Biomimetic and flexible piezoelectric mobile acoustic sensors with multiresonant ultrathin structures for machine learning biometrics.

Flexible resonant acoustic sensors have attracted substantial attention as an essential component for intuitive human-machine interaction (HMI) in the future voice user interface (VUI). Several researches have been reported by mimicking the basilar membrane but still have dimensional drawback due to limitation of controlling a multifrequency band and broadening resonant spectrum for full-cover phonetic frequencies. Here, highly sensitive piezoelectric mobile acoustic sensor (PMAS) is demonstrated by exploiting an ultrathin membrane for biomimetic frequency band control. Simulation results prove that resonant bandwidth of a piezoelectric film can be broadened by adopting a lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) membrane on the ultrathin polymer to cover the entire voice spectrum. Machine learning-based biometric authentication is demonstrated by the integrated acoustic sensor module with an algorithm processor and customized Android app. Last, exceptional error rate reduction in speaker identification is achieved by a PMAS module with a small amount of training data, compared to a conventional microelectromechanical system microphone.

Effects of Foot-and-mouth Disease Vaccination Location and Injection Device on the Incidence of Site Lesions in Pork.

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of the type O foot-and-mouse disease vaccine (FMDV) on the incidence of abnormal meat such as granuloma or abscess formation at the injection site in pork and its associated economic losses. At 56 d of age, piglets were inoculated with FMDV by one of three administration routes: N-Neck (a conventional needle-syringe injection into the neck), N-Ham (a conventional needle-syringe injection into the ham), and Non-Neck (injection with a needle-free device into the neck). The injection sites were visually examined for the presence of a granuloma or abscess, and the incidence rate of abnormal meat was calculated. The gross weight of the portion of the pork carcasses condemned because of granuloma or abscess formation was measured and multiplied by the weekly sales price to calculate the total economic losses. After implementation of FMDV, the economic losses were approximately six times higher than before implementation. Granuloma or abscess formation was significantly higher in the N-Neck and Non-Neck groups, in which the vaccine was inoculated into the neck area, than in the N-Ham group (N-Neck and N-Ham vs Non-Neck, p<0.05). These results suggest that the incidence of lesions could be reduced if the ham route was used for vaccination.

Association between endotoxin levels in dust from indoor swine housing environments and the immune responses of pigs.

Indoor animal husbandry environments are inevitably contaminated with endotoxins. Endotoxin exposure is associated with various inflammatory illnesses in animals. This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between the degree of endotoxin exposure and the cellular and humoral immune profiles of fattening pigs. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of 47 pigs from ten pig farms in Korea. Whole blood cell counts and plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) classes were determined. Peripheral-blood mononuclear cells were stimulated in vitro with concanavalin A for 48 h, and cytokines released into culture supernatants were measured. The barns in which the pigs lived were assessed for endotoxin levels in the total and respirable dust by using the limulus amebocyte lysate kinetic QCL method. Low and high endotoxin exposures were defined as ≤ 30 and ＞ 30 EU/m³, respectively. Compared to pigs with low endotoxin exposure (n = 19), highly exposed pigs (n = 28) had higher circulating neutrophil and lymphocyte (particularly B cells) counts, IgG and IgE levels, interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin (IL)-4 productions, and lower IgA levels and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) production. The IL-4, IFNγ, and TNFα levels significantly correlated with endotoxin level and/or pig age. Constant exposure of pigs to high levels of airborne endotoxins can lead to aberrant immune profiles.