bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The application of natural language processing for the extraction of mechanistic information in toxicology
Authors: Corradi Marie , Luechtefeld Thomas , de Haan Alyanne M. , Pieters Raymond , Freedman Jonathan H. , Vanhaecke Tamara , Vinken Mathieu , Teunis Marc
Published: May 2024

To study the ways in which compounds can induce adverse effects, toxicologists have been constructing Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs). An AOP can be considered as a pragmatic tool to capture and visualize mechanisms underlying different types of toxicity inflicted by any kind of stressor, and describes the interactions between key entities that lead to the adverse outcome on multiple biological levels of organization. The construction or optimization of an AOP is a labor intensive process, which currently depends on the manual search, collection, reviewing and synthesis of available scientific literature. This process could however be largely facilitated using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to extract information contained in scientific literature in a systematic, objective, and rapid manner that would lead to greater accuracy and reproducibility. This would support researchers to invest their expertise in the substantive assessment of the AOPs by replacing the time spent on evidence gathering by a critical review of the data extracted by NLP. As case examples, we selected two frequent adversities observed in the liver: namely, cholestasis and steatosis denoting accumulation of bile and lipid, respectively. We used deep learning language models to recognize entities of interest in text and establish causal relationships between them. We demonstrate how an NLP pipeline combining Named Entity Recognition and a simple rules-based relationship extraction model helps screen compounds related to liver adversities in the literature, but also extract mechanistic information for how such adversities develop, from the molecular to the organismal level. Finally, we provide some perspectives opened by the recent progress in Large Language Models and how these could be used in the future. We propose this work brings two main contributions: 1) a proof-of-concept that NLP can support the extraction of information from text for modern toxicology and 2) a template open-source model for recognition of toxicological entities and extraction of their relationships. All resources are openly accessible via GitHub (https://github.com/ontox-project/en-tox).
The welfare of ill and injured feedlot cattle: a review of the literature and implications for managing feedlot hospital and chronic pens
Authors: Sundman Emiline R. , Dewell Grant A. , Dewell Renee D. , Johnson Anna K. , Thomson Daniel U. , Millman Suzanne T.
Published: May 2024

By definition, ill and injured animals are on the negative valence of animal welfare. For beef cattle kept in feedlot settings, advances in cattle health management have resulted in a greater understanding and prevention of illness and injury. However, the management of cattle once they become ill and injured is an understudied area, and there are gaps in knowledge that could inform evidence-based decision-making and strengthen welfare for this population. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the acquired knowledge regarding ill and injured feedlot cattle welfare, focusing on existing knowledge gaps and implications for hospital and chronic pen management and welfare assurance. Ill and injured feedlot cattle consist of acutely impaired animals with short-term health conditions that resolve with treatment and chronically impaired animals with long-term health conditions that may be difficult to treat. A literature search identified 110 articles that mentioned welfare and ill and injured feedlot cattle, but the population of interest in most of these articles was healthy cattle, not ill and injured cattle. Articles about managing ill and injured cattle in specialized hospital (n = 12) or chronic (n = 2) pens were even more sparse. Results from this literature search will be used to outline the understanding of acutely and chronically ill and injured feedlot cattle, including common dispositions and welfare considerations, behavior during convalescence, and strategies for identifying and managing ill and injured cattle. Finally, by working through specific ailments common in commercial feedlot environments, we illustrate how the Five Domains Model can be used to explore feelings and experiences and subsequent welfare state of individual ill or injured feedlot cattle. Using this approach and our knowledge of current industry practices, we identify relevant animal-based outcomes and critical research questions to strengthen knowledge in this area. A better understanding of this overlooked topic will inform future research and the development of evidence-based guidelines to help producers care for this vulnerable population.
Angular Integral Autocorrelation for Speed Estimation in Shear-Wave Elastography
Authors: Asemani Hamidreza , Kabir Irteza Enan , Ormachea Juvenal , Doyley Marvin M. , Rolland Jannick P. , Parker Kevin J.
Published: May 2024

The utilization of a reverberant shear-wave field in shear-wave elastography has emerged as a promising technique for achieving robust shear-wave speed (SWS) estimation. However, many types of estimators cannot accurately measure SWS within such a complicated 3D wave field. This study introduces an advanced autocorrelation estimator based on angular integration known as the angular integral autocorrelation (AIA) approach to address this issue. The AIA approach incorporates all the autocorrelation data from various angles during measurements, resulting in enhanced robustness to both noise and imperfect distributions in SWS estimation. The effectiveness of the AIA estimator for SWS estimation is first validated using a k-Wave simulation of a stiff branching tube in a uniform background. Furthermore, the AIA estimator is applied to ultrasound elastography experiments, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) studies across a range of different excitation frequencies on tissues and phantoms, including in vivo scans. The results verify the capacity of the AIA approach to enhance the accuracy of SWS estimation and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), even within an imperfect reverberant shear-wave field. Compared to simple autocorrelation approaches, the AIA approach can also successfully visualize and define lesions while significantly improving the estimated SWS and SNR in homogeneous background materials and providing improved elastic contrast between structures within the scans. These findings demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the AIA approach across a wide range of applications, including ultrasound elastography, magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), and optical coherence elastography (OCE), for accurately identifying the elastic properties of biological tissues in diverse excitation scenarios.
Pneumatically Actuated Soft Robotic Hand and Wrist Exoskeleton for Motion Assistance in Rehabilitation
Authors: Ridremont Tanguy , Singh Inderjeet , Bruzek Baptiste , Jamieson Alexandra , Gu Yixin , Merzouki Rochdi , Wijesundara Muthu B. J.
Published: May 2024

Exoskeletons are being explored for assisting motion therapy for neurological impairment-related rehabilitation. Soft robotic exoskeletons are gaining more attention for upper-extremity applications due to their simplistic actuation mechanisms and compliant nature. To regain fine motor hand functions, it is desired to have both hand and wrist motions in a coordinated fashion, as most daily living tasks require a combination of both hand and wrist joint motions. However, a soft robotic exoskeleton with hand and wrist motion together is an underdeveloped area. This paper presents a pneumatically actuated soft robotic exoskeleton designed to provide coordinated assistive motion to the hand and wrist joints using PD-based feedback control. The results showed the potential of the exoskeleton to provide flexion/extension rehabilitation exercises and task-oriented rehabilitation practices. Additionally, the results have confirmed that the implemented PD control ensures that the exoskeleton reaches the targeted angular trajectories and velocities. Two modes, full and partial assistance, were successfully tested to verify the ability of the exoskeleton to accommodate varying levels of impairment.
Operational Reliability Analysis of Turbine Blisk Using an Enhanced Moving Neural Network Framework
Authors: Liang Xiao , Sun Wei , Sun Qingchao , Fei Chengwei
Published: May 2024

As one of the key components of an aeroengine, turbine blisk endures complex coupling loads under a harsh operational environment so that the reliability of turbine blisk directly influences the safe operation of aeroengine. It is urgent to precisely perform the reliability estimation of a complex blisk structure. To address this issue, an enhanced Moving Neural Network Framework (MNNF) is proposed by integrating compact support region theory, improve sooty tern optimization algorithm (ISTOA), and Bayesian regularization strategy into artificial neural network. The compact support region theory is applied to select the efficient samples for modeling from the training samples set, the ISTOA is to determine the optimal compact support region, and Bayesian regularization thought is utilized to improve the generalization ability of neural network model. The operational reliability assessment of aeroengine blisk is performed with the consideration of transient loads to verify the proposed MNNF method. It is shown that the reliability degree of turbine blisk stain is 0.9984 when the allowable value is 5.2862 × 10−3 m. In line with the comparison of methods, the developed MNNF approach has 0.99738 in root means square error, 3.1634 × 10−4 m in goodness of fit, 0.423 s in modeling time, 99.99% in simulation precision, and 0.496 s in simulation time under 10,000 simulations, which are superior to all other methods (i.e., 99.96%, 99.91%, 99.93%, 99.97%, and 99.97% in simulation precision and 16.27%, 4.82%, 30.07%, 39.87%, and 23.59% in simulation efficiency, for the response surface method (RSM), Kriging, support vector machine (SVM), back propagation-artificial neural network (BP-NN), and BP-NN based on particle swarm optimization (BP-PSO) methods, respectively). It is demonstrated that the MNNF method holds excellent modeling and simulation performances. The efforts of this study provide promising tools and insights into the reliability design of complex structures, and enrich and develop reliability theory.
Macroplastics Quantity and Its Influence on Soil Nutrients in Typical Plastic Film Mulching Farmland in Northern Xinjiang
Authors: Jin Tuo , Liu Xiaowei , Cui Jixiao , Peng Jianwei , Liu Qin
Published: May 2024

Plastic film mulching (PFM) technology plays an important role in agricultural production in “drought and cold” regions, and macroplastics pollution in farmland has become a major concern affecting the sustainable development of regional agricultural production. However, there remains a lack of research on the effects of film application and macroplastics characteristics on soil nutrients in farmland. In this study, the characteristics of plastic film application and macroplastics, and their effect on soil nutrients in typical plastic film cropland in northern Xinjiang were explored by field research and a review of the relevant literature. It was found that the average annual growth rate was higher in areas where the amount, usage intensity, and proportion of plastic film were lower. The amount of plastic film input was a key factor affecting the amount of macroplastics. The macroplastics amount of plastic film was positively correlated with soil organic carbon content and negatively correlated with soil available phosphorus; however, it had no effect on soil available potassium. It is necessary to take immediate action regarding the characteristics of plastic film application and macroplastics and the impact of macroplastics on soil nutrients, in order to establish a response to the dual challenges of food security and sustainable agricultural development in terms of plastic film pollution prevention and control measures.
Sliding Mode Speed Control in Synchronous Motors for Agriculture Machinery: A Chattering Suppression Approach
Authors: Marcos-Andrade David , Beltran-Carbajal Francisco , Rivas-Cambero Ivan , Yañez-Badillo Hugo , Favela-Contreras Antonio , Rosas-Caro Julio C.
Published: May 2024

Synchronous motors have extended their presence in different applications, specifically in high-demand environments such as agronomy. These uses need advanced and better control strategies to improve energy efficiency. Within this context, sliding mode control has demonstrated effectiveness in electric machine control due to its advantages in robustness and quick adaptation to uncertain dynamic system disturbances. Nevertheless, this control technique presents the undesirable chattering phenomenon due to the discontinuous control action. This paper introduces a novel speed integral control scheme based on sliding modes for synchronous motors. This approach is designed to track smooth speed profiles and is evaluated through several numeric simulations to verify its robustness against variable torque loads. This approach addresses using electric motors for different applications such as irrigation systems, greenhouses, pumps, and others. Moreover, to address the chattering problem, different sign function approximations are evaluated in the control scheme. Then, the most effective functions for suppressing the chattering phenomenon through extensive comparative analysis are identified. Integral compensation in this technique demonstrates improvement in motor performance, while sign function approximations show a chattering reduction. Different study cases prove the robustness of this control scheme for large-scale synchronous motors. The simulation results validate the proposed control scheme based on sliding modes with integral compensation, by achieving chattering reduction and obtaining an efficient control scheme against uncertain disturbances in synchronous motors for agronomy applications.
Quercetin and Rutin as Tools to Enhance Antioxidant Profiles and Post-Priming Seed Storability in Medicago truncatula
Authors: Gaonkar Shraddha Shridhar , Sincinelli Federico , Balestrazzi Alma , Pagano Andrea
Published: May 2024

Seed priming is routinely applied to improve germination rates and seedling establishment, but the decrease in longevity observed in primed seeds constitutes a major drawback that compromises long-term storability. The optimization of priming protocols able to preserve primed seeds from aging processes represents a promising route to expand the scope of seed priming. The present work explores this possibility in the model legume Medicago truncatula by testing the effectiveness of quercetin- and rutin-supplemented seed priming at improving the response to subsequent artificial aging. In comparison with a non-supplemented hydropriming protocol, supplementation with quercetin or rutin was able to mitigate the effects of post-priming aging by increasing germination percentage and speed, improving seed viability and seedling phenotype, with consistent correlations with a decrease in the levels of reactive oxygen species and an increase in antioxidant potential. The results suggest that quercetin and rutin can reduce the effects of post-priming aging by improving the seed antioxidant profiles. The present work provides novel information to explore the physiological changes associated with seed priming and aging, with possible outcomes for the development of tailored vigorization protocols able to overcome the storability constrains associated with post-priming aging processes.
Preliminary Assessment of Alfalfa Crop Trap Strategy in Regulating Natural Predators for Aphis gossypii Glover Control
Authors: Zhou Xuelin , Zhou Jianqin , Guo Xiaohu , Wu Jiaqi , Jia Hongtao , Ma Deying , Jiang Pingan
Published: May 2024

Aphis gossypii Glover is an important pest in cotton plantations. Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) is a host plant for the aphid Aphis craccivora Koch and may prove to be an important reservoir of natural enemies to combat this pest. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of different mowing frequencies of alfalfa traps on A. gossypii and their natural enemies, using both ground survey data and UAV remote sensing data. The alfalfa was mowed twice to facilitate the transfer of this primary natural enemy to the cotton fields. Ground surveys were carried out every five days to gather data, while temporal niche and niche overlap methods were used for further analysis. Findings collected over a period ranging from day 31 to day 91 indicated that compared to their counterparts with no alfalfa traps, the cotton fields containing these pest control measures demonstrated a reduction in the A. gossypii population of approximately 16%. A survey conducted 5 days after mowing the alfalfa on days 61 and 71 found that the cotton fields with alfalfa traps experienced a 24.14% and 26.09% reduction in A. gossypii numbers. In contrast, the cotton fields without alfalfa traps experienced a 76.92% and 55.08% increase in cotton aphid numbers during the same period. It is noteworthy that the cotton fields with alfalfa traps showed a delayed onset of cotton aphid damage of approximately 5 days compared to the fields without alfalfa traps. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the ecological control mechanism of A. gossypii within alfalfa traps. Planting alfalfa traps around fields in Xinjiang could be promoted as a method to prevent and control aphid damage.
Synergistic Effects of Exogenous Nutrient Ions on the Real-Time Cadmium Extraction by an Accumulator
Authors: Wang Siqi , Dai Huiping , Ji Dandan , Cui Shuang , Jiang Chengzhi , Skuza Lidia , Li Lianzhen , Wei Shuhe , Zhang Lijun
Published: May 2024

Bidens tripartita L. is a cadmium (Cd) accumulator. However, the real-time influx or efflux of Cd2+ around its root apex has not yet been performed. The object of this experiment was to compare the roles of added ions in solution on dynamic Cd extraction by B. tripartita root tip. Quartz sand was used to grow the seedling of B. tripartite. The Cd concentrations of all samples were determined by using ICP-OES after digestion. The Cd2+ influx around the root apex was measured in vivo, i.e., using non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT). The results showed that the Cd2+ influx was found to be decreased by 35.9%, 43.7%, 20.6%, and 57.5% under 10 μM Cd combined with high content Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe3+, or K+ (16 mM, 8 mM, 0.5 mM, 18 mM, respectively), compared to that under 10 μM Cd stress. But Cd treatments with low content ions with 0.05 mM Fe3+ or 0.5 mM S increased the Cd2+ influx in roots by 20.5% and 34.6%, respectively. It was also found that Cd treatment with high concentrations of Ca2+ or K+ increased the shoot biomass of B. tripartita seedlings. Chl a and b contents were significantly decreased in the Cd treatments with low concentrations of Fe3+ or S compared to those under Cd stress alone, and the dehydrogenase activity of the roots decreased in the treatment of Cd with 0.05 mM Fe3+ or 0.5 mM S. Our results indicate that the addition of 0.05 mM Fe3+ or 0.5 mM S promoted Cd2+ influx and Cd uptake by B. tripartita. Unlike traditional measurement, the Cd2+ movements of three-dimensional space around the B. tripartita root tip had been performed by NMT. It was suggested that the effects of S and Fe3+ on the remediation potential of B. tripartita need to be further researched in the future. The results of this study provided a real-time and micro-dynamic theoretical basis for phytoremediation mechanisms.
Staged Temperature- and Humidity-Controlled Combined Infrared Hot-Air Drying (TH-IRHAD) of Sea Buckthorn Reduces Drying Time, Energy Consumption, and Browning
Authors: Zhu Lichun , Ji Xinyu , Gu Junzhe , Zhang Xuetao , Li Mengqing , Zhang Qian , Yang Xuhai , Geng Zhihua
Published: May 2024

Sea buckthorn has garnered significant attention owing to its nutritional richness; however, it has a limited shelf life. In this study, the drying process of sea buckthorn was categorized into the first-, second-, and third-drying stages. Regression models were employed to examine the effects of the drying temperature, relative humidity of the medium, and prolonged high humidity retention on various parameters during the first- and second-drying stages. Comparative analysis revealed that the optimal drying conditions for the first-drying stage of sea buckthorn were a drying temperature of 80 °C, relative humidity of 28%, and high humidity retention time of 84 min. In the second-drying phase, the optimal conditions were a drying temperature of 78 °C, a relative humidity of 17%, and a high humidity retention time of 84 min. One-way optimization revealed that the optimal drying temperature for the third-drying stage was 70 °C. The implementation of temperature- and humidity-controlled infrared hot-air drying (TH-IRHAD) techniques considerably improved the outcomes. Specifically, the drying time, energy consumption, and degree of browning decreased by 34.43%, 36.29%, and 21.43%, respectively, whereas the brightness, rehydration ratio, total flavonoid content, and total phenol content increased by 8.94%, 16.99%, 20.57%, and 28.32%, respectively. Staged TH-IRHAD substantially reduced the drying duration, increased the efficiency, and enhanced the drying quality.
Phenotyping the Anthocyanin Content of Various Organs in Purple Corn Using a Digital Camera
Authors: Wang Zhengxin , Liu Ye , Wang Ke , Wang Yusong , Wang Xue , Liu Jiaming , Xu Cheng , Song Youhong
Published: May 2024

Anthocyanins are precious industrial raw materials. Purple corn is rich in anthocyanins, with large variation in their content between organs. It is imperative to find a rapid and non-destructive method to determine the anthocyanin content in purple corn. To this end, a field experiment with ten purple corn hybrids was conducted, collecting plant images using a digital camera and determining the anthocyanin content of different organ types. The average values of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in the images were extracted. The color indices derived from RGB arithmetic operations were applied in establishing a model for estimation of the anthocyanin content. The results showed that the specific color index varied with the organ type in purple corn, i.e., ACCR for the grains, BRT for the cobs, ACCB for the husks, R for the stems, ACCB for the sheaths and BRT for the laminae, respectively. Linear models of the relationship between the color indices and anthocyanin content for different organs were established with R2 falling in the range of 0.64–0.94. The predictive accuracy of the linear models, assessed according to the NRMSE, was validated using a sample size of 2:1. The average NRMSE value was 11.68% in the grains, 13.66% in the cobs, 8.90% in the husks, 27.20% in the stems, 7.90% in the sheaths and 15.83% in the laminae, respectively, all less than 30%, indicating that the accuracy and stability of the model was trustworthy and reliable. In conclusion, this study provided a new method for rapid, non-destructive prediction of anthocyanin-rich organs in purple corn.
The Cultivation of Spirulina maxima in a Medium Supplemented with Leachate for the Production of Biocompounds: Phycocyanin, Carbohydrates, and Biochar
Authors: dos Santos Wallyson Ribeiro , da Silva Matheus Lopes , Tagliaferro Geronimo Virginio , Ferreira Ana Lucia Gabas , Guimarães Daniela Helena Pelegrine
Published: May 2024

Cyanobacteria are microorganisms that grow rapidly in an aquatic medium, showing the capacity of accumulations of biocompounds subsequently converted into value-added biocompounds. The cyanobacterium Spirulina maxima can produce pigments besides accumulating significant amounts of carbohydrates and proteins. An alternative to reducing biomass production costs at an industrial scale is the use of landfill leachate in the growing medium, as well as the mitigation of this pollutant. The objective of this work was to cultivate Spirulina maxima in a medium supplemented with leachate, using the design of experiments to evaluate the effects of leachate concentration (% v/v), light source, and light intensity in an airlift photobioreactor, analyzing them as a response to the productivity of biomass, phycocyanin, carbohydrates, and biochar. The highest values of productivity (mg L−1d−1) were 97.44 ± 3.20, 12.82 ± 0.38, 6.19 ± 1.54, and 34.79 ± 3.62 for biomass, carbohydrates, phycocyanin, and biochar, respectively, adjusted for experiment 2 with the factors of leachate concentration (5.0% v/v), light source (tubular LED), and luminosity (54 µmol m−2 s−1), respectively. The use of leachate as a substitute for macronutrients in Zarrouk’s medium for the cultivation of Spirulina maxima is a viable alternative in the production of biocompounds as long as it is used at an appropriate level.
Performance of Aubergine Rootstocks against Verticillium dahliae Isolates in Southeastern Spain
Authors: Lacasa Carmen María , Cantó-Tejero Manuel , Martínez Victoriano , Lacasa Alfredo , Guirao Pedro
Published: May 2024

Aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) (Solanaceae) is a widespread crop in the Mediterranean basin. Verticillium dahliae is one of the main soil-borne pathogens affecting the aubergine crop. Its control has traditionally been achieved by soil fumigation with chemical disinfectants. Restrictions on the use of chemical fumigants have led to the search for solutions in genetic resistance using rootstocks. In southeastern Spain, aubergines are grafted for the control of V. dahliae. Two Solanum torvum rootstocks (Hugo F1 and Torpedo) and a Solanum melongena hybrid (Javah F1) were tested against five isolates of V. dahliae obtained from grafted (A1 and A2) and ungrafted (Vd8, Vd17 and Vd66) aubergines compared with the susceptible cultivar Larne F1 under controlled conditions. Isolates from grafted plants infected all three rootstocks, with differences observed in the percentage of plants with symptoms and in the disease symptom severity. Three strains isolated from the ungrafted aubergines (Vd8, Vd17 and Vd66) infected Javah F1 rootstock. The Hugo F1 and Torpedo rootstocks showed a high level of resistance to V. dahliae, while Javah F1 was susceptible to the pathogen. The Hugo F1 and Torpedo rootstocks are suitable for mitigating the effects of Verticillium wilt in Mediterranean aubergine crops. Understanding the nature of the resistance from S. torvum could enhance the benefits of grafting or facilitate the introduction of resistance into commercial cultivars.
Effect of Mineral Fertilization and Seed Inoculation with Microbial Preparation on Seed and Protein Yield of Pea (Pisum sativum L.)
Authors: Yeremko Liudmyla , Hanhur Volodymyr , Staniak Mariola
Published: May 2024

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different NPK rates and N application methods and seed inoculation with a microbial preparation on selected elements of plant growth and the productivity parameters seed yield, protein content in seeds and the yield of protein. The research hypothesis suggested that seed inoculation and a split rate of N application with an optimal supply of plants with PK could improve the nutritional status and increase the efficiency of nutrient use in peas. The studies included two factors: the application of NPK at doses of N0P0K0 (control), N15P15K15 (pre-sowing), N15P30K30 + N15 (pre-sowing + N15 at BBCH 22–23), N30P30K30 (pre-sowing), N30P45K45 + N15 (pre-sowing + N15 at BBCH 22–23) and N45P45K45 (pre-sowing), and seed inoculation with the microbial preparation Rhizogumin. The results of the study showed significant effects of seed inoculation and mineral fertilization on pea plant growth and the productivity parameters seed yield, protein content and protein yield. It was concluded that among the studied combinations, seed inoculation and the application of mineral fertilizers with fractional nitrogen fertilization with N30P45K45 + N15 were the most effective. This combination significantly increased seed yield, protein content and protein yield compared to the control treatment (by 26.2%, 11.1% and 43,5%, respectively).
Water-Use Characteristics of Wheat–Maize Rotation System as Affected by Nitrogen Application Rate in North China Plain
Authors: Qin Jingtao , Fan Xichao , Wang Xiaosen , Jiang Mingliang , Lv Mouchao
Published: May 2024

Reducing the nitrogen (N) application rate and improving water-use efficiency (WUE) are extremely important for sustainable agricultural development in wheat–maize rotation systems in the North China Plain (NCP). We conducted a three-year experiment to investigate the effects of the N application rate on the water-use characteristics of wheat–maize rotation systems in the NCP. The experiment consisted of four N application rates: 250, 167, 84, and 0 kg hm−2, denoted by N3, N2, N1, and N0, respectively. The results showed the following: For the 0–60 cm soil layer, N deficiency could lead to reduced soil water use (SWU) in wheat seasons, but in maize seasons, N deficiency showed no significant effects on SWU in the 0–60 cm layer. For the 60–140 cm soil layer, N deficiency could lead to reduced SWU in wheat seasons, but in maize seasons, the effects of N deficiency on SWU in the 60–140 cm layer varied with the SWC in the 0–60 cm layer. Throughout the three-year experiment, the evapotranspiration (ET), leaf area index (LAI), yield, and WUE of plants receiving low N treatments decreased with the growing season due to the negative effects of low N treatment (N1 and N0) on the soil. The LAI, total ET, grain yield, and WUE were all positively correlated with each other for both wheat and maize. Considering grain yield and WUE, a single-season N application rate of 167 kg hm−2 (N2 treatment) in the NCP could meet the growth needs of the wheat–maize rotation system.
Evaluation of Dry Ice for Short-Term Storage and Transportation of Frozen Boar Semen
Authors: He Mengqian , Sun Lingwei , Xu Jiehuan , Wu Caifeng , Zhang Shushan , Gao Jun , Zhang Defu , Gan Yeqing , Bian Yi , Wei Jinliang , Zhang Weijian , Zhang Wengang , Han Xuejun , Dai Jianjun
Published: May 2024

To address the safety problems posed by the transportation of boar semen using LN, this study was conducted on the short-term storage of frozen boar semen in dry ice (−79 °C). Boar semen frozen in LN was transferred to dry ice, kept for 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, or 8 days, and then moved back to LN. The quality of frozen semen stored in LN or dry ice was determined to evaluate the feasibility of short-distance transportation with dry ice. The results showed that 60 °C for 8 s was the best condition for thawing frozen semen stored in dry ice. No significant differences in spermatozoa motility, plasma membrane integrity, or acrosome integrity were observed in semen after short-term storage in dry ice compared to LN (p > 0.05). There were no significant changes in antioxidant properties between storage groups either (p > 0.05). In conclusion, dry ice could be used as a cold source for the short-term transportation of frozen boar semen for at least 7 days, without affecting sperm motility, morphological integrity, or antioxidant indices.
Determining the Economically Optimum Metaphylactic Strategy for Cattle Cohorts of Varied Demographic Characteristics
Authors: Kopp Dannell J. , Larson Robert L. , Lancaster Phillip A. , White Bradley J. , Smith Kristen J. , Pendell Dustin L.
Published: May 2024

Metaphylactic antibiotic use in feeder cattle is a common practice to control respiratory disease. Antimicrobial stewardship is important to ensure continued efficacy and to protect animal welfare. The objective of this study is to identify characteristics of cohorts of cattle that had not received metaphylaxis that would have benefited economically from the use of metaphylaxis. Cohorts (n = 12,785; 2,206,338 head) from 13 feedlots that did not receive metaphylaxis were modeled using an economic model to estimate net returns for three metaphylactic options. Logistic regression models with covariates for entry weight, sex, average daily weight gain, number of animals per cohort, and days on feed, with feedlot as a random effect, were used to determine the model-adjusted probability of cohorts benefiting economically from metaphylaxis. Most (72%) cohorts in this data set that had not received metaphylaxis at arrival would not economically benefit from metaphylaxis. Sex, entry weight category, number of cattle in the cohort, and average daily weight gain were associated with the likelihood of benefitting economically from metaphylaxis. The results illustrated that cattle cohort demographics influenced the probability that cohorts would benefit economically from metaphylaxis and the type of metaphylaxis utilized, and integrating this information has the potential to influence the metaphylaxis decision.
Human–Deer Relations during Late Prehistory: The Zooarchaeological Data from Central and Southern Portugal in Perspective
Authors: Almeida Nelson J. , Guinot Catarina , Ribeiro Inês , Barreira João , Basílio Ana Catarina
Published: May 2024

Human–animal relations have been a fruitful research topic worldwide. The importance of deer in hunter–gatherer societies is undeniable, with cervids being commonly found in archaeological and past artistic records, with a notable amount of information recovered in the Iberian Peninsula. This relevance continues during Late Prehistory, but the attempt to discuss cervids under broader perspectives and based on different types of data is not as common. We intend to approach human–deer relations in Central and Southern Portuguese Late Prehistory by considering the zooarchaeological records, both deer abundance in faunal spectra and their presence in “meaningful” assemblages and structured depositions, as well as the use of deer and deer body parts in other socio–cultural and ideological practices. The synthesis of available data shows that human–deer relations changed through time and space, with different abundances related to hunting depending on chronology and geography. The use of deer or their body parts as a resource of symbolic nature also varied, being included in food-sharing events, offerings, structured depositions, and graphic representations. Changeability is part of the different relationships, ontologies, and cosmogonies that humans and deer developed in the Late Prehistoric relational world.
2-(4-Methylthiazol-5-yl) Ethyl Nitrate Hydrochloride Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment via Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) Signaling Pathway in Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion-Associated Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Li Jiang , Xu Shaofeng , Wang Ling , Wang Xiaoliang
Published: May 2024

Hypertension reduces the bioavailability of vascular nitric oxide (NO) and contributes to the onset of vascular dementia (VaD). A loss of NO bioavailability increases inflammation and oxidative stress. 2-(4-Methylthiazol-5-yl) ethyl nitrate hydrochloride (W1302) is a novel nitric oxide donor (NOD) which is undergoing phase I clinical trials in China for the treatment of VaD. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of W1302 in VaD rats induced by the permanent occlusion of a bilateral common carotid arteries model related to spontaneous hypertension (SHR-2VO), and we further explored the underlying mechanisms. Nimodipine was used as a positive control. Our results showed that W1302 treatment for 4 weeks (10 mg/Kg/day) exhibited stronger improvement in the spatial learning and memory deficits in SHR-2VO rats compared with nimodipine with slightly lower systolic blood pressure (SBP). Meanwhile, W1302 treatment significantly increased NO and cGMP production, restored mitochondrial membrane potential and attenuated oxidative stress as evidenced by increasing ATP production and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the brain. Furthermore, W1302 treatment markedly inhibited the iNOS activity and decreased TNF-α expression via inhibiting the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Nimodipine treatment also restored these aberrant changes, but its ATP production was weaker than that of W1302, and there was no significant effect on NO release. Taken together, W1302 exhibited beneficial effects on complications in VaD with hypertension, which is involved in suppressing oxidative damage, and the inflammatory reaction might be mediated by an increase in NO release. Therefore, W1302 has therapeutic potential for the treatment of VaD caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-associated spontaneous hypertension.
Deep Feature Retention Module Network for Texture Classification
Authors: Park Sung-Hwan , Ahn Sung-Yoon , Lee Sang-Woong
Published: May 2024

Texture describes the unique features of an image. Therefore, texture classification is a crucial task in computer vision. Various CNN-based deep learning methods have been developed to classify textures. During training, the deep-learning model undergoes an end-to-end procedure of learning features from low to high levels. Most CNN architectures depend on high-level features for the final classification. Hence, other low- and mid-level information was not prioritized for the final classification. However, in the case of texture classification, it is essential to determine detailed feature information within the pattern to classify textures as they have diversity and irregularity in images within the same class. Therefore, the feature information at the low- and mid-levels can also provide meaningful information to distinguish the classes. In this study, we introduce a CNN model with a feature retention module (FRM) to utilize features from numerous levels. FRM maintains the texture information extracted at each level and extracts feature information through filters of various sizes. We used three texture datasets to evaluate the proposed model combined with the FRM. The experimental results showed that learning using different levels of features together assists in improving learning performance more than learning using high-level features.
The Synthesis of Ag/TiO2 via the DC Magnetron Sputtering Method and Its Application in the Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange in Na2SO4 Solution
Authors: Sun Li , Que Zhuoqun , Ruan Ting , Yuan Zhigang , Gong Wenbang , Mei Shunqi , Chen Zhen , Liu Ying
Published: May 2024

TiO2 and TiO2 films modified with Ag (Ag/TiO2) were prepared via the DC magnetron sputtering method and the degree of modification was controlled via the sputtering power and time of Ag. The microstructures and properties of these films were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that the prepared films have an anatase structure. Compared with pure TiO2, Ag deposition can improve the utilization of light. The three-dimensional images of Ag/TiO2 clearly show that with the increase in Ag sputtering power and sputtering time, Ag particles on the surface of the film gradually increase, and the structure of the film is relatively dense. The photocatalytic effect of Ag/TiO2 films is the best when the Ag sputtering power is 5 W and the sputtering time is 50 s. Under high-pressure mercury lamp irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation rate of methyl orange (MO) in pure MO solution with Ag/TiO2-5 W-50 s can reach 100% within 55 min, whereas that in MO-Na2SO4 mixed solution can reach 99.55% within 65 min. The results suggest that the presence of Na2SO4 in MO solution can inhibit the degradation of MO using Ag/TiO2, the result of XPS suggests that Na2SO4 accelerates the oxidation of Ag, which may lead to an increase in the recombination rate of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and a decrease in the degradation rate. During the process of recycling photocatalysts, the degradation rate of MO was apparently reduced. A possible reason is that the Ag particles have been oxidized and products of photocatalytic degradation are on the surface of the photocatalyst. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism was studied.
Water-Filling Characteristics and Water Source of Weakly Rich Water and Weakly Conducting Water Aquifers in the Changxing Formation after Mining Damage
Authors: Shi Xianzhi , Xu Guosheng , Zhu Shuyun
Published: May 2024

The escalation of mining activities in the karst regions of Guizhou Province has heightened the occurrence of water-inrush incidents in deep coal mines. This study focused on water-inrush phenomena within the Xinhua mining area of Jinsha County, Guizhou Province, aiming to investigate the sources of these incidents. The findings indicated that the overlying limestone of the Changxing Formation in the coal seam served as a vulnerable aquifer under certain conditions, leading to water inrushes. The analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of water-inrush incidents at the working face indicated that previous mining operations damaged the shallow Changxing Formation limestone, resulting in the accumulation of goaf water and the formation of numerous mining-induced fractures. These fractures served as rapid conduits for water inrushes from both atmospheric precipitation and underground sources at the deep working face. The examination of surface water and mine water quality demonstrated that both exhibited similar characteristics, predominantly featuring bicarbonate, sulfate, and sodium compositions. Investigation into the relationship between mine water inflow and atmospheric precipitation established that atmospheric precipitation influenced the mine water supply cycle, with a replenishment period of ~10 months during the operational phase of the Jinyuan Coal Mine and about one month post-closure. The fractures induced by mining activities within the Changxing Formation limestone facilitated water flow, with atmospheric precipitation serving as the primary water source for the mine. This study offered a valuable scientific foundation for addressing water-related damage resulting from atmospheric precipitation in mines susceptible to water inrushes under analogous hydrogeological conditions.
A Study on the Effect of New Surfactant Proportions on the Recovery Improvement of Carbonate Reservoir
Authors: Li Pengfei , Hu Mingyi
Published: May 2024

The strategy of integrating water injection and chemical additives in combining secondary and tertiary oil recovery techniques has been widely investigated in enhancing oil recovery efficiency. Nevertheless, there is a lack of sufficient evidence on the effectiveness of a mixture of cationic and nonionic surfactants combined with water injection techniques in enhancing recovery in the application of carbonate reservoirs. Therefore, it is particularly critical to explore the impact of this combination strategy in enhancing recovery in fractured carbonate reservoirs. The recovery enhancement effect can be assessed by conducting phase behavior experiments and determining interfacial tension and contact angle. Further, the effectiveness of specific surfactant ration solutions in enhancing recovery can be verified by performing drive-off experiments. The results show that low mineralization water and surfactants have a significant synergistic effect in enhancing the recovery efficiency of carbonate reservoirs, with the optimal ratio of cationic to non-ionic surfactants being 2.5:1. The optimized surfactant ratio is able to increase the recovery of carbonate reservoirs by 20% compared to the original recovery rate.
Research on Multi-Objective Flexible Job Shop Scheduling Problem with Setup and Handling Based on an Improved Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm
Authors: Kong Jili , Yang Yi
Published: May 2024

Flexible job shop scheduling problem (FJSP), widely prevalent in many intelligent manufacturing industries, is one of the most classic problems of production scheduling and combinatorial optimization. In actual manufacturing enterprises, the setup of machines and the handling of jobs have an important impact on the scheduling plan. Furthermore, there is a trend for a cluster of machines with similar functionalities to form a work center. Considering the above constraints, a new order-driven multi-equipment work center FJSP model with setup and handling including multiple objectives encompassing the minimization of the makespan, the number of machine shutdowns, and the number of handling batches is established. An improved shuffled frog leading algorithm is designed to solve it through the optimization of the initial solution population, the improvement of evolutionary operations, and the incorporation of Pareto sorting. The algorithm also combines the speed calculation method in the gravity search algorithm to enhance the stability of the solution search. Some standard FJSP data benchmarks have been selected to evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm, and the experimental results confirm the satisfactory performance of the proposed algorithm. Finally, a problem example is designed to demonstrate the algorithm’s capability to generate an excellent scheduling plan.
Transmission Line Fault Classification Using Conformer Convolution-Augmented Transformer Model
Authors: Lee Meng-Yun , Huang Yu-Shan , Chang Chia-Jui , Yang Jia-Yu , Liu Chih-Wen , Lin Tzu-Chiao , Lin Yen-Bor
Published: May 2024

Ensuring a consistently reliable power supply is paramount in power systems. Researchers are engaged in the pursuit of categorizing transmission line failures to design countermeasures for mitigating the associated financial losses. Our study employs a machine learning-based methodology, specifically the Conformer Convolution-Augmented Transformer model, to classify transmission line fault types. This model processes time series input data directly, eliminating the need for expert feature extraction. The training and validation datasets are generated through simulations conducted on a two-terminal transmission line, while testing is conducted on historical data consisting of 108 events that occurred in the Taiwan power system. Due to the limited availability of historical data, they are utilized solely for inference purposes. Our simulations are meticulously designed to encompass potential faults based on an analysis of historical data. A significant aspect of our investigation focuses on the impact of the sampling rate on input data, establishing that a rate of four samples per cycle is sufficient. This suggests that, for our specific classification tasks, relying on lower frequency data might be adequate, thereby challenging the conventional emphasis on high-frequency analysis. Eventually, our methodology achieves a validation accuracy of 100%, although the testing accuracy is lower at 88.88%. The discrepancy in testing accuracy can be attributed to the limited information and the small number of historical events, which pose challenges in bridging the gap between simulated data and real-world measurements. Furthermore, we benchmarked our method against the ELM model proposed in 2023, demonstrating significant improvements in testing accuracy.