bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of adolescents’ voice through an online school radio: a socio-emotional learning experimental project
Authors: Sarmento Patrícia , Lobo Mafalda , Kirtikumar Kalpna
Published: September 2024

Universal school-based socio-emotional learning (SEL) programs for adolescents have shown their efficacy in producing positive outcomes. The aim of the current study is to present an original school-based program and project for adolescents—Semear Valores On-air – and to assess the relationship between participation in the project and students’ socio-emotional skills. Based on the character strengths and virtues model, this online school radio project aimed at promoting communication, creative thinking, adaptability, and resilience skills in adolescents and giving them the opportunity to become influential agents of well-being and citizenship. As part of the school curriculum, students were invited to create and record radio shows and podcasts. An online school radio was thus created, and it continues to broadcast all over the world, with music, daily shows, and interviews 24/7. It was developed within the framework of the Gulbenkian Academies for Knowledge, a nationwide Portuguese program, that seeks to prepare children and youth for change, to enable them to deal with complex problems, and to expand their opportunities for achievement. A quasi-experimental design, with a mixed qualitative-quantitative approach was used to analyze data collected from 112 adolescents in the second year of its implementation, in 2020–2021. Results suggest that (1) teachers’ perceptions of student’s socio-emotional skills in the post test showed more positive associations with the participation in the project, than participant’s perceptions; (2) students identified eight types of lessons learned, the one most referred was the improvement of socio-emotional skills and learning about themselves; and (3) the combined opportunities for adolescents to learn more about themselves, to express themselves and to practice socio-emotional skills are important ingredients for their motivation and active engagement in the project. Overall, these results indicate that participation in the project is associated with positive outcomes for the adolescents and that both monitoring and evaluation data are very important to interpret the outcomes in a more comprehensive manner.
Dissecting the causal relationship between moderate to vigorous physical activity levels and cognitive performance: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Fang Qi , Zhang Jinmin
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Recent studies increasingly suggest that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) impacts cognitive risk. However, the bidirectional nature of this relationship warrants further exploration. To address this, we employed a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, analyzing two distinct samples.

Methods

These analyses utilized published genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for MVPA (n = 377,234) and cognitive performance (n = 257,841). Our primary method was the inverse variance weighted (IVW) model with random effects, aiming to deduce potential causal links. Additionally, we employed supplementary methods, including MR Egger regression, Weighted median, Weighted mode, and Simple mode. For sensitivity analysis, tools like the MR Egger test, Cochran’s Q, MR PRESSO, and leave-one-out (LOO) were utilized.

Results

Our findings indicate a decrease in cognitive risk with increased MVPA (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.577, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.460–0.723, p = 1.930 × 10–6). Furthermore, enhanced cognitive levels corresponded to a reduced risk of inadequate MVPA (OR = 0.866, 95% CI: 0.839–0.895, p = 1.200 × 10–18).

Discussion

In summary, our study demonstrates that MVPA lowers cognitive risk, while poor cognitive health may impede participation in MVPA. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights for developing personalized prevention and intervention strategies in health and sports sciences.
Evaluating the psychometric properties of three WHO instruments to assess knowledge about human rights, attitudes toward persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, and practices related to substitute decision-making and coercion in mental health
Authors: Moro Maria Francesca , Gyimah Leveana , Susser Ezra , Ansong Joana , Kane Jeremy , Amissah Caroline , Gureje Oye , Osei Akwasi , Norcini Pala Andrea , Taylor Dan , Drew Nathalie , Kofie Humphrey , Baingana Florence , Ohene Sally-ann , Addico Nii Lartey , Fatawu Abdul , Atzeni Michela , D’Oca Silvia , Carta Mauro Giovanni , Funk Michelle
Published: September 2024

Background

Instruments to assess the knowledge about the rights of persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, the attitudes toward their role as rights holders, and mental health professionals’ practices related to substitute decision-making and coercion are either missing or lack evaluation of their validity and reliability.

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of three instruments developed to fill this gap in the literature, the World Health Organization’s QualityRights (WHO QR) Knowledge questionnaire, the WHO QR Attitudes questionnaire, and the WHO QR Practices questionnaire.

Methods

A sample of participants was recruited and completed an online survey. Content validity and face validity were assessed for the three questionnaires. Based on the characteristics of the questionnaires, different approaches were used to assess their construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis, known group validity, and convergent and divergent validity). Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and test re-test reliability using Pearson’s and Spearman’s r coefficients.

Results

The analyses conducted indicate that the three questionnaires are valid and reliable instruments to evaluate the knowledge about the rights of persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, the attitudes toward their role as rights holders, and mental health professionals’ practices related to substitute decision-making and coercion.

Conclusion

This finding lends support to the use of these instruments both within mental health services and in the general population for a better understanding of current knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to a human rights–based approach to mental health in mental health services and the community.
Decreased consumption of natural rewards in rhesus monkeys with prolonged methamphetamine abstinence
Authors: Zhou Jiahui , Su Hang , Tang Chengjie , Wu Xiaotian , Wang Zijing , Zhang Wenlei , Zhai Rongwei , Jiang Haifeng
Published: September 2024

Rationale

Relapse to drug use is a major clinical challenge in the treatment of addictive disorders, including psychostimulant use and may be exacerbated by reduced sensitivity to natural, non-drug reward. Given the relatively limited set of outcomes, and short withdrawal time in rodent studies, we conducted a more detailed assessment of the response to natural rewards in methamphetamine (METH) naive versus exposed monkeys during long-term abstinence.

Methods

This study introduced an improved sucrose preference test (iSPT) to assess natural reward seeking and consumption in monkeys with long-term abstinence after methamphetamine (METH) use. The test was administered to sixteen naive monkeys and five METH exposed monkeys that had been abstinent for at least 3 months.

Results

METH exposed monkeys showed a lower sucrose preference score in both the iSPT (z = -2.10, p = 0.036) and the sucrose preference test (z = -2.61, p = 0.009). The sucrose preference score was significantly correlated with the latency of the establishment of stable sucrose-preference (r = -0.76, df = 46, p < 0.001) but not with the other variables. Furthermore, water-sucrose switch latency and switch times were significantly negatively correlated (r = -0.50, df = 20, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

These results show reductions in natural reward consumption during long-term methamphetamine abstinence.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance-genes in drinking water source in north Shoa zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia
Authors: Abebe Tsegahun Asfaw , Gebreyes Demissew Shenkute , Abebe Bizuneh Asfaw , Yitayew Berhanu
Published: September 2024

Background

The growing number of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in a range of environments poses a serious challenge to infectious disease prevention. Good water quality is critical to human health and has a direct impact on a country’s socio-economic growth. Therefore, assessing the bacteriological quality of drinking water provides benchmark data and provides insight into the development of further protection and treatment measures.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1, 2022, to September 31, 2023, in the diarrhea hotspot areas of North Shewa Zone (Minjar-Shenkora and Mojana-Wedera districts). Water samples were collected from drinking water sources (hand-pumps, boreholes, wells, spring water and ponds) to assess the quality following WHO guidelines. The collected water samples were processed for bacterial isolation, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and detection of antimicrobial resistance genes. Data were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.

Results

A total of (49/138, 35.5%) bacteria were isolated from 138 drinking water samples, with a positive rate of (41/138, 29.7%). Among the isolates, (16/138, 11.6%) were Staphylococcus aureus while (33/138, 23.9%) were members of Enterobacteriaceae. Relatively high resistance rate among all isolates were observed for the most prescribed antibiotics in Ethiopia, including erythromycin, cotrimoxazole, doxycycline, ceftriaxone, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol. However, a low resistance was observed for early introduced antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and recently introduced antibiotics such as cefotaxime, ceftazidime, imipenem, and meropenem. Among the 49 bacteria isolates, (32/49, 65.3%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens while (12/49, 24.5%) were ESβL producers. Different ESβL genes were detected in most bacterial isolates. The predominant ESβL genes were blaCTX-M-gp8/25 (6/33, 18.2%), blaCTX-M-gp9 (5/33, 15.2%), and blaCTX-M-gp1 (5/33, 15.2%).

Conclusion

The result of this study suggests that most water sources in the study area were contaminated by various bacterial species that are resistant to different antibiotics. Various ESβL resistance genes have also been detected. Therefore, regular sanitary inspection and bacteriological analysis should be mandatory to protect drinking water sources from contamination and the persistence of resistant bacteria.
Pregnancy and associated factors among teenage females in Hula District, Sidama region, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Amenu Mekdes , Tediso Dansamo , Feleke Tihun , Fantahun Selam , Woldesemayat Endrias Markos
Published: September 2024

Background

Teenage pregnancy causes serious health, social, and economic consequences, with 95% occurring in developing countries. A significant number of girls start childbearing at an early age in Ethiopia, which contributes to high infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. However, the information on teenage pregnancy and related variables is limited in the study area.

Objective

To assess the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and its associated factors among teenage females in the Hula District, Sidama, Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was employed among 518 teenagers, randomly selected between 15 February and 15 March 2023. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to assess the relationship under study.

Results

Living in rural areas compared to urban [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.90; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30–11.3], lack of awareness about family planning methods (AOR = 5.90; 95% CI: 1.60–22.24), unfamiliarity with the availability of family planning services (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.08–9.24), and inadequate communication about sexual issues with parents (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI: 1.14–11.56) were independently associated with teenage pregnancy.

Conclusion

The prevalence of teenage pregnancies in the Hula District was high. Factors such as residing in rural areas, limited access to information on family planning methods and services, as well as a lack of open discussions about sexual health were associated with teenage pregnancy.
An analytical study on changes in university students' attitudes toward physical activity
Authors: Nie JingJing
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Positive attitudes toward physical activity have been consistently linked to health Behaviors. This study aims to validate the effectiveness of attitude change in the domain of exercise and identify the mechanisms through which this change occurs in the context of sports and promote exercise behavior.

Methods

103 university students (20.7 ± 1.97 years, 40 males, and 63 females) completed the implicit and explicit attitude tests. Based on their exercise levels assessed using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), participants were categorized into low and high exercise level groups. From this sample, 66 university students (19 males and 47 females) with low exercise levels completed a self-generated information task. Subsequently, physical activity was assessed through a skipping rope task.

Results

The implementation of the self-generated information task resulted in notable alterations in implicit attitudes (ηi2 = 0.07) toward physical activity during subsequent Implicit Attitude Test (IAT) evaluations. Additionally, significant changes were observed in explicit attitudes (ηe2 = 0.12) toward physical activity among university students. Moreover, the use of self-generated information positively influenced immediate exercise behavior.

Discussion

This study provides valuable insights into the impact of attitudes on behaviors among university students. It suggests that attitudes toward physical activity can be effectively changed through the use of self-generated information methodology, leading to an enhancement in immediate exercise behavior. Such attitude change has the potential to promote healthier behaviors and reduce the risk of diseases. These findings hold implications for interventions aimed at enhancing physical activity levels among university students.
How physical exercise with others and prioritizing positivity contribute to (work) wellbeing: a cross-sectional and diary multilevel study
Authors: Gil-Beltrán Ester , Coo Cristian , Meneghel Isabella , Llorens Susana , Salanova Marisa
Published: September 2024

Introduction

This work is a dual study employing a cross-sectional approach and a diary method to investigate how physical exercise can become a habit. Guided by the Upward Spiral Theory of Lifestyle Change, we examined the role of prioritizing positivity and engaging in physical exercise with others as advantageous resources and their impact on the relational loop of physical exercise behavior, emotions, and engagement.

Methods

The first study involved a sample of 553 participants, and the second study included 146 participants, all of whom were employed and regularly engaged in physical exercise. We utilized structural equation modeling and multilevel analysis for the respective studies.

Results

The results of the first study indicate that individuals exercise more when they experience higher levels of engagement and positive emotions, particularly when exercising with others and prioritizing positivity. The findings of the second study reveal that prioritizing positivity acts as a precursor to positive emotions during physical exercise, which in turn reinforces the relational loop between emotions and exercise behavior.

Discussion

Both studies conclude that individuals who prioritize positivity experience better psychological wellbeing and higher engagement in physical exercise.
Organizational Culture Enabler and Inhibitor Factors for Ambidextrous Innovation
Authors: AlSaied Mohammad , McLaughlin Patrick
Published: September 2024

Ambidextrous innovation is considered to be a key framework for innovation that offers organizations the ability to maintain their current level of competitiveness and develop and sustain a long-term competitive advantage. However, the implementation of ambidextrous innovation is constrained by an organization’s culture. Thus, the aim and objective of the present research are to explore the literature deeply and attempt to understand both organizational culture and ambidextrous innovation, along with key cultural aspects with regard to ambidexterity. The present research deeply dived into the model of organizational culture and attempted to build synergy between each model with respect to ambidexterity. The results of the present research suggest that Cameron and Quinn’s competing value framework, once amalgamated with the Schein model, creates an organizational culture framework that can be used to develop a culture that is best suited to the implementation of ambidextrous innovation. The Schein model provides a comprehensive guideline for each value of the competing value framework. Further, the present research also extracted key insights with regard to the role culture can play in innovation in general and ambidextrous innovation in particular. Finally, the present research also attempted to build a list of culture enablers and inhibitors that can facilitate and impede the process of ambidextrous innovation.
Next Level Quotas? Corporate and Public Support for Gender Quotas in Executive Management
Authors: Óladóttir Ásta Dís , Christiansen Thora H. , Gylfason Haukur Freyr , Benediktsson Haukur C. , Thorarinsdottir Freyja Vilborg
Published: September 2024

This study provides the first comprehensive examination of gender quota legislation for executive management positions, executive gender quotas (EGQs), in Icelandic listed companies, alongside the general public’s attitudes toward such measures. Iceland has been a global leader in gender equality, according to the World Economic Forum, for 15 years, yet progress in achieving gender balance in executive positions remains limited. This research aims to explore how board members in all listed companies in Iceland view EGQ legislation and assess the level of public support for such legislation. Despite the implementation of gender quota legislation for corporate boards, board gender quotas (BGQs), in 2010 aimed at promoting gender balance, significant gender disparities persist at the executive management level. This study reveals distinct attitudes toward EGQs, with men predominantly opposing such legislation and women showing more support, particularly when progress toward gender balance is seen as inadequate. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing dialogue and potential legislative actions to address persistent gender inequalities in leadership positions. This research marks a novel contribution to the discourse on gender quotas in corporate governance, highlighting the need for systemic changes to achieve genuine gender parity in executive management teams. This study presents the first findings on the views of board members and the public on gender quota legislation in executive management positions to close the gender gap in economic participation.
HeliCAT-DARTS: A High Fidelity, Closed-Loop Rotorcraft Simulator for Planetary Exploration
Authors: Leake Carl , Grip Håvard , Steyert Vivian , Hasseler Tristan D. , Cacan Martin , Jain Abhinandan
Published: September 2024

HeliCAT-DARTS is a high-fidelity rotorcraft dynamics simulator developed for the design and development of rotorcraft for planetary exploration. While initially developed for the life cycle use of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter mission, the simulator now supports a broad range of rotorcraft configurations and applications. HeliCAT provides a GNC testbed and aerial mobility analysis platform for rotorcraft design, closed-loop flight software development, verification and validation (V&V), and mission operations. This article discusses the design and use of the HeliCAT simulator and results from technology demonstrations and missions.
Soil Salinity Prediction in an Arid Area Based on Long Time-Series Multispectral Imaging
Authors: Zhao Wenju , Li Zhaozhao , Li Haolin , Li Xing , Yang Pengtao
Published: September 2024

Traditional soil salinity measurement methods are generally complex and labor-intensive, restricting the long-term monitoring of soil salinity, particularly in arid areas. In this context, the soil salt content (SSC) data from farms in the Heihe River Basin in Northwest China were collected in three consecutive years (2021, 2022, and 2023). In addition, the spectral reflectance and texture features of different sampling sites in the study area were extracted from long-term unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral images to replace the red and near-infrared bands with a newly introduced red edge band. The spectral index was calculated in this study before using four sensitive variable combinations to predict soil salt contents. A Pearson correlation analysis was performed in this study to screen 57 sensitive features. In addition, 36 modeling scenarios were conducted based on the Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost Implemented using R language 4.3.1), Backpropagation Neural Network (BPNN), and Random Forest (RF) algorithms. The most optimal algorithms for predicting the soil salt contents in farmland located in the Heihe River Basin, in the arid region of Northwest China, were determined. The results showed a higher prediction accuracy for the XGBoost algorithm than the RF and BPNN algorithms, accurately reflecting the actual soil salt contents in the arid area. On the other hand, the most accurate predicted soil salt contents were obtained in 2023 using the XGBoost algorithm, with coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) ranges of 0.622–0.820, 0.086–0.157, and 0.078–0.134, respectively, whereas the most stable prediction results were obtained using the collected data in 2022. From the perspective of different sensitive variable input combinations, the implementation of the XGBoost algorithm using the spectral index–spectral reflectance–texture feature input combination resulted in comparatively higher prediction accuracies than those of the other variable combinations in 2022 and 2023. Specifically, the R2, RMSE, and MAE values obtained using the spectral index–spectral reflectance–texture feature input combination were 0.674, 0.133, and 0.086 in 2022 and 0.820, 0.165, and 0.134 in 2023, respectively. Therefore, our results demonstrated that the spectral index–spectral reflectance–texture feature was the optimal sensitive variable input combination for the machine learning algorithms, of which the XGBoost algorithm is the most optimal model for predicting soil salt contents. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the rapid and accurate prediction of soil salinity in arid areas.
Mapping Research on Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) in Africa: Bibliometric, Geographical, and Topical Perspectives
Authors: El Bilali Hamid , Kiebre Zakaria , Nanema Romaric Kiswendsida , Dan Guimbo Iro , Rokka Veli-Matti , Gonnella Maria , Tietiambou Sheirita Reine Fanta , Dambo Lawali , Nanema Jacques , Grazioli Francesca , Acasto Filippo
Published: September 2024

While Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) originates from Africa and the list of producers is topped by African countries, it is not clear whether research is developed enough to support crop promotion in the continent. Thus, this systematic review of 180 articles presents a comprehensive summary of research on Bambara groundnut (BGN) in Africa. The paper addresses bibliographical metrics, the geographic distribution of the research and themes covered (viz., food and nutrition security, climate resilience, and livelihoods). The analysis shows that BGN can help address different challenges in Africa, such as food and nutrition insecurity and poverty. However, it also highlights gaps in the research from geographical and thematic standpoints. Geographically speaking, the most important producers of BGN in Africa are not sufficiently covered in the research; instead, it is mainly carried out in Nigeria and South Africa. Thematically speaking, the gaps are related to economics and social sciences, the use of BGN in animal production, processing and marketing, irrigation, contribution to climate resilience and livelihoods, and health benefits. Collaborative research and knowledge sharing, including among producing countries and those leading the research field, are highly needed to unlock the potential of BGN and boost its contribution to sustainable development in Africa.
Predicting Vase Life of Cut Lisianthus Based on Biomass-Related Characteristics Using AutoML
Authors: Kwon Hye Sook , Heo Seong
Published: September 2024

Lisianthus, a globally popular ornamental plant, has a variable vase life (5–28 days). This study investigated biomass-related characteristics of four cultivars grown in soil or hydroponic cultivation with different treatment timings (vegetative and reproductive stage) and concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mM) of salicylic acid (SA) in order to explain vase life. The results show that the SA treatment effects varied depending on cultivar, SA treatment timing, concentration, and cultivation method. Principle component analysis revealed that Blue Picote cultivar cultivated hydroponically with 0.5 mM SA at the reproductive stage had the longest vase life. Furthermore, vase life demonstrated a high positive correlation with dry weight, SPAD, Mg content, and flowering day. We developed a model using automated machine learning algorithms to estimate postharvest vase life, based on biomass-related characteristics measured during the pre-harvest period. Similar to the PCA results, this model also identified dry weight as the most influential predictor of vase life. This model proposes the possibility of estimating vase life by setting characteristics highly correlated with vase life as features for machine learning. It is anticipated that this model will be widely utilized in the floriculture industry for standardizing cut flower quality assessments in the future.
Linear Active Disturbance Rejection Control System for the Travel Speed of an Electric Reel Sprinkling Irrigation Machine
Authors: Tang Lingdi , Wang Wei , Zhang Chenjun , Wang Zanya , Ge Zeyu , Yuan Shouqi
Published: September 2024

The uniformity of the travel speed of electric reel sprinkling irrigation machines is a key factor affecting irrigation quality. However, conventional PID control is susceptible to sudden disturbances under complex farmland conditions, leading to reduced speed uniformity. To enhance the robustness of the control system, it is necessary to investigate new disturbance rejection control algorithms and their effects. Therefore, a kinematic model of the reel sprinkling irrigation machine and a brushless DC (BLDC) motor model were established, and a linear active disturbance rejection control (LADRC) strategy based on improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) was proposed. The simulation results show that under variable speed conditions, the system exhibits no overshoot, with an adjustment time of 0.064 s; under variable load conditions, the speed vibration amplitude is less than 0.3%. The field test results indicate that at travel speeds of 10 m/h and 30 m/h, the maximum absolute deviation rate under IPSO-LADRC control is reduced by 27.07% and 13.98%, respectively, compared to PID control. The control strategy based on IPSO-LADRC effectively improves the control accuracy and robustness under complex farmland conditions, providing a reference for enhancing the control performance of other electric agricultural machinery.
Combined Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis of Alfalfa Responses to Aphid Infestation
Authors: Liu Hao , Xu Ming , Guo Yuhan , Dan Zhencuo , Liu Xin , Zhang Jiayi , Li Cong , Jia Shizhen , Jia Lei , Yu Ailing , Cong Lili
Published: September 2024

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an economically important forage legume. As a result of the extensive and intensive cultivation of alfalfa planting and the gradual expansion of planting areas, pest occurrence has increased in frequency. Aphids are one of the main pests that threaten the growth and productivity of alfalfa. After an aphid outbreak, alfalfa yield and quality are commonly greatly reduced. At present, there are few studies on alfalfa plants infested with aphids, so it is imperative to study the regulatory mechanisms of aphid infestation tolerance in alfalfa. In this study, alfalfa plants from the variety “Wudi” were investigated, and pea aphids were selected for inoculation. The transcriptome and metabolome data were analyzed at three time points (0 d, 1 d, and 4 d), revealing 3458 differentially expressed genes and 358 differential metabolites. Trend analysis of DEGs and DAMs revealed that the former were significantly enriched in three distinct trends, whereas the latter were significantly enriched in only one. Moreover, 117 important hub genes associated with alfalfa response to aphid infestation were screened by WGCNA. By mapping DEGs and DAMs to KEGG pathways, it was found that the “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis”, “flavonoid biosynthesis”, and “isoflavonoid biosynthesis” pathways play an important role in alfalfa responses to aphid infestation. These results further elucidate the regulatory mechanism of alfalfa in response to aphid infestation and provide valuable information for breeding new aphid-resistant plant varieties.
Colombian Crop Resilience: Evaluating National Yield Stability for Fruit and Vegetable Systems
Authors: Parra-Londono Sebastian , Tigreros Jaime Andres , Montoya-Correa Carlos Alberto
Published: September 2024

In recent years the yield of fruits and vegetables has been decreasing, threatening Colombia’s food security. Analysis of crop production data may lead to identifying cropping systems that have shown better adaptability to changes in climatic and non-climatic factors associated with agricultural production. The open database AGRONET keeps data on the agricultural activities conducted in Colombia, allowing us to find the information organized by crops, regions and years. Aiming to identify resilient crop systems in Colombia, agricultural data on fruits and vegetables were analyzed. First, trends in crop production were studied by year and location, detecting the regions and crops with the highest yields in the period from 2006 until 2020. Then, mixed linear regression and principal components analysis were applied to elucidate the relation between non-climatic factors and crop yield. In Colombia, vegetable production was more efficient than fruits, observing yields of 10.23 and 13.33 t ha−1, respectively. On the other hand, the Colombian central region showed high yields for vegetables, while for fruits this was exhibited in northern and eastern locations. In the present study, yield variation responded to changes in the location of crop systems, while years had no effect on vegetable production. Furthermore, the price of the agricultural product and the cost of fertilizers were associated with the yield of the analyzed crop systems. In Colombia, carrots, cabbage, tomato papaya and pineapple are resilient crops whose yield increases, especially in the regions where they are cultivated.
Application of Computer Simulation Technology in the Development of Tractor Transmission Systems
Authors: Li Ya , Chen Xiaohan , Han Xiaorong , Xu Ning , Zhai Zhiqiang , Lu Kai , Zhu Youfeng , Wang Guangming
Published: September 2024

Tractors are the most important agricultural power machinery. With the development of tractors toward large-scale and electrification, the design of modern tractor transmission systems increasingly relies on computer simulation technology. However, tractor transmission systems, especially power-shift transmissions and CVTs, are highly complex industrial products that involve specialized knowledge from multiple disciplines. Engineers and researchers find it difficult to choose the correct mathematical model and grasp the trend of technological development when applying simulation technology. To address this issue, we conducted a systematic review of the field and carried out the following work: First, the types and basic principles of tractor transmission systems were introduced; Second, the modeling methods and applications of computer simulation technology in the structural optimization, power-shift control, and energy saving of tractor transmission systems were reviewed; Finally, the method of obtaining simulation parameters through system identification was introduced. Although computer simulation technology has been applied in the development of all tractor transmission systems, there are still some issues that need attention, such as the lack of established shift quality evaluation indicators and driving cycles suitable for tractors, which are crucial for the reliability of simulation results but are rarely studied. These issues need to be addressed in future work.
The Study of Selenium Fertilizer on the Growth of Xiangzayou 787 and Related Molecular Mechanism
Authors: Zhang Qi , Peng Jiayuan , Liu Yuqi , Xie Chunfeng , Zhang Zhenqian
Published: September 2024

Rapeseed is the largest self-produced oil crop in China which plays an important role in ensuring the safety of edible oil. However, its current per unit yield is far below Canada and Europe. In this study, selenium fertilizer and other micro fertilizers were sprayed on Xiangzayou 787 at the seedling stage. The results showed that the yield per plant increased 24.3% with sprayed selenium compared to the control (CK). Compared with the CK, the chlorophyll content in leaves at the flowering stage was significantly increased by 20.8%, and the soluble sugar content in the silique wall and seeds at the maturity stage was significantly increased and increased by 62.1% during the budding stage. The functional leaves of Xiangzayou 787 with the sprayed selenium fertilizer and the CK were used as raw materials for absolute quantitative transcriptome sequencing analysis. Accompanied with bioinformatics analysis, six differential genes which affect growth were discovered. The expression level of the protein phosphatase 2C gene in the silique wall was significantly higher than that of the CK. The PP2C78 gene was significantly positively correlated with the chlorophyll and soluble sugar content in leaves and the correlation coefficients were 0.539 and 0.547. According to gene expression levels, yield, and physiological indicators, PP2C78 may be a key functional gene affecting rapeseed yield. In this study, selenium fertilizer was found to be an excellent foliar fertilizer for rapeseed; the PP2C78 gene may be helpful for analyzing the yield increasing mechanism and used as a reference for screening new foliar fertilizers.
Optimization of Application Parameters for UAV-Based Liquid Pollination in Pear Orchards: A Yield and Cost Perspective
Authors: Wang Pei , He Moxin , Li Mingqi , Yang Yuheng , Li Hui , Xi Wanpeng , Zhang Tong
Published: September 2024

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) liquid pollination emerges as a promising substitute for hand pollination methods. In this study, the relationship between UAV liquid pollination and fruit thinning operations was explored from the perspective of practical application. By testing droplet deposition under various flight parameters, the flight parameters for a specific pear orchard were optimized to ensure the uniform and effective distribution of the pollination solution. Results indicated that optimal droplet density (number·cm−2), area coverage (%), and deposition rate (μL·cm−2) were achieved at a flight height (FH) of 1.5 m and a flight speed (FS) of 2 m·s−1. Considering the nuanced physiological attributes of pear tree flowers during their pollination phase, the research scrutinizes the impact of application parameters such as floral stage and spraying frequency on pollination efficiency. A two-way ANOVA analysis demonstrated significant impacts of floral stage, spraying frequency, and their interaction on the fruit set rate (p < 0.01). Controlling pollination parameters can effectively regulate the fruit set rate, thereby influencing the cost and efficiency of fruit thinning. These findings contribute a theoretical framework for formulating customized pollination management strategies tailored to the specific needs of pear orchards.
A Phytochrome-Interacting Factor Gene CaPIF7a Positively Regulates the Defense Response against Phytophthora capsici Infection in Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
Authors: Li Yu , Wu Dan , Yu Ting , Liu Bing , Gao Xuchun , Han Huibin , Chen Jinyin , Zhou Yong , Yang Youxin
Published: September 2024

Phytochrome-interacting factor (PIF) is a subfamily of the basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) and plays key roles in plant responses to diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. In this work, a PIF gene named CaPIF7a was cloned and its role in the regulation of pepper’s resistance to Phytophthora capsici infection (PCI) was studied. The cloned CaPIF7a gene has a CDS length of 1383 bp, encodes a hydrophilic protein containing bHLH and APB characteristic domains, and subcellular localization results showed that CaPIF7a was located in the nucleus. Expression analysis showed that CaPIF7a gene has the highest expression level in leaf, and its expression was regulated under PCI and salicylic acid (SA) treatment. Silencing of CaPIF7a in pepper plants by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) reduces the resistance of pepper to PCI, with decreased expression of SA-responsive and SA-biosynthesis genes and obviously decreased SA content. DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) was employed to identify the potential targets of CaPIF7a, and yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) verified that CaPIF7a could regulate the expression of CaHY5 by binding its promoter. These findings indicated that CaPIF7a might be a key modulator in plant immune response and presented a possible regulatory network of CaPIF7a in PCI.
Effect of Different Post-Flowering Photoperiods on Main Agronomic Traits of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv. Akihime)
Authors: Ren Cai , Jiang Lamei , Chen Weizhi , Wang Ziyi
Published: September 2024

Reproductive growth is one of the most important stages in the life history of plants and is regulated by photoperiod. However, the effect of different photoperiods after flowering on the reproductive growth stages of different plants and their roles is still unclear. For this reason, this study took the short-day plant strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv. Akihime) as the research object, performed different photoperiod treatments (ND: natural daylight; SD: short daylight; LD: long daylight) after flowering, and studied the effects of photoperiod on fruit growth period, fruit quality, flower opening, and plant height in different inflorescence of fruits. The results showed that different photoperiods had significantly different effects on the growth and development of strawberries after flowering, and LD and SD had opposite effects: (1) Under the condition of SD, the fruit matured after 17 days of treatment, while the LD and ND advanced this by 6 and 5 days. LD could significantly delay the development of the first inflorescence of fruits, resulting in longer ripening period and fruit appearance, and the quality traits were better. (2) The number of flowers in the secondary inflorescence and the development process was effectively accelerated by LD, and the total number of flowers under the long-day treatment was significantly more than that under the short-day treatment and the natural condition from 12 to 25 days after the end of the flowering period. Under the condition of LD, the fruits matured after 53 days of treatment, which was 5 days earlier than the other two treatments, and the period from flowering to maturity was shortened. (3) The effect of different photoperiods on the final plant height of strawberries after flowering had no significant difference (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study found that photoperiod could effectively regulate the reproductive growth stage of strawberry after flowering, which enriched the experimental material and theoretical basis for studying the photoperiod as a mechanism for regulating plant growth and development, providing technical guidance for artificial regulation of strawberry growth period and fruit quality.
Occurrence of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Pyrochar and Hydrochar during Thermal and Hydrothermal Processes
Authors: Jeon Hwang-Ju , Kim Donghyeon , Scheufele Fabiano B. , Ro Kyoung S. , Libra Judy A. , Marzban Nader , Chen Huan , Ribeiro Caroline , Jeong Changyoon
Published: September 2024

Pyrochar (Biochar) produced from the thermochemical conversion of biomass has been widely used as a soil amendment to improve agricultural soil quality. Since polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be produced in such processes, the occurrence of PAHs in pyrochars has been extensively studied, and standards such as the European Biochar Certificate (EBC) and International Biochar Initiative (IBI) contain limit values for biochars applied to soils. However, studies on PAH levels in hydrochars from hydrothermal processes, which can be an alternative to wet biomass are scarce. This study focuses on comparing the occurrence of 16 PAHs regulated by the US EPA in 22 char samples (including pyrochars from pyrolysis, hydrochars from hydrothermal carbonization, and, for the first time, hydrothermal humification) using an ultrasonic extraction method. Results showed that the sum of the 16 EPA PAHs in all samples was well below the requirements of the two standards, except for pyrochar produced at the farm scale. They ranged from 131 to 9358 µg·kg−1 in the seven pyrochars and from not detected to 333 µg·kg−1 for the fourteen hydrochars. Our findings indicate that hydrochar produced via hydrothermal methods exhibits much lower concentrations and is a safe option for soil amendment and environmental applications.
Image Processing and Support Vector Machine (SVM) for Classifying Environmental Stress Symptoms of Pepper Seedlings Grown in a Plant Factory
Authors: Islam Sumaiya , Samsuzzaman  , Reza Md Nasim , Lee Kyu-Ho , Ahmed Shahriar , Cho Yeon Jin , Noh Dong Hee , Chung Sun-Ok
Published: September 2024

Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, light, and CO2 influence plant growth, and unfavorable environmental conditions cause stress in plants, producing symptoms in their early growth stages. The increasing importance of optimizing crop management strategies has led to a rising demand for the precise evaluation of stress symptoms during early plant growth. Advanced technologies are transforming plant health monitoring through enabling image-based stress analysis. Machine learning (ML) models can effectively identify the important features and morphological changes connected with various stress conditions through the use of large datasets acquired from high-resolution plant images. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a method for classifying the early-stage stress symptoms of pepper seedlings and enabling their identification and quantification using image processing and a support vector machine (SVM). Two-week-old pepper seedlings were grown under different temperatures (20, 25, and 30 °C), light intensity levels (50, 250, and 450 µmol m−2s−1), and day–night hours (8/16, 10/14, and 16/8) in five controlled plant growth chambers. Images of the seedling canopies were captured daily using a low-cost red, green, and blue (RGB) camera over a two-week period. Eighteen color features, nine texture features using the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), and one morphological feature were extracted from each image. A two-way ANOVA and multiple mean comparison (Duncan) analysis were used to determine the statistical significance of the treatment effects. To reduce feature overlap, sequential feature selection (SFS) was applied, and a support vector machine (SVM) was used for stress classification. The SFS method was used to identify the optimal features for the classification model, leading to substantial increases in stress classification accuracy. The SVM model, using these selected features, achieved a classification accuracy of 82% without the SFS and 86% with the SFS. To address overfitting, 5- and 10-fold cross-validation were used, resulting in MAEs of 0.138 and 0.163 for the polynomial kernel, respectively. The SVM model, evaluated with the ROC curve and confusion matrix, achieved a classification accuracy of 85%. This classification approach enables real-time stress monitoring, allowing growers to optimize environmental conditions and enhance seedling growth. Future directions include integrating this system into automated cultivation environments to enable continuous, efficient stress monitoring and response, further improving crop management and productivity.
Potential Impact of Drought and Rewatering on Plant Physiology and Fruit Quality in Long-Shelf-Life Tomatoes
Authors: Patanè Cristina , Siah Sarah , Cafaro Valeria , Cosentino Salvatore L. , Corinzia Sebastiano A.
Published: September 2024

In this study, the effects of repeated cycles of drying and rehydration on some physiological traits were assessed in long shelf-life tomatoes cultivated in a typical semi-arid area of Southern Italy. Three Sicilian landraces (‘Custonaci’, ‘Salina’, and ‘Vulcano’) from the germplasm collection at CNR-IBE (Catania, Italy) and a commercial tomato mini-plum (‘Faino Hy., control) were investigated under three water regimes: DRY (no irrigation), IRR (long-season full irrigation) and REW (post-drought rewaterings). Net photosynthetic assimilation rate (Pn), leaf transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEi), leaf intercellular CO2 (Ci, ppm), and leaf temperature (°C), were measured during the growing season. At harvest (late July), fruit production per plant was measured and ripened fruits were analysed for total solids (TS), soluble solids (SS), reducing sugars (RS), vitamin C (AscA), and total phenols (TP). Pn promptly responded to rewatering (REW), quickly increasing immediately after irrigation, and declined with soil drying up. All genotypes had similar physiological pathways in DRY, but in IRR, ‘Faino’ had higher Pn (up to 31 μmol CO2 m−2s−1) and E (up to 18 mmol H2O m−2s−1). Stomatal conductance (gs) after rewatering steeply increased and quickly declined after that. All local landraces had the same gs in IRR and REW. Variations in RWC were less pronounced than those in other physiological parameters. WUEi in REW and DRY proceeded similarly (up to 3 μmol CO2 mmol H2O). Irrigation in REW significantly promoted plant productivity over the DRY control (up to +150% in ‘Vulcano’). TS and SS in REW were lower than those in DRY, but higher (+19 and +7%, respectively) than in IRR. Vitamin C was greater in DRY and REW (26 and 18% higher than in IRR, respectively). TP in all local tomatoes were significantly higher (up to +29% in ‘Vulcano’) than those in the commercial control. Water regime had a minor effect on TP in ‘Custonaci’ and ‘Salina’. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) provided information on the changes in physiological and fruit quality traits in tomatoes in relation to cultivars and water regimes. The results of this study also revealed that a water-saving irrigation strategy where few irrigations are applied after prolonged periods of drought might be profitable in terms of fruit production enhancement in long shelf-life tomatoes and that limited rewaterings in most cases, help retaining high levels of fruit quality traits.