bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Human Responses to Dairy Odor Using an Electronic Nose and Neural Networks
Authors: Chang Fangle , Heinemann Paul 
Published: April 2018

Abstract. Odor emitted from dairy operations may cause negative reactions by farm neighbors. Identification and evaluation of such malodors is vital for better understanding of human response and methods for mitigating effects of odors. The human nose is a valuable tool for odor assessment, but using human panels can be costly and time-consuming, and human evaluation of odor is subjective. Sensing devices, such as an electronic nose, have been widely used to measure volatile emissions from different materials. The challenge, though, is connecting human assessment of odors with the quantitative measurements from instruments. In this work, a prediction system was designed and developed to use instruments to predict human assessment of odors from common dairy operations. The model targets are the human responses to odor samples evaluated using a general pleasantness scale ranging from -11 (extremely unpleasant) to +11 (extremely pleasant). The model inputs were the electronic nose measurements. Three different neural networks, a Levenberg-Marquardt back-propagation neural network (LMBNN), a scaled conjugate gradient back-propagation neural network (CGBNN), and a resilient back-propagation neural network (RPBNN), were applied to connect these two sources of information (human assessments and instrument measurements). The results showed that the LMBNN model can predict human assessments with accuracy as high as 78% within a 10% range and as high as 63% within a 5% range of the targets in independent validation. In addition, the LMBNN model performed with the best stability in both training and independent validation. Keywords: Animal production, Hedonic tone, Olfactometric models.
Terahertz Imaging Applications in Agriculture and Food Engineering: A Review
Authors: Wang Chen , Qin Jianyuan , Xu Wendao , Chen Min , Xie Lijuan , Ying Yibin 
Published: April 2018

Abstract. Terahertz technology, including terahertz spectroscopy and terahertz imaging, is gaining increasing attention and plays an important role in various fields. With the development of terahertz sources and detectors in recent decades, terahertz imaging has been applied in many fields, including security screening, material evaluation, biomedicine, agriculture, and food science. However, progress has been comparatively slow in applying terahertz imaging to agriculture and food engineering. In this article, some commonly used terahertz imaging systems are summarized, and various applications of terahertz imaging in agriculture and food engineering are reviewed, including food safety and quality inspection, seed inspection, water content evaluation of plant leaves, and others. Challenges and the future outlook of terahertz imaging are also discussed. Keywords: Agriculture, Food, Instrumentation, Seed, Terahertz imaging.
An Image-Assisted Rod-Platform Weighing System for Weight Information Sampling of Broilers
Authors: Wang Kailao , Pan Jinming , Rao Xiuqin , Yang Yefeng , Wang Fujie , Zheng Rongjin , Ying Yibin 
Published: April 2018

Abstract. The average weight and flock uniformity of broilers in group housing is important information that allows producers to know the flock growth conditions and determine the selling time. However, gathering weight information of chickens is not only labor-intensive for humans but also frightening for the birds. In this study, an image-assisted rod-platform weighing system was developed to automatically monitor the average weight and flock uniformity of broilers in chicken houses. This weighing system consists of a computer and several weighing scales. Each weighing scale contains a rod-platform weighing module and a surveillance camera module. The principle of the automated weighing system is to estimate population weight information using samples. The design of the rod-platform weighing module was based on the perching habit of birds to attract more broilers to stand on the rod platform and thus get more weight samples. The surveillance camera module is used to detect the number of broilers on the rod using image processing technology. A data processing method called PORWI, which includes elimination of redundant records and trim of non-redundant records, was designed to optimize the results of chicken number identification from images to improve the accuracy of the results. An experiment was done in two small groups of broilers with approximately 100 chickens and 8.58 m2 of area for each group. A weekly weighing was conducted, and three kinds of weight information were obtained, which included manual population weight information (MPWI), manual sample-based weight information (MSWI), and automated sampling weight information (ASWI). Each weight information set comprised the group average weight and flock uniformity, which were then used to evaluate accuracy. The perching rate of chickens using the rod platform reached an average of 60 times h-1, and the rate was retained with increasing age. Compared with the MPWI obtained by individual weighing, the manual sample-based measurement method provided results with errors of 0% to +5%, while our automated weighing system achieved accuracies within ±2% for average weight and ±1.5% for flock uniformity. Keywords: Automatic weighing, Average weight, Broiler, Chicken detection, Uniformity.
A Laboratory-Scale Tempering and Milling Method for Grain Sorghum
Authors: Zhao Yumeng , Ambrose R. P. Kingsly 
Published: April 2018

Abstract. The current commercial milling process for pigmented sorghum leads to inconsistent milling quality and performance. Proper pretreatment of sorghum may improve the milling performance. The effects of cold water, hot water, and steam tempering of sorghum on the milling performance and flour quality were investigated in this study. A tabletop roller mill system that had five break rolls and two smooth rolls was used. The millstream output at different stages of roller milling was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the conditioning treatments. Steamed sorghum had high bran yield due to toughening of the bran, which allowed gradual scraping of the endosperm from the bran. Flour yield was not significantly different among the pretreatments. Flour crude fiber content of the 1 min steam treated sorghum was 1.28% ±0.09%, which was significantly higher than that of cold water treated sorghum (0.87% ±0.19%). The damaged starch content in the milled flour was highest in the cold water treated (5.96% ±0.24%) sorghum, and steam treatment resulted in lower damaged starch content (3.63% to 4.18%). Steam treatment resulted in flour with more convex and circular particles compared to the other treatments, indicating better separation of starch granules from the endosperm. Steam treatment of sorghum kernels at high temperature and pressure led to better separation of bran and endosperm without negatively impacting flour quality. Steam tempering could be a better pretreatment process for milling sorghum for food purposes. Keywords: Flour properties, Milling, Sorghum, Tempering.
Vis- and NIR-Based Instruments for Detection of Black-Tip Damaged Wheat Kernels: A Comparative Study
Authors: Wu Tingting , Armstrong Paul   R. , Maghirang Elizabeth   B. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract. Black-tip (BT) is a non-mycotoxic fungus that attacks wheat kernels, forming a dark brown or black sooty area at the tip of the kernel. Visual inspection, which is the approved reference method for determining the amount of BT in wheat, requires substantial time and has high potential for subjective evaluation. Three spectrometers covering the spectral ranges 950-1636 nm (Spec1), 600-1045 nm (Spec2), and 380-780 nm (Spec3) were evaluated for their ability to predict the presence of BT. Kernels were quantified into four levels: (A) sound, (B) low black-tip symptoms (BTS), (C) high BTS, and (D) BT damaged (BTD). Discriminant classification models were developed to evaluate combinations of levels. The combinations were (1) levels A, B, C, and D separately; (2) A, B+C, and D; and (3) A+B and C+D. Spectral data for 2,760 kernels obtained from 23 hard red winter (HRW) wheat samples, each comprising 30 kernels that were visually selected for each of the four levels of black-tip severity (A, B, C, and D), were collected with each spectrometer. Discriminant calibration models for each spectrometer and classification category were developed based on (1) three combinations of 17 HRW wheat samples, with the six remaining samples used for independent validation, and (2) combinations of 20 randomly selected kernels from each of the 23 HRW wheat samples as calibration samples, with the remaining ten kernels used as validation samples. Discriminant analysis was based on five wavelengths for each model. Spectra pretreatment was the standard normal variate (SNV). Results showed that all three spectrometers were capable of detecting BT damage on wheat kernels. BT classification accuracy was observed to have been affected by wheat varieties for Spec1 and Spec2 (both with NIR wavelengths) but not for Spec3, which was entirely in the visible region. The two-category classification (A+B, C+D) provided higher accuracy than the three-category (A, B+C, D) and four-category (A, B, C, D) classifications. Based on the percent correct classification and Youden’s index, Spec2 performed better in detecting sound and BTD wheat kernels, with classification accuracies of the best two-category classification calibration model ranging from 85.6% to 87.5%, compared to Spec1 at 74.8% to 78.4% and Spec3 at 76.7% to 79.2%. This study also showed the potential of using a five-wavelength model, which equates to the potential for developing simple, less expensive, high-speed photoelectric detection instruments. These instruments can serve as important tools in plant breeding, grading, or grain processing facilities to enable BT detection and, with proper selection of wavelengths, may also find applications in simultaneous single-kernel detection, measurement, and segregation of other chemical characteristics, such as protein and starch content. Keywords: Black-tip damage, NIR, VIS, Spectroscopy, Wheat. Keywords: Black-tip damage, NIR, VIS, Spectroscopy, Wheat.
Effect of Soil on Fast Pyrolysis Products from Pine (Pinus taeda) Biomass
Authors: Pradhan Ujjain , Adhikari Sushil , Fasina Oladiran , Nam Hyungseok 
Published: April 2018

Abstract. Detrital soil contamination during wood harvesting cannot be avoided without a further cleaning step. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of Piedmont soil on pinewood pyrolysis products. Ash content was varied at 0.56%, 1.16%, 2.77%, 4.40%, 6.87%, 8.35%, and 15.52% by adding soil to woodchips to mimic the highly soil-contaminated biomass that can be found in biorefineries. This study found that bio-oil yield decreased from 47.1% to 26.3% with an increase in ash content from 0.56% to 15.52%. However, the oxygen content of the bio-oil decreased and the carbon content increased, which led to an increase in heating value from 22.5 to 24.9 MJ kg-1. Inorganics in the soil aided in the catalytic cracking and dehydration reactions for bio-oil formation. A slight increase in the total acid number (106 to 117 mg KOH g-1) and water content (20.72% to 24.99%) was observed with more soil inclusion in the pyrolysis. The effect of soil on biochar O/C and H/C ratios was minimal even though the heating value decreased with an increase in soil content. This study showed that soil (4%wt to 7%wt) in the biomass assisted in deoxygenating the bio-oil and lowered the total mass yield while keeping the total energy yield almost constant. Keywords: Fast pyrolysis, Pinewood, Pinus taeda, Soil, Thermochemical conversion.
Stored Grain Pack Factor Measurements for Soybeans, Grain Sorghum, Oats, Barley, and Wheat
Authors: Bhadra Rumela , Casada Mark   E. , Turner Aaron   P. , Montross Michael   D. , Thompson Sidney   A. , McNeill Samuel .  G , Maghirang Ronaldo   G. , Boac Josephine   M. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract. Grain and oilseed crops stored in bins undergo compaction due to overbearing pressure of the grain inside the structure. Thus, volume measurements of grain in bins need to be combined with the amount of packing (usually called pack factor) in addition to the initial density so that the mass in the structure can be calculated. Multiple pack factor prediction methods are in use in the grain industry, but they have only been validated in the literature and compared with field data for corn and hard red winter wheat. Predictions from WPACKING, the program in ASABE Standard EP413.2, and two standard USDA methods, the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) and USDA Farm Service Agency-Warehouse Licensing and Examination Division (FSA-W) methods, were compared to field measurements of 92 bins containing soybeans, grain sorghum, oats, barley, or soft white or durum wheat. The WPACKING predictions had the lowest absolute average error of predicted mass for soybeans, grain sorghum, barley, and wheat, while the FSA-W method had the lowest error for oats. The RMA method gave the largest prediction errors for all five crops and struggled especially with the low-density, high-compaction crops oats and barley, giving average percent absolute errors near or above 10% in both cases. Overall, WPACKING, the RMA method, and the FSA-W method had average percent absolute errors of 2.09%, 5.65%, and 3.62%, respectively, for the 92 bins. These results can be used to improve pack factor predictions for the grain industry. Keywords: Barley, Grain, Grain sorghum, Oats, Pack factor, Sorghum, Soybeans, Steel and concrete bins, Stored grain inventory, Test weight, Wheat.
Semi-Supervised Learning-Based Live Fish Identification in Aquaculture Using Modified Deep Convolutional Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Zhao Jian , Li Yihao , Zhang Fengdeng , Zhu Songming , Liu Ying , Lu Huanda , Ye Zhangying 
Published: April 2018

Abstract. Aiming at live fish identification in aquaculture, a practical and efficient semi-supervised learning model, based on modified deep convolutional generative adversarial networks (DCGANs), was proposed in this study. Benefiting from the modified DCGANs structure, the presented model can be trained effectively using relatively few labeled training samples. In consideration of the complex poses of fish and the low resolution of sampling images in aquaculture, spatial pyramid pooling and some improved techniques specifically for the presented model were used to make the model more robust. Finally, in tests with two preprocessed and challenging datasets (with 5%, 10%, and 15% labeled training data in the fish recognition ground-truth dataset and 25%, 50%, and 75% labeled training data in the Croatian fish dataset), the feasibility and reliability of the presented model for live fish identification were proved with respective accuracies of 80.52%, 81.66%, and 83.07% for the ground-truth dataset and 65.13%, 78.72%, and 82.95% for the Croatian fish dataset. Keywords: Aquaculture, Deep convolutional generative adversarial networks, Few labeled training samples, Live fish identification, Semi-supervised learning, Spatial pyramid pooling.
Ethanolic Extract of Hedyotis corymbosa L. Inhibits Migration and MMP-9 Activity on Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Novitasari Dhania , Handayani Sri , Jenie Riris Istighfari 
Published: April 2018

Many natural products have been widely explored for their pharmacological activities, including anticancer activity. Hedyotis corymbosa L. is known for its anticancer properties toward several cancer cell lines. The study aims to investigate whether ethanolic extract of Hedyotis corymbosa L. (EEH) performs anticancer properties by inhibiting migration and metastasis on breast cancer cells. Cytotoxic evaluation by using MTT assay was carried out to determine EEH effect on 4T1 breast cancer cells, meanwhile to investigate the treatment of EEH in migration and metastasis inhibitory effect, scratch wound healing assay and gelatin zymography were conducted in this study. The data showed that EEH possessed cytotoxic activity with IC50 value of 400 μg/mL. Interestingly, migration inhibitory effect was shown up to 42 hours and the activity of MMP-9 was also decreased after the treatment with EEH. According to these findings, we suggest that Hedyotis corymbosa L. promotes another anticancer properties by inhibiting migration and metastasis towards breast cancer cells.Keywords : Hedyotis corymbosa L., cytotoxicity, migration, metastatic, 4T1 breast cancer cells
Mechanism of oxymatrine-induced human esophageal cancer cell apoptosis by the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway
Authors: Wang Baiyan , Zhou Huiru , Zhu Yanqin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractEndoplasmic reticulum stress is one of the mechanisms of cell apoptosis. In this study, the mechanism of oxymatrine-induced human esophageal cancer Eca-109 cell apoptosis by the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway was investigated. Eca-109 cells were cultured in vitro with different doses of oxymatrine (0.5, 1, 2 μg/mL) for 48 h. The cell viability and proliferation inhibition rate were examined by MTT assay and cell cycle assay. The apoptosis rate was examined by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide assay. The expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers, including binding immunoglobulin protein and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein, were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. MTT data showed that oxymatrine significantly inhibited the proliferation of Eca-109 cells. The cell apoptosis rate was quantified by flow cytometry. The expression of binding immunoglobulin protein was markedly downregulated in oxymatrine-treated Eca-109 cells while that of CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein was upregulated. Oxymatrine inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cells. Thus, oxymatrine may be a potential agent for treating human esophageal cancer.
A new combination of substrates: biogas production and diversity of the methanogenic microorganisms
Authors: Kushkevych Ivan , Vítězová Monika , Vítěz Tomáš , Kováč Jozef , Kaucká Petra , Jesionek Wojciech , Bartoš Milan , Barton Larry 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAgriculture, food industry, and manufacturing are just some of the areas where anaerobic technology can be used. Currently, anaerobic technologies are mainly used for wastewater treatment, solid waste treatment, or for the production of electrical and thermal energy from energy crops processing. However, a clear trend is towards more intensive use of this technology in biomass and biodegradable waste processing and hydrogen or biomethane production. An enormous number of anaerobic digesters are operating worldwide but there is very little information about the effect of different substrate combinations on the methanogens community. This is due to the fact that each of the anaerobic digesters has its own unique microbial community. For the most effective management of anaerobic processes it would be important to know the composition of a consortium of anaerobic microorganisms present in anaerobic digesters processing different input combinations of raw material. This paper characterizes the effect of the input raw materials on the diversity of the methanogen community. Two predominant microorganisms in anaerobic digesters were found to be 99% identity by the sequences of the 16S rRNA gene to theMethanoculleusandThermogymnomonasgenera deposited in GenBank.
Bioassay-guided isolation and identification of Aedes aegypti larvicidal and biting deterrent compounds from Veratrum lobelianum
Authors: Tabanca Nurhayat , Ali Zulfiqar , Bernier Ulrich R. , Epsky Nancy , Nalbantsoy Ayse , Khan Ikhlas A. , Ali Abbas 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
An ethanol extract from Veratrum lobelianum Bernh. rhizomes showed larvicidal activity with LC50 values of 11.79 ppm and 89.9 ppm against 1st and 4th instar larvae, respectively, at 24 h post-treatment. The extract also showed proportion not biting (PNB) value of 0.76 at 100 μg/cm2 against females of Ae. aegypti. Systematic bioassay-guided fractionation of V. lobelianum extract resulted in the isolation of five compounds that were identified as ethyl palmitate (1), ethyl linoleate (2), β-sitosterol (3), resveratrol (4) and oxyresveratrol (5) by GC-MS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR techniques, comparison with literature data, and confirmation with authentic compounds. Compound 2 exhibited larvicidal activity with an LC50 value of 24.1 (22.0-26.2) ppm whereas 1 was inactive. β-Sitosterol (3) displayed the highest larvicidal activity with LC50= 1.7 (1.3-12.3) ppm and LC90= 5.1 (3.4-13.8) ppm. Compounds 4 and 5 had larvicidal activity with LC50 values of 18.5 (15.3-23.3) and 22.6 (19.0-26.8) ppm, respectively, and had an equivalent PNB values of 0.75 at 25 nmol/cm2. In addition, 4 and 5 were explored for their human-based repellency against Ae. aegypti, attractiveness against male medflies Ceratitis capitata, and also evaluated against series of human carcinoma cells (A549, HEK293, HeLa, SH-SY5Y); however, no significant activity was found.
From Risk to Terror: Islamist Conspiracies and the Paradoxes of Post-9/11 Government
Authors: El-Shall Maryam 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Discourses of Islamist terrorism deployed as part of the War on Terror have fed into a host of conspiracy theories imagining Islam as a system of total government. But even before 9/11, mainstream political discourses reflected similar suspicions. Beginning in the 1980s, concerns about the political establishment were expressed from within government itself in the idea of a government that governs “too much.” In this article, I suggest that the proliferation of Islamist conspiracies after 9/11 reflects this mode of government. To develop this argument, I begin by linking discourses about terrorism produced as part of the War on Terror to conspiracy theories linking terror and Islam to notions of total power in the state. I then suggest that Islamist conspiracies draw on the epistemologies of uncertainty produced by the state in order to transform what is unknown or “risky” into un/certain objects of knowledge and truth. This transformation takes place through their location in the space of the sacred-in the soul of Islam. I illustrate these parallels through a comparative analysis of official policies and discourses of terrorism and conspiracy culture, with a focus on the Center for Security Policy website and Glenn Beck’s It Is About Islam: Exposing the Truth About ISIS, Al Qaeda, Iran and the Caliphate, where discourse about terror is used to signify the (hidden) truth of Islam.
Comparison of six WPCs made of organo-montmorillonite-modified fibers of four trees, moso bamboo and wheat straw and poly(lactic acid) (PLA)
Authors: Liu Ru , Liu Min , Hu Shenghui , Huang Anmin , Ma Erni 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Fibers of four tree species, moso bamboo and wheat straw were modified in situ with organo-montmorillonite (OMMT). The characterization of the physical and mechanical properties of the resulting composites showed that OMMT can be synthesized in situ within the fibers’ matrix. Some individual OMMT layers were clearly observed, while some agglomeration was seen on the fiber surface. After blending with poly(lactic acid) (PLA), redistributions of OMMT in the PLA matrix occurred and most properties of the composites were improved. The modification effect of Chinese fir was the best while that of moso bamboo and straw wheat was rarely poor because of their different chemical components, anatomical structures and densities. In short, a higher lignin content, large diameter of pits and lower density contributed to the improved properties of the wood plastic composites (WPCs) with the participation of OMMT.