bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF LEARNING CYCLE MODELS ON SCIENCE SUCCESS: A META-ANALYSIS
Authors: Yaman Süleyman , Karaşah Şadiye
Published: February 2021

This meta-analysis has two objectives: (a) to address the main effects of learning cycle models on students’ success in science; and (b) to address potential moderators of the effect of LC models. This meta-analysis was conducted by calculating the effect size of 75 studies, including theses and journal papers associated with the implementation of LC models published in Turkey. The studies were selected according to the following criteria: experimental studies on LC models in science courses at different educational levels. The studies, which were included within this scope, were carried out between the years of 2004-2016. As possible moderators of LC models; effects, type of publication, educational level, period, sample size and the year of construction were investigated. This moderator analysis indicates that there are significant differences among the effect sizes of the research. Nevertheless, the values of the general effect size of the researches provide a positive outlook to increase the students' science success of the LC models. Considering the effects of LC model on the students’ science success, this research could be helpful to both researchers and practitioners in the field of science education. Keywords: meta-analysis, learning cycle models, science success, effect size.
WRITING VERSUS TYPING DURING SCIENCE TEACHING: CASE STUDY IN SLOVENIA
Authors: Kordigel Aberšek Metka , Aberšek Boris , Flogie Andrej
Published: February 2021

In a case study conducted in a biology class in Slovenia, six grade students participated in a biology project Writing Versus Typing in a Biology Class. The final task in this project was to write a chapter for a biology textbook with the title Urtica dioica. The task was performed twice: firstly, the text was written by the hand and secondly it was typed on the computer keyboard. Handwritten and keyboard typed scientific texts, textbook chapters, were compared with the special focus on the lexical, syntactic, and semantic level of the text. The purpose of this research was to find out the effect of replacing handwriting with typing in the process of teaching/learning science subjects, where the understanding of texts is of crucial importance. A closer look at the students’ text products in the typing modality reveals that students, while typing, seem to be cognitively overloaded. One of the consequences of this is a lower level of cognitive achievement in their typed text: students show less knowledge, less terminological accuracy, and, above all, a lesser understanding of the interconnection between the items of information provided. Keywords: biology science class; embodied cognition, handwriting, keyboard writing.
Comparative Analysis of Complications in Different Combinations
of Immunosuppressive Therapy After Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Ashimov Zh. , Gaibyldaev Zh. , Abibillaev D. , Kocyigit F.
Published: February 2021

In the length of time, a wide variety of drug combinations emerged in the management of post-transplantation therapy in order to improve the survival of the recipient and graft. However, the efficacy and safety of the applied combinations regarding the rejection and other complications are continuing to be the subject of research. In our study, our aim is to compare the effects of various combinations, namely cyclosporine with mycophenolate mofetil/mofetil mycophenolic acid with prednisolone and tacrolimus with mycophenolate mofetil/mofetil mycophenolic acid with prednisolone in a length of time. Methods. A total of 204 patients included into the study who received post-renal transplantation treatment in Scientific-Research Institute of Heart Surgery and Organs Transplantation and followed-up over a 10-year period. The estimated survival probabilities in the study were determined by the Kaplan-Meier method; whereas intragroup comparisons were evaluated by Log-rang, Breslow, and Tarone-Ware tests. Complications occurred in patients with combinations were analyzed by Chi-square and its alternatives. Hazard risk factors were tested by Cox regression analysis. Results. Of these 204 patients, 36 received Cyclosporin combination (CCG) and 168 Tacrolimus combination (TCG). The estimated life expectancy of the patients of TCG was significantly longer than the CCG ones. Furthermore, gender and age did not have a significant effect on survival depending on time, however, gender and age-related hazard factor showed a significant difference in the groups. It was determined that chronic rejection was significantly different in patients who used tacrolimus combinations, the difference was close to the significant value in acute rejection analysis. Other adverse events, namely, infection, tumour and organ damage were statistically less common in the patient group treated with tacrolimus combinations. Conclusion. In general, TCG showed better results in contrast to CCG.
Osteoporosis: 5G Technologies and 5P Medicine, Economic and Medico-Social Paradigms
Authors: Bulgakova S. , Sirotko I. , Romanchuk P.
Published: February 2021

Currently, three main problems have been updated in gerontology and geriatrics: the first “early” is osteoporosis, the second “late” is Alzheimer’s disease, and the third “doubled” (comorbid, combined) is the presence of two diseases: Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis. The bone, in addition to mechanical and protective function, serves as a custodian of bone marrow cells and an organ for regulating the homeostasis of calcium ions. In the circadian gerontological period, osteoblasts, osteoclasts and osteocytes are determined by their respective functions of bone formation and bone resorption, and in the clinical-geriatric period of bone aging, bones and bone cells will change. 5P medicine and 5G medical services, new generation sequencing and pharmacogenetics are new modern foundations (paradigms) of personalized medicine — a key basis for understanding the common mechanisms of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease. The presence of multiple chronic conditions in gerontology and geriatrics requires the use and clinical application of information and communication infrastructure 5G the next generation, neuromarketing and neurobial, neuroimaging consciousness and brain-machine interfaces, biorobots and biochips. 5P medicine and functioning of integrated neural systems through integration and analysis of dynamic hybrid multimodal neural EEG and fMRI information, combined with neuropsychological testing, will allow the geriatrician to manage (prevent and predict), not only healthy aging of Homo sapiens, but also timely diagnosis of osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease, treatment start time, definition. Early age (from 40–45 years) diagnosis, treatment and prevention of osteoporosis using tools (technologies) 5P medicine and 5G medical services, will manage the medical, socio-economic problem of our time. Early age diagnosis, treatment and prevention of osteoporosis using tools (technologies) 5P medicine and 5G medical services, allows you to manage a “silent epidemic” (“hidden epidemic”) of the 21st century with the help of non-medicamentous treatments — three multi-paradigm platforms: healthy lifestyle, physical activity, functional nutrition (balanced, healthy, natural). The key to the success of osteoporosis treatment is in a new 5P medicine based on a deep individualized approach and motivation to prevent diseases.
Clinical Symptoms in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Matkeeva A. , Asheraliev M.
Published: February 2021

The article presents clinical symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 60 children with ADHD aged 6 to 11 years, who were on inpatient and outpatient treatment at the National Center for Maternal and Child Health (Kyrgyz Republic). The clinical symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder depend on the type of the autonomic nervous system in patients, among the examined patients the number of children with vagotonic type of ANS prevailed significantly (P<0.05) (53.3% in the first group, 60.0% in the second group), the sympathicotonic variant of ANS functioning was less frequent (P<0.05).
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children
Authors: Matkeeva A.
Published: February 2021

The article presents the characteristics of 60 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) aged 6 to 11 years, depending on the type of classification, who were treated at the National Center for Maternal and Child Health (Bishkek).
Ranking of Risk Factors for the Formation of Torticollis in Children
Authors: Emilbekov M.
Published: February 2021

The article presents the ranked risk factors for the development of torticollis in children. We conducted a study of 72 children with a diagnosis of torticollis at the age of 3 months to 17 years of age, who were treated at the National Center for Maternal and Child Health (Kyrgyz Republic). Significant risk factors for the birth of children with torticollis were toxicosis and transverse presentation of the fetus, followed by the threat of miscarriage and childbirth with stimulation.
Development of Technology for Producing Stable Composite Fuels from Carbon
Authors: Bekmuratova B.
Published: February 2021

The subject of this research is the process of obtaining stable composite fuel (CF) from hydrocarbons. The purpose of the work is to develop a technology for obtaining a stable composite fuel from hydrocarbons with the effect of cavitation. Cavitation of water in the making of CF has a positive effect contributing to the appearance of reactive radical particles. The obtained stable CF consists of 50% gasoline, 49% water, 1% potassium permanganate. As a result, a technology was developed for obtaining a stable CF, a special apparatus for the preparation and combustion of composite fuels with a spiral heater-burner was developed. It has been determined that during combustion, potassium permanganate increases the oxygen balance of the solution.
On Interaction of Participants of the Process of Forming an Accessible Environment for Passengers With Limited Mobility in Railway Transport
Authors: Rykova L.
Published: February 2021

The problem of creating an accessible living environment in our country over the past decades is one of the most urgent. International obligations and national legislation approved the principles on which the state’s policy regarding disabled people should be based. Transport mobility is an essential prerequisite for the active involvement of people with disabilities in society. The effectiveness of creating an accessible environment in transport depends on the availability of well-trained specialists. In order to form appropriate competencies for students in transport specialties at transport universities of the country, the discipline “Organization of an accessible environment for people with disabilities in transport” is included in the professional cycles of some educational programs. Studying the issues of organizing the interaction of participants in the process of forming an accessible environment, within the framework of the indicated discipline, required additional studies aimed at analyzing and systematizing a large amount of information related to regulatory support and modern technologies for providing transportation services to the population. The article is devoted to the organization of interaction of participants in the formation of an accessible environment for people with disabilities and other people with limited mobility using the example of railway transport.
Multimedia Sensor Networks Based on Ultra-wideband Chaotic Radio Pulses
Authors: Olberg P.
Published: February 2021

The fast direction in information and communication systems of the wireless sensor network is discussed. Special attention was paid to ultra-wideband wireless sensor networks, which use chaotic radio pulses as information carriers for communication between sensor nodes. The creation of such systems became possible after many years of research on the creation and management of chaos in electronic systems. The requirements for transceivers for transmitting multimedia data in wireless sensor networks and the characteristics of existing systems are considered. The prospects of using ultra-wideband wireless systems based on direct chaotic data transmission in multimedia sensor networks are analyzed.
Northern Ethnic Groups Unusual Dishes
Authors: Berketova L. , Korotkovа D.
Published: February 2021

As you know, the formation of the diet of various peoples of the world is influenced by many factors: first of all, geographical location and climate, which determines the consumption of certain types of fruits, plants, and animals. This formed the people’s features in the development and structure of the body and led to differences in health. The article provides information about the food traditions of the northern ethnic groups. The “northern” type of metabolism requires the predominance of protein and fat components in the diet. Studies show that people who came to the Far North from the middle latitudes, their need for protein increased by 16%, in fat by 42%, in carbohydrates decreased by 40%. Food rich in fat and high in calories allows you to saturate the body and give it the necessary amount of energy without increasing the volume of food consumption. Meat products: deer meat, game, meat of large marine animals: walruses, seals, whales. Pinniped meat per 100 g contains 24.5 g of protein and 113 kcal. It is also rich in potassium, sodium and phosphorus, vitamins A, B2 and other compounds. An important role in the life of Northern peoples is played by berries: cranberries and cloudberries, which contain dietary fiber (2.5 g and 6.3 g), vitamins B2 (0.02 mg and 0.07 mg), C (15 mg and 29 mg), E (1 mg and 1.5 mg), magnesium (7 mg and 29 mg), calcium (25 mg and 15 mg), phosphorus (16 mg and 29 mg), potassium (90 mg and 180 mg). Wild sorrel, wild cherry, lichen and other herbs are widely used in food and medicine and contain a complex of enzymes, vitamins, fat, and organic acids. The main product is sea and river fish: whitefish, white salmon, tugun, arctic cisco and others. Fish is served in dried, boiled, smoked, salted, frozen or baked types, usually without a side dish, which is not so common in the North, most often it is replaced by berries or roots. In winter, stroganina is a delicacy. Dried fish also goes into flour, which is used to make soup, bake bread, or mix with berries. The article presents information on such dishes as ngaibat, kanyga, “blood soup”, kopal’khen or kymgyt, kiviak, akutaq and others.
VAJİNAL DOĞUMDA UYGULANAN SENTETİK OKSİTOSİNİN POSTPARTUM ERKEN DÖNEMDE EMZİRMEYE ETKİSİNİN İNCELENMESİ
Authors: MIZRAK ŞAHİN Berrak
Published: February 2021

Doğumdan önce uygulanan sentetik oksitosin, gelişmiş ve gelişmekte olan ülkelerde doğumda en yaygın kullanılan tıbbi müdahaledir. Doğum başlamadan önce uygulanan sentetik oksitosin uygulamasının emzirmeyi olumsuz etkilediği bilinmektedir. Çalışmada, vajinal doğumda oksitosin indüksiyonu uygulanan ve uygulanmayan annelerin doğum sonrası erken dönemde emzirme sonuçlarının ve bebeklerinin emzirme davranışlarının karşılaştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma, Eskişehir’deki bir hastanenin doğum sonu kliniklerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın örneklemini vajinal doğumda sentetik oksitosin uygulaması yapılan 50 ve yapılmayan 50 olmak üzere toplam 100 anne oluşturmuştur. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak kişisel bilgi formu, gebelik ve doğum sürecini değerlendirme formu ve emzirme ile ilgili özellikleri değerlendirme formu kullanılmıştır. Oksitosin indüksiyonu uygulanmayan annelerin %80’i doğumdan sonra ilk yarım saatte emzirebilirken, oksitosin indüksiyonu alan annelerin %56’sı ilk yarım saatte emzirebilmiştir (p=.018). Çalışmanın sonuçları doğumda uygulanan sentetik oksitosinin, erken dönemde emzirmeyi ve yenidoğanın ilkel emme reflekslerini olumsuz etkilediğini göstermektedir.
"PEDODONTİ PRATİĞİNDE STRES ÖLÇEĞİ"NİN GELİŞTİRİLMESİ: GEÇERLİLİK VE GÜVENİLİRLİK ÇALIŞMASI
Authors: KIRMIZIGÜL İnci , DEMİR Pinar , BOTSALI Murat Selim , İNCEOĞLU Feyza
Published: February 2021

Diş hekimliği öğrencilerinin diğer bölümlere göre daha depresif, anksiyetik ve stresli olduğu yapılan araştırmalarda gösterilmiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Pedodonti Pratiğinde Stres (PPS) ölçeğini geliştirmektir. Bu çalışmaya, 2018-2019 ve 2019-2020 eğitim-öğretim yıllarında İnönü Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi pedodonti kliniğinde staj yapan 4. ve 5. sınıf öğrencileri dâhil edilmiştir. Pedodonti kliniğinde stres kaynağı olabilecek faktörler, uzman görüşleri de alınarak kategorize edilmiş ve 4 alt boyutlu 29 maddeden oluşan PPS ölçeği geliştirilmiştir. Formun geçerliliğini belirlemek için Açıklayıcı ve Doğrulayıcı Faktör Analizleri (DFA) ve kapsam geçerlilik indeksi yöntemleri kullanılmıştır. Ölçek güvenilirliği; Cronbach α iç tutarlık kat sayısı, madde toplam korelasyonu, test-tekrar test analizi ile test edilmiştir. PPS ölçeği için DFA uyum indeksi değerleri istenilen aralıkta, Cronbach α güvenilirlik katsayısı 0,915 bulunmuştur. PPS ölçeğinin pedodonti kliniklerinde oluşabilecek stresi değerlendirmek için yararlanabilecek geçerli ve güvenilir bir araç olduğu belirlenmiştir. PPS ölçeğinin kullanımı ile pedodonti kliniklerinde stres oluşturarak; hekimin verimliliği, hastanın uyumu ve dolayısıyla tedavinin etkinliğini dahi etkileyebilecek stres faktörlerinin belirlenmesi mümkün olabilecektir.
Semi-Markov Based Dependability Modeling of Bitcoin Nodes Under Eclipse Attacks and State-Dependent Mitigation
Authors: Zhou Chencheng , Xing Liudong , Liu Qisi , Wang Honggang
Published: February 2021

The block chain technology has immense potential in many different applications, including but not limited to cryptocurrencies, financial services, smart contracts, supply chains, healthcare services, and energy trading. Due to the critical nature of these applications, it is pivotal to model and evaluate dependability of the block chain-based systems, contributing to their reliable and robust operation. This paper models and analyzes the dependability of Bitcoin nodes subject to Eclipse attacks and state-dependent mitigation activities. Built upon the block chain technology, the Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency system enabling an individual user to trade freely without the involvement of banks or any other types of intermediate agents. However, a node in the Bitcoin is vulnerable to the Eclipse attack, which aims to monopolize the information flow of the victim node. A semi-Markov process (SMP) based approach is proposed to model the Eclipse attack behavior and possible mitigation activities that may prevent the attack from being successful during the attack process. The SMP model is then evaluated to determine the steady-state dependability of the Bitcoin node. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the influence of the time to restart the Bitcoin software and time to detect and delete the malicious message on the Bitcoin node dependability.
Atangana-Baleanu and Caputo-Fabrizio Analysis of Fractional Derivatives on MHD Flow past a Moving Vertical Plate with Variable Viscosity and Thermal Conductivity in a Porous Medium
Authors: Saikia Dipen , Saha Utpal Kumar , Hazarika Gopal Chandra
Published: February 2021

In this paper, a numerical investigation is presented for non-integer order derivatives with Atangana-Baleanu (AB) and Caputo-Fabrizio (CF) fractional derivatives for the variable viscosity and thermal conductivity over a moving vertical plate in a porous medium two dimensional free convection unsteady MHD flow. The effects of radiation have also been considered. The governing partial differential equations along with the boundary conditions are changed to ordinary form by similarity transformations. Hence physical parameters show up in the equations and interpretations on these parameters can be achieved suitably.By using ordinary finite difference scheme the equations are discritized and developed in fractional form. These discritized equations are numerically solved by the approach based on Gauss-seidel iteration scheme. Some numerical strategies are used to find the values of AB and CF approaches on time by developing programming code in MATLAB. The effects of all the physical parameters involved in the problem on velocity, temperature and concentration distribution are compared graphically as well as in tabular form. The effects of each parameter are found to be prominent. We have observed a significant variation of values under different parameters using AB and CF approaches on velocity, temperature and concentration distribution with respect to time.
Dynamic Demand and Pricing Inventory Model for Non-Instantaneous Deteriorating Items
Authors: Shah Nita H. , Rabari Kavita , Patel Ekta
Published: February 2021

In this model, an inventory model for deteriorating products with dynamic demand is developed under time-dependent selling price. The selling price is supposed to be a time-dependent function of initial price of the products and the permissible discount rate at the time of deterioration. The object is sold with the constant rate in the absence of deterioration and is the exponential function of discount rate at the time; deterioration takes place. Here, the demand not only dependent on the selling price but also on the cumulative demand that represents the saturation and diffusion effect. First, an inventory model is formulated to characterize the profit function. The Classical optimization algorithm is used to solve the optimization problem. The objective is to maximize the total profit of the retailers with respect to the initial selling price and cycle time. Concavity of the objective function is discussed through graphs. At last, a sensitivity analysis is performed by changing inventory parameters and their impact on the decision variables i.e. (initial price, cycle time) together with the profit function.
Particle Swarm Optimization and Maximum Entropy Results for MX/G/1 Retrial G-Queue with Delayed Repair
Authors: Malik Geetika , Upadhyaya Shweta , Sharma Richa
Published: February 2021

This paper examines an MX/G/1 retrial model with negative customers including the concepts of working vacation, Bernoulli feedback, delayed repair, state-dependent and multi-optional services. Such a queue is quite relevant in real world, for instance in computer systems, manufacturing organisations, packet-switching networks, telecommunication systems, etc. The arrival pattern of customers is according to Poisson distribution. The service is such that first essential service (FES) is provided to every customer and second optional service (SOS) is provided in k phases to those who wants to opt for the same. The negative customers may arrive during the time when the server is busy in serving a positive customer. This leads to breakdown of the server and thus the server has to be restored (repair) by the repair man. Some moments may be taken by the repair man to initiate the repair process, leading to delay in repair. In our work, firstly we have calculated performance measures like long run probabilities and orbit size along with some reliability indices. Then a relative study between the exact expected waiting time and approximate expected waiting time of the system is presented via maximum entropy approach. Also we perform cost optimization using particle swarm optimization (PSO method). Few numerical results are also provided.
An Insight into the Characteristic Equation for an Integer Program
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Munapo Elias , Nyamugure Philimon
Published: February 2021

This article enhances properties and applications associated with the characteristic equation (CE) developed to find an optimal and other ranked-optimal solutions of linear integer programming model. These enhanced properties have applications in the analysis of the multi-objective linear integer programs. The paper also identifies why the CE approach is not possible for some special linear programming (LP) models and creates a challenge for further investigation.
Virtual Sound Field of the Roman Theatre of Malaca
Authors: Alayón Javier , Girón Sara , Romero-Odero José A. , Nieves Francisco J.
Published: February 2021

In Hispania (present-day Spain and Portugal), there are 25 structures documented of classical Roman open-air theatres, of which 10 are in the south, in the Roman Baetica (Andalusia). The Baetica embraced the progress of urbanisation in the time of the Roman emperor Augustus, where theatres, built in stone, were the foci of entertainment, performance, and propaganda of the empire. The Roman theatre in Malaga presents the archaeological remains of the main vestige of the Roman Malaca. It is located in the historical centre of the city, at the foot of the hill of the Muslim Alcazaba and was discovered in 1952. It is a medium-sized theatre whose design corresponds to a mixed construction that combines making use of the hillside for the terraces, in the manner of Greek theatres, with a major construction where rock is non-existent, thereby creating the necessary space for the stands. In this paper, the production process, adjustment, and validation of the 3D model of the theatre are analysed for the creation of a numerical predictive model of its sound field. Acoustic properties of the venue are examined and the effect of the Muslim Alcazaba and the hillside on the various acoustic descriptors is analysed. The results highlight the influence of this large stone surface mainly on the time decay parameters.
Assessment of Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) Genotypes for Improved Frost Tolerance
Authors: Simioniuc Danut Petru , Simioniuc Violeta , Topa Denis , van den Berg Merlijn , Prins Udo , Bebeli Penelope J. , Gabur Iulian
Published: February 2021

Spring frost poses a challenge for all major crops and, in the case of Lupinus mutabilis (Andean lupin) can cause severe damage or even total loss of the crop. Within the LIBBIO project consortium, we conducted a series of experiments in order to develop a suitable protocol for screening lupin germplasm under frost-simulation conditions. Four lupin accessions, one Lupinus albus and three Andean lupins were used in the experiments (L. albus Mihai, L. mutabilis LIB 220, LIB 221, LIB 222). Seedlings at four developmental stages were challenged with five different levels of ‘frost’ stress from low (−2 °C) to high (−10 °C). Notably, young seedling (cotyledons just breaking through the soil surface) showed little evidence of frost damage for temperatures down to −6 °C. At −8 °C, however, damage was evident, suggesting a cold tolerance threshold occurs at this temperature. Interestingly, for later developmental stages, when the first and second leaves were visible, notable differences were observed starting at −6 °C. The results indicate that the plant growth stage is an important parameter when screening for frost tolerance in germplasm. Overall, by identifying Andean lupin genotypes adapted to high abiotic stress factors, farmers will be able to use it as a reference crop with potentially a commercial interest from the food sector, or cosmetics, and biofuel industries.
Stability and Variability of Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz Economically Valuable Traits in Various Eco-Geographical Conditions of the Russian Federation
Authors: Kon’kova Nina G. , Shelenga Tatyana V. , Gridnev Gennadiy A. , Dubovskaya Alexandra G. , Malyshev Leonid L.
Published: February 2021

C. sativa is a valuable oilseed; it has a wide nutritional and technical use. The purpose of this study is a comprehensive study of C. sativa collection accessions in various ecological and geographical conditions to determine the environmental stability parameters. C. sativa All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) collection accessions served as a material source for the study. The study was conducted in four different ecological and geographical regions of the Russian Federation. In the factor structure of the environmental parameters variability two factors are identified covering 94.8% of the variability. The first factor is associated with the precipitation sum (PS) and the temperatures sum (TS) for the vegetation period (68.7%), the second factor is associated with the average daily temperature (TM) for the same period (26.1%). Analysis of the system of correlations between the parameters of stability and plasticity and the value of regression coefficients for meteorological indicators showed that for all the studied features, indicator b closely correlates with regression coefficients for the temperatures sum (TS) and average daily temperature (TM) for the vegetation period. Indicator Sd—with coefficients for the precipitation sum (PS) and average daily precipitation (PM). The result of the study made it possible to identify collection accessions of C. sativa with a high stable adaptability to the contrasting climatic conditions of the studied regions.
Mapping Permanent Gullies in an Agricultural Area Using Satellite Images: Efficacy of Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Phinzi Kwanele , Holb Imre , Szabó Szilárd
Published: February 2021

Gullies are responsible for detaching massive volumes of productive soil, dissecting natural landscape and causing damages to infrastructure. Despite existing research, the gravity of the gully erosion problem underscores the urgent need for accurate mapping of gullies, a first but essential step toward sustainable management of soil resources. This study aims to obtain the spatial distribution of gullies through comparing various classifiers: k-dimensional tree K-Nearest Neighbor (k-d tree KNN), Minimum Distance (MD), Maximum Likelihood (ML), and Random Forest (RF). Results indicated that all the classifiers, with the exception of ML, achieved an overall accuracy (OA) of at least 0.85. RF had the highest OA (0.94), although it was outperformed in gully identification by MD (0% commission), but the omission error was 20% (MD). Accordingly, RF was considered as the best algorithm, having 13% error in both adding (commission) and omitting pixels as gullies. Thus, RF ensured a reliable outcome to map the spatial distribution of gullies. RF-derived gully density map reflected the agricultural areas most exposed to gully erosion. Our approach of using satellite imagery has certain limitations, and can be used only in arid or semiarid regions where gullies are not covered by dense vegetation as the vegetation biases the extracted gullies. The approach also provides a solution to the lack of laser scanned data, especially in the context of the study area, providing better accuracy and wider application possibilities.
Simulating Agronomic Adaptation Strategies to Mitigate the Impacts of Climate Change on Wheat Yield in South-Eastern Australia
Authors: Zeleke Ketema
Published: February 2021

Rising air temperature and change in rainfall patterns are expected to have impact on agricultural production. The impact of climate change on wheat production was investigated and agronomic adaptation strategies were evaluated for two emission scenarios of Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and three projection periods (2030, 2050 and 2070) using a climate model ensemble in the bio-physical model Agricultural Process SIMulator (APSIM). Early and late maturing wheat varieties were tested under six sowing time scenarios. Under RCP4.5, growing season rainfall would decrease by 9%, 15% and 19% in 2030, 2050 and 2070, respectively, and temperature would increase by 0.7 °C, 1.2 °C and 1.4 °C, respectively. For RCP4.5, the wheat yield would decrease by 9%, 15% and 19% in 2030, 2050 and 2070, respectively. Under RCP8.5, the yield would decrease by 9%, 18% and 27%, respectively. Short-season cultivars would be suitable for the low-rainfall environments and long-season cultivars for the high-rainfall environments. In 2050, for RCP4.5 at a low-rainfall site, the yield of early maturing variety would decrease by 11% and 31%, while at a high-rainfall site, these values would show a 9% decrease and 1% increase, respectively. At the low rainfall site, yield reduction for early sown variety would be 14% and 23% when late sown, while late maturing wheat would have a much higher yield reduction. At the higher rainfall site, yield reduction for early and late sown early maturing variety would be 3% and 15%, while for late-maturing wheat these values would be only 1% and 2%. Generally, the future climate is expected to have significant impact on wheat yield and changes in agronomic practices can mitigate the impacts on yield.
Effect of H2O-Based Low-Pressure Plasma (LPP) Treatment on the Germination of Bambara Groundnut Seeds
Authors: Ahmed Naeem , Masood Asad , Siow Kim S. , Wee M. F. Mohd Razip , Auliya Rahmat Zaki , Ho Wai Kuan
Published: February 2021

In general, seed germination is improved by low-pressure plasma (LPP) treatment using precursors such as air, nitrogen, argon, or water (H2O). Here, H2O-based LPP treatment using the optimized parameters of 10 W and 10 s improves the germination of Bambara groundnut seeds by 22%. LPP increases the wettability and roughness of the seed hilum while oxidizing the surface with carboxyl and amine groups. In this H2O-based treatment of Bambara groundnut seeds, combinatory etching and chemical modification facilitated the imbibition process and increased the germination percentage. The success of this method has the potential to be scaled up to solve food security with seeds otherwise facing germination-related issues.
Influence of 1-Methylcyclopropene on the Antioxidants of ‘Red Cap’ Apples during Transportation and Shelf Life
Authors: Krupa Tomasz , Zaraś-Januszkiewicz Ewa , Kistechok Andrii
Published: February 2021

The dietary properties of apples make them, along with the other fruits and vegetables, the basis of many slimming or pro-health diets. Availability of apples throughout the year is ensured by various storage technologies, including the use of ripening inhibitors. This experiment focused on the assessment of the effect of various variants of inhibition of apple ripening processes, i.e., 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), ultra-low-oxygen storage (ULO) or modified atmosphere (MAP), in order to provide the consumer with apples with comparable high nutritional values. An important aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of the above-mentioned factors on changes in the content of polyphenols and antioxidant capacity in conditions of apple distribution at high temperatures, i.e., above 25 °C. The experiment consisted of several stages of fruit distribution: (I)—treatment of 1-MCP apples immediately after harvest, (II)—storage in ULO, (III)—simulated long-distance transport under normal atmosphere cold storage (NA) and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), (IV)—simulated rotation (15 days) under high-temperature conditions of 25 °C. Evaluation gave the basic characteristics of the fruits that characterize their health-promoting properties, i.e., total polyphenols (TPC), phenolic acids and flavonols, and antioxidant activity (AA). All indicators were assessed separately for apple peel and flesh. The experiment showed that the content of antioxidants in apple peel is from 230 to 370% higher than in the flesh, depending on the group of ingredients assessed. The peel of fruit treated with 1-MCP was distinguished by a higher content of phenolic acids and flavonols than the untreated fruit, especially after 20 weeks of stored in ULO. The effect of 1-MCP on AA in the peel of the fruit was moderate; however, apples untreated with 1-MCP were more likely to lose AA, especially when transported under normal cold storage conditions. The content of assessed compounds in the apple flesh was more stable than in the peel. The content of TPC and phenolic acids in apple flesh either decreased or remained almost unchanged after 15 days of shelf life. An increase in AA was observed in fruit flesh not stored in ULO, especially in apples treated with 1-MCP. After 10 and 20 weeks of storage in ULO, AA was not determined by experimental factors. The use of 1-MCP and the transport of apples in MAP can reduce the loss of phenolics after long-distance transport and distribution.
Comparison of Propofol or Isoflurane Anesthesia Maintenance, Combined with a Fentanyl–Lidocaine–Ketamine Constant-Rate Infusion in Goats Undergoing Abomasotomy
Authors: Velázquez-Delgado Perla I. , Gutierrez-Blanco Eduardo , Torres-Acosta Felipe de J. , Ortega-Pacheco Antonio , Aguilar-Caballero Armando J. , Dzikiti Brighton T.
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to compare, first, the anesthetic and cardiopulmonary effects of propofol or isoflurane anesthetic maintenance in goats receiving a fentanyl–lidocaine–ketamine infusion undergoing abomasotomy and, secondly, to compare the quality of the recovery from anesthesia. Two groups were used: propofol (TIVA) and isoflurane (PIVA). Goats were premedicated with fentanyl (10 μg/kg intravenously [IV]), lidocaine (2 mg/kg, IV), and ketamine (1.5 mg/kg, IV). Anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintenance consisted of fentanyl (10 μg/kg/h, IV), lidocaine (50 μg/kg/min, IV), and ketamine (50 μg/kg/min, IV) as constant-rate infusions (CRIs), combined with either CRI of propofol at initial dose of 0.3 mg/kg/min, IV (TIVA), or isoflurane with initial end-tidal (FE’Iso) concentration of 1.2% partial intravenous anesthesia (PIVA). The mean effective propofol dose for maintenance was 0.44 ± 0.07 mg/kg/min, while the mean FE’Iso was 0.81 ± 0.2%. Higher systolic arterial pressure (SAP) values were observed in total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) during some time points. Recovery was smooth in PIVA, while restlessness, vocalizations, and paddling were observed in TIVA. Both protocols produced a satisfactory quality of anesthesia during surgery, with minimal impact on cardiopulmonary function. Nevertheless, recovery after anesthesia in TIVA might be of poor quality.
Inclusion of Oat and Yeast Culture in Sow Gestational and Lactational Diets Alters Immune and Antimicrobial Associated Proteins in Milk
Authors: Donovan Barry , Suarez-Trujillo Aridany , Casey Theresa , Aryal Uma K. , Conklin Dawn , Williams Leonard L. , Minor Radiah C.
Published: February 2021

Maternal diet supplementation with pro- and prebiotics is associated with decreased incidence of diarrhea and greater piglet performance. This study investigated the impact adding whole ground oat as a prebiotic, alone or in combination with a probiotic, yeast culture (YC) (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), to sow gestation and lactation rations had on milk protein composition, piglet growth, and incidence of post-weaning diarrhea (PWD). Diets: control (CON), CON + yeast culture (YC) [5 g/kg], CON + oat (15% inclusion rate) (Oat) or CON+ YC [5 g/kg] + Oat (15%) were fed the last 30 days of gestation and throughout lactation (18–21 days). Shotgun proteome analysis of day 4 and 7 postpartum milk found 36 differentially abundant proteins (P-adj < 0.1) in both Oat and YC supplemented sows relative to CON. Notable was the increased expression of antimicrobial proteins, lactoferrin and chitinase in milk of Oat and YC sows compared to CON. The levels of IgA, IgM (within colostrum and milk) and IgG (within milk) were similar across treatments. However, colostral IgG levels in Oat-supplemented sows were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of the control sows, IgG from Oat-supplemented sows displayed greater reactivity to E. coli-antigens compared with CON and YC. Piglets from sows that consumed Oat alone or in combination weighed significantly more (p < 0.05) at birth compared to CON and YC. However, piglets in the Oat + YC group weighed less at weaning and had the lowest weight gain (p < 0.05) postweaning, compared with CON. Taken together with the observation that piglets of either YC- or Oat-fed sows had less PWD compared to CON and YC+ Oat suggests that Oat or YC supplementation positively impacts piglets through expression of certain milk-associated immune and antimicrobial proteins.
Effect of Different Cross-Fostering Strategies on Growth Performance, Stress Status and Immunoglobulin of Piglets
Authors: Zhang Xiaojun , Wang Meizhi , He Tengfei , Long Shenfei , Guo Yao , Chen Zhaohui
Published: February 2021

The effect of different cross-fostering strategies on the growth performance, stress and immunity of piglets was investigated in this study. In the first experiment, a total of 20 litters (i.e., 20 sows) and 120 piglets were classified into one of six treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. The treatments consisted of piglets without or with cross-fostering and different birth weights (low birth weight, LBW; intermediate birth weight, IBW; high birth weight, HBW). The weaning weight (WW) and average daily gain (ADG) of LBW piglets and IBW piglets were not significantly different between the not cross-fostered (NC-F) group and the cross-fostered (C-F) group. There was a higher (p < 0.05) ADG in the control piglets compared with the cross-fostered piglets. This effect on ADG was only seen in the HBW piglets. In the second experiment, six sows with a similar body condition and farrowed on the same day were selected. Three female piglets with a birth weight of 0.6–0.85 kg were selected from each litter as experimental piglets. Eighteen piglets were grouped into three treatments: (1) not cross-fostered (NC-F1), (2) cross-fostered at 36–48 h after birth (C-F1), (3) cross-fostered at day 7 after birth (C-F2). The growth performance of NC-F1 and C-F1 piglets was higher than C-F2 piglets (p < 0.05), and the suckling positions of NC-F1 and C-F1 piglets on days 8, 12, 16 and 20 were more forward than the C-F2 piglets (p < 0.05). Plasma cortisol (COR) concentrations of NC-F1 and C-F1 piglets were lower than C-F2 piglets (p < 0.05). A significant negative correlation was observed between BW at day 21 and plasma COR concentration. In conclusion, cross-fostering within 24 h of birth has adverse influences on the ADG of HBW piglets, while it has no negative effect on the ADG of LBW and IBW piglets. Moreover, for IBW piglets, late cross-fostering (i.e., on day 7 after farrowing) has negative impacts on the growth performance and teat order of piglets, and it increases the cortisol level of piglets.
The Rising Burden of Salmonellosis Caused by Monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium (1,4,[5],12:i:-) in Greece and New Food Vehicles
Authors: Mandilara Georgia , Sideroglou Theologia , Chrysostomou Anthi , Rentifis Iliodoros , Papadopoulos Theofilos , Polemis Michalis , Tzani Myrsini , Tryfinopoulou Kyriaki , Mellou Kassiani
Published: February 2021

Monophasic Salmonella typhimurium is of increasing importance worldwide. Here we present the available data regarding monophasic S. typhimurium from 2007 to 2019 in Greece, in order to assess its public health impact. Surveillance data, data on antimicrobial resistance, molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and results of the investigation of monophasic S. typhimurium outbreaks were analyzed. Overall, 403 cases were identified; 329 (81.6%) sporadic and 74 (18.4%) related to two community outbreaks in 2017. A total of 305 isolates from sporadic cases tested for antimicrobial resistance revealed resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulphamethoxazole, and tetracycline (41.3%). Some 23.3% were further resistant to trimethoprim and 5.2% were also resistant to chloramphenicol. Outbreak 1 in 2017 with 37 identified cases was attributed to the consumption of raw milk from a vending machine and isolates were resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulphamethoxazole, tetracycline, and trimethoprim. Outbreak 2 also with 37 cases was attributed to the consumption of pork and isolates were resistant to the five above mentioned antibiotics plus chloramphenicol. The number of human monophasic S. typhimurium isolates is low; however, since 2009, it has been among the five most frequently identified serotypes in Greece. Investigation of the outbreaks revealed that other vehicles apart from pork may be implicated in the occurrence of outbreaks.
Protective Effect of Grape (Vitis vinifera) Seed Powder and Zinc-Glycine Complex on Growth Traits and Gut Health of Broilers Following Eimeria tenella Challenge
Authors: Chand Naila , Ali Pervez , Alhidary Ibrahim A. , Abdelrahman Mutassim A. , Albadani Hani , Khan Murad Ali , Seidavi Alireza , Laudadio Vito , Tufarelli Vincenzo , Khan Rifat Ullah
Published: February 2021

The current study was conducted to evaluate the impact of grape (Vitis vinifera) seed powder and zinc-glycine complex on growth parameters and cecal health of broiler following Eimeria tenella challenge. A total of 250 day-old male broilers (Hubbard) were distributed into five treatments as follows: I—negative control (basal diet); II—positive control (E. tenella challenge); III—group infected + Amprolium; IV—group coccidial infection + organic zinc (OZ) at 50 ppm + grape seed powder (GSP) at 2.5 g/kg; V—coccidial infection + organic zinc (OZ) at 50 ppm + grape seed powder (GSP) at 5.0 g/kg. From findings, a lower (p < 0.05) feed intake was noted for positive control compared to the other treatment groups. Conversely, higher (p < 0.05) body weight, dressing percentage, and feed conversion ratio were observed in infected + Amprolium, GSP2.5 + OZ50, and GSP5 + OZ50 treatments in comparison to the positive control. Moreover, the positive control showed severe cecal lesions of thickness and hemorrhages with mild congestion. The lesion scores decreased (p < 0.05) in GSP and OZ treated groups compared to the positive control. Significant (p < 0.05) lower oocyst per gram of feces was found in infected + Amprolium, GSP2.5 + OZ50, and GSP5 + OZ50 in comparison to positive control. Supplementing diet with GSP and OZ at both levels showed restoration of intense sloughing of villi. From the present findings, it can be concluded that OZ and grape seed powder positively ameliorated the growth performance, lesion score, and oocysts shedding in broilers infected with E. tenella.
Dietary Anti-Aging Polyphenols and Potential Mechanisms
Authors: Luo Jing , Si Hongwei , Jia Zhenquan , Liu Dongmin
Published: February 2021

For years, the consumption of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been considered healthy, increasing longevity, and decreasing morbidities. With the assistance of basic research investigating the potential mechanisms, it has become clear that the beneficial effects of plant-based foods are mainly due to the large amount of bioactive phenolic compounds contained. Indeed, substantial dietary intervention studies in humans have supported that the supplementation of polyphenols have various health-promoting effects, especially in the elderly population. In vitro examinations on the anti-aging mechanisms of polyphenols have been widely performed, using different types of natural and synthetic phenolic compounds. The aim of this review is to critically evaluate the experimental evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of polyphenols on aging-related diseases. We highlight the potential anti-aging mechanisms of polyphenols, including antioxidant signaling, preventing cellular senescence, targeting microRNA, influencing NO bioavailability, and promoting mitochondrial function. While the trends on utilizing polyphenols in preventing aging-related disorders are getting growing attention, we suggest the exploration of the beneficial effects of the combination of multiple polyphenols or polyphenol-rich foods, as this would be more physiologically relevant to daily life.