whereas the trend is opposite at off-axis distance of 4 cm. At Ld

= 4 cm (at 11.5 cm depth in water), RBE of antiprotons is higher by about 4% than protons whereas at Ld
= 6 cm, RBE of protons is higher by about 13% than antiprotons. Significance. The study shows that antiproton radiotherapy is advantageous as compared to protons considering enhancements in the absorbed dose and RBE-weighed dose values at the Bragg-peak.