bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptomic and lipidomic analysis of the differential pathway contribution to the incorporation of erucic acid to triacylglycerol during Pennycress seed maturation
Authors: Claver Ana , Luján María Ángeles , Escuín José Manuel , Schilling Marion , Jouhet Juliette , Savirón María , López M. Victoria , Picorel Rafael , Jarne Carmen , Cebolla Vicente L. , Alfonso Miguel
Published: April 2024

Thlaspi arvense (Pennycress) is an emerging feedstock for biofuel production because of its high seed oil content enriched in erucic acid. A transcriptomic and a lipidomic study were performed to analyze the dynamics of gene expression, glycerolipid content and acyl-group distribution during seed maturation. Genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis were expressed at the early stages of seed maturation. Genes encoding enzymes of the Kennedy pathway like diacylglycerol acyltransferase1 (TaDGAT1), lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (TaLPAT) or glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (TaGPAT) increased their expression with maturation, coinciding with the increase in triacylglycerol species containing 22:1. Positional analysis showed that the most abundant triacylglycerol species contained 18:2 at sn-2 position in all maturation stages, suggesting no specificity of the lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase for very long chain fatty acids. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase2 (TaDGAT2) mRNA was more abundant at the initial maturation stages, coincident with the rapid incorporation of 22:1 to triacylglycerol, suggesting a coordination between Diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzymes for triacylglycerol biosynthesis. Genes encoding the phospholipid-diacylglycerol acyltransferase (TaPDAT1), lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (TaLPCAT) or phosphatidylcholine diacylglycerolcholine phosphotransferase (TaPDCT), involved in acyl-editing or phosphatidyl-choline (PC)-derived diacylglycerol (DAG) biosynthesis showed also higher expression at the early maturation stages, coinciding with a higher proportion of triacylglycerol containing C18 fatty acids. These results suggested a higher contribution of these two pathways at the early stages of seed maturation. Lipidomic analysis of the content and acyl-group distribution of diacylglycerol and phosphatidyl-choline pools was compatible with the acyl content in triacylglycerol at the different maturation stages. Our data point to a model in which a strong temporal coordination between pathways and isoforms in each pathway, both at the expression and acyl-group incorporation, contribute to high erucic triacylglycerol accumulation in Pennycress.
Does sadness bring myopia: an intertemporal choice experiment with college students
Authors: Lei Peng , Zhang Hao , Zheng Wenyu , Zhang Luoyi
Published: April 2024

Introduction

While economics often interprets individual intertemporal choice preferences through the rationality assumption of utility maximization, the reality is that as emotional beings, individuals’ preferences for intertemporal behavior are much more diverse and inconsistent. Prior research has predominantly focused on positive or negative emotions based on prospect theory, such as anxiety, anger, disgust, and depression. However, there has been relatively little research on how sadness affects individuals’ preferences for immediate and future rewards.

Methods

In this study, 170 college students are recruited as participants, and their emotions are primed with a video before engaging in an intertemporal task. Covariance analysis and logit regression model are established to examine the main and interactive effects of sadness on individuals’ immediate reward preferences.

Results

The findings reveal that sadness led individuals to prefer smaller immediate rewards, demonstrating a more myopic behavioral pattern, but didn’t affect time discount rate. As the reward baseline increases, sadness’s impact on immediate reward preferences is more pronounced, exacerbating individuals’ myopic behavior.

Discussion

In conclusion, these findings underscore the importance of considering emotional states in economic decision-making models and suggest avenues for future research to explore the complex dynamics of emotions and intertemporal choices.
Pet attachment and owner personality
Authors: Wells Deborah L. , Treacy Kathryn R.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Research points to a relationship between owner personality and strength of attachment to one’s pet, with implications for psychological health. So far, studies in this area, albeit sparse, have focused on the ‘Big Five’ traits of owner personality. The ‘Dark Triad’ is a cluster of traits that has also been linked to emotional deficits, but has been overlooked in relation to pet attachment. This study therefore examined the association between owner personality and pet attachment, focusing on both the ‘Big Five’ and ‘Dark Triad’ traits of personality.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was employed to collect quantitative data from dog and cat owners across the globe between May-June 2023. A purpose-designed online survey collected sociodemographic details, along with information on pet ownership, strength of the pet-owner bond and participant personality, assessed using the Big Five personality scale and the Short Dark Triad scale. The survey was fully completed by 759 dog and 179 cat owners.

Results

Analysis revealed significant correlations between many of the participants’ personality traits, both within and between scales. Strength of pet attachment was positively correlated with neuroticism and conscientiousness, and, more weakly, to Machiavellianism. Regression analysis revealed that females, dog owners, people over the age of 50 and individuals who had children under 18 years to care for were more strongly attached to their pets than others. Both neuroticism and conscientiousness were found to be significant predictors of participants’ pet attachment scores. None of the Dark Triad traits significantly predicted the criterion.

Discussion

This study points to a relationship between strength of attachment to one’s pet and owner personality, at least as measured using the Big Five approach to personality assessment. There was little to support an association between the Dark Triad traits and strength of attachment to one’s pet, although the link between these characteristics and attachment styles is still unknown. The investigation lends support for the idea that high attachment levels are associated with personality traits aligned to psychological ill-health. Further work is recommended in this area, with a greater focus on both strength and quality (e.g., attachment style) of the pet-owner bond.
The relationship between health-promoting behaviors and negative emotions in college freshmen: a cross-lagged analysis
Authors: Tao YunFei , Wu JinLong , Huang Li , Zheng KangYong , Liu HaoWei , Tian HaoDong , Peng Li
Published: April 2024

Background

The prevalence of mental health issues has been gradually increasing among college students in recent years. Improvements in mental health can be achieved through changes in daily behavior and the use of psychological counseling. This study aims to investigate the relationship between health-promoting behaviors and negative emotions among college freshmen as they enter the university. It also examines the impact of various sub-dimensions of health-promoting behaviors and other factors on the negative emotions (stress, anxiety, and depression) experienced by college freshmen.

Methods

Using the Negative Emotion and Health-Promoting Behavior scales, a 7-month longitudinal study was conducted on 4,252 college freshmen, with collection of data at two time points (T1: November 12, 2021; T2: June 17, 2022). Out of this longitudinal study, 3,632 valid samples were obtained. This research aimed to explore the association and impact between negative emotions and the level of health-promoting behaviors among college students during their time at the university.

Results

① There were significant differences in the levels of health-promoting behaviors and negative emotions over the course of 7 months (P < 0.05). Health-promoting behaviors were found to have a significant negative correlation with negative emotions (P < 0.05). ② Negative emotions at T1 significantly negatively predicted health-promoting behaviors at T2 (β = −0.11, P < 0.01), while health-promoting behaviors at T1 significantly negatively predicted negative emotions at T2 (β = −0.12, P < 0.001). ③ Stress management (β = −0.104, P < 0.05; β = −0.087, P < 0.05), self-actualization (β = −0.282, P < 0.01; β = −0.260, P < 0.05), health responsibility (β = −0.057, P < 0.05; β = −0.088, P < 0.05), and interpersonal relations (β = 0.068, P < 0.01; β = 0.138, P < 0.05) were important components in improving stress and anxiety. Self-actualization (β = −0.437, P < 0.001), exercise (β = 0.048, P < 0.001), nutrition (β = 0.044, P < 0.001), and interpersonal relations (β = 0.065, P < 0.001) were important components in improving depression. ④ Gender, place of household registration, and whether the individual is the only child were significant factors affecting negative emotions in college freshmen.

Conclusion

The level of health-promoting behaviors is an important indicator for assessing the negative emotional states of college freshmen. Enhancing health-promoting behaviors across various dimensions can help alleviate different types of negative emotions. Gender, place of household registration, and being the only child are significant factors that influence negative emotions.
Non-linear relationship of serum albumin-to-globulin ratio and cognitive function in American older people: a cross-sectional national health and nutrition examination survey 2011–2014 (NHANES) study
Authors: Yang Hang , Liao Zhenyi , Zhou Ye , Gao Zhenzhen , Mao Yajun
Published: April 2024

Background

Inflammation and liver function are associated with cognitive decline and dementia. Little is known about the serum albumin-to-globulin ratio on cognitive function.

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between albumin-to-globulin ratio and cognitive function among the American older people.

Methods

The public data available on the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2014 was used for this cross-sectional study. Participants aged ≥60 years completed the cognitive function assessments, including word learning and recall modules from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD), the animal fluency (AF) test, and the digit symbol substitution test (DSST). A composite cognition score was calculated to evaluate global cognition. The univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis, curve fitting, a threshold effect, along with a subgroup analysis and interaction tests were conducted.

Results

Serum albumin-to-globulin ratio (per 0.1 unit) was positively associated DSST score (β = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.51), AF score (β = 0.1, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.16) and global cognition score (β = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.07), after being fully adjusted, while albumin-to-globulin ratio was not related to CERAD score (β = 0.05, 95% CI: −0.02, 0.12). A non-linear was observed in the dose–response relationship between albumin-to-globulin ratio and global cognition (P for non-linearity < 0.001). The subgroup analysis was overall stable, yet the interaction test was significant for age on global cognition (P for interaction = 0.036).

Conclusion

The findings of this cross-sectional study suggested a positive and non-linear association between albumin-to-globulin ratio and cognitive function in the American older people. Maintaining albumin-to-globulin ratio with an appropriate range may be one of the therapeutic strategies to limit the progression of cognitive decline for the older people.
On the design of deep learning-based control algorithms for visually guided UAVs engaged in power tower inspection tasks
Authors: Maitre Guillaume , Martinot Dimitri , Tuci Elio
Published: April 2024

This paper focuses on the design of Convolution Neural Networks to visually guide an autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle required to inspect power towers. The network is required to precisely segment images taken by a camera mounted on a UAV in order to allow a motion module to generate collision-free and inspection-relevant manoeuvres of the UAV along different types of towers. The images segmentation process is particularly challenging not only because of the different structures of the towers but also because of the enormous variability of the background, which can vary from the uniform blue of the sky to the multi-colour complexity of a rural, forest, or urban area. To be able to train networks that are robust enough to deal with the task variability, without incurring into a labour-intensive and costly annotation process of physical-world images, we have carried out a comparative study in which we evaluate the performances of networks trained either with synthetic images (i.e., the synthetic dataset), physical-world images (i.e., the physical-world dataset), or a combination of these two types of images (i.e., the hybrid dataset). The network used is an attention-based U-NET. The synthetic images are created using photogrammetry, to accurately model power towers, and simulated environments modelling a UAV during inspection of different power towers in different settings. Our findings reveal that the network trained on the hybrid dataset outperforms the networks trained with the synthetic and the physical-world image datasets. Most notably, the networks trained with the hybrid dataset demonstrates a superior performance on multiples evaluation metrics related to the image-segmentation task. This suggests that, the combination of synthetic and physical-world images represents the best trade-off to minimise the costs related to capturing and annotating physical-world images, and to maximise the task performances. Moreover, the results of our study demonstrate the potential of photogrammetry in creating effective training datasets to design networks to automate the precise movement of visually-guided UAVs.
Being an older person: modulation of walking speed with geriatric walking motion avatars
Authors: Koseki Yusuke , Amemiya Tomohiro
Published: April 2024

The phenomenon of one’s walking speed being affected by that of other pedestrians on the street is often observed in real-world scenarios. However, the effects of the motion and familiarity of avatars on a user in virtual reality have not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, this study explored how alterations in human avatars affect the walking speed and sensation of users. Furthermore, walking speed has been shown to be influenced not only by visual perception but also by cognition. However, few studies have investigated the relationships between visual perception, cognition, and behavior. Therefore, we examined the relationships between stereotypical words for older people, a representative example of cognition-induced changes in walking speed, and visual perception stimuli of avatars. The results revealed a significant interaction between the stereotype and avatar walking motion. In particular, in the absence of the stereotype, participants were strongly affected by the older walking motion of the avatar, and their walking speed decreased. We also found that the walking motion of avatars significantly affects participants walking speed and sensation. These findings provide pioneering insights into the psychological factors that regulate human walking speed and propose a new method for manipulating the user’s walking speed and sensation in VR space.
Developing key indicators for sustainable food system: a comprehensive application of stakeholder consultations and Delphi method
Authors: Rittirong Jongjit , Chuenglertsiri Pattraporn , Nitnara Pimolpan , Phulkerd Sirinya
Published: April 2024

The overall status of the food system in Thailand is currently unknown. Although several national and international reports describe Thailand food system, they are not accurate and relevant to inform policies. This study aims to develop indicators which measure Thailand’s sustainable food system. We adopted seven-dimensional metrics proposed by Gustafson to facilitate a comparative analysis of food systems, namely (1) food nutrient adequacy; (2) ecosystem stability; (3) food availability and affordability; (4) sociocultural well-being; (5) food safety; (6) resilience; and (7) waste and loss reduction. Three rounds of the Delphi method were convened to assess the proposed indicators using the Item Objective Congruence (IOC) by 48 Thai stakeholders recruited from the government, NGOs, and academia. IOC is a procedure used in test development for evaluating content validity at the item development stage. In each round, the average IOC for each item was carefully considered, together with stakeholders’ comments on whether to retain, remove, or recruit new indicators. The communication through mail and email was sent out so that stakeholders could assess independently. A total of 88 and 73 indicators went to the first and second round Delphi assessment; this resulted in 62 final indicators after the third round. In conclusion, these 62 indicators and 190 sub-indicators are too many for policy uses. As an ongoing indicator development, we plan that these 62 indicators will be further tested in different settings to assess data feasibility. After field tests, the final prioritized indicators will be submitted for policy decisions for regular national monitoring and informing policy toward sustainable food systems in Thailand.
Mission Planning of UAVs and UGV for Building Inspection in Rural Area
Authors: Chen Xiao , Wu Yu , Xu Shuting
Published: April 2024

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become increasingly popular in the civil field, and building inspection is one of the most promising applications. In a rural area, the UAVs are assigned to inspect the surface of buildings, and an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) is introduced to carry the UAVs to reach the rural area and also serve as a charging station. In this paper, the mission planning problem for UAVs and UGV systems is focused on, and the goal is to realize an efficient inspection of buildings in a specific rural area. Firstly, the mission planning problem (MPP) involving UGVs and UAVs is described, and an optimization model is established with the objective of minimizing the total UAV operation time, fully considering the impact of UAV operation time and its cruising capability. Subsequently, the locations of parking points are determined based on the information about task points. Finally, a hybrid ant colony optimization-genetic algorithm (ACO-GA) is designed to solve the problem. The update mechanism of ACO is incorporated into the selection operation of GA. At the same time, the GA is improved and the defects that make GA easy to fall into local optimal and ACO have insufficient searching ability are solved. Simulation results demonstrate that the ACO-GA algorithm can obtain reasonable solutions for MPP, and the search capability of the algorithm is enhanced, presenting significant advantages over the original GA and ACO.
Rapid Tracking Satellite Servo Control for Three-Axis Satcom-on-the-Move Antenna
Authors: Ren Jiao , Ji Xiaoxiang , Han Lei , Li Jianghong , Song Shubiao , Wu Yafeng
Published: April 2024

To overcome the possible gimbal lock problem of the dual-axis satcom-on-the-move (SOTM) antenna, a three-axis tracking satellite SOTM antenna structure appears. The three-axis SOTM antenna is realized by adding a roll axis to the azimuth axis and pitch axis in the dual-axis SOTM structure. There is coupling among the azimuth axis, pitch axis and roll axis in the mechanical structure of the three-axis SOTM antenna, which makes the kinematic modeling of the antenna difficult. This paper introduces a three-axis SOTM antenna kinematic modeling method based on the modified Denavit–Hartenberg (MDH) method, named the new modified Denavit–Hartenberg (NMDH) method. In order to meet the modeling requirements of the MDH method, the NMDH method adds virtual coordinate systems and auxiliary coordinate systems to the three-axis SOTM antenna and obtains the kinematic model of the three-axis SOTM antenna. During the motion of the carrier, the SOTM antenna needs to adjust the antenna pointing in real time according to the changes of the location and attitude of the moving carrier. Therefore, this paper designs a servo control system based on the active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC), introducing a smooth and continuous ADRC fal function to enhance the tracking speed of the servo control system and reduce the overshoot of the output response. Finally, system experiments were carried out with a 60 cm caliber three-axis SOTM antenna. The experiment results show that the proposed servo control method achieves higher antenna tracking satellite accuracy and better communication effects.
Damage Effects and Mechanisms of High-Power Microwaves on Double Heterojunction GaN HEMT
Authors: Ma Zhenyang , Liu Dexu , Yuan Shun , Duan Zhaobin , Wu Zhijun
Published: April 2024

In this paper, simulation modeling was carried out using Sentaurus Technology Computer-Aided Design. Two types of high electron mobility transistors (HEMT), an AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN double heterojunction and AlGaN/GaN single heterojunction, were designed and compared. The breakdown characteristics and damage mechanisms of the two devices under the injection of high-power microwaves (HPM) were studied. The variation in current density and peak temperature inside the device was analyzed. The effect of Al components at different layers of the device on the breakdown of HEMTs is discussed. The effect and law of the power damage threshold versus pulse width when the device was subjected to HPM signals was verified. It was shown that the GaN HEMT was prone to thermal breakdown below the gate, near the carrier channels. A moderate increase in the Al component can effectively increased the breakdown voltage of the device. Compared with the single heterojunction, the double heterojunction HEMT devices were more sensitive to Al components. The high domain-limiting characteristics effectively inhibited the overflow of channel electrons into the buffer layer, which in turn regulated the current density inside the device and improved the temperature distribution. The leakage current was reduced and the device switching characteristics and breakdown voltage were improved. Moreover, the double heterojunction device had little effect on HPM power damage and high damage resistance. Therefore, a theoretical foundation is proposed in this paper, indicating that double heterojunction devices are more stable compared to single heterojunction devices and are more suitable for applications in aviation equipment operating in high-frequency and high-voltage environments. In addition, double heterojunction GaN devices have higher radiation resistance than SiC devices of the same generation.
BerryNet-Lite: A Lightweight Convolutional Neural Network for Strawberry Disease Identification
Authors: Wang Jianping , Li Zhiyu , Gao Guohong , Wang Yan , Zhao Chenping , Bai Haofan , Lv Yingying , Zhang Xueyan , Li Qian
Published: April 2024

With the rapid advancements in computer vision, using deep learning for strawberry disease recognition has emerged as a new trend. However, traditional identification methods heavily rely on manual discernment, consuming valuable time and imposing significant financial losses on growers. To address these challenges, this paper presents BerryNet-Lite, a lightweight network designed for precise strawberry disease identification. First, a comprehensive dataset, encompassing various strawberry diseases at different maturity levels, is curated. Second, BerryNet-Lite is proposed, utilizing transfer learning to expedite convergence through pre-training on extensive datasets. Subsequently, we introduce expansion convolution into the receptive field expansion, promoting more robust feature extraction and ensuring accurate recognition. Furthermore, we adopt the efficient channel attention (ECA) as the attention mechanism module. Additionally, we incorporate a multilayer perceptron (MLP) module to enhance the generalization capability and better capture the abstract features. Finally, we present a novel classification head design approach which effectively combines the ECA and MLP modules. Experimental results demonstrate that BerryNet-Lite achieves an impressive accuracy of 99.45%. Compared to classic networks like ResNet34, VGG16, and AlexNet, BerryNet-Lite showcases superiority across metrics, including loss value, accuracy, precision, F1-score, and parameters. It holds significant promise for applications in strawberry disease identification.
Perceived Organizational Support, Inter-Temporal Choice, and Farmer Conservation Tillage Adoption
Authors: Zhang Tong , Lang Liangming , Zhao Nan , Lu Qian , Sun Bailiang
Published: April 2024

To solve the problem of the insufficient driving force and low adoption rate of conservation tillage adoption and to enhance the effect of industrial organization in influencing technology diffusion, this paper explored the relationship and the mechanism of perceived organizational support and inter-temporal choice in the adoption of conservation tillage by using micro-research data from 725 melon farmers in the Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces in China and by applying the experimental economics method to obtain the inter-temporal choices of the farmers. This paper also analyzed farmers’ risk preferences’ moderating effect on the relationship between inter-temporal choice and conservation tillage. Additionally, it examined the impact of perceived organizational support on the differentiation of different conservation tillage technologies. The study found that perceived organizational support significantly contributes to adopting zero tillage and minimum tillage, and water-saving irrigation. Perceived organizational support was not conducive to farmers’ adoption of furrow and ridge tillage. The impact of perceived organizational support on technology adoption is heterogeneous, depending on the differences in the size of the family’s cultivated land. The inter-temporal choice of farmers significantly impedes the adoption of conservation tillage. The increase in risk preference helps alleviate the hindering effect of inter-temporal choice on farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage. Perceived organizational support can promote the adoption of conservation tillage by reducing farmers’ inter-temporal choices. Inter-temporal choice is an essential mechanism by which perceived organizational support affects the adoption of conservation tillage. Compared with the existing studies, this paper incorporates the technology-attribute-induced inter-temporal choice of farmers into the impact analysis framework and considers the relationship between perceived organizational support, inter-temporal choice, and the adoption of conservation tillage and the mechanism of its action. The findings of the study provide a theoretical basis for the enrichment of incentive mechanisms for the adoption of conservation tillage, which is of great significance for the improvement of the tool for the integration of small farmers in developing countries into the industrial activities of the new agricultural business central bodies and for promoting the diffusion of conservation tillage in agriculture.
A New Method to Obtain Infective Ustilago maydis Binucleate Conidia for Corn Smut Production
Authors: Tello-Salgado Isaac , Hernández-Castañeda Dulce Teresa , Montiel-Arcos Elizur , Nava-García Elizabeth , Martínez-Carrera Daniel
Published: April 2024

The fungus Ustilago maydis produces galls or tumors on corn ears called corn smut or huitlacoche. Used for human consumption in several countries for its nutritional and sensory traits, huitlacoche is considered a delicacy in Mexican cuisine and has a significant economic value. Hybrid U. maydis strains are regularly used for the large-scale production of huitlacoche; however, depending on the genetic characteristics of the parent strains, the pathogenicity and infection rate of hybrid fungi are often suboptimal due to compatibility issues between different strains. Using double-loaded organisms is common in agriculture to improve product characteristics, performance, and shelf-life. A methodology to obtain unicellular U. maydis strains with a double genetic load (n + n) capable of producing galls on corn ears without mating (hybridization) is reported herein. This methodology resulted in 206 U. maydis isolates. Screening showed that 147 corn plants (>70%) underwent infection and gall production. Of the 147 gall-producing U. maydis strains, those with the highest field performance were selected. Three strains, Um-UAEMor-78 (yielding 21.65 ton/ha), Um-UAEMor-120 (22.31 ton/ha), and Um-UAEMor-187 (22.99 ton/ha), showed higher yields than the control strain, CP-436(a1b1) × CP-437(a2b2) (17.80 ton/ha). A specific methodology to obtain unicellular U. maydis strains with a double genetic load capable of infecting baby corn ears and forming galls is described for the first time, providing a novel alternative for producing huitlacoche and helping to improve the yields and morphological traits of galls.
Analysis of the Impact of Different Improvement Methods Based on YOLOV8 for Weed Detection
Authors: He Cuncai , Wan Fangxin , Ma Guojun , Mou Xiaobin , Zhang Kaikai , Wu Xiangfeng , Huang Xiaopeng
Published: April 2024

In response to the issues of missed detection, false positives, and low recognition rates for specific weed species during weed detection, a YOLOv8-based improved weed detection algorithm named EDS-YOLOv8 is proposed. Improvements were made in three main aspects. First, the YOLOv8 backbone network was enhanced with EfficientViT and RepViT architectures to improve the detection capability of dense-type weeds. Second, different attention mechanisms were added, such as SimAM and EMA, to learn 3D weights and achieve full fusion of features. BiFormer was introduced for dynamic sparse attention and resource allocation. Third, significant module improvement involved introducing dynamic snake convolution into the C2f module to further enhance detection capabilities for deformable objects, especially needle-shaped weeds. The improved model is validated on the established weed dataset. The results show that combining the original backbone network with dynamic snake convolutions yields the highest performance improvement. Precision, recall, mAP (0.5), and mAP (0.5:0.95) are improved by 5.6%, 5.8%, 6.4%, and 1%, respectively, and ablation experiments on the effects of the three improvement methods on model performance show that using EfficientViT as the backbone network while simultaneously improving the crucial module and adding the SimAM attention mechanism effectively enhances the model’s performance. Precision, recall, mAP (0.5), and mAP (0.5:0.95) are improved by 6%, 5.9%, 6.4%, and 0.7%, respectively.
Research Progress of the Functional Properties of Fruit and Vegetables and Their Preserves
Authors: Sadowska Anna , Najman Katarzyna , Świderski Franciszek
Published: April 2024

Fruits, vegetables, and their products are prized for their sensory values and play a very important role in our diet [...]
Impacts of the National Nutrition Plan 2017–2030 on Listed Agrifood Enterprises: A Financial Statement Perspective
Authors: Chen Jianxiong , Yang Chung-Cheng , Lin Yu
Published: April 2024

The Chinese government promulgated the National Nutrition Plan 2017–2030 to provide scientific guidance for agrifood consumption and enhance nutrition intake. We categorized the sample into pre-2018 and post-2018 periods. By evaluating the effects of the National Nutrition Plan 2017–2030 through economic theory and a translog revenue function model based on financial statement data from 2015 to 2022, our findings indicate that the National Nutrition Plan 2017–2030 has increased the overall agrifood sales of listed agrifood enterprises, but the increase in agrifood sales produced by large listed agrifood enterprises has been slight. Finally, we offer policy recommendations for regulatory authorities and develop strategies for agrifood firms to encourage local food procurement. This study also contributes to our understanding of China’s agrifood industry dynamics and underscores the significance of the National Nutrition Plan 2017–2030 in enhancing nutritional intake and fostering sustainable growth in China’s agriculture industry.
Effects of Dark Treatment on Lignin and Cellulose Synthesis in Celery
Authors: Zhu Shunhua , Zhong Xiulai , Zhang Xinqi , Xiong Aisheng , Luo Qing , Wang Kun , Li Mengyao , Tan Guofei
Published: April 2024

To clarify the impact of continuous dark stress on lignin and cellulose synthesis in celery, shade-tolerant celery varieties were screened. Yellow celery variety ‘Qianhuang No.1’ and green celery variety ‘Qianlv No.1’ were separately grown in vegetable greenhouses. Dark treatments were applied using PVC shading sleeves for 4, 8, 12, and 16 d after celery had grown 10–13 true leaf blades. This study aimed to investigate the impact of varying periods of dark treatment on the morphological characteristics, lignin accumulation, and cellulose accumulation in celery. The results showed that dark treatment led to celery yellowing, a reduced stem thickness, and an increased plant height. Analysis of lignin and cellulose contents, as well as the expression of related genes, showed that dark treatment caused down-regulation of AgLAC, AgC3′H, AgCCR, AgPOD and AgCAD genes, leading to changes in lignin accumulation. Dark treatment inhibited the expression of the AgCesA6 gene, thus affecting cellulose synthesis. Under dark conditions, the expression of AgF5H and AgHCT genes had little effect on lignin content in celery, and the expression of the AgCslD3 gene had little effect on cellulose content. Analysis of morphological characteristics, lignin accumulation and cellulose accumulation after different lengths of dark treatment demonstrated that ‘Qianlv No.1’ is a shade-tolerant variety in contrast to ‘Qianhuang No.1’.
Simulation Model for Assessing High-Temperature Stress on Rice
Authors: Zhou Haoyang , Chen Xianguan , Li Minglu , Shi Chunlin , Jiang Min
Published: April 2024

Rice is a staple grain crop extensively cultivated in Fujian Province, China. This study examined the impact of high-temperature stress on rice yield and its components, focusing on four representative rice varieties, including early and middle rice grown in Fujian Province. Results indicate significant yield losses, with the most severe reduction of 60.8% observed during the flowering stage of early rice and over 40% during the meiosis and flowering stages of middle rice. High-temperature stress primarily affects early rice yield more at the flowering stage than at the grain-filling stage, whereas in middle rice, it is more severe at the meiosis stage than at the flowering stage. Leveraging historical climatic data spanning the past 20 years, a simulation model for high-temperature stress on rice yield was developed to assess disaster-induced yield loss rates, aiming to enhance prevention and disaster damage assessment for rice under high-temperature stress. Application of the model to four rice planting sites in Fujian Province revealed contrasting temporal changes between loss rates and meteorological yield, with middle rice experiencing more severe damage than early rice. The model’s effectiveness is validated by the strong correspondence between yield loss rate and meteorological yield across different regions, highlighting its robust simulation capabilities.
Alginate Oligosaccharide Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Apoptosis and Inflammatory Response of Rumen Epithelial Cells through NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Qiu Xiaoyuan , Yin Fuquan , Du Chunmei , Ma Jian , Gan Shangquan
Published: April 2024

AOS alleviates inflammatory responses; however, whether it exerts an effect on the rumen or regulates rumen inflammatory reaction remains unknown. In this study, firstly, the ovine ruminal epithelial cells (ORECs) were treated with 0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 µg/mL AOS, hoping to explore whether AOS hurt cell health. The results showed that compared with the AOS-0 group, the AOS-400 group could significantly increase (p < 0.05) cell viability, reduce (p < 0.05) reactive oxygen species (ROS) and interleukin (IL)-6 content, and have no adverse effect on cells. Secondly, we used LPS to construct an in vitro inflammatory model of rumen epithelial cells and then explored the protective role of AOS on rumen epithelial cells. The study was divided into three groups: the control group (CON), LPS, and LPS + AOS. The results demonstrated that the LPS + AOS group significantly increased the cell viability and reduced the ROS level in comparison with the LPS group (p < 0.05). Pretreatment with AOS also repressed (p < 0.05) the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and immunoglobulin (Ig)A from ORECs in the culture medium following LPS. In terms of tight junction (TJ) proteins, AOS treatment also significantly increased (p < 0.05) the zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) and Occludin expression. The apoptosis rate, Caspase3, Caspase9, BAD, and BCL-2/BAX were decreased (p < 0.05) after AOS treatment, and the expression of BCL-2 was increased (p < 0.05). In addition, the expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were inhibited (p < 0.05) with the addition of AOS. At the protein level, pretreatment of AOS decreased (p < 0.05) the expression of MyD88 and the phosphorylation level of inhibitor κB α (IκBα) after the LPS challenge. Taken together, our results indicated that AOS could alleviate the LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammatory response of rumen epithelial cells through the NF-κB signaling pathway, which may be a promising strategy for treating apoptosis and inflammation in sheep breeding.
Current State of Canine Heartworm in Portugal
Authors: Esteves-Guimarães Joana , Matos Jorge Isidoro , Leal-Sousa Beatriz , Oliveira Pedro , Lobo Luís , Silvestre-Ferreira Ana Cristina , Soares Carla S. , Rodríguez-Escolar Iván , Carretón Elena , Morchón Rodrigo , Fontes-Sousa Ana Patrícia , Montoya-Alonso José Alberto
Published: April 2024

The favourable geo-climatic conditions in Portugal have made it highly conducive to the development of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs, leading to its identification as an endemic region. This nematode is rapidly spreading across Europe, particularly in northeastern countries. The objective of this study was to provide an updated assessment of the prevalence of this disease in Portuguese dogs, analysing the results in relation to epidemiological and geo-environmental factors, and to identify potential risk factors. A total of 1367 dogs from all continental and insular districts were included in the study and tested for D. immitis antigens. The overall prevalence was found to be 5.9%. It was observed that the disease is spreading northward, with previously unaffected districts now reporting cases, and that the prevalence in coastal districts exceeded that of inland ones. Notably, the Aveiro district exhibited a significant increase in D. immitis prevalence, while in certain districts such as Setúbal, Santarém, Madeira, or Faro, a stabilisation or decrease in prevalence was noted. Furthermore, outdoor and older dogs were found to be at a higher risk of infection. No positive cases were detected in the Azores. Most of the infected dogs were located in areas of high and medium risk of infection. This study underscores the importance of implementing pharmacological prophylaxis, vector control strategies, and public awareness programs to control the spread of this zoonotic disease.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Biofilm Formation of Bordetella bronchiseptica in Central China, with Evidence of a Rare Heteroresistance Strain to Gentamicin
Authors: Yi Li , Fan Haoran , Yuan Shuo , Li Rishun , Wang Haikun , Quan Yingying , Zhang Hui , Wang Yuxin , Wang Yang
Published: April 2024

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a significant contributor to respiratory disease in pigs, leading to substantial economic losses in the swine industry worldwide. We isolated 52 B. bronchiseptica strains from 542 samples collected from pigs with atrophic rhinitis and bronchopneumonia in central China. Multi-locus sequence typing identified two prevalent sequence types: ST6 (69.23%) and ST7 (30.77%). PCR-based detection of seven virulence genes (fhaB, prn, cyaA, dnt, bteA, fla, and bfrZ) revealed that six of these genes were present in over 90% of the isolates, with bfrZ being the exception at 59.62%. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, performed using the K-B method, demonstrated high sensitivity to enrofloxacin, polymyxin, and doxycycline but a notable resistance to tylosin, trimethoprim, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin. Remarkably, 86.54% of the isolates exhibited a multidrug-resistant phenotype. Notably, we successfully screened a strain of B. bronchiseptica with a heteroresistance phenotype to gentamicin using population analysis profiling, which is a rare case. Biofilm-formation assays indicated that 96.15% of the isolates possessed biofilm-forming capabilities. These findings provide crucial insights into the prevalence of B. bronchiseptica in central China, facilitating the development of effective preventive measures to safeguard both animal and human health.
Effects of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride with a Combination of Vitamin D3 on Feedlot Lambs: Growth Performance, Dietary Energetics, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality
Authors: Leyva-Medina Karla H. , Dávila-Ramos Horacio , Portillo-Loera Jesús J. , Acuña-Meléndez Omar S. , Cervantes-Noriega Adriana , Sánchez-Pérez Jaime N. , Molina-Gámez Gamaliel , Rodríguez-Carpena Javier G. , Mejía-Delgadillo Mario A. , Robles-Estrada Juan C.
Published: April 2024

This study evaluated the impact of supplementing ZH in combination with D3 on the growth performance, energy efficiency, carcass traits, and meat quality of feedlot lambs. Thirty-two Dorper × Katahdin cross lambs (37.3 ± 5.72 kg) were utilized in a 29 d experiment in a completely randomized block design with a 2 × 2 factorial structure consisting of two levels of ZH for 26 d (0 and 0.20 mg/kg PV−1) and two levels of D3 for 7 d (0 and 1.5 × 106 IU/d−1). ZH improved (p ≤ 0.05) the average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency by 9.9% and 17.8%, respectively, as well as hot carcass weight (HCW) and dressing carcass by 4.3% and 2.6%, respectively. (p ≤ 0.03). However, ZH increased (p < 0.01) muscle pH and Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) (2.5 and 23.0%, respectively). D3 supplementation negatively affected (p ≤ 0.02) dry matter intake (DMI) (last 7 d) and ADG by 15.7% and 18.1%. On the other hand, D3 improved the pH of the longissimus thoracis muscle by 1.7% (p = 0.03) without affecting WBSF. When D3 was supplemented in combination with ZH, it was observed that meat quality was improved by reducing muscle pH compared to lambs treated only with ZH. However, D3 did not improve the meat tenderness negatively affected by ZH supplementation.
Detecting Class 1 Integrons and Their Variable Regions in Escherichia coli Whole-Genome Sequences Reported from Andean Community Countries
Authors: Solis María Nicole , Loaiza Karen , Torres-Elizalde Lilibeth , Mina Ivan , Šefcová Miroslava Anna , Larrea-Álvarez Marco
Published: April 2024

Various genetic elements, including integrons, are known to contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Class 1 integrons have been identified in E. coli isolates and are associated with multidrug resistance in countries of the Andean Community. However, detailed information on the gene cassettes located on the variable regions of integrons is lacking. Here, we investigated the presence and diversity of class 1 integrons, using an in silico approach, in 2533 whole-genome sequences obtained from EnteroBase. IntFinder v1.0 revealed that almost one-third of isolates contained these platforms. Integron-bearing isolates were associated with environmental, food, human, and animal origins reported from all countries under scrutiny. Moreover, they were identified in clones known for their pathogenicity or multidrug resistance. Integrons carried cassettes associated with aminoglycoside (aadA), trimethoprim (dfrA), cephalosporin (blaOXA; blaDHA), and fluoroquinolone (aac(6′)-Ib-cr; qnrB) resistance. These platforms showed higher diversity and larger numbers than previously reported. Moreover, integrons carrying more than three cassettes in their variable regions were determined. Monitoring the prevalence and diversity of genetic elements is necessary for recognizing emergent patterns of resistance in pathogenic bacteria, especially in countries where various factors are recognized to favor the selection of resistant microorganisms.
Associations between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Antibiotic Use: Results from the UAEHFS
Authors: Juber Nirmin F. , Abdulle Abdishakur , Ahmad Amar , AlAnouti Fatme , Loney Tom , Idaghdour Youssef , Valles Yvonne , Ali Raghib
Published: April 2024

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher susceptibility to infections compared to those without PCOS. Studies evaluating antibiotic use based on PCOS status are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to (i) assess the associations between self-reported PCOS and antibiotic use, and (ii) whether PCOS treatment and the age at PCOS diagnosis modified the associations above. This cross-sectional analysis used the United Arab Emirates Healthy Future Study (UAEHFS) conducted from February 2016 to March 2023 involving 2063 Emirati women aged 18–62 years. We performed ordinal logistic regressions under unadjusted and demographic-health-characteristic-adjusted models to obtain the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to analyze PCOS and antibiotic use. Subgroup analyses were performed by treatment status and age at diagnosis. We found that women with PCOS were 55% more likely to frequently take a course of antibiotics in the past year (aOR 1.55; 95% CI 1.26–1.90). Similar likelihoods were also found among those being treated for PCOS and those without treatment but with a PCOS diagnosis at ≤25 years. Our study suggests that PCOS was associated with an increased use of antibiotics among Emirati women. Understanding the frequent antibiotic use susceptibility among those with PCOS may improve antibiotic use surveillance and promote antibiotic stewardship in these at-risk individuals.
Discovery of Antimicrobial Agents Based on Structural and Functional Study of the Klebsiella pneumoniae MazEF Toxin–Antitoxin System
Authors: Jin Chenglong , Kang Sung-Min , Kim Do-Hee , Lee Yuno , Lee Bong-Jin
Published: April 2024

Klebsiella pneumoniae causes severe human diseases, but its resistance to current antibiotics is increasing. Therefore, new antibiotics to eradicate K. pneumoniae are urgently needed. Bacterial toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems are strongly correlated with physiological processes in pathogenic bacteria, such as growth arrest, survival, and apoptosis. By using structural information, we could design the peptides and small-molecule compounds that can disrupt the binding between K. pneumoniae MazE and MazF, which release free MazF toxin. Because the MazEF system is closely implicated in programmed cell death, artificial activation of MazF can promote cell death of K. pneumoniae. The effectiveness of a discovered small-molecule compound in bacterial cell killing was confirmed through flow cytometry analysis. Our findings can contribute to understanding the bacterial MazEF TA system and developing antimicrobial agents for treating drug-resistant K. pneumoniae.