bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infant gut microbiota colonization: influence of prenatal and postnatal factors, focusing on diet
Authors: Suárez-Martínez Clara , Santaella-Pascual Marina , Yagüe-Guirao Genoveva , Martínez-Graciá Carmen
Published: August 2023

Maternal microbiota forms the first infant gut microbial inoculum, and perinatal factors (diet and use of antibiotics during pregnancy) and/or neonatal factors, like intra partum antibiotics, gestational age and mode of delivery, may influence microbial colonization. After birth, when the principal colonization occurs, the microbial diversity increases and converges toward a stable adult-like microbiota by the end of the first 3–5 years of life. However, during the early life, gut microbiota can be disrupted by other postnatal factors like mode of infant feeding, antibiotic usage, and various environmental factors generating a state of dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis have been reported to increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis and some chronic diseases later in life, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, allergies, and asthma. Therefore, understanding the impact of a correct maternal-to-infant microbial transfer and a good infant early colonization and maturation throughout life would reduce the risk of disease in early and late life. This paper reviews the published evidence on early-life gut microbiota development, as well as the different factors influencing its evolution before, at, and after birth, focusing on diet and nutrition during pregnancy and in the first months of life.
Environmental enrichment through virtual reality as multisensory stimulation to mitigate the negative effects of prolonged bed rest
Authors: Šlosar Luka , Peskar Manca , Pišot Rado , Marusic Uros
Published: August 2023

Prolonged bed rest causes a multitude of deleterious physiological changes in the human body that require interventions even during immobilization to prevent or minimize these negative effects. In addition to other interventions such as physical and nutritional therapy, non-physical interventions such as cognitive training, motor imagery, and action observation have demonstrated efficacy in mitigating or improving not only cognitive but also motor outcomes in bedridden patients. Recent technological advances have opened new opportunities to implement such non-physical interventions in semi- or fully-immersive environments to enable the development of bed rest countermeasures. Extended Reality (XR), which covers augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and virtual reality (VR), can enhance the training process by further engaging the kinesthetic, visual, and auditory senses. XR-based enriched environments offer a promising research avenue to investigate the effects of multisensory stimulation on motor rehabilitation and to counteract dysfunctional brain mechanisms that occur during prolonged bed rest. This review discussed the use of enriched environment applications in bedridden patients as a promising tool to improve patient rehabilitation outcomes and suggested their integration into existing treatment protocols to improve patient care. Finally, the neurobiological mechanisms associated with the positive cognitive and motor effects of an enriched environment are highlighted.
Orexin and MCH neurons: regulators of sleep and metabolism
Authors: Bouâouda Hanan , Jha Pawan Kumar
Published: August 2023

Sleep-wake and fasting-feeding are tightly coupled behavioral states that require coordination between several brain regions. The mammalian lateral hypothalamus (LH) is a functionally and anatomically complex brain region harboring heterogeneous cell populations that regulate sleep, feeding, and energy metabolism. Significant attempts were made to understand the cellular and circuit bases of LH actions. Rapid advancements in genetic and electrophysiological manipulation help to understand the role of discrete LH cell populations. The opposing action of LH orexin/hypocretin and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons on metabolic sensing and sleep-wake regulation make them the candidate to explore in detail. This review surveys the molecular, genetic, and neuronal components of orexin and MCH signaling in the regulation of sleep and metabolism.
Fibrosis-4 index is associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Albhaisi Somaya , Sun Jing , Sanyal Arun J.
Published: August 2023

Background and aims

Identification of high-risk patients for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is essential for long term monitoring of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis progression. We sought to evaluate the association between Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index and incidence of HCC risk among patients with NASH cirrhosis.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with NASH cirrhosis (n= 1,338) who were evaluated in a single medical center between 2005 and 2015. Those who developed HCC were identified through electronic medical records using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9 and 10 codes until the end of September 2021.

Results

During a median follow-up time of 3.7 years, 157 (11.7%) patients with NASH cirrhosis developed HCC. At index visit, the study population had a median age 57 years, 43% males, 78.8% White, and mean FIB-4 index 4.2. The final multivariable Cox regression model revealed that male sex, BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2, and hypertension were independent factors associated with development of HCC in patients with NASH cirrhosis. Compared to patients with FIB-4 ¾ 1.45, patients with FIB-4 between 1.45-3.25 had a similar hazard of HCC (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.12, 95% CI: 0.67-1.86, p=0.670), whereas patients with FIB-4 >3.25 had a 1.93 (95% CI: 1.22-3.05, p=0.005) increased hazard of HCC.

Conclusion

FIB-4 > 3.25 was an independent factor associated with increased HCC risk among NASH cirrhosis patients. FIB-4 index is a promising tool for determining high-risk patients and may be used in routine clinical practice to monitor risk of HCC in patients with NASH cirrhosis.
Nanoemulsions of synthetic rhamnolipids act as plant resistance inducers without damaging plant tissues or affecting soil microbiota
Authors: Mottola Milagro , Bertolino María C. , Kourdova Lucille Tihomirova , Valdivia Pérez Jessica Aye , Bogino María Florencia , Nocelli Natalia E. , Chaveriat Ludovic , Martin Patrick , Vico Raquel V. , Fabro Georgina , Fanani María Laura
Published: August 2023

Plant pathogens and pests can cause significant losses in crop yields, affecting food security and the global economy. Many traditional chemical pesticides are used to combat these organisms. This can lead to the development of pesticide-resistant strains of pathogens/insects and negatively impact the environment. The development of new bioprotectants, which are less harmful to the environment and less likely to lead to pesticide-resistance, appears as a sustainable strategy to increase plant immunity. Natural Rhamnolipids (RL-Nat) are a class of biosurfactants with bioprotectant properties that are produced by an opportunistic human pathogen bacterium. RL-Nat can act as plant resistance inducers against a wide variety of pathogens. Recently, a series of bioinspired synthetic mono-RLs produced by green chemistry were also reported as phytoprotectants. Here, we explored their capacity to generate novel colloidal systems that might be used to encapsulate bioactive hydrophobic compounds to enhance their performance as plant bioprotectants. The synthetic mono-RLs showed good surfactant properties and emulsification power providing stable nanoemulsions capable of acting as bio-carriers with good wettability. Synthetic RLs-stabilized nanoemulsions were more effective than RLs suspensions at inducing plant immunity, without causing deleterious effects. These nanoemulsions were innocuous to native substrate microbiota and beneficial soil-borne microbes, making them promising safe bio-carriers for crop protection.
Smart high-yield tomato cultivation: precision irrigation system using the Internet of Things
Authors: Singh Debabrata , Biswal Anil Kumar , Samanta Debabrata , Singh Vijendra , Kadry Seifedine , Khan Awais , Nam Yunyoung
Published: August 2023

The Internet of Things (IOT)-based smart farming promises ultrafast speeds and near real-time response. Precision farming enabled by the Internet of Things has the potential to boost efficiency and output while reducing water use. Therefore, IoT devices can aid farmers in keeping track crop health and development while also automating a variety of tasks (such as moisture level prediction, irrigation system, crop development, and nutrient levels). The IoT-based autonomous irrigation technique makes exact use of farmers’ time, money, and power. High crop yields can be achieved through consistent monitoring and sensing of crops utilizing a variety of IoT sensors to inform farmers of optimal harvest times. In this paper, a smart framework for growing tomatoes is developed, with influence from IoT devices or modules. With the help of IoT modules, we can forecast soil moisture levels and fine-tune the watering schedule. To further aid farmers, a smartphone app is currently in development that will provide them with crucial data on the health of their tomato crops. Large-scale experiments validate the proposed model’s ability to intelligently monitor the irrigation system, which contributes to higher tomato yields.
Comparing shades of darkness: trolling victims’ experiences on social media vs. online gaming
Authors: Cook Christine L. , Tang Simon Y.-C. , Lin Jih-Hsuan Tammy
Published: August 2023

Although there is ample literature available on toxicity in games, as there is regarding trolling on social media, there are few to no cross-platform studies on toxicity and trolling. In other words, the extant literature focuses on one platform at a time instead of comparing and contrasting them. The present work aims to rectify this gap by analyzing interviews from a larger study of 22 self-proclaimed victims of in-game trolling to not only determine whether social media or gaming communities are considered more toxic but also to explore how definitions of the word ‘trolling’ change depending on the platform in question. We found that while definitions of in-game trolling behavior focused on behavioral styles of trolling (e.g., throwing one’s avatar into enemy fire to disadvantage one’s team, and blocking other players’ avatars’ movement), social media trolling is defined by more sinister actions such as misinformation spreading and ‘canceling’ other users. We also found that gaming is perceived as generally more toxic than social media, often due to company policies or lack thereof. Practical and theoretical implications for the study of toxicity in all online communities – gaming or social-media based – are discussed.
Evidence for increased DNA damage repair in the postmortem brain of the high stress-response group of schizophrenia
Authors: Shishido Risa , Kunii Yasuto , Hino Mizuki , Izumi Ryuta , Nagaoka Atsuko , Hayashi Hideki , Kakita Akiyoshi , Tomita Hiroaki , Yabe Hirooki
Published: August 2023

Background

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a disorder diagnosed by specific symptoms and duration and is highly heterogeneous, clinically and pathologically. Although there are an increasing number of studies on the association between genetic and environmental factors in the development of SZ, the actual distribution of the population with different levels of influence of these factors has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we focused on stress as an environmental factor and stratified SZ based on the expression levels of stress-responsive molecules in the postmortem prefrontal cortex.

Methods

We selected the following stress-responsive molecules: interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, glucocorticoid receptor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, synaptophysin, S100 calcium-binding protein B, superoxide dismutase, postsynaptic density protein 95, synuclein, apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), ApoA2, and solute carrier family 6 member 4. We performed RNA sequencing in the prefrontal gray matter of 25 SZ cases and 21 healthy controls and conducted a hierarchical cluster analysis of SZ based on the gene expression levels of stress-responsive molecules, which yielded two clusters. After assessing the validity of the clusters, they were designated as the high stress-response SZ group and the low stress-response SZ group, respectively. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between clusters was performed, and Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was conducted on four cases each in the high and low stress-response SZ groups to validate DNA damage.

Results

We found higher prevalence of family history of SZ in the low stress-response SZ group (0/3 vs. 5/4, p = 0.04). Pathway analysis of DEGs between clusters showed the highest enrichment for DNA double-strand break repair. TUNEL staining showed a trend toward a lower percentage of TUNEL-positive cells in the high stress-response SZ group.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that there are subgroups of SZ with different degrees of stress impact. Furthermore, the pathophysiology of these subgroups may be associated with DNA damage repair. These results provide new insights into the interactions and heterogeneity between genetic and environmental factors.
Transmitted drug resistance and transmission clusters among ART-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals from 2019 to 2021 in Nanjing, China
Authors: Xu Yuanyuan , Shi Hongjie , Dong Xiaoxiao , Ding Chengyuan , Wu Sushu , Li Xin , Zhang Hongying , Qiao Mengkai , Li Xiaoshan , Zhu Zhengping
Published: August 2023

Background

Transmitted drug resistance (TDR) is an increasingly prevalent problem worldwide, which will significantly compromise the effectiveness of HIV treatments. However, in Nanjing, China, there is still a dearth of research on the prevalence and transmission of TDR among ART-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals. This study aimed to understand the prevalence and transmission of TDR in Nanjing.

Methods

A total of 1,393 participants who were newly diagnosed with HIV-1 and had not received ART between January 2019 and December 2021 were enrolled in this study. HIV-1 pol gene sequence was obtained by viral RNA extraction and nested PCR amplification. Genotypes, TDR and transmission cluster analyses were conducted using phylogenetic tree, Stanford HIV database algorithm and HIV-TRACE, respectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with TDR.

Results

A total of 1,161 sequences were successfully sequenced, of which CRF07_BC (40.6%), CRF01_AE (38.4%) and CRF105_0107 (6.3%) were the main HIV-1 genotypes. The overall prevalence of TDR was 7.8%, with 2.0% to PIs, 1.0% to NRTIs, and 4.8% to NNRTIs. No sequence showed double-class resistance. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that compared with CRF01_AE, subtype B (OR = 2.869, 95%CI: 1.093–7.420) and female (OR = 2.359, 95%CI: 1.182–4.707) were risk factors for TDR. Q58E was the most prevalent detected protease inhibitor (PI) -associated mutation, and V179E was the most frequently detected non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) -associated mutation. A total of 613 (52.8%) sequences were segregated into 137 clusters, ranging from 2 to 74 sequences. Among 44 individuals with TDR (48.4%) within 21 clusters, K103N/KN was the most frequent TDR-associated mutation (31.8%), followed by Q58E/QE (20.5%) and G190A (15.9%). Individuals with the same TDR-associated mutations were usually cross-linked in transmission clusters. Moreover, we identified 9 clusters in which there was a transmission relationship between drug-resistant individuals, and 4 clusters in which drug-resistant cases increased during the study period.

Conclusion

The overall prevalence of TDR in Nanjing was at a moderate level during the past 3 years. However, nearly half of TDR individuals were included in the transmission clusters, and some drug-resistant individuals have transmitted in the clusters. Therefore, HIV drug-resistance prevention, monitoring and response efforts should be sustained and expanded to reduce the prevalence and transmission of TDR in Nanjing.
Case report: Enamel renal syndrome: a case series from sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Roomaney I. A. , Kabbashi S. , Beshtawi K. , Moosa S. , Chothia M. Y. , Chetty M.
Published: August 2023

Enamel Renal Syndrome (ERS) (OMIM # 204690) is a rare genetic condition characterised by hypoplastic amelogenesis imperfecta, failed tooth eruption, intra-pulpal calcifications, gingival enlargement and occasionally nephrocalcinosis. In this case series, we report on four unrelated patients with a confirmed molecular diagnosis of ERS (FAM20A pathogenic variants) from Sub-Saharan Africa. The pathognomonic oral profile of ERS was mostly fulfilled in these patients, with the notable addition of an odontoma in one patient. The cases presented a spectrum of phenotypic severity both dentally and systemically. One patient presented with nephrocalcinosis and abnormal kidney function, one had reduced kidney size with normal kidney function, and two had no renal abnormalities. Patients presenting with the oral profile of ERS should receive a prompt referral to a nephrologist and a geneticist. They should receive long-term management from a multidisciplinary medical and dental team.
Inter-rater agreement of CDC criteria and ASEPSIS score in assessing surgical site infections after cesarean section: a prospective observational study
Authors: Delli Carpini Giovanni , Giannella Luca , Di Giuseppe Jacopo , Fioretti Marco , Franconi Ilaria , Gatti Ludovica , Sabbatini Keti , Montanari Michele , Marconi Chiara , Tafuri Elisa , Tibaldi Luisa , Fichera Mariasole , Pizzagalli Davide , Ciavattini Andrea
Published: August 2023

Objective

To assess and compare the inter-rater agreement of the CDC criteria and the ASEPSIS score in identifying surgical site infections after cesarean section.

Methods

Prospective observational study including 110 patients subjected to a cesarean section at our institution. Surgical wounds were managed according to standard care and were photographed on the third, seventh, and thirtieth postoperative day or during any evaluation in case of complications. Three expert surgeons reviewed the prospectively gathered data and photographs and classified each wound using CDC criteria and the ASEPSIS score. The inter-rater agreements of CDC criteria and ASEPSIS score were determined with Krippendorff's Alpha with linear weights and compared with a confidence interval approach.

Results

The weighted α coefficient for CDC criteria was 0.587 (95%CI, 0.411–0.763, p < 0.001, “moderate” agreement according to Altman's interpretation of weighted agreement coefficient), while the weighted α coefficient for the ASEPSIS score was 0.856 (95%CI, 0.733–0.980, p < 0.001, “very good” agreement).

Conclusion

ASEPSIS score presents a “very good” inter-rater agreement for surgical site infections identification after cesarean, resulting in a more objective method than CDC criteria (“moderate” inter-rater agreement). ASEPSIS score could represent an objective tool for managing and monitoring surgical site infections after cesarean section, also by photographic evaluation.
Large litter size increases oxidative stress and adversely affects nest-building behavior and litter characteristics in primiparous sows
Authors: Lee Juho , Shin Hyeonwook , Jo Janghee , Lee Geonil , Yun Jinhyeon
Published: August 2023

The study examined 24 primiparous sows (Landrace × Large white) and their offspring, which were grouped based on litter size: NORMAL (n = 8, average litter size 11.5 ± 1.2), with litter size between 7 and 14, and LARGE (n = 16, average litter size 15.9 ± 1.0), with litter size between 15 and 20. Sows were group-housed during gestation, and housed in an adjustable loose housing system (2.4 × 2.3 m) during farrowing and lactation. All the sows were confined in the farrowing crates (0.6 × 2.3 m) for 7 days after the onset of parturition. Saliva samples of sows were collected on days 35, 21, and 7 before farrowing (D-35, D-21 and D7, respectively), and on days 1, 7, and 28 after farrowing (D1, D7, and D28, respectively) to measure the levels of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Colostrum samples were collected for oxytocin and prolactin assays. Nest-building behavior (NB) for 24 h before parturition and farrowing was observed through video analysis. The results showed that LARGE sows had higher levels of H2O2 on D1 and D7 and AOPP during late gestation (p < 0.05, for all) and lower TEAC levels during late gestation and on D7 and D28 after farrowing (p < 0.05, for all) than NORMAL sows. Additionally, LARGE sows tended to have higher levels of TNF-α on D1 and D7 (p < 0.10, for both). LARGE sows showed shorter duration and lower frequency of NB during 24–12 h before parturition (p < 0.05, for both), and tended to have lower prolactin levels (p = 0.10). Furthermore, large sows tended to show longer farrowing duration and higher stillbirth rate (p = 0.06, p = 0.07, respectively). In conclusion, this study confirmed that large litter size may increase oxidative stress in sows during late gestation and lactation. The data also suggested that this could adversely impact prolactin release, leading to reduced NB.
Bundle Enrichment Method for Nonsmooth Difference of Convex Programming Problems
Authors: Gaudioso Manlio , Taheri Sona , Bagirov Adil M. , Karmitsa Napsu
Published: August 2023

The Bundle Enrichment Method (BEM-DC) is introduced for solving nonsmooth difference of convex (DC) programming problems. The novelty of the method consists of the dynamic management of the bundle. More specifically, a DC model, being the difference of two convex piecewise affine functions, is formulated. The (global) minimization of the model is tackled by solving a set of convex problems whose cardinality depends on the number of linearizations adopted to approximate the second DC component function. The new bundle management policy distributes the information coming from previous iterations to separately model the DC components of the objective function. Such a distribution is driven by the sign of linearization errors. If the displacement suggested by the model minimization provides no sufficient decrease of the objective function, then the temporary enrichment of the cutting plane approximation of just the first DC component function takes place until either the termination of the algorithm is certified or a sufficient decrease is achieved. The convergence of the BEM-DC method is studied, and computational results on a set of academic test problems with nonsmooth DC objective functions are provided.
A Method for Improving Heat Dissipation and Avoiding Charging Effects for Cavity Silicon-on-Glass Structures
Authors: Wang Junduo , Hu Yuwei , Qian Lei , Shan Yameng , Shen Wenjiang
Published: August 2023

Anode bonding is a widely used method for fabricating devices with suspended structures, and this approach is often combined with deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE) for releasing the device; however, the DRIE process with a glass substrate can potentially cause two critical issues: heat accumulation on the suspended surface and charging effects resulting from the reflection of charged particles from the glass substrate. In particular, for torsional bars with narrow widths, the heat accumulated on the suspended surface may not dissipate efficiently, leading to photoresist burning and, subsequently, resulting in the fracture of the torsional bars; moreover, once etching is finished through the silicon diaphragm, the glass surface becomes charged, and incoming ions are reflected towards the back of the silicon, resulting in the etching of the back surface. To address these issues, we proposed a method of growing silicon oxide on the back of the device layer. By designing, simulating, and fabricating electrostatic torsional micromirrors with common cavity silicon-on-glass (SOG) structures, we successfully validated the feasibility of this approach. This approach ensures effective heat dissipation on the suspended surface, even when the structure is over-etched for an extended period, and enables the complete etching of torsional bars without adverse effects due to the overheating problem; additionally, the oxide layer can block ions from reaching the glass surface, thus avoiding the charging effect commonly observed in SOG structures during DRIE.
Incorporating Consumers’ Low-Carbon and Freshness Preferences in Dual-Channel Agri-Foods Supply Chains: An Analysis of Decision-Making Behavior
Authors: Xu Jing , Xiong Shihao , Cui Tingyu , Zhang Dongmei , Li Zhibin
Published: August 2023

The purchasing decisions of consumers increasingly incorporate considerations of freshness and the carbon footprint of agri-foods. This study aims to investigate the impact of consumer preferences on decision-making behavior within dual-channel supply chains. Specifically, it classifies the structure of the supply chain channels into two types: producer-led and seller-led online channels, and examines two distinct decision-making scenarios: centralized and decentralized decision-making. The study applies the game theory modeling method to analyze the differences in the selling prices, freshness, low carbon levels, and profits of agri-foods in these scenarios. The findings indicate that as consumer preference for the online channel grows, it becomes more challenging to sell homogeneous agri-foods at higher prices through physical (entity) channels. Moreover, the introduction of online channels by sellers leads to higher selling prices for agri-foods in the supply chain under decentralized decision-making compared to centralized decision-making, and the freshness and low carbon level of agri-foods primarily depend on the cost structure of the supply chain. From the perspective of enhancing produce quality, promoting low carbon development, and attaining high-quality products at a reasonable price, centralized decision-making within the supply chain and seller-led online channels are more advantageous. However, it is important to note that pursuing these benefits may result in a certain amount of sacrifice in terms of supply chain profit.
Study on Agricultural Machinery-Load-Testing Technology and Equipment Based on Six-Dimensional Force Sensor
Authors: Chen Wei , Cao Guangqiao , Yuan Dong , Ding Yan , Zhu Jiping , Chen Xiaobing
Published: August 2023

Tractor traction power consumption is one of the main causes of energy consumption in agricultural production. Scientific and accurate control of tractor traction power consumption can obviously save energy and reduce consumption. In view of the backward load-testing technology and low measurement accuracy in field work, this study designed an array test equipment, which formed a measurement matrix based on a six-dimensional force sensor to accurately measure tractor hauled load, which could provide a reference signal for intelligent operation. In this paper, the static calibration test was carried out on the six-dimension force sensor, and the linearity, sensitivity, and zero drift were analyzed. The static characteristics of the test unit meet the measurement requirements. A static decoupling model was established. The decoupling errors of each channel were stable at 0.02%FS, 0.02%FS, 0.8%FS, 0.36%FS, 0.018%FS, and 0.06%FS, respectively. Finally, the whole hanging test of the measuring equipment was carried out—the error was 1.24%, −1.2% respectively—to verify the accuracy of the measurement of the sensor device under different working conditions.
Design and Experiment of In Situ Soil-Lifting Shovel for Direct-Injection Straw Deep-Burial Machine
Authors: Tong Zhenwei , Li Hongwen , He Jin , Wang Qingjie , Lu Caiyun , Wang Chao , Zhong Guangyuan , Cui Dandan , Li Dengkun
Published: August 2023

A direct-injection straw deep-burial method was proposed to address the issues of insufficient depth and compaction during the process of straw deep burial. Based on the working principle of oblique cutting, an in situ soil-lifting shovel is designed for oblique cutting of soil and in situ lifting of soil, forming a deep burial space for straw. Elaborating on the working principle of the in situ soil-lifting shovel, we analyzed the stress situation of each stage during the operation process and determined the structural parameter values of the in situ soil-lifting shovel. Using the DEM simulation analysis method, the regression orthogonal simulation test is carried out with the soil-opening angle, the soil-lifting angle, and the camber angle of the in situ soil-lifting shovel as the test indicators, and the number of straws deeply buried and the operational resistance as the evaluation indicators. The regression equation and the response surface mathematical model were established to analyze the influence of the interaction of various factors on the operational performance of the in situ soil-lifting shovel. The simulation results showed that the significant order of effect on the number of straws buried deeply and the operational resistance was camber angle > soil-opening angle > soil-lifting angle. After optimization, the structural parameters were soil-opening angle of 17°, soil-lifting angle of 37°, camber angle of 30°, the corresponding number of straw buried was 228.29, and the operating resistance was 2840.45 N. The average value of operational resistance obtained from the field validation test was 3145.95 N, and the error with the simulation results was only 11%. The quantity of straw buried deeply was 90.21%. The straw deep burial experiment further indicates that the operation effect meets the agronomic requirements of straw deep burial.
Does Contract Length Matter? The Impact of Various Contract-Farming Regimes on Land-Improvement Investment and the Efficiency of Contract Farmers in Pakistan
Authors: Mazhar Rabia , Azadi Hossein , Van Passel Steven , Värnik Rando , Pietrzykowski Marcin , Skominas Rytis , Wei Zou , Xuehao Bi
Published: August 2023

Land-tenure security is integral to local communities’ socioeconomic development. It has been a center of debate in academia and for legislators and advocates to implement reforms to enhance efficient and sustainable development in land management. Yet, knowledge gaps remain in how various contract-farming regimes contribute to land-improvement investment and technical efficiency. This study used a data set of 650 farm households collected through a two-stage stratified sampling to investigate the influence of three contract-farming regimes: long-term, medium-term, and short-term contracts, on the land-improvement investment, productivity, and technical efficiency of contract farmers in Punjab, Pakistan. The study used multivariate probit and ordinary least square regression models to examine the posit relationships. The findings highlight that farmers with long-term land contracts have higher per hectare yield, income and profit than those with medium-term and short-term contracts. The results confirm that farmers with medium- and long-term contracts tend to invest more in land-improvement measures, i.e., organic and green manure. Further, the study findings demonstrate that long-term land tenures are more effective when farmers make decisions regarding the on-farm infrastructure, like tube-well installation, tractor ownership, and holding farm logistics. Last, the study results confirm that long-term contracts are more robust regarding technical efficiency. Moreover, the findings support the Marshallian inefficiency hypothesis and extend the literature on contract farming, land-improvement investment, and land use policy, and offer coherent policy actions for stakeholders to improve farmers’ productivity, technical efficiency, and income.
Recent Advancements in Precision Livestock Farming
Authors: Liu Gang , Guo Hao , Ruchay Alexey , Pezzuolo Andrea
Published: August 2023

The increasing global demand for sustainably sourced animal-derived food has prompted the development and application of smart technologies to address environmental, economic, and societal concerns, resulting in precision livestock farming (PLF) applications [...]
Uncaria tomentosa-Loaded Chitosan Oligomers–Hydroxyapatite–Carbon Nitride Nanocarriers for Postharvest Fruit Protection
Authors: Santiago-Aliste Alberto , Sánchez-Hernández Eva , Buzón-Durán Laura , Marcos-Robles José Luis , Martín-Gil Jesús , Martín-Ramos Pablo
Published: August 2023

Given the risks associated with synthetic fungicides, it is crucial to explore safe and sustainable alternatives. One potential solution is using bioactive natural products (BNPs). However, BNPs face challenges like lability, solubility, and lack of specificity. These issues can be addressed through nanoencapsulation. This study focuses on the evaluation of novel chitosan oligomers–hydroxyapatite–carbon nitride (COS–HAp–g-C3N4) nanocarriers (NCs) for encapsulating BNPs, specifically an extract from Uncaria tomentosa bark. The NCs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. The NCs were monodisperse, with a mean diameter of 250 nm, and showed an encapsulation efficiency of 82%. The suitability of the loaded NCs (COS–HAp–g-C3N4–BNP, in a 2:1:0.5:1 weight ratio) for postharvest fruit protection was investigated in vitro and ex situ at a laboratory scale. Results regarding their efficacy against Botrytis cinerea on strawberries, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on mangoes, Penicillium expansum on apples, Monilinia laxa on peaches, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on kiwifruit are presented. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of 250, 375, 375, 250, and 187.5 μg·mL−1 were found in vitro, respectively, while higher doses (500, 750, 750, 250, and 375 μg·mL−1, respectively) were needed to achieve effective control in postharvest tests on artificially inoculated fruit. These findings suggest that NCs containing extracts from U. tomentosa bark show promise as biorational agents and as alternatives to conventional fungicides for managing postharvest phytopathogens.
UAV Monitoring Topsoil Moisture in an Alpine Meadow on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Authors: Sang Yazhuan , Yu Shangzhao , Lu Fengshuai , Sun Yi , Wang Shulin , Ade Luji , Hou Fujiang
Published: August 2023

Soil moisture is one of the most critical soil components for sustained plant growth and grassland management. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are gradually replacing manual labor in various aspects of grassland management. However, their potential for monitoring soil moisture in grasslands remains largely unexplored. High vegetation coverage and frequent rainfall in the Tibetan Plateau pose a challenge for personnel working in alpine meadows. To explore the potential of UAV technology for soil moisture detection in these areas, we conducted a rainfall reduction experiment in Maqu County, China to understand the relationships among soil moisture, vegetation coverage, and visible-light images captured using UAVs. The findings indicated a significant correlation between topsoil moisture and the brightness values in visible-light images acquired by UAVs (p < 0.0001). These results demonstrated that visible-light brightness, vegetation coverage, rainfall reduction, and aboveground biomass can be utilized for estimating the topsoil moisture using these images (y = −0.2676 × Brightness + 0.2808 × Vegetation coverage −0.1862 × Rainfall reduction + 0.1357 × Aboveground biomass + 37.77). The model validation worked well (E = 0.8291, RS = −3.58%, RMA = 10.38%, RMSE = 3.5878, Pearson’s r = 0.9631, PSI = 0.0125). This study further addresses the problem of topsoil moisture measurement in flat areas of mesoscale moist alpine meadows and is expected to facilitate the widespread adoption of UAV use in grassland ecology research.
Effects of Inequality of Access to Irrigation and Water Productivity on Paddy Yield in Nigeria
Authors: Wudil Abdulazeez Hudu , Ali Asghar , Usman Muhammad , Radulescu Magdalena , Sass Roman , Prus Piotr , Musa Salihu
Published: August 2023

This study assessed the equity in irrigation water uses and its impacts on paddy yield and water productivity among rice farmers in the Kano River Irrigation Project. Two hundred and twenty-five (225) respondents were used for the data collection from January to June 2021. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal Walli’s test, Tukey kramer post-Hoc test, physical water productivity, and the Logit model. The results indicated that the downstream farmers had the lowest mean yield (1625 kg/acre), lowest access to irrigation water, and lowest irrigation water use (2430 m3/acre). However, they had the highest water productivity (0.66 kg/m3) against 0.44 kg/m3 and 0.58 kg/m3 for middle and upstream farmers, respectively. The logit regression results disclosed that the farm locations, quantity of irrigation water, access to irrigation water, and training on water use were statistically significant determinant of paddy output. Efforts to teach farmers about the actual crop water requirements are needed to promote irrigation water efficiency and conserve scarce resources for other competing users.
The Impact of Viral and Bacterial Co-Infections and Home Antibiotic Treatment in SARS-CoV-2 Hospitalized Patients at the Policlinico Tor Vergata Hospital, Rome, Italy
Authors: Di Lorenzo Andrea , Campogiani Laura , Iannetta Marco , Iannazzo Roberta , Imeneo Alessandra , Alessio Grazia , D’Aquila Veronica , Massa Barbara , Fato Ilenia , Rindi Lorenzo Vittorio , Malagnino Vincenzo , Teti Elisabetta , Andreoni Massimo , Sarmati Loredana
Published: August 2023

Co-infections during COVID-19 may worsen patients’ outcomes. This study reports the results of a screening assessing the presence of co-infections among patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Infectious Diseases-Ward of the Policlinico Tor Vergata Hospital, Rome, Italy, from 1 January to 31 December 2021. Data on hepatitis B and C virus, urinary antigens for legionella pneumophila and streptococcus pneumoniae, pharyngeal swab for respiratory viruses, QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus assay (QFT-P), blood cultures and pre-hospitalization antibiotic prescription were recorded. A total of 482 patients were included, 61% males, median age of 65 years (IQR 52–77), median Charlson comorbidity index of 4 (IQR 2–5). The mortality rate was 12.4%; 366 patients needed oxygen supply. In total, 151 patients (31.3%) received home antibiotics without any association with the outcome. No significant association between mortality and the positivity of viral hepatitis markers was found. Out of 442 patients, 125 had an indeterminate QFT-P, associated with increased mortality. SARS-CoV-2 was the only respiratory virus detected among 389 pharyngeal swabs; 15/428 patients were positive for S. pneumoniae; none for L. pneumophila. In total, 237 blood cultures were drawn within 48 h from hospital admission: 28 were positive and associated with increased mortality. In our cohort, bacterial and viral co-infections in COVID-19 hospitalized patients were rare and not associated with higher mortality.
Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals the Gut Microbiota Characteristics of Diarrheal Piglets Treated with Gentamicin
Authors: Shang Lijun , Yang Fengjuan , Wei Yushu , Dai Ziqi , Chen Qingyun , Zeng Xiangfang , Qiao Shiyan , Yu Haitao
Published: August 2023

The involvement of alterations in gut microbiota composition due to the use of antibiotics has been widely observed. However, a clear picture of the influences of gentamicin, which is employed for the treatment of bacterial diarrhea in animal production, are largely unknown. Here, we addressed this problem using piglet models susceptible to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4, which were treated with gentamicin. Gentamicin significantly alleviated diarrhea and intestinal injury. Through 16s RNS sequencing, it was found that gentamicin increased species richness but decreased community evenness. Additionally, clear clustering was observed between the gentamicin-treated group and the other groups. More importantly, with the establishment of a completely different microbial structure, a novel metabolite composition profile was formed. KEGG database annotation revealed that arachidonic acid metabolism and vancomycin resistance were the most significantly downregulated and upregulated pathways after gentamicin treatment, respectively. Meanwhile, we identified seven possible targets of gentamicin closely related to these two functional pathways through a comprehensive analysis. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that gentamicin therapy for diarrhea is associated with the downregulation of arachidonic acid metabolism. During this process, intestinal microbiota dysbiosis is induced, leading to increased levels of the vancomycin resistance pathway. An improved understanding of the roles of these processes will advance the conception and realization of new therapeutic and preventive strategies.
Oxidative Stress in Liver Pathophysiology and Disease
Authors: Allameh Abdolamir , Niayesh-Mehr Reyhaneh , Aliarab Azadeh , Sebastiani Giada , Pantopoulos Kostas
Published: August 2023

The liver is an organ that is particularly exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS), which not only arise during metabolic functions but also during the biotransformation of xenobiotics. The disruption of redox balance causes oxidative stress, which affects liver function, modulates inflammatory pathways and contributes to disease. Thus, oxidative stress is implicated in acute liver injury and in the pathogenesis of prevalent infectious or metabolic chronic liver diseases such as viral hepatitis B or C, alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Moreover, oxidative stress plays a crucial role in liver disease progression to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we provide an overview on the effects of oxidative stress on liver pathophysiology and the mechanisms by which oxidative stress promotes liver disease.
Nitric Oxide Induces Autophagy in Triticum aestivum Roots
Authors: Minibayeva Farida , Mazina Anastasia , Gazizova Natalia , Dmitrieva Svetlana , Ponomareva Anastasia , Rakhmatullina Daniya
Published: August 2023

Autophagy is a highly conserved process that degrades damaged macromolecules and organelles. Unlike animals, only scant information is available regarding nitric oxide (NO)-induced autophagy in plants. Such lack of information prompted us to study the roles of the NO donors’ nitrate, nitrite, and sodium nitroprusside in this catabolic process in wheat roots. Furthermore, spermine, a polyamine that is found in all eukaryotic cells, was also tested as a physiological NO donor. Here, we show that in wheat roots, NO donors and spermine can trigger autophagy, with NO and reactive oxygen species (ROS) playing signaling roles based on the visualization of autophagosomes, analyses of the levels of NO, ROS, mitochondrial activity, and the expression of autophagic (ATG) genes. Treatment with nitrite and nitroprusside causes an energy deficit, a typical prerequisite of autophagy, which is indicated by a fall in mitochondrial potential, and the activity of mitochondrial complexes. On the contrary, spermine sustains energy metabolism by upregulating the activity of appropriate genes, including those that encode glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase GAPDH and SNF1-related protein kinase 1 SnRK1. Taken together, our data suggest that one of the key roles for NO in plants may be to trigger autophagy via diverse mechanisms, thus facilitating the removal of oxidized and damaged cellular constituencies.
Advanced Bayesian Network for Task Effort Estimation in Agile Software Development
Authors: Turic Mili , Celar Stipe , Dragicevic Srdjana , Vickovic Linda
Published: August 2023

Effort estimation is always quite a challenge, especially for agile software development projects. This paper describes the process of building a Bayesian network model for effort prediction in agile development. Very few studies have addressed the application of Bayesian networks to assess agile development efforts. Some research has not been validated in practice, and some has been validated on one or two projects. This paper aims to bring the implementation and use of Bayesian networks for effort prediction closer to the practitioners. This process consists of two phases. The Bayesian network model for task effort estimation is constructed and validated in the first phase on real agile projects. A relatively small model showed satisfactory estimation accuracy, but only five output intervals were used. The model was proven to be useful in daily work, but the project manager wanted to obtain more output intervals, although increasing the number of output intervals reduces the prediction accuracy. In the second phase, the focus is on increasing the number of output intervals while maintaining satisfactory accuracy. The advanced model for task effort estimation is developed and tested on real projects of two software firms.
Effects of Processing Conditions on the Properties of Porous Diatomite Granules Prepared by Sodium Alginate Gelation
Authors: Sosa Lucio Maria , Oh Eun-Ji , Ha Jang-Hoon , Lee Jongman , Lee Hong-Joo , Song In-Hyuck
Published: August 2023

The proper application of millimeter-sized spherical porous ceramic supports in catalytic operations relies on their ease of handling, convenient separation, recyclability, high-catalyst-solid loading, and the optimum mass transfer of reactants and products. However, common granulation techniques of spherical carriers entail complex liquid-phase-based processes under severe conditions and the use of toxic or expensive reagents. The present study discusses the manufacturing of porous ceramic granules derived from an inexpensive silica source (diatomite, solid network) and a biopolymer cross-linked by ion exchange (sodium alginate, patterning structure). The results indicated that, with fixed granulation conditions, porous diatomite granules with a sphericity of approximately 0.9 could be successfully obtained by optimization of the diatomite/sodium alginate dispersion to a 30.07 wt.% solid content and 1560 mPa·s viscosity (at ~0.3 s−1). Moreover, the described manufacturing process was proven effective in developing hierarchically porous diatomite granules that were heat-treated at 1200 °C with high sphericity (~0.9), acceptable compressive strength (5.17 ± 0.31 MPa), and porosity features (total porosity: 69.0 ± 2.9%, macropore size: 2.777 μm, mesopore size: 35.34 nm), establishing them as well-matched support materials for either catalytic or adsorption applications.
RepNet: A Lightweight Human Pose Regression Network Based on Re-Parameterization
Authors: Zhang Xinjing , Zhou Qixun
Published: August 2023

Human pose estimation, as the basis of advanced computer vision, has a wide application perspective. In existing studies, the high-capacity model based on the heatmap method can achieve accurate recognition results, but it encounters many difficulties when used in real-world scenarios. To solve this problem, we propose a lightweight pose regression algorithm (RepNet) that introduces a multi-parameter network structure, fuses multi-level features, and combines the idea of residual likelihood estimation. A well-designed convolutional architecture is used for training. By reconstructing the parameters of each level, the network model is simplified, and the computation time and efficiency of the detection task are optimized. The prediction performance is also improved by the output of the maximum likelihood model and the reversible transformation of the underlying distribution learned by the flow generation model. RepNet achieves a recognition accuracy of 66.1 AP on the COCO dataset, at a computational speed of 15 ms on GPU and 40 ms on CPU. This resolves the contradiction between prediction accuracy and computational complexity and contributes to research in lightweight pose estimation.