bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Control of foot-and-mouth disease in a closed society: A case study of Soviet Estonia
Authors: Kass Marko , Viltrop Arvo , Prakofjewa Julia , Sõukand Renata , Kalle Raivo
Published: August 2022

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a dangerous infectious disease of even-toed ungulates, however since 1991, the European Union has banned preventive vaccination. During the occupation of the USSR, there were two outbreaks in Estonia: the first started in 1952 (at which time the barns typically housed about 20 cows); and the second began in 1982 (a period when barns typically housed several 100 animals). Neither outbreak was reported to the international community. At that time, it was also forbidden to talk about the disease in the internal media, and speakers could be punished. This study sought to find answers as to how the disease was treated and eliminated in the Estonian SSR, how infected animals and milk were handled, and if some of the methods used can be applied today. Written archival sources and 29 interviews with specialists remembering the outbreaks were used. Preventive slaughter of animals in the USSR was prohibited during the outbreak. As a preventive measure vaccination was used, traveling out of their counties by people were restricted and disinfection mats were used on the roads. In sick animals, udder wounds were treated with various wound ointments, such as zinc ointment, but also ointment made from boiled spruce resin. Birch tar was also recommended in the literature for leg treatments. Mouth wounds were washed with potassium permanganate solution. Workers used rubber gloves when handling sick animals. The barns were disinfected with lime and ash water. The milk from the diseased cows was pasteurized and given to calves, pigs, or diseased animals. Animals that did not recover were transferred to a meat processing plant. The meat was kept in potassium permanganate solution before processing and canned or made into sausages. When the disease was discovered, farm workers were locked in barns and released only when the disease had been eliminated. Such inhumane treatment could only be practiced in a totalitarian society.
Administration of microencapsulated Enterococcus faecium ABRIINW.N7 with fructo-oligosaccharides and fenugreek on the mortality of tilapia challenged with Streptococcus agalactiae
Authors: Nami Yousef , Kahieshesfandiari Mahdi , Lornezhad Gilda , Kiani Amir , Elieh-Ali-Komi Daniel , Jafari Mahdieh , Jaymand Mehdi , Haghshenas Babak
Published: August 2022

We investigated the probiotic potential of a microencapsulated Enterococcus faecium ABRIINW.N7 for control of Streptococcus agalactiae infection in hybrid (Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis mossambicus) red tilapia. A two-phase experiment approach was completed in which E. faecium bacteria were propagated, from which a culture was isolated, identified using molecular techniques, and microencapsulated to produce a stable commercial fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and fenugreek (Fk) product of optimal concentration. The FOS and Fk products were assessed in a 90-days in vivo challenge study, in which red hybrid tilapia were allocated to one of five treatments: (1) No Streptococcus agalactiae (Sa) challenge (CON); (2) Sa challenge only (CON+); (3) Sa challenge in a free cell (Free Cell); (4) Sa challenge with 0.8% (w/v) Alginate; (5) Microencapsulated FOS and Fk. In vitro results showed high encapsulation efficiency (≥98.6 ± 0.7%) and acceptable viability of probiotic bacteria within the simulated fish digestive system and high stability of viable cells in all gel formulations (34 < SR% <63). In vivo challenges demonstrated that the FOS and Fk products could be used to control S. agalactiae infection in tilapia fish and represented a novel investigation using microencapsulation E. faecium as a probiotic diet for tilapia fish to control S. agalactiae infection and to lower fish mortality. It is recommended that local herbal gums such as 0.2% Persian gum and 0.4% Fk in combination with 0.8% alginate (Formulation 7) can be used as a suitable scaffold and an ideal matrix for the encapsulation of probiotics. These herbal gums as prebiotics are capable of promoting the growth of probiotic cells in the food environment and digestive tract.
Short Text Classification with Tolerance-Based Soft Computing Method
Authors: Patel Vrushang , Ramanna Sheela , Kotecha Ketan , Walambe Rahee
Published: August 2022

Text classification aims to assign labels to textual units such as documents, sentences and paragraphs. Some applications of text classification include sentiment classification and news categorization. In this paper, we present a soft computing technique-based algorithm (TSC) to classify sentiment polarities of tweets as well as news categories from text. The TSC algorithm is a supervised learning method based on tolerance near sets. Near sets theory is a more recent soft computing methodology inspired by rough sets where instead of set approximation operators used by rough sets to induce tolerance classes, the tolerance classes are directly induced from the feature vectors using a tolerance level parameter and a distance function. The proposed TSC algorithm takes advantage of the recent advances in efficient feature extraction and vector generation from pre-trained bidirectional transformer encoders for creating tolerance classes. Experiments were performed on ten well-researched datasets which include both short and long text. Both pre-trained SBERT and TF-IDF vectors were used in the experimental analysis. Results from transformer-based vectors demonstrate that TSC outperforms five well-known machine learning algorithms on four datasets, and it is comparable with all other datasets based on the weighted F1, Precision and Recall scores. The highest AUC-ROC (Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristics) score was obtained in two datasets and comparable in six other datasets. The highest ROC-PRC (Area under the Precision–Recall Curve) score was obtained in one dataset and comparable in four other datasets. Additionally, significant differences were observed in most comparisons when examining the statistical difference between the weighted F1-score of TSC and other classifiers using a Wilcoxon signed-ranks test.
Locating Sources of Vibration with Harmonics and Pulse Signals in Industrial Machines
Authors: Valeev Anvar , Kharrasov Bulat
Published: August 2022

This paper is devoted to a new approach to condition monitoring. The main feature is an application of strain gauge analysis for geometrical locating of vibrating defects. Information about the exact geometrical location of a defect, intensity of excitation and its frequency provides accurate diagnostics. The research contains theoretical and experimental parts. Three types of defects are analyzed: defects with harmonic parameters, defects with non-harmonic periodical parameters (pulse periodic signal) and defects with non-periodical parameters (pulse non-periodical signal). For the first type, analysis of micro movements in the equipment is used. The others use triangulation; for detecting time lag of signal approaching in each sensor, an analysis of phase spectrum is used. This method can find sources of vibration/defects with pulse-like signals. An electronic board and computer program for implementation of the proposed method are developed. The electronics measure strain gauge data in real time and transmit it to a computer program. Such an approach gives new information for diagnostics and provides new opportunities for effective defect detection and condition monitoring of various machines and equipment.
A Basic Study on the Design of Dotted-Art Heterogeneous MPP Sound Absorbers
Authors: Sakagami Kimihiro , Kusaka Midori , Okuzono Takeshi
Published: August 2022

Recently, dotted-art MPPs have been proposed in which a designed pattern is made with the holes. In such a case, the MPP becomes heterogeneous in general. However, existing theories used for the prediction of the absorption characteristics of MPPs assume homogeneity. Therefore, the elaboration of a method for heterogeneous MPPs needs to be performed. In previous work, the authors proposed a method to predict the absorption characteristics of a heterogeneous MPP by using synthesized impedances of each part with different parameters; this is called the synthetic impedance method (SIM) in the present paper. The SIM can potentially be used for various heterogeneous MPPs; however, its scope of applicability needs to be clarified. Furthermore, in proposing a design concept of dotted-art heterogeneous MPPs, the condition that would make the designed MPPs fall within the scope of the SIM needs to be determined. Therefore, in this study, in order to clarify the scope of the applicability of the SIM, twelve samples are first prepared, and then measured sound absorption characteristics and predicted ones are compared and examined in terms of prediction errors. The results show that there are two conditions that should be met to produce predictable heterogeneous MPPs: (1) holes are distributed over the entire surface of the specimen, and (2) the hole spacing is constant. Considering these conditions, a design concept for a dotted-art heterogeneous MPP is proposed: two types of holes, larger holes for the pattern and smaller holes for the background, should be used to meet the above two conditions. Case studies with nine prototypes show that the SIM can make predictions for dotted-art heterogeneous MPPs fabricated according to the concept described above.
Control of Acoustic Energy Input for Cleaning of Industrial Boilers
Authors: Mafokwane Thabang , Kallon Daramy Vandi Von
Published: August 2022

A non-intrusive cleaning method for boiler tubes at Sasol Synfuels power station at Secunda, in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, is preferred over conventional methods that require boiler shutdown. The elected non-intrusive cleaning method utilizes sound energy waves, produced by an acoustic horn. Due to the nature of sound propagation and the effectiveness required, there is a requisite to control and operate the sonic horn. If the acoustic horn’s sound frequency is too low, it will produce higher sound energy waves that will resonate with the plant’s harmonious frequency and cause structural damage. Conversely, if the sonic horn’s sound frequency is too high, excessive noise levels may be reached and annoy plant personnel. To prevent these undesirable outcomes posed by adopting acoustic cleaning, there needs to be a regulatory system incorporated into the configuration to mitigate vibrations and limit noise. The regulatory system comprises a control system that drives the acoustic horn’s sound frequency as intended through a set point. The designed control system meets the anticipated requirements, such that it has an ideal transient response of 0.562 s, a steady-state error achieved in 1.05 s, with 0.201% overshoot, and most importantly the closed-loop system is stable.
An Inertial Impact Piezoelectric Actuator Designed by the Asymmetric Friction Principle and Achieved by Laser Texturing of the Driving Feet
Authors: Sun Wuxiang , Liu Yanwei , Li Xuan , Xu Zhi , Yang Zhaojun , Huang Hu
Published: August 2022

An asymmetric friction principle is newly proposed for the design of inertial impact piezoelectric actuators. There are two ways to achieve asymmetric frictions: either by tuning the positive pressure or by tuning the friction coefficient. Compared with tuning the positive pressure by an asymmetric structure, the structural parameters can be reduced by employing a symmetric structure and tuning the friction coefficient. In this study, an asymmetric friction inertial impact actuator was developed using a symmetric compliant mechanism (SCM), and the asymmetric frictions were realized by laser texturing of the driving feet at one end of the SCM. Four kinds of microstructures were initially fabricated on the driving feet, and their friction properties were experimentally tested. Accordingly, two kinds of microstructures, namely Ta and Tb microstructures, were selected. Output characteristics of the actuator with these two microstructures were measured and comparatively analyzed. The experimental results indicate that the actuator could achieve stable step motion, and the output characteristics were affected by the fabricated microstructure, as it determined the friction coefficient. The actuator with the Tb microstructure achieved a maximum speed of 2.523 mm/s, a resolution of 188 nm, a vertical loading capacity of 2 N and a horizontal loading capacity of 0.6 N, whereas the actuator with the Ta microstructure had a higher resolution of 74 nm. This study provides a novel idea for the design of asymmetric friction inertial impact actuators by tuning the friction coefficient.
Short Review of EMB Systems Related to Safety Concepts
Authors: Schrade Simon , Nowak Xi , Verhagen Armin , Schramm Dieter
Published: August 2022

A growing interest in Electromechanical Brakes (EMBs) is discernible in the automotive industry. Nevertheless, no EMBs have ever been deployed for series production, although countless publications have been made, and patents have been filed. One reason for this is the need for the optimization of functional safety. Due to the missing mechanical/hydraulic link between the driver and the actuator, sophisticated concepts need to be elaborated upon. This paper presents the current state of the art of safety concepts for EMB systems (only publicly available publications are reviewed). An analysis of current regulatory and safety requirements is conducted to provide a base for design options. These design options are explored on the basis of an extensive patent and literature research. The various discovered designs are summarized and analyzed according to their (a) EMB actuators; (b) control topology; (c) energy supply; and (d) communication architecture. This paper concludes by revealing the weak points of the current systems.
Design of Hydrostatic Chassis Drive System for Large Plant Protection Machine
Authors: Zhang Chengliang , Li Changpu , Zhao Chunzhao , Li Lei , Gao Guanlei , Chen Xiyuan
Published: August 2022

In order to meet the working performance of large plant protection machine and according to the actual working requirements, this paper proposes a design of hydrostatic chassis drive system for a large plant protection machine. The purpose of this study is to realize the anti-slip rotation function of the plant protection machine and improve the driving stability through the combination of a hydraulic drive system and shunt valve. In this study, a closed circuit with a single pump and four motors is used, and a diverter valve is used to prevent the wheels from skidding during the driving of the plant protection machine. The parameters of the main hydraulic components of the hydraulic drive system were firstly calculated and selected; then the AMESim software was used to model and simulate the hydraulic drive system. Finally, a test platform with anti-skid function is designed and built, and the test results are as follows: when the diverter valve is closed, the plant protection machine drives at 3 km/h and 6 km/h respectively, and the skid rate is 3.79% and 6.17%; when the diverter valve is open, the plant protection machine drives at 3 km/h and 6 km/h respectively, and the skid rate is 1.33% and 2.70% respectively. The test results show that the hydraulic chassis of the plant protection machine designed in this study has good driving stability and can effectively reduce the slip rate of the plant protection machine in the process of driving in the field, which provides an effective theoretical support for the design of the driving system of the hydraulic chassis of the plant protection machine.
The Identification and Applicability of Regional Brand-Driving Modes for Agricultural Products
Authors: Zheng Xiaoping , Huang Qiuyi , Zheng Shuangyu
Published: August 2022

The regional brand-driven construction of agricultural products has taken shape in China. At present, the status quo entails the homogenization of the brand-driven mode of construction, making it a serious phenomenon in China. In addition, the misalignment between the brand-driven mode and resource conditions in some areas not only causes a waste of resources but also leads to a lack of competitiveness and premium capacity for agricultural products within the brand, which cannot increase farmers’ income. This article constructs a theoretical model of the brand-driven mode and uses the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis method to identify effective brand-driven modes and explore their applicable environmental conditions. This research can provide theoretical guidance for the local development of regional brands of characteristic agricultural products. The results of the driving mode validity analysis show that the four brand-driven modes, resource-dependent, technology-induced, culture-driven, and industry-based, are the main construction paths for regional brands of agricultural products in China. Among them, the effectiveness of the resource-dependent and technology-induced modes is the highest, reaching 0.90 or more. The results of the applicability analysis show that the resource-dependent mode is suitable for farming areas with well-developed supporting policies and infrastructure and good economic development. In addition, the use of the technology-induced mode requires local farmers to have a high level of education and a high-quality base.
Perception and Adaptation Strategies of Smallholder Farmers to Drought Risk: A Scientometric Analysis
Authors: Ogundeji Abiodun A. , Okolie Collins C.
Published: August 2022

Droughts are a worldwide issue that affects ecosystems’ economies and cultures; therefore, its perception and adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers are crucial for the mitigation of drought risk, and for sustainable food production. We used the bibliometric method to analyze 121 publications from the Scopus database to better understand the existing situation and trends in the field of drought risk. During the years under consideration, the field saw a significant increase in publication output, with an annual growth rate of roughly 68.14 percent. On a national level, the United States scored first with the most publications and the most academic influence, with the majority of top papers citations coming from USA-connected universities and research centers. The top five most frequently used keywords and keyword-plus were, drought, adaptation, agriculture, smallholder farmers, and climate change. Some of the adaptation strategies adopted by smallholder farmers, which could be used by many nations to deal with drought events, include: rainwater harvesting, diversification of income sources, planting of short-season cash crops to enhance cash flow, use of drought-tolerance herds, etc. This research offers a plan to navigate the intellectual dilemma in drought risk research and offers guidance for researchers in all continents, particularly the Africans and the Europeans, in further studies in this area, as the agricultural sector contributes significantly to the economy of many nations.
Rhizobium and Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria Influence the Soil Nutrient Availability, Growth, Yield, and Quality of Soybean
Authors: Shome Swarna , Barman Alak , Solaiman Zakaria M.
Published: August 2022

Crop production encounters challenges due to the dearth of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), while excessive use of chemical fertilizers causes environmental hazards. Use of rhizobium and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can be a sustainable strategy to overcome these problems. Hence, a pot experiment was conducted following a completely randomized design to explore the impact of nitrogen fixing bacteria and PSB on the growth, yield, and quality attributes of soybean alongside soil nutrient availability using Rhizobium japonicum and Pseudomonas striata. The experiment consisted of two factors—R. japonicum (100% N, R. japonicum alone or with 50% N and control) and P. striata (100% P, P. striata with 75% P and control). Results revealed a significant influence of interaction on seed N, yield, protein, oil, and nodules of soybean. Microbial inoculants with or without N and P fertilizers produced a statistically similar yield as 100% N and P. Furthermore, R. japonicum and P. striata along with 50% N and 75% P increased 7% protein and 19% oil than 100% N and P. R. japonicum enhanced soil N content and P. striata improved soil phosphorus availability. Overall, R. japonicum and P. striata inoculation with 50% N and 75% P can potentially improve the yield and the quality of soybean and soil nutrient conditions.
Choosing Feature Selection Methods for Spatial Modeling of Soil Fertility Properties at the Field Scale
Authors: Ferhatoglu Caner , Miller Bradley A.
Published: August 2022

With the growing availability of environmental covariates, feature selection (FS) is becoming an essential task for applying machine learning (ML) in digital soil mapping (DSM). In this study, the effectiveness of six types of FS methods from four categories (filter, wrapper, embedded, and hybrid) were compared. These FS algorithms chose relevant covariates from an exhaustive set of 1049 environmental covariates for predicting five soil fertility properties in ten fields, in combination with ten different ML algorithms. Resulting model performance was compared by three different metrics (R2 of 10-fold cross validation (CV), robustness ratio (RR; developed in this study), and independent validation with Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (IV-CCC)). FS improved CV, RR, and IV-CCC compared to the models built without FS for most fields and soil properties. Wrapper (BorutaShap) and embedded (Lasso-FS, Random forest-FS) methods usually led to the optimal models. The filter-based ANOVA-FS method mostly led to overfit models, especially for fields with smaller sample quantities. Decision-tree based models were usually part of the optimal combination of FS and ML. Considering RR helped identify optimal combinations of FS and ML that can improve the performance of DSM compared to models produced from full covariate stacks.
Iron Biofortification of Greenhouse Soilless Lettuce: An Effective Agronomic Tool to Improve the Dietary Mineral Intake
Authors: Buturi Camila Vanessa , Sabatino Leo , Mauro Rosario Paolo , Navarro-León Eloy , Blasco Begoña , Leonardi Cherubino , Giuffrida Francesco
Published: August 2022

The present experiment addressed the effects of different iron (Fe) concentrations in the nutrient solution supplied as Fe-HBED, i.e., 0.02 (Fe0, control), 1.02 (Fe1), and 2.02 mmol L−1 (Fe2) on lettuce (‘Nauplus’ and ‘Romana’) yield and compositional traits. This experiment was carried out in a greenhouse using an open soilless cultivation system, at the experimental farm of the University of Catania (Sicily, Italy: 37°24′31.5″ N, 15°03′32.8″ E, 6 m a.s.l.). The addition of Fe-HBED reduced the plants’ aboveground biomass (−18%, averaged over Fe1 and Fe2), but promoted their dry matter content (+16% in Fe2). The concentration of chlorophylls, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidants peaked at Fe2, along with the antioxidant capacity and concentration of stress indicators in leaves. The Fe content in leaves was promoted in the Fe-treated plants (+187% averaged over Fe1 and Fe2). ‘Romana’ showed the highest Fe accumulation (reaching 29.8 mg kg−1 FW in Fe1), but ‘Nauplus’ proved a higher tolerance to the Fe-derived oxidative stress. The Fe2 treatment maximized leaf N, P, K, S, and Zn contents, while those of Ca, Mg, Mn, and B peaked at Fe1. Overall, our study revealed the effectiveness of Fe-HBED in increasing the Fe content and improving the nutritional quality of lettuce grown in soilless cultivation systems.
Acoustic and Thermal Properties of Particleboards Made from Mulberry Wood (Morus alba L.) Pruning Residues
Authors: Ferrandez-Villena Manuel , Ferrandez-Garcia Antonio , Garcia-Ortuño Teresa , Ferrandez-Garcia Maria Teresa
Published: August 2022

The aim of this study was to determine the acoustic and thermal properties of particleboards made from mulberry wood pruning waste using urea formaldehyde resin (UF) as a binder. The investigation focused on the evaluation of the thermal conductivity and the acoustic absorption of the boards and the assessment of their feasibility for use in the construction sector. The mean thermal conductivity values of the particleboards (0.065–0.068 W/mK) were lower than those obtained in wood and similar to those in cork panels. The samples were tested with frequencies from 50 to 6300 Hz. In all cases, the results allowed us to conclude that they were better sound absorbers than commercial wood and plywood panels of the same average density for low frequencies, and with similar values for medium and high frequencies. The mechanical results reached the minimum requirement to be considered as boards for general use and, specifically with particles from 0.25 to 1.00 mm, for furniture according to European standards. The particle size of the particleboards was the variable that influenced all the acoustic properties, but did not affect the thermal conductivity. The experimental results indicated that the thermal and acoustic properties of these particleboards were promising for their application in commercial uses.
Root Reserves Ascertain Postharvest Sensitivity to Water Deficit of Nectarine Trees
Authors: Conesa María R. , Conejero Wenceslao , Vera Juan , Ruiz-Sánchez Mª Carmen
Published: August 2022

This work studied the sensitivity of the postharvest period of early maturing nectarine trees (Prunus persica L. Batsch, cv. Flariba) to water stresses. Along with a well-irrigated treatment (T-0), three water deficit treatments (by withholding irrigation) were applied: T-1: early postharvest (June–July), T-2: late postharvest (August–September), and T-3: the whole postharvest period (June–September). Soil water content (θv) and midday stem water potential (Ψstem) were measured throughout the study. During winter dormancy, L-arginine, starch, and phosphorus content in the roots were analyzed. Yield, fruit quality, and metabolites were determined at harvest. Ψstem reached −1.7 and −2.3 MPa at the end of the early and late postharvest periods, respectively. Total yield and number of fruits per tree were significantly reduced in all deficit treatments with respect to T-0, while no significant differences were observed in physicochemical fruit quality. The T-2 treatment showed the highest percentage of cracked fruits. Significantly, lower values of L-arginine and phosphorus were observed in the roots of T-2 trees, with respect to T-0, while they were similar in T-1 trees. Although the early postharvest stage is key for the application of RDI strategies, our results indicated that the late postharvest period was also a sensitive period to severe drought, as the accumulation of winter root reserves (L-arginine and phosphorus) was reduced, which limited yield.
Optimized Ridge–Furrow Ratio to Decrease Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Increase Winter Wheat Yield in Dry Semi-Humid Areas
Authors: Liu Xiaoli , Wang Yandong , Ren Xiaolong , Chen Xiaoli
Published: August 2022

The plastic-mulched ridge–furrow rainwater harvesting (RF) system has been widely adopted worldwide due to its visible economic benefits. However, few and inconclusive studies have focused on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition, it is still unknown whether different coverage ratios under RF have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Here, we evaluate the effects of various coverage ratios on the soil hydrothermal characteristics, global warming potential (GWP), greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), and yield productivity in dry semi-humid areas. A control (FP, conventional flat planting without mulching) and three different ridge–furrow ratios (40:40 (RF40), 40:60 (RF60), and 40:80 (RF80)) were tested in 2017–2019. Compared with FP, RF increased the soil temperature and promoted soil moisture in the furrows during the vegetative growth period. However, the soil temperature of the furrows slightly increased with furrow width, whereas the soil moisture obviously decreased under the three RF practices. In a wet year (2017–2018), FP significantly increased the winter wheat yield (43.6%) compared with RF, while the opposite was the case in a normal year (2018–2019). Among the three RF treatments, RF40 and RF80 significantly increased the yield by 13.9% and 17.2%, respectively, compared with RF60. Compared with FP, all of the RF treatments increased the flux of N2O and CO2 emissions but reduced CH4 absorption. Compared with FP, RF with ridge–furrow ratios of 40:40 cm, 40:60 cm, and 40:80 cm increased the GWP by 99.6%, 53.4%, and 31.3%, respectively, and increased the GHGI by 55.8%, 45.3%, and 0.7%, respectively. Therefore, conventional flat planting in wet years and a ridge–furrow ratio of 40:71 cm in normal years can reduce GHG emissions, sustaining crop productivity, and promote the sustainable development of agriculture and the environment.
Effect of Climatic Conditions Caused by Seasons on Maize Yield, Kernel Filling and Weight in Central China
Authors: Ge Junzhu , Xu Ying , Zhao Ming , Zhan Ming , Cao Cougui , Chen Chuanyong , Zhou Baoyuan
Published: August 2022

In order to evaluate the effects of climatic conditions on maize grain yield (GY), kernel weight (KW), and kernel filling and identify the optimal climatic factors for GY and KW, 2-year field experiments in three seasons, i.e., spring (SPM), summer (SUM), and autumn (AUM), on maize were conducted in Central China. The results showed that SUM had more growing degree days (GDDs) than SPM and AUM due to the higher mean temperature (MT), and also resulted in higher temperature stress (killing degree days (KDDs)) in maize growth duration. Meanwhile, after silking, SPM and SUM had more GDDs and KDDs than AUM because of the higher MT, and the accumulated solar radiation (Ra) for SUM was significantly higher than for SPM and AUM. The GY of SPM was significantly higher than that of SUM and AUM, while SUM’s GY was always the lowest, because the GDDGD, MTGD, and KDDGD played significantly negative roles on GY. The final KW for SUM was always the lowest, with GDD, MT, KDD, and Ra causing significantly negative effects, and M△T and precipitation having significant positive effects, resulting in a lower kernel filling rate during the linear kernel filling period (KFRlkf) and a lower GDD at the maximum kernel filling rate (GDDKFRmax). Maize KFRlkf has significant negative linear dependences on GDD, MT, and Ra. In summary, because of the higher MT, KDD, and GDD during maize growth and kernel filling duration negatively affecting the maize kernel filling rate, the GY and KW for SPM were the highest, and for SUM, they were the lowest; therefore, farmers should plant SPM first and then AUM in Central China.
Water Stress Impacts on Grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) in Hot Environments: Physiological and Spectral Responses
Authors: Cogato Alessia , Jewan Shaikh Yassir Yousouf , Wu Lihua , Marinello Francesco , Meggio Franco , Sivilotti Paolo , Sozzi Marco , Pagay Vinay
Published: August 2022

The projected increase in temperature and water scarcity represents a challenge for winegrowers due to changing climatic conditions. Although heat and drought often occur concurrently in nature, there is still little known about the effects of water stress (WS) on grapevines in hot environments. This study aimed to assess whether the grapevine’s physiological and spectral responses to WS in hot environments differ from those expected under lower temperatures. Therefore, we propose an integrated approach to assess the physiological, thermal, and spectral response of two grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.), Grenache and Shiraz, to WS in a hot environment. In a controlled environment room (CER), we imposed high-temperature conditions (TMIN 30 °C–TMAX 40 °C) and compared the performance of well-watered (WW) and WS-ed potted own-rooted Shiraz and Grenache grapevines (SH_WW, SH_WS, GR_WW, and GR_WS, respectively). We monitored the vines’ physiological, spectral, and thermal trends from the stress imposition to the recovery after re-watering. Then, we performed a correlation analysis between the physiological parameters and the spectral and thermal vegetation indices (VIs). Finally, we looked for the best-fitting models to predict the physiological parameters based on the spectral VIs. The results showed that GR_WS was more negatively impacted than SH_WS in terms of net photosynthesis (Pn, GR-WS = 1.14 μmol·CO2 m−2·s−1; SH-WS = 3.64 μmol·CO2 m−2·s−1), leaf transpiration rate (E, GR-WS = 1.02 mmol·H2O m−2·s−1; SH-WS = 1.75 mmol·H2O m−2·s−1), and stomatal conductance (gs, GR-WS = 0.04 mol·H2O m−2·s−1; SH-WS = 0.11 mol·H2O m−2·s−1). The intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi = Pn/gs) of GR_WS (26.04 μmol·CO2 mol−1 H2O) was lower than SH_WS (34.23 μmol·CO2 mol−1 H2O) and comparable to that of SH_WW (26.31 μmol·CO2 mol−1 H2O). SH_WS was not unaffected by water stress except for E. After stress, Pn, gs, and E of GR_WS did not recover, as they were significantly lower than the other treatments. The correlation analysis showed that the anthocyanin Gitelson (AntGitelson) and the green normalised difference vegetation index (GNDVI) had significant negative correlations with stem water potential (Ψstem), Pn, gs, and E and positive correlation with WUEi. In contrast, the photochemical reflectance index (PRI), the water index (WI), and the normalised difference infrared index (NDII) showed an opposite trend. Finally, the crop water stress (CWSI) had significant negative correlations with the Ψstem in both varieties. Our findings help unravel the behaviour of vines under WS in hot environments and suggest instrumental approaches to help the winegrowers managing abiotic stress.
Is High pH the Key Factor of Alkali Stress on Plant Growth and Physiology? A Case Study with Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seedlings
Authors: Liu Duo , Ma Yue , Rui Mengmeng , Lv Xiachen , Chen Rongjia , Chen Xiaoyan , Wang Yizhou
Published: August 2022

Salinity and alkalinity stress are two major constraints on plant growth and crop production, limiting sustainable agricultural production. Wheat is a vital cereal crop. It is very important to ensure food security; however, its growth and yield are usually adversely affected by salinity and alkalinity stress. To investigate the differential effects of neutral and alkaline salt stress on the seedling growth of wheat, we set wheat hydroponic culture experiment: CK, neutral salt (NaCl:Na2SO4 = 9:1 pH = 6.5), neutral salt with high pH value (NaCl:Na2SO4 = 9:1 pH = 8.9), alkaline salt (NaHCO3:Na2CO3 = 9:1 pH = 8.9), all treatments at the same Na+ concentration. The results indicated alkaline salt inhibited seedling growth more than neutral salt and neutral salt with high pH value. The results showed that the salt and alkali stresses decreased chlorophyll contents in leaves of wheat seedlings, inhibited photosynthesis and induced osmotic stress, oxidative stress and ion toxicity to wheat seedlings and finally inhibited the growth of wheat seedlings, while the alkaline salt caused a stronger injurious effect on wheat seedlings than the neutral salt, neutral salt with high pH value. Our study results demonstrated that alkaline salt inhibited wheat seedlings more significantly than neutral salt and neutral salt with high pH value. And, the main factor affected seedling growth is not pH alone.
Effect of Integrated Use of Rapeseed Cake, Biochar and Chemical Fertilizers on Root Growth, Nutrients Use Efficiency and Productivity of Tea
Authors: Manzoor  , Ma Lifeng , Ni Kang , Ruan Jianyun
Published: August 2022

The tea root system plays a key role in the uptake of nutrients and water from the soil. The effect of integrated fertilizers (Control (CK) (no fertilizers), 100% NPK, 100% NPK withbiochar (NPK + B), 50% NPK with 50% rapeseed cake (NPK + RC), and 100% rapeseed cake (RC))on alterations in root growth characteristics and soil physical properties, nutrient uptake, NUE, and biomass production of tea (Longjing 43) was studied in an Alfisol at the greenhouse of the China Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, during 2020–2021. The results showed that the conjunctive application of mineral fertilizers with rapeseed cake (NPK + RC) resulted in significant (p < 0.05) reductions in soil penetration resistance (14.8%) and bulk density (8.7%) and improvement in porosity (9.9%) compared to the control. NPK + RC recorded significantly higher (p < 0.05) root surface area, root volume, root tips, root length, and root CEC of tea than NPK (15%, 20%, 27%, 6%, and 11%) and control (40%, 165%, 49%, 68%, and 12%). The combinedapplication of RC and NPK fertilizer significantly decreased the specific root surface area (137%) and specific root length (66.8%) compared to the control. Root, stem, leaves, and total biomass were improved by integrated fertilization compared to the control and mineral fertilization. The nutrient content (N,P,K), nutrient uptake, NUE, nutrient uptake per root length, volume, and surface area of tea plants under NPK + RC and NPK + B were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than RC and CK. Therefore, the integrated use of rapeseed cake with mineral fertilization in Alfisol should be practiced in tea plantations to improve soil physical environment, root proliferation and root CEC, nutrient uptake, and NUE and achieve higher tea biomass production through the efficient exploitation of nutrients.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Used to Define the Optimum Needle Length in Pigs of Different Ages
Authors: Bernau Maren , Gerster Ulrike , Scholz Armin Manfred
Published: August 2022

Intramuscular injections result in tissue destruction and alteration. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the optimum injection point for intramuscular injections. As animals—especially pigs—vary in size and explicit information about injection depth is not available. To determine the predicted optimum injection depth, magnetic resonance imaging was used in pigs of different ages and weight groups. In total, 730 magnetic resonance images of 136 pigs were used to calculate the optimum injection depth for intramuscular injections. Four age groups were evaluated: <29 days of age, 29–70 days of age, 71–117 days of age and >170 days of age. For fattening pigs (71–117 days of age), the present study recommends a needle length of 20 mm (range: 40–58 mm). For younger pigs (<70 days of age), a needle length of 12 to 14 mm (range: 10–18 mm), and for older pigs (>170 days of age), a needle length of 30 mm (range: 25–37 mm) is recommended. However, more data are needed. Therefore, further studies are necessary, especially in the youngest (suckling pigs) and oldest (sows) age groups, as these are the groups mainly injected/vaccinated. Additionally, age and weight should be examined in more detail compared to fat distribution in the neck, genetics and the sex of the animal.
The Application of 3D Landmark-Based Geometric Morphometrics towards Refinement of the Piglet Grimace Scale
Authors: Lou Maria E. , Porter Samantha T. , Massey Jason S. , Ventura Beth , Deen John , Li Yuzhi
Published: August 2022

Proper methods of assessment to objectively identify pain are essential for welfare improvements of piglets undergoing surgical castration on commercial farms. The Piglet Grimace Scale (PGS) is used to identify changes in facial expressions caused by acute pain in piglets undergoing tail docking and castration. However, subjective scoring methods are a concern for the validation of the PGS. The objectives of this study were to evaluate and refine the PGS through 3D landmark geometric morphometrics. Male piglets (n = 88) were randomly allocated to one of two treatments: castration and sham-castration. Piglet facial images were taken at four time points (before treatment, immediately post-treatment, 1 h post-treatment, and 4 h post-treatment) using a photogrammetry rig. Images were scored by four raters using five facial action units (FAUs): orbital tightening, ear position, temporal tension, lip contraction, and nose bulge/cheek tension. Three-dimensional facial models were generated and landmarked denoting 3 FAUs (orbital tightening, lip contraction, and nose bulge/cheek tension). Results suggest that orbital tightening and ear position may be reliable FAUs for the PGS. However, neither the PGS nor 3D landmark-based geometric morphometrics were able (both p > 0.10) to reliably identify facial indicators of pain in piglets undergoing castration.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists in Galicia, Spain: A Quasi-Experimental Approach
Authors: Rodríguez-Fernández Almudena , Vázquez-Cancela Olalla , Piñeiro-Lamas María , Figueiras Adolfo , Zapata-Cachafeiro Maruxa
Published: August 2022

Background: Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing public health problems. Health authorities, patients, and health professionals, including dentists, are all involved in its development. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on dental care may have had repercussions on antibiotic prescribing by dentists. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescribing by dentists, and to review antibiotic consumption according to the WHO Access, Watch, Reserve classification. We conducted a natural, before-and-after, quasi-experimental study, using antibiotic prescription data covering the period from January 2017 to May 2021. A segmented regression analysis with interrupted time series data was used to analyse the differences between the numbers of defined daily doses (DDD) of antibiotics prescribed monthly. The outcomes showed an immediate significant decrease in overall antibiotic prescribing by primary-care dentists during lockdown, followed by a non-significant upward trend for the next year. This same pattern was, likewise, observed for Access and Watch antibiotics. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on dental care influenced the prescription of antibiotics. During confinement, an initial decrease was observed, this trend changed when in person consultations were recovered. It might be beneficial to analyse the prescription of antibiotics using the WHO AWaRe classification, in order to monitor their appropriate use.
Genomic Characterization of International High-Risk Clone ST410 Escherichia coli Co-Harboring ESBL-Encoding Genes and blaNDM-5 on IncFIA/IncFIB/IncFII/IncQ1 Multireplicon Plasmid and Carrying a Chromosome-Borne blaCMY-2 from Egypt
Authors: Mohamed Nelly M. , Zakaria Azza S. , Edward Eva A.
Published: August 2022

The accelerated dispersion of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli due to the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) or AmpC enzymes has been noted in Egypt, presenting a serious treatment challenge. In this study, we investigate the prevalence of ESBLs and AmpC enzymes among 48 E. coli isolates collected from patients with urinary tract infections admitted to a teaching hospital in Alexandria. Phenotypic and genotypic methods of detection are conducted. Isolates producing both enzymes are tested for the mobilization of their genes by a broth mating experiment. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is performed for isolate EC13655. The results indicate that 80% of the isolates are MDR, among which 52% and 13% were ESBL and AmpC producers, respectively. Conjugation experiments fail to show the mobilization of blaCMY-2 in EC13655, which was chosen for WGS. In silico analysis reveals that the isolate belongs to a ST410-H24Rx high-risk clone. It coharbors the ESBL-encoding genes blaCTX-M-15, blaTEM-1, blaOXA-1 and blaNDM-5 on an IncFIA/IncFIB/IncFII/IncQ1 multireplicon plasmid. The chromosomal location of blaCMY-2 is detected with a flanking upstream copy of ISEcp1. This chromosomal integration of blaCMY-2 establishes the stable maintenance of the gene and thus, necessitates an imperative local surveillance to reduce further spread of such strains in different clinical settings.
The Activity of the Durum Wheat (Triticum durum L.) Catalase 1 (TdCAT1) Is Modulated by Calmodulin
Authors: Ghorbel Mouna , Feki Kaouthar , Tounsi Sana , Haddaji Najla , Hanin Moez , Brini Faiçal
Published: August 2022

Plant catalases (CAT) are involved in the cellular scavenging of the reactive oxygen species during developmental processes and in response to abiotic and biotic stresses. However, little is known about the regulation of the CAT activity to ensure efficient antioxidant function. Using bioinformatic analyses, we showed that durum wheat catalase 1 (TdCAT1) harbors highly conserved cation-binding and calmodulin binding (CaMBD) domains which are localized at different positions of the protein. As a result, the catalytic activity of TdCAT1 is enhanced in vitro by the divalent cations Mn2+ and Fe2+ and to a lesser extent by Cu2+, Zn2+, and Mg2+. Moreover, the GST-pull down assays performed here revealed that TdCAT1 bind to the wheat CaM (TdCaM1.3) in a Ca2+-independent manner. Furthermore, the TdCaM1.3/Ca2+ complex is stimulated in a CaM-dose-dependent manner by the catalytic activity of TdCAT1, which is further increased in the presence of Mn2+ cations. The catalase activity of TdCAT1 is enhanced by various divalent cations and TdCaM1.3 in a Ca-dependent manner. Such effects are not reported so far and raise a possible role of CaM and cations in the function of CATs during cellular response to oxidative stress.
Ultraviolet Light Protection: Is It Really Enough?
Authors: Farris Patricia K. , Valacchi Giuseppe
Published: August 2022

Our current understanding of the pathogenesis of skin aging includes the role of ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared, pollution, cigarette smoke and other environmental exposures. The mechanism of action common to these exposures is the disruption of the cellular redox balance by the directly or indirectly increased formation of reactive oxygen species that overwhelm the intrinsic antioxidant defense system, resulting in an oxidative stress condition. Altered redox homeostasis triggers downstream pathways that contribute to tissue oxinflammation (cross-talk between inflammation and altered redox status) and accelerate skin aging. In addition, both ultraviolet light and pollution increase intracellular free iron that catalyzes reactive oxygen species generation via the Fenton reaction. This disruption of iron homeostasis within the cell further promotes oxidative stress and contributes to extrinsic skin aging. More recent studies have demonstrated that iron chelators can be used topically and can enhance the benefits of topically applied antioxidants. Thus, an updated, more comprehensive approach to environmental or atmospheric aging protection should include sun protective measures, broad spectrum sunscreens, antioxidants, chelating agents, and DNA repair enzymes.